Windows Vista: freeware edition?

Microsoft is dumping WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage), and Vista will no longer totally deactivate itself with the release of Service Pack 1 http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/12/introducing_win.html;jsessionid=2MS2BZUU2WVHWQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN

Vista listed in the top ten worst comsumer tech products of all time

Is Vista really as bad as one of the top ten worst consumer tech products of all time? You decide for yourself, but personal experience and that of my clients that want to do anything more that check email and surf the web would likely agree. Read the story

Marketing Your Blog Is More Effective Than Advertising

First of all advertising is a component of the marketing process. You can look at advertising as the end result of marketing.

read more | digg story

Cost vs. Value

Occasionally I'll come across a small business owner that has a hard time understanding the value of a quality Technology Consultant. That's an attitude that normally changes as the business grows and the owner sees that when employees can't get to work that it's worth paying for good quality IT support.

But add to that save money at all costs approach with a cheap consultant you have a recipe for problems.

I've talked with business owners that really think that their last IT support person wasn't that bad. And now they having to pay more for their IT support. They say that hey the other guy didn't charge as much. Perhaps, the other guy was just:

- Unreliable

- Sold pirated software

- Rude

- Incompetent

I know first hand from not only speaking to business owners but also having limited dealings with the former support person and let me tell you, I'm not exaggerating.

So yes, you may pay a little more, but what do you get?

- Reliability

- Integrity

- Courtesy

- Competence

Quality doesn't cost more, it pays in the long run with reduced downtime and more productive personnel. It pays by having robust backup systems in place that protect your business' critical data. Cost in an expense, but Quality is an investment in true value.

Blogging on the go

You should be hearing from me more often, I just discovered a really great new web 2.0 tool called imified. It allows you to post to your blog, mini-blog, google calendar and more by using your IM client. Check it out at www.imified.com

Where's my RAM? or How I learned to work in 64 Bits Part 3

After much trial and error, I've finally gotten my x64 Windows XP Pro install completely stable (for Windows that is :)

One casualty in the war for system stability was unfortunately my brand new Nvidia graphics card. Shame on you, Nvidia!!! Why can't you write a stable driver that actually allows 3d to work on my x64? Alas, the onboard ATI fared better. I was able to resolved some BSOD issues on shutdown as well as random lockups by downloading the latest (not even beta!) ATI Cataylst drivers.

Unfortunately this sort of thing isn't limited to Windows XP x64. Join me into my jump into Windows Vista 64 bit.

Where's my RAM? or How I learned to work in 64 Bits Part 2

I haven't had much working from home time the past few days, and with the fall season of TV shows like Heroes, Chuck, and House 'playing' around time has been greatly reduced. I'm sad to report that I'm having driver stability issues. I was using the latest beta Nvidia drivers for x64 and now I'm having screen blanking and non responsiveness. At least they actually provide 3d graphics! But at the expense of system stability? No thanks.

So, I'm going to give up the option of running games on my x64 machine(for now anyway) and focus on Virtualization software and my productivity apps. So it's Microsoft Virtual PC, VMWare Server and the standard stuff, Office 2007, web and graphics apps.

To Be continued...