Early this morning Microsoft released Windows 7 RC for download for those with TechNet and MSDN accounts. Let the download games begin!
Since the Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit is a little 3 gig in size rumor has it that there is a slight dip in available bandwidth in Redmond right now as thousands try to pull it down today. Just in time for the Windows 7 Beta test (71-680) which is about to begin.
I am busily downloading the Windows 7 RC myself - should be done sometime late today.
And growing…and this is a good thing. There are those who thrive on having a huge number of certifications and then there are those who only take tests if they are “encouraged” to do such and even then they will only enter the test booth kicking and screaming.
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Microsoft Tidbits:
Windows 7 Beta Exam
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Here is something interesting with Windows 7: XPM ( Windows XP Mode). This will be a fully licensed copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 in a virtual machine in a virtualization solution akin to Virtual PC. What is key here is that XPM will not run as a separate windows desktop that will interact directly with the host (Windows 7). In this way, if you install an application in XPM it will also be to the host as well
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Office professionals, you say?
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If you are one of the thousands who have been Beta testing Windows 7 for the past 4 months and have been patiently waiting for the Release Candidate and RTM versions....your patience will be rewarded shortly. It is almost time for the official RC to be released
I came across these two interesting offers on the Born to Learn site today - well worth the read if you haven't taken a certification test lately.
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The budget ax strikes - The Certification Testing Center is the latest casualty and will not be at TechEd this year. You will not be able to take any tests at TechEd at 50% off. In an effort to keep costs under control, the Certification Testing center was cut. I am sure this was not an easy decision to make, but all is not lost .
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Well, it is here. You have waited long enough and the suspense has been building. The first Windows 7 Beta exam - 71-680: TS Windows 7, Configuring will be available in a week for Beta testing. If you pass this test it will be added to your transcript and even better - it is free!
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Microsoft has just released an enhancement to their exams that they hope you never need to notice!
The new exam item “plug-ins” are used by Prometric test centers worldwide to support the onscreen appearance and functionality of Microsoft's traditional item types during certification exams – these plug-ins are called each time an item is displayed to a test taker --- over 50 million times a year. Read more
I bet that got your attention. Now, I can't tell you when any of the Windows 7 Exams will be released - as I really don't know. Microsoft Learning will announce them in due course, when they are ready. But I can tell you a little about the exams in development. Read more
So, do IT personnel need a college degree? That is the subject of an article in Network World: Does a Computer Science degree matter anymore? Read more
I can just hear you now. “Why should I enter? I never win anything.” Read more
We all want our children to succeed and we want to help them achieve their career goals. If your child (or children) are interested in programming (I have one who is studying software engineering), then Microsoft has a program for you and your budding super-developer in your family. Read more
Then here is chance! If you are an MCP and you want to attend TechEd, but the cost is a bit high, then this is your day! Saving money is always nice given the costs of attending TechEd. Having an opportunity to save on the show pass, especially given that the Early Bird registration discounts have passed their expiry date, is a good thing! Read more
Microsoft Learning recently released several new courses - covering Windows Server 2008, and the much anticipated Windows 7. These new course help roundout the latest instructor-led courses, especially for those of you who like to stay on the cutting edge (don’t we all?). These products were just released to manufacturing last month, so they should be available at Learning Solutions Partners near soon, if not already. Read more
Last week I posted about this great opportunity to attend TechEd. The fine folks at Born to Learn have provided more details on this contest. Remember, the Bus is going to stop in the following cities: Tampa, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phi Read more
On the Road to TechEdNow here is an interesting opportunity to not only TRAVEL to TechEd, but also ATTEND TechEd - all by simply riding a bus. Read more
I had an interesting class recently - where all of the students were in the midst of a career change. A military career change. Read more
Randy Muller, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, MCDST, is currently an instructor with Global Knowledge, specializing in teaching Certification Boot Camps as well as courses on Exchange, Server 2008 and Office Communications Server.
Global Knowledge offers a comprehensive catalog of Microsoft courses:
Microsoft 2003 MCSE Boot Camp
MCITP: Server Administrator Boot Camp
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator Boot Camp
MCITP: Database Administrator Boot Camp
More Microsoft courses