In this second part of my Windows 7 series I will address why XP users who fought so hard to protect Windows XP will finally let it go and move to Windows 7. As I had said yesterday, the resistance to move to Vista came from two very prominent components: the enhanced security (or security that actually works as some people have expressed) and the new user interface. Read more
In the next few days, I want to take some time to address the coming release of Windows 7. As a person who was named a Windows Vista Master, I want to look at three areas where Windows 7 will make a difference when Windows Vista did not seem to make a dent, so to speak.
Starting today, I will discuss the following topics: Read more
1. Why IT will adopt Windows 7
2. Why XP users will switch to Windows 7
3. Why Windows 7 will crush Linux (that’s right -- I said CRUSH)
As 2008 comes to a close, I have been reading all the endless Top 10 this and Top 10 that lists for 2008. I thought about it long and hard and decided I would throw my two cents in and give my own top 10 list.
However, I added a little twist my list is based not on the top security or top new companies. My list is based upon what else…A Better Windows World… So here is my list of the top 10 A Better Windows World posts for the past year.
In my blog, I speak of all the tools we can use to make A Better Windows World. Many of these help us to manage, secure and just in general make life in a Microsoft based environment better. Today I wanted to talk about the one thing that we often overlook in many IT environments, the human element. Read more
This next tool is brought to you thanks to a reader who commented on my A Better Windows World tools library. Rinie I want to thank you for this next one… tool number 98 Mobile Net Switch.
If you have the need to connect to more than one network, better yet, if you send out users and need them to connect to multiple networks easily and with minimal pain. Moreover, if they need to map drives, connect to printers and be able to operate without any glitches. Mobile Net Switch is your solution. Read more
One of the things I equally hated and enjoyed as an IT admin was creating a diagram of my infrastructure. That was mostly because the tools I had available (Visio or Smart Draw) worked fine but were not necessarily technology-centric. I always had the feeling that the network was a second or even third thought of that software. Read more
Any efficient IT shop today, Microsoft-centric or not, has a never ending need for good management tools. The collection in this blog covers a lot of territory, solving issues that arise from group policy management, training, password policy, collaboration, remote connectivity, managing your infrastructure, managing the new Server 2008 core and even opening and editing documents from anywhere. Read more
Sometimes the best tool is learning how to use the tools you have. Group Policy is a powerful ally of any IT admin. And while it has gotten considerably easier to use recently, who really has the time to spend learning it? What if you could learn to take control of GPP in just 3 hours...? AT YOUR DESKTOP! Read more
More control of your network is never a bad thing. Some tools provide the means of managing files but somehow they seem to be missing something. You can never seem to put your finger on it but you know it is not there. That something is complete control! Read more
So in between the blogging, my Windows 7 article, Exchange Fast Recovery Series and the latest book I am tech editing on Windows scripting. I finally found the time to deal with my website http://rare-tech.net Read more
Checking on Network bottlenecks is usually done by a common set of tools. Of course any of these tools are built in to the operating systems. However, they are commonly used in a command line format with zero or limited reporting capabilities. These tools are often run one at a time as well. So what if you could use these tools and even see the results all in the same workspace.
Netinfo provides the answer putting together a collection of 15 common network tools that can help you analyze potential network issues or provide help in getting answers on where the trouble lies. Read more
Mobile devices for the Windows IT pro has always been a bit of a sore spot for me. I have spent a lot of time using Windows Mobile devices (since Pocket PC 2002) and let’s face it we have been getting our butts handed to us for a long time. Read more
Microsoft’s newest addition to the System Centers Management family changes that drastically. Systems Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 (SCMDM 2008) gives the IT manager the ability to manage Windows Mobile devices, secure those devices and most importantly work mobile.
I spend most time reviewing tools that will make Windows environments better, easier to administer and more secure. Every once in a while I get to talk about something that is just plain fun! This is one of those times and I am quite excited about this tool. Read more
Some time ago I saw a video on YouTube for the Beryl project which works on Linux machines. The video showed how Beryl blows away the Windows Aero effect by providing a 3D environment for the desktop.
WinDirStat: Analyze your Windows directories…Visually!
Some of the tools we come upon in IT are not always the most complex and loaded with hundreds of features. That is simply because not every function in IT demands a hundred features in an application. Nevertheless, many times we are left wondering with certain tools, what exactly is going on in my system? Where are things living in that endless amount of disk space? And how efficient are my disks running. Read more
There are not many occasions when you need to send a very large file. But just try it and you will be surprised at the results. Your Exchange Server administrator may want to have a word with you also. Sometimes the time frame of a project does not allow you the luxury of burning the item to CD/DVD. And many organizations would rather not open up FTP file transfer to outside vendors, clients or whoever! Read more
While managing IIS has gotten easier over the years, as the versions have progressed and become more intuitive, one area that most IT pros overlook is load testing. I found this is especially true when it comes to an intranet site. Most times we look at the intranet as a place to find out when the company events were taking place and where we could find vacation request forms. The simplicity of the intranet never strikes us as having a need for load testing. However, the intranet at my former company grew in size and complexity very quickly. Read more
Well the http://rare-tech.net saga continues. In an attempt to deal with my Web site being in disarray, I opted to try a tool I had heard about from my agent. Actually, I was supposed to write a book about this product but I ended up being swamped with TechMentor NYC so I had to pass it up. Read more
I remember and I am still suffering somewhat from PEST (Proper Endpoint Security Trauma). It exists, it really does. You may call it something else in your organization. Perhaps you use a more familiar term like “end-user trying to plug in a USB device on my network and completely supersede our security policy”. I think PEST explains it a bit better since it more accurately describes the endless hours wasted both explaining that such things are not allowed. Read more
If anyone has seen my Web site http://rare-tech.net the last few days this post title makes a lot of sense. I have finished off some projects recently and had some time to turn my attention to my Web site.
When I set up the Web site I used Microsoft Office Live Small Business. It made sense I needed a presence for my business. At the same time I do not have any product I sell only myself. So I saw no need to go and host a Web site and spend thousands of dollars on design. Read more
Back in August, I reviewed 12 cross-platform tools and because that post has continued to get such an overwhelmingly great response, I thought it was time to look at a few more cross-platform tools for the enterprise. So here are two more tools to help you bridge the gap in your heterogeneous environment, dotReader and DAVE. Read more
Ron Barrett is president of RARE-TECH, an IT Training and consulting company. He has been a technology professional for over a decade, working for several major financial firms and dotcoms. Barrett is a specialist in network infrastructure, security and IT management.
He is a co-author of The Administrator's Guide to Microsoft Office 2007 Servers, How to Cheat at Administering Office Communications Server 2007, and the Real MCTS/MCITP Exam 620 Preparation Kit and has been a contributor to Windows 2000 Enterprise Storage Solutions and Exam Cram 70-244-Supporting & Maintaining NT Server 4.
He has also contributed to several industry magazines and was featured in the book Tricks of the Windows Vista Masters. He has worked for Microsoft writing research and analysis documents for Windows Server 2008, Windows HPC, and PerformancePoint Server 2007. He has also created screencasts on Windows Server 2008 Administration for Linux Admins.
Subscribe to Ron Barrett's A Better Windows World feed.
The opinions expressed in this Weblog are those of the writer and may not represent the opinions of Network World.
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