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Windows 7Customer Solution Case Study00Software Firm Gains 400 Hours Annually with Notebook and Operating System Solution OverviewCountry or Region: United StatesIndustry: Software solutionsCustomer ProfileSmith Micro Software develops and markets mobile software products and services for PC users in homes and businesses worldwide.Business SituationSmith Micro needed to improve organization, speed up and simplify everyday tasks, and give mobile employees more flexibility to work on the go. SolutionTogether, Windows 7 Professional and the Dell Latitude E6400 improve performance, enhance productivity, and give users faster, easier ways to complete everyday tasks at the office or on the go.BenefitsSaves 150 hours with faster start times, resume, and standbySpeeds network connections Saves 240 hours with the Aero desktop experienceImproves productivity 20 percentEnhances flexibility “Together, Windows 7 Professional and Dell have created a durable, reliable, efficient technology platform that gives workers the speed and performance they need to get the job done—in the office or on the road.” Dennis Ott, Director of IT, Smith Micro SoftwareKnown for the creation of leading software solutions, such as StuffIt, CheckIt, and QuickLink, Smith Micro Software delivers innovative, high-quality products that enrich and simplify the PC experience for home and business users across the world. For company leaders, an ongoing challenge in developing these solutions is finding new ways to provide all of Smith Micro’s 360 employees with systems that maximize productivity and enhance mobility—without compromising on performance. When they discovered the Dell Latitude E6400 notebook, installed with Windows 7 Professional, Smith Micro leaders knew they had found just the solution they had been seeking. Together, the Dell Latitude E6400 and Windows 7 Professional provide users with faster, more responsive systems that improve organization and increase productivity—whether in the office or on the road. SituationFor Smith Micro Software employees, booting up and resuming systems took several minutes at a time, adding up to hundreds of hours of lost productivity over the course of the year. Workers also found that legacy systems drew a lot of energy, which meant having to find an available power source to recharge systems—sometimes in the middle of client meetings.For mobile users, simply finding and connecting to networks while traveling took longer than users liked, and accessing business-critical files while working remotely was difficult without an intuitive virtual private network (VPN) connection. In addition, comparing spreadsheets and documents—a frequent task—required the tedious and time-consuming manipulation of windows to view documents side-by-side. On top of all this, the fact that older notebook computers could not withstand the regular wear and tear of travel often translated into purchasing new systems before Smith Micro managers had projected. “I save at least five minutes each time I resume or restart my system with Windows 7 Professional and the Dell E6400. That adds up to hundreds of hours saved across the organization annually.”Dennis Ott, Director of IT, Smith Micro Software Smith Micro managers knew they needed to find a blend of speed, performance, and mobile flexibility—in addition to new and more efficient ways to perform everyday tasks—so their employees could continue to create and deliver the exceptional software solutions on which customers worldwide had come to rely.SolutionTo accomplish this, Smith Micro turned to the Dell Latitude E6400 notebook running on the Windows 7 Professional operating system.* This powerful combination gives users more intuitive, efficient ways to complete tasks and work on the go, as well as a reliable, durable technical solution that can handle frequent travel. Featuring faster start, resume, and overall processing times, in addition to enhanced mobile performance and durability, Windows 7 and the Dell E6400 reduce interruptions to workflow—and the frustration that comes with it—which enables Smith Micro employees to accomplish more in less time. As Dennis Ott, Director of IT for Smith Micro Software, states, “Together, Windows 7 Professional and Dell have created a durable, reliable, efficient technology platform that gives workers the speed and performance they need to get the job done—in the office or on the road.”BenefitsBy deploying Windows 7 and Dell E6400, Smith Micro gains the following benefits:Getting More DoneThe fast start and resume times of Windows 7 give users more time to get work done. Even better, as one third-party test group indicated, when Windows 7 is running on the Dell Latitude E6400, start times improve by 10 percent and resume times are 61 percent faster when compared to older systems. “I save at least five minutes each time I resume or restart my system with Windows 7 Professional and the Dell E6400,” says Ott. “That adds up to hundreds of hours saved across the organization annually.”The Power Management capabilities in Windows 7, which use features like adaptive screen display brightness, conserves energy to give users longer-lasting notebooks. “Windows 7 Professional Power Management is a giant leap forward in terms of giving workers more mobile flexibility,” Ott says. And when combined with Dell’s 19-hour battery life and All Day Battery mode, a feature that automatically powers down unused features, users get a mobile PC solution that lasts throughout the workday. “It’s as if my Dell was built to perform with Windows 7 Professional,” Ott points out. “The All Day Battery mode coupled with Windows 7 Professional Power Management allows me to use my notebook all day, unplugged—and I’m a high-powered user.”Redefining Flexibility, ProductivityFor Smith Micro, mobility is about more than long-lasting battery life. The Network and Sharing Center that is included with Windows 7, which automatically connects to new networks, provides users with easier access to wireless and VPN networks than ever before. According to Ott, this has reduced frustration for Smith Micro’s employees. “With Windows 7 Professional, I connect to networks 10-times faster than before,” he says. “It locates our VPN client almost instantly, so we can work remotely without worrying about waiting around to find a connection.”“We’ve gained mobility, flexibility, and productivity with Windows 7 Professional and the Dell E6400. Now, we can not only continue creating unsurpassed solutions, we can do it faster.”Dennis Ott, Director of IT, Smith Micro SoftwareDell’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM) works in tandem with this feature to protect corporate or wireless VPNs, so users can safely connect to networks and access important files almost anywhere. “Dell’s TPM works seamlessly with the Network and Sharing Center,” Ott says. “Connecting to our corporate VPN is not only easier, but more secure.”In addition to enhanced connectivity, users can work more productively with features such as the Aero desktop experience included with Windows 7. For example, Smith Micro employees have found that the Snap feature allows them to place documents side-by-side by hitting the Windows logo key plus the left or right arrow for each window. The Peek feature enables users to quickly access their desktop by hovering over a small square on the bottom right corner of the taskbar, and the Shake feature makes background windows disappear—or reappear—by selecting a window and waving the mouse.“I used to have to change windows manually to compare documents side-by-side, reduce windows I’m not using, or just to see my desktop,” said Ott. “With Snap, Peek, and Shake, I can do all of that with basically one click.”Increasing Security, Maximizing RevenueLosing a PC—and the data that’s stored on it—is a potentially devastating occurrence for any organization. As such, Smith Micro wanted to find a more durable notebook solution that could handle frequent travel so that employees wouldn’t have to worry about their systems succumbing to wear and tear prematurely. This would also save the organization in terms of not having to replace notebooks before managers anticipated. Dell’s physical data protection and built-to-last durability provides users with the stable, secure solution they need. In fact, after three drops from a height of 29 inches, the Dell Latitude E6400 showed zero data defects during testing. ”I didn’t test the physical data protection, but I can safely say the Dell E6400 feels really solid and works without a hitch,” Ott says with a smile. “This is the perfect machine for workers on the go.” “We’ve gained mobility, flexibility, and productivity with Windows 7 Professional and the Dell E6400,” Ott adds. “Now, we can not only continue creating unsurpassed solutions, we can do it faster.” *As part of the solution deployment, the customer received notebooks and technical support from Microsoft and Dell.Software and ServicesWindows 7 ProfessionalHardwareDell Latitude E6400PartnersDellThis case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.Document published September 2010For More InformationFor more information about Microsoft products and services, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Information Centre at (877) 568-2495. Customers in the United States and Canada who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can reach Microsoft text telephone (TTY/TDD) services at (800) 892-5234. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary. To access information using the World Wide Web, go to:For more information about Dell products and services, call (800) 456-3355 or visit the website at: For more information about Smith Micro Software products and services, call (949) 362-5800 or visit the website at: Windows 7Works the way you want: Windows 7 will help your organization use information technology to gain a competitive advantage in today’s new world of work. Your people will be able to be more productive anywhere. You will be able to support your mobile workforce with better access to shared data and collaboration tools. And your IT staff will have better tools and technologies for enhanced corporate IT security and data protection, and more efficient deployment and management.For more information about Windows 7, go to:windows/windows-7 ................
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