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Windows 7 vs Ice Storm

This picture was taken in front of my house the morning of 01/28/2009 Tonight the Kentucky Small Business Server User Group (KYSBSUG) is scheduled to have our 59th consecutive monthly meeting. The topic is “Windows 7 – First Look”. Unfortunately, we’re in the midst of an ice storm in Louisville, which makes driving (and even getting electricity) rather difficult. I checked in on Kevin Royalty up in Cincinnati and apparently they’ve got even worse conditions than we do (they’ve got 10” of snow and ice so far).

Here are some pictures of the conditions near my house in Louisville:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/timbarrett/sets/72157613043239653/

The show must go on though, if possible. And to be on the safe side, instead of risking life and limb on the icy roads tonight, we’re switching to a Microsoft Live Meeting format. Here’s the registration link:
http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=135145

The Live Meeting seats are limited and will be made available on a first-come first-served basis. The actual Live Meeting URL will be emailed out to all registered attendees at 6:00 PM Eastern (GMT –5). If you don’t get an email at 6:00, we don’t have power. 🙂 We hope to see you there!

02/02/2009 UPDATE: You can now download a ZIP file with the entire Windows 7 presentation. Instructions:

  1. Simply right-click and save this file (40.5 MB) to your hard drive.
  2. Unzip the file.
  3. Double-click the ReplayMeeting.htm file to replay the meeting.
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Watch the SBS 2008 Launch Live – 11/12/2008

Click here to watch the SBS / EBS 2008 launch on 11/12/2008It’s been five long years since SBS 2003 was released (and over two years since SBS 2003 R2 came out).

Tomorrow is the big day:

Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008 launch event!

You can tune in LIVE!

Details:

    See you there! 🙂

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    Moving to Vista 64-bit

    Last night I finally bit the bullet and wiped my corporate box and installed Windows Vista 64-bit. I am determined to march forward no matter what.

    Initial impression of the 64-bit OS?: SMOKING FAST

    Vista 64-bit clocks in at 5.2 on the Vista Base Score

    The only driver issue was for my Plantronics DSP 500 USB headset, and that wasn’t even a driver issue really, it was just a configuration issue. So far everything is working great, and I’ve got a VPC of XP waiting on a second drive in case I run into any programs that aren’t 64-bit compatible.

    The next OS decision it whether or not I should flatten my laptop and run Windows Server 2008 as a workstation OS.

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    SBS 2008 Pricing Announced

    Per the Microsoft press release dated 05/13/1008:

    Slated for general availability later this year, Windows Essential Server Solutions are much easier for small and midsize companies to implement and manage than separate products. In response to customer and partner feedback, Windows Essential Server Solutions provide flexible pricing and licensing that offer substantial cost savings over purchasing individual products like those included in the solutions. Examples of licensing improvements over the current Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 product include these:

    • Customers will be able to purchase single client access licenses (CALs), so they will pay only for the exact number of employees using the product.
    • Customers can cost-effectively purchase a mix of Standard or Premium CALs, as appropriate to the technologies that individual employees are using.
    • CALs now apply to other copies of Windows Server, SQL Server or Exchange Server on the network, eliminating the need to purchase additional CALs.

    Also, Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes additional Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies with SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business, making it an ideal platform for critical business applications.

    Windows Essential Server Solutions pricing* is as follows:

    • Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $1,089 (U.S.); additional CALs $77 each (U.S.)
    • Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $1,899 (U.S.); additional CALs $189 each (U.S.)
    • Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $5,472 (U.S.); additional CALs $81 each (U.S.)
    • Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $7,163 (U.S.); additional CALs $195 each (U.S.)

    Microsoft also today announced rebates of up to $200 (U.S.) for solution provider partners configuring Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 for their clients who acquire the software and purchase Software Assurance within a certain time period. With Software Assurance, customers will receive the upgrade to Small Business Server 2008 at no additional cost when it is available, as well as access to support, tools and training. Terms and conditions of the rebates are available at http://www.SBSrebate.com.

    Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/may08/05-13PublicPreviewPricingPR.mspx

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    Windows Me – Still Alive

    Filed under: Crazy Screen Shots

    Spotted in the wild today – Windows Me

    • Expired Norton 2000
    • Missing 41 updates
    • No firewall
    • Connected to the internet via broadband

    image

    Wow! Can you say "pwned"?  Sure, I knew you could!

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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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    Vista Ultimate & SP1 in Next Action Pack

    maps Per Ron Grattopp’s blog (Microsoft TS2 Presenter Extraordinaire) , the next Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) update will include Windows Vista Business w/ SP1 slipstreamed.

    That’s cool, but even cooler, the MAPS update will contain one copy of Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1.

    Per the Microsoft Partner web site:

    • Mid-March 2008 delivery of Microsoft Windows Vista Business with SP1 in a special Action Pack shipment to partners worldwide. To make it easier for you to deploy the final release of Windows Vista SP1 for internal use, all subscribers will receive full code. Not currently an Action Pack subscriber? Find out how to subscribe. New subscribers will receive Windows Vista with SP1 as part of the April 2008 Welcome Kit.

    • One license for Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 (full code*) for internal use, so you can discuss this product’s benefits and features with customers who need a single PC to fulfill their work, travel, and entertainment needs. This software will be delivered in the regular Action Pack quarterly update (April 2008) for current subscribers, and for new Action Pack subscribers starting in April 2008.

    • A comprehensive set of readiness resources to arm you to sell and support Windows Vista SP1 solutions for your small- or midsize-business customers as momentum builds.

    • Exciting incentives and promotions that reward you for learning, using, and selling SP1.

      • Source: https://partner.microsoft.com/40052827

    So be on the lookout for the mid-March MAPS update. And thanks for the heads-up Ron.

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    Downloading Vista Service Pack 1

    windowsvista_logo_small As Susan pointed out yesterday, Vista Service Pack 1 is available for TechNet Plus subscribers.

    Since I can’t find my TechNet info, the good news is that Vista SP1 is also available for MSDN subscribers:

    image

    The EXE version weighs in at 434.5 MB:

    image

    The ISO DVD version is a stout 1.13 GB:
    image

    Download speeds are pretty quick this morning.
    1.13 GB in 18 minutes. I like that. 🙂

    We’ll post the public URL when it hits general consumption status.

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    So Close, Yet So Far Away

    UPS arrived today with a package from Redmond.  That’s always a good sign.

    “What’s inside,” you say?

    Is it a beta?

    Perhaps a shirt?

    A box of squishy stress-balls?

    Vista Ultimate?

    Nope, nope, nope & another nope!

    2008_MVP_Welcome_Kit

    Nice, and yet again you ask, “What’s inside?”

    Behold…

    Wow, that is totally NOT my name. Ha!!

    Um, that ain’t me folks!  LOL! 🙂

    So, congratulations to Richard Seroter, BizTalk Server MVP for 2008 – wherever you are… 😉

    P.S. Actually, I did send Richard and my MVP Lead an email, so we’ll get things straightened out. I just had to share this humorous moment with everyone.

    Looking for products to help increase your appetite? Check out this Ice Cream Cookies Weed Strain Review by Fresh Bros.

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