Here’s a really cool chance for you to win a spanking, brand new, Windows 7 netbook. Also, note that there are three netbooks that Microsoft is giving away. It’s really simple and easy…

Click Here: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9702402

Requirements

• Write a great article using the regular Code Project submission guidelines
• Your article should include screen shots and code samples
• Your article must use Visual Studio 2008 and/or Visual Studio 2010 Beta
• The app should run as a Windows client, and should take advantage of Windows-specific technologies/features found in Windows 7 (such as jumplists, thumbnails, etc.)
• You’ll need to tag your article with the key words "Windows 7”

The Rules

1. Articles must follow the guidelines listed on the above website.
2. The articles can use any programming language but must focus on one of the Windows 7 features.
3. No cheating, lying, stealing code, or biting.
4. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
5. Only those who live in jurisdictions in which this contest is legal may enter.
6. Any breach of the rules and the prize will be awarded to the runner up.
7. The contest runs from 3 November 2009 to 3 February 2010, at 11:59:59 PM US Eastern Standard Time.  After the contest closes, no additional entries will be permitted.
8. By entering the contest you agree to the rules, conditions of entry, and agree that your name, member profile information, article, code and any other submitted material can be used for promotional purposes by The Code Project and Microsoft.
9. By entering your article in the contest you agree that The Code Project and Microsoft can link to your article and all accompanying data or information for promotional purposes.

Good luck!

-Mithun Dhar

This is a really cool TED talk! I don’t know if it’s enlightening or entertaining or thought provoking or none or all of the above. It was very unique and since I come from India and it’s almost 10 years of me living in a Western country my thought process is a little too mixed. I however know the nuances in each school of thought…probably the best thing to gain from exposure and diversity. Watch and let me know what you think…

-Mithun Dhar

I am very happy to see the Microsoft Technology Conference come to fruition! I’ll be presenting at this conference along with my colleague Chris Avis. Come join us for a whole day of fun & learning.

I look forward to seeing you at the event.

Event ID:
1032438197

Event Title: Microsoft Public Sector Technology Conference

Event Date: January 28, 2010

Registration: 8:30am

Event Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm PST

Event Location:
DSHS Headquarters, (OB2), Auditorium
1115 Washington St. SE, Lower Level
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 902-8400

REGISTER TODAY!

Click the link above OR call 1-877-673-8368 and reference the above event ID

Thanks,

-Mithun Dhar

My dad sent me this simple short video with a simple short message – Wish you a very happy and prosperous new year!

‘Dare to believe in yourself…’

-Mithun Dhar

With all the Cloud announcements, the cloudsphere is abuzz with ‘cool’ stuff! Here’s a really useful webcast if you want to build a Private Cloud with the Dynamic Data Center Toolkit!

Register today!
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032432793&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

TechNet Webcast: Building a Private Cloud with the Dynamic Data Center Toolkit for Enterprises (Level 300)  
Event ID: 1032432793

Register Online

Product(s):    Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager,Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007.
Audience(s):  IT Decision Maker,IT Generalist.
Duration:       60 Minutes
Start Date:     Friday, December 11, 2009 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Event Overview
You can build the foundation for a private cloud infrastructure on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 using the Microsoft Dynamic Data Center Toolkit for Enterprises (availability scheduled in the first half of 2010).
This free, partner-extensible toolkit provides an architectural road map, deployment guidance, best practices, and familiar tools for creating agile, virtualized IT infrastructures. Attend this webcast to learn more about the components of the Data Center Toolkit and how you can improve your data center efficiency by lowering the overall costs of on-boarding, deployment, and management. 
Presenter: Luis Camara Manoel, Group Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Post PDC, the Silverlight communities across the world is rejoicing for all the awesomeness that was showcased! And, like everything good, better and best the communities are rushing to fill in the gaps and create Silverlight User Groups.

Seattle, WA is no different! Barring rain, we are normal like everywhere else. We even formed our own Seattle Silverlight User Group. The launch party is slated to happen on the 9th of December at the Microsoft’s Steptoe Room in Building 41. This will be a really cool holiday party so be sure to come dressed in your best geek attire! A lot of Microsoftee’s, MVPs, and Community influencers will be present at this event.

Where: Microsoft building 41 – Steptoe Room (Where the .NET UG meets every Monday)

Directions: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&where1=Microsoft%20Building%2041%2C%20WA&encType=1 

When: December 9th

More information: http://www.SeattleSilverlight.net/ 

The topic of the Evening is What is new in Silverlight 4 by John Stockton:
We will take a tour of the new features in Silverlight 4 including features like printing, rich text (RTF) support, and expanded databinding support. Also hear about exciting Silverlight additions to the media stack, and get an introduction to the Silverlight 4 elevated trust out of browser model

Interact Seattle -  http://www.interactseattle.org/

In other news, the Interact group which is rapidly gaining popularity with designers and developers alike is having their next meeting on December 16th. This user group meets Every Third Wednesday between 7:00 – 8:30pm at Bellevue Place where the Hyatt is located. Free parking after 6:00 pm is located under the hotel.  They meet in the Hyatt Board room on the second level in the Atrium ( big dome).

This month David Kelley(Principal UX Architect at Wirestone) is talking about

On Better Design, User Experience and Why It Matters

What is the return-on-investment of building better User Experiences (UX)?

How does User Interface (UI) design affect your business?

Come join the discussion on why User Experience matters and how it applies to the real world. In the current world of web 2.0 and with talk of design being important, help us understand why it matters to you and what we get out of good User Interface design. Let’s talk about the technologies on the web and on the desktop that do and don’t support the development of well designed applications, and how we can apply better practices to our own projects. Equally important, let’s discuss how we can bridge the typical gap in cross discipline team dynamics. Tell us about your secret sauce or just listen to what others have to say. From great enabling technologies like Silverlight to tried and true web development in Flash, everyone has a story to tell about UI and design in the UX World.

Come join the fun with David at Interact.

_____________________________

WHEN
Date: Wednesday, Dec 16th, 2009
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm PAC
WHERE
Bellevue Place
10500 NE 8th St.
Bellevue, WA 98004

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&where1=10500%20NE%208th%20St%2C%20Bellevue%2C%20WA%2098004-4345&encType=1

Cost
Attendence: Always Free.
Parking: Free.

Are you on LinkedIn and planning to attend?  Well let us know.

WOW! This will be fun!

-Mithun Dhar

“Bytes by MSDN:  Live from PDC 09” goes LIVE!

Our first “Bytes by MSDN” interview is now live on MSDN – Check out Scott Guthrie as he gives Tim Huckaby an overview of the announcements he presented at PDC.  We’ve also posted the rollout schedule for all 22 interviews on the Bytes by MSDN homepage.   Take a look at the line-up of interviewees…quite a cast! 

Enjoy these scrumptious bytes! And, also let us know whom else we should go ‘byting’ :)

-Mithun Dhar

For those of you not at PDC that want to keep up-to-date with the announcements, we’re covering PDC live for 20+ hours over the next three days!

We have an all-star lineup of guests including Mark Russinovich, Patrick Dussud, Steve Marx, Bob Muglia, Dave Campbell, Yousef Khalidi, Ray Ozzie, Erik Meijer, Kurt DelBene, Scott Guthrie, Don Box, Chris Anderson, Gary Flake, Carl Franklin & Richard Campbell (.NET Rocks).

· To watch, go to www.microsoftpdc.com

· To participate, send a tweet to @ch9live

Gotta love geekdom!

-Mithun Dhar

Can't Make it to PDC but still wanted to join in the fun? The online versoin of The Underground@PDC party is the event for you. We will be streaming the event live at http://undergroundAtPDC.com

Don't miss presentations by Scott Gu and others LIVE online.

***If you are in the SoCal area follow @UndergroundPDC on twitter, where we will be tweeting a few RSVP codes to get you into the in-person event

*** Event Details
See the future of Developer Technology at The Underground @ PDC 2009, sponsored by INETA, Microsoft and local Southern California partners.
The Underground will showcase the vision and roadmap of Microsoft’s Developer Platform and highlight newly released technical strategy & announcements direct from The Professional Developers Conference by Microsoft leaders and local community luminaries. Located at the world famous Conga Room in the new downtown Los Angeles’ entertainment district – L.A. LIVE

This is going to be one heck of a partaaay!!

-Mithun Dhar