It’s been disappointing over the last few days to walk in to a number of sessions to find that it was a level 300 session, only to be delivered level 100 – 200 content.

We’re here for good rich technical information and that is what we should be delivered 100% of the time. No sales pitches, just good rich technical content.

This is Year 6 for me at TechEd, and I have found that over the years we’ve gone from Level 400 sessions that you walk out of with a numb brain to today where you walk out with a clean inbox of email.

So, what can YOU the delegate do about this?

1. Fill Out Eval Forms – It doesn’t take that long to log in to CommNet and fill out the eval form. Don’t just select the 1-5, put some comments in to the field at the bottom and give real feedback. If you think it was a sales pitch, say so. If you think the presenter was not great or the content wasn’t great, say so! If you say nothing, then nothing will be done.
2. Speak to the Presenters - The presenters at Tech.Ed are generally really forthcoming and want the direct feedback. Go discuss your concerns about the session with them and help them develop professionally.
3. Speak to the Event Organisers – There are people at Microsoft that put a lot of effort in to making sure that what you get at Tech.Ed is the best content possible. If you don’t like it, make your voice heard and let them know.
4. Discuss in here – Yes, that’s right, we encourage your comments to posts, and please rest assured that concerns will be passed up the lines on your behalf. We’re here to help you help all of us too!

We’re not here to shame anyone, or lay blame, we want good feedback, so please, take the time to do the above and comment here so that the Tech.Ed experience can be improved upon for years to come.

Tech.Greg

Like all good things, today is the end of TechEd AU for another year. Last night many enjoyed the celebrations at Dreamworld enjoying not only the food but also the rides and free booze.  After which it seems many returned to Jupiters various bars to continue the drinking.  I know that one guy came up tot us around midnight very drunk indeed – to the point that we could not understand a word of what he was saying.  I’m sure he won’t be making the 8am session this morning!

It’s been fun this year and I think that yesterdays show of strength at the one and only SBS session here at TechEd should help Microsoft realise there is a dire need for more good technical training and information like this.  If you came to my session please please please remember to fill in your eval forms online and leave comments telling me / Microsoft how we can do better next time.  For the 20 people that have already completed their forms – thanks.  But 20 is less than 10% of those that attended.

More later today

Yes, as pointed out by Corey Hynes, I now own a MacBook – but it does run Windows 7 Ultimate!

You see, I used to own a Dell XPS M1530, nice machine, it took some rough treatment (see below), but I didn’t survive my fall back in June 2008.

So RIP Dell XPS M1530, and hello MacBook.   Its aluminium, so it will dint, but not break into multiple pieces.

To avoid Corey and other Microsoft fanboys fainting for there being a Mac in their sessions, it has now been branded with an “Im a PC” badge. (I’m still not sure what the problem is, after all, Microsoft are a software company.. and their OS runs on many different Intel Machines)

Tech.Ben Working Hard

Tech.Ben...A PC??

and yes, it runs Windows 7 really well.

Tech.Ben
(The guy with a MacBook)

Well you’ve all heard or seen the movie Freddie Got Fingered from 2001. Well last Night Rosemary Stark, Microsoft Product Manager for Windows Servers decided to play with my dinner when it landed in front of her and she thought it might be fun to poke at it only to realise, it wasn’t hers……

Apologies for the sideways action, Wayne Small decided to get creative!

Yes, you read it! The Twitter tag “#auteched” has hit the number 1 tag position today!

1. #auteched
2. #HappyBirthdayPink
3. #wheniwaslittle
4. #4320SYD
5. #job

Twitter Tags

Just a quick thanks to the 200+ people that came to my session today. There was standing room only with around 20 standing at the back of the room! Wow.  I’ve been saying to Microsoft that SBS really DOES have a place here at TechEd and that we simply MUST provide better technical training to the resellers. The attendance today confirms 100% my belief.  Hopefully Microsoft will hear this and see that this type of session really does need to be done.

For my part – as I said during the session this is the start of a full days training that I’ll be offering later this year (Oct/November) as I know all too well that we need to know how to take SBS beyond the wizards safely.  The session was recorded by Microsoft and will be available on teched website soon.  I’ll post here once it is up.

Many thanks again for all that came along and please feel free to give me feedback on what you need in a session like this.

For those that missed out on picking up a community card (I was surprised how quickly they went – the URL you need is www.sbsfaq.com/helpme this gives you access to all the free community resources out there focused on SBS and the SMB IT Professionals space

Get ready to deploy Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with the final release of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010

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• Provide us with feedback at satfdbk@microsoft.com.

Last night we had a relaxed dinner at the Sage Restaurant.  Food was yummy and the company was great. Many had the chance to meet Rosemary Stark – the Aussie Windows Server product manager which includes SBS and EBS.  Keira McIntosh (our SBSC PAL) was there too trying to connect with other SBSers from interstate and catch up on all the issues that they were having.  We had a great turnout from the Adelaide group with 4 people in attendance.  Sadly I was the only one there from Sydney (come on guys!!!)

On the way back to Jupiters, I was called aside by the cat calls and wolf whistles…hmm – I wondered what this could be – only to realise it was a swimsuit competition.  They had a number of fine ladies dressed in very little parading in front of a bunch of geeks.  I could see their tongues falling out of their heads as each new lady walked by.   It was certainly funny to see.

I don’t think they realised what they did by having this competition on during TechEd with 2500 IT Geeks around… oh wait maybe they did and maybe it was just fantastic marketing on their part…

Time to run – my session is on at 8:15am this morning and everything is good to go.  See you there!

SMBiT Professionals Dinner

After what I thought was a “technically dull” Tech.Ed last year, I thought we can look at a few aspects of this year not just technically but as an event to see what’s missing.

• Food - This morning morning tea and lunch efforts have been some what interesting. The catering staff don’t have the event session end times lined up with lunch and people have been queuing for 15 Minutes before being able to get a feed.
• Drinks – These were non existant this morning at morning tea. Lunch time has proven to look better, but even looking around the venue, they have not provided the Coke fridges around the venue this year, just water coolers.
• Presenters - Steve Riley & Jeff Alexander both missing, Steve is no longer with the company and Jeff is overseas after the passing of his father last week. Our condolences to Jeff and his family during this tough time.
• Slow Internet – Yes, it’s missing, man it’s so annoying to have fast internet! Joke Joke – Well done to the team for getting this going. It has been pretty shit hot so far!
• Keynote – The quality, or lack there of in the keynote was pretty poor compared to the Dreamworks or motion picture guy they had featured two years ago if memory serves me correctly. People were tweeting about how it was putting them to sleep. IMHO a keynote really needs to grab people and engage them to psyc them up for what the event holds, this morning was a sales pitch with a pinch of snooze and dash of why am I here thrown in.

Share your thoughts with us and we’ll be sure to pass them on to the event organisers.

Tech.Greg