Office XP or wait for Office 2003

[stormin_norm]

If anyone is interested in PDA & Tablet development resources from Microsoft you MUST jump into their ISV Smart Client readiness program. You receive:
Software code and developer kits.
Access to technical support through newsgroups.
DVDs of technical sessions from developer conferences and Airlifts.
Microsoft Press® books on smart clients.

Smart Client readiness program

You need to first setup a hotmail account (passport) [as Pat mentioned above], join the partner program and then sign up for the isv program.

 

[Cosmos75]

The final topic was Office. They concentrated mainly on InfoPath which is new with the 2003 release. It's a form builder that stores its data as XLM files so they're easily transportable. Looks like it will provide a good way to do disconnected data entry. Then bring it home and import into your Access db.

Sound interesting. I guess I will have to start getting familiar with XML and .NET stuff as it looks things are moving in that direction. (Freaking out here!)

 

[ghudson]

I just wanted to thank Cosmos75 for starting this post and for everyone else who contributed to this post. I had never heard of TS2 before and I am glad I caught this post before the TS2 event in my area was held. I just received my free Microsoft Office System Professional 2003 CD [and Business Contact Manager and OneNote 2003 CDs] yesterday! I totally agree with Pat's comments above about what the TS2 event covered and the part about the ID verification. It was well worth the four hours of my time. I only wish that they had covered more ground on the changes with the Office programs [especially Access] but that was not the purpose of the TS2 event. It was about promoting their new products. If it is not too late for your area you should attend the TS2 event. I believe that the TS2 events are held every quarter and they travel accross the U.S.

Thanks again guys and gals!

 

[Cosmos75]

I went, I saw, I left...

I just wanted to thank Cosmos75 for starting this post and for everyone else who contributed to this post. I had never heard of TS2 before and I am glad I caught this post before the TS2 event in my area was held. I just received my free Microsoft Office System Professional 2003 CD [and Business Contact Manager and OneNote 2003 CDs] yesterday!

Lol, glad to be of service!

In fact, I was the one who informed out IT department about it and the head IT person actually went.

I totally agree with Pat's comments above about what the TS2 event covered and the part about the ID verification.

They did not check ID when giving out the certificate for the software. I already had a .Net passport since I registered online, you did however have to fill out a form regarding your company.

But, I had already specifically been told in an replay email from Microsoft (after I told them what I do and my interests in the seminar were) that I did not fit the bill for an IT person and as such did not quality to receive the free software.

At the end, they were passing the free goodie bags and certificates, I told them that I wasn't eligible. YES, I said it.

Once the collective gasp from forum members has died down - I did not want to get my company or myself into any trouble. Especially since most the answers to the questionnaire were "Not Applicable." (e.g. How often does your company sell Windows Server 2003 to a client?).. My company is not an IT company.

Oh, well...