So a few months ago in June, I attended LTPact at Caesar’s Palace here in Las Vegas at this event I ran into a spokesman from Microsoft new Hosting Division. Now I am not a fan of Windows Servers for we at this time have 11 Linux servers streaming along all day long nonstop now for years.

So I am speaking with this guy and he says to me, “So when are you going to give up that Linux, and come over to Windows?” Now my business partner was standing next to me, and gave me that look and mouth “Oh Shit” Smiled and started to walk away, as he did he laid his hand on my shoulder and said “Be Gentle” and just laughed as he walked away. So I am standing there with this man, and pretty much tell him, “When Microsoft makes a product worth having, that I can test or use without have to pay an arm and a leg.” A few more things where said, but basically my statement was I am not going to pay lots of money to “try” something and “see” if it will work in our environment. I did state that however if Microsoft was willing to give me a copy of Windows Server, I would be happy to try it in a honest attempt to see if this is something that we could use. I was told, “OK I will send you a copy.” so I gave him my addy and honestly never really thought much more of it. Well yesterday I get a package in the mail from Microsoft. Low and behold it is Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition. Now this is a nice little surprise to me. So here are some photos just to prove that this is real.

Right now I don’t have the time open to start playing with this software, but I will, and I will write about it here and talk about my tests and results.

So Thank you Microsoft for this nice little present that you sent me.

Anthony