07/01/2007

July 2007 - Microsoft Competition: The Lay of the Land

In this issue: The July issue takes a look at the competitive landscape for Microsoft. Also included are features on how to get closer to Redmond and mind your manners in the process (don't say "Google"). There's more, with articles on disaster recovery support, Worldwide Parter Group reorganizations and SharePoint Server 2007.


News

Vista Market Share On Steady Growth Curve

Windows Vista is gaining market share and is poised to become the second-most popular OS, surpassing Apple's Mac OS X.


Second SQL Server 2008 CTP Coming Soon

Look for improvements in the way policies are set up in SQL Server 2008 when Microsoft releases the next community test preview (CTP) of the database server by month's end.


Next Windows Desktop OS: Windows 7

Windows Vista has barely been in the hands of consumers six months, but its successor already has a ship date.


EU Court To Rule in Sept. on Microsoft

Sept. 17 the day Microsoft goes to court to challenge fines regulators imposed on company for anti-competitive business practices.


Games Boost Microsoft's Search Share

Microsoft suddenly boosted its share of the search market last month by playing a shrewd game of chicken.


Microsoft Picks Prometric for Exam Delivery into 2008

Next year, Prometric will be sole company to deliver exam services officially for Microsoft.


IE 7 Cross-Browser Scripting Exploit Goes Zero Day

Just this week, a security researcher alerted Internet Explorer users (and Microsoft itself) to a new input validation vulnerability in IE 7.0.


Microsoft Patches Three Critical Flaws

With this week's Patch Tuesday release, Microsoft kicked off its monthly patching exercise with three critical security bulletins.


Launch Wave' of Microsoft Products Coming in 2008

On Feb. 27, 2008 Microsoft plans to release a host of major new products, including Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008.


Windows Vista SP1 Gets Fast-Tracked

Windows Vista Service Pack (SP)1 is back on track.


Microsoft Rejects Latest Open Source License

The Microsoft-Novell Linux alliance may have gotten shakier, with Microsoft saying it doesn't recognize the latest version of the standard license for open source software (OSS).


Three Critical Patches on Tap for Tuesday

The Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) plans to publish six security bulletins next Tuesday, according to Thursday's advance notification.


New-Gen Certifications Retirement Policy Changing

Holders of the premium MCITP or MCPD titles will have to take refresh exam to maintain status; policy to go into effect in about two years.


Massachusetts Considering Microsoft's New Document Format

Massachusetts has decided that Microsoft's latest format may meet its standards.


Vista Ultimate Customers Await Their 'Extras'

Vista Ultimate has been out more than half a year now, and several prominent Windows bloggers have been asking when more Extras are coming.


Microsoft Buys All of Engyro, Part of Dundas

Two Microsoft partners closed deals to join Microsoft or to sell their intellectual property to the software giant.


IT Customer Service Tune-Up

CompTIA has launched a new Customer Service Excellence Program (CSEP) for companies with more than 100 IT service representatives.


Microsoft Product Roadmap Overhauled in Orlando

Updates announced at the show included the names for the next versions of SQL Server and Visual Studio and new details about the next releases of Windows Server.


Masters of Disaster

Partners do their best to help customers survive the worst.


A Change in Climate in Redmond

The Worldwide Partner Group reorganizes for fiscal year 2008.


New Views on Vista

Results of CDW's survey of 753 U.S. IT decision-makers.


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