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Windows Vista: Home Entertainment with Windows Media Center and
Xbox 360, by S.E. Slack and Greg Slack
Reviewed by Juliana Aldous Atkinson, Product Planner, Information Worker and Consumer Audience, Microsoft Press
People often ask where we get ideas for the books we publish. I tell them that sometimes we publish for large market needs--like the need to train developers, IT professionals, and office users after a major software launch. And sometimes we publish for ourselves, our friends, and our families. These are my favorite books to publish. Nothing warms my heart more than to hear someone I know here at Microsoft or at home say, “Oh! I want that book!”
Case in point: Two books in the latter category--written for lay-users--are releasing this month. They are Windows Vista: Home Networking and Windows Vista: Home Entertainment with Windows Media Center and Xbox 360.
Why these books? Because I’ve made the decision to work more from home and find myself standing in a big-box electronics store, staring at boxes of wireless routers and wondering how I got there. Because my brother calls me up and tells me he's bought a new computer and paid a little extra to get a Windows Media Center extender, and now he's wondering what he can do with it. Because one of my best friends has an Xbox 360 and then buys a new Windows Vista-based computer, and knows she can do cool stuff but is unsure of how to get the technologies to work together.
Why else? Because I’m speaking with a program manager on the Windows Vista team who tells me how his wife does their bills on the PC in their home office, then works on scrapbooks while watching downloaded episodes of her favorite TV show on the same machine. Because I’m worried that my older PC is going to die before I can move five years of precious photos and videos over to another machine, and I'm wondering if maybe I should invest in a Windows Home Server or, at the very least, get my machines networked together.
Now, if you're an “über-geek,” these books may not be for you. We have many valuable titles in our Inside Out series, and for you I would recommend Windows Vista Inside Out, which covers both networking and entertainment. But if you're less technically savvy and have a Windows Vista-based computer, a laptop, a PC, an MP3 player, a digital camera, an Xbox 360, and a printer or two, and you're interested in setting up an easy home network that backs up all your digital data, these books are for you. Or if you believe that home entertainment doesn’t end at the television set--and that the future of the networked digital home is here--then we created these books for you, my friend.
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Editors' Picks
For Developers
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Reviewed by Ben Ryan, Product Planner, Developer Audience, Microsoft Press
Many years ago, someone on a Microsoft product team asked me if I'd seen the latest “Hard Code” column. He told me the column was both “priceless” and “annoying,” a combination I found intriguing. Nevertheless, I had to confess I had not read I. M. Wright’s work--a situation I quickly remedied. Over the ensuing six or more years, the columns continued to appear on the Microsoft internal network, and the discussions they generated continued to engage me and thousands of other readers.
Developers know that “hard coding” refers to the practice of writing a program from scratch, with just a general concept in mind--the “hard” way. It is “über-geek”, propeller-head coding. And like the pen-name I. M. Wright, the tone of the column was brash, in-your-face, and deliberately provocative.
The “Hard Code” columns (and, later, blogs) were designed to stimulate internal discussions at Microsoft about topics such as the best ways to organize and lead development teams, write code, and test. In each column, I. M. Wright made a case, took a stance, and then took shots from those he provoked. Lively discussions followed. And while the free-for-all may not have modeled the classic Socratic method, the results were usually practical and applicable. The columns served their apparent purpose, driving broad and thoughtful discussions within Microsoft. Word of “Hard Code” began to spread off campus, too.
Early this year, I received an e-mail message from Eric Brechner, Director of Development Excellence at Microsoft and “alter ego” of
I. M. Wright. In person, Eric was reassuringly easy to speak with. He asked: “What if we collect the best columns and turn them into a book?” I gave the predictable reaction of a devout “Hard Code” reader: “Cool!”
Eric arranged the columns by topic, and noted some of the discussions that had transpired and how they had affected software development at Microsoft. The result is a book that can be useful to anyone involved in development work, from team leaders to the newest team members. The ideas presented are sure to stimulate discussions. They show best practices that can be applied in a wide range of situations. I. M. Wright may annoy you, provoke you, or even contradict your longstanding beliefs, but he will also entertain you, make you think, and provide you with more than a usual book-full of information.
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For IT Professionals
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Reviewed by Melissa von Tschudi-Sutton, Project Editor, Microsoft Press
If you're an IT professional, you probably know that virtual machine technology is a red-hot topic. Many organizations are implementing virtualization technology to consolidate physical servers and reverse the trend of server sprawl. The benefits of virtualization are numerous. They include lower hardware costs, lower server administration costs, data-center power and cooling savings, and branch-office consolidation. And virtualization technology is quickly improving IT departments' abilities to react to changing business needs by offering a more flexible and adaptable computing environment.
Now you can delve deeper into the world of virtualization with the Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Resource Kit. It's your comprehensive technical resource for installing, configuring, administering, and troubleshooting Virtual Server 2005 through Service Pack 1. Written and reviewed by leading virtualization experts, the Windows Virtualization Team, Microsoft Consulting Services, and Customer Support Services, this book delivers best practices, optimization tips, job aids, and essential resources for your Virtual Server 2005 R2 deployment.
In addition to in-depth information and procedures to help you manage Virtual Server 2005, the book's companion media is overflowing with resources. You get Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1, Virtual PC 2007, and the Migration Toolkit. You also get Active Directory Topology Diagrammer (ADTD) and Virtual Machine Remote Control Plus (VMRCPlus), LeoStream P>V Direct 3.0, Xcarab VHDResizer, and Invirtus Enterprise VM Converter 2007 and VM Optimizer 3.0.
And it doesn’t stop there! You also get a fully searchable e-book, 40 sample scripts for automating administration, job aids, and five videos, including a Tech•Ed/IT Forum 2006 presentation by author Robert Larson, titled: “How to Virtualize Infrastructure Workloads.” And, if that isn’t enough, the authors provide a link to their virtualization community site, where you can find additional bonus content and get involved in the community.
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Reviewed by Ken Jones, Product Planner for Certifications, and Laura Sackerman, Content Development Manager, Microsoft Press
One of the most popular Microsoft certifications in recent years has been the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician for Windows XP (MCDST). This certification should maintain its popularity and value, as long as there are companies running Windows XP-based PCs. For Windows Vista, Microsoft Learning has crafted a new generation of the popular MCDST certifications:
MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician is similar to the MCDST certification for Windows XP. It validates a candidate’s ability to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Windows Vista client systems in a corporate Enterprise environment.
MCITP: Consumer Support Technician is new for Windows Vista. It validates a candidate’s ability to support Windows Vista consumer PCs and mobile devices. Microsoft worked with various large-scale computer retailers, including Best Buy, Circuit City, and CompUSA, to develop this new certification.
To support candidates for the new Windows Vista certifications, Microsoft Press has published two training kits--MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit ( Exam 70-622): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians (ISBN: 9780735624085); and MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit ( Exam 70-623): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians (ISBN: 9780735624238).
With these 2-in-1 training kits, you can ace your preparation for the skills measured by the Windows Vista MCITP exams. You’ll work at your own pace through lessons and reviews that fully cover each exam question and reinforce what you’ve learned with real-world case scenarios and best practices. Then, assess your skills with practice tests on CD--including hundreds of questions, multiple testing options, and a customized learning plan. And you get a fully searchable electronic edition of the guide, plus a 15% exam savings voucher!
The new Windows Vista training kits address a wide audience, including candidates earning their first set of Windows client certifications and current MCDSTs seeking to upgrade to Windows Vista. Current MCDSTs can earn their Windows Vista credentials by passing one exam: 70-621: Upgrading your MCDST Certification to MCITP Enterprise Support Technician. Candidates for this upgrade exam can also use the 70-622 and 70-623 training kits to prepare for the exam.
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Special Offers
We Want to Hear from You: Provide Feedback for Chance to Win $100 Gift
Help us improve our books and better meet your needs for accurate, complete, and timely information. Send us feedback and comments via our online survey at www.microsoft.com/learning/booksurvey. By completing the survey, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of five $100 gift certificates, redeemable through a leading online merchant, awarded monthly. It's our “thank you” for taking the time to provide your valuable feedback.
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September 19, 2007 
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Hot Sellers
For CertificationMCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-536): Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation, by Tony Northrup and Shawn Wildermuth, with Bill Ryan of GrandMasters
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-431): Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance, by Solid Quality Learning
For DevelopersCode Complete, Second Edition, by Steve McConnell
Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Step by Step, by John Sharp
For Home and Office UsersWindows Vista Plain & Simple, by Jerry Joyce and Marianne Moon
Windows Vista Step by Step, by Joan Preppernau and Joyce Cox
For IT ProfessionalsWindows Vista Resource Kit, by Mitch Tulloch, Tony Northrup, and Jerry Honeycutt, with the Windows Vista Team
MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294): Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Core Requirements, Second Edition, by Dan Holme, Orin Thomas, J.C. Mackin, Ian McLean, Craig Zacker, Jill Spealman, Kurt Hudson, and Melissa Craft
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Latest Releases
For CertificationsMCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-622): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians, by Tony Northrup and J.C. Mackin - 9/5/07
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-445): Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence - Implementation and Maintenance, by Erik Veerman, Teo Lachev, Dejan Sarka, and Javier Loria of Solid Quality Learning - 9/12/07
MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-441): Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005, by Dejan Sarka, Adolfo Wiernik, Javier Loria, and Andy Leonard of Solid Quality Mentors - 9/12/07
MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-623): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians, by Anil Desai - 9/19/07
For DevelopersI. M. Wright's “Hard Code”, by Eric Brechner - 9/12/07
For Home and Office UsersWindows Vista: Home Networking, by Joli Ballew - 9/19/07
For IT ProfessionalsMicrosoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Resource Kit, by Robert Larson, Janique Carbone, and the Windows Virtualization Team - 8/9/07
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Coming Soon
For CertificationsMCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-236): Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, by Orin Thomas and Ian McLean - 10/31/07
For DevelopersProgramming Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Developer Reference, Fourth Edition, by Douglas Boling - 10/10/07
Introducing Microsoft Silverlight 1.0, by Laurence Moroney 10/17/07
Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2005: Query Tuning and Optimization, by Kalen Delaney, S. Agarwal, C. Freedman, A. Machanic, and R. Talmage - 9/29/07
The Practical Guide to Defect Prevention, by Marc McDonald, Robert Musson, and Ross Smith - 10/31/07
For Home and Office UsersMicrosoft Expression Web Plain & Simple, by Katherine Murray - 10/10/07
Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire, by Cliff Atkinson - 10/10/07
Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2007 Step by Step, by Curtis Frye and William E. Pearson III - 10/17/07
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