Category: Fun

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Aug042017August 4, 2017August 10, 20178Commentsby Thomas Maurer
Experts Live and Thomas Maurer

Win an Experts Live Europe 2017 Conference Pass

Posted in Cloud, Events, Fun, Hardware, IT, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Office365, Operations Management Suite, System Center, Web, Windows, Windows Server, Work

UPDATE: Thanks for all the people who joined the raffle, the raffle is closed now and the lucky winner will have a mail in the inbox

As mentioned, I am proud to speak at this year’s Experts Live Europe 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Today is your lucky day. If you want to join me at this amazing conference and you do not yet have a Conference Pass, you have the chance to win one today. The full 3-day conference pass is worth €761.60 and gives you access to all sessions, the expo hall, the attendee networking party and the closing party.

About Experts Live Europe 2017

ExpertsLive Europe

The Experts Live Europe 2017 conference takes place August 23-25 in the Berlin Congress Center

Experts Live Europe is one of Europe’s largest community conferences with a focus on Microsoft cloud, datacenter and workplace management. Top experts from around the world present discussion panels, ask-the-experts sessions and breakout sessions and cover the latest products, technologies and solutions. It’s the time of the year to learn, network, share and make valuable connections.

  • 3 conference days
  • 100 sessions
  • 6 parallel tracks
  • Private side meetings
  • Top experts from around the world
  • More than 20 MVPs on site
  • Exhibition area with 3rd party vendors
  • Networking party
  • Ask the experts area
  • Quality food & beverages
  • Conference closing party
  • Good connected city in Europe
  • Modern location with easy-to-reach rooms

How to win a free Conference Pass

If this is reason enough for you to join, you can win a conference pass here by doing the following steps:

  1. Share this post on Twitter or/and Facebook or/and Linkedin using the hashtag #ExpertsLive
  2. Leave a comment on this post with a great reason why you want to attend until August 9 23.59 (UTC +1).

Under all comments I will raffle one regular conference pass. The winner will be contacted by email.

 

Good Luck! And for those who didn’t win, you still have the chance to buy a ticket!

  • Only included is the regular conference pass (travel cost and hotel is not included)
  • No refund of existing tickets
  • The ticket cannot be paid out
  • The ticket is not for resale
  • and the usual 😉

 


Jun262017June 26, 2017June 26, 20170Commentby Thomas Maurer
Thomas Maurer Speaking

Speaking at Experts Live Europe 2017 in Berlin

Posted in Cloud, Containers, Events, Fun, Hyper-V, IT, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Nano Server, Operations Management Suite, Powershell, Server Core, System Center, Virtualization, Web, Windows, Windows 10, Windows Server, Work

I am proud to announce that I will speak at Experts Live Europe 2017 Conference at August 23-25 in Berlin. Experts Live, formerly known System Center Universe, is one of Europe’s largest community conferences with a focus on Microsoft cloud, datacenter and workplace management. Top experts from around the world present discussion panels, ask-the-experts sessions and breakout sessions and cover the latest products, technologies and solutions. It’s the time of the year to learn, network, share and make valuable connections. Experts Live presents top content with top presenters around Microsoft Windows Server, System Center, Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Intune and much more.

ExpertsLive Europe

After speaking at different System Center Universe and different Experts Live events in the past years around the world, such as Bern, Basel, Kuala Lumpur, Ede, Melbourne and many more, I am really happy to speak this year again at one of the greatest community conferences in Europe.

If you want to know more about the events from the past check out my blog posts:

This year I have the chance to speak in a couple of different sessions, about some really cool stuff focusing on Azure Stack, Windows Server vNext and Azure, Docker and Containers.

Experts Live Europe

Azure Stack - Everything you need to know!

Microsoft released Azure Stack as a Azure appliance for your datacenter. Learn how you deploy, manage and operate a Azure Stack in your datacenter. Learn about the features and options you will get by offering Azure Stack to your customers.

Experts Live Europe

Getting started with Windows Containers, Docker and Azure

In Windows Server 2016 you Microsoft released their first version of Windows and Hyper-V Containers. In this session you will get an overview about how containers work and how you can use them for your deployments and you will learn how you can get started with Containers and Docker on Windows 10, Windows Server or on Microsoft Azure.

Experts Live Europe

Windows Server - What is next in Redstone 3

A little less than one year ago Microsoft released Windows Server 2016. This Fall Microsoft will update Windows Server to the next Current Branch for Business release with new features and improvements together with the Windows 10 Client release. Windows Server will also join the Windows Insider Program and we will see the first innovation coming this summer. Join this session for the best of Windows Server. You will get an overview about the new, exciting improvements that are in Windows Server and how they will improve your day-to-day job.

In this presentation Thomas Maurer (Microsoft MVP) will guide you through the highly anticipated innovations including:

Windows Server Containers, Hyper-V features, Nano Server, Storage, Networking, Security, Windows Server Containers and more!

enjoy summer and hopefully see you in Berlin!

 


Nov142016November 14, 2016November 14, 20160Commentby Thomas Maurer
E2EVC Lisbon

Speaking at E2EVC 2016 Rome

Posted in Active Directory, Cloud, Containers, Fun, Hyper-V, IT, Microsoft, Nano Server, Powershell, Private Cloud, Virtualization, Web, Windows, Windows Server, Windows Server 2016, Work

I just came back from the Microsoft MVP Summit in Redmond and this week I will travel to Rome for the Experts 2 Experts Virtualization Conference. On Friday I will talk about Windows Server 2016 and what is new in the RTM versions.

E2EVC

The best of Windows Server 2016

The best of Windows Server 2016 – RTM. Join this session for the Best of Windows Server 2016 — The New Foundation of your Datacenter. You’ll be one of the first to know about new, exciting improvements that are coming in Windows Server 2016 and how they’ll improve your day-to-day job.

E2EVC Virtualization Conference is a non-commercial, virtualization community event. The main goal of the E2EVC is to bring the best virtualization experts together to exchange knowledge and to establish new connections. E2EVC is a weekend crammed with presentations, Master Classes and discussions delivered by both virtualization vendors product teams and independent experts. I am happy to be part of the community and listen to other industry leading experts.

I am looking forward to the E2EVC and hopefully see you in Rome.


May092016May 9, 2016May 19, 20163Commentsby Thomas Maurer
Microsoft Band 2

Impressions of the Microsoft Band 2

Posted in Cloud, Fun, Hardware, IT, Microsoft, Microsoft Band, Pictures, Web, Web, Windows, Windows 10

A couple of months back I had the chance to visit and speak at several tech conferences, and during this time Microsoft released several devices such as the Surface Book, Surface Pro 4 and the Microsoft Band 2. I was a Microsoft Band user since November 2014 and as you can see at my review on the Microsoft Band and Microsoft Health I really liked the concept of the device.

With the Microsoft Band 2 Microsoft address some of the wishes of the users. So here are some of my impressions:

  • The Microsoft Band 2 is a welcome upgrade in terms of quality and design over the first version of the Microsoft Band
  • The new curved AMOLED display is bigger and looks much better than the old one. It also improves the touch quality after workouts with wet fingers.
  • The feel is much better. Even I got used to the first version of the Microsoft band very quickly the Microsoft Band 2 improves that and sometimes I even have to check if I am still wearing it.
  • Microsoft also added some new functionality to the Band 2 such as a Barometer and a better or always one UV sensor. But what I really like is the new Smart Alarm. When you are using the Band and start sleep mode you can also set an alarm, as a option you can also enable the Smart Alarm, and this will wake you up at the optimal wake up phase 30 minutes before the alarm was set. If you are still in deep sleep the Band will take the time you set as the alarm time to wake you up.

Microsoft also added some fun things to the Microsoft Health app. You can now compare your workouts, runs, bike rides, steps and more with your friends. And you can also create challenges and invite your friends, which is really fun.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Band 2 is a very welcome upgrade and looks much better and more mature then the first version. And Microsoft also improved some of the functionality and added some cool new features. Since I started using the Microsoft Band (v1) a while back, I also started to loss some weight. Well of course this also could have been done without any tracker, but a fitness tracker really helps you to stay motivated and have some control over your health. Now after more than a year of using Microsoft health, it is great to find and compare some data about your health, for example how much did I sleep per month, which effect did my sleep have on my running performance and so on.


Jan072016January 7, 2016January 8, 20160Commentby Thomas Maurer
E2EVC Lisbon

My Year 2015

Posted in Cloud, Events, Food, Fun, Home, IT, Microsoft, Pictures, Web, Work

I know, it is a little bit later as usual, but still. Another great year has ended and I am ready for a new one again. It is hard to summarize this year, because so many things happened and I am really thankful for it. I had the chance to meet some really great, funny and smart people from all over the world and I had the chance to visit a lot of different cities and countries. As always I try to summarize the year in a blog post, and as always I never get all into one blog post, because it would be just too much for one post or it is simply too personal to share it here. But I have tried my best to do this, in the short time I had during lunchtime.

itnetX Ignite

With the end of 2015, I realized that I work now 4 years for itnetX, and I also realized that the company changed a lot in the past years. When I started in 2012 I was employee number 7 and now 4 years after this we are over 30 employees. This year we not just hired great and talented people, itnetX also merge with Syliance in the summer of 2015, which was really great, since this allowed me to work with even more great and skilled people, and allows me to learn new stuff every day. My job as a Cloud Architect still lets me travel to the most beautiful places around the world and I am looking forward to 2016 to do even more.

(In this picture: Martin Wüthrich, Adrian Probst, Michael Rüefli, Alain Schneiter, myself and Marcel Zehner)

Finland

One of my great private trips was my trip to Finland, which was amazing. Finland was beautiful and I can everyone recommend visiting the country if you have the chance and you like snow.

FHNW

I spent a lot of time studying in 2014 and 2015, now the only thing which is left is the Master Thesis to get my Master of Advanced Studies in Business Engineering and Management.

Read More

Nov022015November 2, 2015November 4, 20150Commentby Thomas Maurer
Surface Book

My first impressions of the Surface Book

Posted in Cloud, Fun, Hardware, Hardware, IT, Microsoft, Pictures, Surface, Virtualization, Web, Windows, Windows 10, Work

Last week Microsoft released some of their new device including the Surface Pro 4, the Surface Book and the Microsoft Band. I was one of the lucky few who had the chance to pick up a Surface Book in Las Vegas during the VeeamON Conference. I didn’t really plan to get the Surface Book in the US since it has another keyboard layout, instead I planed to get the Surface Pro 4. But when I had the chance to have a look at the Surface Book I really had to get it. The Surface Book is the first laptop made by Microsoft, and I have to say it is gorgeous and fast! I think this is the fastest machine I have ever owned. The reason for that is not only the new Core i7 processor from Intel or the dedicated Nvidia graphics card, in my opinion the reason for that is also the integrated flash storage which is extrem fast. This factors and some tuning by Microsoft really makes it fast. In the Microsoft Store in Las Vegas they only had one version left, which was the Core i7, 8GB RAM and 256GB Storage version. I really would have loved to get the version with 16GB RAM to run more Hyper-V Virtual Machines, but well I am happy I could at least get one.

Surface Book

I will write a full review later on but let get the quick impressions I could get during the short time I had to use it.

  • The display is amazing, the color and brightness is stunning.
  • The display ratio of  3:2 is perfect, I loved it on the Surface Pro 3 and I love it on the Surface Book. you have much more space to work on.
  •  It is fast, Microsoft was not lying when they said it is fast, this is the fastest machine I ever owned.
  • The detachable screen, which makes it to a tablet is very light, even lighter than a Surface Pro
  • Build quality is great as even better than the Surface Pro 3
  • The keyboard is also some of the best keyboards I have ever used, it feels great to type on.
  • The trackpad is maybe the best trackpad you can find on a Windows laptop
  • Audio Quality is good as well.
  • Detaching the screen from the keyboard is easy but it takes some time, it is not as fast as you could do it with the Surface Pro.
  • Design is just great it looks and feels premium.
  • Windows Hello on Windows 10 which allows you to sign in via face recognition work perfect, even in a dark hotel room. I think I will never sign it using a password 😉
  • The new Surface Pen feels a lot better than the old one, it feels more writing on paper instead of a glass screen than before.
  • There are some minor driver issues for example screen flickering when you install the Hyper-V role, or some battery drain during the sleep time which can be solved by disabling the WiFi connected during sleep (under settings).
  • The screen is a little bit larger than the one on the Surface Pro 3 or Surface Pro 4, which I really like for my daily work machine.
  • I still like the concept of the Surface Pro which allows you to faster switch between notebook and tablet mode. Over the past 3 years I really got used to it by using the Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2 and the Surface Pro 3. I think I still have to test the Surface Pro 4 which brings the most of the improvements the Surface Book has, including the better screen.

This are my first impression of the Surface Book, if you have any questions just ask it in the comments of this post. I will write a full review after a couple of weeks using it.