June, 2010

For those of you who have already joined the Microsoft Deployment connection and tested the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Update 1 beta release, thank you so much for your participation. 

Please take a moment to share your thoughts and suggestions on your experiences with the features in the software and how to improve them. Download the MDT 2010 Update 1 Beta, and then complete this brief survey before June 22, 2010. You will be automatically entered into the MDT Beta Feedback Survey Sweepstakes and have a chance to win one of four Amazon Gift Cards, each valued at $25 USD. We will also randomly select one winner to receive a $200 USD Amazon Gift Card.

To participate in the MDT 2010 Update 1 Beta survey, please click the following URL:

https://connect.microsoft.com/site14/Survey/Survey.aspx?SurveyID=11098

For those of you who have not yet joined the Microsoft Deployment connection, there is still time to join, download the beta, provide your feedback, and complete the survey.  See the details at http://blogs.technet.com/b/msdeployment/archive/2010/05/11/microsoft-deployment-toolkit-2010-update-1-now-in-beta-release.aspx.

Thanks,

Solution Accelerators Team

Sponsor
This survey is sponsored by the Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team. You can contact us at satfdbk@microsoft.com.

* For complete sweepstakes rules, please see https://connect.microsoft.com/site14/content/content.aspx?ContentID=17485

In addition to the breakout sessions mentioned previously, there are some interactive sessions involving MDT 2010 that might interest TechEd attendees:

WCL03-INT | Windows 7 Deployments: What's in the Toolbox? (Weapons of Mass Deployment)
Monday, June 7  |  2:45 PM - 4:00 PM  |  Rm 352
Speakers: Jeremy Chapman, Michael Niehaus, Steve Campbell

WCL01-INT | How to Launch and Prepare Information Workers for Windows 7
Tuesday, June 8  |  3:15 PM - 4:30 PM  |  Rm 352
Speakers: Anthony Smith, Steve Campbell

WCL07-INT | Meet the Deployment Guys
Wednesday, June 9  |  9:45 AM - 11:00 AM  |  Rm 353
Speakers: Jeremy Chapman, Michael Niehaus, Steve Campbell

These interactive sessions are smaller and more intimate, allowing you to bring your own questions and drive the discussion however you see fit.  The first session is designed to explore all the various Windows 7 deployment tools that are available, the second will focus on preparing users for the new Windows 7 features, while the last session should be open to any Windows and Office deployment topic.

In addition to these interactive sessions and the previous list of breakout sessions, also check out this session:

WCL205 | Windows 7 Deployment Tips from Early Adopters
Tuesday, June 8  |  1:30 PM - 2:45 PM  |  Auditorium A
Speakers: Baldwin Ng, Bruce Jones, Eric Craig, Jeremy Chapman, Juan Gaviria, Stephen Rose

That session will focus on the experiences of customers that are already deploying Windows 7 in their enterprises.

Because application compatibility is always a big concern for enterprises, you may also want to attend these:

WCL204 | What Everyone Should Know about Application Compatibility
Monday, June 7  |  2:45 PM - 4:00 PM  |  Auditorium C
Speakers: Aaron Margosis, Chris Jackson

WCL319 | What You Need to Know about Migrating from Internet Explorer 6 to Internet Explorer 8
Tuesday, June 8  |  3:15 PM - 4:30 PM  |  Rm 387
Speakers: Chris Jackson, Matt Heller

WCL401 | Inside the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.6: Finding, Testing, and Fixing Applications on Windows 7
Wednesday, June 9  |  9:45 AM - 11:00 AM  |  Rm 287
Speaker: Chris Jackson

WCL301 | Case of the App Compat Bug
Wednesday, June 9  |  11:45 AM - 1:00 PM  |  Rm 295
Speaker: Aaron Margosis

See you in New Orleans.

For those attending TechEd North America from June 6th (for pre-conference session) through the 10th, there will be a variety of sessions that feature the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit:

WCL317 | Troubleshooting Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Lite Touch
Wednesday, June 9  |  8:00 AM - 9:15 AM  |  Rm 276
Speaker: Johan Arwidmark

WCL311 | Migrate Your Windows XP Machines to Windows 7 Using Free Microsoft Deployment Tools
Wednesday, June 9  |  1:30 PM - 2:45 PM  |  Rm 261
Speaker: Rhonda Layfield

WCL403 | Unleash the Power of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
Wednesday, June 9  |  3:15 PM - 4:30 PM  |  Rm 356
Speaker: Michael Niehaus

MGT316 | Windows 7 Deployment en Masse
Thursday, June 10  |  8:00 AM - 9:15 AM  |  Auditorium A
Speakers: Jason Sandys, Johan Arwidmark

WSV332 | Windows Server 2008 R2 Deployment with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)
Thursday, June 10  |  9:45 AM - 11:00 AM  |  Rm 391
Speaker: Mikael Nystrom

If you haven’t yet registered for the conference or for the all-day pre-conferences (including one on Windows 7 deployment, above), there is still time!  Access the registration page at http://northamerica.msteched.com/registration for all the details.