Category: Uncategorized

Categories
Uncategorized

OK, is there a “safer” computer?

I received an email this week asking about which computer should someone get for their home: a Macintosh or a PC? I was told that their “IT guru is still harping on the safety of a Mac.”

 

I recommended a PC for their use at home. Mainly because it will meet their general computer annd online needs, as well as offer complete application compatibility with their files from work. If they were working at the office with Macintosh computers — as one friend does in his design firm — then I might recommend a Mac.

 

On PC safety in general, of the interest is this article from the Seattle Times which said that…


“Broad PC attacks tapered off last year in part because improvements in hardware and software are making it harder to attack at the operating-system level, Mackey said. IBM is now finding more vulnerabilities in software applications. Mackey expects more attacks via instant-messaging programs, for instance.”

And take a look at this report from PC World magazine.

 

Last, see this paper for a summary of some of the improvements made to the Microsoft platform from the Enterprise Strategy Group (link):


“Microsoft has proven time and time again that its corporate focus equates with execution excellence somewhere down the line. The company is now delivering on security in a way that sets it apart from other software companies. Yes, Redmond has a way to go to be considered a security company, but ESG believes that its security efforts should be taken seriously by competitors – and embraced by customers.”

I “grew up” on the Mac platform buying my first Macintosh 128K directly from school in 1985. I own and use both computer platforms at home, but the one we spend the most time on at home (and, no surprise, at the office) are our Windows machines. No matter what you choose as your preferred computer, make sure your protected.

 

And yes, we have OneCare on all the PCs in the house, and Symantec’s Norton on our Macs.

 

For more on how to protect your PC, here are a few helpful tips from the Get Safe Online website, sponsored by government and businesses. (For other computers, see their sections on “Protect your Mac” and “Protect your Linux computer.”)



For more reading, see Bruce Schneier’s CNET article on safe computing.

More information from GetSafeOnline:




Tags: , , .

Categories
Uncategorized

OfficeLive team is Live & Responding

I’ve been impressed as an employee and a beta tester of the Microsoft OfficeLive Beta how the team has been active in responding to user comments and suggestions on teh site. Sure, there are some late responses, but I have been impressed hearing how the team has aggregated the feedback to date and is responding to the community.


Today I noticed a new post from the OfficeLive team entitled “We hear you!” on the Live Board from Filiberto:



“We care about our customers, and for many of us the real fun in this job is the opportunity to have a (as such is our intention) positive impact in people’s lives; thus we really want to know how it is working (or not) for you. Many of us participate by posting in these boards and many more simply read them; your post and comments are sent around on internal mails and used as part of scenarios and arguments to make product decisions. We also have a process to make sure we are thorough in taking in the feedback received through these boards and other channels (i.e. the feedback link you can find at the bottom of all Office Live pages) and we are incorporating other sources of feedback to that same process to make sure all get treated in the same way.”


You’ll see from many postings that employees read and resopnd to many items at all hours, as was Filiberto’s note (posted at 2am no less). This is a team that is passionate about the customer experience. I believe that they will be able to turn around new features and changes in the beta as quickly as the dynamic nature of an online product offering allow.


Tags: , , , , .

Categories
Uncategorized

Vic Gundotra takes his leave

As noted on CNET News and in Scoble’s blog, Vic Gundotra is leaving.


That’s unfortunate.


I have enjoyed my interactions with Vic, as I found that he has a great sense of hunour. And I admire the fact that he plans on spending “a year doing philanthropy” before taking on his next role.


Vic certainly leaves the organization in the best shape. It’s hard to find a group of more passionate and dedicated people than in the DPE and ISV group, with many talented and strong leaders in Sanjay’s organization.


I was asked today if this departure — along with other high-profile departures in the last month — signaled a sea change in the company’s mid-level leadership. I don’t think so, and it’s interesting to see the way people follow the changes. People will come (Ray Ozzie, Gary Flake) and they will go. The old saying in Redmond (I’ve learned) goes somethings like this: “There are a couple of things for certain in life: death, taxes, and reorgs at Microsoft.” I’ll add this to the list. 


When I lived in Silicon Valley, it was (and still is, arguably) all the rage for people to move from high-profile company to a new hot start-up company. And even in the late 90’s and prior to the Dot-Bomb, the internet followed many stories but never seemed to be as obsessed with the management changes.


Perhaps because it was a regular event, even expected, that it never made the news: after your current option package vested (3 to 4 years) you were either promoted, re-upped for an additional vesting or (most often it seemed) you went to the next big thing. It’s the way that the world worked: you followed the new technology, the investments, the fun people and the money.


When you see all of the cool things going on at the company, and the incredible, talented people working on products, campaigns and projects, the moves are just noise. Some are more of an impact than others, and some you just don’t understand.


It’ll be interesting to see what Vic does with his year; perhaps he’ll use his old blog to talk about the good work in his year of philanthropy.


Tags: , , .

Categories
Uncategorized

Building your own cabinets, internal and external

A person I work with but have never met sent me an email the other day asking me to elaborate on my concept of buidling a personal cabinet. I recalled that last year I discussed different ways to get good feedback, from within your own company (your internal customers) and also from real customers and partners.  


In addtition to the customer survey sources (like our semi-annual customer & partner satisfaction surveys), trip reports, direct relationships and avenues for listening to customers and partners (like our internal Frontline program), I suggested that they do something I’ve recommended in the past: build a cabinet. No, I don’t mean a cabinet in the sense of where I keep my sox, but a cabinet of trusted advisors from across the company (internal), and another consisting of key customers and partners (external).


The initial idea of building an internal, personal cabinet was brought up when I was in Windows Client and introduced to Brian Valentine’s cabinet alias on email: this is a list of people within the company interested in areas important to his group. If Brian sets up a broad cabinet of individuals, people who are copied on interesting information and mails, and are solicited for input and feedback, perhaps other employees at Microsoft should establish a personal cabinet.


Internally, you may have a need for a set of advisors, especially as we are so focused on what we do day to day: it’s often beneficial to get additional perspectives outside your core work group… perhaps even some outside your comfort zone. A good cabinet of 8-10 people can ask questions, listen and provide feedback on what’s most important. They can help you, encourage you and be a valuable asset, whether you’re deciding on a course of action in your group or planning your career. In a good scenario, a cabinet also communicates and works together as a virtual team to help you see things in a different light and you get to the answers you need.


Externally, developing a list of people with particular insight and experiences can work the same way; you may approach the set up differently, working individually with the list of people on your personal cabinet, unless you’re able to bring a non-competitive group together. This group may be made up of customer and partners you meet on the job, ISV Buddies, customer Frontline participants… people outside the company with whom you can knock ideas around and get feedback in a timely way.  It’s not a focus group, but a quick-hit check when you need feedback – and a group that you may ping a couple of times a year. And let them know that you value their feedback, candor and trust when you contact them.


In my cabinet, I talk to many of these people once or twice a quarter on average, and some maybe only once or twice a year at an industry event or trade show. For me, I look at people who are…



  • Insightful and provide a pro/con view of issues and challenges
  • accessible and give good advice (it often goes both ways, and they ping me with questions)
  • good at breaking down problems, with good gut instincts
  • strategic specialists in their field
  • thoughtful, and often frank 
  • happy to refer me to their own trusted contacts (the next degree of separation) when something is beyond their scope

As an FYI, I found that Cisco devoted a couple of stories in their quarterly ezine on how customers and partners should consider issues to consider when looking for their own trusted technical advisors. Some of the same principles can be applied here.


Tags: , , .

Categories
Uncategorized

“So why the link to preparing for a pandemic?”

I received an email: “I like reading your blog. So why the link to preparing for a pandemic?” They’re referring to the link I have to “Preparing for Pandemic Flu” in the left-hand nav, which connects to the King County Pandemic Flu Preparedness site.


I’m generally concerned about people’s well being and I try to help wherever I can. As this is about satisfaction — which goes to all parts of the interaction we have with our customers and partners — passing along beneficial information is one way to make a positive impact. So I include the link.


A pandemic is a world-wide epidemic, and it’s not just about Bird Flu. The Wiki has a number of notes on pandemics and notable epidemics through history. So just as you use the web to stay informed, stay informed on this, too. The following is courtesy of the above web site: 



Tags: , , .