SharePoint Daily for November 21, 2008

Top News Stories
SharePoint Migration in the Hands of the Content Owner? (ITWorld)
Let Business Users Manage their Content Migration via a Drag-and-Drop GUI. If you have ever worked on the team responsible for SharePoint migration, you no doubt have seen how a single initiative of content consolidation within legacy systems instantly becomes a “nightmare” project with many failed migration attempts. There are various approaches you can use, depending on your need, systems and hardware involved.

The Cloud vs the Platform: What's Best for the Enterprise? (Sci-tech Today)
Commonalities exist between the failed Web service startups of a decade ago and the rash of new cloud-computing services that have come out of the woodwork in the past year. Many of these startups are not going to succeed. Some undoubtedly will, while others will be shipping off DVDs of their customers' data when they fail.

Do Federal Agencies Belong in Cloud Computing Networks? (eWeek)
Given the current state of the economy and the yawning federal deficit, the efficiency and cost-savings associated with cloud computing are prompting U.S. federal IT agencies to flirt with the cloud platform. Slowly, of course, since it is the government, after all.

Microsoft Online Store Opens in U.S. (Redmond Channel Partner)
It probably won't affect the channel except at the very low end, and even their partners who are trying to make money strictly by reselling software are probably going broke, anyway. But the opening of Microsoft's online store in the U.S. might still make a few partners queasy.

Buy, Lease--or Move to Cloud Computing? (PC World)
Your trusty old office computers are likely chugging along with the power of a 20-year-old Oldsmobile climbing Mt. Everest, gamely working hard to complete ever more complicated and varied tasks for your company's employees. But while it might be time to replace the outdated PCs, with today's credit crunch, you may be considering alternatives to simply buying new hardware as a way to save your business money.

It’s Official: No IE 8 Until 2009 (ZDNet)
After one more public test build early next year, Microsoft plans to release the final version of Internet Explorer 8 in calendar 2009. Microsoft officials shared the updated timetable via a November 19 post on the IE Blog.

Why Firefox Won't Survive Chrome (eWeek)
I love open source as a concept, but money is commerce's lubricant—and it's Google cash that keeps Mozilla and Firefox development going. My eWEEK colleague Clint Boulton has a great post today, Nov. 20, about the extent of Mozilla's Google dependence: "[Eighty-eight] percent of Mozilla's funds come from Google, which pays Mozilla to be the default search engine in its Firefox browser."

Microsoft’s Morro Not Intended as Symantec, McAfee Rival (The Money Times)
Microsoft’s introduction of a new security software is not an attempt to compete with security software giants, Symantec and McAfee. Microsoft announced on Tuesday that they would be producing a free security software called “Morro” after they finish the distribution of their subscription-based security service, Windows Live OneCare.

How Apple Gained the Upper Hand on Microsoft (ZDNet)
I’ve just been working my way through hundreds of emails released as part of the Vista Capable lawsuit (if you want to read along at home with me, you can download them from here) and there’s one phrase that keep coming across that might explain why Apple got the upper hand on Microsoft with Vista.

Windows 7 Media Center Gets Touch-input; Multi-touch Coming (SlashGear)
Windows 7 has been gradually showing off some of what it has to offer, and today’s tidbit is touch-control of the Media Center GUI.  Gizmodo stopped by and their video (which you can see after the cut) certainly looks impressive; right now it’s set up for single-point input, but we’re told that multi-touch control is coming.

Around the Blogosphere
IE8: What’s After Beta 2 (IEBlog)
The announcement of IE8 Beta 2 started an important and public phase of the product development cycle getting broad public feedback. The team is providing detailed information and answering questions about the product in many different places. Now’s a good time to talk about what comes next.

Show Me SharePoint (Andy Dale officetalk)
Much of this week seems to have been spent with my body pushed up against hot and sweaty complete strangers in tunnels. Yes, I have been travelling beneath our capital on the London Underground. With so many of Officetalk’s SharePoint customers being based in London I am becoming quite a tube expert and I think I am now quite skilled at finding the quickest routes around. Although the many exits above ground for each station does still disorientate me and I do still have to think if I want the South or Norhbound platform. Why are there no East or West bound platforms?

Manage Your Projects ... Not Just Your Schedule (Part 1) (meetdux)
Have you ever been in a project where the definition of a project plan is nothing more than a project schedule generated by tools like Microsoft Project? Indeed a project schedule is quite important, however, it’s not enough to successfully manage a project.

Microsoft Certification Master for SharePoint - My Involvement in Helping Create the Certification Content and Some Thoughts... (Andrew Connell)
Microsoft announced at TechEd EMEA 2008 two new certifications for SharePoint professionals. Both are additions to existing certification programs: the Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) and Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) Programs. These build on existing certification programs which you can read about here if you’re unfamiliar with them. Instead of rehashing what the MCM & MCA are (read up on them using the above links), here’s my $.02:

Free Whitepaper on Social Computing in 2009 and Beyond (Brendon Schwartz)
Get a free white paper on the how to use Social Computing to be successful in the current economy.

How to Use SharePoint Discussion Boards in Outlook 2007 (SharePoint Solutions Blog )
As you can imagine, we are heavy SharePoint users here at SharePoint Solutions. Much of the work we all do every day is done with SharePoint. Unlike our instructors, consultants, and developers, everyone isn't a SharePoint expert. Just like in your own organization, we have many Information Workers. Recently, we've been utilizing SharePoint Discussion Boards more. So I sent an email to our internal staff letting them know they may find these discussion boards easier to use if they connect them to Outlook 2007. In that email, I also included brief directions on how to do the most common tasks. Someone suggested that our blog readers might also be interested in those instructions, so here they are. Enjoy!

On Demand - Myths and Truths of Email Management with SharePoint PLUS New Whitepaper (SharePoint Joel)
Despite the rough start we had an amazing crowd gathered for the largest webcast/webinar in SharePoint history.  I hope you found value in the presentation. If you missed it, had to leave early, or whatever the case... You can get an on demand copy here of the webinar "Myths and Truths of Email Management with SharePoint"

SharePoint Libraries, Folders and Content Types, Oh My! (EndUser SharePoint)
There have been many heated conversations about when to use Document Libraries, Folders within Document Libraries and Content Types. If you monitor any of the SharePoint forums or blogs, it’s quite easy to see there is a lot of passion around the topic. And rightly so, file shares and folders have served us well for many, many years. Is there a better way to manage documents is SharePoint then to use Folders; is there a better mouse trap?

Around Bamboo Nation
How to Avoid Multiple Login Prompts with Exchange Web Parts (SharePoint Blank)
Following my groups-related diversions over the last few days, I'm back on SharePoint Blank Mailbag duty today.  Kudos to Joe for asking a question that I'd been wondering myself, but hadn't yet taken the time to investigate on my own.  Joe's question came in as a response to my Adding a My Calendar Web Part post, and relates to the annoying login prompt that both he and I see every time our respective My Sites attempt to load the My Calendar Web Part.  Joe asks:

An Open Invitation to Qualified Guest Bloggers (The Bamboo Team Blog)
Regular readers of the Bamboo Team Blog will have noticed that we've hosted a number of excellent guest blogs from distinguished SharePoint professionals* over the past several months.  We're currently in discussions to secure guest blogs from additional SharePoint thought leaders, but we felt the time was right to cast an even wider net by extending an open invitation to all qualified prospective guest bloggers.

Microsoft Updates
Watch This: Using Search in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS))
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 offers search features that can help users find relevant content and other people across their enterprise. The search features can help locate data stored in a variety of locations on a SharePoint site including lists, document libraries, and user-profile pages.

Work Offline With Tables that are Linked to SharePoint Lists (Microsoft Office Access)
You can use Microsoft Office Access 2007 to work offline with data that is linked to a list on a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 site. This can be helpful, for example, if you need to be away from the office or need to continue working when a server isn't available.

Move the Tables in an Access Database to a SharePoint Site and Link to Them (Microsoft Office Access)
If you have data in a Microsoft Office Access 2007 database, you can share it as lists on a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 site, where team members can interact with it. They can share and manage the content by using the features of a SharePoint site while they continue to use forms, reports, and queries from Access.

Introduction to Integrating Data Between Access and a SharePoint Site (Microsoft Office Access)
You can share and manage data in many ways by using Microsoft Office Access 2007 with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. You can benefit from the collaboration features of a SharePoint site while continuing to use the data entry and analysis features of Access. For example, you can track versions of data, subscribe to alerts so that you know when changes are made, and manage permissions for the data.

SharePoint Events
November 22, Baltimore, Maryland, Baltimore SharePoint User Group Code Camp
November 25, Christchurch, New Zealand, Christchurch SharePoint User Group
November 25, London, England, SharePoint User Group UK
November 25, Online, The Basics of Content Types in SharePoint 2007
November 26, Melbourne, Australia, Microsoft Office System Special Interest Group

December 2, Chicago, Illinois, The Chicago Microsoft SharePoint Business Strategies Group
December 2, Grand Rapids, Michigan, West Michigan SharePoint User Group
December 2, Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville SharePoint Users Group
December 2, San Diego, California, San Diego .NET Developers Group Meeting
December 3, Online, SharePoint Project Management Webinar
December 3, Online, SharePoint Administration Webinar
December 4, Kansas City, Kansas, Kansas City Office Geeks
December 4, Online, Bamboo Recent Product Releases
December 9, Tampa, Florida, TOGA User Group Meeting
December 10, Bloomington, Minnesota, Minnesota SharePoint User Group
December 10, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colorado Springs SharePoint User Group
December 10, Online, SharePoint Project Management Webinar
December 10, Online, SharePoint Administration Webinar
December 11, Puget Sound, Washington, Puget Sound SharePoint Users Group
December 11, San Francisco, California, San Francisco SharePoint Users Group
December 11, Reston, Virginia, SharePoint User Group of the District of Columbia
December 18, Online, Bamboo Recent Product Releases

January 27-29, San Francisco, California, SPTechCon

February 2-4, San Diego, California, SharePoint Best Practices Conference

* Please contact Chris Dooley (chris.dooley@bamboosolutions.com) to include your event in our listing.

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