WARNING: Post not approved, sponsored or otherwise consented to by Microsoft; solely my observations.

Here I am at Microsoft TechEd 2006, the premier event for us in the business of running Microsoft-powered networks. Here is a glimpse for those of you that couldn’t make it due to time, budget, PHB concerns. This year TechEd is in Boston and geeks from all over the world (developers, app guys, infrastructure) are getting together to see what Microsoft has up their sleve. Ray Ozzie, Bob Muglia and Chris Capossela are delivering the keynote later tonight.

Registration hall, lines upon lines of people waiting to be checked in.

Main exposition hall welcomes you with a big rug of Microsoft Virtualization solutions. I’m guessing about 200 sq ft, easilly bigger than my office.

Exposition Hall has some really cool stuff. Here are somet things available. Many product groups are represented and have demo workstations for ambasadors, MVPs and other volunteers to demonstrate new technologies. Exchange 2007, Visio 2007 and Grove 2007 below.

Nearly every core server technology is here, from Active Directory on up to PowerShell  Nice thing about these booths is that you can meet people that are close to the product. I stopped by the DPM booth to pick up a brochure (haven’t seen it since Beta) and got to meet Jason Buffington, Sr. Technical Product Manager for the product. Former MVP too

Each big Microsoft division has a hands on lab presence. Table covers depict the product you can try out, Vista below. Each one has a lab manual chained to the table with several to pick from! 

Select a lab and the system automatically rolls out the lab for you. After you’re done you get taken to the evaluation.

This is where I will likely be all week, Messaging and Mobility (and Office) – Hands On labs have everything here, nearly every app is present even CRM.

If you’re here, come say hello. I’ll be fielding questions at the Messaging and Mobility desk. It’s a little bit too early, no phones around at all!

Intel is the platinum sponsor. I’ll get a better view for you tomorrow, the sponsor arena is huge but honestly seems to be a third of the entire hall, most of it is dedicated to learning, labs, booths, whiteboards and discussion / lounge.

Mike Iem, who should be a familiar face to a number of you. Mike introduced me to the lady that “owns” (Microsoft speak for runs) the TechEd event. Over 7,000 expected for the keynote later tonight, over 12,000 expected in for tomorrow.

Keep an eye on Bink and Neowin.net as they tend to have reporters at all of these. As for our little Exchange and SBS world, we’re here in full force. Susan Bradley is here, Terry Constable is here, Jeff Middleton will be here any day. We will try to fire off a podcast for you and give you a sense of what its like to be here. Stay tuned.

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