Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Surface with Windows RT Drop Test — from 30" onto hardwood floor. Surface Reliability Lab, Redmond WA, Monday October 15th 2012.  Nice.

Wow.  That was fast.  Office Professional Plus 2013 (x86/x64) are now available for MSDN/TechNet subscribers.

• LINK:  TechNet Subscriptions Downloads
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/

Paul Clement (MS MVP) wrote a fairly significant & exhaustively documented step-by-step post on the Microsoft Press blog about Windows Server 2012’s new Data Deduplication feature that I think is worth reading for anyone using Windows Server as their file server front end.

Much like the Windows Server 2012 Data Classification Toolkit which provides automatic identification of sensitive information & ‘classifies it’, Data Deduplication provides added value to customers using Windows Server specifically to provide file services for their end users.  This is in contrast to folks using non-Windows-based NAS solutions that are front ended using client-accessed SAMBA based Linux variants:  These cannot leverage either DCT or Data Dedupe.

Paul here! For as long as there has been file servers running in our organizations, there has been the need to control data sprawl to conserve expensive storage space. As disks began getting larger in capacity and less expensive in cost this issue has moved from critical to more of an annoyance for IT staff to manage. Larger disks meant more space to save data and less urgency to deal with duplicate files.

Solutions have existed for many years to deal with what is known as “deduplication,” both in software and hardware; however they were expensive and not always as simple as they claimed to be.

With the newly minted Windows Server 2012, one feature of the exhaustive list of under the hood improvements and additions is a Service called Data Deduplication. Finally, a built-in and free tool that is integrated with the operating system is here for us to realize some pretty significant storage savings without the need to make it a capital project.

…

Read more at:

• BLOG: From the MVPs: Windows Server 2012’s Data Deduplication feature
  http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/10/22/from-the-mvps-windows-server-2012-s-data-deduplication-feature.aspx

The Windows 8 operating system is the newest member of the Microsoft Windows family. It differs from earlier Windows releases as much for what it does not change as for what it does change. That is, the features that IT pros loved about Windows 7 are still there in Windows 8—just better. The same keyboard shortcuts, management tools, security features, and deployment options are available in Windows 8.

But in many cases, Windows 8 improves them in intuitive and significant ways. Some examples are the ribbon in File Explorer and faster disk encryption when using BitLocker Drive Encryption.

This book describes these enhancements plus many of the new features in Windows 8.

Please enjoy this preview edition that contains Chapters 1-11. We will update this post with a link to the final ebook when it is ready.

• DOWNLOAD:  Free eBook: “Introducing Windows 8: An Overview for IT Professionals (Preview Edition)”
  http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/10/23/free-ebook-introducing-windows-8-an-overview-for-it-professionals.aspx

Many in the media have weighed in on Windows 8 already in just the past week since release to TechNet/MSDN & the Volume Licensing Service Center.

Here’s a few of the reviews:

• ZDNET: Windows 8 vs. Windows 7: Benchmarked
  (Author: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNet Hardware 2.0)
  ”Benchmark testing suggests that Windows 8 is Microsoft’s fastest Windows to date.”
  http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-vs-windows-7-benchmarked-7000002671/
• CNET: Windows 8 Release to Manufacturing review
  (Author: Seth Rosenblatt, CNet Senior Editor)
  “We’re giving Windows 8 a strong recommendation in no small part because of its value.”
  http://reviews.cnet.com/operating-systems/windows-8-release-to/4505-3671_7-35321713.html
• THE VERGE: This is my next: Windows 8
  (Author: David Pierce, The Verge Reviews Editor)
  ”My MacBook Air and my iPad are basically my fifth and sixth limbs… Come October 26th, though, I’m ditching them both…I’m buying a Windows 8 device as my only computer, and I can’t wait.”
  http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/16/3246185/this-is-my-next-windows-8
• ZDNET: Installing Windows 8 on your old PC could turn it into Greased Lightning
  (Author: Jason Perlow, ZDNet Senior Technology Editor)
  ”Clearly, they’ve made the upgrade attractively inexpensive, which is a far cry from Vista, which was actually prohibitive in my opinion because not only was the software not cheap, but a great deal of legacy hardware compatibility got left behind and most PCs just weren’t powerful enough to run them. That’s just not the case with Windows 8. Four year-old machines are running on it swimmingly.”
  http://www.zdnet.com/installing-windows-8-on-your-old-pc-could-turn-it-into-greased-lightning-7000002903/
• ZDNET:  Windows 8 Enterprise: RTM Preview
  (Author: Simon Bisson, Technology Journalist)
  “Windows 8 is like Windows 7 — just faster and more power-efficient (our test laptops have gained an extra hour of battery life on average after updating with Windows 8). In nearly a year of testing Windows 8 we’ve only found a couple of applications that didn’t work with the OS — and those that didn’t had dependencies on specific hardware APIs that have been deprecated.”
  http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-enterprise-rtm-preview-7000002989/
• TECHRADAR: Windows 8 Review
  (Author: Mary Branscombe, Technology Writer)
  “Keep an open mind, spend some time getting used to the charm bar and the Start screen. Once you do, we defy you not to be impressed by Windows 8.”
  http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/operating-systems/windows-8-1093002/review
• BETANEWS:  Windows 8 is a compelling story
  (Author: Robert Johnson, User Interface Developer)
  “Windows 8 simplifies computing in such a way that Apple CEO Tim Cook’s comments reveals Apple could possibly miss the transition to a simplified experience economy in the same way that Microsoft missed the transition to the experience economy back in the early 90’s. The unification of the desktop and Modern UI is a good thing. Microsoft getting into hardware is a good thing regardless of OEM concerns (I’m looking at you Acer).”
  http://betanews.com/2012/09/10/windows-8-is-a-compelling-story/
  See also:
  • BETANEWS:  Windows 8 simplifies computing
    “Microsoft user experience team for Windows should be commended instead of chided for making an OS where content creators like myself can easily create in the desktop and consume in the modern UI.”
    http://betanews.com/2012/09/11/windows-8-simplifies-computing/
  • BETANEWS:  Windows 8 is a graphic shift in computing habits
    ”While some people may hate the Modern UI, it is actually very forward thinking of Microsoft, for a change. For the first time in a long time, the software giant is actually ahead of the curve when it comes to design.”
    http://betanews.com/2012/09/14/windows-8-is-a-graphic-shift-in-computing-habits/
• ESQUIRE:  The Idiots Are Coming – And we couldn’t be more grateful. How Windows finally got competitive — and maybe even changed the way we’ll use the Internet
  (Author: Peter Martin, Journalist for Esquire Magazine)
  ”It’s how the Internet was meant to be experienced. Perfectly uncluttered. Simple. Just like Windows 8.”
  http://www.esquire.com/features/man-at-his-best/windows-8-review-1012?hootPostID=a46f714a86d23c144799917ec65c5000
• TGDAILY:  In defense of Microsoft Windows 8
  (Author: Rob Enderle, Analyst & Journalist for TGDaily & the Enderle Group)
  ”There are three things to remember that will make your Windows 8 experience far better… Honestly, those three things took away 95% of my learning frustration with Windows 8.”
  http://www.tgdaily.com/opinion-features/66829-in-defense-of-microsoft-windows-8
• INFORMATION WEEK: Windows 8 Beats The Mac, Appsolutely
  (Author: Paul McDougall, Editor-at-Large for Information Week)
  ”Microsoft’s new operating system looks how a modern OS should–big, bold, and centered around apps. Suddenly, it’s Apple’s turn to catch up.”
  http://www.informationweek.com/windows/microsoft-news/windows-8-beats-the-mac-appsolutely/240009093
• THE VERGE: Windows 8 review
  (Author: Tom Warren, Senior Editor for The Verge)
  “If you’ve been waiting for Microsoft to provide better software for a tablet and catch up with the iPad, then this time has certainly arrived… Picking up a tablet PC with Windows 8 makes an iPad feel immediately out of date.”
  http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/23/3537710/windows-8-review
• PCWORLD: “5 ways Windows 8 beats iOS”
  (Author: Jon Phillips, Editor of PC World)
  ”And the iPad has worked for me—despite the fact that it’s never helped me do any real work.  But now there’s a legitimate alternative to the iPad in my life… Windows 8 tablets are the real deal, people, and their unique charms tie directly back to the new OS.”
  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2012280/5-ways-windows-8-beats-ios.html
• ABCNEWS: “Windows 8 Requires Microsoft’s Instruction, But Also a Willingness to Accept Change”
  (Author: Joanna Stern, ABC News Technology Editor)
  “I can also attest that the operating system does become second nature after you spend time with it, and the change isn’t just change for the sake of change. There are worthwhile and useful changes that make things faster to use and push the ways we interact with touchscreens.”
  http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/microsoft-windows-requires-combination-instruction-willingness-accept-change/story?id=17531671#.UIWG6Gk-uiF
• ZDNET: “Don’t hate Windows 8!”
  (Author: Matt Baxter-Reynolds, SDC & Contributing Author to ZDNet)
  “Windows 8 takes a lot of getting used to, but it’s the best OS made by Microsoft, and could be the best OS ever made by anyone… If you’re new to Windows 8, don’t give it the hate. Sit back, relax, and in a few weeks I’m sure you’ll be loving the whole Windows 8 groove. And definitely, definitely don’t downgrade if you buy a new machine with Windows 8 pre-installed. You’ll be missing out on a fantastic operating system.”
  http://www.zdnet.com/dont-hate-windows-8-7000006297/
• ZDNET: “In spite of all the hate, I like Windows 8”
  (Author: Ken Hess, ZDNet Contributor & Systems Administrator)
  ”I don’t know exactly why it is but people seem to resist change, even when it’s good. It must be a human nature thing. I fell prey to it as well. I hated Windows 8 at first. But, I was converted after trying it. I’m one of the people who went from, "Windows 8 sucks" to "Windows 8 is cool."”
  http://www.zdnet.com/in-spite-of-all-the-hate-i-like-windows-8-7000006553/
• THE ECONOMIST: “Difference Engine: Time to move on”
  (Author: N.V., Contributing Author for The Economist’s Babbage Column)
  ”What impresses most, though, is the radical rethinking of the user interface—with its matrix of “live tiles” that let the user plunge straight into programs already running, and also to see at a glance updates to such things as news feeds, e-mail and text messages as they roll in. By comparison, the plodding, step-by-step mousing around pioneered by Apple and earlier versions of Windows, and persisting to this day in many flavours of Linux and even the latest Macintosh OS X itself, appears staid and so last century.”
  http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/11/operating-systems?fsrc=scn/tw/te/tr/timetomoveon
• WASHINGTON POST: “Windows 8 is 84 percent less frustrating than Windows 7, report says”
  (Author: John Koetsier, Reporter for VentureBeat.com)
  “Windows 8 crashes 55 percent less and is 84 percent less frustrating than Windows 7, according to a new report… In addition, with the touch-friendliness of Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 8 is penetrating the tablet market much more effectively than Windows 7… Interestingly, desktop use is also slightly higher, with almost 51 percent of Windows 8 installs being on a desktop PC, versus 48.5 percent of Windows 7 installs being on a laptop.”
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/europe-and-asia-adopting-windows-8-at-double-us-rate-plus-more-juicy-windows-8-data/2012/11/08/55ed5ba6-296c-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html

The next release of Office has released to manufacturing!  Per the Office blog:

Moments ago, the Office engineering team signed off on the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) build. This milestone means the coding and testing phase of the project is complete and we are now focused on releasing the new Office via multiple distribution channels to our consumer and business customers.

This is the most ambitious release of Office we’ve ever done. It spans the full family of Office applications, servers and cloud services. The new Office has a fresh, touch friendly design that works beautifully on Windows 8 and unlocks modern scenarios in social, reading, note-taking, meetings and communications. We are proud to achieve this milestone and are eager to deliver this exciting release to our customers.

General availability is planned for the first quarter of 2013. Starting October 19, customers purchasing Office 2010 from local retailers or resellers will receive the new Office for free upon availability. Customers will also see a preview version of the new Office on Windows RT devices, beginning with the Windows 8 launch on October 26.

…

The money quote for Enterprise customers is here:

“Volume Licensing customers with Software Assurance will be able to download the Office 2013 applications as well as other Office products including SharePoint 2013, Lync 2013 and Exchange 2013 through the Volume Licensing Service Center by mid-November. These products will be available on the Volume Licensing price list on December 1.”

“IT professionals and developers will be able to download the final version via their TechNet or MSDN subscriptions by mid-November.”

• BLOG: Office Reaches RTM!
  http://blogs.office.com/b/office-news/archive/2012/10/11/office-reaches-rtm.aspx

For those of you like me who still have need for the Zune client software for your older Windows Phone 7 or Zune devices on Windows 8, here’s the link to download the 270MB package for the Zune 4.8 client.

After upgrading my very last machine, I’d forgotten that this box was the client that I used to do client sync with on my phone for large downloads so this remained the last piece of client software that I had to install.

• DOWNLOAD: Zune Software 4.8
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=27163

Here’s an video of a 3-year-old child who will help walk you through the Windows 8 user interface step-by-step:

In this tutorial, he’ll show you:

• how to get to the “START screen” 
  (not the “START menu” which he will make clear to you)
• how to run programs that are installed on Windows 8
• how to pin applications to the side so that 2 applications may be viewed at the same time on the display
• how to make applications go full screen
• how to switch to other running applications
• how to select & close applications that are running
• how to close the running foreground application
• how to get back to the desktop

Yeah.  3 years old.

So as of this afternoon, there were still some reservation passes available for people that wanted to pre-order the Surface. 

Why would you preorder?
Because there’s admittedly only a limited number of units (as you would expect) per store.  Yes, I know the quantity & believe me:  It’s not large. 

Meanwhile, as you’ve probably seen, the Online Microsoft Store is COMPLETELY SOLD OUT of pre-orders for Surface.  And not just that “32GB w/out keyboard” SKU – we’re talking ALL the SKUs, including the “32GB WITH keyboard” & the “64GB w/ keyboard” options.

To make matters more complicated, the store is making preparations for a line before they open the doors in the morning in anticipation of individuals that want to purchase a device.

So, it would suck if you wanted to get a unit on October 26th, only to discover they’re out.  Because the wait moving forward is 3 weeks before the next shipment comes in.

How do you get the reservation pass?
The procedure to get the reservation pass is pretty simple, but it will require a little bit of your time.  In the case of Los Angeles, you need to go down to the store at 10250 Santa Monica Blvd (Westfield Century City Shopping Mall) and ask a Manager or Assistant Manager to get a reservation ticket for a Surface.

Location (Get directions)

• Westfield Century City
• 10250 Santa Monica Blvd
• Los Angeles, CA 90067
• Phone: (310) 228-3550

Store hours

• Mon – Sat: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Sun: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM

They will begin the procedure on their computers.  You’ll need to know which SKU you’d like.  (See above for the 3 options)  You’ll need to provide your contact information, and they’ll ring up an official $0 receipt for you to hold onto along with the Blue Surface Reservation Pass card.

October 26th… BEFORE 12 NOON!
Here’s the most important point:  The ticket can only be redeemed BEFORE 12Noon.  In other words, if you get a reservation pass, and don’t come in on October 26th before 12 Noon, the reservation is null & void.

Touch gesture support comes to the Microsoft Touch Mouse! Swipe left to reveal the Charms bar.  Swipe right to tab through applications.  Sweet!

Taken from the Download page:

Mouse and Keyboard Center helps you personalize and customize how you work on your PC. Tailor your mouse and keyboard to meet your unique needs and work style. Modify your mouse and keyboard settings to make it easier to use the unique features of most PC apps. View and change basic and application-specific settings for all connected devices in one place. Explore features with pop-up descriptive and “how-to” InfoTips. Includes access to an online How-To/Troubleshooting library. Includes access to an online Healthy Computing Guide for tips on how to work more comfortably on your computer.

Release Notes:

A new application that helps you make the most out of your Microsoft keyboard and mouse.

• Customize devices from an easy-to-learn Windows 8 interface.
• Create new shortcuts that make tedious tasks a breeze.

Mouse and Keyboard Center helps you personalize and customize how you work on your PC

• Tailor your mouse and keyboard to meet your unique needs and work style.
• Modify your mouse and keyboard settings to make it easier to use the unique features of most PC apps.

Effortlessly transition to Mouse and Keyboard Center from existing device management apps

• Launch the app from the Windows 8 Start screen.
• View and change basic and application-specific settings for all connected devices in one place.
• Explore features with pop-up descriptive and “how-to” InfoTips.
• Includes access to an online How-To/Troubleshooting library.
• Includes access to an online Healthy Computing Guide for tips on how to work more comfortably on your computer.

• DOWNLOAD: Mouse and Keyboard Center 2.0 (formerly IntelliPoint and IntelliType Pro)
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35379