Herding Code 65: Scott Hanselman on His Secret Ninja Squad and Jon's new job (bonus: netbook operating system install clinic!)

Episode 65

• Scott H talks about how, other than the obvious request to get Scott Koon removed from the show, there's no need to fear any changes to Herding Code.
• Scott H bemoans the fact that people are so quick to attribute opinions to "working for the man".
• The group discusses whether Scott's demonstration of a datagrid in Scott Guthrie's PDC keynote constitutes "selling out".
• Scott K asks about what Jon's new job is, and what Scott Hanselman's STO group does. Scott Hanselman describes the difference between all the different developer community program manager groups at Microsoft.
• Scott K asks about the lack of diversity on the STO team, and whether there will be more of a focus on data programmability in the future.
• Kevin asks if working for Microsoft makes it tougher to criticize Microsoft. Scott K asks if working for Microsoft makes it hard to criticize competitors.
• Scott Hanselman talks about the irritation of ad hominem attacks which discount opinions under the assumption that they're job-motivated.
• Scott H mentions that he's been test driving Linux and other operating systems on his netbook in passing, which prompts a 5 minute geek-fest between Scott H. and Scott K. about Linux driver troubleshooting.
• Scott K asks Jon what his top priorities are in his new job.
• Scott K comments on the recent lack of focus on Web Forms, e.g. all the PDC videos he saw were using ASP.NET MVC.
• Scott H clarifies who exactly is on his team, and how useful it is to have a team that's got internal Microsoft access but is separate from the product teams.
• Scott K takes us on a discussion of Microsoft certifications - whether the STO team can add some more realism to certifications. Best part: Scott K inadvertently complains about some of the VB6 exams that Scott H had written.
• Scott H and the gang finish thing off with a discussion of certifications, education, and interviews as indicators of effectiveness as a programmer.