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Downloads – Free Windows Server 2008 eBook

eBook - Introducing Windows Server 2008 Title: Introducing Windows Server 2008
Author: Mitch Tulloch and the
Microsoft Windows Server Team
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Published: May 30, 2007
ISBN: 9780735624214
Pages: 456
Hard copy available: $19.79 at Amazon
Register for FREE download: click here (6.5 MB)

Description:
Take a first look at the next generation of Windows Server—with insights direct from the popular author and Microsoft MVP Mitch Tulloch and the Microsoft Windows Server team. With this insider’s introduction, you will get to preview and evaluate Windows Server 2008. You will learn how to use new features that help you improve security, performance, reliability, and operational efficiency, as well as how to automate deployment and administration. Examine Windows Hypervisor virtualization, Windows Deployment Services, Internet Information Services 7.0, Windows PowerShell, Network Access Protection, and other security features. Take a guided preview from the experts and get ready to plan for deployment and perform your first upgrades and migrations to Windows Server 2008.

Source: Blog post by Ronald Grattopp (Microsoft TS2)

Update: 03/30/2008 – there’s no CD in the eBook, but you can download a 60-day trial ISO of Windows Server 2008 (that can be extended to 240 days) here. Then spin it up and install it into a Virtual PC or burn it to a DVD and install it on real hardware. -Tim

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Why People Don’t Get Twitter

Twitter - you do it and you don't even know it Bo says I’m the official Vista Apologist. I guess I’m going to be the Twitter Apologist now too.

Vlad gets Twitter. And Susan doesn’t. Fine. Tomato / tomahto.  There’s nothing wrong with that not ‘getting’ Twitter. But typically speaking, people who don’t ‘get’ Twitter dismiss it as shallow or a website for the bored. So I’m going to help folks look at Twitter in a different light.

First, Twittervision (a mashup of Twitter and Google Earth) actually *IS* a tool for the bored. In 3 minutes tonight, I saw one person suffering from a headache, one who was trying to decide what to have for dinner, a complaint about someone parking in a handicapped spot and sprinting into the store, traffic problems in Canada, wifi connection crumminess reported in Mexico, and a guy in Portugal was watching Gray’s Anatomy.  Zzzzzzzzzzzz…

Lotta Googlebots in Asia tonight (not that I was watching)

They’re not exactly building a case for effective use of time, are they?

Are these people my friends? No. Do I care what they’re doing? No.
Is it interesting? Maybe compared to watching Reba.

So if the tweets of strangers are of no use to me, are the people who actually come to my website and read my blog my friends? 
Let’s see… here are the traffic stats from a couple of posts on my blog:

image

Do I know these people? No. Obviously, there aren’t 458 friends of mine who want to ditch the Dell Wallpaper in RDP sessions, right?  Many (I’d say most) of these website visitors are just folks finding hits on search engines, they get what they need, life moves on, the planet continues to spin. Yada yada. Not Twitterers.

Side note: I have more RSS subscribers than website visitors, and the RSS readers tend to be the folks I know / friends. So if you don’t subscribe to the RSS feed and only read the blog on the website, I’m not player hatin’ on ya, OK? 🙂

What about IM? Are those people my friends / family / customers / vendors? Definitely. So why don’t I just IM everybody? Well, we’ll get to that in a minute.

The people you follow on Twitter are either:

  • a) your actual friends or acquaintances (community)
  • b) someone you would like to know more about (celeb, pundit, mover)
  • c) someone who interests you (entertaining)
  • d) someone you’re stalking (restraining order)
  • e) some type of bot like news (CNet) / service (ioubeer) / site (woot)
  • f) or you’re bored (go back to Twittervision)

So, if you use IM, do you ever put anything in the tagline? You’re in Room YXZ at Silver Cloud in Seattle? Headed NOLA for the conference?  Installing Vista Service Pack 1 on your production laptop?  Just got your MCSA? Looking for another job? Landed a big deal? In Chicago for the CPA meeting?

I hate to tell you, but that’s a Tweet.

You paying for plane fare? …tweet

et tu, HFB? …tweet

I have no idea what that means?!? …tweet

Gonna post those pics on Flickr? …tweet

Nicely done Wayne! …tweet

Susan - even you. A Twitterer at heart. …tweet

And do you read other people’s tag lines in IM as well when you login? Yep, sure you do.

Folks, you’re already Twittering and you don’t even know it!  You’re just using the wrong tool do to it. Pick the red pill.  🙂

UPDATE 03/28/2008 – This video explains Twitter better than I can:
http://www.commoncraft.com/Twitter

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Remote Desktop Client for Mac 2.0 Expiring

If you have Mac users who are using the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.0 (Beta 2), here’s a heads-up that it’s set to expire on March 31, 2008. 

image

This came as a bit of a shock to me since I don’t see any news about a replacement final version or Beta 3.  I checked with Eriq and he confirmed the absence of info. So Mac users may have an interesting April 1st this year. 🙂

UPDATE: For an alternate to Microsoft RDC for Mac, check out CoRD
http://cord.sourceforge.net/

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Free Microsoft SB Summit 2008 Next Week

If you’re involved in small business, you need to attend the
Third Annual Microsoft Small Business Summit, March 24 – 27, 2008. 

Microsoft Small Business SummitThis FREE online event provides hours
of valuable small business programming each day. You’ll get tips, advice, and secrets from experts, all designed to make the hats you wear each day fit more comfortably.

This 4-day event is broken into themes for each day (details and speaker list below). I attended the first two small business summits, and they had top notch speakers like Guy Kawasaki, and the content was fantastic.  This year looks to be a great event as well, and I HIGHLY recommend you attend.
You won’t be sorry (unless you miss it!) 🙂

Registration is free: https://www.sbsummit.com
REGISTER TODAY!

And you can watch it LIVE on NoGeekLeftBehind:
http://www.nogeekleftbehind.com/sbsummit.htm

Watch

  • Day 1 – Monday March 24 – Sales & Marketing (12 – 4PM)*
  • Day 2 – Tuesday March 25 – Productivity, Mobility & Security (12 – 4PM)*
  • Day 3 – Wednesday March 26 – Financial Management (12 – 4PM)*
  • Day 4 – Thursday March 27 – Startup Day (12 – 4PM)*

    *All times Eastern Daylight Time

Presentation schedule: https://www.sbsummit.com/program-guide.aspx?day=1

BEST PRACTICE – be sure to catch the presentations from the following
SBS Group Leaders:

Kevin Royalty [SBS-MVP] as he presents
“Run Your Business From Anywhere”
Tuesday March 25, 2008 from 2PM – 3PM Eastern

And Scott Cayouette as he presents
“Top Security Tips“
Tuesday March 25, 2008 from 3PM – 4PM Eastern

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Videos – IE 8 First Look

There was some talk Wednesday night at Fox & Hound about Internet Explorer 8, and I wanted to share these videos for those interested in seeing what’s new and cool.

MIX video:

First Look at IE8 Activities and WebSlices

Channel 10 video:

First Look: Internet Explorer 8

Download: Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 for Vista & Server 2008

Note – This is a developer’s edition, so make sure you’re playing with it on a demo or VPC machine, not in a production environment.

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Invitation – 4-Year Anniversary of the KYSBSUG

03/19/2008 @ 6:30 PM EST – REGISTER TODAY!

INVITATION: You are cordially invited to the 48th consecutive Kentucky Small Business Server User Group (KYSBSUG) meeting!

  • TOPIC: 4-Year KYSBSUG Anniversary Party (Meeting #48)
  • WHEN: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 6:30pm – 8:30 PM EST
  • VENUE: Fox and Hound Pub and Grille – Google Map
  • ADDRESS: 302 Bullitt Lane, Louisville, KY 40222
  • COST: FREE + whatever you choose to spend on food.
  • EXTRAS: Free appetizers, pool tables, really cool door prizes
  • WHO’S INVITED: KYSBSUG Members, IT Pros, Network Admins & folks interested in Microsoft Technologies
  • MAP: Click here of click the picture below for a satellite image & directions

Link to the venue - Fox & Hound

The venue of the Fox & Hound should be very familiar to everyone. We’ve had one KYSBSUG meeting there already, as well as the Louisville Geek Dinner events. (Note – This time we’ll be on the right-side rooms as you walk in the door).

 

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:

kysbsug_logo In March 2004, at a Microsoft TS2 event in Louisville, Kentucky, a very nervous Microsoft SBS user stood up in front of the crowd and announced the first SBS User Group meeting in Kentucky.  Happily, people showed up at that first meeting, and they’ve showing up every month since then.

48 months later… it’s amazing how much has changed, even just from a software perspective.

For example, here’s some Microsoft software that’s come out since meeting #1:

  • Office XP Service Pack 3
  • SBS 2003 Service Pack 1
  • SQL 2005
  • Office 2003 Service Pack 2
  • SBS 2003 R2
  • Microsoft Vista
  • Microsoft Office 2007
  • Exchange 2007
  • Windows Mobile 6
  • Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
  • Windows Home Server
  • Office 2007 Service Pack 1
  • Vista Service Pack 1
  • Office 2003 Service Pack 3
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Centro (Windows Essential Business Server 2008)
  • Cougar Beta 2 TR (SBS 2008)

…and that list is FAR from complete – there are tons more servers and desktop & productivity applications that have come out in the last 4 years.

HOW THE GROUP HAS GROWN

Our local SBS group in Louisville, KY has gone through quite a lot of meetings and changes since this all began.  We started with 7 folks, 3 pizzas, a conference room, no WiFi, and no PowerPoint slides. Since then:

  • 48 consecutive monthly meetings
  • 130 subscribers to the mailing list
  • SBS Partner Tour March 2005 – Hosting.com (70+ attendees)
  • 70-282 Study Group & Cram Sessions
  • SBS Partner Tour September 2006 – Indiana University (110+ attendees)
  • Live presentations by Microsoft TS2 & Technet folks
  • In-person & webcast presentations by Microsoft MVPs from Ohio, Alabama, Florida, Iowa & California
  • Meeting attendees via LiveMeeting and web cam from all over the USA, Canada, and even Belgium
  • Enough pizza, subs, napkins, plates, cups & 2-liters to fill a couple of minivans (at least)
  • And 1 really cool cake

It’s been a great ride, and we’d like to celebrate it with you. We’d like to ask your help in spreading the word about the event, and we look forward to seeing as many people turn out as possible. 🙂

REGISTER TODAY!
https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=126608 

SPECIAL THANKS:

The Kentucky Small Business Server User Group would like to extend a special ‘thank you’ to Jeff Slyn (Owner) of SLYN Systems & Peripherals and Katie Goldstein (Event Coordinator) and Scott Hack (General Manager) of Fox and Hound Pub and Grille for their invaluable assistance in organizing this event!  You guys totally rock!! 🙂

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I Am the Melissa Rivers of Vladville

image The SMB Community is an odd beast. Layers of relationships, politics, technical skills, information, money, experts and posers, givers and takers…
nothing is shocking really anymore.  But it’s nice when things get mixed up a little bit though.

First, Jamie Strauss sent me a link to a new SBS video blog that is, in a word, ‘different’. Not your normal screen-cast or interview-fest or self-aggrandizing we’ve come to expect in the past from the community. The videos are ‘refreshingly different’ to say the least.  And since I’m a staunch avoider of blog-on-blog action, I’ll let the videos speak for themselves.

And then there Vlad. Who is Texas. And bored. That’s never a good thing. Probably misses his Rumba already. He stopped by on IM tonight long enough to talk smack while on his hiatus.  One comment led to another. Vlad wound up having to Google ‘Premarin’ and now I am the Melissa Rivers of Vladville:

image

Between Melissa and I, one of us is seriously offended, and I think it’s her.

Good times. 🙂

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Twitter and Darth Vader

darth_vader Sunday morning, pretty day outside. Meeting was canceled due to snow-removal issues, so that injects some extra free time in my day. But the Daylight Saving Time change took some of that free time back away. 🙁 And this freaky early DST has me checking my watch every 20 minutes, which feels weird and is messing with my mind. So I’m chilling out, listening to some Portishead, doing some much MUCH needed spring cleaning, and basically avoiding thinking about doing my taxes. 

Seriously, I have no idea where all this ‘stuff’ comes from, but it just keeps piling up. Books, CDs, papers, software, posters, AC adapters that go to who knows what – just gobs and gobs of stuff… in piles.  I even found 2 copies of Vista and 2 Office 2007’s, which is really cool. So hopefully when my wife gets home she’ll be proud of me for un-rubbling the place.

Anyway, the big clean is done and I decided to take a break and check up on email and Twitter. Interestingly, I got the most unexpected funny email. Mind you, not ‘ha ha’ funny, but just weird enough to make me smile on an already surreal day:

image

I mean, that just looks bizarre, doesn’t it?  ‘Twitter’ sounds like the name of a ship or something. 🙂

See, @DarthVader has been MIA from Twitter since January, and I thought he had gone the way of @BobaFett. But apparently the Dark Lord is alive and well, currently tooling around SXSW in Texas with all the cool kids. (Hey @sMoRTy71, make Louisville proud while you’re there!)  So today it was nice to see what’s going on, and Darth is totally cracking me up because he doesn’t break character and is using quotes like, “I find my lack of trousers… disturbing“. Just wrap your head around that mentally – Darth in Austin, TX posting tweets about not finding his pants. Makes for a funny mental picture, or maybe it’s just me.

Anyway, thanks for the add Darth, and thanks for keeping the internet interesting. 🙂

Darth Vader on Twitter

And just because I can, here’s a nice Darth video:

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