Microsoft Training for Solution Providers – a nifty website...

SQL Server

In a recent training session one of my students let me know about a cool web site hosted by Microsoft for developers – www.msdev.com . This is a collective web site for all Virtual labs and Web Seminars making it easy to get the latest info on Microsoft technology including SQL Server.

The web site uses Silverlight, Microsoft’s answer to Flash, to provide a wicked user interface. I like the design, it seems responsive, attractive and allows quick access to the various categories of self-paced training. I have reviewed the Virtual Labs before and I like the on-demand concept and the user interface. The Web Seminars are always useful to find out the latest and greatest coming out of Redmond. This web site gives us a one-stop-shopping approach to those modules.

The home page is split into tabs such as “Meet the Team”, Promotions, News, MyMSDev and “Meet the Source Fource”. “Meet the Team” gives a bio on each of the trainers involved in the sessions and allows you to search for the sessions they are specifically involved in – a useful feature. MyMSDev allows you to customize the web site with your own preferences.

“Meet the Source Fource” is amusing and I was particularly intrigued by SQL Gal who apparently “is a biker chick with a difference”. The saving grace is that there is a useful link on her page that focuses a search on SQL Server. Someone definitely has too much time on their hands.

Just when you were starting to get frustrated trying to google for useful web seminars, here is a web site that centralizes those searches in a fun and attractive way.

It won’t make my home page, but still - thumbs up from me.

Cheers
Brian

• Labs
• SQL Server
• SQL Server 2008
• virtual labs
• web seminars
• Webinars