Is MSI appropriate?

[Brion Keagle]

I admit to being an .MSI idiot - I really don't know much about how they
work or how to build one, but I'd like to know if .msi files would help for
the following problem we face:

Once per year all our sales guys come in from the field for a few days and
we have the opportunity to touch their systems. We usually have a whole
bunch of software upgrades, configuration tweaks, etc. that we need to
perform on all these laptops in the short amount of time we have to work on
them. We never have enough time, and the opportunity for human error is
substantial.

I'm wondering if .msi files would help by condensing all these changes down
into one double clickable solution. Is this the type of thing .msi files
can be used for? Can anyone recommend a Solution Provider or some other
consultant in the Boston area who could help with this?

Thanks!
-Brion

 

[Kallely Sajan]

Personally I won't go for msi solution here. I will probably go for a
completly scripted solution - a mix of batch and vb script files. I think
that will give you better agility.