Why not establish salary caps for everyone? This would be the easiest way to redistribute wealth with the fewest ground rules.
- if you work for a corporation, you should not be able to make over 200x more than the lowest-paid person employed by the corporation (salaried or hourly, do the math). If you do, all compensation above and beyond goes to the IRS. Want a raise? Work out a raise for the lowest-paid employees.
- you should not be able to make more than $5 million / year, ever. If you do, everything beyond $5 million / year is added to your tax liability and gets sent to the IRS before it even hits your bank account.
I've been running Vista Ultimate for a few months and it runs fine for me. A service pack will do wonders for Vista just like it did for XP (especially SP2)
The perception that Vista stinks stems from two things:
a) Vista likes memory and it won't work well without 2 GB
b) when you install Vista it installs every single feature there is. This obviously eats up CPU and memory. Marketing features and not installing them by default is not the best way to promote them so marketnig is to blame for this one.
Once I disabled full text indexing, snapshot backup and a few services it runs like a champ. The Windows Explorer is slighly annoying because I'm used to the XP one. I'm sure if you added all the features that come with Vista Ultimate to Ubuntu it would make Ubuntu slow down as well.
In addition, I installed Ubuntu on the same laptop as Vista for comparison purposes. While Ubuntu was running OK, I was taken aback by the amount of manual customization it needed to get simple things going (like the special keys on the keyboard and the scroll button on the Trackpoint, hotkey to turn off and turn on the wireless card). I also had some weird lock-ups when running Ubuntu. Obviously, OEM support for Linux is lacking and it shows. Ubuntu did not feel faster than Vista when booting, hibernating or "sleeping". Otherwise, Ubuntu performed well except my favorite applications are not available on it and I don't have a lot of time to invest finding similar apps. Not impressed with Ubuntu, but v7 is light years better than the version I tried a few years ago when it comes to driver support and look/feel.
I can connect to my work phone through a VPN session which was designed to encrypt traffic and prevent the people from snooping on what I'm doing. I have IP Softphone at work and can use it over the VPN. While they can block the run-of-the-mill IP telephony, I'm not sure they could block this. In addition, there are VPN services you can purchase where you the service acts as a portal to the Internet for all of your traffic. This would be another way around blocking the voice traffic.
Unless they completely block all VPN and encrypted traffic.
Scenario 1:
Building A has an access point and an external antenna.
The further you move from building A, the less signal you have. Unless you have an external antenna for your laptop, you may not be able to connect if you go too far away.
Scenario 2:
Building A has an access point and an external antenna.
Building B has a repeater and an external antenna.
You now have Wi-Fi in both buildings and all points in between. The advantage over Scenario 1 is that you have a better signal if you go from building A to building B and then beyond building B. With the Scenario 1, you would not have signal behind building B. You can also install more repaters for better coverage in other buildings.
D-Link seems to have just the thing - the DWL-800AP+. They're Wi-Fi repeaters that talk to your main access point and extend range. They claim these will extend your range up to1,312 feet outdoors and up to 328 indoors.
One big roadblock is creating a complete Linux build and a migration plan away from Windows. How do you keep the migrated people still interacting with the non-migrated people? Once you've migrated one person, you will need to support both platforms as well as support the interaction of the two. What about the custom apps? It is concievable that if you start from scratch you can grow into a Linux environment. If you are migrating to a Linux environment, the development costs alone could be very high unless you are running plain office apps and nothing else.
Examples of possible roadblocks:
- a user has a vendor-provided Excel add-in that scrapes data from an external source and adds it to his spreadsheet. The add-in is not available for the Linux equivalent of Excel.
- a user has a Blackberry that needs to be synchronized with the Linux equivalent of Outlook and have her emails forwarded to the device. On Exchange, the BES server takes care of the email forwarding. On Linux - ?
- there are a dozen Access databases being used for different purposes which will need to be rewritten for the Linux equivalent of Access
- there are 50 templates in Word and Excel, some with ties to websites and databases which will need to be rewritten.
According to the description, he is putting 3000 Linux routers/access points around the city. That's 3000 servers. I can only imagine the administration nightmare that's involved with managing that mess. A less complicated design may be easier to maintain and cheaper.
Sounds like overkill - too expensive and too frail.
Consider using dumb access points with battery backup, the kind that can be replaced easily and without much configuration. Centralize your authentication mechanism on the back end.
I have Snapstream. It works well, seldom crashes or forgets to record. The major benefit is that I can't even tell it's recording, leaving the PC 100% usable (I have a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250).
I bought a new Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250 (the Gateway model) on ebay for $80. Snapstream software costs $54. The program guide updates are free. The PC is on anyway, I reserve a 120 GB disk for the recordings ($60 nowadays).
The setup is rock-solid, and I can burn it all to a DVD if I wish.
A server-class machine is the way to go. If you go with any one of the major players in the market, they usually bundle software agents that will keep tabs on the system health and usually warn you before a failure occurs.
I used to use a tool from Compaq called CIM (Compaq Insight Manager). You would get warned if memory or a HD was on its way to a failure, or if a whole server is down. You could also get the utility to page or email you with trouble. Just this feature was worth its weight in gold.
We have been importing out-of-country IT talent for a while, at least judging by my workplace. The only major difference is that they now get to stay home while holding the same job.
Try the Microsoft web site. They have a free MS Word plug-in that converts text / whatever into MS Reader files. Most books I find around the Internet are a text format, and easily converted into MS Reader.
I read a few dozen books on a first-run HP Jornada 547 and it works great (except the screen is a bit dim outdoors). It has a Compact Flash card slot, and I use the Microsoft Reader that came with the device to read books. One nice feature of the reader is that you can download a dictionary file from Microsoft (for free), and look up words while you're reading.
I downloaded a bunch of books and converted them into the MS Reader format with a little MS Word plug-in that I got for free from Microsoft.
You will get similar results from any Pocket PC device.
I work at a major investment bank and I've had a chance to see how procurement on a large scale works. I've seen them get servers / disk / etc at 50% to 65% discount in volume. It seems that when you buy a 1000s of anything directly from the manufacturer, they will bend into pretzel shapes to sell it to you at a huge discount.
I remember swapping quite a few Compaq RAID controllers in my day. They wouldn't outright fail, but get in a "compromised" mode, and you usually had enough time to schedule downtime to swap them out. This was much better than messing with software mirror or raid settings, because it's transparent to the OS - the OS just sees a single large disk.
Slashdot Mirror
Task switch: Alt+Esc
Reset: Alt+Cap+Del
Reorder or hide icons: Alt + Click(wheel / trackball)
Device info / Help screen: Alt+Cap+h
Event log: Alt+"LGLG" on home screen
Alt+"NMLL" toggles network signal level display between graphical and numeric
In the message list "t" goes to the top, "b" goes to the bottom, "v" goes to saved messages and "r" toggles through all unread messages.
- if you work for a corporation, you should not be able to make over 200x more than the lowest-paid person employed by the corporation (salaried or hourly, do the math). If you do, all compensation above and beyond goes to the IRS. Want a raise? Work out a raise for the lowest-paid employees.
- you should not be able to make more than $5 million / year, ever. If you do, everything beyond $5 million / year is added to your tax liability and gets sent to the IRS before it even hits your bank account.
Just to keep it fair.
Reminds me of the new style Bloomberg keyboard which is also huge and awkward to use.
The perception that Vista stinks stems from two things:
a) Vista likes memory and it won't work well without 2 GB
b) when you install Vista it installs every single feature there is. This obviously eats up CPU and memory. Marketing features and not installing them by default is not the best way to promote them so marketnig is to blame for this one.
Once I disabled full text indexing, snapshot backup and a few services it runs like a champ. The Windows Explorer is slighly annoying because I'm used to the XP one. I'm sure if you added all the features that come with Vista Ultimate to Ubuntu it would make Ubuntu slow down as well.
In addition, I installed Ubuntu on the same laptop as Vista for comparison purposes. While Ubuntu was running OK, I was taken aback by the amount of manual customization it needed to get simple things going (like the special keys on the keyboard and the scroll button on the Trackpoint, hotkey to turn off and turn on the wireless card). I also had some weird lock-ups when running Ubuntu. Obviously, OEM support for Linux is lacking and it shows. Ubuntu did not feel faster than Vista when booting, hibernating or "sleeping". Otherwise, Ubuntu performed well except my favorite applications are not available on it and I don't have a lot of time to invest finding similar apps. Not impressed with Ubuntu, but v7 is light years better than the version I tried a few years ago when it comes to driver support and look/feel.
Unless they completely block all VPN and encrypted traffic.
...it's called prison lube.
...are you calling from a fish market?
- You can right-click on any program and select "Run As", type the admin credentials.
- For systems functions, "Run As" IE (as an admin) and change to the Control Panel in the address bar.
- From the command prompt, you can use the "runas" command.
The further you move from building A, the less signal you have. Unless you have an external antenna for your laptop, you may not be able to connect if you go too far away.
Scenario 2:
Building A has an access point and an external antenna.
Building B has a repeater and an external antenna.
You now have Wi-Fi in both buildings and all points in between. The advantage over Scenario 1 is that you have a better signal if you go from building A to building B and then beyond building B. With the Scenario 1, you would not have signal behind building B. You can also install more repaters for better coverage in other buildings.
http://www.dlink.com/products/resource.asp?pid=18& rid=76&sec=0
Examples of possible roadblocks:
- a user has a vendor-provided Excel add-in that scrapes data from an external source and adds it to his spreadsheet. The add-in is not available for the Linux equivalent of Excel.
- a user has a Blackberry that needs to be synchronized with the Linux equivalent of Outlook and have her emails forwarded to the device. On Exchange, the BES server takes care of the email forwarding. On Linux - ?
- there are a dozen Access databases being used for different purposes which will need to be rewritten for the Linux equivalent of Access
- there are 50 templates in Word and Excel, some with ties to websites and databases which will need to be rewritten.
According to the description, he is putting 3000 Linux routers/access points around the city. That's 3000 servers. I can only imagine the administration nightmare that's involved with managing that mess. A less complicated design may be easier to maintain and cheaper.
Consider using dumb access points with battery backup, the kind that can be replaced easily and without much configuration. Centralize your authentication mechanism on the back end.
This device comes with a printer and all you have to do is push a button to print authentication info for the users.
http://www.zyxel.com/product/model.php?indexcate=1 103876296&indexcate1=1085450343&indexFlagvalue=102 1876859
A girlfriend who's a stockbroker?
I have Snapstream. It works well, seldom crashes or forgets to record. The major benefit is that I can't even tell it's recording, leaving the PC 100% usable (I have a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250).
The setup is rock-solid, and I can burn it all to a DVD if I wish.
I used to use a tool from Compaq called CIM (Compaq Insight Manager). You would get warned if memory or a HD was on its way to a failure, or if a whole server is down. You could also get the utility to page or email you with trouble. Just this feature was worth its weight in gold.
Lecter: Well, Clarice, have the fans stopped screaming?
We have been importing out-of-country IT talent for a while, at least judging by my workplace. The only major difference is that they now get to stay home while holding the same job.
Either Novell gets sued, or Microsoft changes Exchange just enough to break this feature.
Try the Microsoft web site. They have a free MS Word plug-in that converts text / whatever into MS Reader files. Most books I find around the Internet are a text format, and easily converted into MS Reader.
I downloaded a bunch of books and converted them into the MS Reader format with a little MS Word plug-in that I got for free from Microsoft.
You will get similar results from any Pocket PC device.
I work at a major investment bank and I've had a chance to see how procurement on a large scale works. I've seen them get servers / disk / etc at 50% to 65% discount in volume. It seems that when you buy a 1000s of anything directly from the manufacturer, they will bend into pretzel shapes to sell it to you at a huge discount.
I remember swapping quite a few Compaq RAID controllers in my day. They wouldn't outright fail, but get in a "compromised" mode, and you usually had enough time to schedule downtime to swap them out. This was much better than messing with software mirror or raid settings, because it's transparent to the OS - the OS just sees a single large disk.