The following items were
selected by David Stuart of collegebuys.org from “Windows Platform News,” Issues
29 (February 18) and 30 (March 4), distributed electronically by Microsoft.
“Windows Platform News” is an insider’s guide to the Microsoft Windows family
of products. To see the archived past issues or to subscribe, go to
http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/newsletter/wpn_archive/default.asp
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Windows XP News
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A Basic Box Can Rock
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/november05.asp
Expert Zone columnist Jerry
Honeycutt offers tips, tricks, and solid advice on how to spend about 500
dollars to build a computer that can run Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP like a
champ.
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Add Digital Media
Enhancements to Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/plus/dme/dmehome.asp
Microsoft Plus! Digital Media
Edition delivers exciting new ways to enjoy your photos, music, and home movies
with Windows XP.
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Announcing the
Desktop Center
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/desktop
Highlighting the benefits of
Windows XP and Office XP for medium business and enterprise IT professionals
and technical decision makers, the Desktop Center is structured around solving
typical customer issues and concerns.
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Keep Mobile Employees
Up and Running
http://www.microsoft.com/redirect.asp?PageID=196&PARAM=MBNWPN&TARGET=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/officexp/desktop/
Learn how to support mobile
employees with the enhanced security, high performance, and reliable solution
offered by Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional and Office XP. To find
technical resources and technical training events, visit the Microsoft Desktop
site and select "Mobility and Collaboration."
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Windows Movie Maker 2
Is Now Available
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/moviemaker/downloads/moviemaker2.asp
With Movie Maker 2, you can
create, edit, and share your home movies right on your computer -- and it's
free!
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Put the Windows XP
Tablet PC Edition to Work for You
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/using/default.asp
Learn how you can use the
features of Windows XP Tablet PC in your day-to-day computing.
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Windows 2000 News
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Manage and Troubleshoot Windows 2000 Active Directoryhttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ad/windows2000/maintain/opsguide/default.asp
This operations guide provides guidance on how to
manage and troubleshoot the Active Directory(R) directory service in Windows
2000. Although this guide specifically addresses the operating phase of the IT
life cycle, Microsoft Enterprise Services Framework provides guidelines for
other phases of the life cycle.
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Read About Secure Wireless Solutions
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/news/bulletins/secwireless.asp
This article helps you get familiar with the various
challenges associated with wireless LANs. It also explains how Microsoft
Windows XP can play an important role in wireless LANs with support for Zero
Configuration Wireless.
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Windows Datacenter Program Is Expanding
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/news/bulletins/dcprogram.mspx
A new support model ensures that you can achieve the
highest levels of reliability and availability from Windows Server 2003,
Datacenter Edition.
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Microsoft Extends
Support Period for Windows NT Server 4.0
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/ProductInfo/Availability/Retiring.asp
If you are still running
Microsoft Windows NT(R) Server 4.0 in your environment, take a minute to review
the latest support retirement dates. Online support will be available until
January 2005.
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Get More Information
on Microsoft Servers
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/suppapps/msapps.mspx
Microsoft servers help you
forge the scalability, reliability, and manageability necessary to gain the
competitive advantage for your business. Visit this Web site to get more information
on Windows Server 2003 and other Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers.
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Use the Windows
Server Catalog to Locate the Solution You Need
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/catalog/server
Designed to ease customers'
and partners' application compatibility anxieties, the Windows Server Catalog
lists hundreds of applications that are compatible with Windows Server 2003. Also
provided are details about the catalog and instructions on how to access it.
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Windows Server 2003
Is Built for Speed
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/nov02/11-18HighPerformancePR.asp
Early testing of engineering
enhancements in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 shows dramatic performance
improvements -- two times the performance or greater across most workloads --
compared with previous versions of the server.
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.NET Enterprise Servers News
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Compare Data
Warehousing Strategies and Platforms
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/evaluation/compare/dwcomp.asp
This white paper by Green
Hill Analysis compares Microsoft's data warehousing offerings with those of
Hyperion Solutions, Inc., IBM Corporation, and Oracle Corporation.
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Read About the
Appropriate Uses of MSDE
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/msdeuse.asp
Developing a Microsoft SQL
Server(TM) 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) solution? Learn the usage guidelines and
licensing policies for MSDE.
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New! SharePoint
Portal Server Overview
http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/server/evaluation/overview/
Is your company looking to
increase employee productivity and share information more easily on an intranet
or extranet? Web portals help you aggregate information from several different
sources into one convenient place, and Microsoft SharePoint(TM) Portal Server
makes it easy for you to create them.
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The SMS
Administration Feature Pack
http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/downloads/20/featurepacks/adminpack/
Download the SMS
Administration Feature Pack and take advantage of tools designed to improve
administration of Systems Management Server 2.0.
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Good Web Sites Focus
on Content Management
http://www.microsoft.com/cmserver/evaluation/overview/default.htm
By streamlining the Web
publishing process, Microsoft Content Management Server can reduce the need for
costly site maintenance, empowering business users to manage their own content.
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Top 10 Ways to Secure
SQL Server
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/administration/2000/security/securingsqlserver.asp
Learn 10 things you can do
today to improve the security of your Microsoft SQL Server(TM) installation.
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Finding and Fixing
SQL Slammer Vulnerabilities
http://www.microsoft.com/security/slammer.asp
Quickly find resources for
protecting your home computers, database servers, and networks against the
Slammer worm.
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Microsoft Delivers on
Promise to Provide Exchange Solution for Mac OS X
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/Feb03/02-11ExchangeSolutionPR.asp
The Macintosh Business Unit
at Microsoft announced plans to offer enhanced functionality between Microsoft
Exchange Server and Entourage(TM) X for Mac--a comprehensive e-mail and
personal information manager designed specifically for the Mac OS X platform.
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Events and Seminars
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Make Plans to Attend a Microsoft Mobility
Developer Conference
http://www.mobilitydevcon.com/international/?pin=corp55
The Microsoft Mobility Developer Conference is
Microsoft's premier developer event for building and bringing to market
wireless applications, content, and services for Microsoft Windows Powered
mobile devices, including Pocket PC and Smartphone. Conferences will be hosted
in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
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Don't Miss These Webcasts
These free Internet broadcasts are available to all
Microsoft customers. It is sometimes necessary to register in advance.
March 11: TechNet Webcast: Windows Server 2003 and HP
Enterprise Solutions
http://www.microsoft.com/usa/webcasts/upcoming/1711.asp
March 11: Support WebCast: Microsoft Internet
Information Services: Isolating and Securing Web Applications in IIS 6.0
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/webcasts/wc031103/wcblurb031103.asp
March 13: TechNet Webcast: Exchange Webcast Part 1:
Disaster Prevention - Minimizing Disruption in Exchange services
http://microsoft.com/usa/webcasts/upcoming/1696.asp
March 13: TechNet Webcast: How to Deploy an Exchange
Server 2000 Upgrade
http://www.microsoft.com/usa/webcasts/upcoming/1506.asp
March 13: Support WebCast: Microsoft Content
Management Server 2002: Best Practices and Procedures for Administering a CMS
Web Server
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/webcasts/wc031303/wcblurb031303.asp
March 17: TechNet Webcast: Windows Server 2003 and
Unisys Enterprise Solutions
http://www.microsoft.com/usa/webcasts/upcoming/1712.asp
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Microsoft Tech·Ed 2003-- June 1-6, Dallas
http://www.microsoft.com/usa/teched/home.asp
Realize your potential at Tech·Ed 2003, Microsoft's
premier technical conference. Sessions are expanded to offer intense content
for network professionals on messaging, security, interoperability, Solutions
for Exchange, Windows Server 2003, and the .NET Enterprise Servers. Register by
April 11 and save $400.
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Microsoft Management Summit 2003 -- March
18-21, Las Vegas
http://microsoft.com/management/mms.asp
Register today for the most intensive skills summit
yet, and get the in-depth, hands-on training you need to optimize your
Windows-based environment.
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Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET
2003 Joint Launch Events
http://www.microsoft2003launch.com/N4
Get a first look at how the enterprise-class
reliability and improved scalability of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 can help
simplify the management of your IT infrastructure, so you can do more with
less. At this joint launch, we will also introduce the powerful new developer
tools in Microsoft Visual Studio(R) .NET 2003. Act today, and register for the
free event in your area!
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Software Trial Center
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Download the Windows
Server 2003 Evaluation
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/preview/default.mspx
Windows Server 2003 Release
Candidate 2 (RC2) is here. Upgrade to RC2, or join the Customer Preview Program
today and see what's new.
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Download .NET
Enterprise Server Trial Products
http://www.microsoft.com/servers/evaluation/trial/default.asp
.NET Enterprise Servers
provide the tools to quickly integrate systems and processes while containing
costs. See for yourself by running the trial software.
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Find Product Updates
at the Download Center
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads
Begin your visit by scanning
three areas: This Week's Top Downloads, Featured Downloads, and New Downloads.
You can also search for a download by product name or by operating system.
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Get Your Critical
Updates Now with SUS SP1
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/windowsupdate/sus/default.asp
Install Software Update
Services (SUS) with Service Pack 1 (SP1), or read FAQs and white papers to help
make staying up-to-date easier than ever.
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Order the Exchange
2003 Beta 2 Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evaluation/ti/beta.asp
The Exchange 2003 Beta 2
program is designed to give you an opportunity to try the new features of
Exchange 2003. Find out more about the beta and register to receive the kit on
CD.
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Archive and Additional Resources
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The Windows Platform News Archive--find
information in archived issues of the newsletter
http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/newsletter/wpn_archive/default.asp
Windows Update has add-ons, updates, and
trial software
http://www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
For in-depth information about our
products:
Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/default.asp
Windows 2000 Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/professional/default.asp
Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers
http://www.microsoft.com/servers/
Windows 2000
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/default.asp
Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windows.netserver/default.mspx
For information on local events and promotions
in your area:
http://microsoft.com/usa
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Microsoft Communities is your launching pad for communicating online
with peers and experts about Microsoft products, technologies, and services:
http://communities.microsoft.com/home/default.asp
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