You might decide you were better off not knowing what we look like, but we thought it was about time we showed our collective UK TechNet face. Here we are hanging out on the balcony in our office…what a line up.
From left to right: Sam Taylor, Simon May, me, Andrew Fryer and Georgina Lewis.
And here’s the alternative view…
Come on people - you have until 1st November to send in your techy-themed pumpkin carvings. Here are the details again in case you missed them, along with some of our own efforts, above. Gifted, I know. Thanks to those of you who’ve sent in entries already.
Never let it be said that the UK TechNet team would let an occasion go unmarked, and this year’s Halloween is no exception. We’ve come up with a frighteningly fabulous competition idea, and you can get the kids involved in this one, too.
We’ve got five copies of the Microsoft Windows 7 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant to give away in return for some photographic evidence of your amazing pumpkin carving talents. We’d like you to send us a snap of your techy pumpkin designs – the more elaborate, the better. Throw out the challenge to your kids, wives, husbands or even any particularly creative pets, then send a photo to me with your name and address. We’ll pick our favourite five and publish them on the blog in time for the next TechNet Flash.
This is fun, so naturally we must balance it out with something quite boring – here’s that thing. Terms and conditions below.
1. ELIGIBILITY: This competition is open to any TechNet Flash subscribers who reside in the UK and who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees of Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising or promotion agencies are not eligible, nor are members of these employees’ families (defined as parents, children, siblings, spouse and life partners).
2. TO ENTER: To enter send your entry via email to i-racoll@microsoft.com. Entries will not be returned. A completed entry is to send a photo of your techy pumpkin carving as featured in the TechNet newsletter on 14 October 2010. The best five entries will win the prize. Only one entry per person will be accepted. Incomplete, damaged, defaced or illegible entries may be deemed invalid at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Entry constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Microsoft reserves the right to disqualify anyone in breach of these Terms and Conditions.
3. TIMING: This competition runs from 8am GMT 14 October The closing date of this competition is 5pm GMT 1 November 2010. Completed entries must reach Microsoft no later than the closing date.
4. USE OF DATA: Personal data which you provide when you enter this competition will not be used for future Microsoft UK marketing activity.
5. SELECTION OF WINNER: The five winners will be picked by three judges and notified by email on 1 November 2010 at Microsoft campus. The winners may be required to become involved in further publicity or advertising and consent to their pumpkin photo being published on the TechNet blog.
6. PRIZE: The prize is one copy of the Microsoft Windows 7 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant with an estimated retail price of £17.00. Prize as stated and non- transferable. No cash or other alternatives available. Microsoft reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. The prize will be sent no later than 2 November 2010. Prize may be considered a taxable benefit and the winner will be directly responsible for accounting for any tax liability arising on their prize.
7. WINNERS LIST: The winner consents to their surname being made publicly available. The winner’s surname will be available for a period of 3 weeks after the closing date by emailing i-racoll@microsoft.com
8. OTHER: No correspondence will be entered into regarding either this competition or these Terms and Conditions. In the unlikely event of a dispute, Microsoft’s decision shall be final. Microsoft reserves the right to amend, modify, cancel or withdraw this competition at any time without notice.
9. Microsoft cannot guarantee the performance of any third party and shall not be liable for any act or default by a third party. Participants in this promotion agree that Microsoft will have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, costs, damage or disappointment of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly from acceptance, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in this promotion. Nothing in this clause shall limit Microsoft’s liability in respect of death or personal injury arising out of its own negligence or arising out of fraud.
Promoter: Microsoft Limited, Microsoft Campus, Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6 1WG, England
Hot off the TechNet press, so to speak, you can now download the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Release Candidate. Here’s the blurb:
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RC helps keep your PCs and servers on the latest support level, provides ongoing improvements to the Windows Operating System (OS), includes previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 platforms based on customer and partner feedback, and is easy for organizations to deploy a single set of updates.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RC will help you:
Run VT – pop over to TechNet Edge for this video all about Windows 7 and network connectivity, including:
Here’s this fortnight’s TechNet Flash newsletter, lovingly created by me especially for you. As well as a host of desktop security resources, you’ll also find a link to our spooky but splendid Halloween pumpkin carving competition.
Get your own copy of the fortnightly Flash here.
What a busy week – here’s the round-up in case you missed anything. Look out for some Halloween fun coming to the blog next week…
The great Microsoft Springboard Series has expanded to include the topic of desktop virtualisation, a broad range of offerings to meet operating system, application, data, and user virtualisation needs. This new TechNet resource offers guidance and tools to help you deploy and configure these technologies in order to enable anywhere access, and improve security and compliance.
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R3—previously Systems Management Server—represents a tremendous advance over its well-regarded predecessor, now providing the insight and control necessary to more effectively manage change in today's dynamic IT infrastructures with a broad range of management capabilities. In addition to the powerful list of product capabilities delivered in Configuration Manager R2, additional enhancements for R3 include:
Download it here and get some more evaluation resources here.
Here are four things you should consider when you decide whether to deploy a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Office 2010.
Stuck for something to do with your little ones this week? Why not pay a visit to Chessington World of Adventures and try out controller-free gaming with the Kinect folks. Until 31st October you’ll find them situated next to the Black Buccaneer, opposite Canopy Capers.
The Kinect Tour continues this week and into November in Scotland, Leeds and Newcastle – find Kinect on Facebook for exact locations and dates.
Get the lowdown on Kinect here