Windows Vista Step by Step Deluxe Edition, by Joan Preppernau and Joyce Cox

Written by Joan Preppernau and Joyce Cox, Online Training Solutions, Inc.

We have been writing books in the Microsoft Press Step by Step series for several years now, including books on Windows, Microsoft Office Access, Office FrontPage, Office Outlook, Office PowerPoint, and Office Word. This month we are releasing a Deluxe Edition of the Windows Vista Step by Step book. The Deluxe Edition includes expanded coverage of the programs that come with the Windows Vista operating system, coverage of the Service Pack 1 features that are most likely to affect or be of interest to the Step by Step audience, and coverage of all the objectives for the Microsoft Business Certification in Windows Vista.

Our goal for the books we write in this series is to translate the concept of “what you can do” into easy-to-follow instructions for “how you can do it.” Where appropriate, we provide real-life sample files (or readers can use their own files) along with clear and specific instructions for carrying out a discrete task or achieving a particular objective. Whether you want to create a screensaver of favorite photos, create a user account, assign a password, burn a CD, set up dual monitors, or make your computer more secure, you will find the information you need to perform almost all routine tasks and many not-so-routine ones as well. Many readers contact us with specific requests for information, and we consider that feedback carefully when writing books to ensure that we cover the tasks most people want to perform most of the time.

Windows Vista Step by Step Deluxe Edition provides information about the Windows Vista operating system aimed at computer users with a broad range of experience: For readers who are new to computing, the book provides information about the basics--logging on and off, storing and locating information, connecting to the Internet, installing devices, working with programs, managing computer security, optimizing the system, and troubleshooting common problems. Readers who are new to Windows Vista will learn how to work within the new user interface and how to personalize the working environment to suit their preferences. They will also learn about Windows features that are new in Windows Vista, including Windows Sidebar, Windows Meeting, Windows Mail, Windows Calendar, and Windows Contacts. New content in the Deluxe Edition teaches readers how to:

• Send e-mail and manage contacts
• Create graphics and text files
• Conduct online collaboration sessions using Windows Meeting
• Control a Windows Vista computer by using voice commands

and much more!

For more advanced Windows users, we’ve included certification-specific coverage that will help them prepare for the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam in Windows Vista. To achieve this certification, an applicant must demonstrate proficiency in the following seven areas:

• Protecting your computer
• Managing mobile and remote computing
• Managing software, disks, and devices
• Managing files and folders
• Collaborating with other people
• Customizing your Windows Vista experience
• Optimizing and troubleshooting your computer

Windows Vista Step by Step Deluxe Edition includes coverage of each of the certification objectives within these seven areas. Working through the exercises in this book will provide a solid basis for gaining the hands-on experience necessary to successfully achieve certification.

Certification: The New Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 MCTS Exams

Written by Ken Jones, product planner, Microsoft Press

With developer certifications growing in popularity, we’re proud to announce the new set of MCTS certifications for the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 development system. For Visual Studio 2005, we offered three MCTS certifications--.NET 2.0 Web Applications, Windows Applications, and Distributed Applications--and three MCPD tracks: Web Developer, Windows Developer, and Enterprise Application Developer.

With Visual Studio 2008, we’ve grown the MCTS certification options from three to six (with the related exam numbers in parentheses):

• MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Presentation Foundation Applications (70-502)
• MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Communication Foundation Applications (70-503)
• MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Workflow Foundation Applications (70-504)
• MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Forms Applications (70-505)
• MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 ADO.NET Applications (70-561)
• MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 ASP.NET Applications (70-562)

Why so many MCTS options? The objective is to provide developers with more opportunities to prove their skills across a wider range of the technologies and capabilities included in Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.

If you’re currently certified on Visual Studio 2005, stay tuned for upcoming announcements detailing the transition paths to Visual Studio 2008. We’ll also have more information on the MCTS-to-MCPD mapping for the new version.

One thing we know for sure right now: The 70-536 exam continues to be the core requirement for both Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 MCTS certifications. That’s cause for celebration at Microsoft Press. The Training Kit for this exam has been one of our top-selling titles. Introduced in June 2006, the book is now in its sixth printing.

There will be one change to the 70-536 exam: the name itself. We’ll be calling it TS: Microsoft .NET Framework, Application Development Foundation (no .NET versioning). The good news is that if you’ve already passed the 70-536 exam, you will not have to take it again. It will automatically count toward the new .NET 3.5 certifications.

The first set of Visual Studio 2008 MCTS exams will go live in April, with Training Kits to follow a few months later. For more information on how you can get a head start on your test preparation, visit our Microsoft Learning portal.

Server Manager on Steroids--An In-Depth Look at Windows Sever 2008

Reviewed by Randall Galloway, technical editor, Windows Server 2008 Team

Those of you familiar with Windows NT 4.0 will be pleased to know that Server Manager is back. However, this isn’t your typical Server Manager--it is a one-stop shop for server administration. Windows Server 2008 Inside Out covers detailed descriptions of roles, role services, and features, allowing you to fine-tune your organization’s server environment whether you have one or a thousand servers to administer or deploy. What makes this book so exceptional is the author’s experience and in-depth knowledge of the Windows Server 2008 operating system since the inception of Longhorn. This is a best-in-class book covering technologies for networking, applications, and online services that can be used anywhere within your business organization.

Here is a quick outline of what sets this book apart from other IT pro books:

• Detailed information on how new features work
• Step-by-step instructions to help you really see how the process is completed
• Shortcut examples to help you complete the task quickly
• Multiple options for dealing with configuration, deployment, and administration
• Assortment of insider secrets and tricks from the author’s real-world experience
• “Cross-References,” ”Cautions,” and “Notes” that provide additional information

Whether you administer your environment through a graphic user interface or a command-line counterpart, this book covers both procedures along with Windows PowerShell scripts for automating simple and complex tasks. All of this and more is included on the companion CD, along with over 150 links to white papers, Windows Server information, and indispensable product knowledge.

I am sure you’ll agree that after reading this book you will be able to tackle any situation your environment throws at you, whether it is configuring a cluster, implementing Active Directory, managing Windows Server 2008 file systems, performance tuning and monitoring, or disaster recovery planning. This book assists server administrators in getting the most out of Windows Server 2008 software. Its content is invaluable, and it should be in the hands of any true server administrator.