As part of my twitter stream (@vinodk_sql), I post a lot of links and resources that I come across. These are mostly from MSDN or from other sources that I find as interesting content. Having said that, there is no one place we can go and find all the information over the internet for getting started series. I found the Work Smart series has a number of interesting documents that are worth a look if you are a beginner or want to start learning a technology. Whenever there is a new release, I look forward for these papers because they are quick to read and give me a great idea to start learning the concepts in detail later. In my experience of more than a decade of IT, I have come to a conclusion that there is no substitute for self learning and exploration. Sky is your limit and your imagination is your limitation to how far you can learn.
Desktop
Exploring Windows 8: This guide provides a high-level overview of the exciting new features in the Windows 8 user interface.
Windows 8 Shortcut Keys : This guide provides a quick reference to the shortcut keys in the Windows 8 Start screen.
Windows 7 New Features :This guide describes some of the new feature available now in Windows 7.
Windows 7 on a Slate Device : Learn how to use Windows 7 features on a slate device, using touch-friendly features in IE9, the tablet input panel, speech inputs and more.
Everyday Work with Windows Vista Get Started : Windows Vista offers improved search capabilities, easier ways to sort and organize files, and interface enhancements that help manage applications and information.
Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Work Smarter Checklist : Streamline your work with powerful new features in Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and Exchange Server 2007.
Using Windows Internet Explorer 10 : Internet Explorer 10, included in Windows 8, offers two browser experiences, a touch-optimized, modern-style experience and a classic desktop, web-browsing experience. This guide provides detailed instructions for using the Internet Explorer 10 modern experience, provides useful tips for working across both experiences, and discusses security and privacy.
Office
Microsoft Office 2010 User Interface Get Started : Use this guide to learn more about Office 2010 user interface new features.
Groove 2007 Get Started : Groove enables teams of people to work together securely over the Internet or a corporate network as if they were in the same physical location. Groove is good for teams that don’t work in the same location, time zone, or company. Groove manages changes to shared files even when you are offline.
Groove 2007 Learn More : With Groove 2007, small teams can work together securely over the Internet or corporate network without sharing the same location, time zone, or company.
Microsoft Excel 2010 Get Started : Use this guide to learn about some of the new and improved features which are available in Microsoft Excel 2010.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 Get Started : Use this guide to learn about the new features of Microsoft PowerPoint 2010.
Microsoft Word 2010 Get Started : Use this guide to learn about some of the new and improved features which are available in Microsoft Word 2010.
OneNote Overview : You can use this guide to learn about the features in Microsoft OneNote 2010, and how to use them.
Outlook 2010 Calendar Scenarios Get Started : Microsoft Outlook 2010 makes setting appointments, sharing your calendar availability, and managing your schedule even easier.
Outlook 2010 Get Started : Use Microsoft Outlook 2010 to manage your e-mail messages. You can use this guide to learn about some of the new features in Outlook 2010.
Outlook and SharePoint Integration Get Started : Understand how you can use Outlook to work directly on SharePoint resources.
Outlook and SharePoint Integration Overview : Understand how you can use Outlook to work directly on SharePoint resources.
Outlook E-Mail Signatures Get Started : Office Outlook 2007 e-mail signatures enable you to create a brief description of yourself for the benefit of those you correspond with.
Outlook Web App Get Started : Microsoft Outlook Web App (OWA) provides secure access to your Outlook email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and Global Address List – via the Internet. This guide explains how to log on to OWA and use OWA features.
Microsoft Office Tasks Get Started : Use Outlook Tasks to organize your time and your work. Work across applications with Tasks integrated across Outlook, SharePoint, and OneNote.
Collaborating with SharePoint Overview : Collaborate effectively with SharePoint sites and features.
Collaborating with SharePoint Server 2010 Get Started : Get started on collaborating effectively with SharePoint sites and features.
Customizing SharePoint Sites Get Started : Customize SharePoint sites with Web parts. Display libraries, documents, RSS feeds, and customize the left navigation menu (Quick Launch).
Office SharePoint Workspace Get Started : Microsoft® SharePoint® Workspace 2010 is a client application that offers a seamless experience when you work online and offline with document libraries and lists on Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010. Additionally, it conducts real-time, automatic, transparent synchronization of that content when you connect to the SharePoint server.
Messaging / Communication
E-Mail Basics: Managing E-Mail Get Started : This guide describes several tips and tools that will help you take charge of your email.
Successful Meetings with Lync Get Started : Traditional meetings, large and small, can be a challenge when people are spread out over long distances and include internal and external attendees. Communication technology can overcome the physical boundaries by allowing people to attend from any location with Internet or phone access. But that alone is not enough to make a meeting successful. By understanding the best practices for conducting meetings and using the right communication technology from Microsoft Lync 2010, you are on your way to conducting successful meetings.
Security
Protect Data with BitLocker Get Started : Microsoft BitLocker Drive Encryption technology uses the strongest publicly available encryption to protect your computer’s data, and prevents others from accessing your disk drives without authorization. Additionally, the BitLocker To Go feature prevents unauthorized data access on your portable storage devices, including Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drives, also known as “thumb drives.”
Protecting Data with Windows 8 BitLocker : This guide discusses how to use Microsoft BitLocker Drive Encryption technology to protect your computer’s data, and prevents others from accessing your disk drives without authorization.
Securing Business Information : At work, all forms of information, including ideas and concepts, have potential business value. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect this information from unauthorized disclosure. The Securing Business Information Work Smart Guide details how to classify business information and how to choose the correct technology to protect this information before you transmit, share, store, or destroy it.
Securing Your Computer
Every computer at Microsoft is a gateway to the corporate network. Employees need to guard these gateways against intruders who might try to gain access to corporate resources. By adhering to Information Security Standards and following the best practices in this guide, you can help protect Microsoft against potential threats.
Securing Your Windows Phone Get Started : Windows Phones are powerful tools that enable you to work remotely by synchronizing to your corporate email and the corporate network. More and more employees work remotely and use Windows Phones and other mobile devices. However, protecting them is a challenge, because they are small and easily lost or stolen. This guide provides information on securing your Windows Phone.
Others
DirectAccess is Key to Microsoft IT Remote Access Strategy : Microsoft IT has leveraged DirectAccess as its future in preferred remote access technology. DirectAccess is a new feature in Windows 7 and Window Server 2008 R2. With DirectAccess, users are always connected to the corporate network whenever they are connected to the Internet, and without having to use a VPN. This seamless and ubiquitous access method has resulted both significant end user and business benefits for Microsoft.
Environmental Sustainability Get Started : Environmentally responsible IT business strategies continue to gain momentum across the industry. Microsoft IT has been addressing Environmental Sustainability issues for years but now has a single point of collaboration around these efforts in order to increase awareness and reduce the company’s overall carbon footprint.
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Get Started : System Center 2012 Configuration Manager puts the management of your computer in your hands. You can use Configuration Manager to quickly and easily identify and install applications that are relevant to you based on your role, language, and location. You can also use Configuration Manager to manage the timing of installations and upgrades to avoid disruptions to your work.
Transfer Files and Settings Get Started : Use this guide for instructions on how you can transfer your files and settings from your old computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Vista using the Windows Easy Transfer tool. Topics include: Install Windows Easy Transfer for Windows XP, Transfer Files and Settings Between Computers Over a Network, Transfer Files and Settings Using a Location on a Network, Transfer Files and Settings Using Removable Media, and Recycle Your Old Computer.
Using Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager Get Started : Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) 2010 provides an integrated and comprehensive self-service group management and password reset solution. FIM 2010 simplifies the identity management landscape and enables group management through a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 portal and a Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 add-in.
Using Windows Phone 7.5 Get Started : Microsoft IT deployed Windows Phone 7 companywide to over 50,000 employees. Cross-company, Cross-team collaboration, planning, and focused marketing was the key to deploying and supporting Windows Phones successfully to employees around the world.
Backing Up Your Data and Settings : This guide provides information on how to set up and use the new File History feature in Windows 8 or the IntelliMirror Redirection Service to back up your data.
Connect a Microsoft Account (Windows Live ID) to Your Domain Account : This guide discusses how, with Windows 8, you can connect your Microsoft account to your corporate domain account. By connecting the accounts you can continue to sign in to your office PC with your domain (network) credentials, sync your Windows personalization settings across multiple PCs, and use a single sign-on for Windows Live services.
Connecting Remotely Using Windows 8 DirectAccess : This guide discusses how to connect remotely using Windows 8 DirectAccess, which enables you to seamlessly connect to the corporate network from any Internet-equipped remote location without having to establish a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection.
Hope you found the links and resources useful. I am sure I might have missed couple of links for sure but keep an eye for these series on the Microsoft site.
In this post let me take a shot at showing some of the nice features SQL Server THROW command. When I planned to write this post, was tempted to write about Error handling, TRY-CATCH, Raiserror commands etc. But I have had the unique privilege of reading the 
