Combo Power!

There was also a demonstration of how powerful and integrated Windows Vista was with the new Exchange Server 2007 and Office 2007. We were very impressed with the demo.

For example, Server Exchange 2007 allows you to check and update your Outlook mailbox and calender using your mobile phone! When you make the call, a rather sexy-sounding virtual operator will be at your service.

But if you have to pay so much for Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft should really provide you with the option of selecting different voices. I'm sure the girls would love a virtual operator with a Brad Pitt voice!

After verifying your identity, you can easily check your scheduled appointments, update them, or even cancel or reschedule them. Notification e-mail of any changes will be automatically sent out to those concerned. All this done by voice. Very impressive! This is especially useful to those who travel a lot and might not have ready access to the Internet.

Michel also demonstrated the ease at which members of a workgroup can share information on the server and ensure that they can always update their copy with the latest version. He also tried to show how easy it was to copy data from any Word or Excel file to be inserted instantly into a PowerPoint presentation, with the colours changing automatically according to the template used.

However, there were still some hiccups when he tried to open an Excel file from the server....

Fortunately, it was only a file access issue. Although Michel could not solve it on the spot, it was far better than having Vista BSOD. That would have been really embarrassing.

He also ran through the new Office and Vista graphical user interface. They certainly look a lot more attractive and intuitive. In fact, Microsoft has shifted from the traditional menu to a more task-oriented menu. There are certainly more and larger icons than in the current Office and Vista.

He couldn't help, of course, but to show off Vista's AeroGlass capability. These advanced capabilities will naturally require a beefier system, certainly one with a 3D graphics accelerator card. Of course, you can always switch AeroGlass off.