As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, DMC has access to exclusive training and online content which allows us to better serve our clients. Important Details Users Need to Know about SharePoint 2010 is a recent webcast that Microsoft is allowing DMC to share with you. This webcast session demonstrates SharePoint 2010's new features, with a focus on Sites, Communities, and Search.
The webcast runs about an hour long. If you don't have the time to view the entire webcast, you can read the webcast highlights below or view my 10-minute Video Blog entitled, "Comparison of SharePoint 2010, Foundation, MOSS, and WSS".
Please note that the highlights below are mostly specific to SharePoint 2010 and are not included in SharePoint Foundation (free version).
Sites – Connect and Empower Users
The collaboration cornerstone within SharePoint is the document library. The SharePoint 2010 platform allows multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously and compiles all changes into the most updated version.
Classifying the location of documents is also streamlined in SharePoint 2010. Underlying document metadata is able to route data to the appropriate location. Storing a document in a “Drop Off Library” signals SharePoint to associate it to the folder with which it has the best fit.
Additionally, SharePoint 2010 (and SharePoint Foundation) provide browser-based viewing and editing of Office documents via Office Web Apps. Rather than having to download a document and open it locally, choosing “edit in browser” opens a document within the context of your browser, and the familiar Office ribbon toolbar also appears to provide editing functionality. The editing experience is the same in any browser, whether you prefer IE or Firefox. Office Web Apps is available to users through Windows Live (free service) and to business customers with Microsoft Office 2010 volume licensing and Microsoft SharePoint.
SharePoint 2010 (and SharePoint Foundation) Mobile ensures that SharePoint sites are viewable on a mobile device, which enables users to view and edit material from almost anywhere.
Communities – Share Ideas
SharePoint 2010 utilizes many popular Web 2.0 features to enable users to connect with one another and the SharePoint space. For example, users may add tags and ratings to documents, podcasts, etc. stored within SharePoint. The social element of providing such content feedback aids other users in evaluating the fit and usefulness of content.
User profile pages, known as My Sites, may include interests, ratings, updates of recently added content, feedback, and information about peers within their organization.
Search – Rapidly Respond to a Business Need
SharePoint 2010 offers a more functional search feature which to allow data subsets within SharePoint search. For example, if a long list of results is returned you may designate a “result type” to only display specific document types (e.g. customer quotes, HR policies, etc.). Search also allows users to dynamically filter results based on hierarchical metadata classifications (e.g. product catalogues: Toys -> Video Games -> Nintendo -> Wii).
People search allows you to locate individuals based on a variety of conditions, including job title or even seat location. If your co-worker has an obscure surname, phonetic search will return their profile based on your best attempts at spelling.
While this webcast describes only a shortlist of SharePoint 2010 features, I recommend it for users with limited SharePoint exposure.
Learn more about DMC's Microsoft SharePoint services.