Get Your Learn-On Across The Pond

Not since Jackie Chan filmed "Who Am I?" in Rotterdam has so fine a cast of talent invaded the Netherlands. Behold:

SMB Nation Amsterdam 2006!
April 6-7 2006

Hear from these world-class speakers (fight card subject to change):

• The Magical M&M's – Mariette Knap & Marina Roos (Netherlands)
• Susanne Dansey (UK)
• Mark Mulvany (Ireland)
• Ulrich Schluter (Germany)
• Beatrice Mulzer (USA, Germany)
• Harry Brelsford (USA)
• Jeff Middleton (USA)
• Karl Palachuk (USA)
• Matthew Dickerson (Australia)
• David Overton (UK)

Be sure and attend 'SMB Nation's European Vacation'!

Sign up TODAY (before 1 March) at www.smbnation.com and save 50 EURO (that's $70 US folks). If you miss the Early Bird discount, it's still only 350 EURO ($425 US). So get moving!!

R2-Poo-Poo

In the last 2 days I saw Guy Haycock present SBS R2, and Eric Ligman talked about licensing. Eric & Guy both did a great job, and it got me thinking, "What would I like to see in the perfect SBS R2 webcast?"

Here's my answer:
(And keep in mind, many of these points were in the other, 2 webcasts – this is the 1 perfect SBS R2 / Office / Vista small business opportunity webcast)

– Talk about SQL 2005 better performance out of the box, high availability
– R2 branch office scenario – minimum scenario & associated costs
– More time on WSUS integration demo, specifically updates for IMF, etc.
– Upgrading – is it an in-place upgrade from R1 SP1 or do you have to ‘Swing’ it
– CALs for member servers
– Specifically, what pieces of WS R2 made it into SBS R2
– Does R2 use a different Transition Pack SKU if you want to go past 75 CALs?
– Where is the Software Assurance sweet-spot for SBS upgrades?

First things first:
– R2 on new SBS boxes is a no-brainer. Hands-down.
– If you are selling new hardware TODAY, it MUST be 64-bit. Hands-down.

However, the vibe I hear from the Partners is that they don’t plan on selling *ANY* R2 as upgrades – only new box installs. They say, “Just hold off another year or so until the next ‘real’ version comes out.” But that’s flawed thinking, because Cougar is 64-bit only, and most (practically ALL) small businesses currently have 32-bit servers.

Sure, I agree that upgrading from SBS 2003 SP1 to R2 is stupid. And that’s why everybody loves to slam R2 like its Windows ME. It’s fun to poo-poo R2 and thumb your nose at it. Unfortunately you can’t hear the value of R2 over the roar of naysayers dissing it for being ‘a bunch of free downloads burned on CD and slapped in a box”. The chat transcripts and blogs echo that negative sentiment.

But the value is there underneath the noise. For those SBS 2000 boxes out there at client sites not willing to commit to x64 hardware, R2 is a slam dunk. I hate to see SBS stall in the R2 era the way it did in the ‘pre-SP1’ era – everyone holding their breath waiting for the next big thing. We lost a lot of momentum, and that’s hard to recapture.

We agree that new boxes get SBS R2 (nuff said).

BUT, R2 also needs to be pushed (as an upgrade to SBS 2K) bundled with SA through Open License to get those get those stray SBS 2000 boxes up to speed. R2 gets installed today on the client’s x32 SBS 2000 dogs in mid ’06. So they can eke another 18-24 months out of their current hardware (without pulling the trigger on 64-bit) and they have the ace up their sleeve of the Software Assurance free spin for Cougar. The longer they wait to buy 64-bit hardware, the cheaper (or faster) it will be.

Right now somebody is out there complaining, “But the customer will have to pay labor on a Swing Migration in ’06, and x64 hardware and ANOTHER Swing Migration in ’08 – they’ll never go for that!” The answer is, YES THEY WILL – because:

a) They’re splitting their payments over 3 Years with SA
b) If you bundle XP & Office into the package with one of Eric’s ‘fries with that’ SKUs, they get Vista & Office 12 AND the SBS CAL AND home use AND training AND etc.
c) They’re getting an extra 18-24 months out of their current x32 hardware
d) SBS Premium customers will get BETTER performance out of SQL 2005 than 2000 on the SAME HARDWARE
e) They’re getting more bang for their buck when they finally do buy x64 hardware
f) Your customers will be on current technology for the next 3 YEARS for less than $1 per day per employee

A friend of mine called my cell 20 minutes ago from BestBuy, asking if the Gateway AMD Athlon X64 X2 4200 dual-core desktop machine for $869 is a good deal. So how cheap do you think x64 servers will be in ’07? In ’08? Are you really doing your client a favor by selling them R2 on new hardware today? If they’ve got enough life left in their boxes to coast into the Cougar launch window (whenever that is) with their x32 gear – I say let ‘em.

From where I sit, the formula ‘Install SBS R2 = automatic new hardware’ doesn’t compute. If you disagree with me, you know where the comment button is.

Presto Chango

The SBS 2003 Transition Pack lets you turn your SBS box into a 'standard' Windows 2003 Server. It removes the 75-user limit, allows the core components to be separated to other servers, and leaves the SBS Wizards installed.

Sound interesting? Then be sure and check out the upcoming 'Inside SBS' team webcast this Wednesday (22 Feb 2006 – 11:00 AM Central US).

The show starts live at 11:00 AM CST.
Phone number for the live call-in portion of the podcast:
(866) 500-6738
Use participant code: 7508158

Source: Inside SBS Blog

Office 2007 Pricing Announced

Microsoft just released packaging and pricing information for Office 2007.

Here's the 'Cliff Notes' version:

2007 Microsoft Office Suites (Retail Price/Upgrade Price)

• Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 New! (Volume License Only)
• Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007 (Volume License Only)
• Microsoft Office Professional 2007 ($499/$329)
• Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 ($449/$279)
• Microsoft Office Standard 2007 ($399/$239)
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 ($149/NA)
• Microsoft Office Basic 2007 (OEM Only)

2007 Microsoft Office Programs (Retail Price/Upgrade Price)

• Microsoft Office Access 2007 ($229/$109)
• Microsoft Office Communicator (Volume Licensing Only)
• Microsoft Office Excel® 2007 ($229/$109)
• Microsoft Office Groove® 2007 New! (Volume Licensing Only)
• Microsoft Office InfoPath® 2007 ($199/NA)
• Microsoft Office OneNote® 2007 ($99/NA)
• Microsoft Office Outlook® 2007 ($109/NA)
• Microsoft Office PowerPoint® 2007 ($229/$109)
• Microsoft Office Project Standard 2007 ($599/$349)
• Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 ($999/$599)
• Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 ($169/$99)
• Microsoft Office SharePoint® Designer 2007 New! ($299/NA)
• Microsoft Office Visio® Standard 2007 ($259/$129)
• Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007 ($559/$349)
• Microsoft Office Word 2007 ($229/$109)

You can download the pricing document in Word format here.

Love Me Two Times

Want to take the 70-282 exam, but not quite sure you'll slam dunk it? No worries!

Microsoft and Pearson VUE are giving you the opportunity to take a free second shot on any Microsoft exam (including the fabled 70-282).

First, register for this offer with Microsoft.
http://www.pearsonvue.com/ms/2ndShot/

Then, take the exam at any Pearson VUE between February 15, 2006 and June 30, 2006, and if you fail your exam — take it again for free by July 31, 2006.

(Now all you've got to do is try and get that song out of your head).

Leave The Light On For The Nyxem.E Worm

Here's an interesting use of technology to show the pain points from Nyxem.E:

Better brace for impact!

Thanks go to Nick Pieters for the link.

Running With Scissors

I wanted to share the low-down on some recent betas, from my point of view.

I've been playing with MSN 8 Beta for about 2 weeks now, thanks to Vlad.

Likes:

• Share folders – cool
• Offline messages – cooler
• Music Man – Totally awesome time waster! Loads of fun! Chris and I are having a blast!

Dislikes:

• Facelift – but I'm getting used to it
• Search button at the bottom of the main window (who searches in IM???)
• STILL no spell check (Trillian can do it, why can't MS?)

I was going to blog about IE7 Beta 2, but Music Man is still too fun. Lets just say that I love everything about IE7 except the RSS (lame compared to FireFox w/ Sage RSS plugin) and the disappearing text in text boxes. But it's beta, so I'll be nice.