Microsoft almost always wants you to upgrade to the latest and presumably greatest, even though in some cases the new tool is less ready for prime time than a Jason Alexander solo sitcom. But Microsoft is telling IT that the time to move to Windows 7 is now.
Ironically enough, this Windows 7 push just happens to coincide with its Volume Licensing availability.
I've used XP for years, and at first it's fine. Then I find the system simply breaks down, gets slow and becomes flakier than an Au Bon Pain trash can. No amount of defragging and disk cleanup seems to help. And I hate reinstalling. As for Vista, your letters (probably in the hundreds) convinced me that this is an OS well worth skipping.
Windows 7? So far, so good. You all seem to like it, and though my machine still crashes when the lid is shut (I'm using the RC), overall it's a very nice OS. Based on all that, I think IT should convert as soon as economically feasible. So I agree with Microsoft on this one -- so long as your math also tells you it makes sense. Hey, you know your shop better than I do.
But based on a story we discussed Wednesday in which Microsoft warned it can take 20-plus hours in some cases to move to Windows 7, you might want to run a few test migrations!
Posted by Doug Barney on September 18, 20094 comments
Microsoft Office Web Apps are now available for testing -- on an invitation-only basis. These are lightweight versions of Word, Excel, etc. that run on the Web. Like with Google Apps, documents can be shared across the Web.
The coolest part, for me, is a feature that lets me use my hard drive-based Office tools to save to the Web as easily as I save to my laptop. I hope this is the answer to my file synchronization issues. How do you synchronize between your various desktop and laptop computers? Give me the answers I desperately need at [email protected].
Meanwhile, I'd like lightweight versions of all these apps -- that I can install on my hard drive!
Posted by Doug Barney on September 18, 20091 comments
It seems that IPv6 has been imminent for the past decade -- just like the coming collapse of Microsoft that never happened. In fact, it's been nearly 10 years since I interviewed Vint Cerf, who pushed IT and the Internet as a whole to adopt the new protocol because we were running out of addresses.
There has been some movement, and Microsoft support sure hasn't hurt. But those that proselytize IPv6 for its increased security might want to cool their heels: It's not radically more secure than good, old IPv4.
It seems that hackers are poring through IPv6 textbooks and technical docs (can't get a date, eh?) and finding holes. However, others argue that done right and done from scratch, IPv6 can be the platform for a more rational, secure network infrastructure. And its longer addresses should be harder to crack.
Have you moved or are you moving to IPv6? Give me the lowdown at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 18, 20094 comments
Did you know it could take more than 20 hours to migrate to Windows 7?
Who's making this outrageous claim? Apple? The Linux community? No. It's Microsoft itself. Well, I'll be darned.
While most Windows 7 upgrades take one to six hours, you super users out there better be warned. As our story points out, "The longest install involved a super user (650GB of data, 40 apps installed) running mid-level hardware. That upgrade, for a 32-bit version, took 20 hours, 15 minutes."
Are you a super user? Have you found tricks to ease the migration to new operating systems? If so, shoot your secrets to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 16, 20097 comments
Bing is getting some reviews but so far it hasn't made Google so much as hiccup. But anyone who knows Microsoft knows that Microsoft is in this for the long haul. It'll keep plugging away 'til it gets where it wants to be: on top. Microsoft may never make it to the peak of Search Mountain (Google is already building condos there) but it can gain a healthy and sustainable market share.
Part of that effort is evolving Bing, including a nifty new way to search based on images -- a technique that also helps increase the install rate of the required Silverlight.
For me, I'm still not sure how Bing is a decision engine. I'm also unclear on how Bing does or will serve the enterprise and integrate with Microsoft's enterprise search tools. I'm hoping to talk to Microsoft soon and will report back on these matters.
By the way, I'm still looking for Bing users as well as Microsoft enterprise search customers. Either can e-mail me at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 16, 20090 comments
I was browsing our site RedmondReport.com (check it out) and found a great analysis of how Microsoft is faring in this tough economy. In fact, it's almost as good as my article, "The Strength to Endure."
The article by Joe Wilcox looks at where Google, Microsoft and Apple were a year ago compared to now. Apple and Google are actually doing exceptionally well. Microsoft, while doing less well, is still holding up just fine. There's no tech news, but if you own MSFT stock or are just curious, it's a fine piece.
Posted by Doug Barney on September 16, 20090 comments
I got a bunch of letters this week complaining about my Ann Coulter wise-crack. Some of you think the comment was political and that politics has nothing to with the newsletter. On the surface, I completely understand this reaction. Here what regular reader Jim had to say:
"While I generally find it beneficial to read your newsletter, I am having difficulty with your repeated snide and snarky references to conservative political figures. I fail to see how a snide reference to Ann Coulter does anything to communicate the point of your articles. If it does, then why are these snide references reserved for conservative-thinking people? And, just to make sure we're clear, the Ann Coulter reference was just the last such of several.
"Perhaps I'm just not the right kind of person to be in your audience. I will look forward to your reply to determine whether I should remove myself from your mailing list."
Here's what I wrote to him:
"I thought about that as I wrote it. If you read regularly, I make fun of conservative and liberal talking heads, such as Keith Olbermann. I am in no way a liberal nor conservative. I focus on issues in my own politics, not parties.
"I'll make it up to you by making fun of a liberal. Who do you suggest? Al Franken? Chris Mathews? Let me know.
"I also make fun of Bill O'Reilly, not for his politics but for his bluster. He knows he has a huge ego and that is part of his show. I find O'Reilly to be about the most interesting and independent TV personality. I can predict what Rachel Maddow (how can anyone be so condescending and smug?), Hannity, Olbermann and Coulter will say; they are that doctrinaire. I can't do that with Bill.
"When I watch commentators, I am less interested in their point of view than I am in the originality of their thought and honesty. I don't like self-important, narrow-minded windbags like Bill Maher or Sean Hannity -- or Ann Coulter. On the other hand, I can listen to Pat Buchanan or even Barney Frank all day long.
"In short, I am making fun of the personalities and character flaws of these talking heads, not where they stand on issues."
Posted by Doug Barney on September 16, 200916 comments
Many believe in environmental causes. But convincing capitalist bosses to change the business to save trees, fleas and bees is tougher than getting Ann Coulter to stop dyeing her hair (or shut up).
For IT, green computing isn't as much about saving the environment as saving green -- as in dollars. Now that energy costs are increasing and budgets are falling faster than Hanson's album sales, IT and their businesses' bosses are getting serious about green. That is, at least, according to reseller CDW who recently polled IT pros.
Virtualization may be the best way to save on power. You can literally turn a single server into 12 separate machines and the increase in energy use is marginal. The problem with most existing virt solutions is there's a huge investment in new hardware and software -- and after that, you can start saving dough. The spending might be entirely logical, but CFOs all around the world are still choking on these proposals.
For an increasing number of people, this math does work and virtualization adoption is increasing faster than a Caster Semanaya 800-meter run (or press leak). CDW reports that server virtualization adoption went from 35 percent last year to 30 percent this year.
Posted by Doug Barney on September 14, 20091 comments
The reports I've read about last week's Microsoft company meeting expressed horror and surprise that CEO Steve Ballmer would rip an iPhone out of an employee's hands, threaten to stomp it into tiny Apple pieces, and then periodically berate the employee during his speech.
At first, I figure Ballmer just wigged out and was truly outraged. Then I remembered a recent dinner with a guy who wrote these speeches for Steve for two years. Ballmer always wants to have an impact -- and will take chances to get one. My guess: This was planned all along. Ballmer has the last laugh.
We need more CEOs with spunk. Who is your most entertaining high-tech leader and why? Express your admiration by writing [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 14, 20093 comments
Those of us who know at least a bit about software development have heard of CodePlex. This is a Web site built by Microsoft where programmers can share and post hunks of open source code.
Now CodePlex has evolved into a quasi-independent foundation where people can share and post open source code. The difference between the Web site and foundation, as I understand it, is the foundation offers more mechanisms to license and distribute the code. It's also a liaison between open source zealots and commercial software vendors.
So why is it only quasi-independent? Because its leader is Sam Ramji, who most recently served as director of platform strategy for Redmond.
Does Microsoft have credibility in open source? If not, what does it need to do? Send open and well-sourced responses to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 14, 20091 comments
Today is a special and somber day, the eighth anniversary of the despicable attacks against New York City and the Pentagon. I was at a computer show across from the CNN Center in Atlanta with 30,000 other folks when the news broke. Two days later, driving past New York on my way home, I was surrounded by the acrid metallic scent of what used to be two glorious buildings.
What does this have to with IT? Not much. It transcends IT and makes all other issues seem minor. What did you learn from 9/11? Tell us all by writing to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 11, 20093 comments
It's nice sometimes to be validated. After researching two cover stories about Microsoft licensing, I decided that Microsoft made licensing hard on purpose. The more confused customers are, the more power Redmond sales reps have.
Now the esteemed analyst firm Directions on Microsoft agrees. In a recent article, the group (made up largely of ex-Microsoft execs) clearly believes Microsoft builds in this complexity as a negotiating tactic. The idea is IT gets so frustrated; it just pays the bill rather than unravel the tangle of terms and conditions.
There's help, and my two articles are a good place to start. My research started with Microsoft's own materials, which are largely unfathomable. Then I went to customers. But I didn't really start to get it until I talked with Scott Braden, in my opinion the No. 1 expert on Redmond licensing.
Here are a few links that can hopefully help:
Do you have any tips for negotiating with Microsoft or cases where you've been burned? Send both or either to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 11, 20090 comments