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Tech-Ed Thursday

Tech-Ed is starting to get its edge.

This is usually about the time that it happens. The days are getting longer, the sessions more repetitive, and the start times are moved up earlier in the morning. People start walking around like tech-zombies muttering phrases like “Vista”, and “Longhorn”, and “Ice Cream Sandwiches”.

And then there’s “that guy”. I wish I had snapped a picture of him. In all reality I wanted to punch him.

I was discussing Exchange 2007’s new features and he fact that I believe that it will be slow on adoption. His exact quote was, “If you can’t sell Exchange 2007’s to your management on the strength of its new stuff, then you should find another job”.

Wow. Ok. I expected more from someone wearing a blue Microsoft shirt. That is what I call losing touch with reality.

We don’t install software because of cool new toys. No company should. We install it because it makes good business sense and saves us money. None of this has been quantified with Ex07. In fact, in some companies, it will be encroaching upon existing infrastructures that may have considerable recent investment. We don’t just decide to throw out something and buy something new because it’s better or has more cool features. Business have to analyze the amount of reward they are going to receive as a result of the investment.

Right now I don’t see the investment in new hardware and software for Ex07 paying off. Yet.

Lastly, don’t get me wrong, I am terribly excited. I’m really, really, really excited about Exchange 2007 and I’m going to be selling it not only to my company but to anyone who will listen. I think the vision is good, and the delivery isn’t perfect, but we’ll get there.

World Cup Picks for today; ECU, ENG, SWE.