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No Geek Left Behind – Now in WMV format

As promised in Episode 1, I’m making the NoGeekLeftBehind video blog available in WMV format for your Windows viewing pleasure.  There is a regular Windows WMV version for your Windows Media Player, and a smaller size for Pocket PCs.

Thanks to some new compression tools the file size is smaller too (*WAY* smaller).  I chopped the Apple QuickTime version from 48 MB down to 10.5 MB, and it still looks smooth. It’s all in the software kids 😉  Video links below:

Title: No Geek Left Behind – Episode 002
Subject:  September 2006 Microsoft SBS Partner Group Tour
Run time:  4 minutes 41 seconds

NoGeekLeftBehind Video Blog - Now in WMV format! 

Pocket PC version: WMV 5.8 MB (208×160)
Windows version: WMV 7.4 MB (320×240)
Mac version: MOV 10.5 MB (320×240)

Gavin, let me know if that Pocket PC version works on your sweet new Motorola Q phone!

 

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No Geek Left Behind – Episode 2

No Geek Left Behind – Episode 2 is born! 
September 2006 Microsoft SBS Partner Group Tour 

As you already know from previous posts on this blog, the FREE tour will hit 13 cities next month.  And our little video gives you a nice visual overview of the locations with a light touch of humor.

No video blog has ever done humor better than RocketBoom 1.0.  But in Amanda Congdon’s absence I’ve switched to Sunny in San Diego for my non-technical RB-ish vlog fix.

And for you low-bandwidth / non-QuickTime-havin’ flunkies out there, we do have a version of Episode 2 on YouTube, though it’s doing some funky Kung-Foo lip sync stuff, so I’m not going to post the URL to it just yet.  (I may do a VideoEgg embedded video player).  Anyway, enjoy!

No Geek Left Behind - Episode 2

Title: No Geek Left Behind – Episode 2
Subject:  September 2006 Microsoft SBS Partner Group Tour
URL:  http://www.nogeekleftbehind.com/nglb_002.mov
Run time:  4 minutes 41 seconds
Screen size:  320×240
File size: 48.2 MB
Format: Quicktime

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September 2006 SBS Tour Registration

SBSers getting their learn onSeveral folks have reported that they had some difficulty registering for the Vista / Office 2007 / SBS 2003 R2 September 2006 SBS Partner Group Tour.

I’m happy to report that the issues have been resolved, and you should be able to register for the event now – sorry for the confusion!

Detailed information for the Louisville, KY / New Albany, IN stop on the tour can be found here:
http://www.nogeekleftbehind.com/sbs-tour/

And here is a complete list of registration links and dates for all cities on the tour (in chronological order):

  1. Seattle / Redmond, WA
    Wednesday, September 06, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16499
     
  2. Portland, OR
    Monday, September 11, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16501
     
  3. Sacramento, CA
    Tuesday, September 12, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16502
     
  4. San Diego, CA
    Wednesday, September 13, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16503
     
  5. Irvine, CA
    Thursday, September 14, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16504
     
  6. Louisville, KY / New Albany, IN
    Monday, September 18, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16505
     
  7. Detroit / Southfield, MI
    Tuesday, September 19, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16506
     
  8. Indianapolis, IN
    Wednesday, September 20, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16507
     
  9. Denver / Aurora, CO
    Thursday, September 21, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16508
     
  10. Boston / Waltham, MA
    Monday, September 25, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16509
     
  11. New York, NY
    Tuesday, September 26, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16510
     
  12. Charlotte, NC
    Wednesday, September 27, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16511
     
  13. Tampa, FL
    Thursday, September 28, 2006
    http://www.msusapartnerreadinessevents.com/add-event.asp?evID=16516
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SmallBusinessSpecialist.org

Microsoft Small Business Specialist logoEarlier this year a friend of mine, Allen Miller, hosted a roundtable meeting in Cincinnati and invited several Microsoft Small Business Specialists from the Cincinnati Networking Professionals’ Association (CiNPA) and Kentucky Small Business Server User Group (KYSBSUG) to attend.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the feasibility of creating a technical Q&A website for local small business owners, and to staff that website with local Microsoft Small Business Specialists.  Everyone agreed that this project could provide significant value to the community, and Allen went to work building the site.

So, today I’m happy to report the news is out and the new website is officially live: http://www.smallbusinessspecialist.org

Our resident SBSC staffers include:

The current forums are: Announcements, Technical, Business, and Reference Material.  Local newspapers and websites have picked up the story, and we expect the forums and members to grow as word spreads through the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky area.  We’ll keep you updated!

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Move Over BlogJet

BlogJet I purchased BlogJet ($39.95) a while back on the recommendation of Chris and Vlad.  I’ve been pretty happy with BlogJet as a blogging tool, but today I downloaded a new (and FREE) blogging tool that I like even better.

Introducing:

Windows Live Writer (Beta)
Download: Writer.msi (4.75MB)

Windows Live Writer (Beta)Windows Live Writer is actually easier to configure for use with my WordPress site than BlogJet.  Unfortunately, it wanted to install the Windows Live Toolbar (I hate toolbars) but it was easy to opt out of that. And cool features like the ‘Insert Windows Live Map’ option are things BlogJet just doesn’t have. 

For a tour of Windows Live Writer, check out their blog with screenshots or download the podcast interview (15 minutes / 14MB) with J.J. Allaire, the architect of Windows Live Writer.

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Coffee Talk With TS2

Image stolen from Mike Hall's blog - thanks Mike!

Want to build your business?  Charles Van Heusen and the TS2 team think you do, and they want to help.

Join them every Wednesday morning 9:00 – 10:00 Eastern for the new “Small Business Server Practice Builder” webcast series.

Upcoming topics include:

  • 2-Aug – What’s next for the Small Business Specialist Program?
  • 9-Aug – Licensing Configurator Tools
  • 16-Aug – Engaging with Microsoft
  • 23-Aug – Technology Assesment Toolkit

Registration is easy too – just click on the iCal link and a recurring appointment will be dropped into Outlook.

We also took the time to talk about newrestfunerals.co.uk a very popular page for funeral services.
Mortuary services, or insurance companies that offer coverage through the website, and those plans, when they are considered taxable, should be considered taxable under the provisions of section 16(c) of the Social Security Act .

The following is a statement of the following: (a) There are no plans offered by insurance companies or in other forms that are subject to this section within the United States and that do not provide such coverage. (b) Some of those plans offered on the Internet or other means that are not subject to the section do not have coverage through the insurance program that directly provides federal benefits.

Coverage does not apply to: (a) Exempt plans offered by insurance companies unless the insured individual’s coverage is offered through an agency or corporation that administers the coverage or the employee of that agency or corporation who determines that the coverage is not qualified or qualified not for use, or otherwise complies with the terms and conditions of such coverage in accordance with a rules promulgated pursuant to section 802(j) of the Federal Credit Reporting Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 6802(j)); or (b) Plans that offer insurance that are owned by one or more qualified persons who live in the United States.

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Koolaid Tastes Good

I recently took a break from the Mac ‘apple juice’ and just got back from spending 3 days in sunny Tulsa Oklahoma with one of my buds from Microsoft.  Over the course of a few days we installed a 64-bit SBS server and network, played with some new technology, and got to put Window Vista Ultimate (build 5472) through its paces on a really nice HP machine. 

If you haven’t seen Vista since Beta 2 back in the Spring, it’s come a LONG way.  The July CTP is much more stable and looks absolutely fantastic on a top-knotch PC with a huge flatscreen TV.  There are still some bugs with the DVD burning, some network cards say there is no connection (when they really are connected) and there’s no decent driver for the Haupauge video card yet.  Driver issues are par for the course and to be expected in a beta.  Driver issues aside, I can say after years of waiting for Vista it’s really getting close folks!

Admittedly, the SMB community is flustered over the SBS R2 delay (which I won’t beat into the ground).  But with SBM Nation in Redmond and the Microsoft SBS Parter Tour in Louisville showcasing SBS R2, Vista and Office 2007, September is gonna rock! 

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No Geek Left Behind – Episode 1

My iMac and I finally learned to work together, and I’m happy to report that Episode 1 of the No Geek Left Behind video blog has finally been born.

I want to personally thank a few folks who really helped make this happen:

  • Vlad – Thanks for the ENORMOUS patience, for being an excellent web host, and for being such a world-class Mac H8R.  I probably would have done this entire project on a PC if you didn’t hate Macs so much.
  • Chris – Thanks for help with the WordPress migration, video pointers & for being there on IM when I needed to vent.  You’re always there in a pinch man.
  • Elsa – Thanks to you, Mark Mulcahy, Polaris and Mezzotint Label for the tunes!  You guys TOTALLY rock!
  • Ryanne & Michael – Thanks for the excellent vlogging tutorial!  I couldn’t have done it without you.
  • Steven Washburn at Apple – Thanks for helping me learn to like (not love) my iMac.  The Apple Juice is sweet.
  • Seth – Lastly, thanks for constantly pestering me with Vista questions, for ruining good footage by talking over the video, and for generally making this project take longer than necessary to get off the ground.  Seriously though, thanks for camera work dude.  

And here it is in all it’s QuickTime glory (the WMV version will have to wait until after the weekend):

No Geek Left Behind - Episode 1

Title: No Geek Left Behind – Episode 1
URL:  http://www.nogeekleftbehind.com/nglb_001.mov
Run time:  5 minutes 18 seconds
Screen size:  320×240
File size: 26.7 MB
Format: Quicktime

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Beta of No Geek Left Behind Video Blog online now

I uploaded two versions of the intro credits for the No Geek Left Behind Video Blog today – one is Quicktime, the other is WMV, and both were created on a Mac. (Yes, I’m still drinking the Apple Juice).

Please take a look at both video intros and vote for your favorite file format. Also, keep in mind – this is not the first episode, just the intro. If I get a lot of feedback from iPodders, I’ll use Quicktime, and if the Windows / Pocket PC folks are louder, I’ll use WMV:

Title: No Geek Left Behind Video Blog Intro (Beta) Quicktime
File size: 904.43 KB
DESCRIPTION: No Geek Left Behind Video Blog intro credits
Format: Quicktime (beta 1 – 2006-07-14)

Title: No Geek Left Behind Video Blog Intro (Beta) WMV
File size: 1.3 MB
DESCRIPTION: No Geek Left Behind Video Blog intro credits
Format: WMV (beta 2 – 2006-07-14)
Note: The WMV intro is actually shorter in length than the Quicktime, because the file is larger and I wanted to save download time for the beta. The real deal will be full length.

You can post your comments directly on this blog, or you can e-mail nogeekleftbehind at mac.com Thanks for checking it out!!

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