Update 4/7: Thank you to everyone who entered the Small Business “Win A PC” Sweepstakes. We received several fantastic entries and saw clear enthusiasm for Windows 7 Professional, though per the rules only one winner was drawn at random for the Lenovo PC and dual monitors. And the winner of the Lenovo...

Last week Steve Ballmer spoke at the Global Energy Forum in Houston, Texas and discussed the ways information technology is used in the oil and gas sector. Specifically, Steve touched on how the industry is impacting the development of new technologies and how existing technologies are aiding the industry...

Security is foundational to everything we do at Microsoft –small business owners tell me they want technology that not only improves productivity but equally important they want reassurance that their work is safeguarded. With Windows 7 Professional, we made sure to include a breadth of security features...

With the holidays and the year coming to an end, December is a time when many people, especially small business owners, are starting to feel that there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done in their professional and personal lives. Things like hosting holiday parties, hitting end...

We’ve been talking about the value that Windows 7 Professional brings to small businesses for a while, including productivity benefits that can help businesses save time and money. Today we’d like to share some details from an IDC White Paper sponsored by Microsoft worldwide research study , which explores...

Some of you might remember that back in April we announced an alliance with ChangeBASE to offer a free application and compatibility tool for Windows 7 Professional.  I have good news for our small and midsize business customers: we’ve extended our partnership with ChangeBASE to continue to offer...

For the past few weeks I have been working with the sleek and stylish Toshiba Portégé Z830 . The Portégé Z830 is one of the lightest 13” PC on the market, weighing in at just under 2.5 pounds, and incredibly thin at just 16 mm (a literal hair over 0.6”). The Portégé Z830 is an Ultrabook built for business...

When you think of the holidays, most of us think of food, family and celebration. But when you’re a small business owner, it’s also time to prepare for the year ahead and set some new business priorities. Here at Microsoft, we understand that there are many to-do’s on every small business owner’s list...

The latest Ultrabook in my collection is the HP Folio . The HP Folio is a slim, business-focused 13” notebook with a rich, glossy display, and incredible battery life. Like other PCs built for business, the HP Folio comes with Windows 7 Professional, TPM, on-board Ethernet, and business-level service...

Small businesses, and the entrepreneurs who start them, have been said to be the back bone of the United States and a key driver of our economic growth. Some people may think that small businesses are the low man on the totem pole, but the interesting thing to remember is that every business started...

As the days start getting longer, ski season comes to an end, and the grass in my yard starts growing, I recognize that many people, including myself and family, start thinking about the list of projects around the house. I also find it’s a great time to take a look at my business life and give it a...

What small business wouldn’t want to upgrade their technology and save money on their next business trip? Amazon.com and Southwest Airlines have an offer for all SWABIZ members. (If you’re not a member, you can join at SWABIZ.com .) Buy Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Professional upgrade at Amazon...

December is always a natural time to look back at the year and reflect on the things we’ve learned as well as what we have planned for the year ahead. Despite the challenging economic environment, businesses have advanced this year in many ways, including more and more taking advantage of cloud computing...

It’s time to deck the halls with boughs of holly, for its ‘the season to be jolly’ (or so the song goes). And speaking of halls, why not deck the “business halls” with the latest and greatest hot technology for your employees? Not only do you get a nice tax write-off, but you also will put a smile on...

We’ve been talking a lot about Windows 7 momentum lately and why customers are increasingly demanding it. For me, it’s personally exciting to see how small and midsized companies are flocking to it. In fact, the number of desktops and laptops running Windows 7 has increased nearly 500% in the last year...

President Obama is taking this week to celebrate the 48th annual National Small Business Week in the United States. Obama’s sentiment is that the success of this nation is built on the foundation of entrepreneurial spirit. Recently, he was quoted saying, “From the family businesses that anchor Main Street...

Small businesses are the genesis of all large companies today. While it’s hard to believe, we’re a good example of this. Microsoft started with two employees – Bill Gates and Paul Allen and grew to more than 90,000 employees today, with 1.1 billion PC users worldwide. Key to this growth, Bill and Paul...

Who will be the next small business to thrive in America?  We can’t wait to find out!  We’re partnering with Dell on a contest to find the next small business that is trailblazing new ground.  Tell Dell why your business is unique and how you would benefit from the chance to win over ...

It’s been a few months since we released the latest version of Windows Intune . Today I’d like to share some updates on customers we’re seeing turn to Windows Intune, why they’re choosing it and how they’re using it in their organizations. On the Microsoft News Center today we announced some great new...

One year ago we released the first beta of Windows Intune, and I am thrilled to announce that the final version is now officially available for purchase or a free 30-day trial in 35 countries! Windows Intune is a cloud-based PC management and security solution that will help you manage and secure PCs...