I had a conversation with one of the senior systems admins in my group today. Â The conversation was basically why is it easier to get to VMware patches and to know what has been released to you than it is with Microsoft’s patches? Â Beyond the basic “well Microsoft has way more software to support” answer, I came to the conclusion that VMware’s website organization of their patches for their products is far superior to Microsoft and their emails alerts are actually useful.
To the Napster (real, not pay-for) generation, such as my self, the peer-to-peer thing has always been enticing. Â That’s why I was so impressed when I stumbled upon CrashPlan last week. Â It immediately struck me as a great idea for backup. Â Peer to Peer backup really puts you in control of your data backup and potentially offers some features that the other online guys can’t. Â After looking into the topic a little more, I found that the idea has been tossed around by many students in academic papers and there are even a few additional software on the market for this – including Cucku.
Caught this on headline on Slashdot: Windows 7 Leaked To Pirates By Microsoft?
I immediately think, this might be the smartest thing Microsoft has done in a while, if its true. This has created a lot of free publicity that the company might not have otherwise experienced from the product and its creating a lot of interest, cause face it… we all secretly want what we’re not supposed to have, right? Human nature?
That is besides the point, the theory is pretty cool. This would certainly be a much more effective way to improve their image in the wake of the abysmal Seinfield/Gates commercials… I’m generally a fan boy of one of the more secretive technology companies out there, but in this case, Microsoft may be onto something. Also, I have to admit, I’m liking what I see in Windows 7. And I hear its fast. I can’t wait for the official beta program to begin from Microsoft. I’m hearing we may see that at CES…
For more, see Slashdot or Microsoft Watch on eWeek.
Twas the night of new years, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Â The little one had passed out, and we’d put her to bed. Â We had all celebrated with Carson, Dick Clark and the rest. Mom in her kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled in for a long winter’s nap. Â When all of a sudden, I awoke to a clatter, it must be my text paging, I wonder what is the matter? Â I spring from my bed and stumble to the Mac, oh man, my VMware at work has gone all to crap.
That’s how my 2009 started… about 13 hours later, I finally left work and resumed my long-interrupted nap. Â
HP is introduced a refresh to its MediaSmart home servers line.  The software refresh included features such as iTunes streaming support and the ability to use the MediaSmart as a Time Machine backup destination.  The two new models, the MediaSmart ext485 and the ext487, are both based on Microsoft Windows Home Server, but the ability for a Mac user to use these as their backup and media repository is very compelling reason to consider them, but it doesn’t come without downsides.  For one, you still need a Windows PC to configure and setup the MediaSmart.  In addition, the iTunes functionality basically just takes the files present on the MediaSmart and shares them out on the local network for access.  It doesn’t go as far as integrating into iTunews to provide any sort of check in or sync between the two. Â
Per the reports I’ve read, HP will begin taking orders for the new systems in January. Â For additional details, head over to TUAW.
9to5mac has a post that speculates that Apple is working on a Home Media server.  I certainly hope so.  This is the biggest issue to the multi-Mac household, like mine.  We have three Macs in my house and the biggest issue we have is sharing our music  and moreso video between our computers.  We purchase all of our media under the same iTunes account and so each of our Macs are authorized to play, but keeping them in sync is the biggest issue.  If only we had one large repository for all our photos, music and videos… Â
I’m sure I’m not the only Mac user who feels this way. Â It doesn’t need to be an enterprise quality server, but something to allow my Apple TV to retrieve content and a place for my individual Macs to keep a SINGLE copy of every item we purchase. Â A library, if you will, where each of my Macs can check out the content. Â Its also something that needs built in backup of some kind for itself, so I’m not sure I buy the whole Time Capsule on steriods theory from 9to5mac, but still that wouldn’t be a bad idea. Â
I’ve even gone as far as offering this suggestion via the online form in Apple’s website once or twice, so I’m hoping the rumor is true. Â And if its true, I hope we are all surprised with an announcement at MacWorld, though I doubt it will be then. Â For that matter, I hope we’re surprised in the same was as when the iPhone debuted and not in the way we were when the Apple TV debuted, though I’ll admit, I bought both…
I wanted to wish any readers a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It was a fantastic Christmas in my household and I can’t actually believe that its behind us now. I also can’t believe that we are leaving 2008 and heading into 2009 in less than 60 hours. Where has this year gone? Let alone, where did this decade go?
I’ve been very preoccupied with some things going on at work, so I have had little time to make any posts here, but I hope that as we approach the new year, that I will be posting more frequently and about a wider variety of topics. I guess you could say that is my blog resolution for the new year. I have come across some very cool programs recently that I am excited to be blogging about soon, including a peer-to-peer backup solution which I think has a lot of potential. Til then…
About 1:59pm today, I finally received my invitation to the Quicken Finanical Life beta program. The software is currently downloading in the background and I anticipate installing it and giving it a test drive here shortly.
Update:
There is a confidentiality agreement for testers, so I won’t be providing any details, but I will be playing. Â Good luck to others and I hope you’ve received your acceptance, also.Â
Ok, its been months… I’m kind of bummed. Â I signed up for the Quicken Financial Life for Mac beta program back in February of 2008, shortly after AppleInsider’s first coverage of the product. Â While I’ve waited patiently and while I’ve signed up on the their beta signup for several time over the months that followed, Intuit has been completely mute about the beta. Â As a matter fact, they carefully hid the signup form for months and only within the last three have they really released any information about the product on their website. Â All the while, I’m wondering what about that beta signup? Â
On top of this, their last release – Quicken for Mac 2007 – hasn’t been aging gracefully. Â My biggest heartburn is the lack of import or transport for my years of data held in the grasp of Microsoft Money. Â I simply can’t find an alternative that meets my needs, and so I am desperately hoping that the ground-up rewrite of Quicken will do that… Â I’m not a serious number cruncher when it comes to my personal finance, but I want a couple things: Â 1) the ability to carry over all my prior transactions AND their categories and 2) the ability for the software to automatically download my transactions from my banks or credit card companies. Â
All the while that our Office programs have been growing more compatible with interchangable file formats, our money management software has us locked into their proprietary grips. Â Sure, there are QIF and other interchangable file formats, but we all know that the bulk of our data won’t move using those file formats. Â And, call me lazy, but I don’t want to go and re-do all the work that I have completed for years and years of transactions just to move into a new program. Â So, alas, I find no good MAC alternative for money management and I continue to use Microsoft Money in Windows in VMware Fusion on my Mac… Â Â
I have also examined the online alternatives, including Quicken’s free online tools, Yodlee, Mint and others. Â But those tie me down to my internet connection. Â I have more than once balanced my checkbook while whizzing down the highway……………. no, my wife was driving, not me, just for clarity sake. Â Anyways, enough rambling. Â I just wish I could find the solution… Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
There is a nice article out in one of the VMTN blogs which covers all the rebranding that VMware is attempting with their next generation products. Â I’m not a big fan of rebranding (think Citrix’s Xen-everything confusion) as I think it muddies the water and causes brand confusion, but for some reason or another companies like to do this. Â VMware is at least doing so with a new release of software and I understand their reasons behind the rebranding, but it is something new to learn. Â
Anyways, the link. Â You can find more information on all the renaming here: Â http://blogs.vmware.com/vmtn/2008/12/do-they-smell-a.html
