Reminds me of Putts Law :
"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand."
Best Regards,
I agree with the sentiment that some people see "geeks" as glorified button pushers. I was once in a meeting with some sales type of guys and they were talking about a product that was not quite right for the customer. One sales guys said "we can just get some C coding monkey to fix that". I nearly fell of my chair.....some people have no respect. And this in front of the customer !. Hopefully the C coding monkey couldnt fix the product and the sales guy lost his commission........
heh heh..... I think you've summed up most large companies..... I like the bit about managers banquets - I always refuse to eat managers leftovers... my co-workers dont seem to understnad why as they stuff themselves with old camembert thats been sitting out for a few hours.......
Ah, the old "windows maintenance reboot" problem. It always amazes me how IT managers (hell even some techos) accept the need to re-boot their windows systems every week. At my work, the windows guys accept it as normal maintenance. If I had to reboot my AIX and z/OS systems every week there would be hell to pay. But because its windows , its accepted. I dunno, mediocraty is the new standard these days...........
Heh - on my salary I cant afford a gadget like that....!
Still, I find myself going to the states again a 6 weeks or so and I need to get my daughters passport updated because she is now 3. Doesnt look like her photo any more of course. My daughter didnt want to get her photo done again (arguing with a 3 year old is like dealing with governemnt departments.... futile !) . Bribed her with a chocolate frog and got the photo for the updated passport.
Now to look forward to that 35 hour flight(s) to NY from Australia......
I travelled to the states a couple of years ago when my daughter was just 4 weeks old. I needed a passport for her then. The stupid rules re:photos for apply to babies and adults alike. Especially the rule regarding that the eyes must be open. Do you know how hard it is to get a 4 week old baby to open her eyes for a photo ? Sheesh - sometimes I am just aghast at the stupidty and lack of common sense that can go on in some government departments. And to try and talk to the officials - the looks they give you just communicate that it is futile to argue. We eventually got a shot of my daughter with her eyes open.........
IBM is just following standard change management/control procedures. Of course, they want to ensure that their own internal application still work after the apply of SP2. Whats wrong with that ? I hope most organisations will test SP2 out in test environments before rolling out to production PC's. This is just common sense. I pity some people who cant understand normal change control procedures. This is a mind set that unfortunately appears to be being lost - these are lessons learned nearly 30 years ago on mainframes. The same principles still apply today whether it be mainframe, nid-range or PC's.
This has nothing to do with IBM's clients - this is for their own internal systems.
Some people are implying that this is a plot to undermine Microsoft and promote Linux - IBM is a conundrum of ideas and directions - there are people pushing Windows and some people pushing Linux. I am not biased towards one or the other - just use the right OS for the right job. And further to what some people have expressed in this story that this is somehow a plot by IBM to undermine Microsoft - whoo ! what vivid imaginations some people have !
This is true enough for me. I install systems for a large computer company generally in the AIX area. However, the last year my installs have been mainly Linux based (clusters) - perhaps 80% of systems..... So Linux is keeping my kids clothed and fed. Go Penguin.....
Cripes I think sopme of you guys have missed the point of the argument. I think the author is trying to show how "tough" it can be to get certain things running. It can be a bear - how many weekends have been lost because you were trying to get some POS hardware going ? Granted this can happen in windows, but usually due to good vendor support it isnt as "hard" to get stuff going. I install linux clusters for a living and I can tell you I have had my share of carp from variuos drivers that wont work with a particular version of linux of whatever. Usually get things going in the end though !:-)
I work for a large computer company that encourages you to work from home if possible. They introduced a "team space" system of allocating desks, so I dont have a regular spot to sit. Often, if I go in (usually to put in expenses) there isnt any where to sit becuase there are far more employees than desks. I love this system - they actually have the "team space gestapo" who go around and make sure desk are clean and not personalised in any way. I guess some people have too much time on their hands..
I make plenty of customer calls during the week to do systems implementations so I avoid cabin fever that way, and it also lets me work on those social skills that can slacken off a little if you spend too much time by yourself. If I am at home for an extended period I will always make a point of going out at lunchtime, or play a game with my kids. (who used to camp outside my door when I first started doing this, but now they are used to it). I also tend to "time shift" - If I cant work durng the day (or choose not too) I will often work in the evening. Right now I am sitting outside on my patio enjoying a balmy thursday evening (yes - it summer here..! ). Not that I classify posting to/. work.......
Regards - PeeZed.
I have to agree with this. I have been in Computer Industry fro over 20 years - now I aint a programmer, but a systems installation guy for a large computer company. When I first started you could get a leg in into the industry by doing some menial tasks like bursting or decollating, but not any more. I dont have a degree or Phd - I started out straight out of High School. I think today, a degree will get you in the door to do bursting or decollating......... Still I see young guys and gals straight out of uni and they know bugger all about installation of systems or IT. Employers like 'em because they havent developed a healthy cynicism and will work 'em over weekends and long days (wot overtime !) until they drop. Maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age but I am thinking of ditching IT as well and selling bananas or something. It certainly isnt a glamour industry (not anymore!). We are the new factory workers of the 21st Century... I see a lot of companies in my travels who want to do more with less and who have caviar tastes but fish and chip budgets (what do you mean I cant have PPRC and Hot standy for 100 bucks!!). They are also reducing headcount to a ridiculous, dangerous levels - and dont maintain their staff skill levels. I hear the argument " If I train them they will leave" I say "what happens if you dont train them and they stay !". Anyways - I dont think you are a heretic - I healthy dose of reality from the shop floor.
Stepping off soap box now....
Slashdot Mirror
Reminds me of Putts Law : "Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand." Best Regards,
I agree with the sentiment that some people see "geeks" as glorified button pushers. I was once in a meeting with some sales type of guys and they were talking about a product that was not quite right for the customer. One sales guys said "we can just get some C coding monkey to fix that". I nearly fell of my chair.....some people have no respect. And this in front of the customer !. Hopefully the C coding monkey couldnt fix the product and the sales guy lost his commission........
I think they meant OpenPower............
heh heh..... I think you've summed up most large companies..... I like the bit about managers banquets - I always refuse to eat managers leftovers... my co-workers dont seem to understnad why as they stuff themselves with old camembert thats been sitting out for a few hours.......
Ah, the old "windows maintenance reboot" problem. It always amazes me how IT managers (hell even some techos) accept the need to re-boot their windows systems every week. At my work, the windows guys accept it as normal maintenance. If I had to reboot my AIX and z/OS systems every week there would be hell to pay. But because its windows , its accepted. I dunno, mediocraty is the new standard these days...........
Heh - on my salary I cant afford a gadget like that ....!
Still, I find myself going to the states again a 6 weeks or so and I need to get my daughters passport updated because she is now 3. Doesnt look like her photo any more of course. My daughter didnt want to get her photo done again (arguing with a 3 year old is like dealing with governemnt departments.... futile !) . Bribed her with a chocolate frog and got the photo for the updated passport.
Now to look forward to that 35 hour flight(s) to NY from Australia......
I travelled to the states a couple of years ago when my daughter was just 4 weeks old. I needed a passport for her then. The stupid rules re:photos for apply to babies and adults alike. Especially the rule regarding that the eyes must be open. Do you know how hard it is to get a 4 week old baby to open her eyes for a photo ? Sheesh - sometimes I am just aghast at the stupidty and lack of common sense that can go on in some government departments. And to try and talk to the officials - the looks they give you just communicate that it is futile to argue. We eventually got a shot of my daughter with her eyes open.........
IBM is just following standard change management/control procedures. Of course, they want to ensure that their own internal application still work after the apply of SP2. Whats wrong with that ? I hope most organisations will test SP2 out in test environments before rolling out to production PC's. This is just common sense. I pity some people who cant understand normal change control procedures. This is a mind set that unfortunately appears to be being lost - these are lessons learned nearly 30 years ago on mainframes. The same principles still apply today whether it be mainframe, nid-range or PC's. This has nothing to do with IBM's clients - this is for their own internal systems. Some people are implying that this is a plot to undermine Microsoft and promote Linux - IBM is a conundrum of ideas and directions - there are people pushing Windows and some people pushing Linux. I am not biased towards one or the other - just use the right OS for the right job. And further to what some people have expressed in this story that this is somehow a plot by IBM to undermine Microsoft - whoo ! what vivid imaginations some people have !
This is true enough for me. I install systems for a large computer company generally in the AIX area. However, the last year my installs have been mainly Linux based (clusters) - perhaps 80% of systems..... So Linux is keeping my kids clothed and fed. Go Penguin.....
United Linux ? She's dead mate....
Cripes I think sopme of you guys have missed the point of the argument. I think the author is trying to show how "tough" it can be to get certain things running. It can be a bear - how many weekends have been lost because you were trying to get some POS hardware going ? Granted this can happen in windows, but usually due to good vendor support it isnt as "hard" to get stuff going. I install linux clusters for a living and I can tell you I have had my share of carp from variuos drivers that wont work with a particular version of linux of whatever. Usually get things going in the end though ! :-)
no - they are moving the front end systems to Linux - the backend is still AIX on p690's....
I work for a large computer company that encourages you to work from home if possible. They introduced a "team space" system of allocating desks, so I dont have a regular spot to sit. Often, if I go in (usually to put in expenses) there isnt any where to sit becuase there are far more employees than desks. I love this system - they actually have the "team space gestapo" who go around and make sure desk are clean and not personalised in any way. I guess some people have too much time on their hands.. I make plenty of customer calls during the week to do systems implementations so I avoid cabin fever that way, and it also lets me work on those social skills that can slacken off a little if you spend too much time by yourself. If I am at home for an extended period I will always make a point of going out at lunchtime, or play a game with my kids. (who used to camp outside my door when I first started doing this, but now they are used to it). I also tend to "time shift" - If I cant work durng the day (or choose not too) I will often work in the evening. Right now I am sitting outside on my patio enjoying a balmy thursday evening (yes - it summer here ..! ). Not that I classify posting to /. work.......
Regards - PeeZed.
I have to agree with this. I have been in Computer Industry fro over 20 years - now I aint a programmer, but a systems installation guy for a large computer company. When I first started you could get a leg in into the industry by doing some menial tasks like bursting or decollating, but not any more. I dont have a degree or Phd - I started out straight out of High School. I think today, a degree will get you in the door to do bursting or decollating......... Still I see young guys and gals straight out of uni and they know bugger all about installation of systems or IT. Employers like 'em because they havent developed a healthy cynicism and will work 'em over weekends and long days (wot overtime !) until they drop. Maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age but I am thinking of ditching IT as well and selling bananas or something. It certainly isnt a glamour industry (not anymore!). We are the new factory workers of the 21st Century... I see a lot of companies in my travels who want to do more with less and who have caviar tastes but fish and chip budgets (what do you mean I cant have PPRC and Hot standy for 100 bucks!!). They are also reducing headcount to a ridiculous, dangerous levels - and dont maintain their staff skill levels. I hear the argument " If I train them they will leave" I say "what happens if you dont train them and they stay !". Anyways - I dont think you are a heretic - I healthy dose of reality from the shop floor. Stepping off soap box now....