Archives 2008

I have to give it to Sony for tossing their hat into the e-ink book-reader arena.

(Available on sale at Fry’s for a weekend deal of $299.99 limit one per customer!)

So, it looks like they took a lot of the feedback which came out of the Kindle community of what is the good, perhaps the bad and the ugly. Pro’s and Con’s of this happens to be, that they roughly ignored a majority of that feedback!

Disclaimer: I do not have a Sony Reader (I’ve had the old ones not based upon E-Ink technology)
Secondary disclaimer: I do have a Kindle, an XO and have infact had an Etch-A-Sketch!

Similarities:

Differences:

• The hold/grip and feel of the Sonyreader looks to be far less awkward than using the Kindle itself (which we’re all prone to accidently changing pages without meaning it). Though beyond being less awkward, it doesn’t introduce any innovation, function or benefit in the big picture. So it’s almost like a plus, but more of an ‘eh’.

But taken at face value, and not comparing it to the Kindle, I would honestly have to say, it seems like a half-baked attempt at entering a market with an introduction to E-Ink technology. The support doesn’t seem to be entirely there in the big picture, the look and feel isn’t much more beneficial than that of a book, it doesn’t appear to really ‘innovate’, more of a bad knock off of something else someone might try to do. I’m sure with some proper market studies, innovator backing and an action-plan on hook, as opposed to what appears to be a “re-action” plan, this could easily turn into a great product, regardless of the “It’s a Sony Product” stigma which would otherwise be associated with it.

I’d happily give one a try and test-drive the hell out of it, but once you’ve seen the “Best of Breed” which itself appeared to be a ‘testbed’ idea, how can you go with second place to a beta?

Kindle +1, SonyReader – 0

We all knew on the docket that after 3 years, there would be a need to re-certify in order to continue maintaining the “Certification” status for the new Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist, Microsoft Certified IT Professional and the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer.

We accepted this as the MS Certs going the way the Cisco Certs, but then – The rules have changed again!

The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), MCITP, and MCPD credentials—Microsoft certifications for new technologies—are aligned with the Microsoft product lifecycle, and will retire when Microsoft discontinues mainstream support for the underlying technology. When a certification that you have earned retires, the record of your certification remains on your transcript, allowing you to retain documentation of your certification history.

This is great news for those of us who want to upgrade our certs WHEN we want to, instead of by some cycle as if we’ve suddenly forgotten our skill-sets!

So once again, thank you Microsoft for listening to the industry and providing an path of excellence for others to follow!

That’s right, the Chicago Windows Users Group is now officially meeting on Mondays.
Which can have a number of implications, one certainly of which is – we’ll be meeting on Mondays! :)

This coming meeting we’ll have some great sessions, with the master of Server – Jeff Gettis covering territory on Windows Server 2008 (Should be an amazing time!). Dan Rey presenting on the Windows Easy Transfer Companion (beta) in a hands on lab. And last but not least, Brian Vanderjack with an interesting and compelling session on Project management. This will be Brian’s first time presenting in front of the CWUG audience though he is no shy soul in front of an audience nor let alone in front of students. Brian is not only a professional project manager for a living, PMP but also teaches Project Management courses with the University of Phoenix, so it should be a treat to have a man of his caliber in front of the group of us!

I look forward to seeing you all at this months CWUG and to have a great time!

Below are the details of the meeting via the email Blast, and sign up information!

Thanks to Michael Niehaus for his presentation on the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 (previously Business Desktop Deployment or BDD 2007) and Bart Tubalinal and Tony Coppa for their presentation on SharePoint at our downtown Chicago meeting! Don’t forget we’re switching to the 3rd Monday evening every month for our in person meeting and will be in Downers Grove for May and June and back in Chicago for July. We will also be adding Live Meeting presentations that you can attend from virtually anywhere over the summer months (CWUG points awarded for participation on the Live Meetings as well!). Meeting sign up for Monday’s meeting included below.

Yes, that is indeed what I am talking about! This is quite absolutely one of the coolest things ever!

I’ve talked about Crossloop before, and their amazing Client for helping others with problems in an easy (and free) manner, the likes which is similar to WebEx, yet they’ve taken this ease of access a step further!

Now you’re able to actually connect up with other people who *have* problems, and be monetized in your own way to help them out!
I think it’s quite absolutely so cool – it has a system similar to Ebay’s for keeping track of success/failure, but beyond that; having this marketplace available in which you can help other people, and respectively be helped is definitely so cool.

That is not to say that I’ll utilize it as a venue for monetization but I love the idea! and I’m always game to help out with things when not absolutely swamped!

Taking it a step further, they even have the ease of access and ability for you to promote your own profile out on any number of networks in the world (further, another absolutely cool thing!)

I definitely encourage anyone to check this out, if you thought it was cool before, it has crossed new boundaries into taking a good idea, adding some extra value-add to it and exploding into a completely amazing model of success!

Some particular parts I’d like to note out specifically which raise this to its new level of ‘nothing ever before like it’ capacity.

This is quite possibly one of the best things I’ve seen come about this year, greatly innovative, needed, and community focused.
I’m personally going to reach out to them, see if perhaps they’d like to introduce this amazing system to our friends at the CWUG!

This is truly very cool, So cool infact, I even created a profile on there!

With necessity being the mother of invention, his father indeed was competition.
Speaking of competitions, I happen to be in one for this Friday, April 25th, 2008!

Within toastmasters, I’ve recently been through a number of competitions. Starting at the club level where competition was fierce and then moving on to the area level with a similar stiff rivalry, only to be brought to triumph at the Division level against 5 other excellent and eloquent speakers of their kind. I battled at the Division level with the best of the SW Divisions clubs, only to see success shine through my eyes as I wowed not only the judges but the audience alike. And later this week it will come to its final battle for me at the District 30 (Northwest Chicagoland) to go up against the best of all of the Districts alike.

The subject I’ll be speaking upon? Is unknown to me. Only to be revealed to me in the seconds before I am to speak upon it.
This matter of extemporaneous speaking is called “Table Topics”, and it is an area in which I enjoy as I’m given the whole of a few seconds to prepare; worst case if I do not do well, the excuse commonly referenced is “I only had a few seconds to think about it”, however if I do indeed do well as I have in the past the reinforcement of my own training and educational I’ve invested in myself can be said “I only had a few seconds to think about it!” Yes, my downfall is also my uprising! All those years of having little time to prepare for something and having to act upon it certainly are doing their justice to pay off.

However, it is not all easy-street, as “Table Topics”, revered as one of the hardest things to do in Toastmasters (and often in life as others have told me) does take a fair bit of preparation; and is something I’m constantly tuning and honing to try to improve it to be even better.

I’ll further get to see how well my preparation has taken me when it comes down to the wire and I’m up against the best of the best in the Chicagoland this Friday at 7PM in Tinley Park, but I will do my best and bring out my best.

Reportedly, the challenges in this (for me in particular) should the subject be something I have no interest in, or very little knowledge I am doomed to mediocrity and will not be at my best; furthering the reasons why educating yourself in handling these types of situation is wholly beneficial and will help you infinitely down the road.

I encourage anyone to come on down and investigate this phenomenon of people talking on a subject they’re not aware of, seconds before hand with whatever level of mastery that can surmise; to discuss and relate no less than 60 seconds, and no more than 2 minutes and thirty.

The future is here, and my journey to the next (and last available in this competition) trophy is only days away!

Anyone interested in seeing me compete, or in this general Toastmasters event (Open to the public)
I encourage you to come on down to the Spring Conference!

It will be held at the Holiday Inn Select & Convention Center, Tinley Park, IL
The Table Topics contest will be Friday Night, (Apr 25th) at 7:00PM

You can find out more information at the District 30 Toastmasters site www.toastofchicago.org