This week kicked off Hell Week, certification-wise, for me.
Currently I’ve got a total of four exams scheduled this week. I’m slated to take:
70–648 TS: Upgrading from Windows Server 2003 MCSA to, Windows Server 2008, Technology Specializations (which I passed this Monday, actually)
70–646 PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
70–669 TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization (Beta)
70–624 TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops
To be honest, that’s really a total of five exams, since 70–648 is actually a combination of the 70–640 and 70–642 exams.
And ALL this is in addition to the beta for 70–693 I took last month, and the pair of exams (70–579 and 70–659) that I took in a single morning while at MVP Summit 2010.
Since I’m a glutton for punishment, I’m eyeing two REAL mindkillers, 70–643 and 70–647, for next week.
Big thanks to Eric Beehler for inviting me to appear on CS Techcast 110 this week. We talked at length about some of the unique challenges facing mid-market IT.
Although the conversation was spurred mostly by the news of Microsoft’s cancelling Essential Business Server v2, we discussed a wide range of topics, including cloud-based services (big shock there) and virtualization.
If you want to skip ahead, my section starts at the 12:52 (or so) mark.
I’ll admit, it was kinda weird being on the other side of the microphone. Flashbacks of SBS Show kept running through my head, but being on the other side of the desk made this the fastest, easiest webcast I’ve ever done.
Instead of my typically convoluted Funcave windup involving some theoretical physics, Bluetooth and comic book lore a la “The Big Bang Theory,” I’ll just come right out and say what’s up this time:
That’s officially official as of right now, which should be 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard time on March 5th, 2010. So what does that really mean?
In the immediate term, it means there will be no v2 of Essential Business Server. Not ever. Which is a damned shame, because v2 was looking completely and totally badass.
Forget the whirlwind. 2009 now feels like someone just strapped a jetpack to my back and flipped the “On” switch without telling me. Problem is…the person who did that? Me!
Here’s the latest rundown with relevant links to all the talks, places, and conferences currently on my schedule.
April
14 – Webcast: Using System Center Essentials with Essential Business Server
1 thru 11 – The Career Express Tour, Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC, Philadelphia PA, Cincinnati OH, Indianapolis IN, St. Louis MO, Kansas City KS, Denver CO, Santa Fe NM, Phoenix AZ, Las Vegas NV, Los Angeles CA
11 thru 15 – Tech-Ed North America 2009, Los Angeles CA (click to register)
13 thru 16 – Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, New Orleans LA (click to register)
August
17–20 – CMP XChange ‘09, Washington DC (tentative)
October
2 thru 4 – SMB Nation, Las Vegas NV (tentative)
You know what really rocks tho? A new service call TripIt. Besides helping me track all my travel info in one super easy-to-use spot, TripIt also shows me which of the people I’m linked to will be nearby at the same time. Social networking for travel, which rocks! If nothing else, it helps cut down immensely on all the “You gonna be there? I dunno, YOU gonna be there?” back-and-forth that typically happens in the back channel around events.
MS Learning picked me as one of the six winners of a free trip to Tech-Ed 2009! Not only that, but I’m taking the road trip option. That’s right…cross-country via bus. Atlanta to L.A. in 11 days, with tons of stops in-between.
Here’s the current itinerary for the Career Express tour, straight from MS Learning’s kickass Born to Learn blog…
“Bring a Friend” Night at LANTech Training, Indianapolis, 5:00pm – 7:00pm Bring a friend interested in starting a career in IT, and you both might win a TechNet Plus subscription (and your friend might win a laptop, too!)
Wednesday, May 6th: Indianapolis, IN to Kansas City, MO
MCP Study Break, Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood, CO, 8:00am – 10:00am (featuring live rounds of “Are You Certifiable?” and Windows Server 2008 exam prep sessions)
Ask the Experts at Ameriteach, Greenwood Village, CO, 4:30pm – 8:00pm (featuring live rounds of “Are you Certifiable?” sessions on Windows 7, SQL Server, OCS and more—delivered by stellar MCTs!)
Friday, May 8th: Denver, CO to Santa Fe, NM
Get Off the Bus! Free day for our intrepid but tired riders—come join us as we explore Santa Fe (follow us on Twitter to see where we’ll be!)
Saturday, May 9th: Santa Fe, NM to Phoenix, AZ
Glendale Community College, 8:30am – 10:30am (details coming next week)
Microsoft Technology Round-Up, Training to You, Phoenix, 12:00pm – 3:00pm (featuring Windows 7 previews and Windows Server 2008 certification sessions—register here)
Sunday, May 10th: Phoenix, AZ to Las Vegas, NV
“How to Thrive in Your IT Career” at Netcom, 2:00 – 3:30pm (featuring Windows 7 preview)
Monday, May 11th: Las Vegas, NV to Los Angeles, CA
That’s a whole heaping lot of places where you can come get your learn on with us. We’ll be delivering technical intros and overview, career talks, and all kinds of stuff that’ll be so amazing, you’ll think you were stealing something. So if you’re within striking distance, I hope that you’ll come say “Heya” at one of our stops!
All that’s really just the start. The Career Express will also be at Tech-Ed 2009 with an “Are You Certifiable” booth where folks can play live rounds of the game for prizes. More details on all that later.
And you can bet I’ll be documenting the whole trip, right here at the Funcave. So stay tuned.
