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 person wants, cloud-based reporting versus on-premises reporting.
However the story doesn’t finish there. Inside 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 totally different options and experiences. On this weblog, we’ll study why these two variations exist, how they differ, and which model would possibly 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 offer flexibility for various person 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 computerized replace mechanism.
- Downloaded Model: Provides guide 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 | Mechanically 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 | All the time the newest model accessible. | Older variations might be retained for compatibility. |
| IT Administration | Excellent for managed environments (e.g., enterprise gadgets). | Gives flexibility for organisations needing management over updates. |
| System Necessities | Requires Home windows 10 or increased. | Suitable 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 is determined by your particular wants and workflow preferences. Every model is designed to cater to totally different person teams, providing distinctive benefits for particular person customers, organisations, and builders. Beneath is a breakdown of who will profit most from every model.
Microsoft Retailer Model Finest for:
- Particular person Customers: If you would like the newest options and updates with out trouble, that is the best possibility.
- 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 Finest for:
- Superior Customers and Builders: Provides flexibility for testing and compatibility with legacy techniques.
- 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 isn’t accessible.
Use Instances for Every Model
The Microsoft Retailer and Downloaded variations of Energy BI Desktop cater to totally different organisational and particular person wants. Their strengths align with particular use circumstances, significantly with regards to governance insurance policies, system administration guidelines, and organisational IT environments. Understanding these elements is vital 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: Mechanically ensures you’re working the newest model, eliminating the necessity for guide intervention. That is particularly useful for customers or groups that don’t wish to fear about checking for updates often.
- Ease of Entry: Excellent for environments the place the Microsoft Retailer is allowed and built-in into workflows. It gives a hassle-free expertise for day-to-day use.
Downloaded Model
The Downloaded model of Energy BI Desktop is usually most well-liked by organisations with stricter governance insurance policies and system administration guidelines. Many IT environments prohibit or utterly block entry to the Microsoft Retailer for legitimate causes, together with:
- Safety Issues: Organisations could restrict entry to the Microsoft Retailer to forestall unauthorised installations of unapproved apps, decreasing 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 surroundings.
In such circumstances, the Downloaded model turns into the only real possibility 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 recent variations of software program earlier than deployment. These checks make sure that updates don’t disrupt workflows, battle with present techniques, 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 Methods Compatibility: In organisations working older techniques or workflows, the Downloaded model permits customers to put in and retain older builds of Energy BI Desktop, making certain 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 way of guide 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 Could 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 way of the Downloaded model for comparability and compatibility checks.
- Fallback Choice: In case an computerized replace introduces bugs or disrupts workflows, the Downloaded model acts as a dependable backup to make sure uninterrupted work.
- Managing A number of Company Tasks: 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 totally different credentials or environments.
Conclusion
Energy BI Desktop’s two flavours (Retailer and Obtain) replicate Microsoft’s efforts to satisfy numerous person wants. The Retailer model is ideal for customers who worth simplicity and comfort, whereas the Downloaded model gives higher management for superior customers and organisations with extra strict governance guidelines. Some professionals could even discover worth in utilizing each variations side-by-side to cowl all their bases.
Professional Tip: For those who 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, take a look at 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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