The wonder that is the Microsoft Office system

Office takes over MSN UK

TechNet Archive — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:46:13 GMT

This was really cool when they did it a few weeks ago. Have a look at the UK MSN page tomorrow to see the effect of 'Live Preview' and other things 2007 Microsoft Office flavoured.

News, Music, Movies, Money, Cars, Travel, Games and more from MSN UK

Register 'Reads' for Office SharePoint Server 2007

TechNet Archive — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:48:01 GMT

The Register has compiled a list of suggested reading on MOSS. I can't endorse any particular book but the Register has provided a brief overview of each title.

http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2007/06/20/register_books_june/

MSFT Partner Bot for your Messenger Contacts

TechNet Archive — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:30:45 GMT

Here is a little project that I've been desperate to tell you all about!

I am very pleased to announce that the PartnerBot is now live.

Partner Bot is your Instant Messenger 'data digger', which quickly retrieves partner-related information and shows you where you can find the answers you need. Simply type in your question and Bot will bring back an instant response. Add Bot as a buddy in your Windows Live Messenger contacts and it will always be available whenever you're logged in.

Use Partner Bot to Help You

Get answers quickly, whether you’re in the office or mobile

Find partner resources, like blogs and marketing help, more easily

How Do I Add Partner Bot to My Contacts?

· Log-in to Windows Live Messenger

· Click on 'Add a Contact' icon

· Add 'partnerbot@hotmail.com' into Instant Messaging Address

> Click here to find out more

Please be aware that PartnerBot may guide you to areas of the Partner Portal which can only be accessed by Registered, Certified or Gold Partners, so you may need to sign-in to view this information.

I'm Back

TechNet Archive — Thu, 17 May 2007 12:04:00 GMT

I've been having one of those times recently when you know you have to do something (e.g. blogging) but you put it off for a couple of days, then a couple more, then push it to the end of the week, then the next and before you know it a couple of months have passed. Not good. Rather than start writing a list of things that I should have blogged about recently I thought you've probably read a few post from various bloggers over the last few minutes so I thought I'd treat you to a video instead.

Video: Nightmare

20 of the Fantastic 40

TechNet Archive — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:57:09 GMT

They're here!!! (Well some of them are anyway.)

A number of partners have been asking me recently about when the new SharePoint 3.0 templates will be available. The ggod news is that 20 of the fantastic 40 are available for download now!

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsserver/sharepoint/wssapps/templates/default.mspx

Calling all Partners!!!!

TechNet Archive — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:00:00 GMT

The Partner Readiness Team is pleased to announce the release of the BPIO University - Partner Sales Readiness Workshop. The first delivery for this course starts on the 22^nd January so please sign up as soon as possible.

The Business Productivity Infrastructure Optimization (BPIO) University - Partner Sales Readiness Workshop is a 2-day in-depth, instructor-led sales readiness workshop for enterprise and mid-market partners. This sales training helps partners to understand how to develop customer conversations around the new 2007 Microsoft Office system and how to sell using the Business Productivity Infrastructure Optimization customer campaign tools. Focused on three main capabilities—Unified Communications & Collaboration, Enterprise Content Management, and Business Intelligence—this BPIO course features Microsoft marketing strategies, field priorities, and technology capability training. Partners will also learn how to execute their own BPIO customer campaigns and selling activities independently. This course is targeted towards Microsoft SI and ISV partners and sales and technical pre-sales support personnel.

The agenda for this unique 2-day course includes:

- Customer Campaigns, CES and BPIO Model, and Enterprise Search
- Unified Communication & Collaboration
- Enterprise Content Management
- Business Intelligence

Enrol your partners now using the new Partner Learning Centre

This course is the first to be released on the new UK Partner Learning Centre. This replaces the existing Training and Events Centre and UK Events Site with immediate effect. The new Partner Learning Centre will vastly improve the partner experience in helping them find, review and track attendance on all training courses (online and classroom).

To enrol:

All individuals wishing to access the UK Partner Readiness resources will need:

a. A Windows Live ID

b. To associate their Windows Live ID with their Partner ID :- instructions can be found here

This link to enrol can then be used, or partners can search on the course ID 44Wk001 or ‘BPIO’. If partners have any issues enrolling, please ask them to call the UK Partner Learning Centre Support number 0870 8509442 or mailto:ukplc@microsoft.com.

Forget the iPhone, this is the interesting announcement from Macworld Expo

TechNet Archive — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:29:55 GMT

Ok, so maybe the title is a little unfair. The iPhone does look quite cool and sounds like (no pun intended) it has some cool features such as the 'Pinch' feature that you can use to zoom into a webpage. One concern is how thin the device appears to be and therefore potentially fragile although I'm guessing that Apple will have learnt from the issues that it had with the original Nano.

Anyway back to the good bit. Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh! See links for details of the announcement from Macworld Expo.

Link to Mac Users To Get New Office Suite For Intel Macs - News by InformationWeek

Has it really been that long?

TechNet Archive — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:46:30 GMT

Well here we are in 2007 and I've just noticed how long it's been since I last posted. I'd just like to point out for the benefit of my manager that this was due to my complete dedication to ramping up for our Business Evolution Roadshow that we undertook in December and not due to lack of commitment to blogging (is it review time soon?). We still have a couple of Business Evolution events in the pipeline for partners of a northern persuasion so check earlier blog postings for details.

Anyway, I'm back and blogging! Woohoo! Keep tuned for all the fantastic insightful nibbles to come.

Business Evolution - We're coming to show you!

TechNet Archive — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:53:46 GMT

I did think about putting this post as Oooohhh Pretty Mk2!!!!!!!!!! The registration page for the Exchange Server 2007, Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 system road show. Our new registration page is now live. Events are filling up fast so register as soon as possible. More dates are to be announced soon including events 'north of the Border'. (Woohoo, trip home & Scotland 1 France 0)

The new way to work

TechNet Archive — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 23:04:00 GMT

I've been sitting writing some of the content for our upcoming Exchange, Vista and Office road show (more dates tba) and it suddenly struck me how much these new products have already changed the way that I work. I know that a lot of people have seen some of the cool new user experience stuff that has been included that dramatically increases personal productivity and also looks very cool (AERO anyone?) but it also changes things in some subtle ways. For example, I frequently listen to music whilst I'm working (can't wait to get my hands on a Zune!) and it's not unusual for me to put on U2 DVD (HUGE fan) of one of their concerts to listen to but now thanks to Vista I can also glance down to watch occasionally.

Lights, Camera, Action

TechNet Archive — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 17:06:03 GMT

They came from TVP. A fearless group of Technology Specialists. They had trained in secret for months. They had the tools, they had the skills and now they had the technology. Their mission? To take Exchange Server 2007, Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office system to the UK Partner community.

E.V.O.

Coming soon to a cinema or conference hall near you.

Rebuilding Microsoft?

TechNet Archive — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:15:00 GMT

An interesting Friday read. I think rebuilding is a bit strong as I wasn't aware that we had collapsed. Perhaps remodelling would have been a better term to use?

Ooooohhh Pretty!!!!!!!

TechNet Archive — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:56:40 GMT

If you haven't been reading any of the UK PTS blogs (which now of course includes the legend that is James Akrigg with his views on his Geek Gland amongst other things) then you will have missed the news about the new Exchange, Vista and Office microsite for Partners complete with 'AERO like' glass effect. Mmmmmm nice.

Back Blogging after a break, now where do I start?

TechNet Archive — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:53:02 GMT

OK, what with travelling about a bit and a splash of holiday time my blog has been seriously neglected and now there is so much to talk about I don't know where to start. It's a good thing that Live Writer doesn't have a self blogging capability like the XBox 360 otherwise I'd be in trouble although my XBox 360 has also been neglected for weeks so it's a good job that I haven't enabled blogging.

Anyway, back to business. I guess there is a lot of stuff that I'm sure is old news to most of you but I'd better cover it off in the next few posts.

Causing a Security Splash - but is it good to have Microsoft and the word 'bundling' in the same sentence?

TechNet Archive — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 18:22:00 GMT

Our OneCare offering is getting some positive press coverage at present. It looks as though our venture into this market is welcomed by consumers given the chart position held in the US market. I have to admit that I'm looking forward to getting my parents onto OneCare (hmm that sounds I want them on some sort of personal 'care' programme so that I don't have to worry about calling them every so often to find out how they are etc) as they are currently using another vendor's Security 'bundle' and it does some 'interesting' things to the XP firewall and Windows Defender despite the desired user settings for this part of their suite which I think may end up potentially compromising their machine's security.

No holds barred opinion of a Google Apps

TechNet Archive — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:29:00 GMT

Here is an interesting response by one of our Partners to the recent announcement by Google offering Apps for your Domain. Obviously it would be foolish to think that the Google support situation won't change and the comparison is a little unbalanced in terms of the current states of the two technologies but it's good to see that our partners aren't waiting for the Google stuff to mature before taking it seriously and fighting back with their message to customers.

Pick a browser, any browser, show it to the audience...

TechNet Archive — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 11:47:31 GMT

Following on from my previous post on browsers and anti-competitiveness, here is one example of how we are trying to improve customer experience by helping our competitors ensure that their products will work with Vista.

http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-6109455.html

As well as the large amount of documentation that we are producing (a link to one such document about Vista's Default Program feature is included in the article) the article also talks about our Vista ISV Readiness Lab where software engineers, in this case Mozilla flavoured ones, can get one-to-one time with Microsoft personnel.

Sad thing is; I'm sure even this sort of help still won't be good enough to satisfy some people's expectations of us (or am I just being a little too cynical?). Perhaps the next step will have to be our engineers co-writing our competitors software. Cue 'bloatware' comments etc from Open Source devs.

Amusing 'Vista' on Brussels Bureaucrats

TechNet Archive — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 01:15:00 GMT

Whilst browsing the news sites I came across this rather amusing view on the recent goings on concerning the EU's views on Microsoft. There are some quotes that definitely made me smile; those that deal with Windows XP version N (the one without a browser) for starters.

http://news.com.com/2010-1012_3-6108905.html

The only sad bit is when the author drags Concorde into his reasoning for why it is a bad idea to let elements within Europe dictate tomorrow's software. It was only recently at a team offsite that I expressed a soft spot that I have for the old bird; sure she may not have been a market success but she was one heck of a machine.

CIOs take note - Unified Messaging saves cash

TechNet Archive — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:02:00 GMT

I stumbled across an interesting article on how VoIP saves companies money. One of the paragraphs on page 3 specifically calls out unified messaging- the ability to manage voices, email and fax messages from one location. It also goes on to talk about our upcoming foray into this area with the release of Office Communications Server 2007, Office Communicator 2007 and our line of VoIP devices. According to the article there is a a down side to the potential savings, namely the cost of the initial implementation or the length of time to fix problems if the system goes down. If we're looking to potentially ustilise existing network infrastructure, end-user devices and existing server hardware all backed up by MOM then I wonder how much we'll be affected by the normal downsides?

We're Still Listening but beware of false whispers

TechNet Archive — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:54:41 GMT

Looks like the rumour mills have been in overdrive over the last few days. The most amusing that I have read is "Microsoft cuts Ribbon in Office 2007" which is incorrect for 2 reasons. First, the ribbon has NOT been cut from the UI and second it's the 2007 Microsoft Office system and not Office 2007 (a minor correction but lets try to be correct here).

I stumbled across an article that talks of changes that we have made to the Ribbon in the upcoming technical refresh that have taken onboard feedback from existing beta users. It looks as though this one isn't quite as bad as the some of the other articles that are out there as it looks as though it is at least based on some correct facts.

For the truth behind these rumours about what we have changed or not changed or was there all along please pop along to Jensen's blog.

Vista RC1 Almost here!!!

TechNet Archive — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:00:00 GMT

The news is out. Vista RC1 will be soon be available for beta testers (See article here). I've been going build mad recently installing various new builds on my machine and, as you may already know I have been playing around with Vista, ne 'Longhorn', for quite some time and although my experience has in the main been very positive especially compared to some other colleagues experiences, things are really becoming what I can only describe as 'a little bit special'. I can't wait to get out and about on the road in the very near future to show what E.V.O. (Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Exchange Server 2007) can do for our customers and partners. I've said it before and I'll say it many times in future; face facts -Vista is cool!

More Getting to Grips

TechNet Archive — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 23:51:00 GMT

Following on from my last post here is another link to more stuff that can get you up to speed with 2007 Office system. The e-learnings are broken down into training for Home and Office users, Developers and IT Pros.

I've not forgotten about going through the MOSS 2007/WSS v3 hands on labs and reporting back on what I think. I've been out and about speaking to a few partners about EVO (Exchange, Vista and Office) but hopefully I'll have some time soon. I hoped that on Bank Holiday Monday the need to go through the labs would get me out of furniture shopping but alas it did not and my wallet suffered accordingly.

Forms on the Move

TechNet Archive — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 12:25:00 GMT

I was asked recently if our plans for web based Forms capability using the new Office Forms Server 2007 would include the ability to have these forms in mobile devices. The answer is of course yes it does (see no. 10 in the top 10 benefits for using Forms Server 2007) . There is also a flash based demo that is worth a quick watch that includes the line 'fill out forms from any common web browser or mobile device' just in case you don't believe the top 10 benefits about Office Forms Server.

Dates and Dosh confirmed

TechNet Archive — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:37:00 GMT

Darren has blogged that we will soon see the 2007 Office release on our price lists which shows how confident we are about the release dates. I recently installed a new build of both Vista and Office and both are performing really well. Hats off to the product teams, the change in performance and stability over the last few months is fantastic.

Playtime!!!

TechNet Archive — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 12:40:00 GMT

The SharePoint team blog is once again sending us in the direction of some online labs. Have a look at Rich Riley’s post. I had a bit of a play around in a couple of the labs yesterday and the performance/response of the hosted VMs is pretty good and 90 minute allocation allows more than enough time to complete that lab and have a bit of a play around trying out other things. I also see that Rich made a change to one of the scripts to correct an error that I noticed when I was running through one of the labs in Seattle the other week, Sparky D may try to claim it but the messaging boy was just passing on the information from my discovery. It’s a proud moment for Marsh.

For those of you who want to get deep down and dirty with some other training, have a look at these Microsoft e-learning offerings. I’m planning to have a bash at them over the next few weeks and I’ll report back with my opinion but if you’ve already had a go at any of these then I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.