bdpnetworks
newsletter - issue #5bdpnetworks
newsletter - issue #5FEATURE: Some
really good products of 2001 that didn't get nearly enough coverage
• Netware
6
• Linux
• Apple:
Mac OSX, iBook, iPod, new iMac
Information
about my services
• Who is this guy?
• What is this all about?
Fun
& Cool
• TIME Inventions of the Year
• Pot-in-Pot cooling system
• Segway HT
• Another nifty clock...
• and much more!
Welcome once again to the bdpnetworks monthly newsletter, an eclectic but hopefully useful assortment of information in a condensed format.
If you find any of this information useful or fun, please do me a favor and pass a copy of this newsletter on to at least one other person you know. I would really appreciate it.
As always, if you have any questions or comments about anything at all, please don't hesitate to contact me at info@bdpnetworks.com. For more information on bdpnetworks, please see the section below entitled Information about bdpnetworks.
Special thanks to Katerie Prior for helping to proofread this newsletter. Visit her writing website at http://www.writers-confidant.com
Thanks again for reading!
There have been some pretty serious new security holes in some Microsoft products that have surfaced in the past few weeks. Most importantly is a huge problem with Windows XP and how it handles a new technology called "Universal Plug and Play." As always, keep those systems patched up by visiting windowsupdate.microsoft.com!
Remember there are three things you must do (at a minimum) to keep your computer(s) secure:
• Keep your system
up-to-date with the latest patches provided by the software manufacturer
• Use a good virus
protection package, and keep the virus signatures up-to-date
• Use a firewall
of some kind (software or hardware)
If you don't have all three of these things in place, you do not have complete coverage.
Bill Gates has pledged that security is now Microsoft's #1 priority and will be sending all of his programmers to security classes in the month of February. But even if this helps, it will still be months before we see tangible results. So keep those systems patched!
You may refer back to some of my older newsletters (issue #1 and issue #2) for more detailed information on what to do to secure your system.
Novell recently released their latest server operating system in November. It is a very capable package, loaded with features, and makes a compelling case for upgrading existing Netware-centric networks or for adding into a non-Netware environment. Novell is known for their reliability, and Netware 6 builds on this by offering built-in clustering capability out of the box. A cluster is a sort of "super-server," which lets you combine the resources of several computers (or "nodes") that act like one server. If any of the individual nodes go off-line for any reason, the remaining ones automatically take over the responsibilities of the failed node. Netware 6 now scales to up to 64 nodes in a cluster, with up to 32 processors per node.
The most impressive new features, however, are aimed at end-users. iFolder is like an encrypted "briefcase" that is always available on any computer, even when disconnected from the network. iPrint allows administrators to let users install their own printers through a web interface. And Novell Web Manager allows people to access files (via secure SSL connections) and other services on the server via web browser from anywhere in the world.
Under the hood, Novell now uses NSS (Novell Storage Services) for all storage, which is a very fast journaled file system whose volumes mount in seconds. Both Apache and Netscape Enterprise Server come installed by default, allowing people to run applications written for either web server. Finally, Netware 6 also includes a new technology called the Native File Access Pack, which allows full file access from any Windows, Macintosh or UNIX-based system without installing special client software. This is especially useful for companies that don't primarily use Novell's products but want to drop a Netware 6 server into their network to take advantage of its special features. It means there's no modification of the client workstations required.
Netware 6 comes in a small-business edition as well, which is bundled with full versions of GroupWise, ZENworks 3.2 and BorderManager 3.6 in addition to some other functionality. If you have fewer than 50 users, this is a compelling product. Feature-for-feature, it is cheaper and better than Microsoft's own Small Business Server.
I will report lots more about Netware 6 and GroupWise 6 in future issues.
The Netware 6 product info home page is here:
http://www.novell.com/products/netware/
A very good technical article on Netware 6 is at this location:
http://www.extremetech.com/print_article/0,3428,a%253D20239,00.asp
Novell's Small Business Suite 6's product info page is here:
http://www.novell.com/products/smallbiz/productinfo.html
You can compare the SBS6's product information with Microsoft's own competing
product:
http://www.microsoft.com/sbserver/evaluation/overview/default.asp
Novell created a page called "Why Should I Select Novell?", an executive
overview for those that may not be familiar with their current offerings:
http://www.novell.com/competitive/w2k/why_novell.html
And finally, Novell has an entertaining new website designed to dispel the
myths and inaccuracies sometimes spread about their products by competitors.
It's here:
http://www.whytheylie.com
By the way, I do not accept compensation for product endorsements, I simply believe that Novell continues to produce excellent products.
Linux is a free operating system written by a community of programmers on the Internet, and 2001 was the year Linux began its transition from a fringe "geek" operating system to a respected contributor to corporate landscapes. It excels at running Internet-based services such as web and mail servers, requires little maintenance, and has slowly worked its way into server rooms everywhere. It is so efficient that it often allows people to reuse older computers as servers instead of tossing them in the dumpster. The big question continues to be if it's ready for the desktop: is it okay to replace that Windows-based computer running Microsoft Office with a Linux-based computer running StarOffice (a free office suite from Sun Microsystems)?
The answer continues to be "maybe." Some companies have actually started conversion programs, usually out of spite for Microsoft and their new licensing practices (and associated cost increases). Yes, Linux is a technically superior operating system to much of what Microsoft offers, but I personally don't think it is quite as usable as it should be. Shortcuts, time-savers and other niceties we're used to in Windows don't always exist in Linux or don't always work the way they should.
Some companies have done a lot of work to help fix this problem; Ximian's GNOME desktop looks and feels a lot like Windows (it actually looks much better than Windows) and fills in a lot of the gaps. Another popular desktop alternative is KDE--both GNOME and KDE make Linux more useful for those used to Windows, and will ultimately help to make Linux a better alternative to Windows. Several office suites (besides StarOffice) have also popped up to fill that void. But things really aren't as consistent as they could be yet.
The situation is improving, and it will continue to get better. I have used different forms of Linux for years and really like it (in fact, www.bdpnetworks.com is running on a Linux web server), but I admit it still has some shortcomings when it comes to just getting work done. If you are a highly technical user, you may enjoy the benefits Linux provides. But the rest may want to wait a while longer before taking the plunge.
For more information on Linux in general, check out this page:
http://www.linux.org/info/index.html
For information on the GNOME or KDE desktop interfaces, go to one of these
locations:
http://www.gnome.org
For further information on StarOffice, which is also available for Windows,
you can read my mini-review (under Other Newsbites) in issue #3. It's located
here:
http://www.bdpnetworks.com/nl/nl03.html#newsbites
If you're thinking about installing Linux yourself, I'd recommend either the Mandrake or RedHat distribution ("flavor") of the OS. They are easy to use, well-supported and come with tons of software. You can install them in a "dual-boot" configuration that will let you switch between Windows and Linux at will. You can obtain them here:
It's rare to see a company in the computer industry doing everything right, and Apple is in that position right now. 2001 was the year of Mac OS X, a really fantastic operating system that replaces their old, outdated technologies. 2001 was also the year they released stunning new laptop computers, and lots of new free software that takes advantage of digital devices. And of course, 2001 was the year of the iPod.
OS X
Apple has really outdone themselves by releasing OS X (called "O.S. Ten") last March. OS X is a completely new operating system, the first huge overhaul since they released the Macintosh in 1984. It is based on the FreeBSD UNIX foundation, another open-source (free) operating system similar in function to Linux. But Apple has set themselves apart from all other UNIX vendors by incorporating a new graphics engine (Quartz) and a stunning new user interface (Aqua). This combination makes the system super-stable & secure, but maintains the ease-of-use Apple is known for. Because it's built on a variant of FreeBSD (called Darwin), thousands of applications that have already been written for UNIX can be easily ported to OS X.
In September, Apple released v10.1 of OS X, incorporating numerous enhancements and performance improvements requested by their users. Apple is showing that they truly listen to their customers and respond accordingly.
Apple could not have done a better job with this operating system; I'm even using it now as I write this. I believe this is currently the best desktop operating system on the market, even better than Linux because it's easier to use.
iBook, PowerBook, iPod
Apple has also released some pretty great hardware this year that's worth noting. The Titanium PowerBook, with its wide screen & awesome performance, caught the world by surprise earlier this year. It quickly became highly coveted among computer techies and non-technical people alike, and was even used as a background prop on numerous TV shows. It is the high-end European sports car of laptops.
Similarly, the iBook is a very capable (and nice to look at) laptop that does a lot of stuff at a reasonable price. I ended up buying one myself at the end of December after comparing PC and Mac laptops for several months. I've been using it for more than a month, and continue to find all sorts of small details that were clearly thought out in the design process. It is a very well-designed and rugged piece of equipment.
And the iPod is the best MP3 player on the market, because of its design, speed and capacity. It is easy to own, and easy to use - like all of Apple's other current products.
iMac
Though this was technically released in January (not in 2001), the new iMac is a remarkable product. It combines OS X, all of the best new Apple software and an innovative new form factor that takes advantage of a flat panel display in a whole new way. If you have not yet seen this product, click the link below to get an idea of what it looks like.
Apple sold six million of the original iMac, making it the most successful single computer ever. I suspect they could even double that number with the new version. It is everything most people need in a computer and appears to be unbelievably easy-to-use.
2001 was a great year for Apple - they're in a great position, and have consistently strong products aligned across the board. I think 2002 could be "The Year of Apple," marking better performance than they've ever had and numerous "conversions" from PC users. Next time you see Apple products in a store, take a few minutes to play with them. You may be surprised at how good they are.
For more information about OS X, go here:
You can learn about the iBook, the Titanium PowerBook and the iPod at these links:
http://www.apple.com/powerbook/
Take a look at the awesome new iMac (with its beautiful flat-panel display) here:
And finally, Apple (like Novell) has worked hard to lay to rest some inaccurate beliefs about their products. They've produced a myths page:
A fascinating look at new technological innovations.
http://www.time.com/time/2001/inventions/
Of those listed above this impressed me the most, proving sometimes the best solutions are also the simplest
http://www.rolexawards.com/laureates/laureate1.jsp?id=6
The coolest new gadgets this year (TechTV)
http://www.techtv.com/freshgear/bestofces/story/0,23008,3367505,00.html
http://web.0sil8.com/episodes/megway/
People tend to sell some pretty bizarre stuff on eBay...
http://www.disturbingauctions.com
This site is very skeptical and and a bit tongue-in-cheek (and I don't agree
with everything they have to say), but it is useful because it accurately chronicles
some of the bigger problems Microsoft has had with their initiatives over the
past few years:
http://www.infowarrior.org/articles/2001-04.html
For the millionaire who has everything...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1775000/1775496.stm
Yet another really nifty clock...
http://yugop.com/ver3/stuff/03/fla.html
Google (the best search engine) now offers full-text search of printed catalogs from thousands of companies. Quite a novel idea!
If you have read this far, THANK YOU!
bdpnetworks (located in Seattle, WA) is owned and managed by myself, and I maintain a network of contacts with other independent computer consultants and support firms for subcontracting purposes. I've been doing this consulting thing for quite a while as an employee of other computer service companies. While my experiences were very enriching, I've generally been frustrated by the lack of consistency or innovation at those companies and the overhead a lot of them carry. I think I can do a better job by myself at a lower cost, so I formed bdpnetworks in June.
Many companies are pouring vast sums of money into their infrastructure just to keep it stable, let alone add value or features to it. This doesn't have to be the case; I have the experience necessary to help get these networks running well again and know how to add innovative features onto them that will benefit everyone. My focus now is primarily on small businesses in and around the Seattle area. I enjoy working with small companies and am looking forward to forming new relationships, especially with organizations near my Capitol Hill office.
I offer a free one-hour onsite consultation to new clients, so you have NO RISK! If you would like to set up an appointment, give me a call at (206)351-7964 or e-mail me at bdp@bdpnetworks.com
For more information, please visit my website at http://www.bdpnetworks.com
(c)2002 Brian Place for bdp networks. All Rights Reserved.
Proofread by Katerie Prior of The Writer's Confidant, http://www.writers-confidant.com
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Thank you for reading!
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT. NEITHER BRIAN PLACE NOR BDPNETWORKS TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT.