Letters to Redmond

[email protected]: September 2006

Visual Studio 2005, Microsoft and self-criticism, basic security measures and mobile productivity.

• By Readers of Redmond magazine
• 09/01/2006

1. Writing CLR code for SQL Server is really a feature of SQL Server 2005, not VS 2005. Having VS 2005 does make this a lot easier, though.
2. The dearth of documentation about the large number of classes is really a commentary on .NET Framework 2.0, rather than VS 2005 per se.
3. VSTS is clearly a completely separate product offering from Microsoft that obviously helps you leverage an investment in VS 2005, but it's really a separate technology from VS 2005 itself.
4. The remainder of the comments are more narrowly targeted to VS 2005. While I agree with most of them (like the fact that debugging is much improved), I do have to suggest that at least some of the negative performance comments targeted at VS 2005 are really the result of configuration choices that are easy to change. For example, you can easily address the speed at which the integrated help loads by simply changing the "use online help first" to "use installed help content first."

I do agree with the premise that VS 2005 contains a huge volume of capabilities that many developers will only be able to really scratch the surface of before the next release of the product. After all, that's what happens when you develop a product designed to be everything to everyone (at least in the Microsoft-specific universe). There are some people who will use some of the capabilities while others will choose to use different capabilities.

Just my two cents.
Steve Bohlen
New York City, N.Y.

Lacking Self-Critique
Mary Jo Foley is overly generous [see the July 2006 Foley on Microsoft, "How to Fix Microsoft in Five (Not So) Easy Steps"]. Microsoft has no ability to self-critique and act on lessons learned about its own character. It has proven that time and time again. Like Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Ken Lay, they are the first victims of their own sickness and will be their last.
Roberto Sumatra-Bosch
Jakarta, Indonesia

A Basic Approach
The amazing simplicities that Ira Winkler continues to point out [see "Reach Out & Hack Someone," June 2006] are amazing. People in the IT field continue to overlook basics we feel people should already know. I feel that Ira's basic approach to physical security has to be the greatest in the world. I've read his book, "Spies Among Us," and it was truly amazing how much I learned that I should've already known, implemented or, at the very least, given serious consideration. Ira is not only a prolific writer but also an amazing presenter. He grabs your attention. Never pass up the opportunity to read one of his articles, books or see him speak. You are guaranteed to learn something every time!
Douglas DeCamp
Toledo, Ohio

On the Go ...
I've been reading your magazine for more than seven years, including when it was MCP Magazine, but never did I enjoy an issue so much as Redmond May 2006.

Editor at Large Michael Desmond's "Productivity on the Go" article was so enjoyable and so useful. Thanks so much.
Jay Kulsh
Simi Valley, Calif.