Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Microsoft. Show all posts

Monday, July 22, 2019

That's scary

From MIT Technology Review; this is just scary! Humans aren't the most stable geniuses, huh? And consequently, making an AI to think like them is sure to be fraught with contradictions and anomalies 😮 Not to mention that the Corp that gifted us with Windows Update is at the helm 😲

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Back to Basics; capiche?

This ZD|Net article's right on. Navigating the frequent and massive Windows 10 Updates is simply "burdensome". And the new features aren't that compelling. Time to re-think the strategy, MSFT!

Another interesting insight from the article, "it's widely known that Microsoft let go a bunch of its Windows testers back in 2014, substituting flighting and new unit testing procedures in their stead. I don't think Microsoft will reverse this course and bring back testing as a separate discipline. But they could improve their testing procedures and supporting infrastructure as part of a return to a focus on fundamentals."

I've worked at large companies that effectively eliminated QA engineers on behalf of "Agile Stretch". It generally doesn't work well! Developers have a different mindset and focus than Testers, and the end quality often reflects that. You really don't want to go there! 😮

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Windows 10 Pro SP 1511 upgrade warning


Heads up! If you have the built-in Administrator account enabled, make sure you add a standard account on the PC to the Administrators group before upgrading to Windows Service Pack 1511 (Build 10586.318). The SP doesn't respect the existing Administrator account status, and resets it to the default of "disabled", potentially locking you out of Administrative access to the PC! However, if you have another account added to the Administrators group beforehand, you can correct this after the fact. But if not, you are up the proverbial creek! This only applies to Windows 10 Professional Edition, not the Home Edition, which has no built-in Administrator account anyway.

Note: I've heard it said that it may be possible to boot into Safe Mode and logon as Administrator that way, regardless of whether the account's disabled or not, but I haven't personally tried it out to confirm.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Upgrading to Windows 10? View this first!

If you'll be doing an on-line upgrade to Windows 10, make sure you view this video produced by the Mozilla team with tips on how to configure Win 10 to protect your privacy, reduce unnecessary use of system resources, and to specify which default apps and services you prefer.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Microsoft Office jumps to the net

Remember when Google Docs came on the scene and some commentators said it was the beginning of the end for Microsoft Office? Well, it seems Office may have turned the tables. See here, too.

Friday, February 20, 2009

How to tick off your customers

OK, I'm not a Microsoft basher in general. I use Windows daily, and it's generally made my day to day computing life easier and more productive (gasp, a true confession!) However, there have been recent practices that have gotten my goat, so bear with me as I vent.

NB: These are good examples of how to tick off your customers (perhaps others can avoid them!)
  1. Start charging for features that were previously free. I'm specifically thinking about the Encrypted File System (EFS), which was included in Windows XP Pro, but now costs $ in Vista.
  2. Add injury to insult: Put EFS only in the Windows Ultimate Edition.
  3. Require all OEMs to ship only Windows Vista (but not specifically the Ultimate Edition).
  4. Inflict a complete Windows recast on the customer, followed by a robust, reliable version a year later (e.g., Vista -> Windows 7) Therefore, after already spending more $ to upgrade to Vista Ultimate, I have nothing better to do than spend $ to upgrade to Windows 7, too, right?

My point: Customer satisfaction is a many-faceted gem. It not only includes product features, reliability, and a timely delivery - but subtle factors as well - such as perceived value, clear messaging, and keeping migration and upgrades simple.

Windows 7

The buzz is "They finally got it right" and "Windows 7 is what Vista should have been".

After taking a look I agree :-)

Windows 7 features a "Back to basics, lean and mean" approach. It gets Windows out of the way, and puts the spotlight back on the applications software.

I installed it on a Lenovo ThinkCentre P-IV box with 4GB RAM. A straightfoward desktop, not cutting edge.

Observations:
  • It installs faster than previous Windows versions
  • It starts up and shuts down faster than Vista
  • Just the basic features are evident on the UI and desktop (as mentioned: lean and mean)
  • UAC finally works without being so annoying :-)
  • It will install and run under the free VMware server. However, the usual vmnet virtual network adapter didn't work for me, so the VM had no networking capability.
Now, will MS sell just a few editions of the OS, instead of the confusing array offered with Vista? Last I heard, the plan is to offer half a dozen different editions, so unfortunately that confusing Vista legacy will remain.