Usually IT waits until a new product gets its first service pack before adopting.
In the case of Vista, many are waiting for SP2, SP3 or maybe Windows 7. We'll
soon know, though, if SP2 is compelling or repelling as
preview
code is being sent out to a select group of users.
There are a bunch of new features in the pack, such as better Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
and search. But the key, or course, is in the fundamentals -- compatibility,
performance and reliability. I'm still on XP, but if Redmond Report readers
like what they see in Vista SP2, I'll go for it.
How is Vista SP1 and what do expect in SP2? Cheers and jeers both readily listened
to at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/30/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Windows Azure made big waves when Microsoft
officially
unveiled it in PDC this week. But a few of you have some misgivings about
the OS in the cloud:
I'd like a few more details, such as what you have to agree to in order
to use this. Since Microsoft owns the computers and the equipment in which
the data and created applications will reside, who controls this now and in
the future? How would you go about getting your "property" should
something change in the future? How much will this cost now and in the future?
What is to prevent the Big M from taking what you create as its own?
Security worries me any time you do not control the equipment in which
the applications and data resides. The idea of being able to access this from
any location sounds great -- but so could someone else. Hackers would have
a field day with this. I could be totally wrong about Azure, but I won't be
taking that chance. There is too much to lose, in my opinion.
-Les
I agree with your statement: "I like to have ownership
of the files I create, and don't want somebody controlling my access. And
I would never want them taken away."
Also, you city dwellers don't realize this, but there are still vast
areas of this country with NO Internet access (unless you count dial-up, which,
with today's large data transfer requirements, is quite useless). A major
problem with cloud computing is that you must have Internet to use it. Even
in the city, I've found Comcast to be somewhat unreliable. No Internet, no
application. Very frustrating.
-Mike
Check in with us next week for more reader letters! In the meantime, share
your own thoughts by leaving a comment below or sending an e-mail to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/30/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Google is now officially in the operating system game with Android, the open
source OS currently used in its new phone. And being in the OS market means
one thing: security problems.
Researchers now say that Android
has a security flaw, but won't say what it is 'til it's fixed. If only security
researchers were as kind to Microsoft!
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/30/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Earlier this week, we told you about an
out-of-cycle
patch for Remote Procedure Call flaws in Windows Server 2000, 2003 and XP.
If that didn't make you nervous enough to start patching, maybe this
will: Microsoft is now warning that the code to exploit these flaws is written
and as available to hackers as Jolt, pimple cream and Craigslist personals where
hackers find most of their dates. The time to plug this hole is now.
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/30/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
While Microsoft is
promoting
Azure, its new cloud development platform, rival Yahoo put some more meat
on its development platform bones: the
Yahoo
Open Strategy. This platform is responsible for creating the most self-indulgent
acronym ever (Y!OS). Does Yahoo really expect the press to use this monstrosity?
The Yahoo plan is to have developers exploit already-existent Yahoo services
and offer these apps to what is still a substantial user base. Developers can
tap into Yahoo's query language, application services and social features.
Can developers turn Yahoo once again into a contender? What apps would you like
to see? Thoughts welcome at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/29/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
At this week's PDC, Microsoft
showed
off Windows 7 and handed out pre-release code to thousands of curious developers.
We'll learn a lot more as testers put the code through its paces. For now,
we know a few things -- namely, that Microsoft has improved the taskbar and
enhanced its touchscreen abilities. Microsoft is also trying to make it easier
to network machines in the home.
So far, I haven't seen any show-stopping new features. Then again, that's the
last thing it needs; what Window 7 really needs is stability and compatibility.
And a dash of performance wouldn't hurt, either!
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/29/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Bill Gates has never been one to sit still. In fact, if you've ever met him
or seen him, you know he literally can't sit still, but instead rocks forward
and backward as he talks.
Those who thought the energetic Gates would retire from his day-to-day Microsoft
duties to play Canasta were sadly misinformed. Besides heading The Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and remaining chairman of Microsoft, Bill has a brand
new gig: bgC3.
This new concern is a think-tank with goals similar to his foundation: To look
at the big issues that affect our world -- and perhaps help. This is still very
much in stealth mode, as you'll see when you click on
www.bgc3.com.
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/28/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Last week, Doug shared some of his
confusion
over Windows 7. Here are some of your thoughts about the direction Microsoft
should go with its next OS:
Microsoft is running out of time to GET IT RIGHT. If Win 7 doesn't hit
the mark directly on the head, then no one will really care after that. I
feel the new OS should be based on the Singularity core, be x64-based and
use VM technology for any compatibility issue with older programs. Microsoft
should not spend one more second working on x32 except for security patches.
All of its OS development efforts should be focused on getting a core with
legs, without messing it up with all sorts of features. Something like Win
2008 Server Core.
-Rob
Here's my list of advice for Win 7: Make it capable of virtualization
as Server 2008 Hyper-V and App-V. Make it as light as possible (Google did
that with Chrome and it works). Remove IE from Windows. Eliminate drivers
and services from its core and keep them on the installation DVD for further
installation when needed. Make it more video-efficient without the crashes
caused on Vista. Make it 64-bit with 32-bit capability for legacy apps. Eliminate
Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center; videos, pictures, music and
folders should open and organized without any delay. Increase touch-screen
use and features.
-George
You are on the wrong side of this one. The reason many of us dislike existing
desktop OSes and are moving away from the them is even more compelling with
super fat clients. They need even greater capacity and more expensive end
user machines; they have huge patch management issues, as well as end user
usability complexity and manageability issues; they're an IT support nightmare
and need massive training schedules for IT staff; they're overkill (90 percent
or more of users only use an Office suite, including e-mail and a browser);
they add unnecessary complexity which adds risk to systems; they come at a
higher cost in all IT departments that consumes funds at more stategic areas.
Long live the thin client and cloud computing. Down with fat clients
and non-virtualized servers.
-Ray
A few more of you chime in on Microsoft's new patent on a tool to clean
up online gaming language:
If the game owner has the choice to censor or not, then this is a great
benefit. It allows parental control of online gaming. Which is as it should
be done.
-Ken
We're already blurring the lines between reality and the virtual world
and this just contributes to it. People are beginning to think like computers.
-Bruce
And one reader's epic
rant about the evils of software authentication left Dave wondering:
I just read Dr. John's hyperbolic rant against software activation and
registration. I've never had a problem with MS activation that took over five
minutes to solve, but I agree that registration is quite annoying.
However, I wonder if I'm misinterpreting his point. It seems like he's
saying that the pains of activation and registration are driving him to Linux,
where there are no comparable apps, and therefore no activation or registration
hassles. If that's the case, why not just give up the computer altogether?
-Dave
Got something to say? Say it here! Leave a comment below or send an e-mail
to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/28/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Yesterday, at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference, Ray Ozzie
announced
Azure, a new system to create internal and external clouds and link them
together.
Details were a bit sketchy, but here's how I understand it: Azure is an operating
system of sorts because it manages and runs applications, which in this case
exist in some sort of cloud. The platform, at this point, is aimed at developers
who can use .NET and Visual Studio to build these apps.
VMware, with its Virtual Datacenter Operating System, announced something
conceptually similar a month or two back. Here, IT uses virtualization to
turn existing apps into cloud services which can run in your own datacenter
or out in an external cloud -- or a mix of the two.
One key difference is that Microsoft already has massive datacenters and plans
to build more. This way, Microsoft can house your apps and store your files
so they're available no matter where you are or what device you're using.
I like the idea of having my data safe and always available. The only downside
as an end user is: Who controls the files? I like to have ownership of the files
I create, and don't want somebody controlling my access. And I would never want
them taken away.
What do you make of all this, and are you going to give the preview of Azure
a try? Let me know at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/28/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Our economy is clearly messed up -- and the overseas market is crashing again
as I type. The weird thing is that stocks are tanking more based on what's going
to happen than what
is happening. The real impact of frozen credit will
be felt when giant retailers go under and millions lose jobs.
That's why it's not surprising that in this latest quarter, Microsoft had its
normal stunning
results. Revenue came in just north of $15 billion and profits nearly hit
$6 billion, margins any self-respecting capitalist would be proud of. And for
the current quarter Microsoft expects things to get even better -- maybe hitting
close to $18 billion. That's a lot of Christmas Xboxes.
Windows wasn't the dollar driver. Instead, Office and SQL Server did a lot
of the heavy financial lifting.
Still, Microsoft is bracing for a tougher future and will take a hard look
at expenses. They can start by yanking those "I'm a PC" commercials!
What are you doing to prepare for what could be a brutal economy? Advice welcome
at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/27/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Late last week, Microsoft put out an
out-of-cycle
patch that fixes Remote Procedure Call (RPC) problems in some older software
including Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and XP (XP may be old, but it clearly
ain't going anywhere soon).
Hackers can exploit these RPC holes to run code remotely and, unfortunately,
is the perfect platform for a worm. It just might be time to fire up Shavlik,
WSUS or your patch system of choice.
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/27/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments
Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference started today, and lots of goodies
are to be unveiled. Topping the list is pre-release Windows 7 code given to
all attendees. Microsoft is calling this code "pre-beta" (isn't that
what the word "alpha" refers to?).
Microsoft promises improvements to the Windows kernel, but I'm still waiting
to find out if there is, in fact, a new kernel altogether. I'll report back
on what I learn.
At the show, developers can bring their own code and see if it'll work with
Windows 7. I hope all the hardware guys bring plenty of drivers to try!
Microsoft will also promote multi-core (dual to eight cores) and many-core
(lots and lots of cores) programming. This way, apps can fully exploit the amazing
gains made by processors. The trick is that it takes a new approach to programming
and an awful lot of effort. Basically, you have to rewrite your apps from scratch
to use all of these cores. Here's
what I learned about multi-core after a month of two of research.
Posted by Doug Barney on 10/27/2008 at 1:16 PM0 comments