JimUBC

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  JimUBC 11:21 pm on November 28, 2013 Permalink | Reply  

  Vancouver Web DevCamp! For developers, by developers. 

  

  Here’s a special event for all of you have participated in my programming or web related courses (or you’re coming soon). If you want to know what you can do with DreamSpark and Windows Azure you won’t want to miss this. Here is the announcement or you can just Register Now.

  Build, Deploy, Scale!

  Build cutting edge web sites with the new release of ASP.NET and Web Tools for Visual Studio 2013. Then deploy and scale them with Windows Azure.

  As part of the first wave of Developer Movement events being hosted in Canada, a Web DevCamp is coming to Vancouver on December 12/2013!

  At this Web Camp, you’ll learn how to develop beautiful, interactive and fast web sites using Microsoft’s web tools and platform. You will also learn how to deploy and scale your web sites with the cloud.
  This Web Camp will not cost you anything to attend and breakfast and lunch will be provided by Microsoft!

  
  Here’s a snapshot of the topics that will be covered in this Web Camp:

  • Introduction to ASP.NET and Visual Studio 2013 Web Tooling
  • Building Web Applications using the latest ASP.NET technologies
  • Building web front ends for both desktop and mobile using the latest web standards
  • API Services for both web and devices
  • Running, improving and maintaining a site in the real world
  • Real-time Communications with SignalR

  
  What to bring with you:

  • To keep things simple, bring you ID and something to take notes on.
  • If you want to do the labs or follow along with the demos, you’ll need to bring a laptop.

  More information and Register Now.
  

  See you there.

   

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  JimUBC 4:14 pm on November 10, 2013 Permalink | Reply  

  Surface Pro 2 comparison to Surface Pro 

  
  I got the Surface Pro as soon as it was available in February 2013. It seemed almost premature to get the Surface Pro 2 when it came out in October 2013 but I got it anyway. The main reason: For many of my classes I like to have two screens up while I’m teaching. Up to this point I had been using the Surface RT as my second screen, but my must-have applications (Mouse Without Borders, Sketchbook Pro) do not run on that machine. When the Surface Pro 2 came out – I was ready to make the jump. The intent was not to replace the original Surface Pro, but to get another full-function tablet to use with it. In short – it’s exactly what I needed. I want to add that if you have a Surface Pro, I wouldn’t be looking to replace it with a Surface Pro 2. There are advantages to the new unit but the original Surface Pro is still a wonderful machine and by no means obsolete.

  The biggest advantages of the Surface Pro 2 over the original Surface Pro:

  • Battery life.
    For my typical applications: Surface Pro runs 3.5 hours. The Surface Pro 2 runs 5.5 hours. This difference matters when I need to spend extended time away from AC power but when I’m teaching the Surface Pro lasts long enough.
  • Kick Stand angle
    It’s a small thing but the Surface Pro 2 has a two step kick stand that allows it to sit tilted both at the original angle of the Surface Pro, and also a second position – tilted a little farther back. If I have the Surface Pro 2 on a desktop, lectern, or hand-held, this does not matter at all. The only time I use the new second position is when I have the Surface Pro 2 on a flat surface that is low, but not low enough to lay it flat.
  • Processor Speed
    In all the reviews that I’ve read much has been made of the faster processor in the Surface Pro 2.
    For what I do when I’m teaching and day to day computing, I don’t notice the difference when I have the machines side-by-side.

  Enjoy your Surface Pro if you have one, but if you don’t take a really good look at the Surface Pro 2. It’s a wonderful machine.

  References:
  Surface Pro 2
  Mouse Without Borders