In a earlier weblog put up, I explored the variations between Energy BI Desktop and Energy BI Desktop RS (Report Server). These two variations cater to distinct consumer wants, cloud-based reporting versus on-premises reporting.
However the story doesn’t finish there. Throughout the common Energy BI Desktop, there are additionally two flavours:
- Energy BI Desktop (Retailer Model)
- Energy BI Desktop (Obtain Model)
These flavours, although related in performance, provide completely different options and experiences. On this weblog, we’ll look at why these two variations exist, how they differ, and which model may fit your wants and why you may want each.
Why Are There Two Variations?
Microsoft launched the Microsoft Retailer Model and the Downloaded Model to supply flexibility for various consumer situations. Every model addresses particular challenges associated to updates, deployment, and compatibility.
- Microsoft Retailer Model: Simplifies the set up and replace course of by leveraging the Microsoft Retailer’s automated replace mechanism.
- Downloaded Model: Affords handbook management over updates and compatibility, permitting customers to put in and retain particular variations.
Key Variations Between the Two Variations
| Function | Microsoft Retailer Model | Downloaded Model |
|---|---|---|
| Updates | Robotically up to date by way of the Microsoft Retailer. | Guide updates; customers should obtain and set up new variations. |
| Set up | Simplified; only one click on from the Microsoft Retailer. | Requires downloading an installer from the Energy BI web site. |
| Model Management | At all times the most recent model obtainable. | Older variations might be retained for compatibility. |
| IT Administration | Very best for managed environments (e.g., enterprise gadgets). | Offers flexibility for organisations needing management over updates. |
| System Necessities | Requires Home windows 10 or greater. | Appropriate with older variations of Home windows. |
| Account Dependencies | Tied to the Microsoft Retailer account. | Impartial of any retailer account. |
Who Ought to Use Which Model?
Selecting between the Microsoft Retailer model and the Downloaded model of Energy BI Desktop relies on your particular wants and workflow preferences. Every model is designed to cater to completely different consumer teams, providing distinctive benefits for particular person customers, organisations, and builders. Under is a breakdown of who will profit most from every model.
Microsoft Retailer Model Greatest for:
- Particular person Customers: If you’d like the most recent options and updates with out problem, that is the best choice.
- IT-Managed Environments: Organisations utilizing instruments like Home windows Autopilot for app deployment will discover this model simpler to handle.
- Newbie or Informal Customers: Set up and updates are seamless, making it preferrred for non-technical customers.
Downloaded Model Greatest for:
- Superior Customers and Builders: Affords flexibility for testing and compatibility with legacy methods.
- Enterprise Environments: In case your organisation wants strict management over updates or makes use of older workflows, this model is good.
- Offline Use: Appropriate for environments the place the Microsoft Retailer just isn’t accessible.
Use Instances for Every Model
The Microsoft Retailer and Downloaded variations of Energy BI Desktop cater to completely different organisational and particular person wants. Their strengths align with particular use circumstances, significantly relating to governance insurance policies, system administration guidelines, and organisational IT environments. Understanding these elements is essential to selecting the best model; or leveraging each successfully.
Microsoft Retailer Model
The Microsoft Retailer model of Energy BI Desktop is good for environments the place simplicity and comfort are prioritised. It seamlessly integrates with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it significantly helpful in fashionable IT setups.
- Seamless Updates: Robotically ensures you’re operating the most recent model, eliminating the necessity for handbook intervention. That is particularly beneficial for customers or groups that don’t need to fear about checking for updates frequently.
- Ease of Entry: Very best for environments the place the Microsoft Retailer is allowed and built-in into workflows. It offers a hassle-free expertise for day-to-day use.
Downloaded Model
The Downloaded model of Energy BI Desktop is commonly most well-liked by organisations with stricter governance insurance policies and system administration guidelines. Many IT environments prohibit or fully block entry to the Microsoft Retailer for legitimate causes, together with:
- Safety Considerations: Organisations might restrict entry to the Microsoft Retailer to stop unauthorised installations of unapproved apps, lowering safety vulnerabilities.
- Managed Software program Ecosystem: Proscribing entry ensures that solely IT-approved software program is put in on company gadgets, sustaining a predictable and safe atmosphere.
In such circumstances, the Downloaded model turns into the only choice for putting in and managing Energy BI Desktop. Past this, it additionally caters to particular governance and operational necessities:
- Governance Insurance policies for Change Testing: Many organisations mandate rigorous testing of latest variations of software program earlier than deployment. These assessments be certain that updates don’t disrupt workflows, battle with current methods, or introduce bugs. With the Downloaded model, IT groups can management when updates are utilized, permitting them to check new options totally earlier than rolling them out to finish customers.
- Legacy Techniques Compatibility: In organisations operating older methods or workflows, the Downloaded model permits customers to put in and retain older builds of Energy BI Desktop, guaranteeing compatibility with legacy initiatives and environments.
- Offline Environments: In some organisations, particularly these working in air-gapped or low-connectivity environments, the Microsoft Retailer is inaccessible. The Downloaded model helps these use circumstances, enabling software program set up and updates by handbook processes.
- Customised Deployment: IT directors can bundle particular variations of the Downloaded Energy BI Desktop into broader software program packages and deploy them utilizing automation instruments like Microsoft Intune.
Why Some Customers Might Want Each Variations
Superior customers in organisations can achieve advantages from putting in each the Microsoft Retailer and Downloaded variations of Energy BI Desktop side-by-side:
- Function Testing: Builders and testers can take a look at options in a more moderen launch (up to date mechanically within the Retailer model) whereas retaining an older, secure model by the Downloaded model for comparability and compatibility checks.
- Fallback Possibility: In case an automated replace introduces bugs or disrupts workflows, the Downloaded model acts as a dependable backup to make sure uninterrupted work.
- Managing A number of Company Initiatives: Through the use of separate accounts in every model of Energy BI Desktop, builders can streamline their workflow and enhance productiveness, particularly when engaged on a number of initiatives that require completely different credentials or environments.
Conclusion
Energy BI Desktop’s two flavours (Retailer and Obtain) replicate Microsoft’s efforts to fulfill numerous consumer wants. The Retailer model is ideal for customers who worth simplicity and comfort, whereas the Downloaded model offers larger management for superior customers and organisations with extra strict governance guidelines. Some professionals might even discover worth in utilizing each variations side-by-side to cowl all their bases.
Professional Tip: When you select to put in each variations, take into account customising their icons to make them simpler to tell apart. I’ll cowl this subject in a separate weblog.
For extra insights into Energy BI Desktop and its variations, try my earlier put up: Energy BI Desktop Variations Demystified: Half 1.
Which model do you employ, and why? Let’s proceed the dialogue within the feedback!
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