TechDays 2008 Session Preview

Microsoft Canada TechDays 2008 is generating a ton of hype around the Internet, but no word yet on the sessions, until today!  You might want to go get an extra pair of socks, because they are about to be knocked off!  Compared to other events I have attended in the past that cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the hotel and travel expenses incurred because the event didn’t come to me, this is a ridiculously awesome event!

Let’s dive into some of the sessions you can expect at TechDays 2008!

The TechDays 2008 Session Breakdown

There are five tracks that you can choose in the TechDays tour:

1. Windows Developer
2. Web Developer
3. Virtualization
4. Data Platform and Business Intelligence
5. Infrastructure

TechDays Day 1 Session Breakdown

TechDays kicks off with a bang on day 1!  Click the image if you want to see the details, or just keep reading below to see the breakdown.  I know I know I blocked out certain tracks. I wanted to focus mainly on the sessions I will make an effort to attend.  Plus I thought it might be nice to let the IT Pro’s comment on their tracks.

 

Windows Developer – Track 1

1. Building Killer Line-of-Business Applications with WPF
2. A Platform in Your Pocket: Windows Mobile for Windows Developers
3. Just Sync It! Leveraging the Microsoft Sync Framework in Your Applications
4. Building Differentiated UI Applications Using Composite WPF

Web Developer – Track 2

1. Goin’ Up to the Data in the Sky: ADO.NET Data Services for Web Developers
2. Internet Explorer 8 for Developers: What You Need to Know
3. A Deep Dive into the _________________  hmmmm, trust me, don’t miss this deep dive
4. __________________ Silverlight ___________  again, this session will rock!

Virtualization and Data Platform and Business Intelligence  – Track 3/4

Blocked information due to the fact that I don’t want to spoil all the surprises for everyone!

Infrastructure – Track 5

1. Building High Availability Infrastructures With Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering

Just one of the sessions in Track 5 that focus around getting the most out of your infrastructure.  We’ve been doing some testing and deployments with Windows 2008 in the last little while and let me tell you something, the big secret right now is how powerful Windows 2008 truly is.

Oh don’t worry, I’m not even close to being done!  This is just day one for the two day event!  What else could possibly be added to this event?

TechDays Day 2 Session Breakdown

Day two kicks off where day one left off.  For those that are lucky enough to be in a city where you get both days, you are about to get completely spoiled.  Check out the sessions I will try and attend!

Windows Developer – Track 1

1. The Best of Both Worlds: WPF in WinForms and Vice Versa
2. The Windows Vista Bridge: How .NET Developers Can Easily Access Exciting New Vista Features
3. Blackbelt…. (Sorry, you’ll have to wait till the site launches!)
4. Developing Windows Mobile Applications with Visual Studio

Web Developer – Track 2

1. Mastering Your Silverlight Samurai Skills (Part 1 of 2)
2. Mastering Your Silverlight Samurai Skills (Part 2 of 2)
3. Car or Motorcycle: _____________________   <—This one will rock, come check it out
4. The Zen of PHP on Windows!  Boooyaaaaa, I’m not the only one doing this clearly! 

Virtualization and Data Platform and Business Intelligence – Track 3/4

These are amazing tracks, but allas, I promised the mother ship I would not let out all the secrets in the candy bag.  I’ll let an IT Pro talk to these!

Infrastructure – Track 5

1. ROCKBAND 2!!!!! Just kidding… or am I?
2. Windows Deployments the Way You Want Them: Unleashing the Power of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit with Customization
3. Streamlining Web Site Migration and Web Server Management Using the MS Web Deploy Toolset
4. Special Guest Appearance by the Mad Mexican! (or not)

And of course, you can bet that the entire event will include many question and answer sessions and opportunities to meet one on one with the speakers and ask your super geek questions to the experts!  Lunch time for example will feature Birds-of-a-feather sessions where you will have time to ask your questions and be heard!

There will also be evening receptions on both nights, giving you even more time and ability to make connections with your peers.  While I have shown the two day event schedule, the one day event schedule will be just as powerful, and just have a blend of day one and day two. 

One Final Thought… RockBand 2?

One last note, and this is to the Microsoft Canada guys, I am hoping we have some RockBand 2 at the evening events, and maybe even some Karaoke!  Also, you guys might want to do some screenings of the Microsoft Commercials with Seinfeld and Gates.

Being in Winnipeg, I usually don’t look forward to December.  I am confused now as to what to think… Bring on December!  See you at TechDays!

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