Okay, trick headline. Gates left Microsoft Internet ages ago, yet he's still one rich hombre. But not as rich as Mexico's Carlos Slim Helu, who now tops
Forbes Magazine's billionaire list.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 03/10/2010 at 11:59 AM2 comments
Microsoft Learning has released Exam 70-582 TS: Windows Embedded 7 for Developers to Prometric testing centers. From the
description, this exam is no cakewalk, so candidates should be fairly confident going into this one. Besides, the guide show that there are no study resources for this one.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 03/09/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
I've been seeing more Macs on laps lately, not just Windows-dominated industry events, but even some of my close friends and the companies they work for. Windows 7 managed to chunk out some market share from Apple, but don't let that fool you, as Microsoft's OSes overall have been in a slight but noticeable decline.
What's making things complicated is the enterprise, where IT admins are turning around and saying that Macs are easier to manage. Maybe this report is laden with heaps of bias, so take it for what it's worth. So, I ask you, readers of MCPmag.com, to chime in if you're experiencing first hand what this report is claiming. Share your experiences here.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 03/09/2010 at 11:59 AM10 comments
The Microsoft Learning Group has laid the groundwork for training, exams and certification based on the newest SharePoint, version 2010. On the exam front, they've revealed the general plan here, with a duo of exams aimed at the IT and developer crowds. Those exams are slated for beta around the middle of the year, says this blog post.
On a side note, the group describes the fumbled beta exam process that took place earlier this week. You can read the sordid details here -- especially important to know if you were planning to take the 71-669 beta.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 03/04/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
We keep hearing about how tough this recession is, and surveys that we've written about in the News section tell us that we're in some pretty bad straits, as spending is down and jobs continue to be scarce.
I'm not one to look at this time in a positive light. And that's why I often turn to colleagues to help me get out of my career doldrums (besides being an editor, I shoot weddings, and talk about two businesses that have been hit hard by the economy....). In much the same way, what do you folks in the IT trenches do to keep yuour spirits up?
What I'm asking for is your stories about how you as an IT professional have dealt with this recession in a positive way. Maybe you've been one of those who've been pink slipped, so what did you do to get a new job and to keep yourself smiling as you were searching? Or maybe you're among the hundreds who've been saddled with a budget that's been halved. What strategy did you employ to stretch out those dollars and keep your company happy? I'm looking for all stories, no matter how small. IT tips to beat the recession or the blues also appreciated.
The good stuff will be published on MCPmag.com in an upcoming feature, and your contribution, if published, will earn you a nice Redmond Media Group T-Shirt. Now, that'll put a smile on your face!
Posted by Michael Domingo on 03/03/2010 at 11:59 AM3 comments
"IE 6 est mort, vive IE 6." Aten Design Group says it's having a funeral and wake for the Microsoft browser on the first day of March, as reported in this
ComputerWorld article. It means absolutely nothing, even if you're an IE 6 user, as the browser isn't going to globally stop working. It does mean that Aten has some clever marketers.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 02/26/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
You can't miss Toyota in the news; the massive recall has put the company front and center. A side note resulting from that news is that the company is sending customers a software update that might correct the problems, at least in regards to the software. Even more interesting is this comment to a Slashdot submitter, with the mother-of-all-key-phrases:
You already took the 100 million lines of code when you bought the car. Now do you want the bug fixes, or would you rather find out what a "fatal exception" means in more physical terms?
In some ways, this reminds me of the joke, "If Microsoft built cars...", only this joke isn't funny in the least.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 02/26/2010 at 11:59 AM4 comments
Mary Jo Foley at ZDnet (also a
Redmond Magazine back page columnist)
posted a quick note about support ending for XP SP2, versions of Windows 2000, and the very first version of Vista in the next few months.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 02/25/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
Here in the U.S., exam fees have held steady -- exam prices haven't changed in something like four or five years. It's kind of good news/bad news in a way. Good news that test takers haven't seen an increase. Bad news because those walking the cert path who are part of the newly unemployed or have seen reductions in pay might be rethinking their certification goals.
If you're feeling a bit of despair, The Microsoft Learning Group has some relief. One is academic pricing for exams, the other is the Second Shot offer. On the academic pricing, all that you're required to have is a valid student I.D. when you register for an exam with a 072 prefix. The discount is anywhere in the neighborhood of 55 percent off (and pricing is regional, as this offer is good in many parts outside the U.S.), so it's considerable. Add the Second Shot Offer to that and you'll feel less vulnerable at exam time, knowing you have two shots to pass.
Of course, to be eligible for this one-two punch of an offer, you must register into the program. There's also a deadline: You must take your exams before June 30, 2010 in order to take advantage of the exam retakes. Get more info here; it's time to hit the books.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 02/25/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
On my
Redmond Radio podcast this week, I mentioned in the IT Webgems segment that Apple's iTunes store back in 2006 served up a billion music downloads. Well,
The Guardian says that the service on Feb. 24 reached 10 billion downloads. At 99 cents per download at a minimum, that's gotta be music to Apple's bottom line.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 02/24/2010 at 11:59 AM0 comments
Interesting piece
via Slashdot on a Tucson bus outfitted with wi-fi. One benefit is that it keeps the kids distracted with their electronic devices, giving the bus driver the opportunity to do what he does best rather than play mobile police. Ahhhh.... the calming effects of wi-fi... Mission-critical app? Maybe, when the wi-fi goes down and the admins have to jump on the help desk ticket quickly to maintain peace.
Posted by Michael Domingo on 02/16/2010 at 11:59 AM3 comments