Reinke Faces Life

WServerNews[tm] Electronic Newsletter
Vol. 11, #26 – June 26, 2006 – Issue #582
Published by sunbelt-software.com since 1996 – ISSN: 1527-3407
~ The secret of those "who always seem to know" ~
Read the web-version here: http://www.wservernews.com/index.cfm?id=582
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* Forefront: Am I Missing It?

At Tech.Ed several Forefront security team leaders attended and
spoke to journalists and analysts. Some of these reported that
enterprise customers like Microsoft jumping into the security
market. Others were doubtful. A quick SunPoll among system admins
shows that almost 50% do not trust Microsoft at all with their
security!
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I think it's ironic that Microsoft can make an insecure Operating System and then sell people things to make it secure. What are techies stupid? Add on the fact that you want checks and balances. You don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. Does anyone remember Microsoft's security server?

Nope, not for this fellow. I'm moving to Linux and Open Source. Where possible, I recommend it to Enterprise types. Nealy had it right "the network is the computer". Every computing platform has to protect itself. We've turned the world model inside out in that there is no hard shell around a soft core. You want security in Microsoft systems then you have to air gap them.

imho

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001280.php

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The Preferred edition is the best choice for general use – it comes with a good headset/microphone and is available from Amazon for $120, with rebate.

Amazing!
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{So naturally, I let him know about my problems!} 

https://reinkefj.wordpress.com/2006/02/25/windoze-installs-software-support-and-my-gripe/

https://reinkefj.wordpress.com/2006/04/12/ed-foster-ibms-brand-takes-on-a-different-nuance-that-me/

I personally would not buy anything tainted by Nuance’s support.

Since you recommended it, I would suggest that you put a caveat on “IBM’s” ViaVoice, Dragon, and Paperport that if it works for you “vundabar” but if it doesn’t don’t expect ANY help from the vendor.

Dealing with these products, I would suggest save your receipts and document every interaction. You are going to need it. You are about to enter “support hell” that will make Dell’s India operation look like nice guys with Phds.

If you even get a response from Nucance at all.

I’d suggest that you steer people AWAY from them. Unfortunately they have a corner on the marketplace for “voice transcription”. That being said, I’d suggest that it all depends if you are feeling lucky.
 

WSOD white screen of death ?

At 0717, I was dong my morning work (i.e., catching up with the news and opinion at may favorite sites). The ups protecting the tv in the living room beeped. It was short one, or maybe two chirps. And, my internet connectivity was gone. LUGable was reporting "limited connectivity". Sigh. I tried restarting my connection to the wireless lan. It said all was ok. Had to save all my work. Rebooted to no avail. So I went to the garage and cycled the "data center".

Everything computing is eventually hooked to one extension cord that end right by the door. One tug, everything powers down. Plug in, everything powers back up. Maybe? Arghh!

By the time I get back to LUGable is happily reconnecting all my apps to the net. The Clam AV tells me "we have had a disconnect" of some stuck drivel! I'm aggravated. And, I've lost 22 minutes. Double Argh! There has to be a better way.

UPS the wap? Or, was the problem the ISP at the pole?

http://windowssecrets.com/comp/060615/

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Step 1. Stop the misleading installation of possibly unwanted programs.

Step 2. Disable WGA's incessant notifications.

Step 3. Prevent WGA from phoning home to Microsoft servers.

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Sigh, and you wonder why my next migration is to Linux?

http://www.digiportal.com/

I put the free version up on one of my spammy email accounts. It seems to work like a charm. I haven't seen any spam slipping through. AND, I have not heard of any complaints about it incorrectly blocking good mail. More when I have it.

I didn't do anything but gripe to their support folks.

OK, I have an illusion that I will "be organized" just as soon as I don't have piles of paper. Instead I will have organized piles of electrons. :-)

Of course, no technology comes without "baggage".

First, why do I have to have windoze install the pig everytime I connect it? My Nikon camera shows up in "My Computer" even when it's nowhere around. 

Second, how can I get this puupy to scan index cards? 

Vin points out the Washington shell game. And these are the people that are deciding how to regualte the internet, what technologoies win lose, copyright patent laws, regulatory agencies, the courts, and all manner of such stuff. We have outsourcing and the cubicle nation because of tax laws. And people say that politics ain't tech!

read more | digg story

MOZY is telling me it hasn't backed up in seven days? Argh, not to useful for an automagic backup utility.

http://www.socialnetworking-weblog.com/50226711/linkedin_tips_for_virtual_networking.php

Linkedin tips for virtual networking
Filed in archive Using Social Software by robyn on October 17, 2005

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If you're in a business function, you need to meet and contact new people all the time. One of my favourite tools is LinkedIn, a virtual networking system with a free level of access. The goal is to meet up with people of similar interest for mutual benefit and/or gain.

*** AND ***

Here are a few tips to get the most out of LinkedIn:

* Connect with everyone

* NEVER turn down a connection

* Make sure your profile is heavily detailed [I agree!]

* Endorse others [I agree!]

* Upload your contacts into their system to see who's a LinkedIn user that you can easily connect with [I agree!]
* Reconnect with their "Find a colleague" feature.

* Spend time searching for contacts on a regular basis

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Perhaps the key is how the writer sets it up as "need to meet" as part of a business like headhunter. As a seeker, I'm not so sure.

Ahh, isn't it entertaining. HAMACHI gives me connectivity to the OLDLAP sitting on my sofa at home from LUGGABLE sitting on my lap at the Jersy Shore on VWBBIE. And, I can run KAREN'S REPLICATOR to back up my creations yesterday from LUG to OLD. In a few seconds, that's all it took. Now did they really go via Japan? Hmmm.

Yup, it's wireless wednesday again. You know fans the day I try to use my "beloved" vwbbie all day, or until I get frustrated and drop back to my employer's utility network. 

And this morning, vwbbie is doing a little more poorly that usual. It's raining. Or at least threatening. And, we all know that stormy weather is the bane of the Internet Surfer Pro and all ISPs worldwide. 
Here's the current speed reading!

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Download Speed: 125 kbps (15.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 101 kbps (12.6 KB/sec transfer rate)
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 Of course, your mileage may vary!

It's free. It installs. (Wonder if Nuance Scansoft knows this trick!?!)

=

Update: I have it up on LUGable and OLDLAP and did a ping between 5.44.69.171 and 5.44.68.254. The time was 4.5 secs. Does that mean it went from my sofa on LUG, to Japan, to OLD, to Japan, and back to LUG in 4.5???? Has to be a trick there!

Now what?

=

Update: Went to  work, and despite the fact, or maye because of it, that it is wireless wednesday, (the day I run LUGable off VWBBIE all day, or for as long as I can stand it, I was able to reconnect with my HAMACHI vpn. I did a directory of OLDLAP and it responded as if I was sitting on my sofa last night. Hmmm, I'm STILL not sure what I can do with this, but it is neat!

Once again this week, MOZY is signalling that it hasn't abcked up in week. Why? It's had ample opportunities. So, there clearly is something that I'll have to report to beta test hq. Hmm. How did this get through alpha? 

Most interesting.

This morning a routine email out to my isp started failing.  OK, no big deal. Often stuff has to try more than once to get out. After the third try, it was time to look into it. The message was "needs authentication". Huh? I haven't changed anything in my email accounts since I abandoned a spammy email address and created a new one. But that was a while ago. OK! Let's debug. Can we do the Outlook Lookout test account? Hmmm, everything works EXCEPT the send. OK, let's look at the email address. Looks good. Other settings? Hmmm, the outbound "needs authentication" box is unchecked. That's not right. Check it. Test it. OK. Send mail. OK. Hmm so how did that box get unchecked. Ghosts? The wicked witch of the west. Or just Outlook donning it persona of Lookout and making life interesting for the poor dumb user. And, people wonder why I want to leave Microsoft? At least, an open source vendor would be interested in my problem. Or at least feign interest if I was a donor. Heck, the beta software guys actually respond. Sigh!

http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/6/2/04149/00911

http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2006/4/11/0950/03255

Important points to note about the "doc with the broken software"

(1) It was the install that was broken, as well as the software.

(2) I paid for the support incident for which I got one email message to "try again".

(3) After a while, it is just not worth fighting about. They count on that! Give up; they win.

(4) After that, it is useless to resist. As a result, I will not BUY software retail. I will use Open Source and make a donation. But if it ain't fully functional, then I don't trust you.

(5) Guarantees, warranties, and rebates are worthless because they are not honored.

AND

(6) Never recommend anything altruistically because no good deed goes unpunished.

(7) Scansoft aka Nuance Sucks!

479.2 kilobits per second
Communications 479.2 kilobits per second
Storage 58.5 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 17.5 seconds
Subjective rating Not bad

Well we'll see. Let me try to back something up.

http://www.syncura.com 

SYNCURA is "snappier" than it used to be. I am using it to keep my "team member" machines in sync. So basically, I take an encrypted file and drag 'n' drop into the team directory and it gets shared among a community of platforms I use. I'm not yet comfortable putting unencrypted sensitive stuff up "in the air" yet. Have to think about that.

I downloaded the Dapper Drake (i.e., UBUNTU 606) with the help of the FREEDOWNLOADMANAGER. It was needed because just a plain old download would fail 66% into it. Don't know why? Burned a disk of the iso that didn't work. Tried again and it did. Came up a little slow. Not used to booting from a cdrom. Worked flawlessly. Detected my wireless lan. Connected to http://freetalklive.com and virgin classic rock radio. Downloaded a podcast from FTL but could figure out how to listen to it. Listened to Virgin rock while I poked at the included sip phone. I want to put it up on some of the old hardware in the garage and see how an install goes. I have a box that can be reformatted. This might be the version that pushes Microsoft out of the operating system business. Besides have you seen the rumored prices of Vista and the footprint it needs. Interesting interesting.

Downloading is a challenge.

From: feedback@elephantdrive.com
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 7:35 AM
To: reinkefj Subject: ElephantDrive Customer Support

Thanks for your interest in ElephantDrive!  A customer service representative will contact you shortly to answer questions or assist with problems with the ElephantDrive platform. Our CURRENT AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME is less than 24 hours.

As of 5/31/2006 11:51 AM PST, we are still observing a larger than normal response from the various postings last week.  We have added additional web and application servers and the platform should be running smoothly now, if at times a bit slow.

Thanks for your patience and apologies for any inconvenience.  We look forward to continuing to serve all your online storage needs!

Sincerely,
The ElephantDrive Staff

——– Original Message ——–

> Name = reinkefj
> Email = reinkefj@gmail.com
> Problem = Elephant Desktop reports "unexpected login error"
> Steps = Connecting to Elephant Drive Headquarters?
> OS = Windows XP
> CPU = Intel Pentium 4
> CPU Speed= 2 GHz or more
> Memory = 1 GB

************

Sigh 

From: Reinke's R&D Techie Nerd Persona
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 1:36 AM
To: help @ wridea.com
Subject: feedback password length

Gentlemen:

Your sign up screen offers password as six to sixteen characters. I of course plugged in a twenty character one. (Like a good beta tester!) It forced me to truncate to sixteen. BUT, when I cycled (logout and login), I couldn’t log on. I asked for my password. It worked. BUT, I discovered I have a twelve character one. Think you need a little work on this area.

Good luck,
FjohnR

===

Hi,

First of all, I am sorry for my late reply, we had some great response in last 4 days.
 
We have corrected the passwords problem, thank you very much for your feedback. Your feedbacks as a user are valuable to us, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime if you have anything to say.  

Take care,
Best wishes,
Your friend at Wridea.com
Mert Hurturk
 
===

Hey, these guys did better than some software companies that I paid big bucks for their pos software (i.e., Nuance's IBM Via Voice, Microsoft, DELL). So, while I don't think I need this one, I recommend them for their hustle, Even though, this bug should have been caught with out me. But then that's why you have a beta.

===