Redmond Archives - Thomas Maurer

Oct232018October 23, 2018February 1, 20190 Commentby Thomas Maurer

Windows Insider – Insiders2Campus visit in Redmond

Posted in Events, Microsoft, Windows, Windows 10, Windows Server, Work

If you have been following on social media in the last couple of days, you might have seen that I had the chance to speak at different conferences and events like SCOM Day in Gothenburg and Cloud Camp in Dublin. I also had the possibility to visit the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, and meet with the Windows Insider team. I was one of the lucky winners of the Insiders2Campus contest this summer and as a price I had was able to meet with the Windows team.

I have been a Windows Insider for the first day, and I am always excited to try out new features and give feedback to the engineering teams. Having the chance to meet with the team behind the Windows Insider program, was a great opportunity. I was able to visit the Microsoft Campus a couple of times already, for example for the Microsoft MVP Summits. But the Windows Insider team organized some special visits on places I never really had access to before.

We had the chance to visit the Microsoft Garage. The Garage is a resource to Microsoft employees that supports and encourages problem solving in new and innovative ways, ultimately empowering people to achieve more. It is also a great place for hackathons within Microsoft. This is the place where cool Microsoft products like Microsoft Launcher for Android and the Outlook plugin, FindTime were created.

Another place which you need to visit if you are on the Microsoft Campus, is the Microsoft Treehouse office. The Treehouse is basically an outdoor meeting space in the trees.

As part of the Windows Insiders2Campus visit, we also had the chance to try out Microsoft HoloLens and other Microsoft products.

There was obviously a lot more to see, like the Microsoft Envisioning Center, the Surface Lab and much more. But the greatest thing really was to meet the team behind the products. Really big thanks to the Windows Insider team, which made this possible. I think this was an unforgettable experience and if you ever have the chance to visit the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, it is definitely worth a visit.

If you are interested becoming a Windows Insider for Windows 10, Windows Server or other products and services, check out the Windows Insider site.

Jan032014January 3, 2014January 7, 20191 Commentby Thomas Maurer

My 2013

Posted in Cloud, Events, Food, Fun, Hardware, Hyper-V, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, PowerShell, Private Cloud, StorSimple, Surface, System Center, Virtual Machine Manager, Virtualization, Web, Windows, Windows 8.1, Windows Azure Pack, Windows Server, Windows Server 2012 R2, Work

Well another year just ends and as in 2011 and 2012 I like to summarize things a little before starting with the next year. This year was maybe one of the busiest years for me and it was really fun. I had the chance to meet, talk and work with some really great people all over the world, and to list every single one would just be to much, but I want to make sure that everyone knows I am really thankful for that. I am also pretty happy with this year and the goals I reached, and for me everything worked out pretty good. Besides that I am really grateful that most of the people around me, like my friends and family and of course myself, are healthy, because this is something I cannot control and you need a lot of luck for that.

I tried to summarize some of the events and things I had the chance to do in 2013, there was a lot of other stuff going on but I think this does is pretty good.

2013 was my second year at itnetx gmbh where I am working as a Cloud Architect. Well this job brought me around some of the most beautiful places in Switzerland. And it still feels pretty cool to work in such a great company with so many talented people, know-how and interesting projects.

Nov162013November 16, 2013November 16, 20131 Commentby Thomas Maurer

Ready for the MVP Global Summit 2013

Posted in Cloud, Events, Fun, Hardware, Hyper-V, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, PowerShell, Private Cloud, Surface, System Center, Virtualization, Web, Windows, Windows 8.1, Windows Phone, Windows Server, Windows Server 2012 R2, Work

Only a few hours left until I catch my flight with Marcel Zehner (MVP System Center Datacenter & Cloud Management) to Redmond for the second Microsoft MVP Global Summit this year. With the new product release cycle the Microsoft MVP lead decided to move the MPV Global Summit to the end of the year, and that’s why I am traveling the third time to Redmond this year. Microsoft again invites all MVPs worldwide (approx 4000) for a great week of learning, sharing and networking on the Microsoft Campus.

I am really looking forward to see other Microsoft MVPs and meet the Microsoft Product Groups which have provided so much support with the latest releases.

Also my travel equipment has changed a little since February this year, where I went to the MVP Global Summit for the first time.

Nokia Lumia 1020 – Not only one of the best Windows Phones I have every used, its also a awesome camera which basically pretty important to me.
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 – Since the beginning of this year I moved from a notebook to a Surface Pro and I have upgraded to a Surface Pro 2 now. And since the battery life of the Surface Pro 2 is now over a day for me, I don’t have to care anything else with me.
Microsoft Wegde Mouse Surface Edition – Well a mouse simply makes you more productive.
Surface Pro Power Adapter – Something great about the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 is that they both come with a power adapter which also has a USB port to charge my phone.

Feb272013February 27, 2013January 7, 20191 Commentby Thomas Maurer

Back from the Microsoft MVP Global Summit 2013

Posted in Food, Fun, Hyper-V, Microsoft, Microsoft MVP, Private Cloud, System Center, Virtualization, Web, Windows, Windows Server, Windows Server 2012, Work

After a great week in Bellevue and Redmond I arrived Sunday afternoon in Switzerland. This was my first Microsoft MVP Global Summit and it was great to be part of this. I cannot really talk about the content because of the NDA but besides the sessions it was great to meet a lot of Microsoft employees and of course other Microsoft MVPs.

Microsoft did a great job and especially the Hyper-V and System Center group.

If you ever have the chance to visit the MVP Summit you should definitely take the chance and visit Redmond. And if you should get hungry und you like steak I can recommend Daniel’s Broiler Steak house.

: Great Dinner with other Hyper-V, System Center and Office 365 MVPs

: Used my Surface RT to watch Movies and Sessions during the flights

: My System Center suitcase

: I worked the whole week with my new Surface Pro

: Mailbox on the Microsoft Campus

: Awesome Steak at Daniel’s Broiler

Sep252012September 25, 2012September 25, 20121 Commentby Thomas Maurer

System Center 2012 SP1 TAP Airlift look back

Posted in Events, Hyper-V, Microsoft, Pictures, Private Cloud, System Center, Virtualization, Web, Windows Server, Windows Server 2012, Work

Last week I had the chance to visit the Microsoft TAP Airlift event for System Center 2012 SP1. The event was hosted on the Microsoft campus in the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center in Redmond.

Here some pictures from our trip to Seattle and Redmond:

Finally we had some great days and could see and learn a lot about Service Pack 1. Another great thing of the TAP event was to meet some great people from Microsoft, Partners, MVPs and Customers.

I hope I get the chance to participate in the next System Center Technology Adoption Program.

Aug082012August 8, 2012August 8, 20122 Commentsby Thomas Maurer

System Center 2012 SP1 TAP Airlift @Redmond

Posted in App Controller, Events, Hyper-V, Microsoft, Private Cloud, System Center, System Center Configuration Manager 2012, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012, System Center Virtual Machine Mananger 2008 R2, Virtual Machine Manager, Virtualization, Web, Windows, Windows 8, Windows Server, Windows Server 2012, Work

As a member of the Technology Adoption Program (TAP) for the Service Pack 1 release of System Center 2012, which will among others bring support for Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V and Windows 8, I will be joining a Airlift event (17th to 19th of September) on the Microsoft Campus in Redmond.

Also onboard are my fellows from itnetx gmbh, Marcel Zehner (MVP for System Center Cloud and Datacenter Management) and Stefan Roth (System Center Operations Manager Expert).

I am really looking for this event, it will be great to get some hands-on experience on the new System Center release, learning and discussing with others. If you also visiting this event and would like to have chat send me a message.