Keith Combs' Blahg

Infrastructure and Planning Guide mother load

Keith Combs — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:06:41 GMT

The Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) guides are the next version of Windows Server System Reference Architecture. The guides in this series help clarify and streamline design processes for Microsoft infrastructure technologies, with each guide addressing a unique infrastructure technology or scenario.

Here’s the updated list of the guides now available on the download center. Click the pic to head over to the download center for the individual downloads.

Go get em @ http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=732.

Fond memories - one day I’ll have one

Keith Combs — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:20:33 GMT

A friend of mine in high school had one. There was a Datsun place behind the establishment I worked at in college. I’ve always wanted one. I told myself back in the poor days of college I would buy a new Z someday when I can afford it. In 2004, I came close. I didn’t like the current Z so I bought the Infiniti G Coupe. It wasn’t the same. It wasn’t a Z. So when I ran across the picture above, it rekindled the Z fire. I want one again. Grin.

Mini VGA? Really?

Keith Combs — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:13:56 GMT

Could someone please explain to me why mini VGA is a port on two of the latest Ultrabook style machines? The second generation Samsung Series 9 machine, and the latest ASUS Zenbook (not yet shipping) both have mini HDMI and mini VGA. I get that a lot of you might want to connect the notebook to a HDTV so full size HDMI or mini HDMI is needed, but why mini VGA instead of mini DisplayPort?

Somebody please explain this to me.

I know how this will go. Someone will come armed with data showing the pervasive resolution of desktop LCD panels is still at or below 1920x1200 or 1920x1080. I know that. But there are all sort of adapters that convert from mini DP to VGA. There are plenty of adapters that convert from mini DP to HDMI and DVI for that matter.

If mini DisplayPort lets you easily go to VGA, DVI and HDMI, why isn’t that being chosen on a cubic centimeter constrained Ultrabook class machine? I know, here come the dongle arguments.

Port Conversions

VGA - if you have a VGA port on your notebook, it’s used as VGA. Nobody really converts to anything else, right?
Mini VGA - like the big legacy VGA connector, you aren’t really going to convert from mini VGA to anything other than VGA.
HDMI - having a full size HDMI port on your notebook is the easiest connection to a modern HDTV. Converting to anything else, not so much. The problem with HDMI is that it doesn’t support resolutions above 1920x1200. And getting from HDMI to VGA, DVI and DisplayPort is a pain.
Mini HDMI - easily converted to standard HDMI. Really dirt cheap dongles and couplers from places like monoprice.com. Going from mini HDMI to VGA is harder and requires a special dongle. You will pay for that privilege. Going from mini HDMI to single link DVI is relatively easy and cheap. Going from mini HDMI to dual link DVI or DisplayPort and resolutions about 1920x1200 is either impossible or expensive.
DisplayPort - seeing a full size DisplayPort connector on a notebook is pretty rare. The ThinkPad's have had them for a while and converting from DP to DVI is relatively cheap and easy. DP to HDMI is cheap and easy, too. DP to VGA is also typically below $20 for an adapter. And DP to DP works and gives you full resolution on high resolution panels sporting 2560x1440 or above.
Mini DisplayPort - like the full size DisplayPort, converting to DVI, HDMI and VGA is easily done. There are plenty of connectors and adapters. Mini DP to DP is easily done cheaply thus supporting high resolutions LCD panels.

So if it’s relatively easy and cheap to go from mini DisplayPort to everything else, why isn’t it on ALL of the new Ivy Bridge notebook computers. Somebody please explain this one to me.

The Windows 8 User Experience Gets Explained

Keith Combs — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:11:30 GMT

Yesterday the Windows development team posted a lengthy blog post on the history of the Windows UI, and the thinking behind the decisions they are making for Windows 8. Here’s an excerpt from that article:

“At the D: All Things Digital conference in June 2011, we demonstrated for the first time the new user interface that we developed for Windows 8. This new UI is fast and fluid to use, and optimized for mobile form factors such as laptops, tablets, and convertibles, where people spend the vast majority of their time today. Windows 8 works equally well with mouse, keyboard, or your fingers, and has the best pen support of any OS. It supports multiple displays and the widest array of configurations and form factors of any OS. On top of all that, Windows 8 introduces a new kind of app, which we codenamed “Metro style” following the design language that has evolved going back to Windows Media Center and the new Windows Phone. These apps are immersive, full-screen, beautiful, and optimized for the ways that people commonly use devices today.

I thought it would be useful to take a step back and describe a little bit of the background of how the Windows 8 user interface was designed, and discuss some of the decisions we’ve made and the goals of this new experience in more detail.” - by Jensen Harris, Director of Program Management for the User Experience.

See the full article @ http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/18/creating-the-windows-8-user-experience.aspx.

I totally want this for my home office

Keith Combs — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:53:22 GMT

For Sale !!!

[UPDATE for 5/19/2012] Apparently this specimen and auction is of dubious origin. Maybe I don’t want it for my home office after all. See the article on this possible illegally obtained critter at http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/05/stop-the-tarbosaurus-auction/

[Update for 5/20/2012] “The Honorable Carlos Cortez, a Dallas, Texas district court judge, granted a “Temporary Restraining Order” (TRO), after an application by Houston attorney Robert Painter, legal counsel for His Excellency Elbegdorj Tsakhia, President of Mongolia.” See the rest of the press release at the bottom of the Wired article. I wonder how Indiana Jones would feel about this.

Aluminum is out, Carbon is in

Keith Combs — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:46:27 GMT

Lenovo is currently having their partner conference in Las Vegas and decided to use this evening for some announcements. One of the machines I evaluated last year was the ThinkPad X1. The new Ivy Bridge chipset based X1 includes a new thinner and lighter carbon shell and chassis along with an improved 1600x900 display.

The picture above makes it look like the screen is a non glossy matte screen but some of the pics from the conference have a lot of shine on the screen so it’s hard to tell. The 14” screen should be a hit if it has good brightness, color, etc. We’ll have to wait and see if Lenovo revived the Flexview IPS screen. Hopefully they did but don’t count on it.

At 3 pounds, this is sure to be a hit with the travel crowd. One of the cool features of the previous X1 that made it to the X1 Carbon is the rapid charge technology. I really liked that. Charge the battery to at least 80% in 30 minutes. Nice.

The previous X1 had a backlit chiclet leyboard and so does the X1 Carbon. I’m sure Lenovo will release the full specifications very soon. Until then, save your pennies.

HP Launches New Ultrabooks

Keith Combs — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:18:44 GMT

Someone apparently didn’t get all of the embargo information quite right today because I noticed several false starts on the HP announcements for some notebook models. Oh well, nobody is perfect.

Pictured at right is the coming HP Folio Ultrabook. It isn’t scheduled to start shipping until October so don’t start jumping up and down with joy.

There are several things I like in the pictures of the machine. DisplayPort, VGA and a RJ-45 Ethernet jack are on the edges for you corporate computing presenters. I also like the built-in smartcard reader. This could be my next corporate travel machine.

Then there’s the new HP Spectre XT. Unfortunately this machine will be a non-starter for me due to the 1366x768 screen and HDMI thus limiting the maximum video output to my desktop monitors.

The Spectre XT looks very nice so it will be interesting to see how it fairs in the reviews. It looks like the third week in June is the target for availability. If you can’t wait until then, there were some other Sleekbooks, Ultrabooks and Pavillions announced today as well. Look for all of the gory specification details on hp.com very soon. Some of it is already lit up at http://www.shopping.hp.com/go/intel_ultrabooks.

See the HP press release at http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-news/press-release.html?id=1232179 for more information. The Envy lineup is at http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/envy/index.html.

Eventually the marketing folks will discover the link to http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/envy14-spectre/xt-overview.html is broken.

[UPDATE for 5/9/2012] I just read the Folio 9470m screen is going to be 1366x768. That automatically removes the machine from my personal consideration. I need 1600x900 or greater native resolution. IPS or PLS screen preferred.

Windows 8 and Windows Media Center - details from the product development group

Keith Combs — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:36:54 GMT

I have been a Windows Media Center fan for nearly a decade now so I was certainly interested to see what the product group had in store for Windows 8. Yesterday afternoon they disclosed the plan in more detail. Here’s an excerpt from the beginning:

“In this post we wanted to update you on Media Center and Windows 8, specifically how we will make sure Windows 8 fully supports the capabilities of Media Center as it is in Windows 7. We took the feedback about maintaining the functionality very seriously, and we clearly understood what we’ve heard many of you saying around the value of Media Center for movies, Internet TV, broadcast TV, optical media, music, photos, and all the other scenarios it covers today. Many said in comments and email to us, that so long as the feature is available somehow it is fine. This post is how we will deliver on that and continue to support Media Center for another product lifecycle.”

See the full details at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/03/making-windows-media-center-available-in-windows-8.aspx.

Here’s a follow-up post on the discussion of DVD playback - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/04/q-amp-a-dvd-playback-and-windows-media-center-in-windows-8.aspx.

Microsoft Private Cloud Summit - registration open and seats still available

Keith Combs — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:24:51 GMT

Join us at the Microsoft Private Cloud Summit with the “Best of Microsoft Management Summit”! Learn about how the new System Center 2012 can help you manage nearly everything in your infrastructure – from the desktop, to devices, to datacenter and the cloud. At this one-day event, you will hear directly from our Redmond-based product team and Microsoft technology evangelists who will share what is new in System Center 2012, and give you a sneak peak of Windows Server “8”.

You will have the opportunity to engage with a panel of experts and get hands-on with the technology to see how you can simplify the management of your infrastructure, monitor and remediate application issues, and automate routine tasks.

Agenda and Details - see http://www.microsoft.com/business/events/en-us/microsoftprivatecloudsummit for the full agenda, details and times. Please note there is information for the hands on IT Camp as well.

Registration

New York: Wed May 16, 2012 - https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032510545&Culture=en-US
Chicago: Thu May 17, 2012 - https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032510547&Culture=en-US
Los Angeles: Tue May 22, 2012 - https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032510546&Culture=en-US

NVIDIA Launches GeForce GTX 690

Keith Combs — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:44:54 GMT

“Despite the stupendous performance of the GeForce GTX 690, some gamers are destined to clamor for more. That's where Quad SLI comes in. When two GeForce GTX 690s are connected via an SLI motherboard, four GPUs work in unison in Quad SLI mode. Each GPU works on a distinct frame for a total of four frames in flight at a given time. The resulting performance is simply otherworldly.

In Battlefield 3, at 2560 x 1600 with all settings maxed out, the framerate exceeds 120 FPS. Crysis 2 runs just shy of 100 FPS. And in the most demanding game, Metro 2033, the performance scales almost linearly to reach 56 FPS.”

Lots of information in the article at http://www.geforce.com/whats-new/articles/article-keynote/.

See the press release at http://nvidianews.nvidia.com/Releases/NVIDIA-Unveils-GeForce-GTX-690-Dual-Graphics-Card-Combines-World-s-Fastest-Gaming-Performance-With-Sleek-Sexy-Design-7c1.aspx.

Breaking pocketbooks everywhere in May.

Windows Server 2012 - beta hands on labs now available

Keith Combs — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:31:36 GMT

We just released a boatload of hands on labs (HOLs) based on the Windows Server 2012 beta. More are on the way but I thought you would be interested in the first crop. Enjoy!

Get the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack

Keith Combs — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:27:08 GMT

The Microsoft Camera Codec Pack enables the viewing of a variety of device-specific file formats. Note: Clicking Download means you agree to the Microsoft service agreement and privacy statement. Additional details below.

The Microsoft Camera Codec Pack enables the viewing of a variety of device-specific file formats in Window Live Photo Gallery as well as other software that is based in Windows Imaging Codecs (WIC).
Installing this package will allow supported RAW camera files to be viewable in Windows Explorer.
This package is available in both 32-bit (MicrosoftCodecPack_x86.msi) and 64-bit (MicrosoftCodecPack_amd64.msi) versions.

See the supported devices, legal notices, and get the bits @ http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26829.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 - now available for download

Keith Combs — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:38:50 GMT

Deploy Windows 7, Office 2010 and 365, and Windows Server 2008 R2 with the newly released Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012. MDT is the recommended process and toolset for automating desktop and server deployment. MDT provides you with the following benefits:

Unified tools and processes, including a set of guidance, for deploying desktops and servers in a common deployment console.
Reduced deployment time and standardized desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.

Some of the key changes in MDT 2012 are:

Comprehensive tools and guidance to efficiently manage large-scale deployments of Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 365.
An enhanced user-Driven Installation (UDI) deployment method that utilizes System Center Configuration Manager 2012. UDI lets end users initiate and customize an OS deployment on their PCs—via an easy-to-use wizard.
Ease Lite Touch installation through integration with Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolkit (DaRT).
This release provides support for deploying Windows 8 Consumer Preview in a lab environment.

Got get it @ http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=25175

Updated Translator App for Windows Phone Released

Keith Combs — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:07:42 GMT

Presenting the new Translator App for Windows Phone. Powered by the same technology behind Bing Translator, the new Translator app takes advantage of Windows Phone platform's unique features to deliver a great translation experience, enabling you to go to new places with confidence. The app features video, audio and text translation, as well as a new offline mode that allows you to translate without a data connection.

Go get it @ http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/2cb7cda1-17d8-df11-a844-00237de2db9e.

=========

Background

In a global society, with the proliferation of digital content on the web, mobile devices and applications, there is a growing need for people to be able to read and communicate in their native language. Enabling communication and business across languages is a significant value that Microsoft delivers to consumers, customers and partners.

Microsoft Translator provides a set of powerful but simple-to-use technologies that can help companies accomplish cross-language communication and language translation goals, and consumers experience high quality language translation. Whether seeking solutions for language detection, speech synthesis, product localization or empowering communities to protect native languages, Microsoft Translator provides the services to accomplish a variety of translation goals across web, desktop and mobile devices.

Microsoft Translator provides a set of powerful but simple-to-use APIs that can help customers accomplish cross-language communication and language translation goals, and consumers experience high quality language translation. It is a state-of-the-art statistical machine translation system translating between any of the supported languages, and powering millions of translations every day across Microsoft products like Bing, Office, Internet Explorer and external products like Facebook, Trip Advisor, eBay etc. For more technical information about Microsoft Translator, please visit http://api.microsofttranslator.com.

Windows Azure Media Services Announced

Keith Combs — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:17:59 GMT

LAS VEGAS — April 16, 2012 — At the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2012 conference today, Microsoft Corp. announced new media services and guidance to enable content providers and customers to realize the power of cloud computing. The new cloud-based Windows Azure Media Services is designed to make creating, managing and delivering media to any device easier than ever by offering a comprehensive set of ready-to-use first- and third-party media technologies. Microsoft also published a new Broadcast Reference Architecture that offers prescriptive guidance on how media companies can architect their solutions to improve systems performance management as they move toward the cloud.

See the full press release at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2012/Apr12/04-16NABPR.aspx. After that, head on over to the Azure site at http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/home/features/media-services/.

Windows 8 Editions Announced

Keith Combs — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:01:22 GMT

Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, and Windows 8 RT were announced today. Here’s an excerpt from the Windows Team blog:

“Today I would like to share information with you on the editions that will be available for "Windows 8" when it is released to market. We have talked about Windows 8 as Windows reimagined, from the chipset to the user experience. This also applies to the editions available – we have worked to make it easier for customers to know what edition will work best for them when they purchase a new Windows 8 PC or upgrade their existing PC.

Windows 8 has the flexibility you need - whether you’re on an x86/64 or a WOA PC. You can use a touch screen or a keyboard and mouse – and switch anytime. It’s beautiful, fast, and fluid design is perfect for a wide range of hardware. And you’ll love browsing through the Windows Store and downloading all the apps you want. And those apps can work together too so you can share photos, maps, contacts, links and whatever else you want faster and easier. All editions of Windows 8 offer a no-compromise experience.”

See the full announcement at http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/04/16/announcing-the-windows-8-editions.aspx. Be sure and take a look at the feature chart comparison in the bottom of that blog post.

Watch the Microsoft Management Summit Keynotes

Keith Combs — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:38:40 GMT

Learn firsthand how Microsoft management solutions can empower you in your cloud computing journey and help you manage a wide range of different devices in your organization. Brad Anderson, Corporate Vice President of the Management and Security Division at Microsoft, returns to keynote both days at this year’s Microsoft Management Summit.

While keynotes begin at 8:30am PST, it is recommended that you log in at 8:15am PST.

Day One Keynote

Microsoft Private Cloud. Built for the Future. Ready Now.
Tuesday, April 17, 8:30-9:45AM
Cloud computing and the delivery of true IT as a Service is one of the most profound industry shifts in decades. Join Brad Anderson, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Management and Security Division, as he shares Microsoft’s vision for cloud computing and shows how System Center 2012, as part of the Microsoft private cloud, will enable you to deliver the promise of cloud computing in your organization today.

Day Two Keynote

A World of Connected Devices
Wednesday, April 18, 8:30-9:45AM
Clouds and cloud-connected devices are changing the world of work and our daily interactions. Tech-savvy and always-connected, people want faster, more intuitive technology, uninterrupted services, and the freedom to work anywhere, anytime, on a variety of devices. Join Brad Anderson, Corporate Vice President of the Management and Security Division at Microsoft to learn how System Center 2012 and Windows Intune can help IT embrace this new reality today, and in the future, by making the right intelligent infrastructure investments.

Blown Away by Nokia Lumia

Keith Combs — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:00:02 GMT

Snicker. Better listen to your women boyz.

Lenovo ThinkPad W530 pic leaks to the web - goodbye traditional keyboard

Keith Combs — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:49:40 GMT

I don’t know if the image at http://www.lenovo.com/images/products/nps/laptops/W530.png is a prototype or of the coming Ivy Bridge based ThinkPad W530, but it’s causing quite a stir in the ThinkPad community. Gone is the traditional keyboard. From the picture it appears Lenovo has gone with a keyboard similar to the one you find on the ThinkPad X1. Hope it is backlit.

Now this is a hailstorm!

Keith Combs — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:17:01 GMT

I heard about this storm dropping 2-4’ of hail, but dismissed it until I started checking the Tornado forecast for the weekend. I stumbled across this photo taken Wednesday by the National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas. Yikes!!! I hope I never see that kind of hail.

SQL Server 2012 Product Guide - now available

Keith Combs — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:54:11 GMT

The SQL Server 2012 product guide download contains the latest datasheets, white papers and technical presentations to help you evaluate the SQL Server 2012. The product guide organizes the content for easier viewing. This version of the includes the top content from the prior versions of the product guide plus 24 new presentations covering level 200 and 300 content for 2012. The overview page includes a link to the hosted SQL Server Virtual labs so that you can try out SQL Server 2012 without having to download the product.

Go get it @ http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29418.

Office for Mac SP2 - now available for download

Keith Combs — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:49:52 GMT

Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Office for Mac 2011. This update provides the latest fixes to Office for Mac 2011. Additionally, this update contains stability and reliability improvements.

See the list of fixes @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2685940.

Go get the download @ http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29419.

Micron Announces 256GB mSATA drives are in production.

Keith Combs — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:12:56 GMT

BOISE, Idaho, April 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:MU), one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced a new solid-state drive (SSD) that broadens Micron's client product portfolio to serve the rapidly emerging Ultrabook™ category. The newly announced drive is based on the proven architecture of Micron's popular RealSSD™ C400 drives, providing the same high performance and reliability.

The RealSSD C400 mSATA SSD ships in capacities ranging from 32 gigabytes (GB) to 256GB with a SATA 6 gigabits per second (Gb/s) interface for the high data throughput that is ideal for the "instant on" responsiveness demanded by Ultrabook systems. The drive's focused high performance[1], low power consumption and caseless design enable better computing experiences in ultrathin form factors. Additionally, the established design leverages Micron's proven 25 nanometer (nm) MLC NAND Flash and manufacturing and testing capabilities.

See the full press release at http://investors.micron.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=662933. See an initial review at http://www.storagereview.com/micron_realssd_c400_msata_ssd_review. There’s another review that popped up at AnandTech. See http://www.anandtech.com/show/5735/micron-c400-msata-128gb-ssd-review.

24 Hours With the AT&T NOKIA Lumia 900

Keith Combs — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:02:01 GMT

Cool Video. Order your Lumia 900 now at http://att.com/lumia

What is IaaS ?

Keith Combs — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:57:48 GMT

In defining Infrastructure as a Service we need to drill into specific characteristics that a cloud platform provider must provide to be considered Infrastructure as a Service. This has been no easy task as nearly every cloud platform provider has recently promoted features and services designed to address the infrastructure as a service and cloud computing market. Fortunately, as the technology has evolved over time, a definition of cloud computing has emerged from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models.

Want more information? Check out the full article at http://blogs.technet.com/b/privatecloud/archive/2012/04/04/what-is-infrastructure-as-a-service-iaas.aspx. Enjoy!