« September 2006 | Main | November 2006 »
The Federal Trade Commission has a page that covers the concepts and tactics of pretexting. Pretexting is used in identity theft. The page also includes suggestions to help you protect yourself.
Good read.
I really meant to install Vista this weekend. I tried. I had downloaded the beta (I thought) from MSDN, but when I started to burn it to a DVD, it didn't work. So I'm downloading it again. I'll keep you up-to-date.
I got the Windows Vista RC downloaded (all 3+ Gb of it). I burned it to a DVD, then backed up the XP operating system I was working on. The machine has an AMD 64-bit dual core with 2Gb of RAM and a 250 Gb hard drive, as well as DVD RW, video card, Network Adapter, and monitor. The machine was new, and the only thing I had used it for was to download Vista and burn it to the DVD. The machine was supposedly ready for Vista, but if you read the verbiage on the Microsoft site, until the actual release of Vista, anything could happen.
The machine booted from the DVD and asked if I wanted to install Vista. Since I chose to install the 64 bit version of Vista, keeping the 32 bit version of XP that had been installed on the machine wasn't an option. I deleted the XP partition and reformatted the hard drive. This process was much smoother than the same process in XP, and the graphical user interface appeared with mouse support earlier in the process of Vista installation than it does in the XP installation. When you install XP, there are several character based screens you navigate through before you get to the familiar Windows look and feel. With Vista, you're looking at a graphical user interface almost from the beginning.
Vista then asked the familiar questions about time and time zone, keyboard layout and language, and how I wanted to configure my internet access. There are fewer questions in the Vista installation than the XP installation. The process, however, has a slow point when all of the Vista programs are copied to the hard drive and decompressed. This seems much longer than the XP process which presents the time remaining on a sidebar with a changing screen that sells the new features of XP. This type of entertainment may appear in the final release of Vista, but the waiting screen is pretty plain in the release candidate.
The install went well. Vista found drivers for all of my devices, set the resolution of my screen properly, and launched itself. Office 2007 installed well, and the machine is performing well. The Aero Glass interface has some interesting features (be sure to try the Windows Button + Tab combination [similar to Alt + Tab, but much prettier]).
I noticed that Microsoft had heard the critique that you had to press the Start Button to Shut Down. The familiar green Start button has disappeared. In its place is a 3-d look button with a graphic. It doesn't have a label, so everyone just seems to be calling it the--you guessed it--start button.
I haven't had enough time to play with Vista to give an opinion one way or another yet, but it's worth a look. I don't think I would deploy a release candidate in production work...and there are several security vendors harassing Microsoft about the weaknesses in the product. In this case, I think time will tell.
FireFox has become a popular browser. Release Candidate 2 is out. A release candidate is a step beyond a Beta, and indicates a product version that will be the final release unless something major is discovered before the product is released to manufacturing.
Firefox 2.0 has been touted as a "must install" release by some. E-week's test of RC2 finds good and bad.
I'll probably wait until the final copy comes out.
If you're interested in technology, you might want to start paying attention to a bunch of TWiTs. TWiT is the tongue in cheek name for the This Week In Tech podcast. What is a podcast? That, dear reader, is the subject of another blog entry. Announcement regarding podcasts coming soon to a web site near you.
I was just going to put up a quick post about anti-spam list non-profit Spamhaus being ordered to pay $11.7 million in damages. Spamhaus publishes a list of sites known to produce Spam, which anti-SPAM software programs use to block Spam from these sites. Seems they included e360insight's address in their list. This hacked off e360insight, an email marketing company (!?). I leave it to you to determine whether e360insight is a Spammer or not.
Meanwhile, I was reading the article on the InformationWeek site and suddenly I was redirected to a page that played a sort-of video promoting HP blade servers. If I was ever going to buy an HP blade server, I won't now. Shame on you, InformationWeek. If I wanted to read an ad for HP servers, I know the HP web address. I'd go there. What in the world are you doing?
Oh, here;s the summary of the article from InformationWeek:
A U.S. District Court judge ordered anti-spam organization Spamhaus to pay $11.7 million in damages against an e-mail marketing company. The U.K.-based Spamhaus said the U.S. court had no jurisdiction, and ignored it. Now, anti-spam advocates worry that the judge might order ICANN to eliminate the Spamhaus domain.
U.S. Court Order Could Boost Spam By 50 Billion Daily - News by InformationWeek
Much of the work I do is with companies that are replacing their accounting and operational software. You hear it called a lot of things, but the most common industry term is ERP (enterprise resource planning) software. As I've written somewhere (maybe here), this includes accounting, inventory, order entry, purchasing, manufacturing, sales, marketing (CRM), service, and other software required to plan the "enterprise."
Clients often begin our initial meetings with a list of "what they need." It might sound something like this: "We have Software X, and it won't do A, B, and C for us." Sometimes the software is too small for the company (they have outgrown the features), sometimes the software is old, sometimes it never really worked and the issues have simply become overwhelming. At least part of the time, the software has been custom written. But whatever the reason, they're moving on.
I tell clients, "We treat cancer." In 20 years in this business, I've never had a client come to me and say, "Bob, we're looking for new software. We don't have any real problems, but it's been 5 years since we replaced our accounting system and we think it's time to get something new. We just think it's time to stir everyone up, retrain everyone, make all the resistant to change people in the organization mad, and generally create chaos."
No, they come to us and say, "We need A, B and C." The problem is that what floats to the top is often only a part of the whole need for the company. If the company makes the mistake of buying software based on this type of an analysis, it's not uncommon to have a great deal of trouble making the change. Basically, a key set of needs is ignored.
This is one of the big reasons that I've begun to do Needs Analysis in the last year or so on ALL new clients. Because I'm serious about "The right direction, the first time," it's important for us to get all the needs. And the only way to do it is to do a needs analysis. Take a look at our process for selection of ERP software.
I should have listened to the latest TWiT before I installed the 64 bit version of Vista. Turns out that Microsoft has drawn a line in the sand between 32 and 64 bit versions. Hardware will need to be compatible. No more unsigned drivers. And, most interesting of all, the Windows Core will be protected from code running under Windows.
What does all of this mean to the everyday user? Absolutely nothing. Your IT department (or Dell, for that matter), will make it work..or they won't. Some antivirus software (Symantec and McAfee) will have to play by different rules. Yep, this means that your current antivirus software won't work on Vista 64 bit until these changes are made. And some of your other software won't work.
Other than that, most of the reviews of Vista seem to indicate that it's not too bad. People like the Aero Glass interface. It runs pretty quick on new equipment. All in all, not bad.
Lesson for the casual user? Don't install 64 bit Vista...or 64 bit XP for that matter..both suffer from the same malady...or fix, depending on your perspective.
Microsoft released it's newest version (7) of the Internet Explorer (IE) browser yesterday. I've been working with the Vista Beta version since I installed Vista a couple of weeks ago. I really do like it. It's more secure, which is good for most folk. It took me a couple of minutes futzing around with the security options to get the Microsoft MSN plug-in for Portfolio management to work. Also took a bit of work to get the GoToMyPc program to download, but overall it's fine. Hopefully, it'll keep the kids from destroying my machine with spyware.
Install with care, though. It may break something you've come to rely on. And of course, if you have questions, give us a ring.
I entered the business world as a CPA, working for a local Memphis, TN CPA firm. I worked there for 5 years, starting out as a CPA on the general staff doing tax returns, audits, etc. I learned a lot about what I didn't know--like how to run a 10-key adding machine. Then the firm started giving me work to do for clients that needed computer systems work.
Then five years later, I started Data Guidance Group. We were very clear about what we did: computer technology for business. We offered expertise related to selecting, implementing, and using computer systems in business. And we still do.
As I read this blog--my blog--I realize that some days I need to think a bit more about the average businessperson and how they use technology. For most businesses, technology is a cost center. Not that it should be that way...it just is.
I've spent the most of my career trying to help businesses see the applications of technology that would produce the best return on investment for them, and trying to help technologists focus on business, not on the technology.
In working on this blog, I'm well aware that the folk that I could potentially benefit the most (at the top of organizations) may be the last people who will read it. That's a terrible thing, but it's more about how I write for the blog than whether they read it. I take the general approach that if I write it, you will come. So give me some feedback...is this stuff useful? What would you like more of?
And so...expect more of a focus on business applications...we may have to slip in an occasional tech piece, but business will be the focus.
This isn't another article about virus protection and anti-spyware. You know you should have those in place, and most careful businesses do.
I just have one question: Where is your backup from last night, and if your building burned, do you have a way to recover the data you use on a daily basis? If not, you might want to do some disaster planning.
Take it from me, standing outside your building and watching smoke pouring from the windows on the floor your office is on (happened to me in 1998), or the floor above (happened last year) makes you ask this question. But the stress induced by the answer is much less if you actually have a good answer to the question. In both cases, DGG was in good shape. Are you?
My co-workers--and some of my clients--are tired of this story. So of course, I'll tell it once again. It has to do with the Gladys principle. Gladys was my first boss, at the ripe old age of 15. I worked in a Concession Stand at a local "Mini-Golf" business. The business is long gone, as I would assume Gladys is, but the story still works.
Here's the crux: If Gladys gave me 100 things to do, and I did 99 of them perfectly, the one I left out was
The assumption is that if the current software is 10 years old, or only cost $100, or was put in by their next door neighbor's dog's owner's friend, ANY new software will have all these features and then some.
Here's a good example: In businesses that move from QuickBooks to something else, the most common question I get is, "How do I change the invoice once it's been printed (or posted, etc.)? In QuickBooks, I could do that."
Yep. That's right. You can change invoices even after they've been printed...even, for that matter, after they've already been paid. And accountants all over the world are turning over in their leather chairs and pulling their hair out over this. "What about the audit trail?" they ask.
And the accountants are right. For most businesses, it would be a disaster if the employees could go back and change things after they have been finalized. Invoices sent to customers wouldn't agree with invoices in the computer system. So "better" accounting software makes you issue a credit or debit memo (another transaction) to change the amount of the invoice. It's been business practice for years, but...for the small business it's somewhat annoying.
From their perspective, they lose a feature. But wait, didn't they change software to get features they didn't have. Yep. If you looked at the list of things they needed from software, this one wasn't there. Because it was one of the 99...they only listed the "ones" they didn't have.
It's why Needs Analysis is critical to the selection of a business software product. It's the place to start.
In November, the business versions of Vista start to come out. January will bring the home versions to the market. And--as with XP--users will have a choice of which version to buy. But buyer beware...if you buy the wrong version, you could be paying to upgrade it.
Remember XP Home? Businesses bought it for laptops and desktops thinking they'd save a few dollars...and then spent more than they stood to save buying XP Pro--which they should have bought anyway.
You've been warned. If you want more info, check out the article below. Disclaimer: I don't own any Microsoft stock, so I could care less which version you pick.
These sites aren't new, but if you haven't seen them, you might be interested.
Del.icio.us - A site that allows you to create bookmarks, tells you who else has bookmarked the same page, and ennables sharing of bookmarks. I use this to bookmark at home and retrieve the bookmarks at work, or vice-versa.
YouTube -- An online video sharing service. Doesn't require a special plugin to play the videos. Just purchased by Google for a mere $1.65 BILLION. Yep, that's billion with a "B."
Facebook and mySpace -- You should have heard of these by now. If you haven't you should really look to see for yourself. Also, if you have children, find out if they have a site on these social networking sites.
If you find yourself on del.icio.us, link to me. I'll share links there as I find them.
Today, tomorrow, and Saturday, I'm at Directions 2006, a Microsoft Dynamics conference. More posts on that later.
In their defense, it isn't just Microsoft. I'm still stinging from the software vendor (name withheld to protect the guilty) who threatened to fire employees if they published the internally developed list of 100+ features from the DOS product that weren't included in the Windows version. And that's been ten plus years ago.
Anyway...
I just got back from Directions 2006. It's a VAR created, staffed, and sponsored conference for Microsoft Dynamics NAV (the software formerly known as Navision). Navision is a great product, acquired a couple of years ago by Microsoft. It consistantly wins awards for features, and meets the needs of many businesses that otherwise would need much more expensive software. But that's for the sales guys...
Anyway...
Version 5.x of Dynamics NAV is coming out in early 2007 (5.0 announced in March, 5.1 to be released, probably in November 2007 [just in time for Christmas]). A few years ago, Navision had announced that a major revision was planned for "release after next." By my calculation, since the current version was 3.x, that would be version 5.x. There were rumors that they had actually prototyped it in Denmark (where Navision was headquartered before the acquisition).
And now we're almost there...5.x is coming out. To be completely honest, it looks great. They headline the new features with a feature that I personally think our clients will all want--purchase order and sales order approval, with the ability to comment. They aren't calling it "workflow," but they're awful close. The first release, 5.0, looks pretty much like 4.0, which is good for clients that have trouble adapting to new things. And--better yet--there are some really nice features, and fixes of some things that VARs have been asking for. Like inventory costing, for example.
Anyway...
It's 5.1 that people are worried about. It looks different. The new user interface (UI) is built in a Microsoft technology called SharePoint Server. They call it role based. This means that an accounts receivable clerk will have a different screen than an accounts payable clerk or a salesperson. In theory it's great. In a demo this morning, one of the Microsoft pundits showed how you could create a sales order in 7 clicks in the 5.1 UI that took 18 clicks in the 5.0 UI. Good deal. But it looks different. Microsoft has done "usability testing." They've brought in real people to work with the software, and they claim that all of them love it.
Also, they've backed off the idea that they'll replace the original Navision development tools with all-new, all-better Microsoft tools. They're leaving most of the old tools in place.
I just wonder if somewhere there's a list of 100+ things that they don't want us to know about. It's what they don't tell me that bothers me. Because I usually find out about the time our clients find out, and then the Microsoft employees are nowhere to be found. By that time, it's my problem, not theirs. It's what they don't say...
Microsoft bought four products from the mid and upper market ERP space: Great Plains, Solomon, Navision, and Axapta. Since then, the products have been renamed to Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and Microsoft Dynamics AX. Most people remember that about three years ago, Microsoft also announced "Project Green." The idea was that--eventually--there would be a single product that combined the features of all of these products. Originally, it was to be available sometime around the 2007/2008 timeframe, as I recall (could be wrong on that one, though).
That's been three years or so ago. And even then, the industry experts in-the-know doubted that it could be done in the timeframe that Microsoft envisioned. Today, the word has been out for 2-3 years that Green won't appear until at least 2011.
But, with the preliminary information available on version 5.0 and 5.1 of Dynamics NAV, the strategy seems to be coming into focus. The key is to preserve the existing product investment in functionality while at the same time migrating to an environment in which all of these features can play together in the same sandbox.
The sandbox, as many of us anticipated is IIS, with SharePoint sitting on top of it.
And--I have to say--the preliminary versions look pretty good. Keep tuned for more information about role-based user interfaces, and new features as well as the progress toward the end result.
Here we go again. Deja vu. Same song, different verse.
Microsoft's newly released IE 7 (Internet Explorer 7) has a bug that allows it to be tricked by malicious code. What makes this worse is (a) Microsoft has touted the security in this release of IE, and (b) the bug is an old one that appeared first in IE 6.
eWeek.com reports,
The company has constructed a test that shows how IE 7 can be tricked by a malicious Web site to spoof the content of a pop-up window opened on a trusted site.Secunia said the vulnerability was confirmed on a fully patched system with Internet Explorer 7.0 and Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2).
Where was quality control at Microsoft when this happened? Come on guys, when are you going to get this right?
Didn't meet Mark at Directions 2006, but he does have something to say about 5.0/5.1. Everyone's opinion is valuable. Here's another one for you to consider.
This page contains all entries posted to Thinking Tech in October 2006. They are listed from oldest to newest.
September 2006 is the previous archive.
November 2006 is the next archive.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
