Kicking and Screaming I am Bloggin

Just like his gramps,
he can’t take a serious picture

Are you one of the folks dying to get your hands on the SBS 2008 (Cougar) preview?

Well your wait is over, Dean just announced to the world that RC0 is now available for download. So hop on over to his blog and find out what you have to do to get your download started. If you are only looking to try out SBS 2008 Standard you only need to download the first of the 4 DVD’s. Either way hope you are not on dial-up.

Now that you are using it, please share your feedback good or bad at https://connect.microsoft.com/sbs08

Happy Testing,
ha

Today at 9 AM PST Karl Palachuk announced the launch of two new sites for the SMB consulting community. The first site is a new Yahoo group designed to make it easier for people attending conferences to share rides and/or rooms. Surprisingly enough, this Yahoo group is called SMB-Rides-N-Rooms (who knew?). Here is a link to the new group site:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/smb-rides-n-rooms/
The second site is designed to provide information about upcoming conferences, including pre-conference events. Called SMBPreDay (Karl really cuts to the chase, doesn’t he?), this site is another free resource for the community to use in scoping out potential conferences and events of interest to SMB consultants. Here is a link to that site:
http://www.smbpreday.com/default2.htm
If you find these sites useful I’m sure Karl would appreciate your feedback. And if you are on his conference call on Mergers & Acquisitions, you will get to hear the announcement live (think in terms of living history). Best wishes to all.

Thankx to Bob Nitrio for passing along this note

This pic is for a thread on MCP Magazine’s SBS Forum.
You can click the pic for a larger view.

Well if you did attend Jeff’s conference in NOLA, Chris would like you to take his survey.

I couldn’t make it this year, but took the survey anyways, apperently he is after real number because my responses were pruned. If you were there, give him a break and take the survey, it is under a minute to complete.

If you were not there don’t bother or you will get the big hook like I did, here is what he had to say;

Just go ahead and ruin the beautiful stats I had rolling in. ;)

To make up for it, how about blogging a reminder for attendees to complete the survey?

BTW…

Wanted to give a public thanks to you.

Last year, back when I was first awarded MVP, you posted an announce about it on your blog.

And you said something like…I forget. You said…

One of my favorite presenters

I was kinda shocked. I kept thinking “When has Andy ever heard me speak?”

But that comment has always meant a lot to me. So…here’s a long overdue thanks!

FYI: That was just to butter you up when I tell you I’ll be cutting your survey feedback from final compilation. J

All best,

Hi Gang,

This morning Microsoft made some more information public, this is important please read it, I have included the highlights below, the entire press release is available at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/serversolutions

REDMOND, Wash. — May 13, 2008 — Customers and Microsoft Corp. partners can now visit http://www.MultiplyYourPower.com to find out how to evaluate pre-release versions of Windows Essential Server Solutions for small and midsize companies: Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008. Microsoft also today announced pricing for both solutions.Solutions Designed and Priced for Small and Midsize BusinessesSlated for general availability later this year, Windows Essential Server Solutions are much easier for small and midsize companies to implement and manage than separate products. In response to customer and partner feedback, Windows Essential Server Solutions provide flexible pricing and licensing that offer substantial cost savings over purchasing individual products like those included in the solutions. Examples of licensing improvements over the current Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 product include these:·         Customers will be able to purchase single client access licenses (CALs), so they will pay only for the exact number of employees using the product. ·         Customers can cost-effectively purchase a mix of Standard or Premium CALs, as appropriate to the technologies that individual employees are using.·         CALs now apply to other copies of Windows Server, SQL Server or Exchange Server on the network, eliminating the need to purchase additional CALs.Also, Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes additional Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies with SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business, making it an ideal platform for critical business applications. Windows Essential Server Solutions pricing* is as follows:·         Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $1,089 (U.S.); additional CALs $77 each (U.S.)·         Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $1,899 (U.S.); additional CALs $189 each (U.S.)·         Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $5,472 (U.S.); additional CALs $81 each (U.S.)·         Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $7,163 (U.S.); additional CALs $195 each (U.S.)

Microsoft also today announced rebates of up to $200 (U.S.) for solution provider partners configuring Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 for their clients who acquire the software and purchase Software Assurance within a certain time period. With Software Assurance, customers will receive the upgrade to Small Business Server 2008 at no additional cost when it is available, as well as access to support, tools and training. Terms and conditions of the rebates are available at http://www.SBSrebate.com.

Mark is telling secrets again, this time he is telling you how get money from Microsoft, and no not that old hoax, hop on over here and READ Mark’s Post

So you all know me, I can’t hold a job, that’s why I am SPF RiffRaff, well at least someone in the family is working, my soon to be neice just got a new gig doing a Penny’s commerical, she is the first gal you see in THIS VIDEO

I wonder if Scott told her she would have to support the whole family when he proposed :>)

Congratulations Cassandra, keep up the good work, we need the money <vbg>

Uncle HA

PS, to find out more about Cassandra Figueroa goto http://www.cassandrafigueroa.com/

If you have a few mintues and nothing to do (does this ever hapen) try this DIVA APPROVED little quiz for fun, I got 8 out of 10, howd you do?

Ok so it is not really a secret, but if you missed the SMB Summit in Dallas, the SBS Team made a good deal of stuff public that had been previously NDA.

Robie downunder has posted links to the presentations and has promised to update it with yet more of them.

So hop down to the bottom of the world (virtually) and check out THIS SITE