Microsoft 2008 launch happens, heroically (and pop babel)

{here}'s IT Blogwatch: in which Microsoft launches the new versions of Windows Server, SQL Server, and Visual Studio. Not to mention the pop culture translator...

Chris Kanaracus reports:

Besides launching a set of updated products on Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer lauded the company's IT user base, calling users the "heart and soul" of the industry. The glowing rhetoric fit the theme of Microsoft's launch event, dubbed Heroes Happen {here} in homage to IT workers everywhere. But Ballmer quickly segued into a pitch for the new software, which includes Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 ... Ballmer talked up Microsoft's "Dynamic IT" vision ... as he worked the massive stage at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles ... with characteristic gusto ... The Windows Server 2008 operating system is set to ship next week, followed by SQL Server 2008 in the third quarter. [more]

Peter Bright beams:

Windows Server 2008 brings many eagerly anticipated admin-pleasing features such as a stripped-down mode called "Server Core" .. Microsoft has high expectations for Windows Server 2008 ... [it's] hoping that Windows Server 2008 in the server room will translate into Windows Vista on the desktop ... there are features in Vista that only come into play when used in conjunction with Windows Server 2008 ... Both operating systems are built from the same codebase ... [so] if administrators can trust the code that makes up Server 2008, then by extension they should trust Vista, and the reluctance to use it should begin to diminish—that's Microsoft's hope. [more]

Jeff Centimano is a Windows Server MVP:

Instead of enjoying the festivities - I'm in the trenches having my own 'virtual launch party' by deploying WS08 in a production environment ... make sure you are deploying on supported hardware. I'm working with a client who appreciates the best server hardware ... There is plenty of logic behind the decision to label WS08 as SP1 - but this won't stop the peanut gallery from conjuring up all kinds of conspiracy theories ... Here's a quick tip in case you aren't following Hyper-V development closely. Even though you will see WS08 RTM SKUs 'with Hyper-V' on the MS Volume License Download site, Hyper-V is still beta. I'm honestly surprised Microsoft baked it in to the final DVDs. [more]

Hier Michael Pietroforte ist, mit freundlichen grüßen:

Windows Server 2008 is being launched today. I wonder, what exactly could be meant by this? I mean, I have been working with Server 2008 RTM already for some days ... So again, what is Microsoft launching today? Perhaps, it is Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2008? Not really. Microsoft was quite fast this time and delivered SP1 only a millisecond or so after the RTM. So, if it is neither Server 2008 nor its first service pack what else could they launch today? My suspicion is that they mean these little cardboard boxes wrapped in plastic. [more]

Sam Ramji, director of Microsoft's Open Source Software Lab pontificates:

When I think about what works really well in open source development and technology, the following things stand out: ... Modular architectures ... Programming language agnostic ... Feedback-driven development ... Built-for-purpose systems ... Sysadmins who write code ... Standards-based communication ... We [applied] these ideas to the development of Windows Server 2008 ... we’ve learned and continue to learn from open source development principles. These are making their way into the mindset, development practices, and ultimately into the products we bring to market ... [we’ll] continue to ... learn from each others’ best practices and make increasingly better software. As in science, this incremental improvement will move all of us forward. [more]

Glyn Moody found it "fascinating" and "interesting":

What's interesting about this is not that it's astute analysis - which it is - but that Ramji doesn't mind making it public while admitting that Windows is learning from open source. Of course, it would be stupid not to, but it's nonetheless an important sign of how things are finally changing at Microsoft that it's prepared to trumpet the fact - and of the irreistible rise of the open source way. [more]

Todd Ogasawara was "surprised":

Sam lists some of what he considers the things about Open Source development that works well and then describes how Microsoft applied this ideas to developing Windows Server 2008 ... He goes on to talk about how system administrators who write code are first-class citizens now that PowerShell is built right into Windows Server 2008. Personally, I think PowerShell was the single most important product released in the 2006-2007 timeframe ... Go take a look at PowerShell and you’ll understand why Sam says this makes script-writing sysadmins first class citizens on Server 2008. [more]

And finally...

• What's all this aboot the Pop Culture Translator, eh? [caution: occasional naughty language, especially from Ozzy]
  

Buffer overflow:

• Direct2Dell: A “Green” Approach to Packaging
• TUAW: February is almost over, where is my Time Capsule?
• Techdirt: Great Firewall Of Japan? Japan Proposes Regulating The Internet
• ReadWriteWeb: Tim Berners-Lee Says the Time for the Semantic Web is Now
• Joel Hruska: Microsoft fined another €899 million by EU (Updated)
• Network Security Blog: PCI is just the beginning of security
• Alicia Asín Pérez: Making open hardware possible
• Jason Slater: Creative design by committee is OK - but who wants OK?
• Data Center Knowledge: More Limelight Buyout Rumors

Other Computerworld bloggers:

• Lucas Mearian: Toshiba: Refund HD DVD owners' money
• Mike Elgan: Extreme blogging for fun and profit
• Seth Weintraub: Snowblogging on the iPhone
• Preston Gralla: Microsoft: We're targeting all Vista activation hacks
• Mark Hall: Are malware writers targeting Macs?
• Douglas Schweitzer: Storing medical records online with Google
• Shark Tank: Some help
• Shark Bait: Would you let me know?

Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and spam. A 20 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You too can pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook, or just use boring old email: blogwatch@richi.co.uk.

Previously in IT Blogwatch:

• Apple announces shiny, "new" laptops (and 2008 decided)
• Adobe floats AIR for RIAs (and tweeting plants)
• Sony suspected in HD DVD death (and parlez-vous geek?)