Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Trim, taut and terrific
Many, many years ago, Ford had an advertisement that referred to their latest model in the manner of this blog's heading. I'm too young to have ever seen the ad, but my Father often referred to it when I was a lad.
I have been curious as to how Windows 7 has obtained such speed improvements over Vista. It does indeed behave in a trim and taut manner. It requires far less CPU grunt and memory space and it's response seems "fleet-footed".
So today, I think I stumbled on the reason, or part of it. Anyone who uses Windows will have come across Services. These "little" background processes that provide a discrete service. (By discrete, I mean specific, not politely behaved.) The problem in the past has been that there are so many running, and often it seemed they were not required at the time. Jump into Task Manager and take a look at the list of processes and you will notice that the list has been steadily growing through the various versions of the O/S.
Well, Windows 7 changes all that. Microsoft has delivered trigger capabilities for the services. This means that, rather than loading up the system with a heap of unnecessary services, Windows 7 only starts a service if it is required; keeps it running only as long as it is needed, and then stops the service. This improves system performance, reduces memory overhead, and generally gives the O/S a more responsive feel.
Now, I'm not sure my dear old dad would call this trim, taut or terrific, but I reckon it is.
I have been curious as to how Windows 7 has obtained such speed improvements over Vista. It does indeed behave in a trim and taut manner. It requires far less CPU grunt and memory space and it's response seems "fleet-footed".
So today, I think I stumbled on the reason, or part of it. Anyone who uses Windows will have come across Services. These "little" background processes that provide a discrete service. (By discrete, I mean specific, not politely behaved.) The problem in the past has been that there are so many running, and often it seemed they were not required at the time. Jump into Task Manager and take a look at the list of processes and you will notice that the list has been steadily growing through the various versions of the O/S.
Well, Windows 7 changes all that. Microsoft has delivered trigger capabilities for the services. This means that, rather than loading up the system with a heap of unnecessary services, Windows 7 only starts a service if it is required; keeps it running only as long as it is needed, and then stops the service. This improves system performance, reduces memory overhead, and generally gives the O/S a more responsive feel.
Now, I'm not sure my dear old dad would call this trim, taut or terrific, but I reckon it is.
Labels: Technology, Windows 7
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Windows 7 Problem Steps Recorder
I lead what I think is an interesting and varied life. I am involved in a wide range of activities both professionally and socially, and I rarely find myself bored or lacking something to do. This is not to say that my life is all beer and skittles either. There are aspects of my professional life, in particular, that I would love to minimize or eradicate all together.
As I have mentioned before, much of my working life involves developing business applications, variably as a coder, an analyst or a project leader. One thing that irks me is when a user reports an error. It irks me for two reasons. Firstly, I'm disappointed that someone found an error in an application I am responsible for. I know, there is no such thing as an application without bugs, but I can't help it - I'm still disappointed.
The second reason is because the user almost always (well, 99.999999% of the time) reports very little in the way of useful information about the problem. "The program won't work." "There was an error message." "It's broken." "Something isn't right." Now I know it's the nature of things to go to as little effort as possible to get a result. We teach it at our business schools across the country. It called being efficient. Obviously these user comments provide exactly zero information about what will be required to help them. I spend far too much time reproducing and identifying errors from the tiniest scrap of evidence. This is not a part of my life that I call interesting.
However, my life is about to change for the better.
Microsoft has introduced a wonderful little app in Windows 7 called the Problem Steps Recorder (PSR). No longer will help desks need to decipher a short cryptic message about some vague problem with some application or other.
PSR provides the user with a simple tool that records what they are doing when the error occurs, and then sends it to their support professional. PSR is easy to use, has an intuitive interface, and allows you to start, pause and stop whenever you need to. It creates a zip file ready for emailing, and the delivered product not only shows all the screen shots that the user saw, but also includes a text description of the user's journey to the problem.
Unlike previous Windows troubleshooting wizards, this one works for applications other than those that form part of the O/S. Any program running on the computer can make use of this applet. Now that's true support.
You can check it out at this URL. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/dd320286.aspx
As I have mentioned before, much of my working life involves developing business applications, variably as a coder, an analyst or a project leader. One thing that irks me is when a user reports an error. It irks me for two reasons. Firstly, I'm disappointed that someone found an error in an application I am responsible for. I know, there is no such thing as an application without bugs, but I can't help it - I'm still disappointed.
The second reason is because the user almost always (well, 99.999999% of the time) reports very little in the way of useful information about the problem. "The program won't work." "There was an error message." "It's broken." "Something isn't right." Now I know it's the nature of things to go to as little effort as possible to get a result. We teach it at our business schools across the country. It called being efficient. Obviously these user comments provide exactly zero information about what will be required to help them. I spend far too much time reproducing and identifying errors from the tiniest scrap of evidence. This is not a part of my life that I call interesting.
However, my life is about to change for the better.
Microsoft has introduced a wonderful little app in Windows 7 called the Problem Steps Recorder (PSR). No longer will help desks need to decipher a short cryptic message about some vague problem with some application or other.
PSR provides the user with a simple tool that records what they are doing when the error occurs, and then sends it to their support professional. PSR is easy to use, has an intuitive interface, and allows you to start, pause and stop whenever you need to. It creates a zip file ready for emailing, and the delivered product not only shows all the screen shots that the user saw, but also includes a text description of the user's journey to the problem.
Unlike previous Windows troubleshooting wizards, this one works for applications other than those that form part of the O/S. Any program running on the computer can make use of this applet. Now that's true support.
You can check it out at this URL. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/dd320286.aspx
Labels: Development, Support, Windows 7
Friday, June 12, 2009
A mood of co-operation
Seeing as you may be in a generous mood and clicked on the link in my last blog (if you didn't click on the link, please read my last blog before proceeding), I thought I would stretch the friendship a little and ask you to click on one more.
See, I'm an industrious fellow and I have two businesses. "Glutton for punishment", I hear you say, and you would be right, but that does not remove the need for this business (which is actually my primary business) from needing decent Google rankings too.
So, if you don't mind, click on the blog heading and go to the web site of my software development and consulting company. Great will be your reward in heaven. :-)
Cheers
See, I'm an industrious fellow and I have two businesses. "Glutton for punishment", I hear you say, and you would be right, but that does not remove the need for this business (which is actually my primary business) from needing decent Google rankings too.
So, if you don't mind, click on the blog heading and go to the web site of my software development and consulting company. Great will be your reward in heaven. :-)
Cheers
Labels: Business
Hanging out my shingle
Call this blatant self-promotion; call it shameless advertising; call it whatever you like, but let's be honest. One of the primary reasons for blogging is promotion of one's attitudes, opinions, skills set and expertise.
I have no need to express my thoughts in writing in order to prove to myself that my logic is sound. I don't need to assert my status as a successful person by having something published. I do not lay awake at night staring up at my bedroom ceiling, sleepless over issues related to blogging; my acceptance in the broader IT community, or of some deep inner desire to be acknowledged by my peers.
After all, blogging is not that dissimilar from what professional people did in earlier centuries. When a doctor or solicitor
opened their offices and started up a practice, they hung a shingle on the wall announcing their services. The only difference is that blogging potentially reaches a far larger, further flung market.
So, be a good fellow (or fellowette) and click on the link in the blog heading. It will take you to the web site of my local IT services company and it will help Google increase my rankings. What's in it for you? Nothing much, except that warm feeling you get when you do a good turn to a complete stranger without any benefit to yourself.
Go on. It will take less than 10 seconds. May you be rewarded in heaven. :-)
I have no need to express my thoughts in writing in order to prove to myself that my logic is sound. I don't need to assert my status as a successful person by having something published. I do not lay awake at night staring up at my bedroom ceiling, sleepless over issues related to blogging; my acceptance in the broader IT community, or of some deep inner desire to be acknowledged by my peers.
After all, blogging is not that dissimilar from what professional people did in earlier centuries. When a doctor or solicitor
opened their offices and started up a practice, they hung a shingle on the wall announcing their services. The only difference is that blogging potentially reaches a far larger, further flung market.
So, be a good fellow (or fellowette) and click on the link in the blog heading. It will take you to the web site of my local IT services company and it will help Google increase my rankings. What's in it for you? Nothing much, except that warm feeling you get when you do a good turn to a complete stranger without any benefit to yourself.
Go on. It will take less than 10 seconds. May you be rewarded in heaven. :-)
Labels: Business, Technology
OpenDNS
Many of my clients use a computer at home to access work servers or even their desktop. Some have a laptop they kart around, and when this is home, their children often use these computers for school assignments, social networking, general entertainment and, I suspect, for things their parents are either totally unaware of, or simply don't realise can be done on the web.
So I regularly receive requests for some kind of filtering or other protection to secure little children from net nasties, or from prying into company secrets. There are many good products available for this, but I have just discovered Open DNS. Now, I swear I have no pecuniary interest in this company; I don't sell their products (They're free any way), but boy have they made life a lot easier for me.
A free account, simple to configure, no rocket science involved - in a couple of minutes I had my home network configured to keep LOTS of bad things out. No more emails pretending to be from someone else (including my self). No more cursing from my daughter when she receives 300 emails from a chat site.
Do yourself a favour and check out Open DNS.
So I regularly receive requests for some kind of filtering or other protection to secure little children from net nasties, or from prying into company secrets. There are many good products available for this, but I have just discovered Open DNS. Now, I swear I have no pecuniary interest in this company; I don't sell their products (They're free any way), but boy have they made life a lot easier for me.
A free account, simple to configure, no rocket science involved - in a couple of minutes I had my home network configured to keep LOTS of bad things out. No more emails pretending to be from someone else (including my self). No more cursing from my daughter when she receives 300 emails from a chat site.
Do yourself a favour and check out Open DNS.
Labels: Business, Support, Technology
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Windows 7 - so much, so little
Well, having investigated Windows 7 for an hour or two I think the title of this blog entry says it all (and that's a good thing).
You see, I think about operating systems a bit like old grandma thought about small children - they should be seen, but not heard. What I want from an O/S is to be fast; consistent; reliable; attentive, but not fussy. In a word - unobtrusive.
I don't need grand logos, flash animation upon startup, trumpet ta-da's to announce its readiness or any other advertisment. I don't need to be forever interrupted to be told I need to confirm my last command; and I certainly don't want my files and folders to be renamed or restructured so I don't know where they are.
One of Vista's insults was to do all the latter without providing very much of the former. Windows 7 has regained the balance by being much faster, much simpler, and by providing helpful support without being difficult to get on with.
For example, move your mouse cursor to the top edge of a window until it changes into a double-headed arrow, then double-click the left button. The window will resize vertically to the top and bottom edges of the screen. Double-click again and the window returns to its original size. Nothing earth-shattering, but a nice, unobtrusive feature that will make life a little easier.
I know it's way to soon for me to be making a final judgement on this version of Windows. Heck, I haven't even loaded SQL Server yet. But first impressions are often lasting impressions, and so far I think I will like Windows 7. Atleast I know I want to like Windows 7, which I did not get anywhere close to with Vista.
You see, I think about operating systems a bit like old grandma thought about small children - they should be seen, but not heard. What I want from an O/S is to be fast; consistent; reliable; attentive, but not fussy. In a word - unobtrusive.
I don't need grand logos, flash animation upon startup, trumpet ta-da's to announce its readiness or any other advertisment. I don't need to be forever interrupted to be told I need to confirm my last command; and I certainly don't want my files and folders to be renamed or restructured so I don't know where they are.
One of Vista's insults was to do all the latter without providing very much of the former. Windows 7 has regained the balance by being much faster, much simpler, and by providing helpful support without being difficult to get on with.
For example, move your mouse cursor to the top edge of a window until it changes into a double-headed arrow, then double-click the left button. The window will resize vertically to the top and bottom edges of the screen. Double-click again and the window returns to its original size. Nothing earth-shattering, but a nice, unobtrusive feature that will make life a little easier.
I know it's way to soon for me to be making a final judgement on this version of Windows. Heck, I haven't even loaded SQL Server yet. But first impressions are often lasting impressions, and so far I think I will like Windows 7. Atleast I know I want to like Windows 7, which I did not get anywhere close to with Vista.
Labels: Technology, Windows 7
Monday, June 8, 2009
First look at Windows 7
There's one thing about bleeding edge technology - eventually the pain outweighs the gain. So it has been some time since I bothered getting involved in beta test cycles, and testing the latest craze to hit the marketplace. My involvement with beta test teams hit its peek in the late 90s, but I had taken a no-go approach since the turn of the century. I don't know whether it was burn-out (I suspect at least a little); no time due to a new start-up venture; or family demands, but somewhere I made an almost unconscious decision to discontinue the bloodletting.
The new venture was a Point of Sale application for touch screens. It experienced a hiccup or two along the way when it stumbled on the way Windows Vista handles coms via serial RS232 ports. In short, Vista no longer liked playing ball with other non-PC devices like cash registers. Drivers were at best problematic, and at worst, non-existent. Main boards for PCs started appearing without RS232 ports and USB to serial converters were inconsistent in their performance. To keep the project rolling, and in order to ensure minimal pain in the marketplace, we made the decision to support Windows XP only. Fortunately did this not harm our sales (or certainly not enough for us to be aware of it).
Maybe it was the under-welming disappointment that was Windows Vista, or the long lapse since Microsoft had delivered a truly new operating system, or the sense of impending doom as the time crept closer when XP would no longer be available, but the announcement of Windows 7 caused me to prick up my ears. I decided I would find a spare PC, install this new OS, and see what had changed.
Now, understand that I have only just completed the install, but if the installation process is anything to gauge it by, Windows 7 is going to be a real hit. Less than half the time to install than Vista or XP. Not one single driver issue! - and this on a machine that is over two years old, with an 80 Gb HDD and less than 2 Gb RAM. Impressive.
Not just impressive, but re-assuring.
I have always considered Microsoft to be first and foremost a company that is expert at legal manoeuvres. Secondly an accomplished marketing company, and a distant third software development company. However, Windows 7 bodes well for both Microsoft and the PC computing community in general.
Let's hope the initial impression becomes a permanent attitude.
The new venture was a Point of Sale application for touch screens. It experienced a hiccup or two along the way when it stumbled on the way Windows Vista handles coms via serial RS232 ports. In short, Vista no longer liked playing ball with other non-PC devices like cash registers. Drivers were at best problematic, and at worst, non-existent. Main boards for PCs started appearing without RS232 ports and USB to serial converters were inconsistent in their performance. To keep the project rolling, and in order to ensure minimal pain in the marketplace, we made the decision to support Windows XP only. Fortunately did this not harm our sales (or certainly not enough for us to be aware of it).
Maybe it was the under-welming disappointment that was Windows Vista, or the long lapse since Microsoft had delivered a truly new operating system, or the sense of impending doom as the time crept closer when XP would no longer be available, but the announcement of Windows 7 caused me to prick up my ears. I decided I would find a spare PC, install this new OS, and see what had changed.
Now, understand that I have only just completed the install, but if the installation process is anything to gauge it by, Windows 7 is going to be a real hit. Less than half the time to install than Vista or XP. Not one single driver issue! - and this on a machine that is over two years old, with an 80 Gb HDD and less than 2 Gb RAM. Impressive.
Not just impressive, but re-assuring.
I have always considered Microsoft to be first and foremost a company that is expert at legal manoeuvres. Secondly an accomplished marketing company, and a distant third software development company. However, Windows 7 bodes well for both Microsoft and the PC computing community in general.
Let's hope the initial impression becomes a permanent attitude.
Labels: Business, Development, Technology, Windows 7
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