3G iPhone will be $200 Cheaper!
Alexander Muse , April 29, 2008
Comments (0)According to Scott Moritz, when the 3G iPhone is launched this summer AT&T will subsidize $200 of the cost of the new iPhone.
XP SP3 Delayed
Alexander Muse , April 29, 2008
According to ZDNet, Windows XP SP3 isn’t compatible with Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS). Here is the latest from the company:
“I wanted to update you on today’s planned release to web (RTW) (of XP SP3). In the last few days, we have uncovered a compatibility issue between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) and Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1).
“In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center.
“To help protect our customers, we plan to put filtering in place shortly to prevent Windows Update from offering both service packs to systems running Microsoft Dynamics RMS. Once filtering is in place, we expect to release Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Download Center.
“Until we have published a fix for this issue, we advise Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers to not install either service pack. Microsoft Dynamics RMS customers running Windows XP SP3 or Windows Vista SP1 should contact Microsoft Customer Support Services for additional information.
“The fix is currently in testing and will be available as soon as that process is complete.”
You can help save Windows XP
Alexander Muse , April 29, 2008
InfoWorld has an online petition to help save XP. I would recommend everyone take a minute to fill it out here. Other posts on the topic including:
Resumes versus LinkedIn
Alexander Muse , April 29, 2008
Looking for a job at Architel or Big in Japan? Don’t bother sending your resume, instead send a link to your LinkedIn profile. Why? LinkedIn offers CONTEXT. Resumes provide no context. The problem with resumes is that they are often tailored for me and not the applicant. I don’t want you to tell me why you are perfect for my company on your resume, instead I want your LinkedIn profile to tell me about you saving the rest for our interview.
LinkedIn profiles are a VERY public way to display your background and experience. On the positive side, once you present your experience publicly on LinkedIn your managers and peers will have the opportunity to ‘vouch’ for you by offering a recommendation of your work. It is very powerful to review a LinkedIn profile and find someone with the perfect experience and then read one or two recommendations related to that experience. LinkedIn serves as a neutral third party offering a very simple and inexpensive way of offering context and authority to your background and experience. By putting your resume on LinkedIn you are making a public claim to your experience, if for example you exaggerate your role at a company it is very likely your false claim will become public. The final bit of context provided by LinkedIn is an understanding of who you know that I know. With LinkedIn I am immediately able to see who we know in common and I am able to reach out to our mutual contact and ask him about you. Your resume can’t do this.
Besides ‘context’ LinkedIn creates a standard resume format so I can ALWAYS find the information I am looking for. I am so tired of people sending me resumes in Word format. It wasn’t so bad when everyone agreed on one file format, i.e. .doc, but now people with Vista machines save their resumes in .docx, a format I can’t read on my lovely Mac. LinkedIn offers me a standard layout: summary of current positions, past positions, education and number of recommendations as well as links to blogs and web pages. If I am interested I can scroll down and get detailed information about each position and read through various recommendations. All in one nice, neat package. Cool! Looking for a job at Architel or Big in Japan? Email a link to your LinkedIn profile to careers@architel.com.
Escalation of Client Mistakes!
Alexander Muse , April 28, 2008
Much of our internal conversations at Architel deal with mistakes or failures escalated BY our clients. Today I wanted to talk about how WE as individuals need to escalate issues when we see our clients making mistakes. For example, we have one client who insisted on purchasing technology that we specifically recommended they avoid. Specifically, the client purchased a spam and firewall solution that we knew to be difficult to support, ironically there was no economic advantage to the purchase (i.e. the recommended solution was approximately the same cost).
Since purchasing the systems, against our recommendations, the client has had non-stop problems receiving email through their spam system and allowing connections through their firewall. Each time the client has a problem we have the same conversation within Architel, “We told them not to buy that pile of crap.” You can only say this to your clients once or twice. To be frank, I am tired of our complaining. When we take on the risk of support our client’s networks, it is our responsibility to ensure they don’t make mistakes. We, as individuals, need to escalate these ‘mistakes’ before they become Architel’s problem.
If you (i.e. Architel employees) see our clients making a critical mistake, i.e. not following our advice, you need to escalate the matter internally. Go through the process. Bring the matter to a head with management. Have a conversation with Scott about your concern. I suspect that if Scott had simply talked to the owner of the company and explained our concern the client wouldn’t have purchased the equipment saving us countless hours of complaining and associated work. If the client doesn’t agree we have two choices as a company a) let the client go or b) raise the client’s price ~ it is that simple. Our clients hire us to help them manage their IT infrastructure, that is our job, pure and simple. We can’t blame them when we let THEM manage their IT infrastructure for us…
Put the N in Networking!
Jennifer Donica , April 28, 2008
Are you getting anything out of your networking? If not, you may want to redirect your networking efforts. Going to an event for the free cocktails or for the random single and mingle is not networking effectively…sorry folks.
Networking, by definition is the practice of gathering of contacts: the process or practice of building up or maintaining informal relationships, especially with people whose friendship could bring advantages such as job or business opportunities. When attending a networking event, be prepared, be distinctive, and be attentive. It is imperative that you’re paying attention, remembering names, faces, who and what.
Contribute to conversations; have interesting things to say. Be the expert that everyone is looking for. Please note; this does not mean be the arrogant, know-it-all who speaks louder and over everyone else. Be professional; be friendly! Oh, and most of all, be approachable! Remember and be remembered!
Avoiding the Spyware slowdown!
Shannon Barrett , April 28, 2008
At least once a week we get a ticket from a user reporting problems with their workstation running very slow. In many of these cases their workstation has been infected by one or many spyware or adware applications.
Rest assured all of our Architel technicians are equipped to help with this but it can take over an hour just to scan a single machine! Talk about disruptive! Unless you’ve got a backup machine ready at a moment’s notice you may be down for half a day or more if you get infected with spyware or adware!
Symantec has outlined some helpful guidelines on how to avoid spyware and adware:
- Read licensing agreements. Don’t just scroll to the bottom and click the “I accept” button when installing freeware. Instead, read each agreement carefully and look for language pertaining to information-gathering activity.
- Watch out for antispyware scams. The Web is rife with “antispyware” tools that do little or nothing to prevent spyware. Some even make it worse. Purveyors of these tools often provide free scans, which almost invariably identify hundreds of spyware programs on your computer. They then immediately ask you to buy their bogus product.
- Beware of programs—especially freeware—that flash clickable ads in the user interface. Their presence is a red flag, and it’s possible someone is watching how you respond to them.
- Disable ActiveX unless you really need it. ActiveX is a common tool for installing spyware without your knowledge or consent, and you can always turn it back on should a trusted site require it.
- Be selective about what you download. If you don’t have a reason to trust the company providing a piece of software, hold them to increased scrutiny. Visit their Web site to learn more about the people behind the technology, as well as the technology itself.
from www.symantec.com
Having internet access at work is a double-edge sword. If you use it wisely it can help you accomplish your tasks in less time, but if you’re not careful it may create more problems for you. If you have questions about any of the tips above let us know – in the meantime surf smart!
Should you argue or agree?
Alexander Muse , April 28, 2008
Seth Godin has a post today titled, “You’re right!” where he talks about how to deal with negative feedback. He explains a recent experience he had at a parking garage:
Two weeks ago, I left my car at (an expensive) parking garage in midtown New York. When I got back four hours later, I discovered that they had left the engine running the entire time. That, combined with the $30 fee and the nasty attitude of the attendant led me to write a letter to the management company. The response: it was my fault. When I dropped off the car, I should have taught the attendant how to turn off my Prius.
Seth’s point is, “why bother writing back” to argue? He argues the ONLY productive response to a critical letter is ‘You’re right…’ I happen to agree. Set suggests there is ALWAYS common ground to agree with your client. His examples,
- You’re right, I can see that you are annoyed.
- You’re right, that is frustrating.
- You’re right, with the expectations you had, it’s totally understandable to feel the way you do.
- You’re right, and we’re really sorry that you feel that way.
Seth explains how this isn’t pandering because it is TRUE! Specifically, “The writer is right. They are frustrated. His opinion is his opinion and if you don’t value it you’re shutting down something useful.” Seth concludes that if you take the time to argue with your customers you do two things:
keeps them from ever writing again and it costs you (at least) one customer. Perhaps that’s your goal. Just take a moment before you launch an unhappy former customer into the world.
Remote Server Admin for Vista
Alexander Muse , April 28, 2008
Remote server administrator tools for Vista SP1 have been released in ALL server languages:
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3G iPhone News!
Alexander Muse , April 28, 2008
Engadget is reporting that Apple’s 3G iPhone could be released as soon as July. Ryan Block reported:
- The first thing people will notice: the 2nd gen iPhone will be about the same size and shape as the first gen.
- It will, of course, have 3G. And proper GPS!
- The most noticeable physical difference is back of the phone is no longer metal — the whole thing is glossy black, from top to bottom. The volume buttons are now chrome.
- Because it’s got a little less metal to deal with, it doesn’t have quite as many angular edges. The battery is (still) not removable.
- The phone itself will be slightly thicker than the first gen device.
- The headphone jack will no longer be recessed, and will finally be flush with the body.
- The device itself uses roughly the same size and resolution screen as the first generation product.
- No solid word on battery life or storage capacity.
