Certification Prep – The 20 Minute Workout

Originally posted by Kari Rippetoe via LinkedIn: TechMentor at Microsoft HQ is just under a month away, and if you didn't know already, there will only be one this year - so this is an event you definitely don't want to miss! I have some good news and some bad news: The bad news is the Early Bird registration deadline was yesterday (July 25th), which would have saved you $200. The good news, however, is we're giving you, our LinkedIn group members, a special discount worth $300! Just register for the Best Value Package with code TMRTU: http://bit.ly/TMRD2012 So if you still need a reason to register for TechMentor (as if spending a week at Microsoft HQ wasn't enough), this is one worth $300!

Windows 8 for Clients, Servers and Tablets Tuesday, July 31, 2012 12:00 - 1:00 PM CDT Talk of Windows 8 is virtually everywhere and the hype will only gain momentum as the release inches closer. By now, you've probably read about some of the hot desktop features in Windows 8; maybe you've even heard about some of the new server capabilities. What you may not know is that Microsoft is all in for making Windows 8 a true competitor to iOS and Android. Windows 8 is designed to unify the computing experience, whether you're using it on a client, a server or tablet. During this live webinar, author and educator John O'Neill Sr. will examine a number of the new features and capabilities of this next generation OS that are sure to have you anxious to get it rolled out on your PC's, servers, and tablets! This free webinar will cover: - An introduction to some of the most exciting features in Windows 8 - The Metro interface and its "Charms" ...

The New MCSE: How to Successfully Build Your Microsoft Certified Career Thursday, July 26, 2012 12:00 - 1:00 PM CDT Microsoft has completely revamped their certification program, bringing back the MCSA, MCSE and MCSD certifications. But the MCSE is not what it used to be and the reinvented certification program has spawned a number of questions and concerns from IT professionals looking to get certified. This free webinar will help answer: - What do you need to know about the new lineup of Microsoft certifications? - What should you do if you're in the process of getting MCITP certified? - Which direction should you be taking now that the MCSE is back? - How do you build your IT career around the new certs? In this career focused webinar, Microsoft MVP Ed Liberman will break down the new certification program from Microsoft, walking you through the different certification paths and the details on how to obtain the various new MCSA, MCSE and MCSD cert...

According to an article written by Ed Oswald of PCWorld Windows 8 is on track for an October release . You can review the details from both articles via the above links. Having just gotten back from TechEd a couple of weeks ago and getting some decent time on Windows 8 touch systems (and Server 2012 builds) I am really looking forward to this release. To me this is much more of a game changer than even Windows 7 was and Windows 7 was quite a shift. In my opinion, Windows 8 is on par with the evolutionary changes we saw that were brought about by the release of Windows XP. Whether corporations and enterprise environments see it the same way it is too early to tell from from the geek standpoint that is where I am.

The TechMentor Conference is back for 2012 ( August 20-24) and for the first time, it will be held at Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond Washington. TechMentor provides in-depth training for IT pros; learn tips, tricks and solutions to everyday problems -- straight from top IT experts like Don Jones, Mark Minasi, Bruce Rougeau and Greg Shields. Here's a small sample of the topics that will be covered at TechMentor this year: Virtualization Application Delivery MCITP Certification PowerShell  So, if you want to brush up your skills and boost your knowledge with immediately applicable IT training, TechMentor is a great venue for it. Register today: http://bit.ly/TMRD2012

Exam 70-246: Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 is now available in Prometric testing centers as well as Exam 70-247: Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 Additional information can be found on the Born to Learn site at the MCSE: Private Cloud exams now live post Information regarding the Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 Exam (70-246) can be found via http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-246 Information regarding the Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 Exam (70-247) can be found via http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-247

The title says it all. Take a look at this tech post by Britney Fitzgerald over on the Huffington Post site as it highlights some of the details on the Surface unit. Two versions of the device will be available according to the post. One version will be equipped with an ARM processor and running Windows RT and the other will be equipped with an Intel processor and running Windows 8 Professional.  Please see the entire write up as well as the accompanying slides and video at Surface vs. iPad: 7 Things Microsoft's Tablets Have That Apple's Don't