Welcome to TechNet Blogs Sign in | Join | Help

News

  • This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. If you are not the intended recipient, please reload the page, re-read the content and repeat until bored. Locations of visitors to this page
Demo Showcase 2007 - A Little Respect!

I tried to discover a little something to make life sweeter, when Demo Showcase 2007 was released, there were quiet whisperings and rumblings amongst some of my colleagues here at Microsoft UK.  Most of them were based around apathy "What's this release gonna give us that we haven't got already?" and sometimes even, I would hear them doubt "Is it really any good?"

Well, I'm extremely pleased to say that not only has this surpassed all of my expectations, it's even convinced some of my die hard "I build my own demos thank you very much!" colleagues to use this as a base platform for their development efforts.  If you were to take a look at the Demo Showcase 2007, you would find it easy to see why. So before you jump to conclusions, maybe refrain and try this for a start.

First of all, the directory structure of the organizational hierarchy has been built with long term expansion in mind...Next, implementations of key technologies such as Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 have been very effectively done, with Internet, extranet and intranet 'Contoso' branding attached appropriately.  In addition, the twenty four scenarios that accompany the base platform package (remember, this is a fully built virtual environment so you can still go off piste if you feel the need) have all been thoroughly thought through, tested and released as Microsoft Expression simulations to allow the novice user to get a feel for what's possible.

As for other demonstration environments, was it that "You give me no sale," I hear you calling?  When it comes to Demo Showcase 2007, I'm so in love with you, I'll be forever true, especially because you give me a reason why I don't need to work so hard, so maybe please, give a little respect...

And the best piece of feedback I've had so far from a partner..?  Simple, an email from a partner titled Demo Showcase Simulations with a single statement in the body... "Love it!" 

Ciao for now :)

Posted: Monday, August 20, 2007 3:01 PM by chrisp

Comments

Tim Long said:

I would love to be able to agree with you, but unfortunately Microsoft still persists in the silly idea that the demo showcase is "premium content" so as a Small Business Specialist and Registered Partner, I dont qualify to receive it. Crazy. More partners doing demos = more sales for Microsoft. The benefit is as much to Microsoft as it is to partners. So I wish the guys in charge would quit messing around and just include the demo showcase in our Action Packs.

# September 2, 2007 7:35 PM

chrisp said:

Tim, on the flipside of the argument, we have Certified and Gold partners who perceive this as a valuable benefit of achieving certification and expect us to not distribute this more broadly in the context of competitive advantage.

However, in specific relation to the Small Business Specialist where, due to reasons no fault of their own, it isn’t actually possible to achieve Certified partner status, I agree with you and feel that this should be available as a resource.  I have been lobbying Microsoft Corporate on this issue for some time now and will raise again when representatives visit the UK subsidiary later this month.  I very much appreciate your feedback on this issue.

# September 5, 2007 8:25 AM

Tartan Tech: Microsoft Scotland Insight said:

Those who joined us at the Microsoft Gold Partner Forum today at the Scotsman Hotel heard from Chris

# September 26, 2007 1:21 PM
New Comments to this post are disabled
Page view tracker