It seems like there is someone standing right behind me all the time. Call it conscience, guilt, angel enforcers, whatever. Any minute they will draw their sword and take my head off with a single highlander turned samurai warrior chop.
This week I read of a man jogging on a beach being killed by an airplane landing on him. I swear I keep hearing low flying aircraft.
You don't know what you want until you get it and then you are usually half way through with it when you figure it out. The great moments in stories where people put the puzzle together and figure out that which had eluded them the first 300 pages never seem to happen in real life. That moment comes sitting on a riding tractor with hat hair in the rain . I can't figure it out.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
In the Swing of things
Lets talk about the Small Business Server again. I have been asked to help swing migrate a bunch of SBS 2003 servers to SBS 2008 using the SBSmigration.com swing kit. I have not done one yet but it looks promising. I am having a conflict of conscience and I am starting to question if SBS 2008 is the solution that I want to encourage going forward.
Looking at my clients that have SBS 2003, none of them use Exchange. One did but they use a hosted exchange solution now so there goes that. I can't find anyone that has ever or plans to ever use Sharepoint. These seem to be the biggest reason to put up the extra money required to buy SBS 2008. If you remove these from the equation you start to wonder why pay more for SBS.
I am trying to make a list of things I like about SBS 2k3 other that I can only get with SBS 2k8. It is hard to do.
1. Remote Web Workplace. This is a big one because the ability to work from home is more popular now than ever. You would have to buy software to give a Server 2k8 Standard this functionality. This goes in the SBS 2k8 column.
2. Built in VPN. This is used at almost every one of our SBS 2003 clients currently and is very popular. It is a nice solution for those pesky laptops that need access. This is by no means unique to SBS. You can get software or hardware to do this for you without going to SBS. This goes in the Standard column.
3. Fax Server. This comes standard with Server 2008 anyway so this is not really a reason to go to SBS. Another one for Standard
4. GUI wizards and controls. I have only one client that would ever think about logging into the server to do anything on the GUI management console. I guess our clients just aren't interested in that sort of thing. This is no big loss for me because if you are going with Server 2008 Standard you don't need to configure the kinds of things that you do with SBS. Another win for Standard.
5. Free Outlook client. Oh, wait, that's right. Microsoft decided for me that no one in the world ever opts not to buy Office. It is not included in the more expensive CAL for SBS 2008. I can't say I know why. Another win for Standard.
I can't think of any other reasons to implement SBS 2008 instead of Server 2008 Standard. Remember I removed the Exchange and Sharepoint from the equation so if a client needed that sort of thing I would have to say that SBS 2008 would be a consideration.
I will do a price comparison between sbs2k8 and 2k8 standard in my next post. Should be interesting. Lets see where that takes us.
Looking at my clients that have SBS 2003, none of them use Exchange. One did but they use a hosted exchange solution now so there goes that. I can't find anyone that has ever or plans to ever use Sharepoint. These seem to be the biggest reason to put up the extra money required to buy SBS 2008. If you remove these from the equation you start to wonder why pay more for SBS.
I am trying to make a list of things I like about SBS 2k3 other that I can only get with SBS 2k8. It is hard to do.
1. Remote Web Workplace. This is a big one because the ability to work from home is more popular now than ever. You would have to buy software to give a Server 2k8 Standard this functionality. This goes in the SBS 2k8 column.
2. Built in VPN. This is used at almost every one of our SBS 2003 clients currently and is very popular. It is a nice solution for those pesky laptops that need access. This is by no means unique to SBS. You can get software or hardware to do this for you without going to SBS. This goes in the Standard column.
3. Fax Server. This comes standard with Server 2008 anyway so this is not really a reason to go to SBS. Another one for Standard
4. GUI wizards and controls. I have only one client that would ever think about logging into the server to do anything on the GUI management console. I guess our clients just aren't interested in that sort of thing. This is no big loss for me because if you are going with Server 2008 Standard you don't need to configure the kinds of things that you do with SBS. Another win for Standard.
5. Free Outlook client. Oh, wait, that's right. Microsoft decided for me that no one in the world ever opts not to buy Office. It is not included in the more expensive CAL for SBS 2008. I can't say I know why. Another win for Standard.
I can't think of any other reasons to implement SBS 2008 instead of Server 2008 Standard. Remember I removed the Exchange and Sharepoint from the equation so if a client needed that sort of thing I would have to say that SBS 2008 would be a consideration.
I will do a price comparison between sbs2k8 and 2k8 standard in my next post. Should be interesting. Lets see where that takes us.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Once again in 2010
The blog is back. I am here for you. It is mid February and this is my first post. That is a little sad.
Several new things in my life to blog about. The TV show "Better Off Ted" is my new favorite show. I am into uncluttering stuff now, I am an unclutterer so to speak. Oh, and I quit my job. I gave a seven weeks notice and started to work full time for myself January 1.
I know that everything is different but I have not changed. Spending and sleep habits are only the tip of the change iceberg but they are all that I can see for now.
I just thought I was being pulled in different directions before. I honestly don't know how I ever found time to make it to work each day. I suppose that if I had a hard job that pushed me to excel I would not have ever started a side company and took a night job in addition to my charity work.
We are looking for a church now also. Lets not stop the hope and change express at just work and home life. We visited a methodist church and the best thing in the world happened. The Southern Baptist have a tradition that I call "smother and grill". A visitor can barely make it through the door without shaking 20 hands and answering 50 questions. If that was not bad enough they have a "stand if you are a visitor" moment and then the preacher encourages everyone in the building to run over to you to hug and touch. There is even special music to let you know how long you have to run over and hug the stranger. It is a type of musical chairs that inspires even the oldest in the crowd to line up to say something and touch your arm or back.
Well... that being said, the Methodist church we went to was a very different experience. A couple that was manning the door approached us and spoke for just a moment and then they said, "we will leave you alone to get settled in". WOW. That was cool. During the service there was a "lets all say hello to each other" moment but it was very brief and I don't recall music. I think only the people in front of us turned around to say hi.
Based on my social retardation I would say that I am more Methodist now. I need to find if there is a special diet or a blood letting ceremony that is not listed on their website.
More to come.....
Several new things in my life to blog about. The TV show "Better Off Ted" is my new favorite show. I am into uncluttering stuff now, I am an unclutterer so to speak. Oh, and I quit my job. I gave a seven weeks notice and started to work full time for myself January 1.
I know that everything is different but I have not changed. Spending and sleep habits are only the tip of the change iceberg but they are all that I can see for now.
I just thought I was being pulled in different directions before. I honestly don't know how I ever found time to make it to work each day. I suppose that if I had a hard job that pushed me to excel I would not have ever started a side company and took a night job in addition to my charity work.
We are looking for a church now also. Lets not stop the hope and change express at just work and home life. We visited a methodist church and the best thing in the world happened. The Southern Baptist have a tradition that I call "smother and grill". A visitor can barely make it through the door without shaking 20 hands and answering 50 questions. If that was not bad enough they have a "stand if you are a visitor" moment and then the preacher encourages everyone in the building to run over to you to hug and touch. There is even special music to let you know how long you have to run over and hug the stranger. It is a type of musical chairs that inspires even the oldest in the crowd to line up to say something and touch your arm or back.
Well... that being said, the Methodist church we went to was a very different experience. A couple that was manning the door approached us and spoke for just a moment and then they said, "we will leave you alone to get settled in". WOW. That was cool. During the service there was a "lets all say hello to each other" moment but it was very brief and I don't recall music. I think only the people in front of us turned around to say hi.
Based on my social retardation I would say that I am more Methodist now. I need to find if there is a special diet or a blood letting ceremony that is not listed on their website.
More to come.....
Monday, November 16, 2009
The ballad of SBS 2008
From the first moment I started using Microsoft Small Business Server Premium 2008 I knew I had made a mistake....
It was actually before the first moment I had a chance to use the OS. This may not be true for all vendors but Dell would not sell me an OEM copy of SBS Premium 2008 pre-installed. Their own small business quote team could not figure out why. Worse yet they sold me an Open License pack and listed media on the invoice but did not send the media citing some crazy Microsoft licensing policy. Okay, well I thought I could log into the Microsoft site and download it but that was a no go due to the same weird licensing policy.
It took 3 people from Microsoft Open Licensing Team before I convinced them I wanted the media shipped to me. I even had to pay for the FedEx charge. I will let all that speak for itself.
I get the OS and install it on my empty Dell Server. All goes pretty well I suppose until I see that there is no consolidated MMC server management console like there is in SBS2003. The nay sayers will say "nay, there is a console" but it is not useful out of the box like SBS 2003. I had to tweak it.
Setting up my clients posed some challenges due to the fact that one of the machines turned out to be Windows 2000. Guess what boys and girls. The most stable and longest running OS that Microsoft ever made is not supported in SBS 2008.
Guess what else is not included in the grossly expensive CAL price? Outlook. That is correct folks. If you buy SBS for the Exchange capability and happen to use Word Perfect instead of Office you have just added about $90 a machine to your cost of install.
It gets worse. The much improved backup tool built into SBS 2008 does not support NAS drives. EDIT - Not in the GUI at least - EDIT. You can add a cheap external drive from Wal-Mart and run your backup but if you have a RAID mirrored 2 TB NAS you are out of luck. Fortunately we had already bought another backup program which kind of supports NAS backup.
In conclusion I should have read the details more closely. While I have read about SBS 2008 it was mostly glowing reviews from fanboys. I thought that if SBS 2003 was good then SBS 2008 should have similar features and actually add features. Sadly it is the opposite. It is more expensive with less features EDIT that I care about EDIT.
Before any crazy fanboy (or fangirl) posts and says true things like "NAS was not supported in 2003" or "The cost of the CAL reflects the hardwork and dedication of millions of coders.... blah blah" or "Everyone had Outlook already so why give it away for free", EDIT insert nicer wording! EDIT.
I like Server 2008
I don't like SBS 2008
I may still suggest SBS 2008
I will not buy EDIT brand name removed EDIT again
OWA is not and is not likely to ever be the same as running outlook on your desktop. .
The positive in all of this is that the client has me on his side. I was able to work through Dell and Microsoft's attempts to force me to use clarkconnect out of frustration. I like that you can't use the administrator account for anything. I like the 64 bit system support. While no one will ever explain why it is any of Microsoft's business if I use 2 nics is still a mystery.
I am still ticked about the Outlook thing. Warn a brother would ya? Crazy.
UPDATE - 11/18/09 -
Billy, Thanks for the offer of help. I have your backup software installed and it is in fact backing up the client's data to a NAS. I will spare everyone my thoughts about small business backups. I am generally positive but I am frustrated about this whole project and wish to blend back into the background noise of the net.
It was actually before the first moment I had a chance to use the OS. This may not be true for all vendors but Dell would not sell me an OEM copy of SBS Premium 2008 pre-installed. Their own small business quote team could not figure out why. Worse yet they sold me an Open License pack and listed media on the invoice but did not send the media citing some crazy Microsoft licensing policy. Okay, well I thought I could log into the Microsoft site and download it but that was a no go due to the same weird licensing policy.
It took 3 people from Microsoft Open Licensing Team before I convinced them I wanted the media shipped to me. I even had to pay for the FedEx charge. I will let all that speak for itself.
I get the OS and install it on my empty Dell Server. All goes pretty well I suppose until I see that there is no consolidated MMC server management console like there is in SBS2003. The nay sayers will say "nay, there is a console" but it is not useful out of the box like SBS 2003. I had to tweak it.
Setting up my clients posed some challenges due to the fact that one of the machines turned out to be Windows 2000. Guess what boys and girls. The most stable and longest running OS that Microsoft ever made is not supported in SBS 2008.
Guess what else is not included in the grossly expensive CAL price? Outlook. That is correct folks. If you buy SBS for the Exchange capability and happen to use Word Perfect instead of Office you have just added about $90 a machine to your cost of install.
It gets worse. The much improved backup tool built into SBS 2008 does not support NAS drives. EDIT - Not in the GUI at least - EDIT. You can add a cheap external drive from Wal-Mart and run your backup but if you have a RAID mirrored 2 TB NAS you are out of luck. Fortunately we had already bought another backup program which kind of supports NAS backup.
In conclusion I should have read the details more closely. While I have read about SBS 2008 it was mostly glowing reviews from fanboys. I thought that if SBS 2003 was good then SBS 2008 should have similar features and actually add features. Sadly it is the opposite. It is more expensive with less features EDIT that I care about EDIT.
Before any crazy fanboy (or fangirl) posts and says true things like "NAS was not supported in 2003" or "The cost of the CAL reflects the hardwork and dedication of millions of coders.... blah blah" or "Everyone had Outlook already so why give it away for free", EDIT insert nicer wording! EDIT.
I like Server 2008
I don't like SBS 2008
I may still suggest SBS 2008
I will not buy EDIT brand name removed EDIT again
OWA is not and is not likely to ever be the same as running outlook on your desktop. .
The positive in all of this is that the client has me on his side. I was able to work through Dell and Microsoft's attempts to force me to use clarkconnect out of frustration. I like that you can't use the administrator account for anything. I like the 64 bit system support. While no one will ever explain why it is any of Microsoft's business if I use 2 nics is still a mystery.
I am still ticked about the Outlook thing. Warn a brother would ya? Crazy.
UPDATE - 11/18/09 -
Billy, Thanks for the offer of help. I have your backup software installed and it is in fact backing up the client's data to a NAS. I will spare everyone my thoughts about small business backups. I am generally positive but I am frustrated about this whole project and wish to blend back into the background noise of the net.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Something else Windows Phone
I just tried to download a Netflix app for my phone from Microsoft. You have to be a MS Live user to download this. Strike one. I have an account from the PassPort days because of my MCP logins so that is not a really big deal.
I signed in and it took me to a screen to confirm that I am who I am. This sucks but whatever I uncheck all of the garbage about "please send me info on......" and click next. Well, strike 2! you have to sign up for some kind of SPAM in order to get to the next screen. I did not. I will not. This is worse than having to have iTunes installed for your iPhone. At least iTunes does not spam you I don't think.
To get around this I think, hey, this is for a mobile phone let me try this on my phone. I did the google search and found the same site and low and behold, it does not work on their own antique browser! Strike 3!!! You can't even write a web page for your own @$#%@%@ browser? Really? The download did not work from the phone either.
The moral of the story is that I may look into getting that iPhone after all. I will have to see if it can do RDP, eWallet, and Call Log 2 Contacts. Maybe we can look at the Palm Pre.
I signed in and it took me to a screen to confirm that I am who I am. This sucks but whatever I uncheck all of the garbage about "please send me info on......" and click next. Well, strike 2! you have to sign up for some kind of SPAM in order to get to the next screen. I did not. I will not. This is worse than having to have iTunes installed for your iPhone. At least iTunes does not spam you I don't think.
To get around this I think, hey, this is for a mobile phone let me try this on my phone. I did the google search and found the same site and low and behold, it does not work on their own antique browser! Strike 3!!! You can't even write a web page for your own @$#%@%@ browser? Really? The download did not work from the phone either.
The moral of the story is that I may look into getting that iPhone after all. I will have to see if it can do RDP, eWallet, and Call Log 2 Contacts. Maybe we can look at the Palm Pre.
Windows Mobile becomes Windows Phone
If you have read more than a couple of my posts over the years you know I love my Windows Mobile 6.1 AT&T Tilt. It is the thing that lets me do the stuff I do for a living. I can RDP into a server whilst talking to a client at the same time. I can read email, check the weather, navigate to a destination, and then blog about it. It is a music player, laptop, and electronic wallet all in one. I love it but I need to share an open letter to Microsoft, AT&T, and HTC.
Microsoft, you and I have known each other for a long time. I don't want to talk about your desktops and servers but we need to talk about your mobile software. I want to like it but you screw up everything you touch. You come out with Windows Phone 6.5 and with it give us another name for your mobile OS. You have Windows CE, PocketPC, Windows Mobile, and now Windows Phone. Make up your mind! It looks like you are on the right track with version 6.5 but how would I know? There are only a couple of devices that run 6.5 and my awesome Tilt does not take the upgrade. That brings me to you HTC.
HTC, I started with your AT&T 3100 (StarTrek). It was just what I needed. I had to beg AT&T to sell me the no camera model but that is the past. I like your Tilt, this is a work of art. Well, thick, battery hungry, art. Your phones like the Tilt 2 and the Leo may be nice but those are not out there right now. What have you been up to lately? People like me that have phones that cost more than many laptops want power, performance, a no camera (or at least lockable camera), and carrier independence. If you put the HD2 out there I would buy it but you insist on sending it to Europe only. What is the problem? What more do you want from me?
AT&T, you see Microsoft and HTC and you get those silly cartoon dollar signs in your eyes and start hyper ventilating. No one thinks that is cool. Stop putting your name on the phones, stop trying to trick me into a data plan that has text messaging, and stop trying to be cool. No one likes AT&T, no one. I worked there for 3 years and I hate your company. You pay for fancy swanky stores that is understaffed and all they want to do is sell me DSL or a satellite dish or something. DO THE BASICS FIRST. I know you have to sell phones to teenagers and children trapped in twenty something bodies but don't forget who pays their bills. I have had the same phone number and service since May of 2000! What do I get? Nothing!!!! I can get a reduced activation fee if I pay too much for a phone and sign up for 2 more years. NO THANKS. I have been off of a plan for 2 years now and you act like you don't care. The amount of money you spend to get a new customer is more than the cost of the Tilt 2 that I want but you don't care to keep me.
HTC is not putting the phones in my hand that I want at any price. Microsoft can't update their OS without changing the name and 2 years of delays. And AT&T does not love their customers and only look to sucker children into buying pink and glitter speckled phones while turning away people in camera-phobic job fields. AT&T, you are the worst one of all. Microsoft and HTC makes one sale and they are done. You make money off of me every month and you hate me the most. Shameful.
To sum up... I want a new phone and do not want a camera, contract, or glitter. I am having a hard time dealing with this.
Microsoft, you and I have known each other for a long time. I don't want to talk about your desktops and servers but we need to talk about your mobile software. I want to like it but you screw up everything you touch. You come out with Windows Phone 6.5 and with it give us another name for your mobile OS. You have Windows CE, PocketPC, Windows Mobile, and now Windows Phone. Make up your mind! It looks like you are on the right track with version 6.5 but how would I know? There are only a couple of devices that run 6.5 and my awesome Tilt does not take the upgrade. That brings me to you HTC.
HTC, I started with your AT&T 3100 (StarTrek). It was just what I needed. I had to beg AT&T to sell me the no camera model but that is the past. I like your Tilt, this is a work of art. Well, thick, battery hungry, art. Your phones like the Tilt 2 and the Leo may be nice but those are not out there right now. What have you been up to lately? People like me that have phones that cost more than many laptops want power, performance, a no camera (or at least lockable camera), and carrier independence. If you put the HD2 out there I would buy it but you insist on sending it to Europe only. What is the problem? What more do you want from me?
AT&T, you see Microsoft and HTC and you get those silly cartoon dollar signs in your eyes and start hyper ventilating. No one thinks that is cool. Stop putting your name on the phones, stop trying to trick me into a data plan that has text messaging, and stop trying to be cool. No one likes AT&T, no one. I worked there for 3 years and I hate your company. You pay for fancy swanky stores that is understaffed and all they want to do is sell me DSL or a satellite dish or something. DO THE BASICS FIRST. I know you have to sell phones to teenagers and children trapped in twenty something bodies but don't forget who pays their bills. I have had the same phone number and service since May of 2000! What do I get? Nothing!!!! I can get a reduced activation fee if I pay too much for a phone and sign up for 2 more years. NO THANKS. I have been off of a plan for 2 years now and you act like you don't care. The amount of money you spend to get a new customer is more than the cost of the Tilt 2 that I want but you don't care to keep me.
HTC is not putting the phones in my hand that I want at any price. Microsoft can't update their OS without changing the name and 2 years of delays. And AT&T does not love their customers and only look to sucker children into buying pink and glitter speckled phones while turning away people in camera-phobic job fields. AT&T, you are the worst one of all. Microsoft and HTC makes one sale and they are done. You make money off of me every month and you hate me the most. Shameful.
To sum up... I want a new phone and do not want a camera, contract, or glitter. I am having a hard time dealing with this.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
More 7/64 and whats that smell
Another victory for Windows 7 today. I decided to install my Can-o-scan LiDE 35. I went to the Cannon website only to find no mention of 64 bit or Windows 7. It is early yet for the OS so I look to the Vista page. No Vista 64 support at all.
I searched and found this site. I downloaded an asian version of a different model LiDE and it magically worked. I scanned my document and went about my way. It is funny that so far the worst software for 7/64 happens to be IE 8. It locks up all of the time and I have to reset the settings to default. I never change anything in IE so I don't know what happens. I only use it cause it is set to open in my left side monitor so I can watch HULU without bothering my right screen. No loss really.
On a different topic....
Sometime Saturday afternoon I walked into my 7 year old son's room only to be met with a stench like an airshow port-o-let. After a good deal of yelling I finally got the story that he had got up in the night to go to the restroom and did not make it to the bathroom. He whizzed in his bedroom floor and then went back to bed. This apparently happened the night before he went to grandma's house for a few days. We did not go into his room for anything so we did not notice. He had also taken some blankets and pillows to cover up the smell. I was furious but it got worse.
While throwing away blankets and toys that would never be clean enough for me again I noticed something else. My wife and other child were having trouble breathing. I noticed a sweet smell in the hallway and decided to ask my 7 year old what that was all about. Six lies later and I finally get the story. He had found the family sized Spf 50 sunscreen spray bottle and decided to spray the floor and walls of the office, hallway, and living room. The asthmatics in the house were choking and had to leave the house while I cleaned up the near invisible but fragrant mess.
By the way if you ever have to clean up a massive urine pool in your house don't go to the pet store and get the pet urine remover. This $8 bottle of magic turned out to be just rubbing alcohol. We could have gotten 2 bottles for a dollar at the drug store but live and learn I guess.
The room still smells bad. I guess we will have to rent a steam genie or something to fix it. New carpet is the answer.
I searched and found this site. I downloaded an asian version of a different model LiDE and it magically worked. I scanned my document and went about my way. It is funny that so far the worst software for 7/64 happens to be IE 8. It locks up all of the time and I have to reset the settings to default. I never change anything in IE so I don't know what happens. I only use it cause it is set to open in my left side monitor so I can watch HULU without bothering my right screen. No loss really.
On a different topic....
Sometime Saturday afternoon I walked into my 7 year old son's room only to be met with a stench like an airshow port-o-let. After a good deal of yelling I finally got the story that he had got up in the night to go to the restroom and did not make it to the bathroom. He whizzed in his bedroom floor and then went back to bed. This apparently happened the night before he went to grandma's house for a few days. We did not go into his room for anything so we did not notice. He had also taken some blankets and pillows to cover up the smell. I was furious but it got worse.
While throwing away blankets and toys that would never be clean enough for me again I noticed something else. My wife and other child were having trouble breathing. I noticed a sweet smell in the hallway and decided to ask my 7 year old what that was all about. Six lies later and I finally get the story. He had found the family sized Spf 50 sunscreen spray bottle and decided to spray the floor and walls of the office, hallway, and living room. The asthmatics in the house were choking and had to leave the house while I cleaned up the near invisible but fragrant mess.
By the way if you ever have to clean up a massive urine pool in your house don't go to the pet store and get the pet urine remover. This $8 bottle of magic turned out to be just rubbing alcohol. We could have gotten 2 bottles for a dollar at the drug store but live and learn I guess.
The room still smells bad. I guess we will have to rent a steam genie or something to fix it. New carpet is the answer.
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