SBSC & MSP Buzz

Autotask on a Mac?

August 13, 2008 – 1:31 pm
I can assure you that multi-browser compatibility has been the hottest topic on the Autotask User CommunITy feature request forum.  Leave it to the brainyacks at Calyptix Security to find a possible solution using a third party software that allows you to run IE on a Mac or Linux.  While some users have reported that the solution (Crossover) is not perfect, it has may have the potential to alleviate Mac user's frustrations until Autotask can finish re-coding for cross-browser compatibility.   Read more about this here.

Posted in Technology, Managed Services | 4 Comments »

SBS 2008 Partner Group Tour Registration Now Open

August 12, 2008 – 2:58 pm
  The creators of Small Business Server 2008 are coming to a city near you! The engineering team that built Small Business Server 2008 is traveling to 15 cities across the United States, showcasing the new technology in the latest version of the award-winning product. Hear first-hand from the creators and ask those tough questions only they can answer! This information-packed, three-hour presentation will highlight the technology changes and explain the changes in pricing and licensing of the product. You will also learn about key programs and offers Microsoft is making available to help you get more business today! If you sell into the Small Business space, you won’t want to miss this special opportunity brought to you jointly by Microsoft and your local SBS partner group. Space is limited, so sign up today! Learn more about what we have in store > Here's what we'll cover: Technical Content Overview • What's new in SBS 2008 • Technical ...

Posted in Microsoft, SBS, MS Partners, Technology, SBS Community, SBSC | 1 Comment »

Public Confession - My 24 Hour Fling

August 12, 2008 – 2:14 pm
So I went and did it. I gave in.  They say most transgressions are a series of bad decisions and not just one single decision.  They are right.  I had been plotting this for over a month.  Pressure from my friends, my wife, my co-workers... I was all I could take!!!!  I found myself with some idle time between appointments and conveniently close to a major shopping mall so I made the call and she answered... "Thank you for calling the Apple Store.  How may I help you?"  She had me at Apple!  She then confirmed that they were open and had plenty of the coveted devices in stock so I changed lanes and made a small yet irreversible decision.  I walked in, got in line and bought not one, but TWO iPhones.  While I felt somewhat relieved that I had finally satisfied my desire to own one, I did fell ...

Posted in Fun | 4 Comments »

Congrats to the SBSC Partner Plunge Contest Winners!

August 8, 2008 – 4:06 pm
Wow!  Have fun Wade DeVore and staff of NetVision as you go rafting down Colorado River and party in Vegas.  Can't deny I'm a little jealous but considering all the work you have done with and for the SBSC community (and especially the TAP program) I couldn't think of a more deserving company.  Just remember my favorite quote from Matt Makowicz's latest book, "If you fall overboard, you must take an active participation in your own rescue."  How much truth there is in that one bit of advice.  Enjoy!!!

Posted in SBS Community, SBSC | No Comments »

Karl Palachuk Gives Microsoft it’s End of Semester Grades

August 1, 2008 – 3:13 pm
From A's to F's, Karl gives out grades to each of Microsoft's many vendor faces.  I've very impressed with the accuracy of his assessments.   It was good seeing Karl this past week in Omaha for the HTG meetings.  I'm just glad I'm not the only one that made a fair donation to that casino.  ;-)

Posted in Microsoft, MS Partners, SBS Community, SBSC | 2 Comments »

What is Going on Down Under?

July 31, 2008 – 7:55 am
Wow, first Robbie now Susanne?  Must be something exciting happening in the SMB community Down Under.  If not, there soon will be.  ;-)  Congrats to Wayne, Dean, Hilton and all the rest for some apparently well played draft picks!

Posted in Microsoft, MS Partners, SBS Community, SBSC | No Comments »

Take the EBS Beta Exam - FREE!

July 29, 2008 – 12:23 pm
Thanks Eric for this great offer! Repost from Eric’s Blog: Here is a great offer just announced by the Essential Business Server (EBS) Team. Free beta coupons for the EBS exam by Prometric! And to make it even sweeter, we’ll take an additional 50% off that, so now it’s FREE! Yes, I know that 50% off Free doesn’t really save you anything else, I’m just testing to see who’s really awake this morning. :-) Here’s what the EBS Team had to say about the offer: “Beta exams help you to understand what’s involved with running the product and help you get ahead of the pack supporting Essential Business Server 2008.  You may be wondering why we’d give this away?  Simple; we want as many people certified as possible, and we want to make sure this exam is set to the right level.” So, how do you get your FREE vouchers? Simple: Navigate to http://www.prometric.com/Microsoft/default.htm Select Schedule/Reschedule ...

Posted in MS Partners, SBS Community, SBSC | 1 Comment »

What to do when in Charlotte? Ask Sean Daniel…

July 24, 2008 – 8:14 am
So what does Sean Daniel (SBS Product Team) and Erik Throsell do when they come to Charlotte?  They go to dinner and a show.  Well sort of.  Below you can see the video Sean shot in beautiful Huntersville (just North of Charlotte where all the race teams are located) prior to this guy walking over and practically ripping Seans head off for violating his privacy.  LOL!  Hey Sean and Erik, you could have called, I would have pointed you to a local McDonalds or something a little classier. 

Posted in Fun | 3 Comments »

Software + Services

July 23, 2008 – 11:38 am
So after much thought, discussion with others, comments on Vlad's blog and rewriting countless blogs of my own on the topic of Microsoft's Online Service offering that I've never posted, I have finally found something that puts my opinion into a communicable format.  Enjoy...

Posted in SaaS, Managed Services | 2 Comments »

Virtualization For the Masses

July 23, 2008 – 8:08 am
That seems to be VMware's message today in an announcement that their ESXi will be FREE starting next week.  ESXi is a hypervisor similar to ESX and Hyper-V except that it has a very small footprint and runs as an embedded hypervisor.  This seems to be a direct response to Microsoft's recent gains in they virtualization market. While the inevitably essential VMware's VirtualCenter, and their other virtual infrastructure management products come at a steep price for entry level consumers, so does Microsoft's System Center Virtual Machine Manager.    I'm convinced that virtualization is like crack.  It's free to try, addicting and expensive once you get hooked.  With the plethora of partner marketing, training and incentives coming from the top virtual pushers and the insatiable appetite for consolidation and containment brought on by the 'go green' movement it seems as if we have a true free market pandemic on our hands.  Today, VMware is ...

Posted in VMware, Microsoft, Virtualization, Technology | No Comments »