Windows 7 helps decrease power consumption across the enterprise. The power management technologies in Windows 7 provide platform and processor efficiencies that reduce power consumption and can help lower energy costs. Windows 7 also can extend battery life for specific scenarios.

Additionally, it provides diagnostic tools that enable original equipments manufacturers (OEMs), independent hardware vendors (IHVs), independent software vendors (ISVs), and IT pros to better manage and troubleshoot power management issues on computers and to extend the battery life for portable computers.

There is a white paper that describes the improvements here.

More information is also available on the Microsoft Environment Web Site.

Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista has been released.

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista both leverage the single servicing model and therefore Microsoft will only deliver one service pack for both platforms. This makes it easier for to plan, test, deploy, and manage this Service Pack.

Some of the features in this Service Pack:

• Support for 64-bit CPU from VIA Technologies.
• Windows Search 4.0 (previously a separate download).
• Introduces an improved power management policy that is up to 10% more efficient than the original in some configurations (both on the server and the desktop), and includes the ability to manage these settings via Group Policy.
• The ability to natively record data on to Blu-Ray media.
• Vista - Included is the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless (previously a separate download for computers running Windows Vista SP1).  This contains Bluetooth v2.1 support and Windows Connect Now (WCN) updates.
• Windows Server - Hyper-V virtualization environment as a fully integrated feature.
  

The complete list of all Features, Fixes, Deployment Guides and the Release Notes are located here

TechNet and MSDN subscribers can download it now from here (Windows Vista Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 for all editions (x86, x64, i64) - DVD (English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish) )

Public downloads will be located here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd262148.aspx

In the next few weeks, SP2 will also be available on Windows/Microsoft Update. The Service Pack blocker tool is available for download. The blocker tool will prevent Service Pack 2 from being installed for 12 months from general availability of Service Pack 2

The Swiss Chapter of PASS is holding a meeting on Tuesday 5 May in Zurich. If you can’t get to Zurich, the sessions are also available via LiveMeeting

Language: English

Session 1:  [18:00 – 19:15]
Eliminate SQL Server Downtime – Even for maintenance
No enterprise can afford to be down. Whether private or public, Fortune 100 or startup, the objective is the same: keep the business running, your customers and partners depend on it.
Presenter: David Tung (Solutions Architect, xkoto, Inc)

Session 2: [19:30 – 21:00]
Designing Effective Aggregations in Analysis Services 2008
Building aggregations is one of the most important ways of improving query performance in Analysis Services, but simply running the Aggregation Design Wizard doesn't always result in useful aggregations being built.
Presenter: Chris Webb (Crossjoin Consulting)

Registration and further information on http://www.sqlpass.ch

Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) is available for immediate download to the general public from here. The RC is the Windows 7 Ultimate edition and is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions in English, French, Japanese, German, and Spanish.

To learn more about Windows 7 from an IT professional perspective, check out the screencasts including our “What’s New in the RC” as well as our resources on Deployment, Application Compatibility, Security and Imaging.

Test drive Windows 7 RC today to see for yourself—and to show your colleagues, users, and customers—how Windows 7 delivers improved management, security, reliability, productivity and performance. 

MSDN and TechNet subscribers can download it from the respective sites.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate is also available on TechNet and from here.

Do you want the Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2 resources in German, French or Italian?

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Downloads: http://technet.microsoft.com/de-ch/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx
Springboard Series: http://technet.microsoft.com/de-ch/windows/dd361745.aspx

 

Parlez vous Français?

Télécharger: http://technet.microsoft.com/fr-ch/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx
Springboard Series: http://technet.microsoft.com/fr-ch/windows/dd361745.aspx

Parla Italiano?

Download: http://technet.microsoft.com/it-ch/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx
Springboard Series: http://technet.microsoft.com/it-ch/windows/dd361745.aspx