Is that Microsoft Time?

I wanted to check out some info on the Microsoft partner site but when I went to have a look I received the following message.

"In order to better serve our valued partners, the Microsoft Partner Program enrollment and account maintaining areas are temporarily off-line to upgrade to the 2006 program updates and your new Partner Membership Center. During this enhancement period, you will have full access to the Microsoft Partner Program web site. Membership applications and updates to your account profile can be submitted after November 14th. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your partnership. Please check back with us again at (GMT) Sunday, November 13, 2005 11:00:00 PM "

Firstly I think it's awesome that Microsoft are properly dog fooding their own software by switching to the new versions for their sites asap.

But what struck me was the preciseness they are giving with when the site will be back up. I've done these kind of big upgrades to sites before and at least half the time even though it's been tested a number of times there is some huge drama when it gets deployed. Obviously to put such a precise time on it they must be very confident that they will hit the deadline as I bet there are a bunch of people out there who will be waiting to sit if they hit the mark.

I'm glad that most of the projects I do have a deadline that is a day rather than an exact hour in GMT or at least the deadline hasn't been announced to the world so there is still some negotiation possible if a unforeseen drama occurs !!