Still awake

Despite the keynote‘s evening hours (7:00 – 9:00 PM) most attendees appeared alert–perhaps it was the free coffee and cappuccinos.

The stage is set

I got a good seat close to the stage.

Bob Muglia, Microsoft Senior VP

Bob Muglia came out first and served as master of ceremonies for the night

Microsoft makes 4 promises to IT pros

Two of the four giant video screens that flanked the stage. Here, Microsoft makes four promises to the attending IT pros. These promises would a theme throughout the keynote.

Muglia introduces Microsoft Chief Technology Office, Ray Ozzie

Muglia introduces Microsoft Chief Technology Office, Ray Ozzie

Ray Ozzie, Microsoft Chief Technology Officer

Ray Ozzie walked attendees through significant “technology disruptions” in the past 20 years.

"Technology Disruptions"

These “disruptions”, or significant changes, include the development of the 32-bit processor and PC revolution, the client/server revolution, and the evolution of the Web.

"Services Disruption"

According to Ozzie, the next major technology change will be the “services disruption”.

Microsoft to provide "Client-server-service synergy"

Ozzie said Microsoft is taking a “pragmatic approach” to this coming disruption by seeking to provide organizations “architectural flexibility”. Microsoft will offer a seamless client-server-service approach-where services compliment, not replace, existing applications by offering integrated connections to the Web. Ozzie termed this new connection “Client-server-service synergy”.

24‘s computer maven Chloe O‘Brian

Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chloe Ou00e2u20acu02dcBrian on the Fox TV show 24, showed up numerous times during the keynote to provide a little comic relief.

Chloe and Bob work the crowd

Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub and Microsoft‘s Bob Muglia appeared together throughout the keynote.

Windows Server Virtualization

Bill Anderson, Microsoft Lead Program Manager and Bob Muglia walked users through a demo of Windows Server Virtualization.During the demonstration, Anderson and Muglie showed the Virtualization Browser running through the MMC. Anderson said this will be released in about six months as part of the Windows Virtual Machine Manager.

Driving down the cost of IT

Microsoft is currently conducting research on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings that Windows Vista will generate. According to Microsoft staff, that data will be available around the end of June or beginning of July.

Windows Clustering

Kyril Faenov, Microsoft Director High-Performance Computing, prepares to demontrate Windows Compute Cluster Server.

Faenov and Muglia

Kyril Faenov and Bob Muglia wrap up the clustering demo.

Delivering on its promises

Microsoft System Center will play a key role in Microsoft‘s IT Management strategy and include System Center Operations Manager, System Center Configuration Manager, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, and system Cetner Service Desk.

Mary Lynn Rajskub returns as Chloe O‘Brian

Mary reappeared several times during the keynote.

24‘s Chloe O‘Brian

Chloe O‘Brian working her Hollywood IT magic.

Protect Information, Control Access

Jim Allchin has said, “Safety and security is the overriding feature that most people will want to have Windows Vista for.”As such, security was a central component of the Tech Ed 2006 keynote.

Microsoft Forefront

Forefront will be a collection of Microsoft security products. A public beta will be available in Q4 2006.

Mary and a few audience members

Mary brought a few audience members on stage

Advance the Business with IT solutions

Another Microsoft promise to IT pros

Amplify the Impact of your People

This section of the keynote focused on Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Exchange Server 2007.

Chris Capossela

Chris Capossela, Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Information Worker Product Management Group, demostrates how Outlook 2007 and Exchange 2007 will allow people to work more effectively.

Capossela outlines Office Roadmap

Chris Capossela outlined Microsoft‘s timeline for releasing various components of the Office System.

Outlook 2007

Capossela demonstrated several new features in Outlook 2007, such as the integrated RSS reader.

More Outlook 2007

Exchange 2007 will also support voice command. For example, users will be able to call the Exchange server and cancel or reschedule meetings using voice commands.

Teleprompter

This huge telepromter mounted to the ceiling helped the speakers stick to the script.These lines were spoken by actress Mary Lynn Rajskub.

All finished

The keynote ran about 15 minutes over the scheduled end time of 9:00 PM.

Leaving the keynote

Keynote attendees leaving the hall after the keynote.

After spending all day on plains, in cabs, and conference busses, I‘m ready to call it a night myself. Unfortunately, my hotel‘s poor Internet service keeps me up until after midnight.