server 2012 | Small Business Tech Tips

If you are like me, Windows 8 threw you for a loop. With Windows 7 and earlier, you could fly around in the OS, and life was simple. But Windows 8 forced you to think about where you needed to go. It also introduced the Metro design, in which you now had tiles. Tiles are great for anyone with a tablet, but not always convenient for office employees.

Windows 8.1

Last year the highly publicized Windows 8.1 update came out, which added in a new-and-improved Start Menu. It was nice, but tiles were still a big part of that feature. Tiles are utilized in areas that are frequented by everyday users (Documents, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, etc).

For those who dislike the tile feature, I introduce to you… Classic Shell.

Classic Shell

Classic Shell is software that can be installed on your Windows 8 or 8.1 machine, and get the look and feel you have been wanting. The nice thing about Classic Shell is its customization. You can make it look like a few variants of the Windows 7 start menu and you can also tell Classic Shell to boot to the desktop, so you are not defaulted to the Metro design.

Classic Shell also works on its Windows 8 server equivalents, such as Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2.

Give Classic Shell a try, and if you need help in customizing it, feel free to call our experts here at Everon at 1-888-244-1748. (Or email us at [email protected].) We’re here for you.

I recently attended Microsoft’s Cloud OS Signature Event Series in Denver, CO. The main focus of the event was their new cloud service called Azure and Server 2012 which launched last month. While there are tons of new changes and features to play with from a technical standpoint, my main question was what does this mean for the small business?

From the get go, Microsoft made it clear this is one of the biggest updates to their server operating system thanks to the heavy focus on cloud computing and their new service Azure. This new cloud service will allow you to host anything from servers to web sites. From your primary server you can easily manage servers whether it is on your network, Azure, or a 3^rd party hosting such as Rackspace.

Its also apparent Microsoft is setting their sights on solutions like Citrix and trying to offer a simpler and more integrated solution for virtual desktops. If you organization uses Citrix, does it mean that you should move to Server 2012? Maybe. Citrix definitely has a place still depending on how your organizations needs and work flow of employees.

Like most things new in the world of computers I would recommend holding off as Microsoft and early adopters iron out the bugs. Speak with your IT administrator or follow the link below to find out more.

http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/