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May 2003

Windows Server 2003 follies

Microsoft has launched Windows Server 2003 (Win2003). To those of you unfamiliar with Microsoft jargon, you might think that this means that you can actually buy computers running Win2003. But no: hardware vendors like Dell probably won't be shipping Win2003 machines until June.

Industry experts smarter than I recommend replacing Windows NT 4 servers by Q4 2003.

Tech News Highlights

Just say "no" to the Internet

According to a study by the Pew Center, almost 40% of non-Internet users have access to the Net or have had access in the past. It seems these people do not use the Net because they don't want to. (Imagine, if you will, my shock and horror upon hearing this news. "Yep, this old transistor radio is good enough for me.") This may partly explain the unexpected downturn in newly connected households over the last 18 months.

.NET ...not!

Microsoft just decided to re-brand its new enterprise server operating system as the "Windows Server System"—pulling back from the ubiquitous use of .NET. The term now seems to be limited to software that includes XML support and mean only that. Thank goodness. At one point, even the bigwigs at Microsoft seemed to be confused by what .NET actually was. Now when we see those TV ads with the "that's dot net^©" tagline, we can have confidence that someone, somewhere, actually knows what .NET is.

Instant messaging goes corporate

The popularity of instant messaging (IM) has grown rapidly in the past year and the workplace is no exception with some industry wags estimating that 80% of businesses have some instant messaging service on their computers. Many companies such as Sun, Microsoft, IBM, and Yahoo are positioning themselves to sell IM services that include special features for corporate IT management. This next generation of IM services should include better interoperability, administration and security features. In the meantime, you should think about formalizing a company policy for instant messaging if it is loaded on your business computers.

Ask Randy

Q: Is my computer protected from lightning damage when I turn it off?

A: In a word, no. Most computers made since 1998 use the ATX specifications for case and power supplies. ATX computers do not physically interrupt the power to the motherboard the way old AT systems did. If you want to disconnect the computer from the wall power, shut down the system and then physically pull your power strip's plug out from the wall socket. Incidentally, this is true of your audio/visual equipment and television, too.

A better solution is to shell out for a good surge-protecting power strip. Look for a surge protector that dissipates at least 1100 joules or has a let-through voltage of 130 or lower. If you use a modem, make sure your surge protector has telephone line protection, too.

Q: I installed a new hard drive in my Windows 2000 computer but I don't see it when I open Windows Explorer. I can see it listed in the BIOS information screen when I boot up and it's also listed in device manager. What's going on?

A: When you purchase a new drive it usually needs to be partitioned and formatted. In Windows 2000 and XP, you can prepare a drive by following these steps:

1. Open Computer Management by right-clicking on My Computer and selecting Manage.

2. In the console tree, click Disk Management.

3. Right-click an unallocated region of a basic disk, and then select New Partition. This opens the New Partition Wizard.

4. In the New Partition Wizard, click next, click Primary partition, and then follow the instructions on your screen. When the wizard asks you if you would like to format the drive, select yes.

For more information about installing a new hard drive into a computer, here is a primer from PC World.

Tip of the Month

If you type in a lot of web addresses like I do, you may want to move that little address box in Internet Explorer somewhere more convenient. In Windows XP, you can move it to the Taskbar. (The Taskbar is the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen that shows the Start button and open applications.)

1. Before you can make a change to the Taskbar, you have to unlock it. Right-click on the Taskbar and click on the checkmark by Lock the Taskbar. That should remove the checkmark and unlock the Taskbar.

2. Now, add the Internet Address toolbar to the Taskbar. Right-click on the Taskbar, and then choose Toolbar -> Address. Once you do this, the word Address will appear on your Taskbar.

3. Click on Address and drag the cursor to the left to expand the address box.

Places on the Web

The dumbest moments in business of 2002

A compendium of bizarre advertising pitches, vibrating brooms, 'innovative' new products, and stupid CEO tricks.

You too can be a robot janitor.

This online game from Lego is really silly.

Humanitarian aid for Iraq

Here's a way to donate humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq. Mercy Corps is listed on the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance website, and has recently received a $5 million grant to provide health-related assistance in Iraq from the US Government.