[WinPartners] Windows 8.1 Enterprise Available October 21: IS&T Recommends That Community Members WAIT to Move to Windows 8.1 Enterprise

[Alexander Kozlov]

Good Afternoon:

Today Microsoft released Windows 8.1. Starting October 21, Information Services and Technology (IS&T) will make Windows 8.1 Enterprise available to faculty, staff, and students for download through the Microsoft Campus Agreement (MSCA).

IS&T Recommendation: WAIT
IS&T strongly recommends that members of the MIT community wait to move to Windows 8.1 Enterprise. We are making the operating system available soon after its release for two reasons:

1. It will enable departments, labs, and centers (DLCs) to decide when to make the move to Windows 8.1.

2. It will help DLCs avoid unnecessary purchases of licenses already covered through the MSCA.

As with previous versions of Windows, MIT departments may install IS&T-provided licenses on all MIT-owned equipment.  Additionally, each MIT student is allowed to install Windows 8.1 on one personally owned computer.

Phased Support Plan
IS&T will phase in support for Windows 8.1 Enterprise over time. Starting on October 21, we will offer support for

- Configuring network connections (both wireless and wired)

- Activating Windows 8.1 Enterprise licenses on MITnet, the campus network

- Installing MIT certificates

As IS&T confirms that various software and services work with Windows 8.1 Enterprise, we will increase our support and eventually recommend it. IS&T will continue to support other versions of Microsoft operating systems, including Windows 7 and Windows 8 Enterprise, after we announce full support for Windows 8.1 Enterprise.

How To Obtain
Starting October 21,  you can  acquire Windows 8.1 Enterprise from the  MIT Software Download site at https://msca.mit.edu/cgi-bin/windows [certificates<http://ist.mit.edu/certificates> required].

Getting Help
For assistance, please contact IS&T Help Desk at 617.253.1101,  helpdesk at mit.edu<mailto:helpdesk at mit.edu>, or by  submitting a request online<http://ist.mit.edu/support#form>.

For more details on the Windows 8.1 Release Project, visit the project notebook at https://wikis.mit.edu/confluence/display/SWRT/Windows+8.1+Release+Project  [certificates<http://ist.mit.edu/certificates> required].


_____________

Alexander Kozlov
Windows Platform Coordinator
Software Release Team
Information Services and Technology
W92 - 229H
(617) 253-5103