Microsoft has finally found a way to counter the negative publicity generated around Vista, it's called Mojave. I have to credit Glen Gordon with turning me on to Mojave - thanks Glen! Last week, Microsoft secretly unveiled Mojave to XP users in San Francisco. The results? 90% positive. Finally, Microsoft has come through with an OS that everyone ...

Introduction  I just wrapped up an ETL With SSIS class in the Rochester, NY area and one of the students in the class pointed out ''You haven't blogged in over a week!'' He's right - I need to blog more and more often. I've been distracted with preparations to sell our house, releasing an e-book, writing the next volume in the ...

Buck makes a quick mention of the ''green'' efforts at Microsoft in his blog, and points us to the Environment site that Microsoft has created to show off what they are doing for a cause that is important to all of us.  There are several tidbits in here that can help you do your part, as well.  Please pass the word along.

The newly formed Boise SQL Server User Group kicks off its first meeting with Kalen Delaney on June 25, 2008. I'm happy to see a Microsoft SQL Server user group in Boise. It will fit nicely with the other development and SharePoint groups in town. For more information, contact Cindy Gross of Microsoft.

Bye Bye, Ms. Windows XP?  As of this writing Microsoft plans to stop selling Windows XP 30 June 2008. Steve Ballmer has indicated there may be wiggle room in this decision but (to my knowledge) no postponment has been announced. Back In My Day...  I've been around the block a couple times with Microsoft OS's ...

I just now (well, when you read this it will be late last week; I write ahead sometimes) purchased a Dell XPS 1530 Red laptop with the new Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED SKU installed. Granted, it's 32-bit - mainly because it's a Dell (c'mon Dell, get with x64 already!) - but I'm psyched about the new box. It should arrive next ...

On the MVP Summit...  Later today Christy and I leave Seattle. Our trek to my first MVP Summit was our first trip alone since Stevie Ray was born - and Stevie Ray turned five in February. We won't wait that long again. We had fun! :) Since this was my first MVP Summit I'm not sure how it compares with previous years. ...

It's generally known that if you want to run any tests, code analysis, or database project build/deployment that you need to install one or more Team Edition of VSTS on your build server. What's not so well known are the licensing ramifications around these scenarios. Fortunately Jeff Beehler, Team System Chief of Staff, has posted on ...

Buck Woody has a great series going on SQL Server ManagementStudio Standard Reports. The SQL Server team did a great job developing these insightful and intuitive reports. I often show them to customers and during presentations and the response is always positive. :{> Andy

Back home now, and I have a moment to get the photos downloaded from my camera and uploaded to my blog. Next time I'll take my SD card reader with me. As you can see, registration was quite busy. I heard that there were 4000 people there, but didn't count them myself. The long lines delayed the keynote by about an hour: ...