jason's blog

Unlike Microsoft, Apple users are not accustomed to having issues with releases of operating systems – and rightfully so.  Apple has set an unprecedented bar with quality reliable products that work bug free.  Updates to Mac operating systems are viewed as “enhancements” whereas updates to Microsoft products are jokingly called “enhancements”

All too often people think evaluating/comparing products means “what do I need right now,” or “what is the cheapest price?”  That isn’t necessarily true.  If you’re buying a workstation asset depreciation value is about 2 years.  After 2 years that system will be so outdated that you will likely want to cycle it out and get something new.  Since workstations are typically considered an unavoidable expense rather than an investment its best practice to get whatever is going to fit the mold of your business at that point in time.  Servers, Network Equipment, Cameras,

I read an interesting article today on Microsoft.  It asked the simple question of if Microsoft was a better company as a monopoly vs broken up.  I will let you read for yourself

Cloud computing is the future of business, where as SaaS isn’t necessarily the future of business, as much as it is a business/design concept.  There is this common misconception that “cloud” computing is hosted applications or services.  That is not cloud computing, that is SaaS.

SaaS stands for “Software as a Service” a basic example of “SaaS” is webmail.  If your organization has email but offers a fully functional webmail client then, they’re offering software (email client) as a service that is not dependent on your computer.

Perhaps this is a bit premature, but personally, I think this blog is perfect timing.  As most of us scramble to get our PO's cut and use up the last of our 2009 budget we don't reflect back on what this year brought us.

As I sit here with the extra time I have this evening I should be working on my book, but my feeling is this subject has more merit at this time.

During my drive home tonight I got a call from one of the many friends I have made in the IT community throughout my career. We have both served in management and engineering roles within different organizations. Somehow or another we touched on the subject of what more or less boils down to common sense and how a lot of people seem to lack it.

I’m having, er, had, unless I’m speaking too soon, a heck of a time with LSA errors. Now you wouldn’t mind except a LSA error is not specific. It’s a generic “I can’t resolve my DC so I’m going to blow up” error. So I researched this error high and low. Every single white paper Microsoft has written on LSA error, and specifically this event ID (40960) reference domain controllers. Again, very helpful and informative, if this was a domain controller.

Those of us who were early adopters of the modern internet created by America Online and their obnoxious CD’s remember our first day.  We put the CD in the computer and got this really annoying “bong” sound.  We impatiently waited while the computer used our 14.4 baud external modem to dial up to the big Internet box in the sky.  We were mesmerized by a metallic disc and the sound of “deewoo deeewooo ant ant ant ant woooong….woooongggg…” and then heard this relatively pleasant person say “Welcome” with a pause “You’ve got Mail.”  Our excitement jumped to an all time high

Like most IT professional I read a tremendous amount of news in regards to technology.  This morning while scanning the headlines I saw a blurb on Slashdot about the world’s first four-screen laptop.  Perhaps it was just the morbid curiosity as to what a four screen laptop would look like, but I clicked on the link.  Truly I was expecting some sort of engineering marvel.  Perhaps screens that were made of carbon fiber and paper thin LCDs that folded out?  This would be as equally a bad idea as the one they made, but certainly more impressive.

My bread has been buttered and career has been built on the back of Cisco. Since the early age of 16 when I was working on the Cisco 1600 series routers, and Cisco 3000 series 48 port stack-able switches I have identified myself with Cisco and Microsoft. Recently I was faced with having to completely re-architect the network for a medium company that is rapidly becoming a large company.

I’ve done similar things before so designing it was not a challenge…keeping it within their budget needs on the other hand…