April 2008 - Posts
Event to be held at Microsoft Farmington CT Office.
Please send a RSVP to ctdotnet@gmail.com - we need a pizza/soda count!
The marketing message behind SQL Server 2008 has certainly been odd. Phrases like "pervasive insight" and "beyond relational" are difficult to interpret, and it has been a challenge getting a solid explanation of why developers should actually pay attention to this upcoming release when SQL Server 2005 seems to do the job just fine. In this session we will plumb the depths of what's actually there -- at least as of the just-released CTP 6 -- and check out many of the features that developers will want to become familiar with. We'll talk about table-valued parameters, change tracking, the MERGE statement, the DATE and TIME data types, improved T-SQL syntax and intellisense (finally!), filestreams, spatial data support, and whatever else I can jam in without putting people to sleep.
Adam’s Bio:
Adam Machanic is the SQL Server Practice Lead for Pythian Group, a leading provider of remote, fully and partially outsourced DBA services, for over 100 clients around the world. He has been involved in dozens of SQL Server implementations, for both high-availability OLTP and large-scale data warehouse applications, and has spent quite a bit of time optimizing data access layer performance along the way. Adam has written for numerous web sites and magazines, including SQLblog, Simple Talk, Search SQL Server, SQL Server Professional, CoDe, and VSJ. He has also contributed to several books on SQL Server, including "Expert SQL Server 2005 Development" (Apress, 2007) and "Inside SQL Server 2005: Query Tuning and Optimization" (Microsoft Press, 2007). Adam regularly speaks at user groups, community events, and conferences on a variety of SQL Server and .NET-related topics. He is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for SQL Server and a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP). Check out his blog here...
This event is sponsored by TekSystems and Edge Tech Services
Our thanks to MyWinHosting & Franklins.NET for their continued support.
Link: Connecticut Dot Net Users Group
For the last couple months I've been working on a project that launched the week of the 2008 MVP Global Summit. It's a new resource for Microsoft Expression Web users - the Expression Web Wiki. The wiki was 'seeded' with content from the Expression Web Help Files, but as most wikis go, it's up for editing by the community for corrections and additions.
I had a lot of fun and frustration working on this project - I've never done a wiki before and never worked on the Unix platform. I got a lot of help from the MediaWiki Administrators’ Tutorial Guide by Mizanur Rahman, from Pam Keesey, a Technical Writer for Expression Studio at Microsoft, and from the folks at the MediaWiki User Forums. Along the way, I also got a recommendation for a great PHP editor, Eclipse PDT, from a TwitterFriend.
Please check it out and let me know what you think.
For quite a while now, I've wanted to go from two devices to one. I'm using an HP iPaq rx3715 for my Calendar and Contacts, and a Sprint Samsung A920 cell phone. After going around and around with all the options available with Sprint, I've finally chosen the Sprint HTC Mogul. It's got all the features I really wanted, not that there were that many of them, but I wanted Windows Mobile so I can sync with Outlook, a larger screen than most phones, and a larger QUERTY keyboard. The Sprint store had to order it - it's not something they keep in stock - I'm picking it up this Wednesday.
I want to thank my TwitterFriends @chrisrue @mas90guru @EdHans @callkathy and @judis217 for answering my questions and giving their opinions - you all were a great help!
Outlook Express users will no longer be able to access their Hotmail emails using Microsoft's slimmed down email client from the end of June.
Microsoft is encouraging Outlook Express users who want to continue to access their Hotmail accounts offline after June 30 to download its free Windows Live Mail software.
Users will still be able to use Outlook, the big brother of Outlook Express, to read their Hotmail messages offline, but first they may have to upgrade their Outlook Connector synchronisation software, according to information posted online by Scott Hammer, a Microsoft email support manager.
Link: Microsoft kills Hotmail via Outlook Express News - PC Advisor
We spent two days in the same building with the Expression Team and discovered there was a Microsoft Surface in the building. A few of got a chance to play with it on break!
We went downstairs a little after 3 to go over to the WSCTC to register for the MVP Summit and there were police and US State Department Displomatic Security Detail all over the lobby - we figure the Dalai Lama was checking out of the hotel - that was the rumor going around. We didn't get to see him in person.
While we were at the registration, the fire alarms went off and we all had to leave the building. And as usual, it was raining.
Tonight we are all getting together at Rock Bottom to meet and greet the Expression Product Team. I've heard we're not the only groups of MVPs meeting there - it should be a lot fun and very noisy. And we'll also get to meet Melissa Travers, our new MVP Lead!
Last night it was still around 70 degrees when we arrived in Seattle - today it's barely 40 and no sun - brrrr. I really hope it warms up again or I will be wishing I brought some shoes and socks instead of just sandals.
So far there are two groups set up on Twitter for the MVP Global Summit - @msmvpgroup and @mvp08 Follow either to keep up with the MVPs at the Summit. I think @mvp08 will win out because it's shorter - easier for texting and TinyTwitter.
and all my luggage arrived, too. The same cannot be said for Chris Leeds - Continental lost his luggage - he's on the phone with them right now trying to track it down.
The weather was gorgeous here yesterday - we all went out for a late supper at Von's, which is across the street from the Grand Hyatt. Their outdoor dining section was open last night and the street was really buzzing.
I've been watching the news this morning - the Dalai Lama is staying at our hotel, but you wouldn't know it from here.
More news later.
I know I've been slacking off here lately. Between working on a project that is launching next week and getting back to work full time after my rotator cuff surgery, I haven't spent much time here. And tomorrow I am leaving for the 2008 MVP Global Summit.
I was planning on leaving this morning, but my flight from Chicago was on an American Airlines MD-80 - you know where this is going, right? I have been rebooked to leave tomorrow afternoon, connecting in St. Louis and taking a Boeing 757 to Seattle. With any luck, I will be on my way there this time tomorrow night.
Check back here next week for a launch announcement and reports from the Summit!