I was privileged enough to be invited in Feb 2010 to the MVP Summit based in Redmond, the Microsoft HQ itself. Wow what a week.

The time was spent sitting in front of the product team covering feature after feature with seriously deep drill-downs and hands-on with the product itself in the lab. Priceless. Yes, I've been there, used the new console, toyed with the new features and boy, have we got some serious thinking to do. Simplification of the hierarchy, application\user targetting, and a host of new ways of doing things. Epic stuff. Really looking forward to ConfigMgr v. Next releasing.

This was the most defining experience I've had in IT. To chat and interact with the guys and gals that make the ConfigMgr product, to use the product before anyone (even TAPs) else gives me a huge insight in to where we are going. Unfortunately I cannot say much about it at all, at least not until MMS 2010 timeframe when you'll get some hands-on if you are attending.

Talking of MMS, if you are going and dig ConfigMgr then you are going to get HUGE exposure to the new features. I and 20+ other MVP's sat through those lab demo's and can assure you that you'll be seeing the new console and a stack of the key features that will change the way we do things. This kind of time in front of the product this early on is invaluable for getting a feel for what it has become, and where it is going. If you're not going to MMS 2010, why not? Get booked now! Get some hands on, it'll definitely give you a head-start in planning your infrastructure upgrade.

http://www.mms-2010.com/public/home.aspx

Attending the MVP Summit helped strengthen my links with Microsoft, my knowledge of the product, introduced me to some really nice people outside of the ConfigMgr product group and finally I got to meet the most active (and able to attend) MVP's so can put face, name and voice together finally :-)

Read the complete post at http://wmug.co.uk/blogs/r0b/archive/2010/03/11/mvp-summit-2010.aspx