What's New in Microsoft SQL Services - My DNUG Presentation

I gave a presentation today:

Title	What’s New in Microsoft SQL Services
Brief	Come hear how SQL Data Services is evolving to provide rich relational database capabilities and how easy it is to take existing database applications and extend them to the cloud. Learn how SQL Data Services provides highly available and scalable relational database storage and capabilities while allowing you to leverage existing SQL Server knowledge, protocols, client libraries and tools. Hear about Microsoft's plans to accelerate delivery of the key relational data capabilities you've asked for through a service endpoint that directly supports the T-SQL language and the Tabular Data Stream (TDS) communications protocol as well as their rich support for breadth and open source development languages, frameworks and client libraries.
Bio	James Hippolite started programming on an Apple IIe, at the age of 14. After graduating with a bachelor degree in Information Systems from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, he started working with small systems relational databases, like dBase, Paradox, FoxPro and Microsoft Access. In 1991 he founded Mana Information Systems, a company for SME who couldn't afford their own IT departments. As the lead developer, he developed small to medium WinForms applications using SQL Server, Visual Basic and latterly ASP.  In 2003 James developed in C# his first .NET web application, an internal metrics reporting tool for his new employer, Telecom New Zealand, utilising SQL Server stored procedures and .NET classes. After finally being convinced by their absolute ease of use, James finally converted to using ORMs full-time in 2008. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer.  He has contributed lectures on Microsoft Certification and SQL Server Reporting Services to the INETA and PASS communities. James lives in Wellington and is currently employed full time in a large corporate and loving the regular hours that non-consultants enjoy.
Audience	Wellington Dot Net User Group
Attendees	About 20 – I don’t view this negatively.  It was a niche subject.
Date/Time	Wednesday 15 April @ 6pm @ Xero
Slides	What’s New in Microsoft SQL Services
Impressions	I had to break the first rule of presentations to developers: I had no demonstrations!  This was because the Invitational CTP won’t be available until next month.  So I couldn’t go online to demo what I was talking about.  However, the 20 slides fitted well within the 1 hour that I had, with plenty of time for questions through-out.  The pizza arrived 5 minutes early, so I had to wrap up the last 4 slides, which I don’t think anybody minded! The questions were right on the ball, and added to the body of this presentation.  Specifically: How will the new TDS requests be protected from network sniffing?  It appeared that TDS + SSL is an option, but I need to investigate whether this is a connection string setting, or is implemented in some other way. What is the site where I can register my interest to be included in the CTP trial? Microsoft Connect What is Microsoft’s revenue model?  I.e. what will it cost me to use this thing?  Nobody knows yet, but look to the Google model of transaction throughput + database size as a likely indicator. Is anybody else offering this? Amazon’s S3 Google’s Big Table
Further Comments	The slide show was a download from the Mix 09 web site, which I then modified to the fact that: I couldn’t demo anything I put my name instead of Nigel Ellis, Architect, Microsoft SQL Services I took notes from Nigel’s talk and included them in my slide notes pages.  This worked really well.  Unfortunately, because the original format was PowerPoint 2007, when I converted it to PowerPoint 2003, most of the text came across as pictures, so I lost some of the nice transitional animation. I got to use my new MCT credential in my introduction slide for only the second time so far (first time was for the PASS presentation earlier this month).  I also show the Telecom logo and gen-i’s Microsoft Gold Partner cred.  I just think it is polite to acknowledge that Telecom have permitted me time to prepare these presentations. Mark Carroll from Microsoft turned up half-way through my presentation.  He didn’t make me any more nervous, but I wonder whether he was auditing my presentation for any particular reason.  I hope it was to ascertain whether I would make a good MVP.  We shall see.