My first book email and product availability
I will not post the names protect the innocent but I got this great email about my new book:
"Just ordered you rnew book, looking forward to getting it, I am a IT pro trying to bring in tool s availible in SQL 2005 into the business like reporting services and SSIS and analysis I hope this will help, thanks
Keep up with the blog, love it"
It's emails like these that make writing worthwhile since all authors know that there is no money to be made in technology books unless you write end user books. I once calculated what my pay was per hour on my Exchange/Outlook/SharePoint books and I was making lower than minimum wage!
On another note, I've been getting a ton of emails from customers and partners asking about how they get their hands on SQL Server 2005. Well, let me lay out the timeline for you (Please note this is for the English version since we are shipping international versions in a cascading fashion after the English one):
Now - Multiple SKUs of SQL Server 2005 are available for download for MSDN subscribers. You can get Developer, Workgroup, Standard and Enterprise. Please note that MSDN licenses are for dev/test and not for production use.
November 1st - You should see SQL Server 2005 start popping on price lists at your favorite resellers. You can place orders with some resellers but you won't get bits until Dec 1st.
November 7th - The eval version of SQL Server 2005 will be posted to the web. We changed the timeout (if memory serves me right :) ) from 120 days to 180 days. You can only get eval for the Enterprise Edition.
December 1st - SQL Server 2005 is available across all channels. Place your orders. Buy one for you, your friends, as holiday gifts, etc, etc. You can also download SQL Server 2005 from our volume licensing site on this date as well.
Make sure to attend a launch event since we are also giving away free copies of SQL Server at some of the events!!!!
Enjoy!