Coming soon with a great cast is a film commissioned by the BBC to track back to the days where 32k was a lot of RAM and the IT market was dominated by hardware rather than software and OS's...
Really cannot wait for this as it is when I was growing up and first getting my love for technology....
http://bit.ly/18g6El
30/06/2009
24/06/2009
23/06/2009
Top 5 ways to use a handheld / PDA
As seen on public transport daily.....
No1. "The Wine Glass". holding up in front of you with one hand like clashing glasses. cheers
No2. "The Brick" holding the device down by your waist as far as it will stretch like it is really heavy.
No3 "The Keyboard" As it sends email this must be how to do it. place on flat surface and use index fingers to type.
No4. "The Secret Agent" One arm straight down by your side and eyes pointed down without moving head. Much like a sideways brick
No5. "the Gamer" Double thumb action where the handheld could be a GameBoy
No1. "The Wine Glass". holding up in front of you with one hand like clashing glasses. cheers
No2. "The Brick" holding the device down by your waist as far as it will stretch like it is really heavy.
No3 "The Keyboard" As it sends email this must be how to do it. place on flat surface and use index fingers to type.
No4. "The Secret Agent" One arm straight down by your side and eyes pointed down without moving head. Much like a sideways brick
No5. "the Gamer" Double thumb action where the handheld could be a GameBoy
20/06/2009
10/06/2009
Web 2.0 the millionth word!!!
I have just heard that the millionth word (or phrase apparently) to be counted is Web 2.0
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/10/english-million-word-milestone
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090610/tc_nm/us_word_millionth_life_tech
I cannot believe this for so many reasons, firstly because it is not a word - but secondly and more importantly it is something which has slowly become a phrase for ridicule due to the amount of "web 2.0 experts" out there..... Just see my previous post from earlier today.....
I cannot tell you how ironic, funny and downright stupid this feels to me. When i next hear the mention of the Global Language Monitor again, I am afraid that will be followed by not much more than a chuckle.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/10/english-million-word-milestone
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090610/tc_nm/us_word_millionth_life_tech
I cannot believe this for so many reasons, firstly because it is not a word - but secondly and more importantly it is something which has slowly become a phrase for ridicule due to the amount of "web 2.0 experts" out there..... Just see my previous post from earlier today.....
I cannot tell you how ironic, funny and downright stupid this feels to me. When i next hear the mention of the Global Language Monitor again, I am afraid that will be followed by not much more than a chuckle.
06/06/2009
When Search Evolved
I have been watching with interest the intense activity in the search space in May. It seems like forever that Google has been dominant and the only way to get around the web is by using it.
The big question now really is whether any of the changes and additions to the search market are going to get traction, I will be watching with intense interest.
05/06/2009
Bit of Friday fun - Introducing the Pie Phone
You wont have a beef with this piece of technology......
Bit of Friday fun - introducing the Pie Phone
You wont have a beef with this piece of technology......
04/06/2009
Understanding the costs of It in an SME enviroment - Part 2
Understanding the total cost of ownership (TCO) and making things more efficient
Taking all of the above into account it is possible to now try to put some form of value against the elements in question. Hardware and software are pretty competitive environments and thus it is now easy to compare these through comparisons with different suppliers, for this reason we will concentrate on the more complicated area of support and hidden costs.
If we take the support as split in to two key areas, we can get the following diagram :-
Taking all of the above into account it is possible to now try to put some form of value against the elements in question. Hardware and software are pretty competitive environments and thus it is now easy to compare these through comparisons with different suppliers, for this reason we will concentrate on the more complicated area of support and hidden costs.
If we take the support as split in to two key areas, we can get the following diagram :-
If we put the hardware and software in the middle we can then surround this with a support/service element. This has been split into scheduled and unscheduled which can be classed as proactive and reactive. The major question to ask here is that “will investing more in Proactive service decrease my total Cost of Ownership?” Below are some pointers to help you do this:-
Removing Hidden Costs
It is possible to remove hidden costs by investing in certain areas and getting the right support where it matters. It is also important to understand where your limits are and where your time is spent best. For example, if your car breaks down you may be tempted to fix it due to some knowledge you have gained in the past, this may be the same for your home computer. However, if i was to suggest that you try to look after the company car or van fleet, you would not even dream of trying. The same can be said for your IT estate, know your limits.
Minimise Downtime
As discussed earlier in this document downtime is essential, there are ways to mitigate this by increasing your proactive support. Reactive maintenance is usually in some form or another going to affect downtime, move to a proactive model and downtime should decrease. It is also prudent to select your hardware carefully. Having a piece of kit that has a full guarantee is not going to be great if it breaks every few weeks.
Minimise Distraction
It is possible to reduce the time you spend on managing IT and It suppliers to consider all options from the outset. What do your support contracts include? Is there any hidden charges which may need to be queried. Are additional charges going to force you to attempt a fix yourself (thus distracting you further?) How long are your strategies being formulated for and do they align with your business strategy (e.g. if you plan to grow by x% in the next 3 years, does your IT strategy allow for this growth?)
User Instigated Issues
Are your users trained appropriately? If they have an application query, does your service / support arrangement allow for this? Can they get answers quickly? Do you want them to have minimal admin rights over the systems?
Part 3 to come soon.... or find out more at http://www.virtualit.biz/
Understanding the costs of IT in an SME enviroment - Part 1
Making informed decisions around your IT solution
IT Strategy often sounds a daunting phrase. This is whether it is considered for a large enterprise or small business. Depending on the nature of your business, this subject can mean many different things but in essence there is a core element to be considered by all. The purpose of this document is to discuss the core areas for any small business to understand, it is designed to assist you in decision making and forward planning from not just an IT standpoint but a financial one. When making IT decisions, it is imperative to consider the total cost of ownership of anything bought. Whether it be software or Hardware, there is always additional costs both obvious and hidden that need to be considered.
The Three key elements for Consideration
There are three main areas to consider from the outset when considering your IT requirements; these are Hardware, Software and Service / Support. By hardware we mean any physical piece of equipment associated with your IT, this could be the obvious things such as desktops or servers or something like a network switch, router or Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
Next on the list for consideration is Software, examples of this can be the Operating system (e.g. Windows, Linux), some standard applications such as web browser, office applications or media player and some more business based examples such as Customer databases or complex design applications.
Finally at this point you should understand support and service. We can break down this area into many factors which will be discussed in more detail later however, the simple explanation of support is the maintenance / work required to setup your systems, keep them working and at the end of the lifetime, decommissioning them.
Understanding the different Service and Support Options
Types of support include:-
· Hardware manufacturer warranties.
· Local break fix IT support companies usually concentrating on reactive IT maintenance.
· Software manufacturer support
· Fully Managed Service
The importance of understanding these elements is to work out what hidden costs could be incurred from using a certain option. For example, if you take out a support agreement on your hardware with a 24 hour turnaround, what will the user do if their machine goes wrong, wait for an engineer.
It is possible to use a mix of the above service and support options, the key is to understand what the implications of each are and where to spend your money. In some instances it is also possible to get a service level agreement. This is important when attempting to calculate possible hidden costs.
Understanding the basic IT Life cycle
Now we have itemised the three core areas associated with any IT decision it is possible to draw up a flow diagram to show the full life cycle of any piece of IT hardware or Software. This diagram designed to show this in its simplest form.
Purchase and Finance
The initial point when you purchase a new piece of hardware or software. Also included in this area is whether this piece of hardware is to be bought outright or leased over a specific period of time
Install
Actually getting the hardware or software installed in working order
Ongoing Management
Ongoing management of hardware and software items – both proactive and reactive
Decommission and Recycle
It is important to consider what happens when a piece of hardware or software reaches the end of its life. Considerations such as the WEEE directive on disposal of IT hardware need to be considered
Understanding Hidden Costs
There are also areas for consideration which are effectively hidden, by hidden I mean that they do not have a bottom line figure or price assigned to them. There is no exact formula for working these elements but it is often the case that they can be affected by the level and standard of your support and service.
Downtime
If a user is unable to work for any reason, this can be deemed as downtime. Downtime can be localised to a single user (hardware or software not working) or spread across a whole network Server failure or Internet outage). Downtime will often be scheduled but also in most instances is unscheduled (otherwise it probably wouldn’t have happened in the middle of a working day). The measurement of downtime should be made on a per user basis and can be easily calculated based on the operational costs and salary for that user.
Distraction
By distraction we mean the time incurred for a member of non it staff trying to get a fix to a problem. This could be a user calling a helpdesk or an MD or FD talking to their IT supplier once a month and querying invoices. There is also the instance where certain users can be considered internally as “super users” whether this is by job role or just because they happen to be proficient with IT, it is time out of their daily work.
User Instigated Issues
People tend to tinker with their work computers in the same way as they do their home machines. Changing fonts, adding desktop pictures, installing funky applications can waste time. In some instances it can also instigate a helpdesk call which in turn reduces workers efficiency. Also in this area we should consider the use of a desktop for non business reasons such as browsing the web for a new holiday or sending personal emails.
Understanding the different Service and Support Options Available
Types of support include:-
· Hardware manufacturer warranties.
· Local break fix IT support companies usually concentrating on reactive IT maintenance.
· Software manufacturer support
· Fully Managed Service
The importance of understanding these elements is to work out what hidden costs could be incurred from using a certain option. For example, if you take out a support agreement on your hardware with a 24 hour turnaround, what will the user do if their machine goes wrong, wait for an engineer.
It is possible to use a mix of the above service and support options, the key is to understand what the implications of each are and where to spend your money. In some instances it is also possible to get a service level agreement. This is important when attempting to calculate possible hidden costs.
Part 2 coming soon....... or see more at http://www.virtualit.biz/
IT Strategy often sounds a daunting phrase. This is whether it is considered for a large enterprise or small business. Depending on the nature of your business, this subject can mean many different things but in essence there is a core element to be considered by all. The purpose of this document is to discuss the core areas for any small business to understand, it is designed to assist you in decision making and forward planning from not just an IT standpoint but a financial one. When making IT decisions, it is imperative to consider the total cost of ownership of anything bought. Whether it be software or Hardware, there is always additional costs both obvious and hidden that need to be considered.
The Three key elements for Consideration
There are three main areas to consider from the outset when considering your IT requirements; these are Hardware, Software and Service / Support. By hardware we mean any physical piece of equipment associated with your IT, this could be the obvious things such as desktops or servers or something like a network switch, router or Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
Next on the list for consideration is Software, examples of this can be the Operating system (e.g. Windows, Linux), some standard applications such as web browser, office applications or media player and some more business based examples such as Customer databases or complex design applications.
Finally at this point you should understand support and service. We can break down this area into many factors which will be discussed in more detail later however, the simple explanation of support is the maintenance / work required to setup your systems, keep them working and at the end of the lifetime, decommissioning them.
Understanding the different Service and Support Options
Types of support include:-
· Hardware manufacturer warranties.
· Local break fix IT support companies usually concentrating on reactive IT maintenance.
· Software manufacturer support
· Fully Managed Service
The importance of understanding these elements is to work out what hidden costs could be incurred from using a certain option. For example, if you take out a support agreement on your hardware with a 24 hour turnaround, what will the user do if their machine goes wrong, wait for an engineer.
It is possible to use a mix of the above service and support options, the key is to understand what the implications of each are and where to spend your money. In some instances it is also possible to get a service level agreement. This is important when attempting to calculate possible hidden costs.
Understanding the basic IT Life cycle
Now we have itemised the three core areas associated with any IT decision it is possible to draw up a flow diagram to show the full life cycle of any piece of IT hardware or Software. This diagram designed to show this in its simplest form.
Purchase and Finance
The initial point when you purchase a new piece of hardware or software. Also included in this area is whether this piece of hardware is to be bought outright or leased over a specific period of time
Install
Actually getting the hardware or software installed in working order
Ongoing Management
Ongoing management of hardware and software items – both proactive and reactive
Decommission and Recycle
It is important to consider what happens when a piece of hardware or software reaches the end of its life. Considerations such as the WEEE directive on disposal of IT hardware need to be considered
Understanding Hidden Costs
There are also areas for consideration which are effectively hidden, by hidden I mean that they do not have a bottom line figure or price assigned to them. There is no exact formula for working these elements but it is often the case that they can be affected by the level and standard of your support and service.
Downtime
If a user is unable to work for any reason, this can be deemed as downtime. Downtime can be localised to a single user (hardware or software not working) or spread across a whole network Server failure or Internet outage). Downtime will often be scheduled but also in most instances is unscheduled (otherwise it probably wouldn’t have happened in the middle of a working day). The measurement of downtime should be made on a per user basis and can be easily calculated based on the operational costs and salary for that user.
Distraction
By distraction we mean the time incurred for a member of non it staff trying to get a fix to a problem. This could be a user calling a helpdesk or an MD or FD talking to their IT supplier once a month and querying invoices. There is also the instance where certain users can be considered internally as “super users” whether this is by job role or just because they happen to be proficient with IT, it is time out of their daily work.
User Instigated Issues
People tend to tinker with their work computers in the same way as they do their home machines. Changing fonts, adding desktop pictures, installing funky applications can waste time. In some instances it can also instigate a helpdesk call which in turn reduces workers efficiency. Also in this area we should consider the use of a desktop for non business reasons such as browsing the web for a new holiday or sending personal emails.
Understanding the different Service and Support Options Available
Types of support include:-
· Hardware manufacturer warranties.
· Local break fix IT support companies usually concentrating on reactive IT maintenance.
· Software manufacturer support
· Fully Managed Service
The importance of understanding these elements is to work out what hidden costs could be incurred from using a certain option. For example, if you take out a support agreement on your hardware with a 24 hour turnaround, what will the user do if their machine goes wrong, wait for an engineer.
It is possible to use a mix of the above service and support options, the key is to understand what the implications of each are and where to spend your money. In some instances it is also possible to get a service level agreement. This is important when attempting to calculate possible hidden costs.
Part 2 coming soon....... or see more at http://www.virtualit.biz/
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