Whilst setting up a new laptop recently we were fortunate enough to play with Windows 8 and Office 2013, and an interesting game it was... In creating an operating system that caters for both tablets and laptops, Microsoft might be accused of creating a multi-layered platform with a bit of this & a bit of … Continue reading Windows 8: any good?
Author: BEK
Well, it might seem to be cost effective, but before you commit to outsourcing IT support for third party software to a global consultancy, you may want to consider the real costs involved. Outsourcing: The Promise of Support In addition to the core requirements, your prospective global support consultancy offers the following services or features: … Continue reading Outsourcing: the Cost-Effective Support Model?
Too much research in several fields whilst working full-pelt on unrelated projects can result in duffle bag filing in your memory You don't have a chance to write anything up or put it into practice. All the stuff you've learned, no, semi-absorbed is interesting & exciting, but you don't have time to consolidate your new knowledge … Continue reading Duffle Bag Filing
No, really, how hard can it be to update a single web page? Recently we were tasked with updating a CMS website -- this legacy site has a fairly old WYSIWIG editing front-end -- no biggie you may think. The non-techie stakeholders could not understand the hold up, and frankly there shouldn't have been any … Continue reading How hard can it be?
Paraphrasing1 Pratibha Gai, professor of electron microscopy: If you join an established field, you must be brilliant to do well. If you are a pioneer, you are by definition the leader in your field in your time. Innovate and you will shine... ---- 1. New Scientist. 30 March 2013:25.
We read this old blog by Scott Hanselman recently and it really rang true. I'm a phoney. Are you? discusses the inadequacies we all feel at work -- the suspicion that someone will finally see through us and expose us for the fraud we believe ourselves to be. This is the Imposter Syndrome: "Despite external … Continue reading I’m a phoney too…
Microsoft will no longer be supporting XP from April 2014 – it is already in 'extended life' probably due to the failure of Vista, and MS had to keep it going. This may not seem like a problem – you know how to use your laptop just fine! And in any case, if you have … Continue reading Windows XP: plan your exit strategy NOW
You have some shiny new software, whether off the shelf or bespoke, and you have invested a lot of time and money in your special system. Everyone is happy, productivity will improve and the software will pay for itself in no time. What can possibly go wrong? Beyond the inevitable teething problems, there will always be … Continue reading Support Models
The creation of an entirely new programming language in Arabic by Ramsey Nasser has generated a lot of interest. Although ﻗﻟب (Alb) is unlikely to be the beginning of a fully Arabic coding experience, the exercise highlights the importance of language in how each of us frames our model of the world. How important is language … Continue reading ﻗﻟب (Alb): Language is not only spoken, it is also compiled
Every editorial role has a distinct purpose and requires a particular set of skills and focus. This is why an attempt to combine two or more of these roles simultaneously is rarely successful and is a poor use of time -- however these roles CAN be performed by the same person, but with appropriate focus. … Continue reading Editorial roles and the parallels with software development