For those of you reading our newsletter, following our Twitter feed or blogs, you are aware that I the Springboard Series partnered with Microsoft Learning for the “Get On The Bus Tour” The goal was to bring information on Windows 7, Server 2008 R2, Exchange 2010 and Certification. So, I agreed to spend 5 days working, traveling and even sleeping on a bus.

I have to first start by stating what an amazing group of people I had the chance to work with. From Ken Rosen, Tjeerd Veninga, Liberty Munson, to Brad McCabe from the MDOP group and Ian Hameroff from the Exchange team. All true professionals who can go from speaking to an 18 yrs old to 80 yrs old attendee without missing a beat.

The bus tour during my week onboard visited Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, Vienna, Austria, Prague in the Czech Republic and then a final stop in Berlin where I am am now preparing for TechEd.

We spoke to IT pros in Amsterdam, made a visit to the local Dell office and ended the day with a event complete with a Oscar statues, a red carpet and real “American style” popcorn where Windows 7 was the main event. We spoke to groups of IT managers in Frankfurt (where I learned knocking on a table at the end is a good thing) and to a high school in Vienna were we spoke to around 100 students about Microsoft, technology and the career paths. It was amazing to see the excitement and enthusiasm around our technology.

We visited Munich were again much table knocking ensued and then on to Austria where we did sessions for our TDM (Technical Decision Makers) around the cost savings and benefits of the new products.

Finally, after a long nite and short sleep, we arrived in Prague where we spoke at the new football (soccer for our US readers) stadium for Slavia Praha where we got an great behind the scenes tour of the stadium.

Times are tough all around. So bringing this opportunity directly to the people who can best benefit from it was a great experience. The many questions and thanks I received from all
who attended really made the cold, the lack of sleep and the long days well worth the time spent.

Thank you again for all who attended our events. I have made some great new friends and have learned so much from all of you. I look forward to seeing some of you here in Berlin during my stay.

To see more photos and videos from the tour visit the Bus Tour site here.

Auf Wiedersehen for now.

Stephen

PS-

Also huge thanks to Melissa Bathium our tour coordinator, Bob Simms our contest winner and of course to Celine Allee and Janett Garcia-Riseland for sponsoring this amazing event.

If you are working with Exchange, you HAVE to start think about Exchange 2010. I promise, you'll love it!!! :))) If you enjoyed this post...

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10/13/2009 - Exchange Server 2010 Development (Part 1 of 6): Migrating Applications to Exchange Web Services 10/14/2009 - Exchange Server 2010...

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Exchange 2010 RTM not on MSDN and Technet yet, but leaked on torrent... If you enjoyed this post consider subscribing via or Email

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Too many companies today are struggling to make do with fewer technical resources and they are looking to maximize the efficiencies of their technologies in order to reduce costs and business risks. HP is working with Microsoft to address these challenges and give companies the competitive edge they need to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

Working with Microsoft on the launch of Windows Server 2008 R2, Exchange 2010 and Windows 7 has been an exciting venture for the HP team. HP and Microsoft are continuously building on our expertise in providing customers with an unparalleled technology experience for business-ready technology environments.

Our collaboration with Microsoft on Windows 7 showcases the extensive capabilities and functionality of Windows 7 on HP’s portfolio of PC’s, notebook’s and workstations. The sooner companies adopt Windows 7, the sooner they can start reducing overall support costs- that is why HP is ready to design, plan, migrate, manage and deploy Windows 7. In addition to services, HP Virtual Desktop Infrastructure solutions are helping to control the cost, manage the complexity and improve security of desktop computing with Windows 7. We’ve also been working with Microsoft on unified communications and collaboration solutions so customers can integrate their choice of endpoint devices, including Windows 7 platforms, and connect people seamlessly regardless of technology used.

We’re excited to join forces with Microsoft in their mission to create the most efficient enterprise technologies across the board with Windows Server 2008 R2. HP’s collaboration on Windows Server 2008 R2 is helping customers build a secure, infrastructure that is scalable and adaptable to meet changing business requirements.

With Windows Server 2008 R2, organizations can now make a serious reduction in power consumption and improve consolidation ratios with HP ProLiant G6 servers. HP’s support of Windows Server 2008 R2 provides a unique cost savings by reducing network real estate and improving server consolidation ratio- HP Flex-10 technology reduces network real estate by up to 75% reduces networking costs by up to 66% and reduces power consumption by up to 50% and can help improve virtualization ratios in network constrained environments.

HP provides a significant advantage for Microsoft Exchange 2010, foundational element for a complete, end-to-end unified communications and collaboration infrastructure. With this solution companies can reduce risk by relying on a strong partnership. HP has the broadest base of servers and storage that help reduce power and floor space requirements, lower cost of storage while improving availability with DAS storage and allows for greater choice in deployment options with a broad portfolio of storage solutions.

HP offers a number of services for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Exchange 2010 and Windows 7. HP VDI standard set of services provides strategy and value workshop, planning and design, implementation and support services. Application Virtualization services help customers with the implementation of server infrastructure and support administration monitoring and management of server based computing servers.

HP is looking forward to the future of Windows Server 2008 R2, Exchange Server 2010 and Windows 7 and we’re excited to be a part of this exciting development with Microsoft.

Meg Shea-Chiles
Director, Microsoft Strategic Alliance, HP Enterprise Business

We are all experiencing the results of the economic “reset”. Companies and consumers are scaling back spending to lower levels despite modest signs of growth. However, we are all recognizing that you cannot simply save your way to success. Costs savings are critical but not enough. In response to this, businesses are emphasizing efficiency which includes trimming costs but also involves increasing productivity and innovation for sustained growth. Microsoft is calling this the New Efficiency.

As mentioned last week by Stephen Rose, Microsoft is hosting a special VIP Business Leadership Roundtable event on September 29, 2009 in San Francisco from 9 to 10:30am Pacific to discuss the New Efficiency and other relevant trends.

Attendees are encouraged to join in on the conversation with our CEO Steve Ballmer and co-host Robert Youngjohns as they discuss major trends in the workplace and the role of technology in driving growth and competitive advantage during this economic reset. Steve and Robert will be joined by a panel of early adopter customers representing key industries like automotive, hospitality, transportation and IT. Attendees will get a close look at how real companies are justifying IT investments across the desktop, server, and network and beyond. The event will be broadcast live over the web and listeners will be able to submit questions to Steve Ballmer and the rest of the panel.

Add the event to your calendar and watch it live here at www.TheNewEfficiency.com.

Things are heating up as we ramp up for Windows 7’s launch on October 22nd!