Enterprise Windows readers’ choice for 2010

This has been quite an exciting year in technology. We saw the release of a slew of new solutions from Microsoft, including Windows Phone 7, but it will probably go down in history as the year of the Apple iPad.

The Enterprise Windows blog has had a banner year as well, covering the ins and outs of key Microsoft technology — particularly Windows Server, Exchange, related servers, and Windows 7.

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Now that the year is all but done, I reviewed what Enterprise Windows column posts got the readers’ attention. Some of the results really shocked me, while others I knew ahead of time would be hot topics that would draw a crowd.

With no further ado, here are the readers’ choices for the top 10 Enterprise Windows columns in 2010:

Don’t upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 until you read this

This column gets the award for greatest longevity, landing in the top 10 for the year despite having been written in Oct. 2009. In this post, I explain when you might upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2, depending on your needs. At the same time, I also explain that there are occasions when you don’t have to upgrade to take advantage of key features. This post can save you thousands of dollars. It’s done just that for many readers in 2010 and will carry forward into 2011 as sound advice for what to upgrade in regard to Windows Server 2008 R2.

Truly awesome tools for Windows 7 power users

This was a fun post. I pored over a variety of tools that are free or have a free demo, all of which promised to cover an assortment of useful functions, such as improve system performance, sync with colleagues, and transform your PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot. My favorite tool is Stardock Fences, which is one of the first programs I installed on my new PC.

20 Windows 7 quick tips and tricks for IT admins

I wrote this one right after speaking at TechEd 2010 in New Orleans. It was a real great session, and the room was packed. I stuffed 50 tips and tricks into an hour-long presentation. It wasn’t enough time, but the energy was up and the audience loved it. This post took my favorite 20 tips and tricks from the session.

Microsoft Security Essentials: Free, so what’s the catch?

I stumbled upon this one accidentally. I had no idea there was a free antivirus product that included Windows Defender and could be used on home systems and in small businesses of up to 10 workstations (a paid business version is coming). I assumed my readers, for the most part, didn’t know about it either, so I wanted to share the good news. Note that on Dec. 21, Microsoft announced new features such as heuristic, network traffic inspection.

What to expect from Windows 8

You can already see people lining up for the next Microsoft OS. Apparently the bad taste from Vista is wearing off, thanks to the sweet flavor that is Windows 7, and folks are eager to see if the next OS will be a winner or a Vista version 2. 2011 will be an interesting year of beta releases for next-gen Windows, and I’ll keep you posted at the Enterprise Windows blog as I learn more.

The top 25 new Office 2010 features

Let’s face it, people love “top whatever” lists, especially if it helps them catch up on a new product. With an item as large as Office 2010, I couldn’t do a Top 10 — I had to go bigger. This top 25 really brings you up to speed on the latest and greatest features in the new Office suite.

Windows Phone 7 will be a serious game-changer

Well, that was the hope, but I have to be honest: I’ve played with the Windows Phone 7 and even its simulator. So far, I haven’t seen it change the game as much as I hoped it would. Is it better than legacy Windows Mobile devices? Absolutely. But the jury is still out in terms of Windows 7 Phone’s impact when it goes up against iPhones, Androids, and even BlackBerrys.

SharePoint 2010 is polished, refined and feature-rich

I praised the next flavor of SharePoint back in May 2010 after coming back from a visit to Microsoft, and I’m even more impressed with it today. It’s a nice upgrade from the 2007 version, as I explained in the post. If you aren’t up to speed on SharePoint 2010, check it out.

Microsoft Lync 2010: Finally, a communications server worth the effort

I have to admit: I wasn’t a big fan of Communications Server. Maybe it’s because I’m an Exchange guy and believe that Office Communications Server should be an add-on role to Exchange, much like unified messaging. Instead, Office Communications Server was a series of roles that gave me a headache when trying to figure it all out. But the replacement Lync 2010 made that headache pretty much go away.

Is the iPad enterprise-ready? Probably not, but I’ll still buy one

I haven’t bought one. When my brother-in-law came over with his, I spent hours playing Angry Birds (which is awesome and available now for other devices like the Android). I guess I felt it was just an e-reader and a video game with birds, so I didn’t get excited. I may also be a bit Mac-phobic. Whatever the case, my plan is to wait until April 2011 and get the iPad 2, but only if it gets better reviews than the revised Samsung Galaxy Tab, also expected then. I can hear some of you laughing and snickering already as you think, “Of course it is going to get better reviews — it’s the iPad!!!” We shall see.

There you have it: the top 10 most read Enterprise Windows posts of 2010. You the readers have spoken, and it’s clear what you’d like to hear more about and what you have appreciated from the many post of this past year. I’ll do my best to keep them coming your way, keep them honest and unbiased where possible, and keeping them informative.

Thanks for reading! And I’ll see you in the coming year!

This article, “Enterprise Windows readers’ choice for 2010,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Read more of J. Peter Bruzzese’s Enterprise Windows blog and follow the latest developments in Windows at InfoWorld.com.