November 2007 - Posts

• Webcast about the next SQL Server 2008 - Codename Katmai

  If you hate reading and want to know what's upcoming in SQL Server 2008, you can view a webcast given at TechEd 2007.  It will give you the lowdown on all the new SQL Server features and where it's headed. Webcast: The Next Release of Microsoft SQL Server Overview Posted Nov 30 2007, 11:47 PM by Randy Walker with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Training, Microsoft, SQL Server

• Building a Sidebar Gadget in Windows Vista

  Microsoft has released a wonderful Virtual Lab on how to build a Sidebar Gadget in Vista. ISV Virtual Lab: Building a Simple Sidebar Gadget in Windows Vista Posted Nov 30 2007, 02:39 AM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Programming

• FREE Microsoft Visual Studio Team System Training

  Microsoft is making available the following Web Seminars available for free through the Microsoft Partner Program.   ISV Innovation Presents 1/6: Introducing Application Lifecycle Management Web Seminars (Live) Available 1/21/2008 Audience: Technical This Web seminar introduces Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), and explains the business rationale and business benefits of ALM. After this session you will understand how an organization can get started with ALM. The seminar also introduces Visual Studio® Team System as Microsoft’s solution   ISV Innovation Presents 2/6: Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server Web Seminars (Live) Available 1/22/2008 Audience: Technical In this Web seminar you will become familiar with the architecture of Team Foundation Server. You will learn how projects are managed, how code is moved in and out of source control, and how to work with the TFS build system.   ISV Innovation Presents 3/6: Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System 2008 Architecture Edition Web Seminars (Live) Available 1/23/2008 Audience: Technical This session presents the architect’s perspective in the software development lifecycle and focuses on the features unique to Team System Architecture Edition for Software Architects. Specifically, you will learn how to use the application and software modeling tools, and how to plan for deployment   ISV Innovation Presents 4/6: Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System 2008 Development Edition Web Seminars (Live) Available 1/24/2008 Audience: Technical This session presents the developer’s perspective in the software development lifecycle and focuses on the features unique to Team System Development Edition for Software Developers. Specifically, you will learn how to perform code analysis, strategies for performance tuning and how to create unit   ISV Innovation Presents 5/6: Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System 2008 Test Edition Web Seminars (Live) Available 1/24/2008 Audience: Technical This session presents the tester’s perspective in the software development lifecycle and focuses on the features unique to Team System Test Edition for Software Testers. Specifically, you will learn how to perform Web tests, Load tests, and how to integrate non-standard, custom tests into your   ISV Innovation Presents 6/6: Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team System 2008 Database Edition Web Seminars (Live) Available 1/25/2008 Audience: Technical This session presents the database professional’s perspective in the software development lifecycle and focuses on the features unique to Team System Database Edition for Database Professionals. Specifically, you will learn how to leverage the T-SQL Editor, how to manage schemas and how to perform Posted Nov 30 2007, 02:30 AM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Training, Programming, Microsoft, Business Help, Partner Program

• Microsoft Partner Benefit: Cheap Instructor Led Training for Visual Studio 2008

  Probably one of the best benefits of the Microsoft Partner Program is the extremely cheap Instructor Led Training program.  Take for instance, you have an intern that you want to get up to speed on the newly released Visual Studio 2008.  For a whopping $199, you get two full days of training.  I believe the standard training fee for most companies is between $500 to $1000 per day.  That's a 90% discount on Instructor Led Training! In addition, if you sign up for Microsoft's training program, you can typically get vouchers for the certification tests for free (you'll need to talk with the Partner Program for availability). Microsoft Partner OnRamp: Introduction to Visual Studio 2008 For the Visual Studio 2008 training, the schedule is as follows: Technorati Tags: Microsoft,Partner Program,Business Help,Training 11/29/2007 - 11/30/2007 Morristown, NJ 12/3/2007 - 12/4/2007 New York, NY 12/4/2007 - 12/5/2007 Chicago (Oakbrook), IL 12/6/2007 - 12/7/2007 Miami, FL 12/10/2007 - 12/11/2007 Edina, MN 12/13/2007 - 12/14/2007 Mason, OH 12/17/2007 - 12/18/2007 Bellevue, WA 12/20/2007 - 12/21/2007 Gardena, CA 1/8/2008 - 1/9/2008 Houston, TX 1/10/2008 - 1/11/2008 Austin, TX 1/14/2008 - 1/15/2008 Irvine, CA 1/17/2008 - 1/18/2008 Beaverton, OR 1/21/2008 - 1/22/2008 Denver, CO 1/24/2008 - 1/25/2008 Phoenix, AZ 1/28/2008 - 1/29/2008 San Francisco, CA 1/31/2008 - 2/1/2008 Alpharetta, GA 2/14/2008 - 2/15/2008 New York, NY 2/21/2008 - 2/22/2008 Dallas, TX Posted Nov 30 2007, 01:17 AM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Training, Microsoft, Business Help, Partner Program

• Carpooling to the Tulsa InstallFest - Dec3, 6pm - Free Visual Studio 2008 Pro

  We will be carpooling to the following event in Tulsa. Dec 3rd - Visual Studio 2008 InstallFest / Holiday Party Please attend our special event - Visual Studio 2008 InstallFest / Holiday Party on Monday, December 3rd, 2007 - 6pm to UPDATE! Seating is limited! 150 Copies will be mailed to those who register in advance using the following link and attend: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032360634&Culture=en-UShttp://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032360634&Culture=en-US We will have a waiting list to account for no-shows and some of those who have RSVP'd have access to MSDN subscription and may be willing to allow some one else to get their copy -- so don't despair! If you attend AND install Visual Studio 2008 trial edition(installation requirement has been waived, but you must register via link above) - you will receive via snail mail your free physical copy of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition! Posted Nov 26 2007, 11:31 PM by Randy Walker with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Local Events

• Windows SteadyState 2.5 Beta

  In case you haven't heard about Windows SteadyState, it's an application meant for Internet Cafe's, Learning Centers, Schools, and anywhere else you want your PC to revert back to a "Steady State". The new beta is supposed to work on Vista. You can read more about it, as well as download it here. Posted Nov 26 2007, 03:34 PM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Productivity

• Microsoft's Installer Cleanup ... worthless

  Ok, someone tell me why Microsoft would create this wonderful utility that helps clean up bad programs that didn't install properly, and then wrap it up in an Installer! If you're having problems installing, then obviously you aren't going to be able to install this nice utility .... sheezh http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301 Posted Nov 21 2007, 04:37 PM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Complaints

• Small Business MasterCard Rebates (works with your current rebate program)

  If you're like me, you have a Credit Card that gives your frequent flyer miles or points for something you can purchase, offered from the issuing bank. My corporate CitiBusiness card happens to be a MasterCard and I found out that there is an additional Rebate program offered by MasterCard. Unfortunately you have to sign up for the program before you're enrolled. I learned about it via Microsoft's adCenter newsletter, which mentioned they offer a 3% rebate through the program. Some of the companies participating are: Intuit, DHL, Microsoft adCenter, Budget, Avis, mimeo.com, Wyndham hotels, Sure Payroll https://www.mastercardezsavings.com Posted Nov 20 2007, 10:28 PM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Business Help

• Git yer Books for Free

  One of the great ways to get training for yourself or your company's employees is by getting FREE books! Just about all companies will give you a free book if you review your book and post it online at places like Amazon.com or BarnesAndNobles.com. I really like the Apress technical books because they do really great topics, however I'm still miffed because they didn't send me the T-shirt I bought from their website (they refunded me and told me they'd send me a free shirt, but amazingly that didn't show up either). Anyway, here is a list of their books they pushing for reviews. Holler at me to find out how to get your free book. "Beginning C# 2008: From Novice to Professional" By Christian Gross | ISBN: 1-59059-869-5 http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590598695 "Accelerated C# 2008" By Trey Nash | ISBN: 1-59059-873-3 http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590598733 "Pro ASP.NET 3.5 in C# 2008, Second Edition" By Matthew MacDonald | ISBN: 1-59059-893-8 http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590598938 "Beginning ASP.NET 3.5 in VB 2008: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition" By Matthew MacDonald | ISBN: 1-59059-892-X http://www.apress.com/book/view/159059892X "Beginning ASP.NET 3.5 in C# 2008: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition" By Matthew MacDonald | ISBN: 1-59059-891-1 http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590598911 "Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition" Andrew Troelsen | ISBN: 1-59059-884-9 http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590598849 "Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008" By Joseph C. Rattz, Jr. | ISBN: 1-59059-789-3 http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590597893 Posted Nov 19 2007, 01:54 AM by Randy Walker with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Training, Books, Business Help

• Free Grid FX License

  Software FX is evidently giving away their Grid FX. Please let me know how valid this giveaway is. http://www.softwarefx.com Posted Nov 13 2007, 12:06 AM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: .Net

• Microsoft to release .Net Source Code

  For some reason, this bit of news escaped me. Microsoft will be releasing the source code for Visual Studio 2008 and the .Net Framework 3.5 under a reference license. The reference license means you can review but not modify or distribute. I would think this would be good news for the MONO front. The Redmond Developer News magazine quotes Scott Guthrie saying that it should help developers better understand "the inner workings of the framework's source code." Posted Nov 13 2007, 12:04 AM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: .Net

• New Microsoft Virtual Machine Remote Control Management Software

  Looks like they've upgraded the console to include the management piece. It's also in an x64 flavor as well. Virtual Machine Remote Control Client Plus (VMRCplus) This tool combines configuration management and remote control of Virtual Server and virtual machines from a single Windows application. Posted Nov 12 2007, 11:34 PM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Microsoft

• Code Trip

  Code Trip refers to a road trip, not the experience you have when overdosing on Jolt cola and Pizza during your late night hacking. The sad thing is, I may have a copy of Microsoft Bob, which they refer to. Hopefully I can talk them into stopping by Arkansas so we can show them how to call those Hogs! http://thecodetrip.com/Learn-More.aspx Posted Nov 12 2007, 11:06 PM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: .Net

• Guitar Hero on steroids, new X-Box 360 game Rock Band

  I visted Best Buy this weekend and I thought oh neat, they have a drum set for Guitar Hero. Wrong! I looked closer and they had two guitars, a drum set, and a microphone hooked up to the X-Box 360 playing a new game called Rock Band. I'm wondering now if they weren't being paid to play and advertise the game. The game looked spectacular on the 60" HD set they had it on. It looked like it played similar to Guitar Hero, but what I thought was really nifty was the microphone. At the top of the game, they show a Karaoke like text of the song as well as relative pitch. I've only played Guitar Hero a couple of times and enjoyed it, but this new Rock Band game looks like it's going to be the next new spectacular game. Much like how the WII has changed gaming, I expect Rock Band to do the same to an already effective Guitar Hero line of games. Rock Band preview video Posted Nov 12 2007, 10:26 PM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Gaming

• You can now follow me on Twitter

  I've really gotten addicted to Twitter today. Using TeleTwitter has made it easier to update and reply to people. Basically it's Blogging and IM merged into one. You're just limited to 140 characters. http://twitter.com/vonlar Posted Nov 07 2007, 05:13 PM by Randy Walker with no comments Filed under: Internet