The end of the century brings with it a fresh new start for some of our regular contributors.

Fin-de-siècle

The end of the century brings with it a fresh new start for some of our regular contributors.

• By Linda Briggs
• 01/01/2000

A new year is always a good time to shake life a bit, and this one perhaps even more so than most. That’s why you’ll find some new features in MCP Magazine starting this month.

First, Contributing Editor Chris Brooke begins a column on scripting for MCSEs. We’ve run several articles on programming for system admins in 1999, with enthusiastic response from you. In his new column, Chris addresses scripting challenges on a task-by-task basis. Each month he’ll present a common admin chore, then a solution for automating it using a script. And of course, he’ll share the code with you.

Use the time you save with Chris’ coding tips to read “Professionally Speaking.” Starting this month, we introduce a new approach to that column. Contributing Editor Greg Neilson and Contributing Writer Steve Crandall team up to answer your career questions. Greg, an Australian, is an MCSE and MCSD as well as a Master CNE. He’s working on his MBA, among other things, and has been in high tech for 11 years. Steve, also an MCSE, has held both staff and management positions during his career in IT, and has given a popular presentation on moving into management at our MCP TechMentor conferences. Between them, they’ll give you new perspectives on your IT career queries.

Of course, we can’t let Contributing Editor (and previous “Professionally Speaking” columnist) Harry Brelsford off the hook. After all, he’s been with the magazine nearly since its inception. Harry begins a new exclusively online column for us, “Windows 2000 Foundations.”

Harry believes that most coverage of Windows 2000 is written for “advanced audiences, people who are incredibly comfortable with network concepts, terminology, and activities.” Yet he says he consults alongside plenty of technical professionals who want to learn Win2K basics on which to build their advanced skills. His column will give you just that.

Finally, with all MCSEs facing re-certification in the next two years, most of you will be taking new exams soon. Many of you tell us that you like to use exam prep tools to guide your studying and gauge your exam readiness. To help you spend your study dollars wisely, we’ve enlisted James Carrion, an MCSE and MCT. Under James’ curmudgeonly eye, study products and services are reduced to size—something you’ll appreciate when you’re prepping for that first Win2K exam.

These additions come directly from feedback you’ve sent me over the year. Continue to let me know what else we can do to enhance your career, further your certification quests, and help you keep those servers running around the clock. I’m at [email protected].