Learn more about System Center Essentials

System Center Essentials is one of the coolest products coming out of Microsoft this year (IMHO).  If you are running the IT Shop for a small or midsize business, you really need to pick up a copy.  Supporting up to 30 Servers and 500 Clients, SCE handles monitoring, Software Distribution, Patching, Reporting, all in one package.  Read more here.  If you are a try-before-you-buy kind of person (and who isn't?) The following will help you out (Couresty of Björn Axéll)

1. Download the pre-configured VHD from Microsoft. This is a pre installed and configured environment that you can use for testing.
2. Try the System Center Essentials Virtual lab. Here you can test the product  without doing any installation. You can also follow a couple of scenario documentation to get un understanding of how the product works.
3. Download the Evaluation of System Center Essentials and test to install it on your own.

You can also:

• View key features in action
• Read the Frequently Asked Questions
• Download and read the white paper on Managing Critical Applications and Infrastructure with Essentials 2007
• Download and read the white paper on Desktop Lifecycle Management with Essentials 2007