Generally I don’t post about anything work related. However, because I think that this new promotion that we’re offering is very cool, I wanted to share it with everyone - especially you developers out there!

From our press release that went out today -

Developers explore and test a suite of Microsoft design and management tools within a secure, dedicated environment

VANCOUVER, BC – February 26, 2008 – PEER 1 Network Enterprises, Inc. (TSX-V: PIX), a leading provider of online IT infrastructure, has partnered with Microsoft to offer 50 free developer sandbox servers for a 30-day trial. Web developers now have a chance to work with full control on a collection of Microsoft website development applications in a dedicated server environment.

“We are pleased to offer this great program that meets the needs of developers who want to explore new applications and ensure that they work well before exposing them in a production environment,” said Robert Miggins, vice president of business development for PEER 1. “With the sandbox servers we give developers the platform and tools they require to build applications, test, and deploy, all with a seamless experience.”

The 30-day free period is a unique opportunity for web developers and agencies to explore both the internal and external aspects of testing and developing a website and other online applications using some of the latest Microsoft software that has been pre-loaded into the sandbox server and is connected into PEER 1’s extensive online network infrastructure.

“This program is a good opportunity for developers in any field,” said John Zanni, director of hosting for the Microsoft Communications Sector. “Working together in a more collaborative and supportive environment enables developers to build better applications and compatible offerings, which can better meet customer needs and increase both business and customer revenue.”

The developer sandbox supports IIS 6, .ASP.NET 2.0 and PHP 5 and provides the following design and management tools:

* Microsoft® Expression® Studio: Expression Studio includes Expression Blend, Expression Web, and Expression Design - The professional design tools and innovative technologies in Expression Studio give you the flexibility and freedom to bring your vision to reality.

* Microsoft Visual Studio Express Editions: Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition and Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition – This is the ideal tool for productively building object-oriented applications for Windows on the .NET Framework.

* Microsoft Silverlight – A cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web.

* Microsoft SQL Server Standard 2005 – This tool contains features that will help your team develop data applications in a fraction of the time, helping to drive data to the corners of your business.

Microsoft and PEER 1 invite developers to apply to participate in the sandbox. Once approved developers gain free root access to a server set up in PEER 1’s San Antonio data center for 30 days with no contract and no obligation.

***As a bonus, developers who decide to order a server from PEER 1 at the end of the free sandbox server period will receive a Microsoft tool package, including Microsoft Expression Web ($299 value), Microsoft Expression Studio and Microsoft ASP.NET training ($1099 value), at no additional cost.***

Visit http://www.peer1.com/hosting/sandbox.php for more information.

About PEER 1
PEER 1, a leading online IT infrastructure provider, believes in the limitless opportunity of the Internet and the business growth and continuity it provides for its more than 9,000 customers. PEER 1 delivers highly scalable managed hosting and co-location solutions to ensure customers’ online presence is always fast, always available. Since 1999, PEER 1 has grown to include data centers and network points of presence in 17 major cities across North America and Europe. Serving a variety of companies, PEER 1 offers solutions that grow through every stage of web commerce, regardless of company size. The company’s headquarters are in Vancouver, Canada and the stock is traded on the TSX Venture exchange under the symbol PIX.

For more information visit: http://www.peer1.com.

After reading a blog that I truly enjoy this morning that goes by the name Infinite Ease, I wanted to share one of his articles titled, “Unleashing Organizational Energy“. His blog post starts off with an eye-catcher: Throw Away ALL management concepts, tools and techniques!

I guess his article really caught my attention because of the fact that I can relate to a few things that he said within the company that I work for. It’s a great article, so check it out when you have a chance.

Mashable wrote an article about a news site called Newspond. Their “about” page brags that the site is “the most advanced news site on the planet.” That’s a pretty big statement to make, given the competition that already exists. Its main function is similar to that of Techmeme, with some of the social features of Digg thrown in.

At first glance, it appears that the content that is floating to the top of Newspond is very different to what is atop Techmeme right now. It’s not clear whether this is due to the sources that Newspond is drawing on, or due to differences in their algorithms. I tend to think that it is a result of the algorithm, since many of the sources for popular articles are comparable on both sites.

As far as functionality and look goes, Newspond is at the top of the heap. Everything on the site moves so smoothly, and there are beautiful gradients and rounded corners as far as the eye can see. Comments slide out and boxes light up all over the site. The design of Newspond should be the poster child for Web 2.0.

I don’t think that Newspond will dethrone Techmeme or Digg anytime soon, but they are definitely a start-up to keep your eye on. If any of their claims end up coming to fruition, we will be hearing from them a lot.

Joke of the Week #23 - Smooth Operator

A friend of mine who goes by the online name of Smooth Operator, has just shown me quite a humorous video that he created and uploaded to YouTube.

Check it out!

Microsoft Offers $44.6B for Yahoo.

Microsoft Corp. has pounced on slumping Internet icon Yahoo Inc. with an unsolicited takeover offer of $44.6 billion in its boldest bid yet to challenge Google Inc.’s dominance of the lucrative online search and advertising markets. The Justice Department says it is interested in reviewing antitrust issues associated with it.

The surprise offer of $31 per share, made late Thursday and announced Friday, seizes on Yahoo’s weakness while Microsoft tries to muscle up in a high-stakes battle with Google likely to define the technology landscape for years to come.

In a statement Friday, Yahoo said it will “carefully and promptly” study Microsoft’s bid.

With its profits steadily sliding, Yahoo’s stock slipped to a four-year low earlier this week and a new management team has been trying to steer a turnaround but sees more turbulence through 2008.

The announcement lifted Yahoo’s share price by almost 50 percent in morning trading, while Google fell almost 8 percent, dragged down by a fourth-quarter earnings report that missed Wall Street expectations.

In conference call Friday morning, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer indicated he won’t take no for an answer after Yahoo rebuffed takeover overtures a year ago.

I spoke with a co-worker this morning about this and his first response was, “If Microsoft buys Yahoo, I’m closing my Yahoo Mail account.” I pondered that for a moment and since I couldn’t figure out the logic behind that, I had to ask why. The reason behind his response, still puzzles me:

10:37:59 AM ***: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080201/microsoft_yahoo.html?.v=14 but you already know
10:39:30 AM ***: if microsoft buys yahoo
10:39:35 AM ***: I’m closing my yahoo mail account
10:39:54 AM ***: and that’s sad
10:39:59 AM ***: because I’ve had that thing since like 1997
10:42:48 AM Charnell: So why would you close your account?
10:44:03 AM ***: because I’m not interested in microsoft being a part of my life
10:44:49 AM ***: although I have a hotmail account, I never use the mail portion, and I rarely use the msn portion, as most people moved over to yahoo
10:45:30 AM ***: due to it being a windows only thing (although there are open source alternatives, but do you remember microsoft would change something and it would break, just a complete nightmare)
10:45:48 AM Charnell: ah
10:47:28 AM ***: I don’t hate microsoft, it’s just not the right solution for me, plus I find their style of applications absolutely revolting, and their license agreements overly restrictive
10:47:58 AM ***: they only produce garbage software

Believe me, anyone who knows me, knows that I am no fan of Microsoft. My network at home runs Debian, my desktop at work runs Debian, and for my laptop I use a MacBook. But I believe that Microsoft has it’s place in the market, it belongs there (rightly so), and I’m not afraid to use I do not have coronaries when I have to use their products providing they work quickly, efficiently, and properly.