by ezs | May 26, 2006 | Uncategorized, ZENworks
–
A short while ago I wrote about Windows Vista and some of the implications it has for organisations.
Since then there have been several developments. At the start of May 2006 the analyst firm Gartner mooted that Vista will ship en masse in the second quarter of 2007
A research note released this week from Gartner Inc. predicts that Microsoft Corp. will miss its target to ship Windows Vista on PCs by January 2007. According to Gartner, Vista won’t be broadly available to customers until the second quarter of 2007
InfoWorld, 2 May 2006
The report document is here; there is a fee for the original.
There has also been a lot of commentary from many bloggers – from Robert Scoble to MiniMicrosoft – and a lot more.
All of this commentary – from analysts, press and bloggers – is having an impact with CIOs and their teams. I am seeing a lot more customers planning to refresh to Windows XP SP2 during 2006 and stay on that new platform for ‘a while’. The general impression is that Vista is still a ‘moving target’ – not helpful for planning purposes.
Written at: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I promised in my last post on Windows Vista that I would comment on on large area of any desktop refresh – application refresh and validation.
In the last six or seven years we have seen several phases of this process – moving from DOS to Windows 3.1; moving from 16 bit Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 or NT4; and moving from NT4 to Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Each of these desktop OS changes introduces a fresh round of application testing.
Here is the typical process – one that is being followed my most organisations.
- Select a new standard desktop OS
- Most customers are at Windows XP professional or are rapidly re-standardising on this platform.
- I have recently seen a wave of ‘third generation’ Windows XP refresh projects – for deployment in 2006 and to be in place until 2008-2010
- Usually a combination of SYSPREP, ZENworks Imaging and ENGL tools are used to create a universal image.
Inventory the current list of supported and deployed applications
- We see more usage of tools such as ZENworks Asset Management helping here
- Most organisations have ‘hundreds’ or ‘thousands’ of applications
Pragmatically evaluate whether there is a consolidation in applications possible
- Aquisition and expansion historically means that applications are duplicated
- Lax standards and non-centralised, departmental purchasing also leads to multiple solutions being in place
- Consolidation can lead to license savings and more financial muscle in negotiating a better deal
(re) package applications
- Many IT organisations are now squarely focussed on packaging applications as Microsoft Installer (MSI) packages
- ZENworks includes the Macrovision Installshield Admin Studio – this is really helpful – and can move NAL snapshots (AOT/AXT) to MSI packages
Test
The next post will cover the re-packaging and test phase of this process – one of the largest areas of time expenditure – but also one of the most vital. I’ll talk about how good process and procedures will really make this successful.
Notice how nothing so far has been ZENworks specific? Everything here is really for any customer deploying XP and refreshing their standard desktop. My final post will be to tie this all together with ZENworks glue and magic – and show how we can make it very, very efficient and cost effective.
As always – I’m looking for your feedback and updates – comments welcome.
Written at: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
by ezs | May 22, 2006 | Customer Service, evilzenscientist, Uncategorized
The Land Rover is in the garage with “Low Coolant” and “Suspension Failure” messages.
I’m sitting at the dealership – free wireless – and working.
Land Rover of American Fork have great customer service; I just drove up this morning – and both parts causing the fault are being replaced – the coolant bottle and sensor and the suspension airpump. All under warranty, with no appointment and no hassle.
by ezs | May 21, 2006 | blogging, evilzenscientist, Uncategorized
My good friend Peter is now blogging. He’s one of the last people I thought I’d see join this trend.
by ezs | May 18, 2006 | evilzenscientist, Uncategorized
Some have called the TSA “Americas Gestapo”.
The shoe removal policy is certainly one area where they seem unaccountable, uncoordinated and when questioned undeniably rude.
Here is the word from the TSA – full policy here.
TSA Shoe Screening Policy
You are not required to remove your shoes before you enter the walk-through metal detector.
HOWEVER, TSA screeners may encourage you to remove them before entering the metal detector as many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector DOES NOT alarm.
Screeners will encourage you to remove the following footwear that is likely to require additional screening:
* Boots
* Platform shoes (including platform flip-flops)
* Footwear with a thick sole or heel (including athletic shoes)
* Footwear containing metal (including many dress shoes)
I travel with similar shoes on every trip – Doc Martens with almost zero metal in them. The heel and sole are less than one inch in height.
My experience is that there is no rhyme or reason on removing shoes. It seems that screening shoes is purely down to the whim of the individual TSA agent.
Just in the last month I have seen that it’s 50/50 whether shoe removal is required. My shoes have never been screened in Europe or Canada.
When you question the policy you get selected for ‘random screening’. That’s not random; that’s intimidation so that you always comply.
When I ask the TSA duty administrator for guidance on the shoe policy I get referred to the above information; this is patently being ignored. Most frequent travellers I talk to are getting screened and ‘invited’ to remove their shoes.
When I pressed further on this policy – I was told that although ‘shoe removal is not required, and that TSA agents cannot ask you to remove shoes’ – when you are ‘invited to remove shoes’ this clearly is an instruction. When invited and you decline you always get a full security search – 15 minutes of wasted time.
There are many, many frequent fliers questioning this mindless policy. Even as far back as 2003 this was noted as being inconsistent.
by ezs | May 12, 2006 | Customer Service, evilzenscientist, travel, Uncategorized
Hotels are expensive; hotel room minibars are the worst of the lot.
However charging UKP2.50 for a standard can of Pepsi does seem excessive. Way over 400% markup. For US readers that’s a $5 can of Pepsi.
Most US Marriott hotels have 24 hour vending; I can go get a can of Pepsi for maybe $0.75.
The London Heathrow Marriott gets this trips award for the biggest ripoff.
by ezs | May 11, 2006 | evilzenscientist, fun stuff, travel, Uncategorized
Germany has gone football mad. (That’s soccer for those that don’t understand the subleties of the game).
I’ve been in half a dozen cities this week – and everywhere is wall to wall World Cup merchandise and memorabilia. I got a nice world cup shirt in Trier today.
I was listening to BFBS during my drive today – and heard a truly dreadful, yet stunningly simple England world cup song. The Tonedef Allstars are soon to release a single “Who do you think you are kidding Juergen Klinnsmann’. You have to be English to understand the genius at work here. Listen here.
So many people have already blogged on this, it’s also been written up in all manner of media from The Sun to The Telegraph – it must be the ‘unofficial hit’ – just wait until England v Germany in the quarter finals; you’ll hear this on the terraces.
For record – here are the World Cup songs – from this year and prior years. New Order’s ‘World in Motion’ is still the one to beat. I can’t believe that Stan Boardman has “the Germans bombed our Chippie” as a song.
by ezs | May 9, 2006 | evilzenscientist, fun stuff, travel, Uncategorized
I am in a bar in the hotel in Duesseldorf.
Three American gents drinking at the next table. They look at their small glasses of pils – and “This tastes just like Miller Lite”.
Me and my big mouth, I got to use another legendary line: “Did they serve you a glass of chilled piss by mistake then?” We’re debating the merits of American “Beer” vs. German Beer.
by ezs | May 9, 2006 | evilzenscientist, Uncategorized
–
Hot on the heels of Novell announcing updates to its blogging policy – now John Dragoon – Novell’s Chief Marketing Officer – has his own Novell CMO Blog.
For all of you who have supported Novell in the last decade or so – but have comments on Novell Marketing activities – this is for you. I have visited a lot of customers and partners, worked at enough BrainShares and other events to know that this will be a busy blog. Get reading and commenting!
There is also a consolidated page for all blogs at Novell.
More steps on the way to openness.
Who would you like to see blogging at Novell? Which other technology blogs do you read and respect?
Written at: Düsseldorf, Germany
by ezs | May 7, 2006 | evilzenscientist, Uncategorized
–
… I just hope I’ve not left my power cord at home.
Anyone who has travelled by air in the past year knows how tedious some of the rituals of security have become. Laptops, chargers, cables and anything similar are all subject to scrutiny.
Written at: San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA.
I’m flying today to see customers and partners in Europe – I’ve got the following:
- IBM Thinkpad Laptop + Charger
- Apple iPod Nano + USB charger cable
- US cell phone + Nokia charger
- UK cell phone + Europe Nokia charger
- Jabra bluetooth headset + charger
- Targus Airpower
- Assorted UK and European power converters
- Headphones
- Sony Digital Camera
[I’ll lay this out and take a photo]
All of this is with me in my hand baggage. It’s not heavy – just lots of individual pieces to keep track of.
What the world needs is ‘ZENworks for cables’ and the ultimate convergent device.
My wish list is:
Laptop with 2GB RAM, great screen, 6 hours battery life, fast processor, small and light.
One phone. With a 5 megapixel camera. Also with a 4GB iPod Nano built in.
One set of headphones. Bluetooth. Able to work with the phone and iPod.
One universal charger. For all of this.
The whole lot should weight less than 2 kilograms (4 lbs).
This wish list isn’t far off from reality – IBM/Lenovo, Apple and others have made massive strides with their laptops; Panasonic have exceptionally light yet rugged machines.
Nokia have a great cellphone and camera; there are rumours about real Apple iPod phones.
There are several bluetooth headphones on the market – I just need Shure to make some really good quality Bluetooth E5cs for this.
That’s my travelling electronics – I know I travel a lot lighter than many others. I know several people who travel with many many pieces of camera equipment. Some people wouldn’t be without their Playstation Portable.
What do you travel with? What couldn’t you live without on an extended trip? What would be your ideal ‘convergent device’?
Comments as always very welcome!
Written at: San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA.
by ezs | May 7, 2006 | evilzenscientist, Uncategorized
I found this band last night. Of Montreal.
Listen to the great bass on Wraith Pinned To The Mist (and other games). I’ll most likely listen to this across the Atlantic tonight.
Recent Comments