Office 2010 is about to Launch

I demonstrated the  new Microsoft Office 2010 Suite on May 12 to CompuSIR and SPAUG groups in Los Altos. Don Heinsen connected his notebook over the local wireless link to his Windows Home Server, logged into his home computer, brought up Outlook 2010 and demonstrated the new features.
I will show Office 2010 again at my Windows User Group on June 14, but Don can not connect to his WHS over MicroCenter's wireless, due to site and port filtering limits at the store.

We went to an all-day Office, Sharepoint and Visual Studio 2010 Launch event in San Francisco on May 20 - "sold out" a week after the schedule appeared on the web - so I will have more information to discuss at WinSIG. There were several vendors there, mostly offering Sharepoint enhancement. Sadly, only 60-day trials were given to attendees, along with a T-shirt.

Check out Chris Henley's technet blog for the latest information on upcoming presentations in the Bay Area at http://blogs.technet.com/chenley/  Chris covers the North-West US, making presentations for Microsoft.
I learned on Chris' blog about a discount for the Microsoft TechNet Plus subscription, which lets me download real copies of new softare releases for personal use.

Also requiring membership fee in the MS Partner network is "Microsoft Action Pack Solution Provider" which continues to offer internal-use, full-version software, online technical support, and sales resources to help you meet your sales goals, stay competitive, and grow your business. Beginning May 24, 2010 all current and new subscribers will receive expanded benefits, including: 

• A TechNet Professional subscription (online Partner Edition) offering evaluation licenses for full-version Microsoft software, and access to the Microsoft TechNet Library and TechNet community Managed Forums (this is NOT Technet Plus).
• Visibility in Microsoft customer directories
• The opportunity to recruit the most-qualified students with next-generation talent
• Sales skills training
• Access to quarterly support webinars
  https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40016455

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One valuable (to me) newsletter is Springboard, which discusses upcoming events, and has a blog at: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/springboard/

Another good resource is MS Partner Territory Manager Suzanne Levine's news about local events. Email Suzl@microsoft.com to request being added to her distribution list.