01/01/2008
January 2008 - Infrastructure Optimization for IT
Can infrastructure optimization (IO) cure IT complexity? Also in this issue: the 2008 Redmond Editors' Choice Awards; Google tries to undermine Microsoft with open source; readers review PowerPoint 2007; and much more!
In-Depth
With Service Pack 1 out, admins should know that there are a few tricks to updating clustered Exchange 2007 servers the right way. Here's a guide.
Here are our selections for the products we believe you just can't live without.
SmartArt and other new features clinch its spot as the must-have presentation tool.
While it soft pedals direct competition with Microsoft, the search giant quietly keeps working on open source projects designed to undermine its archrival.
Infrastructure Optimization is Microsoft's shot at an IT maturity model. It may not be a panacea, but it can help streamline IT operations.
News
Microsoft Learning Group continues popular program another three months.
Court oversight of Microsoft Corp.'s market power, which began in 2002 after a landmark antitrust settlement, has been extended by 18 months.
Experts believe the rising number of exploits targeting Excel gives hackers incentive to continually exploit applications -- rather than operating systems -- for flaws.
New APIs that will make security settings easier for developers, particularly for those writing code to run on Windows Server 2008, Vista and XP SP3.
Microsoft's Learning Group closes beta testing on several new Windows Server 2008 exams, with release soon after the software launches next month.
Microsoft this week said it intends to redouble (or retriple) its commitment to education through its Partners in Learning program.
Microsoft and Citrix have banded together even more tightly in the virtualization space, hoping to take on industry leader VMware.
Microsoft now says it will allow more versions of the desktop OS to be virtualized.
Browser-based attacks, bot vector incursions, targeted phishing, mobile hacking and insider espionage rank as top five security menaces for 2008.
Following reports that Microsoft released "Milestone 1" for Windows 7 to several partners, TG Daily reports that software will get released in late 2009.
ChangeWave says Apple's Leopard operating system gets high marks from consumers, with Vista editions trailing the pack.
Microsoft bids $1.2 billion for Norwegian search company to shore up search technology.
Despite slow acceptance, some say it's still too soon to write off the new Windows operating system as a failure.
'Green' data centers are budget- and earth-friendly, study finds.
Microsoft delivers a better, more administrator-friendly firewall with Windows Server 2008.