Chris Parkes: A PC is not just for Christmas... : Windows Vista

Demo Showcase 2008 SMB Edition

chrisp — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:34:37 GMT

The Demo Showcase 2008 SMB Edition is now available for download.

This is a set of 4 comprehensive click through demonstrations designed for partners featuring 12 different Microsoft technologies working together to resolve business needs!

Scenarios:
Business Productivity
Customer Acquisition and Retention
Security and Reliability
Business Solutions

Products:
Windows Essentials Business Server 2008
Windows Small Business Server 2008
Office 2007
Windows Vista
SQL 2008
System Center Essentials 2007
Dynamics CRM 4.0
SharePoint Server 2007

Download from here!

Ciao for now :)

Demo Showcase 2007 - A Little Respect!

chrisp — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:01:07 GMT

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 :)

Demo Showcase 2007 Download

chrisp — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:41:27 GMT

The Demo Showcase 2007 edition is now available for download to all Microsoft Gold and Certified partners. It's also possible to order the two disc DVD set from the partner portal here.

Technologies included in the Demo Showcase 2007 scenarios are:

Business Scorecard Manager 2005
Dynamics AX 4.0
Exchange Server 2007
Live Communications Server 2005
MapPoint 2006
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Mobile Express
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 (Desired Configuration Monitoring 2.0)
Office Enterprise 2007

OneNote 2007
Excel 2007
InfoPath 2007
PowerPoint 2007
Word 2007

ProClarity Desktop Professional
Project 2007
SQL Server 2005
SQL Server Analysis Services 2005
SQL Server Reporting Services 2005
Systems Management Server 2003 R2
Visual Studio 2005
Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server
Windows Mobile
Windows Server 2003 R2
Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
Windows Vista
Windows Vista Enterprise

Enjoy!!!

Ciao for now :)

Have You Tried The Microsoft Office Interactive Developer Map..?

chrisp — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:20:05 GMT

How fantastic, this is a must see! A Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application that provides developers with resources for programs, servers, services, and tools that work with the Microsoft Office System. It guides the user through drill down access to each product and technology to aid learning about new features, objects, Web services, namespaces, and schemas required to extend Microsoft Office and build custom Office Business Applications (OBAs).

There is Office Development, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO) content available alongside many others.

You can download and install the Microsoft Office Interactive Map via ClickOnce if you're running Windows Vista. For Windows XP users, you'll need to install the prerequisites and run the application.

The map is a living document that provides links to MSDN Library reference documentation, MSDN portal pages, and RSS feeds that describe how developers can use the 2007 Microsoft Office system and associated tools and technologies to develop solutions that meet their needs.

The map stores resource links in an XML file hosted on MSDN. Once you install it, the map pulls the latest version of the resource file. No need to reinstall!

Ciao for now :)

The Truth About Demo Showcase 2007 & Windows Vista ReadyBoost

chrisp — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:15:00 GMT

Microsoft will soon be launching a preview of the next iteration of the Demo Showcase for Partners to use to help evangelise around three recently launched technologies, Windows Vista, Microsoft Office 2007 System and Exchange 2007 plus complimentary solutions.

One of the most significant pieces of feedback I've had regarding the beta content so far surrounds the area of performance. With a minimum specification requirement of 3Gb RAM (available, not total!) the Demo Showcase is running the risk of becoming unusable in customer facing situations (that is until hardware refresh cycle's catch up with it) as performance is significantly affected with less RAM available. More on how this can be solved in future posts...

In the meantime, for people who have a paltry 2Gb of RAM in their machine (like me, :) one way to ensure additional resources can be kept running on the host machine (if it's running Windows Vista) is to use ReadyBoost technology. Unfortunately, as Frank points out, this is no use to anyone whatsoever in a virtual environment. I'm loving Frank's comments on the way Company Net have taken to using the Technical Demonstration Toolkit (TDT) and the Demo Showcase though!

Security in Windows Vista, 2007 Office and Exchange 2007

chrisp — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:15:32 GMT

"Office 2007 presents a radically different way of working, with employees no longer limited to the desktop and company information being disseminated far more effectively. A new way of working needs a new paradigm for security, and Windows Vista is designed to deliver it. Vista alone includes almost 200 entirely new security features."

So, if you want to know more about:

Security today: big bucks for organised criminals
Closing the vulnerabilities with Vista
Security features in Office 2007
Security and Compliance go hand in hand for Outlook and Exchange
2007 Security in a box

Then take a look at this article written by independent IT journalist Mary Branscombe where she finds out what’s in the box. Additionally, Mary will be hosting a web based meeting on January 30, looking further at these new desktop projects. Click here to register for the live event where you will be able to join in with Q&A!

Ciao for now :)