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How to organize like Bill Gates, the HP-Microsoft deal, Helping in Haiti and more

How Bill WorksYes, I’ve been neglecting my blog. Although I have a couple of blog posts in the works (on setting up our Windows 7 home network connected to our Media Center), I have been just too busy with (gasp!) real work. So I obviously need to be better at my organization: helpful that I found this brief article on Bill Gates’ organizational effort with a few of his "top tactics" with a nod of what Bill calls the digital workstyle. Missing from the article: you need a great staff! For me, here’s a quick post that answers one of the popular questions I often get: "How I Work at Microsoft". 

First off, I supported @Americares http://www.americares.org/ WRT Haiti earthquake victims as 99% of the goes to the relief effort. You can read more here about Microsoft’s help to relief organizations in Haiti and see a list of charities helping in the country here on MSN. (BTW, I’m an AT&T customer. With all of the press on teh incredible response via text message donations, there’s a bit of a brou-ha-ha WRT AT&T’s note that "Standard text messaging rates may apply" for said donations made on its network. I asked @ATTNews to waive fees like @Verizon & @TMobile for Haiti donations. And it seems that customer response and public pressure has caused AT&T to give in on that surcharge.)

Lots of news on the Microsoft & HP CEOs announcement yesterday on investment in IT infrastructure software, as initially noted here by CIO.com. You can read all about the HP – Microsoft three-year, $250 million deal to advance cloud computing for businesses on Microsoft Presspass and this post from Brad Anderson of the mgmt & services division.

Now, on to a couple of noteworthy bits from my posts on Twitter and on Twitter and from friendfeed:

 

As noted Microsoft is supporting relief efforts in Haiti + how you can help, MSFT makes initial $1.25 million commitment [Blog] http://bit.ly/8KRBTb

WSJTech reports that PC Shipments Surge in Holiday Quarter http://on.wsj.com/7RfTy3

Sad that Bill Veghte over in Windows Marketing is leaving the company after nearly two decades per @inafried http://news.cnet.com/8301-13…

Sad to read about Apple IMac quality issues (Yellow Discoloration, Fail to Boot) http://www.dailytech.com/An+Appl…

@maryjofoley reports that Visual Studio 2010 gets a new launch date: April 12, 2010: http://blogs.zdnet.com/microso…

@LanceUlanoff reports on Google in China: Pulling Out May Not Be a Good Idea http://www.pcmag.com/article… China’s wrong, but will Google’s exit help anyone? #google #china

@karaswisher: The One-Year Report Card of Yahoo’s Carol Bartz–Management: A- http://kara.allthingsd.com/2010011…

@meridith: The CIO Job Market in 2010: More Opportunities and More Competition http://www.cio.com/article… #CIO #jobs

Run into error code 0x80070005, Windows 7 "is not Genuine"? Disable policy settings or edit permissions: http://support.microsoft.com/kb2008385

A look inside BMW’s Windows 7 rollout to date: "Smooth Driving So Far" on CIO.com http://www.cio.com/article…

Nice too see Michigan and Microsoft teaming up to offer free technology training around the state http://www.bing.com/news… #fb

Microsoft reiterates console generation stance: "Xbox 360 is designed to last longer than normal" http://www.totalvideogames.com/Xbox-36…

Other vendors to follow Apple offering multi-touch tablet PCs in Q1 or Q2, say Taiwan touch panel makers http://www.digitimes.com/print…

From JohnPaczkowski: Google VP of Engineering Andy Rubin: We’re Building a Nexus One for Enterprise http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/2010010…

From LanceUlanoff: Why Tablets Need Apple http://www.pcmag.com/article… Everybody’s making tablets, but nobody knows what they’re for. @SaschaSegan is right.

@toddbishop: Miguel de Icaza, Microsoft MVP? Yep, it’s true. http://www.techflash.com/seattle…

From Stephen Rose: RT @MaxTrinidad: RT @MSSpringboard: Four Free Tools that every Administrator should Know About http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us…

@MSFT_IT: The definitive explainer of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), by Microsoft IT Evangelist Yung Chou http://blogs.technet.com/windows…

@MSFT_IT: MSFT CIO Tony Scott talks about new directions for IT in 2010. Video and paper available at microsoft.com/everybodysbusiness

@Cisco_Mobile Gotcha – sometimes that download get’s missed. Thx for the info

Troubleshooting Windows 7 with Microsoft’s Built-In Tools: It all began w/ Firefox 3.5, via @tomshardware http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews…

Microsoft Security Advisory 979267: Adobe Flash Player 6 Vulnerability in Windows XP could allow remote code execution http://www.microsoft.com/technet…

Skip Microsoft’s Critical Patch, Focus on Adobe’s, Experts Urge reports @gkeizer via @PCWorld http://www.pcworld.com/article…

Microsoft will report earnings after the market close on Thurs, January 28. Investor Relations page: http://www.microsoft.com/msft…

@edbott: New at ZDNet: Move over, God mode! 94 more secret shortcuts for Windows 7: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott…

@msPartner: PartnerNews: What are Microsoft and HP announcing tomorrow? http://www.microsoftpartnernetwork.com/News… What will Ballmer and Hurd unveil? #MPN

@johnhcook: Comcast’s new Data Meter: Like a calorie counter for Internet usage http://www.techflash.com/seattle…

 

Tags: Microsoft, articles, blogs, what I read, Twitter.

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Favourite past posts with more on Christmas poems, Bill Gates and buying a new PC

Santa shops retail, (c) M3 Sweatt 2006 For all of those who are still braving the crowds to finish their holiday shopping, you’re in good company, as you’ll note at right.

I’m off this week but working on a couple of belated posts. In the mean time, here are a few to hold you through the holiday weekend, including my favourite Apologies for my ode on the Day Before Christmas  (With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston)

And in the immortal words of Patrick Swayze: "Be nice."

Now on to the posts…

How to make an impact at Thanksgiving, even if you’re not Bill Gates   In a past post, I noted my posts on being thankful, in particular this one on being thankful, where I noted the Seattle P-I newspaper’s slide show on "Words of Thanks."

Your questions: "What do people read on your blog?" Stuff about Time, Bill Gates, Kids and shopping for a new PC. Here are some of the most popular posts. Jenn asked "What do people read the most on your blog? I found your article on how to choose a new computer and found lots more stuff." Good question, Jenn. I didn’t really know until I looked today.
Your questions: Common questions about upgrading to Windows 7   Here are answers to some common questions about upgrading to Windows 7 from our Windows 7 frequently asked questions page. (And if you need more information and guidance on installing and reinstalling Windows 7, check out this page on the Windows 7 site.)
My Windows 7 Party Pack Arrives As I noted earlier today on Twitter before my important afternoon meetings, my Windows 7 house party pack arrived.
Free download: Microsoft Security Essentials suite available now   Now available (US and Canada) is the new Microsoft Security Essentials suite, available for free, providing protection from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software for your PCs at home. Just installed the release version on my home PCs today. (Security Essentials will replace Windows Live OneCare, as I noted here this summer.)
More help and tips in finding that perfect laptop computer, this time from Rob Pegoraro of the Washington Post   image Over swim lessons today, I read Rob Pegoraro‘s article "Tips to boot up your laptop hunt" (which was picked up in today’s local paper) for users looking for new laptops (as I Tweeted today)…

"… many users — college students among them — still need laptops that survive away from desks and power outlets. Neither heavy "desktop replacements" nor ultralight netbooks with tiny screens and cramped keyboards work in that scenario.

"This piece is for those shoppers. What should they consider when looking for a new laptop?"

IMGP1554-smIt’s nearly back to school time: here’s info on buying a new PC  As I posted on Twitter today, Joel Santo Domingo over at PC Magazine has published a new article, How to Buy a Back-to-School PC. He covers what you should consider when shopping for a new PC for back to school or for you home. It’s helpful and timely information given the article I recently read from Jonathan Starkey on How to clamp down on spending for college, given how expensive tuition and housing are these days. Starkey said that "It all can add up quickly, but there are ways to stretch a family’s college budget."
Win7flagWindows 7 flying high in the skies above Redmond Last week a few of the folks got together and enjoyed a cool but fun afternoon on main campus. A fun time was had by all celebrating the RTM Engineering Milestone.

And one of the signed Windows 7 flags was on display for all to see.

 

Tags: Friday Link, humour, Santa Claus, Christmas , Windows, Microsoft

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How to make an impact at Thanksgiving, even if you’re not Bill Gates

It’s Thanksgiving, and again I am fortunate enough to spend my holiday with my friends and family. In a past post, I noted my posts on being thankful, in particular this one on being thankful, where I noted the Seattle P-I newspaper’s slide show on “Words of Thanks.”



“What are you most thankful for? P-I photographer Meryl Schenker profiles six local residents who have different reasons for giving thanks on this holiday.”


At home, we’re thankful for many things, primarily for good health, family, and our community. The philanthropist W. Clement Stone said that “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”


Today I received a mail with a link to an article from last year on Bill Gates and how Microsoft’s founder and his wife, Melinda, are aiming to change charity…



“For the past 10 years, the Gateses have opted for the latter: “How can we do the most good for the greatest number with the resources we have?” Bill asked a sea of Harvard University graduates at their commencement ceremony last year.


“The answer? If you’re Bill Gates — with $37.5 billion in your foundation’s coffers and as much as $100 billion to contribute over the course of your lifetime — you do it very, very carefully, say philanthropy leaders.”


OK, you don’t have Bill & Melinda Gates’ resources. What can you do?


Plenty. And you don’t need billions to make a difference.


In an article today from Patrick May of the San Jose Mercury News writes about the local impact of the recession at the holiday to some of those in Silicon Valley, and provides a list of places to give for the holidays in San Jose and surrounding areas.


In Amy Goodman’s article about thanksgiving, she notes “Billion for a Billion” campaign launched by the WFP, “urging the 1 billion people who use the Internet to help the billion who are hungry. But if you think that hunger is far from our shores, here is some food for thought … and action: The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report Monday stating that in 2008 one in six households in the U.S. was “food insecure,” the highest number since the figures were first gathered in 1995.


And Jerry Large writes today about good people giving back with thanks, about “someone who traveled to a foreign land and made a fresh start despite hardships and with the help of new friends.”


So I’ve included this link on how to help over the holidays from my previous hometown paper, and from our new home town, The Seattle Times Fund For The Needy


This in closing from the article on Gates noted above



“Gates — who dropped out of Harvard to create Microsoft — returned to the university last year to accept an honorary degree and to deliver the 2007 commencement speech to graduates. It was, Gates-watchers agreed, probably one of his finest speeches ever, an eloquent reminder that success doesn’t always mean following the rules. Among other things, Gates told Harvard students that technological achievement is critical in the years ahead, but that “humanity’s greatest advances are not in is discoveries but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity … reducing human inequity is the highest human achievement.”


How will you pay it forward?


Whatever you do, for those in the States and wherever you are, have a happy Thanksgiving.


 


Tags: shopping, Microsoft, articles, blogs, what I read, Thanksgiving.


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Things seen around Microsoft (and perhaps your college campus?): a fractal panda

fractalpandaIn the category of the interesting and odd things I see around Microsoft, this is one of the most unique, one that has found its way onto the Internet. It’s the fractal panda (or is that Fractal Panda?). It’s used by our good folks in Microsoft during various college informational trips. (I noted this on Twitter this morning as well, with a tip of the hat to the good folks over at Microsoft Recruiting and noted by folks in the wild including @ellenchisa.)

Anyone every see this around their campus?

As for interesting and odd, I fully expect to see more interesting holiday sweaters around the office today, too, for reasons that people on campus may acknowledge.

 

Tags: articles, what I read, Microsoft, Windows, recruiting, fractal panda.

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“I’m a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.” Perhaps, but the look-and-feel of Windows 7 was done in Redmond

Brandon over in Windows (interesting to write it like that, having recently moved from building 26) posted here about how we really designed the look-and-feel of Windows 7, in contrast to a quote in a short interview from a Microsoft employee not involved in designing Windows 7.

"I hate to say this about one of our own, but his comments were inaccurate and uninformed. If you’re interested in learning more about the design of Windows 7, I suggest reading this AP story with Julie Larson-Green as well as these WSJ (membership required) and Fast Company articles. And here is one of many blog posts on the E7 blog discussing the design process of Windows 7."

All good points, particularly when you read the detailed posts on the E7 blog that cover the development of Windows 7.

Perhaps one can take the latest "I’m a PC and Windows 7 was my idea" commercials a little too seriously (such as this one, Kirsten’s Taskbar 😉

 

Tags: articles, what I read, I’m a PC, Microsoft, Windows, video.

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