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Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

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Bad Day

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

Sometimes IT just happens.

Power supply blew up and so did a hard drive, no panic and no worries.  Actived the backup server, copied the data off the drives.  Ran a drive utility against the bad drive and found it was bad.  Replaced the drive.

Total time wasted 1.5 hours,  Sometimes hardware just takes a dump.  The more you have the more chances you are of seeing IT happen.

Keep spares when you can, you boss will hate the idea of have to buy stuff in advance, but wait until his/her hard drive crashes.  For those companies that can afford it, have a spare available with your company image sitting on the shelf.  While theirs is in the shop, you do a simple swap out.  Poof your an instant hero.  Can’t afford spare parts?  How much does down time cost?

How do you organize your days?

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

So how do you do it all?  What gets you through the day?  Do you carry a cumpled up napkin or a high tech PDA?  If someone stole that notebook with all your clients name and addresses where is is backed up?

My father ( pre-PDA era) used a thing called a Rolodex. That rotating card file. It was his life.  He knew the importance of it and guarded it with his life.  He started backing it up with an Apple \\e and a program called apple works.

Sorry he missed out on Outlook, PDA’s and messaging systems.  My weapon of choice is an IPAQ with WiFi.

Whats yours?

Computer show

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

Computer show today in Ft. Lauderdale.  Lots of junk but it’s a good place to get some spare parts. Try the Ft. Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium. 

Computer show

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

Computer show today in Ft. Lauderdale.  Lots of junk but it’s a good place to get some spare parts. Try the Ft. Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium. 

Free Wifi

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

I’ve been looking all over, and I am finding alot of Free WiFi. Personally I think all Wifi should be free.

McDonalds is charging for Wifi? Silly that a company so large would need to charge for something others are giving away.  3 cheers to Ft. Lauderdale International Airport! the signal is free.  Help start the revolution. Free the Signal!  Share the information. Let people learn. 

So what do you think?  Free the Wifi or hold it ransom?

Free Wifi 2

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

I’m on the hunt for Free Wifi.

It’s amazing how many people just don’t lock their routers.  Simple WEP, would keep their home comptuers safe.  Bad for them better for us.

Free Wifi 2

In reply to Free Wifi 2

Most routers only offer up one subnet.  If the routers would offer up multiple subnets then everyone could share some bandwidth and keep their internal networks safe.

Free WiFi Found

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

Try Nova University. You’ll have to be on campus, but if you know the area it’s a sweet place to connect.

Free WiFi Found

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

Try Nova University. You’ll have to be on campus, but if you know the area it’s a sweet place to connect.

Wet WiFi or Hijacking?

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

The debate continues, but does it really? If the signal is there it’s “Wet”, if the signal is encrypted then you are stealing or “HiJacking”.  I think the seperation is really that simple.

It does not take a genius to lock down a router. 

IPOD is Defeated

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

In a head to head test against an IPAQ the IPod ran off crying.

When the Ipaq revealed that it?s library of music was limitless the IPod was stunned.

Why yes said the Ipaq, ?With a WiFi connection and a good memory chip I can play music forever? 

Yes, it?s true I jacked my Ipaq into XM streaming and hence the battle was over.  The IPod went out and killed itself.  There was no contest.

With a WiFi connection the Ipaq could not only stream media but broadcast it to Bluetooth headsets.

The Ipaq could send and receive email!  It could Bolg! All while playing music.  And if there was no connection available it could continue with SD or Compact Flash memory chips, an endless supply. Not limited like an Ipod to the built in memory limits.

 

But the Ipod had a dirty little secret.  Market share and drones of mindless users absorbed by the pretty little simple minded Ipod. Brainwashed into downloading 99 cent songs using that proprietary software to connect. The Ipaq continued to Rock on as it could transfer music without cables.  Able to play various formats, the Ipaq was undaunted by the Ipod

 

Then in a show of bravado Ipaq puffed up its screen and played the latest Shakira Video!  All eyes were upon it as she undulated and her smooth velvety voice oozed from the built in speaker for those nearby to view and see the power of the Ipaq. Men and Women alike where in awe as the video played.

 

The Ipod squealed and tried to proclaim how its most recent version could do that too! Yet the Ipaq moved quickly checked it calendar and proceeded to download a newly released song.  The Ipod had no idea new music had been released. It had no calendar, it had no reminders. It was a drone of the people.  A clone with no brain.

 

The Ipod continues to hang out on street corners like a drug dealer pushing it’s self on unsuspecting users. Keeping the masses blinded grounded to a connection.

 

Unchain My Phone

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

Only in America! is the cry we say proudly.  Yet when it comes to cell phones I must admit that I am ashamed.

We can not change carriers without changing cell phones.  This is the only country that sells locked phones. This means you are locked to the carrier your service is with. Sure you phone number is now portable but your cell phone is not.  Each time you want to try a new carrier you must painfully choose a new phone. Move your address book over and learn a new piece of of hardware.  The cell phone companies are estatic,  the landfills are getting higher.

If you want an unlocked phone you are told “NO!” like you are some criminal. They tell you that you own the phone and they will no longer fix it.  Yet you can only use that phone with their serivce.  So I am confused.  How can I own something that I can only use with their service.  The service providers don’t want to handle complaints about the phones, they want you to call the manufacturer.  The manufacturer passes you back to the company that sold you the phone stating take it back to the retailer, and once again we are left holding the phone.

Sprint is using CDMA so there is no way to possibly use a phone with a SIM chip.  Motorola will not fix an unlocked phone for all the tea in China, and I did offer to buy them a bag.  All the other carriers are the same pathetic state of mind.

Let me just add that I recommend against buying the MPX220 phone by Motorola.  If you try to get them to fix the low volume speaker problem, you would have a better chance of bungee jumping into a vat of acid.  The phone had a problem with the volume. It was taken off the market for awhile while they figured out the bug.  The bug is fixed only if you get the phone from Cingualr.  It requires a ROM flash that Motorola seems to hold to like the holy grail.   I called several times, I even found the inside number for their corporate offices.  They are great at telling you who might help you or that it’s not covered.  After two days, 23 phone calls to Motorola, all I got was a headach.

Oh you might say whats the big deal, well it’s not really.  They could have just let everyone have the ROM update, but I guess then they could not rip people off for the service charge to fix something that is a manufacturer defect.  Too bad, it would have been a nice phone if it worked.  I did end up sending it back to the company I bought it from.

What was the big deal? I guess it became a matter of techie pride and fustration, knowing the fix was out there and not being allowed to have it really sucks.

I see that more and more phones are getting unlocked, and soon the average person will realize they don’t have to get locked into a contract with a GSM type phone.  If you want my business you have to provide good service. Not hold me and my phone hostage.  SIM chips are the way to go. People in other countries are enjoying their phones, they have owner ship of the phone and their address book.  Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, Just not for your cell phone.

First fully connected nation will be Antigua and Barbuda

In reply to Worlds Laziest IT Administrator.

Antigua (AnTeeGa not Anteegwa) and Barbuda (sister island) is expected to become the worlds first fully connected nation within the next 12 months or less. While there might be cities that claim to be connected, Antigua and Barbuda with the use of WiMax technology that is already being deployed by Cable and Wireless should be fully connected from shore to shore within the next 12 months or sooner.  Don’t bother to call it a hoax the deployment has begun, this is a fact you can confirm.

Much to the surpise of many in the industry what is known as a third world country, has put its best foot forward and become a technology leader not just in the Caribbean. Recongnized at a recent financial summit in Singapore Antigua and Barbuda came in 33rd out of over 100 nations world wide as the place to do business. Pretty amazing for a nation of only 80,000 people. 

 The Airport will be WiFi connected before March 2007, and this is not a gestimate or is it what is known as Island time.  It is an absolute that when World Cricket guests arrive the airport will be fully operational with WiFi connectivity.

Most recently a drastic drop in internet rates by Cable and Wireless have brought pricing online with many of the larger nations. Prices are extreemly inviting for businesses to come to Antigua and open call centers in an english speaking country.  Besides wouldn’t you want to work in a beautiful tropical enviornment?  I know I do, and have.

The Governments network is almost fully fiber optic between facilites, using the latest technologies in hardware and security.  Sorry I can’t give more details it’s a security issue.  Rest assured their network is all first world stuff.  A new data center designed to withstand Cat 5 hurricanes is almost completed. The hardware is on order.  A full UPS system with A/C cooling is also on order.  By the end of next year 2007 the government will have two fully functional data centers.  It will be a primary and a backup.

So come on down, We’ve got what every tech head is looking for.  A fully wired nation with the best beaches in the world.  365 Beaches, one for every day and oh the food at the local eateries is not too bad either.  Don’t forget to try some of the world famous rum.

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