Heroes Happen {Here} Software

Just another thing in regards to attending one of the local launch events, free software  You receive a sticker when you get checked-in at the event to get the software at the end of the event.  The software bundle included Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 (with a trial version of Windows Live OneCare), Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (32 and 64 bit versions – one year evaluation license included), SQL Server 2008 Developer Nov 2007 CTP (32 and 64 bit versions – with a voucher for a evaluation copy of SQL Server 2008 Standard when released), Visual Studio 2008 Standard with MSDN library, Windows Mobile 6 Developer Resource Kit (Dec 2007), and Microsoft Forefront and System Center (limited-time trial software).  Wow!  No T-Shirt for the launch, but talk about a fabulous software bundle for just attending the launch.  Outstanding!

Don’t miss a chance to attend if you haven’t already missed it in your local area — Heroes Happen {Here} Registration.

One other thing, stop by the Microsoft Business Intelligence booth and pickup a copy of the Microsoft BI Resource Kit if you haven’t gotten one already.  This was release at the Microsoft BI Conference last year, but it is loaded with lots of useful white papers and webcasts.

Hereos Happen {Here} Hands on Lab Manuals

If you went to one of the launches there was a hands on lab setup with some great exercises that you could take to take a look at some of the features that are available in Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, and SQL Server 2008.  I did some of the PowerShell labs for Windows Server 2008 (a few minor issues in the labs, but nothing that I couldn’t figure out) and Change Data Capture (CDC) and Table Partitioning (not a new feature in 2008, exists in 2005 – Enterprise Edition) in SQL Server 2008.

If you haven’t attended a launch yet I would highly recommend checking out the virtual lab area, but if you don’t get a chance or missed out here is the link to the site that has all of the lab manuals you can download.

Heroes Happen {Here} Hands on Lab Manuals

TechNet BI Virtual Labs

UPDATED (11/19/2010): Fixed some of the links for the labs, still tracking down some if they still exist.  Might want to check out this site as well for SQL Server 2008 Virtual Labs – http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/technetsqlserver2008.aspx?tab=virtuallabs.

Just wanted to point out the Business Intelligence virtual labs that are available on the TechNet web site.  There are three labs in regards to PerformancePoint server too

Business Intelligence

• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence- Excel 2007 PivotTables and Analysis Services
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence- Using Business Scorecard Manager 2005 and ProClarity for Performance Management
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Building Integrated Business Intelligence Solutions Leveraging SQL Server 2005 and SharePoint Server 2007
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence- Building Analytic Applications with ProClarity
• TechNet Virtual Lab: SQL Server 2005 Report Builder (still works)
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence- Integration Services
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence- Service Analysis
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence- Data Mining
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence- Business Scorecard Manager
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft Office Performance Point Server 2007 : SharePoint List Dashboards  (still works)
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft Office Performance Point Server 2007 : Excel Dashboards  (still works)
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft Office Performance Point Server 2007 : Dashboard End to End  (still works)
• TechNet Virtual Lab: Business Intelligence Reporting Services (still works)

 

Don’t forget to check out the ones in regards to SQL Server 2008 and get ready for the new product release and take the new version for a test drive.  There are two locations for these virtual labs, there are some on MSDN and some on TechNet.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Virtual Labs

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2008