Welcome to NED.net User Group

You think you have what is takes to be a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)? Been involved in any community activities? Actively participating in news group? Well if you think you have a passion of becoming an MVP then you will find this post by Robert McLaws quite handy.

How to Become a Microsoft MVP.

Learn more about MVPs here.

As Microsoft Windows celebrates its 20th anniversary, Microsoft and IDSA want to envision the future with you by offering a unique challenge. Whether you're an established design team, and independent designer, or a student, here's your chance to help shape the future of the Windows-based PC experience and to win up to $125,000 USD, the recognition of the industry, and a distinction unlike any other. Download the design kit today - online submissions begin May 18, 2005!

Eligibility

• Open to designs and designers worldwide in Microsoft .NET Passport-supported countries and regions.
• Entering party, either individual or team representative must obtain a valid Microsoft .NET Passport.
• Open to students in any industrial design program.
• Student entries can be submitted in any category, even if the design is in research or corporately funded.
• Employees of organizations and students at schools represented on the jury may not participate in the competition.
• Entries may be sponsored by corporations. Entries already in production are ineligible.
• Designs must adhere to entry kit criteria. Entrant names and the names of their consulting firms or schools may not appear anywhere in the entry kit except the Design Credit List doc. Failure to abide by this rule results in immediate disqualification.
• Use of Microsoft and/or IDSA and/or ICSID branding, the Microsoft Windows flag, and/or copyrighted Microsoft elements not provided in the entry kit are strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification.
  

Judging Criteria

The Judge's Award, Chairman's Award, and Public's Choice Award* judgments are based on the following five criteria:

• Innovation: is the design new and unique?
• User Experience/Interaction: does the design make the PC easier to use?
• Aesthetics: does the appearance enhance the emotional appeal of the product?
• Technical ability: is the design enhanced with new technologies?
• Ecology: is the design environmentally responsible?
  

Consideration given to the challenges of manufacturability including thermal cooling and noise reduction may also be considered as a part of the general judging criteria.

Peripheral component design concepts (e.g. Cell Phone, Digital Media Receiver, Printer, Portable Media Player, etc.) are not required, but may be included with concept designs to help aid in answering the challenge statement.

Submission Process and Deadline

Submission will take place in two parts:

1. Online Submission
2. Supplemental Mailing

• Online submissions will be open between May 18th 2005 and 5:00pm EST, October 3, 2005. Details on online submission criteria can be found in the Entry Kit.
• Once a submission is approved, a confirmation email will be provided with an entry ID number and a postal address to send supplemental material including essay question responses in English, CD/DVD submission of print-ready images (300 dpi or higher) and/or videos supplemental information must be received within a week of submission. Please see Entry Kit for complete details.
  

Please do not send your entry to IDSA's office or Microsoft. You must submit your entry online between May 18th 2005 and October 3, 2005 5:00 pm EST, followed up with print and supplemental materials mailed to Microsoft office within one (1) week.

By submitting your entry, you agree that any or all of the material may be published and utilized by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), Microsoft, and any other party authorized by IDSA and/or Microsoft in connection with the awards.

All decisions by the jury and/or Microsoft in conjunction with IDSA are final.

Register Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2, get a free online book from MS Press

Microsoft Learning has partnered with the Visual Studio team to provide developers with additional incentive for registering Beta 2. Developers who register their copy of Beta 2 will have access to a free developer title from Microsoft Press. After downloading the Beta they receive an email telling them about the benefit, and encouraging them to register their Beta. When a user completes the registration process they will receive an email with a link to the online books, and an access code. Each user will have access to one book per code. Developers who register multiple SKUs of the Beta will receive additional access codes, giving them access to more books. The offer is available worldwide, books are English-only.

Detailed breakdown of free online books available for each VS Beta SKU:

VWD Express and VB Express

• Introducing ASP.NET 2.0, English
• Introducing Microsoft® Visual Basic® 2005, English
• Writing Secure Code, 2nd Edition, English
  

J# Express, C# Express, C++ Express and SQL Express

• Writing Secure Code, 2nd Edition, English

Visual Studio Standard, Visual Studio Professional, Visual Studio Team Suite and VS Premier Partner Edition

• Introducing ASP.NET 2.0, English
• Introducing Microsoft® Visual Basic® 2005, English
• Writing Secure Code, 2nd Edition, English