Who says Microsoft doesn't listen to customers? Because it clearly paid attention to those of you who want to move to Windows Server 2008 R2, but don't want to throw out a perfectly good Exchange 2007 installation in the process.
Microsoft originally had its messaging code monkeys making sure that Exchange 2010 was a perfect fit for Windows 2008 R2. After more than a few howls, it changed course, re-assigned a bunch of programmers, and voila! Exchange 2007 works.
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Posted by Doug Barney on November 09, 20090 comments
Redmond Report is the perfect test as to what's hot and what's decidedly not. I've asked a few times about green computing, and let me tell you, it's crickets out there.
Do you all truly not care about green computing? Has your shop made any moves to achieve greater efficiency and save on power? If not, what would it take for you to be convinced? Write me at [email protected] and give me a lesson in green.
Posted by Doug Barney on November 09, 20099 comments
Microsoft shrunk a tad on Wednesday when 800 pink slips were issued. Lest you think Microsoft is in real trouble, these layoffs are part of the 5,000 jobs the company announced earlier this year would be disappearing. However, it seems that this is, in a way, an additional layoff, and that with these cuts some 5,400 jobs are lost.
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Posted by Doug Barney on November 06, 200917 comments
When I first read of glitches with Windows 7 upgrades, I downplayed it, thinking a tiny majority were making a big deal out of their problems while most everyone else did just fine.
You, the loyal Redmond Report reader, set me straight. My mailbag is full of both success and horror stories. If you haven't upgraded yet or want to compare your experience to those of your peers, check out the letters here and here.
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Posted by Doug Barney on November 06, 20093 comments
This post has been brought to you by Michael Domingo, executive editor of new media. Michael's filling in for Doug, who'll be back for Friday's edition.
An interesting feature in SQL Server 2008 R2 (being previewed at the PASS Summit this week) is the PowerPivot. It's kind of like Business Intelligence 2.0 in that it takes all that important data you collect from SQL Server and packages it up for sharing onto SharePoint Server. End users can then slice and dice the data further without leaving the comforting grid patterns of Excel.
Posted by Michael Domingo on November 04, 20091 comments
This post has been brought to you by Michael Domingo, executive editor of new media. Michael's filling in for Doug, who'll be back for Friday's edition.
I've been using Microsoft Security Essentials for a few months now, ever since it was downloadable. Good thing too -- the license to my other AV solution expired just as MSE went online and I had no budget to buy anything else.
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Posted by Michael Domingo on November 04, 20095 comments
Doug is out for today, but will be back for Friday's edition. Meanwhile, helping fill in for him today is Online News Editor Kurt Mackie.
Microsoft rolled out its latest OS last month during a profound world economic downturn. The word "consumer" may finally disappear from the U.S. lexicon as credit-busted, increasingly jobless Americans hunker down, saving perhaps a few lumps of coal for the approaching winter.
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Posted by Kurt Mackie on November 04, 200914 comments
There are several kinds of Office users: those that refuse to budge from the older versions with the older interface, those that moved to 2007 and like the ribbon...and those that moved to 2007 and don't like the ribbon. Then there's me. I found the ribbon easier to learn than I anticipated, but am still sometimes befuddled as to how to perform basic functions -- just like Office 2003!
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Posted by Doug Barney on November 02, 20092 comments
Some Vista users thought they died and went to heaven when Windows 7 shipped. But for some, the gates weren't so pearly, as the Win 7 upgrade was either difficult or impossible. In a handful of cases, the install goes great 62 percent of the way...and then stops. Ouch. Others get caught in an endless reboot cycle (which I used to call Windows 3.0).
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Posted by Doug Barney on October 30, 20097 comments
Exchange 2010 is in the hands of manufacturers and should be broadly available for purchase soon. So why is Microsoft still letting its details out in dribs and drabs? So it can get publicity, like this here newsletter item. Once again, I get suckered by the big Microsoft PR machine.
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Posted by Doug Barney on October 30, 20090 comments
I've heard so much about the Microsoft-Yahoo search deal that I'm always surprised to learn that it's not yet consummated, and that Yahoo search still drives Yahoo. Looks like I'm going to have to get used to this as the deal is apparently more delayed than a Microsoft software release.
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Posted by Doug Barney on October 30, 20090 comments