Tartan Tech: Microsoft Scotland Insight : Blogs

Windows 7 – when is it available?

jhenders01 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:51:57 GMT

As you are all aware the current version of Windows 7 is Release Candidate (RC), with lots of partners
asking when is the product going to RTM ( Release to Manufacture).

At present we cannot announce this date, however it is very close. Below is a copy of the latest Windows
Team Blog, which details when customers and partners will get hold of the RTM version of Windows 7.

http://windowsteamblog.com/Default.aspx

Key Information:

If you’re an ISV or Hardware partner = 6^th Aug
MS Gold Partner then the 16^th Aug for the English edition
OEM 2 days after we announce RTM
VL Customer with Software Assurance (SA) then 7^th Aug
VL without (SA) then 1^st September
Technet - 6^th Aug for English
MSDN Devs – 6^th Aug

Technorati Tags: Windows 7

Exchange 14 and Exchange Labs Preview

jhenders01 — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:10:00 GMT

A number of Scottish Partners have been asking the MS Scotland team about what is happening with the next version of Exchange. Well the good news is that earlier this week, Microsoft published a limited preview video and blog post regarding the next version of Exchange Server, code-named Exchange ‘14’, via a video posted on the Exchange Team Blog and. In the video and interviews Microsoft discusses that it is building the next version of Exchange, code-named Exchange 14, and it will be designed, built, and tested for Software-plus-Services. More than 3.5 million people and more than 1,500 schools and universities worldwide are using Exchange 14 as a service through Exchange Labs, a program begun in late 2007. Next month Microsoft is releasing the latest code to Exchange Labs users. For more information, visit the Exchange Team Blog.

Some really good information on this Blog and well worth adding to your RSS feeds. Given the current economic climate within Scotland, it may be worth looking at the work done by Ferris Research around reduction of costs by implementing Exchange 2007 - in a survey of several enterprise customers, they found that the cost of running Exchange 2007 was roughly half that of running Exchange 2003. Any more importantly Microsoft anticipates that E14 will bring that cost down by a similar margin yet again. Just make sure your customers have Software Assurance!

Technorati Tags: Software + Servces,Exchange

Windows 2008 R2 Beta - now available

jhenders01 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:41:00 GMT

At the end of last week, Microsoft announced availability, through MSDN and TechNet (non-MSDN/TechNet subscribers can download them from, Friday 9th January), of the beta’s of Windows 7 client, and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Of interest to Partners who are investing in the Microsoft virtualisation strategy, are a number of key new features provided with Server 2008 R2 - Partners can read all about the new features here on the legendary Matt McSpirit’s Blog, key Virtualisation features include:

· Live Migration!

· Power Management Improvements

· Support for 32 logical Processors

· RDS (Remote Desktop Services) – Terminal Services improvements

See the overview presentation for more detail

Geek in Disguise wins ComputerWeekly IT Blog Awards 08

SmallCountry — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:36:10 GMT

A good sweep of awards for Microsoft from the annual ComputerWeekly Blog competition.

Jason Langridge won the Wireless/Mobile category, and Mike Taulty in Programming, with Steve Lamb a runner up on Security.

These are all excellent resources for an up to the minute overview of their respective industries and Microsoft developments.

Of course, the crowning glory goes to everyone's favourite Geek and intrapeneur, Steve Clayton, whose cult-like following voted him "Best of the Best" for 2008

ComputerWeekly.com IT Blog Awards 08 | ComputerWeekly.com