PDC 2003

The Los Angeles Convention Center during PDC 2003.

PDC 2003 desktop wallpaper.

The Professional Developers Conference 2003 (PDC 2003) was an event hosted by Microsoft at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 26 through October 30 in 2003. PDC 2003 was the stage for SQL Server "Yukon," Visual Studio "Whidbey," and Windows "Longhorn". The event was called the "Longhorn" PDC by Bill Gates during his keynote. According to Microsoft, demand for the event was unprecedented.

Schedule

The schedule for PDC 2003. October 26 - 30, 2003, Los Angeles, CA.

The schedule of the conference can be found on the archived Microsoft PDC 2003 Agenda and Session webpage.

Keynotes

Bill Gates' keynote

Bill Gates during PDC 2003.

Red vs. Blue

Before Bill Gates went on the stage, a humorous Red vs. Blue Halo video was demonstrated to attendees. The video is still available for download from the Microsoft Download Center.

Summary

Gates discussed key catalysts in software development, pointing to a variety of trends driving the next wave, including Web services interoperability, proliferation of smart clients and software and hardware innovation. He highlighted key characteristics of the next wave: developers building connected systems using Web services that reflect the dynamic nature of the real world; software making oceans of digital information more meaningful and actionable; and new breakthrough user experiences, improving interactions between people, groups and organizations.

Gates detailed several waves of Microsoft platform software to facilitate application development, including the Visual Studio® "Whidbey" development tools, Microsoft SQL Server TM "Yukon," smart device software and Windows "Longhorn." Gates highlighted how Microsoft's integrated platform approach, with support from a broad developer ecosystem, provides a strong foundation for developers to pursue the next wave of software opportunities.

"It's an exciting time to be a software developer," Gates said. "Continuing hardware advances, powerful tools and the potential of anything on the Internet to become a building block all make it a great time to do pioneering work. Microsoft is investing heavily to make Windows the optimal platform for developers who want to build on this next wave of innovation."

Jim Allchin's keynote

Jim Allchin during PDC 2003.

Amazon.com demo

Main article: Amazon.com demo (PDC 2003)

Windows "Longhorn" at PDC 2003

Get Users to Fall in Love With Your Software

Main article: Windows Longhorn/Get Users to Fall in Love With Your Software

Next-Generation Secure Computing Base

Main article: Next-Generation Secure Computing Base

Windows "Longhorn" build 4051

Main article: Windows Longhorn/6.0.4051.idx02.031001-1340

Goodies

Attendees received the following:

The PDC 2003 Bits package: What we got

We were among the first to get the PDC 2003 Bits package, and here's what's inside: Inside Longhorn for Developers, an MS Press book by Brent Rector; a WinFX developer preview poster, and a gorgeous CD case (called "the goods") with DVDs of Longhorn DVD 1, Longhorn DVD 2, Virtual PC 2004 beta CD, Yukon CD, and Whidbey DVD. The Longhorn DVD 1 contains Longhorn x86, Longhorn x64, Longhorn IA-64, Longhorn Symbols, Longhorn SDK, Longhorn Driver Kit, Tablet PC SDK, and Windows Mobile SDK, along with whitepapers, guides, presentations, and sample chapters.

— Keith Furman, Paul Thurrott, Live from PDC 2003: Day 1, Monday,

• 

  Disc 1

External Links

• Microsoft PressPass - Professional Developers Conference 2003 Virtual Pressroom
• Bill Gates Speech Transcript - Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2003
• Speech Transcript - Jim Allchin, Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2003
• Microsoft Details Next Wave of Software Innovation to Developers at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2003
• Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Windows Longhorn: Live from PDC 2003! - photo and video materials from PDC 2003 by Paul Thurrott
• PDC 2003 Bill Gates keynote build Discussion and Stuff