Short URL for FIM user portal
Hi
current users are tied typing URL http://fims.xx.in/identitymanagement
But this URL to be shortend to single word e.g. http://IDAM or http://Selfservice for accessing fim portal
Please let me know how can this be achieved
Thanks
Ragav
- Changed type Markus VilcinskasMicrosoft employee Sunday, March 17, 2013 12:57 PM
Reply:
Regards, Soren Granfeldt
blog is at http://blog.goverco.com | twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/MrGranfeldt
------------------------------------
Reply:
Soren
Am using wss 3.0 with basic setup up, can you please elaborate the steps.
------------------------------------
Reply:
For changing the host header (and more), check out Alternate Access Mappings. You will find this under the Operations tab and Global Configuration section. Click "Edit Public URLs" and be sure to have the correct web application selected before you make any changes.
Regards, Soren Granfeldt
blog is at http://blog.goverco.com | twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/MrGranfeldt
------------------------------------
Reply:
------------------------------------
Reply:
If i click on Edit public URL in WSS 3.0 am seeing blank text boxes, do i need to enter there?
Can you please share the steps or screenshots
------------------------------------
Volume Shadow Copy issue.
Hi.
I am getting following error "Error returned while creating the volume shadow copy: 0xffffffff" in ntbackup.
Hardware details
OS : Windows server 2003 R2 64Bit Enterprise edition.
OS Name Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition
Version 5.2.3790 Service Pack 2 Build 3790
Other OS Description R2
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name USSBSPAPP01
System Manufacturer IBM
System Model IBM System x3650 -[7979B7U]-
System Type x64-based PC
Processor EM64T Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~3159 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date IBM -[GGE138AUS-1.10]-, 5/7/2008
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.2.3790.4354 (srv03_sp2_qfe.080813-1204)"
Addition information : I have tried register the dll files ( related vss issue) but no luck. kindly provide me the correct fix.
Reply:
Hi,
Please have a try on following steps:
In Control Panel, open the Add or Remove Programs tool, and then open the Add/Remove Windows Components tool. Do not make any changes, just click "Next". This reinstalls COM+.
Backup and then delete HKLM\Software\Microsoft\COM3
Also backup and delete the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\EventSystem\{26c409cc-ae86-11d1-b616-00805fc79216}\Subscriptions key.
Reboot to see the result.
If issue still exists, please copy the event error and paste to your reply.
TechNet Subscriber Support in forum |If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tnmff@microsoft.com.
------------------------------------
Dynamic Collection Updatation
- Changed type Nicholas Li Friday, December 7, 2012 6:08 AM
- Changed type Nicholas Li Friday, December 7, 2012 6:10 AM
- Changed type Nicholas Li Friday, December 7, 2012 6:10 AM
- Changed type Nicholas Li Friday, December 7, 2012 6:11 AM
Reply:
Torsten Meringer | http://www.mssccmfaq.de
------------------------------------
Excel Spreadsheet Management tools?
Anyone used any of the products? They are all MS Gold Partners.
CIMCON Software (XLAudit and XLRisk)
http://www.sarbox-solutions.com/solutions/xl_risk/overview.asp
Gold Certified Partner
Prodiance (Spreadsheet IQ)
http://www.prodiance.com/products/spreadsheetIQ.asp
Gold Certified Partner
ClusterSeven (Enterprise Spreadsheet Manager)
http://www.clusterseven.com/fw/main/Overview-43.html
Gold Certified Partner
Finsbury Solutions (EUC Enterprise)
http://finsburysolutions.com/products-euc-enterprise.htm
Gold Certified Partner
- Changed type Sally Tang Tuesday, June 8, 2010 8:37 AM
Reply:
Hi,
As this is not a problem in Office. I will change the type of the thread to “discussion”. Thanks.
Best Regards,
Sally Tang
------------------------------------
Reply:
You didn't mention ComplyXL from Lyquidity.com http://www.lyquidity.com
If you want more information about the international users of ComplyXL as well as more information of the over half a million spreadsheets now controlled by ComplyXL, then contact info@lyquidity.com
------------------------------------
Reply:
------------------------------------
Reply:
We would be pleased to put you in contact with users who would be relevant to your needs. Please contact us at inquiries@clusterseven.com.
------------------------------------
Reply:
------------------------------------
Need to load additional tab in Excel every month using SSIS
Hi,
Excel file has two tabs(Mon1 and Mon2) and i have loaded them into table by creating SSIS package.
All the tabs have same column names and loaded into single table
Next month, the excel file will have an addtional tab(Mon3) and need to load only the additonal tab(Mon3). Same way for the following months.
Is there any way to load only the additional tab in SSIS?
Otherwise we need to load all the tabs including the additonal tab.
Please advise....
Regards
SqlStud
Reply:
"Mon" + (dt_wstr,2)MONTH(GETDATE())
Please mark the post as answered if it answers your question | My SSIS Blog: http://microsoft-ssis.blogspot.com | Twitter
------------------------------------
Reply:
Thanks Joost.
Could you please explain how to determine last tab.
Regards
SqlStud
------------------------------------
Reply:
Thanks Joost.
Could you please explain how to determine last tab.
Regards
SqlStud
You could use a foreach loop to loop through all sheets, but do nothing within the loop itself. Afterwards the variable will contain the name of the last sheet. The list of sheet is alphabetically, so it only works if your sheets have some kind of index/number in the name. Two ways to loop through sheets:
http://microsoft-ssis.blogspot.com/2012/07/foreach-excel-worksheet-enumerator.html
http://microsoft-ssis.blogspot.com/2012/07/custom-ssis-component-foreach-excel.html
Please mark the post as answered if it answers your question | My SSIS Blog: http://microsoft-ssis.blogspot.com | Twitter
------------------------------------
How to Archive the records from a list in Sharepoint 2010?
Hi All,
I want to Archive some of the countrys data from my list into someother place in the same site. Could you please help me?
Regards,
Satish
Soaring w/ Windows 8
Drew MS Partner / MS Beta Tester / Pres. Computer Issues Pres. Computer Issues www.drewsci.com
Reply:
Thanks for your valuable input, from which everyone can benefit, about the article.
Drew MS Partner / MS Beta Tester / Pres. Computer Issues Pres. Computer Issues www.drewsci.com
- Edited by Drew1903 Tuesday, November 20, 2012 6:32 AM
------------------------------------
Windows 7 Pro / Unable to Connect to Network Drive/ D-Link Share Center
I have a D-Link DNS-325 Share Center Storage Device and Windows Professional keeps asking me to log into my device each time I log off of my Desktop. I have checked all the user names and passwords on the External Hard Drive and also Windows Credentials to make sure they both match, and each time I log back onto my Desktop I keep getting a red X Mark on my External Drive Device telling me that Windows Cannot Connect to the Network Drive?
I have tried everything I know how to do and getting frustrated, I have contacted D-Link the Manufacture of this DNS-325 Share Center Device and they said it's a Microsoft issue.
Awaiting a Reply,
Thank You
Dean
Dean Johns6
Reply:
create a batch file that maps the drive on each reboot. Potentially the DNS-325 Interface is going to sleep?
Use the net use command and save script to mapdrives.bat - put this file in the startup folder of your userprofile.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/commandlinereference/p/net-use-command.htm
------------------------------------
Does the Event Viewer refer to drives the same way Disk Management does, where all drives start at 0
I am getting an error in my Event Viewer. The errors is:
Event ID: 51 |
An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk13\DR21 during a paging operation.
The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk5\DR5
When I look at the drives under Computer Management, it starts at Drive 0 which is expected, and I know Partitions start at 1, which is also expected. There seems to be a disconnect between the Event Viewer and Computer Management. I have looked high and low and I have yet to find a single reference to this question anywhere.
I ask this because I have do not recall ever seeing an error message in the Event Viewer that refers to Drive 0 which is what hard drives start out with in Computer Management.
Additionally.... Is this correct?
Errors relating the controller refer to the PCB controller on the drive whereas errors referring on the Device are referring to the disks or bad blocks?
I think I should know this, but I have asked numerous persons and I have yet to hear a definitive answer that rings as authentic.
When I look in Aida64 under Storage I have the following under Physical Drives....
Drive
Drive #1 - WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 (931 GB)
Drive #2 - WDC WD1002FAEX-007BA0 (931 GB)
Drive #11 - WDC WD15EARS-00MVWB0 (1397 GB)
Drive #12 - ST31000528AS (931 GB)
Drive #13 - ST31000333AS (931 GB)
Drive #14 - WDC WD1502FAEX-007BA0 (1397 GB)
Drive #15 - WDC WD1002FAEX-00Y9A0 (931 GB)
Drive #16 - ST31000340AS (931 GB)
Drive #3 - WDC WD800JD-60LSA5 (74 GB)
Drive #4 - WDC WD1002FAEX-00Y9A0 (931 GB)
Drive #5 - WDC WD1003FBYX-01Y7B1 (931 GB)
Drive #6 - WDC WD1001FALS-00Y6A0 (931 GB)
Drive #7 - ST31000528AS (931 GB)
Drive #8 - WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 (931 GB)
Drive #9 - WDC WD1002FAEX-00Y9A0 (931 GB)
Drive #10 - ST31000528AS (931 GB)
I realize I should know this having my own business, but I don't know anyone that has 21 hard drives in their personal computer and errors like mine have never come up. Thank-you for your attention.
- Changed type Niki Han Tuesday, November 20, 2012 5:20 AM
Reply:
Hi,
I notice your another post http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprohardware/thread/e09e5ca6-44a7-415f-96a0-aa86e5d2af56 with same issue is ongoing. In order to avoid any confusion, please focus on one post each time. It will help you find the solution in the most efficient way.
Niki
TechNet Subscriber Support
If you are TechNet Subscription user and have any feedback on our support quality, please send your feedback here.
Niki Han
TechNet Community Support
------------------------------------
no dvd in windows8 installed on imac
first i didnt have driver for sound, bluttoth, etc. i downloaded Windows support on my imac, then carried to w8 and i installed i got all drivers but there is one who is missing... DVD driver (put a DVD or cd but it doesnt work, besides i go to panel control and there is no disk unit)
got an imac please help im looking for a driver or a solution but dont find it
- Changed type Niki Han Friday, November 30, 2012 8:11 AM
Reply:
Hi,
It is a hardware compatibility issue, it is better to consult this with Apple support.
http://www.apple.com/support/imac/
Niki Han
TechNet Community Support
------------------------------------
Can i install windows 8 on top of the storage spaces?
- Changed type Arthur Xie Friday, November 16, 2012 7:47 AM
Reply:
I'll try to answer your question - let me know if you still have questions.
- Windows 8 can't be installed on a storage space, though you can certainly create a storage space and use it to store data and programs that you install after creating the storage space (if you manually specify the storage space as the install location)
- Storage Spaces cannot extend an existing volume - however, you can create a storage space and mount it inside of a folder on an existing volume instead of giving it a separate drive letter.
I hope that this helps!
Jason Gerend - Writer, Windows Server Information Experience
------------------------------------
my new sony vaio that has windows 8 doesnt have microsoft word installed.
Reply:
This is the Hardware Compatibility forum, not the software forum.
But in any event, you might be able to install Microsoft Word 2010 Starter which is a crippled version of the full program that has ads in it.
If you want a fully functional version, you will have to either pay for Microsoft Word or get something that is free like Open Office.
------------------------------------
Reply:
Hi,
Please understand this is Windows 7 forum, for trail version of Office, you can check the following link:
Try Microsoft Office 2010
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/try/?WT.mc_id=MSCOM_EN_US_DLC_FAMILIES_131O1ENUS21462
Regards,
Vincent Wang
TechNet Community Support
------------------------------------
BUG: Wrong seal image in signed emails in Outlook 2013
I found a display bug in Outlook 2013.
In the mail list the seal for signed mails is the new one. However, the image is the ugly old one in the mail (look at the image)
https://hwartg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1mrte963yVdxGk_xzc-op7HW9d4ghSN38d47PzOd_xCwGAErC-o7jimMDGIZ1KIzja0eQf29LOymt9DHvKP9VgigoRWm84y8969mv3U6h1y1g/signed.PNG?psid=1
Also, if you click the link, you get a very ugly pop up windows with a even uglier picture ;)
- ϻοϰsϯεr
- Edited by ϻοϰsϯεr Thursday, November 15, 2012 1:10 PM
- Changed type Tony Chen CHN Tuesday, November 20, 2012 3:05 AM feedback
Reply:
Thank you for your feedback. We would take care of this:)
Tony Chen
TechNet Community Support
A new Office has arrived, try it now.
A beautiful Start. It begins here. Windows 8 and Windows RT.
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
------------------------------------
Did I just bought beta-version of Windows 8??...
So I have upgraded my Windows 7 Home Basic which comes with my Lenovo IdeaPad Z370 to the Windows 8 Pro...
I say thank you very much, for that I have spent ~40$, about 2 hours to download and install this awesome pack of unfinished ad tricks...
And I hope, that win8 was the one of last agony movements of the microsoft and its era of stupidity :)
Why I say all that?..
First that I have seen after installation, was the ugly rectangles tile with absolutely needless things for me... OK, after 1 minute of searching I have found the way to delete "videos", "music", "news", "messages" and other trash aimed to force people to use needless microsoft services. And screen resolution was about 1024x768 on my 23.5" Asus ProArt monitor connected to the laptop)
So after unavailing attempts to find a way to open control panel from this rectangles tile I have switched to the desktop. And then I clicked right mouse button to open monitor settings. But... I got it hanged up for about a minute with a rolling circle...
OK, at last I opened the monitor settings dialog. My purpose was to set up correctly my "big monitor" plugged to notebook via hdmi. In windows 7 it was easy just to plug it, then laptops display automatically turns off and I was able to use external monitor easily. But not this time!.. It was like a masturbation: I have pressed many buttons and make choose in many menues, and at the end I made "small" (laptops) display turned off and "big" display turned on. But the mouse... It could be able to leave the screen through the left border of desktop and disappear there... Even the laptops monitor was disabled. AND in settings dialog I have seen 3 (!) monitors: one laptop display and two Asus PA246 )) So I switched off one of PA246 and the screen became black :) There was no picture nor on laptops nor on external display. Hard reboot helped me and brought back image to laptop monitor.
So I haven't found a way to use my external monitor such way as I used it in win7.
OK, let's return to desktop...
After a half hour of searching I have found a way to control panel and all programs list.. But why it is so deeply concealed? And where is "Run" and other features?..
AND I got WerFault error when trying to launch a half of my programs.
Please note, that I have used the official update from windows 7 and the utility said "all is OK")
Now I gonna make a backup of all my files and program distributives and do "format C:"...) And then set up a Windows 7 ultimate (of course a "torrent" version)). And recommend to do it for all PC users :)
- Changed type Arthur Xie Wednesday, November 21, 2012 7:56 AM
- Changed type Arthur Xie Wednesday, November 21, 2012 7:56 AM
- Changed type Arthur Xie Wednesday, November 21, 2012 7:56 AM
Reply:
I have to ask: Did you actually READ about Windows 8 at all before sending them your money? Or did you just assume it would be awesome since Windows 7 was good?
I'm not trying to criticize you. I'm just wondering how many people are getting screwed by just blindly trusting Microsoft not to have done what they did, and who assume Windows 8 must be good.
-Noel
| Detailed how-to in my eBooks: | Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options |
- Edited by Noel Carboni Tuesday, November 20, 2012 2:32 AM
------------------------------------
Master Project and Resource Pool
MS Project 2003 - Master Project and Resource Pool - No matter which file I use to update the Standard calendar for nonworking days, they disappear when I save the file(s). I have several sub project files, a resource pool and a master project. Do I have to have all of the files open to cascade the Std calendar changes? This also happens with changes to the individual resources' calendars - they don't save.
I am using the Project Guide wizard to edit the standard calendar for company holidays and the individual resources calendar in the Resource Information card, Working Time tab for their vacation days.
Reply:
gerimc2,
You should be able to update resource calendars in the pool file since that is the "origin" of those shared resources. Are you saying that when you do that, and save the resource pool, the changes don't stick?
With reference to project/task calendars, each subproject contains its own customized project/task calendar, and the master file has its own project/task calendar so trying to change the project/task calendar at master level will NOT change the project/task calendar of the subprojects. I recommend you open one of the subprojects, customize the project/task calendar with your non-working days and then save that subproject. You can then use the Organizer to transfer that calendar to each of the other subprojects and to the master. An easier approach may be to customize a copy of the standard calendar in your Global and then assign that as the project/task calendar in each of your subprojects and master file.
Hope this helps.
John
------------------------------------
Windows 8 Baffles Consumers
All those consumers must be using Windows 8 wrongly.
- Changed type K.Kong Sunday, October 21, 2012 10:45 AM
Reply:
Hi
That really is funny.
One journalist at the Associated Press writes the story and within a few hours the word for word article appears on hundreds of website.
Regards
------------------------------------
Reply:
In fairness, real Consumers haven't had a shot at it yet.
I'm honestly curious and intrigued to see how this plays out, starting next week.
If only the telemetry had picked this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Cor-lvXsgx0
- Edited by K.Kong Saturday, October 20, 2012 6:17 AM
------------------------------------
Reply:
------------------------------------
Reply:
All different OS'es require a training period, no matter how user friendly they are. Whenever someone in trouble with a Mac asks me for help., I am lost too. I find myself handicapped. I don't know where/how to access all the diagnostics stuff I have on Windows.
Microsoft has a good hold on Windows because of this switching barrier. And because of this barrier (in addition to the application ecosystem) Windows need not be the best OS to still be the majority OS. The moment switching from previous versions of Windows to Windows 8 is as difficult as switching to the Mac OS, Microsoft is inviting people to go away.
------------------------------------
Reply:
I don't think that Apple can compete on a price level and certainly not in the Enterprise market. I think the thought is that people are going to get exposed to 8 mostly in tablet form to start and then once there's a base level of familiarity, it will be easier to transition. In addition, I doubt most Enterprise or Mid-Level companies would go to 8 even if it were just a re-engineered 7. There's too much cost associated in Application Compatibility, (I know, everything is supposed to work, but that statement is not an acceptable subsitution for UAT), USMT testing, Group Policy creation and application, Image Management and the actual rollout. That being said, I do see 8 getting introduced into the Enterprise along with 7. I, for one, am going to work very hard to find the time to get Windows To Go working in time for the release of the Ivy Bridge Surface. It's ridiculous for our CIO to travel with his iPad to our NY office and then have to borrow a laptop when he wants to actually create a document. With Windows To Go, Direct Access and the Surface (or another similar device) the user can get the benefits of a tablet in a BYOD-type environment (I don't care what they put on the Surface itself, if it breaks, wipe and return) while I have all the management capabilities of a normal environment. It's brilliant, in my mind, and my guess is that once our CIO has one and users see that they can do all of their work with one device, we'll start getting requests for them. From there we just have to make certain that we are prepared to do a little bit of training with the user to get them going and voila, we'll be "creating" Windows 8 users.
And one thing about the very one-sided video that you pointed to - if that person was really a Systems Manager but doesn't know the "shutdown -s" command, well... I mean, that's level 1 technical knowledge right there.
------------------------------------
Reply:
I think the thought is that people are going to get exposed to 8 mostly in tablet form to start and then once there's a base level of familiarity, it will be easier to transition.
Nobody is complaining about Windows 8 for tablets. Nobody has complained about Windows 8 for tablets. Nobody is objecting to the Modern UI for tablets.
The unhappiness so far has been on shoe-horning a cell-phone UI into PCs. Making Windows 8 optimal for PCs does not have to erode its suitability for tablets one bit.
Why create a need for transition, as you put it? What is the reward? On the other hand there is a real risk of inviting people to switch to the Mac if it is going to be of the same difficulty/ease anyway. Enterprise IT is losing more and more authority with BYOD. The position of Windows in the enterprise is no more that entrenched.
By now it should be clear that the complainers are the people who want to see Microsoft succeed.
- Edited by K.Kong Sunday, October 21, 2012 10:45 AM
------------------------------------
Reply:
Nobody is complaining about Windows 8 for tablets. Nobody has complained about Windows 8 for tablets. Nobody is objecting to the Modern UI for tablets.
The unhappiness so far has been on shoe-horning a cell-phone UI into PCs. Making Windows 8 optimal for PCs does not have to erode its suitability for tablets one bit.
Why create a need for transition, as you put it? What is the reward? On the other hand there is a real risk of inviting people to switch to the Mac if it is going to be of the same difficulty/ease anyway. Enterprise IT is losing more and more authority with BYOD. The position of Windows in the enterprise is no more that entrenched.
By now it should be clear that the complainers are the people who want to see Microsoft succeed.
There is no need as far as users are concerned for "shoe-horning" a portable OS to typical Windows. But the users were the last of Microsoft's considerations here. in fact, Microsoft is using the existing base in a cynical manner.
Microsoft needs to jump-start its portable ecosystem (as it has zero presence there). Thus, the only way of making this ecosystem attractive to develop for (and getting to hundreds of thousands of apps) is to convert the desktop installation into portable installations as well. This is really obvious and has been commented by many. If Microsoft had released the portable OS on its own, it would have met with broad indifference. In many ways, the failure of Windows Phone 7 is what forced Microsoft to "bastardize" Win8.
Although some have said that the "Modern/Metro UI" is fine for tablets, I actually disagree. It is not as good as the competition. The flexibility of Android 4.0 that marries updating widgets (call them tiles) and icons and provides users many ways of configuring the interface is far superior. Thus, in the portable OS, MS would have to compete against a superior product. All of these factors have forced Microsoft to try to use the existing user base to jump-start its portable OS presence.
Microsoft knows that without any effort, it would sell over 20 million Win8 licenses per month as these are sold to OEMs. Therefore, hundreds of millions of "new users" will be generated in a year of so. This is the strategy. it is cynical, and it is manipulative...and it would likely not succeed.
------------------------------------
Reply:
Have a look at Paul Thurrotts Supersite for Windows. There's a link to a video showing a 3 year old using Windows 8.
http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/windows8/windows-8-easy-3year-144572
Can't be that difficult then !!
------------------------------------
Reply:
Have a look at Paul Thurrotts Supersite for Windows. There's a link to a video showing a 3 year old using Windows 8.
http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/windows8/windows-8-easy-3year-144572
Can't be that difficult then !!
First of all, Paul Thurrott schooling a kid to use Win8 is one of the cheap tricks that this person would use (among other lies) to make his pro-Windows case. Paul Thurrott is more aware than anybody else that MS's failure at this point is his own professional failure. So, I would not be expecting too much verity there.
In any case, nobody said that Win8 would be impossible to learn by anybody; of course, getting used to a new OS will take some time but it would be usable at the end. The point is one: what do all these changes get the users? The answer is: Nothing (actually less than nothing). Nobody would be objecting to interface changes if these were unlocking new functionality and new capabilities but this is clearly not the case. Functionality and capability have been degraded in Win8 desktop over Win7. And this is the reality.
Now, Paul Thurrott may wish to get a monkey to use Win8. The basic equation is not going to change.
------------------------------------
Reply:
If you have the mind of a 3-year-old, then apparently Windows is right up your alley, Tony.
There are those of us who would prefer to have serious computing power at our disposal, with the integration of applications and data handled in a state-of-the-art manner by a modern operating system.
In short, we don't want a simple toy. We need a powerful tool.
But perhaps Microsoft doesn't have to work as hard to sell simple toys. Who wants to work hard if they can make easy money selling things to 3-year-olds?
-Noel
Detailed how-to in my eBooks:
Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options
Configure The Windows 8 "To Work" Options
Obviously, beyond faking much of this (the video), Microsoft's motives for developing Win8 is all about the money. But it has to be. Microsoft is not a charitable organization, not by a long shot. Its only mission is to increase "stockholder value", not to help users. This is the same as with any other for-profit corporation. If existing customers stand in the way, then they are an obstacle to be minimized. I think that Bill Gates had a way of reconciling computing advances and "stockholder value".Steve Ballmer has no such vision. He is a salesman.
It is obvious why Microsoft needs to switch its attention to tablets and smartphones. Desktop and laptop sales are declining. But this was Microsoft own doing!!! Since Vista (Win7 was an elaboration of Vista) Microsoft did not bring out an OS to tap all the capabilities of our machines and justify an upgrade cycle. In fact, 5 year old laptops with an SSD perform more than decently with Win7. Now, by removing many functions, Win8 can perform even better (it is designed for underpowered hardware, anyway). Thus, the drop in desktop and laptop sales is a "self-fulfilling" prophesy.
It is sad to see Microsoft "journalists" like Paul Thurrott descending to levels of creating silly stunts. But dealing with the hostility Win8 has unleashed, Microsoft is trying many ways to generate "enthusiasm". I would not be surprised if paid crowds are even "engineered" is a few places to boost the impression.
------------------------------------
Reply:
I would not be surprised if paid crowds are even "engineered" is a few places to boost the impression.
Do you know Neowin.net? There's an amount of MS fanboyism (and awful spelling) there that is just unreal. Usually only the Linux and Mac communities had such fanatics.
- Edited by VeryBoringNickname Monday, October 22, 2012 3:46 PM
------------------------------------
Reply:
I would not be surprised if paid crowds are even "engineered" is a few places to boost the impression.
Do you know Neowin.net? There's an amount of MS fanboyism (and awful spelling) there that is just unreal. Usually only the Linux and Mac communities had such fanatics.
Yes, I know it. But I can tell you that in these forums, authors of negative opinions of Win8 are immediately barred from further posting. So, these forums present a very unbalanced view of the situation. They are moderated by either Microsoft fanboys or by persons with significant interest in the Microsoft ecosystem. Anything that threatens this, threatens their livelihood (understandable) and it becomes the "enemy". But these phenomena are common in the world of computing.
In fact, the more the traditional power users display a level of hostility to Win8, the more extreme these small cabals are going to become. Flame wars are not uncommon, unfortunately.
------------------------------------
Reply:
Way back when I was in middle management they used to coach us to encourage people to offer solutions to problems rather than just complain about what's wrong. Complaining is viewed as bad, no matter how well-justified. Proposing solutions is almost universally regarded as good.
So let me say this: Microsoft: I encourage you to return to the path of advancing serious computing by actually adding useful new features to Windows that serious business users need. It's a cop out to choose serious or frivolous computing exclusively. You have tens (hundreds?) of thousands of employees - you can do it all!
-Noel
| Detailed how-to in my eBooks: | Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options |
------------------------------------
Reply:
Carey Frisch
Yes, it certainly is.
------------------------------------
Reply:
Listen, I'm not the hugest fan of the start screen, but beyond being a slight annoyance, it's no big deal. I keep hearing about "reduced functionality for power users" and yet I seem to have no problem since 99% of everything I already do in Windows 7, I type into the search bar. It's the easiest way to navigate by far and if you're not navigating that way, why would you call yourself a "serious" or "power" user? It's like the supposed "Systems Manager" in the video who doesn't know how to type in "shutdown -s" to shutdown a machine.
Secondly, what's with the tin foil? Microsoft is forcing people, faking things, blah, blah, blah, evil empire, blah, blah blah. Apple creates a total monopoly, not a peep - Microsoft introduces a new OS and you act as if they're coming to enslave you. Really? Do you read what you write? It sounds ridiculous.
Why would they do this? Oh, I don't know, to unify the OS across the board because their biggest competitor (Apple) is already moving that way and since Microsoft is a business, not a charity, they're trying to be Apple to the punch? Put an Apple sticker on this baby and everyone would say it's a brilliant idea - say it's from Microsoft and the world cries foul because we're moving from a Start Menu to Start Screen. I bet when Apple does this in a few years, everyone will talk about what a brilliant idea it is and ask why no one thought of it sooner.
As much as it's an annoyance to have the full-screen Start Screen pop up, it's not the end of my world and I can see a bunch of people who may actually appreciate the flatter structure of the Start Screen, rather than having to navigate through all the sub-directories in the Start Menu.
The "it's made for a 3 year old" bit. So, what do you call the iPhone and iPad - devices that have been lacking in features by 2-3 years since they first came out and are nothing more than glorified web browsers? Oh sure, now some games are coming, but let's face it, I could do about, well, none of my work on those devices save write email and without buying a 3rd party keyboard, even that's a futile exercise - and despite all of this, they've sold millions and everyone thinks they're the cat's meow! In fact, they tout how it's easy enough for a toddler to use and, wow, everybody thinks it's the greatest thing. Some guy (I have no idea who this is, so I'm not going to try and judge character) puts out a video of a 3 year old playing with Win 8 and now all of the sudden it's an OS built for a toddler that can't get anything done, blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine.
How long have you used it, and I mean, REALLY used it for? 10 minutes? 20? I've been using as one of my machines since consumer preview and you know what I found? It's slightly different that Win 7, but I feel the same transition from XP to Vista/7 that I am feeling from 7 to 8 - and that means instead of trying to figure out what menu a setting is in, I just type and voila, there it is.
Fanboy? Eh. Microsoft is what it is and they certainly have their share of dumb things they do, but I'm tired of all this nonsensical, pulled from the ether, conspiratorial reactions to a change to the Start Menu. I've seen a few legitimate, thought out concerns and complaints, but most of its the usual "this suck, Microsoft sucks, I hate this" and oftentimes by those who have hardly or haven't at all, used the new OS.
Oh, and if you think my company is going to spend 2-3 times as much on hardware, start using an OS that I can't incorporate into my VDI structure, sit back as the vendor doesn't patch known, gaping vulnerabilities for several months and the have to go through App Compat and rollouts 3 times sooner because Apple only supports an OS for 2 1/2 years... Yeah, I don't think so.
Sent from Win 8 Running in Hyper-V
------------------------------------
Reply:
Listen, I'm not the hugest fan of the start screen, but beyond being a slight annoyance, it's no big deal. I keep hearing about "reduced functionality for power users" and yet I seem to have no problem since 99% of everything I already do in Windows 7, I type into the search bar. It's the easiest way to navigate by far and if you're not navigating that way, why would you call yourself a "serious" or "power" user? It's like the supposed "Systems Manager" in the video who doesn't know how to type in "shutdown -s" to shutdown a machine.
Secondly, what's with the tin foil? Microsoft is forcing people, faking things, blah, blah, blah, evil empire, blah, blah blah. Apple creates a total monopoly, not a peep - Microsoft introduces a new OS and you act as if they're coming to enslave you. Really? Do you read what you write? It sounds ridiculous.
Why would they do this? Oh, I don't know, to unify the OS across the board because their biggest competitor (Apple) is already moving that way and since Microsoft is a business, not a charity, they're trying to be Apple to the punch? Put an Apple sticker on this baby and everyone would say it's a brilliant idea - say it's from Microsoft and the world cries foul because we're moving from a Start Menu to Start Screen. I bet when Apple does this in a few years, everyone will talk about what a brilliant idea it is and ask why no one thought of it sooner.
As much as it's an annoyance to have the full-screen Start Screen pop up, it's not the end of my world and I can see a bunch of people who may actually appreciate the flatter structure of the Start Screen, rather than having to navigate through all the sub-directories in the Start Menu.
The "it's made for a 3 year old" bit. So, what do you call the iPhone and iPad - devices that have been lacking in features by 2-3 years since they first came out and are nothing more than glorified web browsers? Oh sure, now some games are coming, but let's face it, I could do about, well, none of my work on those devices save write email and without buying a 3rd party keyboard, even that's a futile exercise - and despite all of this, they've sold millions and everyone thinks they're the cat's meow! In fact, they tout how it's easy enough for a toddler to use and, wow, everybody thinks it's the greatest thing. Some guy (I have no idea who this is, so I'm not going to try and judge character) puts out a video of a 3 year old playing with Win 8 and now all of the sudden it's an OS built for a toddler that can't get anything done, blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine.
How long have you used it, and I mean, REALLY used it for? 10 minutes? 20? I've been using as one of my machines since consumer preview and you know what I found? It's slightly different that Win 7, but I feel the same transition from XP to Vista/7 that I am feeling from 7 to 8 - and that means instead of trying to figure out what menu a setting is in, I just type and voila, there it is.
Fanboy? Eh. Microsoft is what it is and they certainly have their share of dumb things they do, but I'm tired of all this nonsensical, pulled from the ether, conspiratorial reactions to a change to the Start Menu. I've seen a few legitimate, thought out concerns and complaints, but most of its the usual "this suck, Microsoft sucks, I hate this" and oftentimes by those who have hardly or haven't at all, used the new OS.
Oh, and if you think my company is going to spend 2-3 times as much on hardware, start using an OS that I can't incorporate into my VDI structure, sit back as the vendor doesn't patch known, gaping vulnerabilities for several months and the have to go through App Compat and rollouts 3 times sooner because Apple only supports an OS for 2 1/2 years... Yeah, I don't think so.
Sent from Win 8 Running in Hyper-V
First of all, let's make a few things clear. Both I and Noel (and especially Noel) have lots of experience with Win8. So, let's dispense with this part of your criticism
Second: I would like to assume that you are a clever man, and you can understand that statements such as "unify the OS across the board" is nothing by empty words, right? It is just a marketing slogan. First of all, let's see all the different and incompatible OSes Microsoft is offering:
(a) Win 8: A Win32 - WinRT hybrid
(b) Windows RT (for ARM tablets) - Mostly WinRT - vestigial Win32 only for ramp Office 2013
(c) Windows Phone 8 (even the Modern UI is different here)
I would not call "unifying" in any way. I would call this extreme fragmentation that would result in a lot of befuddlement.
Even if Microsoft was trying a "unifying" effort across platforms, one would have thought that this would have been ill-advised. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses; it is important to fashion the UI to the demands of the platform, not the other way around. I am sure that you agree.
Now, the "Start Screen" was placed in Win8 not because of any "unifying effort" (which does not exist) but for purely cynical manipulation of the market. The users were not clamoring for the shoehorning of a portable OS onto their desktop. Microsoft decided to do it anyway because this was the only way, the company decided, to create "users" for it portable OS. With Windows Phone 7 a bust, Microsoft found out that a Metro/Modern UI-driven portable OS on its own did not have that much of an appeal. Thus, the only way to force the issue was to convert desktop users to "portable users" to incentivize developers to write for this user base. This is what is happening, not any "unification" (which is not happening at all). Of course, this whole effort was resisted in Microsoft by persons who were eventually forced to leave such as Bach, Allard and Ozzie.
You are right that the press would fawn on any offering by Apple. What is also true is that Microsoft has developed Apple envy. I am not sure if you have read Ballmer's recent circular to users and partners. You should have had. It is summarized by the term "devices and services". Essentially, it reads as "we want to be like Apple". Microsoft aims to create an interlocking mix of Microsoft-branded devices (phones, tablets, laptops) and make them work with their services and their shops. This is the clear abandonment of the previous business model (and Ballmer was not shy to say so), in which Microsoft provided the OS and software to run in hardware built by its partners. So, expect to see a lot more Microsoft-branded hardware and a substantial retreat of offerings from partners.
The future, as Microsoft sees it (and made various presentations to the Street on this) is the abandonment of the desktop (the exact timing is not, as yet, announced) and the progressive transformation of Windows into a portable OS (just the Metro/Modern element). I am not sure of all the components of the plan to move there, but you would see it even more clearly in 2013, when they would be releasing "Blue".
Thus, Win8 is all about the transformation of Microsoft into an Apple fascimile and has nothing to do with addressing any user needs (I do not believe that you can claim otherwise). Can you still the desktop in Win8? Of course, but functionality has been diminished (we have explored it here in detail). In addition, interactions have become more difficult because of the changes in interface.
------------------------------------
Reply:
I was talking about unifying the UI. End users don't care so much what goes on in the background.
I will agree that each platform has it's own strengths and weaknesses, and I won't even try to argue that what MSFT is doing is the best idea, but I understand the approach, which didn't make a whole lot of sense until I read what they were trying to do, but in anycase, what I do disagree with is some sort of cockamamie conspiracy idea that it's just a way to force people to buy their tablets. Microsoft is going to make more money off of selling their Enterprise products than they will ever make off of selling tablets. Why would they intentionally alienate their Enterprise customers? Just to sell some tablets? Really? That makes sense, doesn't it. Or maybe they did a bunch of research with real people about how they actually use technology and decided they needed to take a bold step instead of languishing behind Apple. Gee, make your primary customers mad or try some bold innovation? Which sounds like a more plausible explanation? That's what ruffles my feathers.
What is also true is that Microsoft has developed Apple envy. - I totally agree here, but then who wouldn't? They are allowed a monopoly, control you by enslaving you to their format, copy other's ideas which somehow they are credited for (not really their own fault in most cases, just ignorance,) and somehow avoid most of the lawsuits that MSFT had to deal with. MSFT is a business, after all.
Does Microsoft see everything going Mobile? I think a lot of people think this. I think they're wrong, just like the idea that BYOD is going to happen in any scale in the Enterprise is a pipedream (a hybrid model I think is completely possible, but not with random, user-bought devices.) Do they think that they're going to get rid of sizable windows, multiple open windows and such and give up all that cash (I mean, what are our licenses, $300 or $400 a pop, I can't remember off the top of my head?) Maybe.
The only reason I can see them going to a no desktop model is if they truly thought that XenApp and ThinApp were robust enough or going to be robust enough and widespread enough to do away with the Windows OS itself. Honestly, this is the only way I see Citrix or VMware as a desktop solution making any sense cost-wise - eliminating that MSFT license cost. Maybe someday far in the future, but I can't imagine anyone thinking that it's a viable solution in the next few years.
I guess I just don't see that big of a deal between the desktop environments of 7 and 8. There are windows, notifications, a taskbar with items pinned to it, multitasking - it looks the same except the Start Menu is the Start Screen. Slightly annoying, but nothing for me to get my undergarments in a bunch. I mean, I still find everything essentially the same way - from the command line.
And one more thing, part of the reason why Windows Phone hasn't done that great is because they are locked into the Apple ecosystem, much like Enterprise tends to be locked into the Microsoft ecosystem. I can't tell you how many reviews I read that were "I like this better than my iPhone but I have too much music and too many applications."
------------------------------------
Reply:
------------------------------------
Reply:
I'm saying that I don't believe they would just completely give up the desktop part of the OS or that functionality merely to sell tablets and phones
And yet here we are with a visibly degraded desktop experience, and features deleted. Why did they put effort into making that happen? Lots of folks started out believing as you do, and are shaking heads over that as well.
I've been running Windows 8 daily as well as Windows 7 since the DP was released over a year ago. I've even written a book on how to set it up for productive use. I could argue I know about as much about Windows 8 as anyone outside of Microsoft at this point.
It's not a complete bust, it actually seems stable, compatible, and maybe even a bit more efficient, but some features have just been deleted and I could find no compelling positive reasons to upgrade a system already running Windows 7. EVEN IF it was just a wash - where Windows 8 did everything Windows 7 does just as well and no better - it would be a reasonable choice to upgrade - to maintain the partnership with Microsoft we take on when we buy a license, since there is value to keeping current. But with Microsoft sending the clear signal that they no longer want us working on the desktop that we all know we'll need for some years more, do we want to go with that partnership? What do we gain?
I encourage everyone to truly evaluate Windows 8 for themselves using means that allow you to avoid going through a one-way door. Virtualization packages like VMware are an excellent means by which you can install Windows 8 for evaluation (e.g., the Windows 8 90 day Enterprise evaluation package), take the time to set it up in a virtual machine and actually use it, and see for yourself whether it provides you the functionality and user experience you need, and sufficient return on investment on the money spent and time to re-learn things that you'll have to face.
A virtual machine testing environment also allows you to directly compare user experiences between different systems. That shouldn't be discounted!
It may be that after evaluating it yourself you'll choose to go with the upgrade, or as I have you might choose to put off making Windows 8 your system of choice for now. It's worth mentioning that - much the same as with folks holding onto XP - the balance and thus the decision to upgrade may change in the future. Or it may be that Windows 9 will be more attractive. I know a lot of folks skipped Vista entirely (though I didn't).
-Noel
| Detailed how-to in my eBooks: | Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options |
- Edited by Noel Carboni Tuesday, October 23, 2012 2:02 AM
------------------------------------
Reply:
I was talking about unifying the UI. End users don't care so much what goes on in the background.
Microsoft is going to make more money off of selling their Enterprise products than they will ever make off of selling tablets. Why would they intentionally alienate their Enterprise customers? Just to sell some tablets? Really? That makes sense, doesn't it. Or maybe they did a bunch of research with real people about how they actually use technology and decided they needed to take a bold step instead of languishing behind Apple. Gee, make your primary customers mad or try some bold innovation? Which sounds like a more plausible explanation? That's what ruffles my feathers.
Does Microsoft see everything going Mobile? I think a lot of people think this. I think they're wrong, just like the idea that BYOD is going to happen in any scale in the Enterprise is a pipedream (a hybrid model I think is completely possible, but not with random, user-bought devices.) Do they think that they're going to get rid of sizable windows, multiple open windows and such and give up all that cash (I mean, what are our licenses, $300 or $400 a pop, I can't remember off the top of my head?) Maybe.
The only reason I can see them going to a no desktop model is if they truly thought that XenApp and ThinApp were robust enough or going to be robust enough and widespread enough to do away with the Windows OS itself. Honestly, this is the only way I see Citrix or VMware as a desktop solution making any sense cost-wise - eliminating that MSFT license cost. Maybe someday far in the future, but I can't imagine anyone thinking that it's a viable solution in the next few years.
I guess I just don't see that big of a deal between the desktop environments of 7 and 8. There are windows, notifications, a taskbar with items pinned to it, multitasking - it looks the same except the Start Menu is the Start Screen. Slightly annoying, but nothing for me to get my undergarments in a bunch. I mean, I still find everything essentially the same way - from the command line.
And one more thing, part of the reason why Windows Phone hasn't done that great is because they are locked into the Apple ecosystem, much like Enterprise tends to be locked into the Microsoft ecosystem. I can't tell you how many reviews I read that were "I like this better than my iPhone but I have too much music and too many applications."
You pose a number of interesting questions and I would like to answer them. You content that it does not really make sense for Microsoft to abandon the enterprise (where most of the sales are) and try to sell mainly to consumers. Well, it may not make sense to you, but it makes perfect sense to Microsoft. You should try to read what Microsoft itself is posting and saying. Microsoft believes that the IT infrastructure will be determined by consumers ("Consumerization of IT") and Microsoft is supporting this this move (there are a couple of Microsoft position papers on this and Microsoft has a number of people working on this trend). Have no doubt that Microsoft no longer sees itself as an "enterprise-solutions" company, not primarily anyway. MS sees itself as a "Devises and Services" company, as Ballmer made apparently clear to a letter addressed to all of us.
Now, you may not want to believe me but here is a recent article by Paul Thurrott, a Microsoft-associated PR person:
Here is what Thurrott states (which I have been saying for ages): Windows 8 is nothing less than a new mobile platform that happens to bring along compatibility with current-generation desktop applications, and that Windows RT is the purer version of this future vision, with less backward compatibility but more mobile-oriented aspirations
He then provides numbers that I actually disagree with but they are the numbers that drive the Microsoft switch to portable OSes (throwing a grenade into Windows, as Thurrott states)
------
Your second comment was that Microsoft is not going to get rid of the desktop in a short period of time. I disagree. I think that only a vestigial desktop would be present by the time of Win9 (if there is any such OS). Microsoft is now planning to be releasing updates to Windows on an annual basis, very much like the other mobile OS vendors. Microsoft has strong monetary reasons to eradicate the desktop. Desktop applications are not sold through the Windows Marketplace. This is a shop through which Microsoft thinks would make a lot of money. Thus, it is important to move all application purchasing through it. This necessitates the killing of the desktop, have no doubt about it. Again, you do not seem to be aware that Microsoft has changed its business model. Ballmer was quite clear about it. Maybe you should read his letter.
Now, you are right in your predictions that complex applications will be offered as services and they would be running under XenApp or ThinApp, no doubt about it. Yes, the system has to become a bit more robust, IT has to be "pushed" in that direction but this is what is going to happen. Applications would be running in servers and portable OSes (such as Windows RT, Android and others) will be acting as thin clients. There would be no need for an OS that can provide rich application support (at least not in Microsft's own view of the future).
Microsoft sees itself as one of the players in the portable OS along with Apple and Google. MS probably does not dispute that there may be need for capable desktop OSes well into the future, but it is ready to concede this market to other players, I guess. The big question here, with Microsoft manufacturing its own devices, what would become of the OEM partners? I have no idea, but they must be quite worried, especially Intel!!
My prediction: Win8 may be the last OS that you may be able to install in hardware of your choosing!
- Edited by ADRz Tuesday, October 23, 2012 5:47 PM
------------------------------------
Reply:
I'm saying that I don't believe they would just completely give up the desktop part of the OS or that functionality merely to sell tablets and phones
And yet here we are with a visibly degraded desktop experience, and features deleted. Why did they put effort into making that happen? Lots of folks started out believing as you do, and are shaking heads over that as well.
I've been running Windows 8 daily as well as Windows 7 since the DP was released over a year ago. I've even written a book on how to set it up for productive use. I could argue I know about as much about Windows 8 as anyone outside of Microsoft at this point.
It's not a complete bust, it actually seems stable, compatible, and maybe even a bit more efficient, but some features have just been deleted and I could find no compelling positive reasons to upgrade a system already running Windows 7. EVEN IF it was just a wash - where Windows 8 did everything Windows 7 does just as well and no better - it would be a reasonable choice to upgrade - to maintain the partnership with Microsoft we take on when we buy a license, since there is value to keeping current. But with Microsoft sending the clear signal that they no longer want us working on the desktop that we all know we'll need for some years more, do we want to go with that partnership? What do we gain?
I encourage everyone to truly evaluate Windows 8 for themselves using means that allow you to avoid going through a one-way door. Virtualization packages like VMware are an excellent means by which you can install Windows 8 for evaluation (e.g., the Windows 8 90 day Enterprise evaluation package), take the time to set it up in a virtual machine and actually use it, and see for yourself whether it provides you the functionality and user experience you need, and sufficient return on investment on the money spent and time to re-learn things that you'll have to face.
A virtual machine testing environment also allows you to directly compare user experiences between different systems. That shouldn't be discounted!
It may be that after evaluating it yourself you'll choose to go with the upgrade, or as I have you might choose to put off making Windows 8 your system of choice for now. It's worth mentioning that - much the same as with folks holding onto XP - the balance and thus the decision to upgrade may change in the future. Or it may be that Windows 9 will be more attractive. I know a lot of folks skipped Vista entirely (though I didn't).
-Noel
Detailed how-to in my eBooks:
Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options
Configure The Windows 8 "To Work" Options
Noel, likely there is not going to be a Win9. Not in a typical way. Microsoft has announced that it would be going through an annual update process very much as the vendors of other portable OSes (Apple, Google). So, whatever are the iterations coming in the future, the 3-year window between releases is no longer going to be adhered to. These updates are not going to be the typical cumulative patches. They would resemble the iOS and Android updates (the systems that Win8 now competes against).
------------------------------------
Reply:
Flame away folks! I just thought it was amusing, whichever way you want to view/read into it, so please never jump to conclusions.
Me? After playing with Windows 8 since February, I've gone back to Windows 7 - the metro screen and apps seem time-wasters to me.
Each to their own, as they say.
- Edited by Tony Wise Tuesday, November 13, 2012 3:21 PM
------------------------------------
Reply:
Noel, likely there is not going to be a Win9.
With the removal of Sinofsky, there's new hope.
If Microsoft has enough smart people left, and Ballmer has the wherewithall (debatable) to put a smart technical leader in charge, they COULD reconstitute the Windows 7 code baseline, merge in recent fixes, and move forward to where they should have gone with Windows 8.
-Noel
| Detailed how-to in my eBooks: | Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options |
------------------------------------
Reply:
I will say there's no need to use the Metro screen at all, outside of the initial login, though interestingly Win 8 Pro boots straight to the desktop. Anyway, here's how to give yourself your Start Menu on the desktop without need for 3rd party apps. (Thanks for this, Ray)
1. Right click on the task bar and select toolbars
2. Select new Toolbar
3. Browse to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
4. Select "programs"
I will agree, the metro apps seem like time wasters but... I'm curious about Windows RT and the sandboxing. Peter Bright had a really interesting article on RT and I wanted to finish it before I got back here posting. http://arstechnica.com/features/2012/10/windows-8-and-winrt-everything-old-is-new-again/
I don't care what you use. Use Linux, Apple, 1DIRPLUS on top of DOS (my favorite from back in the day) for all I care. I just get sick of the tin-foil conspiracy theories claiming that despite all the money and effort MSFT has put into SCCM, Hyper-V, Server 2012, Virtual Machine Manager, and frankly the System Center Suite in general, that they're abandoning the Enterprise and the world is going to end and blah, blah, blah. That's all.
But I know, I'm fighting a losing battle. Somehow because it takes 4 simple steps to add a start menu, the sky is falling and there will be no more Windows 9 and everyone will need to abandon computers and do their work from tablets.
If Microsoft falters? Linux it is. I like command lines. Once I get the service installed on some of our 2003 DCs, all I'm going to use to manage AD is PowerShell. I'm sure Microsoft is pushing PowerShell because they expect it will be really easy to type many commands from a tablet, because they're getting rid of the PC, right? Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
Okay, I'll stop here. It's just so easy to find things that don't jive with the "World is Ending" perspective.
------------------------------------
Reply:
If Microsoft has enough smart people left, and Ballmer has the wherewithall (debatable) to put a smart technical leader in charge, they COULD reconstitute the Windows 7 code baseline, merge in recent fixes, and move forward to where they should have gone with Windows 8.
There's no need to reconstitute the Windows 7 code baseline. Windows 8 still has the desktop after all, and it even had the start menu in the preview. Just the code for the start menu needs to be re-added to W8, and the Metro stuff decoupled (or made optional).
If they wanted to, it would be not such a big deal technically.
------------------------------------
Reply:
Okay, Noel, I'll give you some points. Microsoft not having the option to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to install them" during the setup process not to mention, the automatic reboot with no option to postpone, after updates install, is one of the dumbest things I've seen. All that's going to do is make people want to turn off updates. I don't see what the problem was before. They're probably going to end up with more people just turning off updates and less machines that are patched than if they would have left it alone.
------------------------------------
Reply:
To be fair you CAN set up the more appropriate behavior after the system is installed. But how many people (who haven't bought my book) will think to go look?
Excerpted from Configure The Windows 8 "To Work" Options:
Configure Windows Update to Prompt You
Let's set up Windows Update to download updates but not install them until you give it the go-ahead...
o Click Start, type update in the search box.
o When Windows Update comes up, click it.
o Click the Change settings link at the left.
o Select Download updates but let me choose whether to install them.
-Noel
| Detailed how-to in my eBooks: | Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options |
------------------------------------
Reply:
To be fair you CAN set up the more appropriate behavior after the system is installed. But how many people (who haven't bought my book) will think to go look?
Excerpted from Configure The Windows 8 "To Work" Options:
Configure Windows Update to Prompt You
Let's set up Windows Update to download updates but not install them until you give it the go-ahead...
o Click Start, type update in the search box.
o When Windows Update comes up, click it.
o Click the Change settings link at the left.
o Select Download updates but let me choose whether to install them.
-Noel
Detailed how-to in my eBooks:
Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options
Configure The Windows 8 "To Work" Options
Noel,
The number of negative reviews of Windows 8 are just piling on. These reports appeared today. The report by Jacob Nielsen is especially damning.
Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users
and to the object of this thread, of staying with Win7, this is an excellent report
http://www.zdnet.com/what-not-to-buy-on-black-friday-windows-8-pcs-and-laptops-7000007557/
The author specifically states that the Windows 8's Desktop looks much more like "Windows," but the interface still has only a fraction of Windows 7 Aero's functionality. Of course, we know that this is correct. Furthermore, he states that:
.....David Gewirtz recently said, "Windows 8 is the opposite of the Ribbon. Instead of laying out everything users need, where they need it, Windows 8 takes away a lot of functions and a lot of visual clues." Exactly. The bottom line Metro is change for the sake of change. Metro isn't a UI change that makes things better for users. The Desktop interface is a major step back in functionality and adds insult to injury by requiring to learn new ways of doing the same old things you already knew how to do on Windows 7
- Edited by ADRz Monday, November 19, 2012 11:58 PM
------------------------------------
Reply:
Not particularly surprising. There isn't some secret new thing that we crotchety old guys just don't "get" because we're not "with it", or that escapes us because we're not on drugs. Fanboys forget that we're the same old codgers who embraced Windows 7 just 3 short years ago.
Microsoft made the mistake in assuming all people can be swayed by fashion more than rational thought (and that Microsoft can set fashion). While that's true in some cases, people who use computers actually are smart. A few find the several new features that Windows 8 provides attractive, and a few just gotta have the latest sparkly thing, but the majority of people are going to feel as these reports suggest.
The perceptive among us could see all this unfolding plain as day the first moments after booting up the DP and going "what the"?!?
-Noel
| Detailed how-to in my eBooks: | Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options |
------------------------------------
How to perform archiving on VM's that are in a Hyper V Cluster - Hyper-V 2008 R2
How do I archive my VM's for safe keeping and future reference?
Note: All VM's are part of a cluster
Thanks
Reply:
Hi,
Please reference the following resources:
How to protect Hyper-V with DPM 2010 whitepaper
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=c9d141cf-c839-4728-af52-928f61bebdca
Protecting Hyper-V Machines
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff634200.aspx
Considerations for Backing Up Virtual Machines on CSV with the System VSS Provider
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff634192.aspx
Please remember to click "Mark as Answer" on the post that helps you, and to click "Unmark as Answer" if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. Regards, Mike J. [MSFT] This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
------------------------------------
Advanced SOA Architecture on Azure WebRole - Is it possible?
Hi
We have a .Net application running in IIS on 2008. We are looking in to moving to the cloud, but I am not sure how mature Azure is for our SOA architecthure. The application consist of a Portal running aspx and serverel independend components (modules) that have WCF services with a numoerous operations. Each component have of course a seperate database. (high cohesion,low coupling). In our application the web services are exposed on http for external partners calling the web services, and it is exposed on Net.Named pipe for high performance communication with our portal (30% performance improvment over http according to our own mesurmeants).
Portal and WCF is hosted in IIS in 2008 currently. (Portal site has http binding enabled, when wcf site has http and netNamedPipe binding enabled)
What we want is to deploy both webservices and portal in one web role. (we absolutly want to host our wcf services in IIS, self hosting is a big no no for us)
The image below show a simplified application arcitecture how we want to deploy it in Azure. Questions below:
So to my questions:
1. Have anybody created application with this type of SOA architecture
2. Is it possible to call on TCP from one website to another web site in a web role?
3. Is it possible to call on TCP from one website in one webrole to another web site in another web role? (i have seen some discussion on tcp from webrole to worker role in channel 9)
4. If not TCP is possible from website to website, would it be possible to call on http in a internal endpoint from one website to another website. (we dont want to go throug load balancer when portal calls underlying services)
Thank for any replies or opinions.
E-Jedi
Reply:
Hi There
I cant see any issue with your solution above running in the Azure environment.
I have not deployed a solution where multiple WCF services within a role contact multiple SQL Azure instances however this can easily be done.
You just need to ensure that you have the correct connection strings for each service instance.
Re your question around internal comms, and to hopefully answer questions 2,3 and 4 above, internal endpoints are accessable from any roles within your deployment. That is, if you have multiple websites (web) /worker roles within the solution package that you deploy to Azure, then these roles will be able to communicate via the internal endpoints. Other roles that are deployed via a seperate solution package will not.
Hopefully this helps.
Jason
------------------------------------
Reply:
Please take a look at Nevatech's Sentinet software solution, http://www.nevatech.com. Sentinet is a complete management infrastructure that provides you with full control of your SOA solutions in Windows Azure. Sentinet is optimized for Windows Azure and extends its capabilities.
------------------------------------
Sharepoint 2010 list items advanced filter
Hi,
I have a contacts list with about 10 000 items. The users want to filter this list by firstname, last name etc. Sometimes they do not know the full name so they should be able to enter just part of the first name or last name and the filtermechanism should filter by all the columns.
I know a basic web part that filters the list based on a single column but this does not serve my purpose.
How can I achieve this?
- Edited by Graham1135 Monday, November 19, 2012 10:45 PM
Jump Start: Building Apps for Windows Phone 8
This two-day course is specially tailored for developers looking to leverage C#/XAML to build cool apps and games for Windows Phone 8. Clearly, this platform is another leap forward in Microsoft's overall mobile strategy and the developer community has taken notice. Now is the time to embrace your opportunity and start building Windows Phone apps.
This fast-paced, demo-rich online course features Andy Wigley, one of the most sought-after mobile app developers on the planet. If you're a developer or architect who needs to move beyond the hype and come face-to-face with what's real, you will love this experience.
Date: November 28-29, 2012
Time: 7:00am – 5:00pm PST
Cost: FREE!
Target Audience: Application Developers who want a fast-paced, real-world understanding of how to leverage C# and XAML to build apps for Windows Phone 8
Registration: http://aka.ms/WP8-Apps-JS
COURSE OUTLINE
Day 1:
• Module 1a: Introducing Windows Phone 8 Development | P1
• Module 1b: Introducing Windows Phone 8 Development | P2
• Module 2: Designing Windows Phone 8 Apps
• Module 3: Building Windows Phone 8 Apps
• Module 4: Files and Storage on Windows Phone 8
-- MEAL BREAK --
• Module 05: Windows Phone 8 Application Lifecycle
• Module 06: Background Agents
• Module 07: Tiles and Lock Screen Notifications
• Module 08: Push Notifications
• Module 09: Using Phone Resources in Windows Phone 8
Day 2:
• Module 10: App to App Communication in Windows Phone 8
• Module 11: Network Communication in Windows Phone 8
• Module 12: Proximity Sensors and Bluetooth in Windows Phone 8
• Module 13: Speech Input in Windows Phone 8
• Module 14: Maps and Location in Windows Phone 8
• Module 15: Wallet Support, In-App Purchasing in Windows Phone 8
-- Meal Break --
• Module 16: The Windows Phone Store
• Module 17: Enterprise Application Publishing and Distribution in Windows Phone 8
• Module 18: Windows Phone 8 and Cross Platform App Development
• Module 19: Introduction to C++ Games Development
• Module 20: Windows Phone Team Q&A
When you see answers and helpful posts, please click Vote As Helpful, Propose As Answer, and/or Mark As Answer
Jeff Wharton
MSysDev (C.Sturt), MDbDsgnMgt (C.Sturt), MCT, MCPD, MCSD, MCITP, MCDBA
Blog: Mr. Wharty's Ramblings
Twitter: @Mr_Wharty
MC ID: Microsoft Transcript
No comments:
Post a Comment