IT Forum ’05 highlights: part 2

Posted on By Mark Wilson

Microsoft UK IT Forum HighlightsMicrosoft do say that they like to receive feedback on the events that they run. Unfortunately, my feedback for last week’s IT Forum ’05 highlights (part 1) event was not good and Thomas Lee gave me a clear indicator today that people really do read it when he gently needled me about my comments on the quality of the external presenters (don’t worry Thomas – your VSAT scores will be excellent)!

Whilst it makes me a little nervous that most of the IT professional technical evangelist team at Microsoft UK (and some external speakers like Thomas) know me by name (I’m probably infamous for asking too many questions and for republishing their sessions on this blog), I figure that my musings here also help spread their message and I’ve made it my unofficial role to be a bit of a Microsoft evangelist (although I still comment when I don’t like something and I also write about other technology areas that interest me).

I’m pleased to say that today’s IT Forum ’05 highlights (part 2) event was a world apart from last week’s part 1. With good speakers for four out of the five sessions, interesting topics (and some cool technology demos), there was a whole load of information presented that I couldn’t easily get elsewhere (that’s the whole point about going to Microsoft events, I want to learn things that I can’t find on Google).

In fact, there was so much good stuff that it won’t fit into a single blog post, so expect to see more here (as soon as I get time to write it up) about Exchange 12, the Windows Server 2003 SP1 security configuration wizard, the Microsoft Scripting Host (codenamed Monad), Exchange Server 2003 SP2 mobile messaging, and maybe a bit more about Windows Vista too.

Release of the next Windows Vista CTP may be imminent

Posted on By Mark Wilson

This afternoon, I heard the clearest indicator yet from someone close to Microsoft that the next Windows Vista community technology preview (CTP) release is imminent – it may even be made available as soon as tomorrow. Furthermore, as widely reported in the media, there will not be a second Windows Vista beta (there is already some confusion over this because earlier CTPs have included the magic words “beta 2” in places).

I commented a few months back that releasing a series of CTPs as well as the normal series of beta and release candidates would be too much to fit in – it remains to be seen whether there will be further CTPs (I would expect at least one more in April) or if Microsoft will move back to the traditional release candidate model.

Meanwhile, at least in public, Microsoft are sticking to their schedule of shipping Vista in the second half of 2006 – my gut feeling is that whilst RTM may well be achieved in 2006 general availability will not be until early 2007.