More of TechNet's Best of 2004

TechNet expanded in 2004 with several all-new categories: TechNet Radio delivered interviews as downloadable media files you can burn onto an audio CD and listen to in your car.

The TechNet Virtual Lab grew quickly in both size and popularity as IT pros discovered this great way of learning about Microsoft servers and technologies in a virtual “sandbox” training environment. (And being free didn’t hurt, either.)

TechNet Magazine released its first edition in October (the next issue arrives in January), featuring security-focused articles from Microsoft insiders and industry experts. The first issue was free to eligible subscribers in the U.S.

In November, the new TechNet Plus was announced, bringing full-version software, complimentary support incidents and other new benefits to subscribers for the first time.

Not only did the Scripting Guys release 1750+ new scripts during 2004, they also presented several hundred of the most useful ones in multiple languages, such as Perl, Python, Kixtart, Rexx, and Jscript. And, somehow, they still found time to write wacky features like I Married Bigfoot. Oh: and Service Pack 2 Made My Computers Disappear. Their Greatest Hits page lists their favorite tools and articles.

Honorable mention goes to the TechNet Web site itself, which benefited from a massive redesign effort during the first half of 2004.

Readers say: “Keeps getting better with every issue. Keep up the good work.” “My boss keeps wondering how I seem to know about new developments and software news, before anyone else. Thanks for making me look good.” “Can't wait for the next issue.”

The recent IT Forum in Copenhagen was pretty good, but for sheer geeky greatness, it’s hard to beat Tech•Ed. Our Show Report page (complete with a daily “Swag Report”) highlights the best moments of the five-day event. Or, if you prefer, you can just browse the pictures, like this surreal scene.

• The Cable Guy monthly columns.
Readers say: “They are very interesting!”

Okay, we’re probably more impressed with this than you are. But the drop-down list of more than 20 language translations of the Windows XP SP2 Release Notes was a massive effort that helped IT pros around the world smoothly deploy this important update.

Back in August, we published a special edition of TechNet Flash entitled Windows XP Service Pack 2: A Closer Look. Among other things, it introduced ways to temporarily block the automatic deployment of the controversial service pack. As SP2 rocketed to the #1 download position, this Special Edition became our highest-rated issue ever.

Other top-rated tools on TechNet included Windows Installer 3.0, Port Reporter, the new Windows XP SP2–compatible version of the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer and the Download.Ject Payload Detection and Removal Tool.