Goodies in Microsoft's New SQL Server Web Site

Have you checked out Microsoft's new and improved SQL Server home page at http://www.microsoft.com/sql? To be honest, I was never a fan of the old site. Microsoft didn’t update the information as often as I like, the content wasn't particularly rich, and I had difficulty jumping to other SQL Server-related sites. I haven't had a chance to spend a lot of time with the new site, which Microsoft just released, but I like what I've seen so far. Assuming Microsoft keeps the content fresh, I'll be hitting this site a lot.

Here are some fun items I found in less than 5 minutes of browsing the new SQL Server site:

Several weeks ago, I talked about my fondness for the printed version of BOL. Many readers agreed that curling up with a real book was preferable to staring at a laptop screen—especially when reading at home—and appreciated the ordering information we provided. Unfortunately, the phone numbers I gave didn't work for everyone. Here's a quick snippet of reader mail that clarifies and corrects the information I shared--information that created a fun game of telephone tag for one reader:

"The phone number you provided to purchase the SQL Server 7.0 printed documentation—(800) 360-7561—works only for retail purchases of SQL Server 7.0. If your company purchased SQL Server 7.0 through the Open License plan, you have to call (800) 248-0655. If your company purchased SQL Server 7.0 through the Select License plan (through a Large Account Reseller), you have to purchase the documentation through your LAR; none of the above numbers will work for you."

In addition, 800 numbers don't work outside the United States. I'll do my best to provide localized information whenever I can. So far, however, I haven't been able to track down international ordering numbers for BOL (in English or other languages); if you have that information, please pass it along to me, and I'll pass it along to all of our SQL Server Magazine UPDATE readers.