Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Microsoft invites you to an exclusive training opportunity:

Business Intelligence Hands-on Lab
Los Angeles, March 1, 2007

Learn how you can implement a Business Intelligence solution using Microsoft^® SQL Server^TM 2005, Microsoft Office Business Scorecard Manager, ProClarity and the Microsoft Office suite of products in this one day hands-on lab. Topics include:

• How to create and manage powerful OLAP and data mining solutions.
• Learn how to create different types of reports and build reporting models.
• Design and deploy scorecards using Business Scorecard Manager.
• Create, design and distribute powerful data analysis using ProClarity Analytics Server.
• Leverage SharePoint^® Server 2007, the 2007 Microsoft Office release, and SQL Server 2005 to build an integrated BI solution

Course Modules

• Leveraging SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Office 2007 release Servers
• Business Scorecard Manager 2005
• Building Analytic Applications in ProClarity
• SQL Server 2005 Integration Services
• Analysis Services
• Reporting Services
• Report Builder

Who Should Attend:

These hands-on labs are for Database Administrators and Developers who are familiar with SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2000 and are considering or planning to deploy business intelligence solution for OLAP, data mining, analytics, reporting, or performance management.

Prerequisites:
To get the most from these labs, you will need knowledge of SQL Server 2005, 2000 or 7.0, including administration experience, experience creating a database, database and server architecture, and database security.

Location
Microsoft Los Angeles
333 South Grand Ave.
Suite 3300
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Phone: 213.806.7300

March 1, 2007
8:30am – 4:30pm

RSVP:
This special, no charge training event will fill quickly and space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible to reserve your seat.

Click here to register or call 877.673.8368 with event code 1032320649.
(http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/eventdetail.aspx?culture=en-US&eventid=1032320649)

(Sigh.  I’m so late on this one.  Most of you already know about this by now.)

Every Christmas, NORAD tracks Santa’s flight around the world and this year, the flight was published online in real time using Windows Live’s Virtual Earth technologies.

NORAD’s Tracking of Santa Claus:
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/map/index.php

For those of you who haven’t seen Virtual Earth, it’s an online mapping technology that provides a wealth of capabilities for both consumers as well as businesses:

1. 2D Maps
   Virtual Earth provides traditional 2D maps that are updated to show construction & map changes. 
2. 3D Maps
   In addition, people in metropolitan areas can view landscapes & maps in 3D, being able to sail through areas where buildings exist and see actual photo-accurate imagery on the buildings.
3. Satellite Topography
   People can zoom in on specific houses and streets through satellite mapping technology that overlays the US as well as International countries where it is available.
4. Bird’s Eye/45 degree Views
   Users can not only see streets & buildings directly overhead, they can see them AT AN ANGLE giving the user the ability to truly see the sides of buildings with photography that is taken from low flying airplanes.  Great for finding directions, examining neighborhoods & real estate, etc.
5. Traffic Maps
   Real time traffic available directly on the maps you’re viewing.
6. Regional Directory Listings
   Easily find restaurants, entertainment, stores, and other local activities, the have Windows Live Local call your phone and put you in touch with that store or restaurant, all without dialing a single number!
7. Programmability
   Virtual Earth can be used in both internal applications (client side as well as web-based) as well as external web solutions.  The famous Zillow.com uses Virtual Earth to show people bird’s eye view shots of people’s properties online.
8. Mobility
   Virtual Earth can be made available on cellular phones & smartphones.  A free installable program can be downloaded from http://wls.live.com that will run on both wirelessly connected Pocket PC’s, Pocket PC Phones, Smartphones, and Java-based Cell phones.  It provides maps, step-by-step directions, directory listings, address finding, phone number look up, satelite photography, real time traffic data, and most of the other great features of Virtual Earth, all from the convenience of your cell phone or PDA.

Check out:
http://maps.live.com

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 1.0 (MDOP) is now available for download by EA/SA customers from https://licensing.microsoft.com.  It is 148MB in size and a single downloadable file.

MDOP 1.0 is currently ONLY SoftGrid for Desktops 4.1.  Contrary to popular belief it does not contain the other 3 members of the Desktop Optimization Pack.  AssetMetrix’s Inventory Database, Winternal’s tools, and DesktopStandard’s GPOVault are all to be released as MDOP 1.5 sometime in the summer of 2007.

To be eligible to download & use MDOP 1.0, you must:

• Have an Enterprise Agreement established with Microsoft that includes the Desktop CAL
• License the MDOP through your Account Executive.  MDOP licensing is between $7-$10 depending on volume.

For more details on what MDOP is, check out my previous description at http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA410C7F7E038D!1352.entry. 

Microsoft invites you to an exclusive training opportunity:

Windows Vista Hands-On Lab
February 28, 2007

 The advancements in security and reliability of the Windows Vista^TM operating system along with its cost and operational efficiencies, give you and your users confidence in your company PCs. From the perspective of an IT professional, Windows Vista is easier to deploy, and less expensive to maintain, than any earlier version of Windows®. Join us for this one-day hands-on lab and see the new features for yourself, including:

• Deployment options including Windows Deployment Services, XImage, and System Image Manager
• Migrating users files and settings without their intervention
• How to make decisions for the implementation of User Account Control
• How to use the Windows Firewall as another layer of a defense-in-depth strategy to control and secure communications between network clients
• How to configure enterprise management
• Hands-on experience in creating and managing Quality of Service policies

Course Modules

• Configuring and Managing WDS
• Managing Windows Image Files
• Automating Installations
• Customizing Windows PE
• Migrating user state from Windows XP
• User Account Control
• Configuring Windows Firewall
• New Management Technologies
• Group Policy Management Features
• Managing Bandwidth with Policy-based QoS

Who Should Attend:
This course is for IT Professionals and Technical Decision Makers who need more information about the new features in Windows Vista.

Prerequisites:
To get the most from this course, you will need to be familiar with the Windows desktop environment.

Location
Microsoft Los Angeles
333 South Grand Ave.
Suite 3300
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: 213.806.7300

February 28, 2007
8:30am – 4:30pm

RSVP:
This special, no charge training event will fill quickly and space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible to reserve your seat.

Click here to register or call 877.673.8368 with event code 1032320644.
http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/eventdetail.aspx?culture=en-US&eventid=1032320644

I’ve been asked several times, "Why should I use 64-bit processors?  In English please."

So here’s a quick list of reasons, followed by an old writeup that goes into this more deeply.  There are 3 reasons – big ones – that 64-bit processing is the future:

1. GREATER MEMORY
   Windows XP Professional x64 Edition can address 128 GB of RAM.  Windows XP Pro 32-bit can address 4 GB RAM.  Manipulating data in memory is 100+ times faster than trying to do the same thing on hard drives and this means that, assuming you have the RAM, you could do a lot more in memory using 64-bit CPUs than you could using 32-bit CPUs.
2. FASTER GENERAL COMPUTATION
   64-bit CPUs can store twice as many bits in its registers allowing them to "number crunch" at least twice as much information within the processor at the same time than 32-bit CPUs.  In addition, the chip itself has data I/O throughput that is twice as much as 32-bit CPUs.  This means that not only can 64-bit CPUs access more memory, even within the processor itself, the chip is optimized to only have to retrieve data from memory HALF as often as 32-bit CPUs to accomplish the same tasks.
3. HIGHLY ACCELERATED EXECUTION FOR SELECT OPERATIONS
   64-bit CPUs expose a larger instruction set to operating systems than 32-bit CPUs.  Instead of running multiple CPU cycles with base-level instructions to accomplish the same task in software, hardware instructions allow the same computational task to be completed in a single cycle.  Most every CPU generation produced expands the instruction set available to operating systems, however it’s important that the OS actually take advantage of those instructions to realize any performance improvement and that’s where 64-bit operating systems like Windows Vista x64 & Windows Server R2 x64 come into play.

———————–

<excerpt from Microsoft’s online description of 64-bit computing>

The 64-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 family are designed to run on high-performance 64-bit processors. These processors improve performance and scalability by processing more data per clock cycle, addressing more memory, and running faster numeric calculations.

For workloads that are memory-intensive or compute-intensive, the performance and scalability benefits are often dramatic. Large data sets can be loaded entirely into memory, reducing the need for slower disk access; complex calculations that take hours to complete on 32-bit systems can be done in minutes; workloads that once required large server farms can be deployed on a single server.

Ultimately, these breakthroughs lower your total cost of ownership (TCO) by delivering superior price performance and reducing administration costs. At the same time, the 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003 share the same familiar user interface and development environment as their 32-bit counterparts, allowing you to leverage your existing Windows skills. Because 64-bit Windows Server 2003 systems integrate seamlessly with other members of the Windows Server family, you can add 64-bit systems for the workloads that need it, while keeping the rest of your 32-bit environment intact.

The Windows Server 2003 family supports two different 64-bit architectures. The first is called Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC), and supports the Intel Itanium processor family. This version is well-suited for native 64-bit applications requiring the highest levels of scalability.

The second 64-bit architecture supported by the Windows Server 2003 family is based on 64-bit extensions to the x86 instruction set, and supports both AMD64 processors and Intel processors with Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T). This platform lets you take advantage of the wealth of existing 32-bit Windows applications, while also powering the latest 64-bit technology.

Buslink USB 2.0 Flash Drive PRO 2 Series – USB flash drive – 64 GB… Cost: $5629.00
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=959056

PRODUCT FEATURES:

• High performance 20/ 15 M/Sec read/write;
• Password protection option;
• Small and lightweight design for easy portability;
• Compliant with USB Hi-Speed standard with up to 480Mbits/sec data rate, 40 times faster than USB 1.1;
• Supports up to 128 devices on the USB bus;
• Easy Mac and Windows plug and play, supports hot plugging and dynamic reconfiguration;
• USB Mass Storage Device class compatible;
• Write protect switch to prevent accidental erasure;
• Bus-powered, no external power needed;
• Low power consumption in active and suspend mode;
• Support Advanced Power Management functions;
• Solid State Flash memory with 10 years (typical) data retention;
• Durable, shock resistant, longer life for your data;
• NAND Flash Solid State memory;
• Insertion endurance: 5000 cycles (Min);

Yes, you read that correctly: 64GB for 5 LARGE.  Now I’m somewhat reknown for being spendthrift here at Microsoft, throwing money at idiotic discretionary technology purchases (a little less of that goin’ on of course now that I’m married) but I’ll still pick up an Xbox 360 or a USB External Hard drive at a moment’s notice.

This however is beyond me.  You could buy two Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM HP top-of-the-line laptops for the same cash.  On one hand, I’m pleased that the technology is, uh, available to make something like this because it means eventually the price will be reasonable and that we’ll all be able to store our life’s work on our keychains.

But in the meantime, I’ll just stick with my 4GB Apacer Ultra-high performance 200x USB flash drive.  Folks, if you don’t have one of these, they’re $99 and they are sooooooooooooo worth it.  Imagine doing video editing on 4GB of flash media that is 4x faster than even the fastest 10,000 RPM server hard drives.

If you connect your device, and you know that it’s running a former revision of the firmware (usually 1.1… this can be determined by looking at About in the device) and you’d like to update it:

1. Connect the sync cable to Zune or the Zune Dock (sold separately).
2. Connect the other end of the sync cable to a USB port on your PC.
3. Start the Zune software.
4. On the Navigation pane (left) , right-click your device, then click Check for Zune Device Updates.
5. If there’s an update available, follow the on-screen instructions to apply it to your device.

A new video documentary about Halo 3 was released.  It captures a moment with the "Brutes", a large enemy of a rather chaotic nature as opposed to the lawful Covenant Elites, a more disciplined warrior class.  It runs 7 minutes long which is a helluva long time for a video of this nature.

It’s downloadable from the Bungie site in a number of flavors getting as rich as 640×480 in Windows Media format, or if you have an Xbox 360, you can download it for free on Xbox Live Marketplace is glorious High Definition 720p.  Obviously the best experience is gonna be on your big screen in 1080i so unless you really have to see it now, wait until you can get home and download it to the ol’ Xbox Hard drive.

DOWNLOAD:  http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?cid=9340

If you haven’t connected your Zune to your laptop recently, be aware there’s a 22MB install waiting for you in the way of a desktop software & a firmware upgrade. Improved stability, better performance and three words: Windows Vista support.  (There’s been reports that it’s not working on some Windows Vista installations.  Stay tuned.)

DIRECT DOWNLOAD (5.5MB):
http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/8/5/58555b76-c739-442a-91ed-f9c650df70bc/ZuneSetup.exe

REFERENCES:
http://zunerama.com/articles_008.php#061210_zune_story
http://zuneinsider.com/archive/2006/12/19/zune-compatible-with-vista-today.aspx