The nine finalists have been selected from over 2,200 entries by a panel of judges based on the following criteria:

• 50% Accurately capturing the benefits of Windows Server 2008 R2
• 25% Originality
• 15% Community feedback on haikus
• 10% Strict Haiku Format (5-7-5 syllables)

Now it’s up to you to choose the winner.

Just visit this page to vote for your favorite Server 2008 R2 Haiku:

Hurry! Voting ends on Friday, January 29th, 2010.

The official contest rules for are listed here https://www.r2haiku.com/Home/Rules.

Free Server 2008 R2 Book Download — Still Available

The Server 2008 R2 Haiku contest might be over, but you can still get your hands on a free copy of the Server 2008 R2 book from Microsoft.

The book, written by Charlie Russel and Craig Zacker, is an introductory resource for learning about what’s new in Server 2008 R2 in terms of virtualization, management, the Web application platform, scalability and reliability, and interoperability with Windows 7.

 

Free Intro to Server 2008 R2 Video Training — Still Available

Our Intro to Server 2008 Training is still available for free with any training purchase.

This 6 hour course will help you master the new AD management tools, learn how to build an ASP.Net application server on Server Core, see what’s new in Group Policy and much more.

You can learn more about this course and how to get it free here.

Related posts:

• Server 2008 R2 Contest: Win an Xbox 360 Elite & Sony Home Theatre System
• Video: Coach Culbertson on Server 2008 R2 Training — Free for a Limited Time
• Master Server 2008 R2 for Free

A Server 2008 R2 haiku writing contest!

The winning prize is an Xbox 360 Elite and a home theatre system that’s valued at $3,675.

 
According to ars technica here’s what’s included:

• One Sony Bravia XBR 52″ LCD HDTV ($1999.99)
• One Sony Bravia 1000W 5.1 Home Theater system with Blu-ray disc player BDV-300 ($599.99)
• One Whalen 3-in-1 TV Stand BBXLF50GB ($314.99)
• One Xbox 360 Elite Video Game Entertainment System ($299.99)
• Installation services-advanced home theater setup from Best Buy Geek Squad ($449.99)

All you have to do to enter to win is write a haiku that talks about the benefits of Server 2008 R2.

A haiku is a three line poem with a format of 5 – 7 – 5 syllables on each line — however the syllable count isn’t required for this contest. Just make sure you fit under 140 characters, so your haiku can be posted on Twitter.

The contest is open to all residents of the US 18+ years old.

Here’s the Server 2008 R2 haiku I came up with, based on our recent Server 2008 R2 articles:

Free Intro to Server 2008 R2 Book Download

Microsoft has also made their Intro to Server 2008 R2 Book a free download, which you can get at here.

The book, written by Charlie Russel and Craig Zacker, is a great introductory resource for learning about what’s new in Server 2008 R2 in terms of virtualization, management, the Web application platform, scalability and reliability, and interoperability with Windows 7.

Free Intro to Server 2008 R2 Video Training

And if the book isn’t enough for you or if you need more hands on help with R2, check out our new Intro to Server 2008 Training available for free with any purchase, for a limited time.

This 6 hour course will help you master the new AD management tools, learn how to build an ASP.Net application server on Server Core, see what’s new in Group Policy and much more.

Related posts:

• Vote for Your Favorite Server 2008 R2 Haiku + Score Free Server 2008 R2 Resources
• Meet Our Contest Winners and See How You Can Be Next!
• Master Server 2008 R2 for Free

Find out how you can win!
Hurry! Contest ends today, September 30th, 2009

Related posts:

• Train Signal Needs You
• Love Our Training? Nominate Train Signal for the 2009 Community Choice Awards!
• July Music Lovers Giveaway: Ten $25 iTunes Gift Cards

It’s easy — all you have to do is sign up for our email updates and you’re automatically entered to win a new prize each month.

This June we’re giving away a brand new Palm Pre — so make sure to grab your chance to win before the end of the day today.

Meet Our Past Contest Winners

May 2009

Last month we did things a little bit differently — we gave away two prizes instead of one.

One of the winners was chosen from our list of email subscribers.

Brigette Teets from Boise, Idaho won a pink iPod nano.

Congratulations Brigette!

 
Our second iPod went to one of our Twitter followers.

Aaron Sudduth from Greenwood, Indiana won a black iPod nano for tweeting about our contest.

Congratulations Aaron and thanks for joining us on Twitter!

April 2009

In April we gave away a Flip Mino HD — the world’s smallest HD camcorder that features 60 minutes of recording time, 4GB of storage and the Train Signal logo.

Bill Adams of Trinity, North Carolina was our lucky winner. Congratulations Bill!

You Could Be Next!

Stay up-to-date on our latest Windows Server info and free videos and get your chance to win a Palm Pre this month and a new prize each month after that. Get the details here!

Related posts:

• Windows Server HQ — Past Giveaway Winners
• Server 2008 R2 Contest: Win an Xbox 360 Elite & Sony Home Theatre System
• One Xbox 360, One Lucky Winner, One Happy Day — The Results of our First Monthly Giveaway

The first email I opened today said:

I have never won anything this big before!!! I am very grateful for this prize, and more so, I am grateful for train signal and your products that have helped me advance in my career studies!!

And before I’m done reading it I get a call from the excited winner who is telling me how happy he is to get an Xbox 360.

We have a nice little chat and I start feeling all warm and gooey and happy inside. I guess it’s true what they say about happiness being contagious.

The lucky winner of our March 2009 giveaway is Kenyone Johnson from Mississippi. Congratulations Kenyone! I hope you put that Xbox to good use.

Oh, and thanks for making my day a happy one.

Want to be the Winner of our Next Giveaway?

Yup! We’re giving new stuff away every month — one prize, one lucky winner — each and every month.

Check out the details and see what we’re giving away this month!

p. s. It’s a really cool prize and I’ll bet not many of you have one!

 

Related posts:

• July Music Lovers Giveaway: Ten $25 iTunes Gift Cards
• Meet Our Contest Winners and See How You Can Be Next!
• Windows Server HQ — Past Giveaway Winners