Besides the myriad of applications that already exist for practically anything, the pace of new releases for, well… practically everything, is just amazing. How can we, humble IT Professionals keep pace with both the existing and mature applications in the marketplace; and on top of that learn or maybe just get to know the nascent programs that people find on the Web and simply start using?
Nowadays you can even find video clips explaining the way to utilize such applications, some of which are more complicated than others and require a good amount of hours to understand.
And this is just the beginning: all will be ported to the cloud and therefore the pace of releases and new applications will become exponentially faster. There is absolutely no stopping on this race; and the finish line is nonexistent.
Do not worry, though. All these new developments will become eventually so easy to use that they'll also be disposable.
Hang on tight. The whirlwind ride is just starting.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
True value
Last year I had to take a device for fixing to a shop that returned it to me in worse shape than before. Although it was working, I constantly had to tweak it so that it would work better for a while, then it would start the annoyance again. This situation took a few months, so I decided to take it back to the shop for them to fix it once and for all.
They inspected, tweaked, disassembled, put all back together and could not find a single problem, and returned it to me once again; just to have the same situation as before. Two months later I went to the shop: same story.
For the past month it was getting worse day after day. I decided I needed to fix it myself and so I purchased a kit that most likely would make it work as expected. Turns out I could not fix it, and made it worse; however, in so doing I realized the shop did not do things properly in the first place. Hence, the main failing component was in such a poor shape that practically just touching it made the whole thing collapse. It would have been so easy and cheap for the shop to simply replace such part and really fix the problem.
I spent countless hours dealing with what was such an easy fix. I felt like suing the shop, or starting a bad publicity campaign on-line; or simply get there and shout to the owner, the technicians, and everybody who would port the shop logo.
I did not do anything: partly because I have better things to do with my time, and mainly because the headaches associated with any of such actions would have made me older in a matter of a few months.
I decided to swallow all of the time wasted, the money lost and all. I went to a different shop to have it fixed knowing that they would charge for the fix, but I'd much rather pay these unknown guys than going back to the original shop.
To my surprise, they accommodated my request in their busy schedule, had it seen before the expected waiting time, and fixed it in a matter of minutes. I was so glad I had it back in perfect shape that I was about to pay whatever fee I would see in the invoice.
Here comes the best part: FREE. They realized somebody else messed up long time ago, and without asking me anything simply replaced the broken part with a new one. Then they only asked me if I would be willing to come back to them for future service.
My gosh! They had me at the reception. I'm sold!
Kudos to such human and really service-oriented people.
That's what I call true value.
They inspected, tweaked, disassembled, put all back together and could not find a single problem, and returned it to me once again; just to have the same situation as before. Two months later I went to the shop: same story.
For the past month it was getting worse day after day. I decided I needed to fix it myself and so I purchased a kit that most likely would make it work as expected. Turns out I could not fix it, and made it worse; however, in so doing I realized the shop did not do things properly in the first place. Hence, the main failing component was in such a poor shape that practically just touching it made the whole thing collapse. It would have been so easy and cheap for the shop to simply replace such part and really fix the problem.
I spent countless hours dealing with what was such an easy fix. I felt like suing the shop, or starting a bad publicity campaign on-line; or simply get there and shout to the owner, the technicians, and everybody who would port the shop logo.
I did not do anything: partly because I have better things to do with my time, and mainly because the headaches associated with any of such actions would have made me older in a matter of a few months.
I decided to swallow all of the time wasted, the money lost and all. I went to a different shop to have it fixed knowing that they would charge for the fix, but I'd much rather pay these unknown guys than going back to the original shop.
To my surprise, they accommodated my request in their busy schedule, had it seen before the expected waiting time, and fixed it in a matter of minutes. I was so glad I had it back in perfect shape that I was about to pay whatever fee I would see in the invoice.
Here comes the best part: FREE. They realized somebody else messed up long time ago, and without asking me anything simply replaced the broken part with a new one. Then they only asked me if I would be willing to come back to them for future service.
My gosh! They had me at the reception. I'm sold!
Kudos to such human and really service-oriented people.
That's what I call true value.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Dreading new Data Backup setups
I remember the old days when backing data up took not only lots of preparation in every sense, but also lots of time for practically every task associated with the process.
Choosing the right type of tape drive, then the software to be installed, configured, and finally monitored. The daily, weekly, monthly resources allocation for simply inserting, extracting, labelling, storing tapes was then replaced by either CDs and DVDs or HD cartridges. The options for backing up to these would range from very expensive-corporate-like products, to affordable-but-difficult proprietary packages.
Lately, most of the big names in data backup have finally switched their attention to NAS and external Hard Drives. Finally! ...a little too late though.
Last year I set into production our first Windows 2008 Server box. A few months ago I used its Data Backup console to set a scheduled job that has been working like a charm. I already tested the data recovery and all; all just works. So, no extra software to be purchased, no hassle.
Today, I added a 2nd drive to the equation; I expected a somehow difficult setting having the existing job not interfere with the new. I was surprised to find that I could simply add the second drive to the existing schedule with not much thinking or tweaking.
I dreaded this task for a couple of months, I even avoided it somehow. It is SO easy now to manage all these tasks that I wonder why it took so long to the BU SW manufacturers to get to this. Mind you, this is a Microsoft product (service).
Not dreading anything anymore.
Next “complex” task, here I come!
Choosing the right type of tape drive, then the software to be installed, configured, and finally monitored. The daily, weekly, monthly resources allocation for simply inserting, extracting, labelling, storing tapes was then replaced by either CDs and DVDs or HD cartridges. The options for backing up to these would range from very expensive-corporate-like products, to affordable-but-difficult proprietary packages.
Lately, most of the big names in data backup have finally switched their attention to NAS and external Hard Drives. Finally! ...a little too late though.
Last year I set into production our first Windows 2008 Server box. A few months ago I used its Data Backup console to set a scheduled job that has been working like a charm. I already tested the data recovery and all; all just works. So, no extra software to be purchased, no hassle.
Today, I added a 2nd drive to the equation; I expected a somehow difficult setting having the existing job not interfere with the new. I was surprised to find that I could simply add the second drive to the existing schedule with not much thinking or tweaking.
I dreaded this task for a couple of months, I even avoided it somehow. It is SO easy now to manage all these tasks that I wonder why it took so long to the BU SW manufacturers to get to this. Mind you, this is a Microsoft product (service).
Not dreading anything anymore.
Next “complex” task, here I come!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Windows 7 is finally (?) coming
Strange, isn't it? We all expected the next generation of the most popular OS to be released by March or April 2010; however, strong competition (Fedora, Suse, Ubuntu and Chrome OS) and pressure for both consumers and corporations have made Micro$oft release it sooner than that. No fancy or strange name, not much of a fanfare; but rather a product that seems more like an apology than an offer.
I have worked, tested and experimented all Windows versions of XP (even 64b); Vista Standard, Home, Business and Ultimate (even 64b); and some of the 7 Beta and Release Candidate (even 64b).
I see Seven as Vista SP3. I know there are many behind-the-scenes improvements on security and networking on Seven, but most of the ‘new’ noticeable features in it are just what we were hoping for in Vista a couple of years ago. For those of us that use Linux or Macs, we only can wish some of the very useful tools on these could be at least be imitated by Seven. Not many new features in that department.
1st disappointment: WinFS is not in it yet.
2nd: if only Seven could be as fast and easy as XP on connecting to networks…
Oh! Well. I've set my eyes on Windows 8. I'm sure THAT ONE will be a real competitor to the nascent Chrome and the ever-more useful Ubuntu.
The wait is on.
I have worked, tested and experimented all Windows versions of XP (even 64b); Vista Standard, Home, Business and Ultimate (even 64b); and some of the 7 Beta and Release Candidate (even 64b).
I see Seven as Vista SP3. I know there are many behind-the-scenes improvements on security and networking on Seven, but most of the ‘new’ noticeable features in it are just what we were hoping for in Vista a couple of years ago. For those of us that use Linux or Macs, we only can wish some of the very useful tools on these could be at least be imitated by Seven. Not many new features in that department.
1st disappointment: WinFS is not in it yet.
2nd: if only Seven could be as fast and easy as XP on connecting to networks…
Oh! Well. I've set my eyes on Windows 8. I'm sure THAT ONE will be a real competitor to the nascent Chrome and the ever-more useful Ubuntu.
The wait is on.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Easy tasks
Wow! I must be very old by IT Professionals' standards.
See, yesterday and today I've been doing tasks that a few years ago simply would cause anybody to plan very carefully the best course of action. It has become second nature to just start doing those for me. No planning, no worries, no scares.
I guess that's what experience really is: an accumulation of practice in order to make permanent.
And then, the new technologies are the ones that scare me. Therefore, since most of my experience and specialization are becoming obsolete; I must continue doing these now menial and boring tasks. I simply don't dare touch the new stuff.
Business does not change, fortunately. So, creating quotations, proposals and reports is something I still enjoy. Good thing these do not change much. Just the wording, the new names of devices and software versions and the strange labels attached to older firms' products that have been acquired by bigger fish.
So, it's businerdss as usual.
Good.
See, yesterday and today I've been doing tasks that a few years ago simply would cause anybody to plan very carefully the best course of action. It has become second nature to just start doing those for me. No planning, no worries, no scares.
I guess that's what experience really is: an accumulation of practice in order to make permanent.
And then, the new technologies are the ones that scare me. Therefore, since most of my experience and specialization are becoming obsolete; I must continue doing these now menial and boring tasks. I simply don't dare touch the new stuff.
Business does not change, fortunately. So, creating quotations, proposals and reports is something I still enjoy. Good thing these do not change much. Just the wording, the new names of devices and software versions and the strange labels attached to older firms' products that have been acquired by bigger fish.
So, it's businerdss as usual.
Good.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Email programs and devices
I just found out I use a variety of methods to send and receive email messages for/on my main email account:
If checking via web browser, my hosting company allows me to choose between Horde, Roundcube and Squirrel.
On my Windows server, I use Eudora
On my Vista/W7 Laptop, I use Thunderbird and/or Lotus Notes
On my Ubuntu laptops, I use Evolution
On my PDA, I use Blackberry email
I think on the family desktop I've also used Outlook, but that has been for testing purposes only
So, at least 9 different ways to use the same service. And that's only one account (on last count, among business related, associations' and free ones, I have at least 15).
No wonder people gets confused by my variety of fonts, features, signatures, looks, and all.
Wait! I need to send me an EM reminder about standardizing my signature. Chat soon.
If checking via web browser, my hosting company allows me to choose between Horde, Roundcube and Squirrel.
On my Windows server, I use Eudora
On my Vista/W7 Laptop, I use Thunderbird and/or Lotus Notes
On my Ubuntu laptops, I use Evolution
On my PDA, I use Blackberry email
I think on the family desktop I've also used Outlook, but that has been for testing purposes only
So, at least 9 different ways to use the same service. And that's only one account (on last count, among business related, associations' and free ones, I have at least 15).
No wonder people gets confused by my variety of fonts, features, signatures, looks, and all.
Wait! I need to send me an EM reminder about standardizing my signature. Chat soon.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Mellow tasks
I dunno about you but it's incredibly hot in my city these days. I am able to work remotely today and I do not know whether that's a good thing: my place does not have any air conditioned and my only source of breeze is open windows. I’m pretty sure the office and perhaps even the servers’ room is cooler than here.
Which makes me work slower than usual, despite the fact that I am mainly writing email messages, checking logs and applying updates. No physical movement practically, and even so I’m sweating.
Seems like everybody else feels the same; I have received only 2 phone calls in the day and have made two others myself.
After a cold lunch I decided to take my laptop somewhere else; found a nice park with plenty of families gathered around the kids’ water park, the shadows of a tree and the wind have made my workday more enjoyable. I even found a couple of open shared WiFi signals. Whoever is “Judds” thanks a lot for making my day nicer.
At my place I have a secured wireless network but also provide a secondary open signal. I've been fortunate enough to be able to find a way to connect through somebody else's router and therefore I offer mine in return. It is just nicer to share.
Shouldn't it be like this? It costs us nothing to simply open a channel for other to make their life easier, the same way the Open source community works towards a better world, we all can offer whatever we can to others. It just makes sense in my view.
I’m still mellow, but at least a smile is present.
Which makes me work slower than usual, despite the fact that I am mainly writing email messages, checking logs and applying updates. No physical movement practically, and even so I’m sweating.
Seems like everybody else feels the same; I have received only 2 phone calls in the day and have made two others myself.
After a cold lunch I decided to take my laptop somewhere else; found a nice park with plenty of families gathered around the kids’ water park, the shadows of a tree and the wind have made my workday more enjoyable. I even found a couple of open shared WiFi signals. Whoever is “Judds” thanks a lot for making my day nicer.
At my place I have a secured wireless network but also provide a secondary open signal. I've been fortunate enough to be able to find a way to connect through somebody else's router and therefore I offer mine in return. It is just nicer to share.
Shouldn't it be like this? It costs us nothing to simply open a channel for other to make their life easier, the same way the Open source community works towards a better world, we all can offer whatever we can to others. It just makes sense in my view.
I’m still mellow, but at least a smile is present.
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