From Yahoo news: Experts Race to Fix Serious Internet Flaw.
They talk about an exploit over a basic flaw in TCP that can make some routers crash. Interesting. A couple of weeks ago most Zyxel ADSL modems connected to my ISP were crashing every 10 to 20 minutes, but since then everything has been fine again. Maybe this guy Watson was testing his tools ;)
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Mac Voyeurism
I found this interesting Wired News article about Mac Voyeurs in a Windows World thru ActiveWin.
These paragraphs in particular is very interesting:
"They are intensely interested in knowing everything about how the Mac works. These people tell me -- almost emotionally -- how important they think Macintosh is. They usually say something like, 'It keeps Microsoft honest' or 'Bill Gates stole all his good ideas from Apple.'"
And there's one other thing about these folks, and this explains the voyeur part: They absolutely, positively, would not under any circumstances ever buy a Mac.
Well, maybe I am not exactly a Mac Voyeur, but I feel the second paragraph is a little unfair. I will never forget the first time I had a chance to enter a shop full of Apple products. That same day I decided I were going to buy a Mac. Of course I want to buy the best, so I will have to wait until I have plenty of money.
These paragraphs in particular is very interesting:
"They are intensely interested in knowing everything about how the Mac works. These people tell me -- almost emotionally -- how important they think Macintosh is. They usually say something like, 'It keeps Microsoft honest' or 'Bill Gates stole all his good ideas from Apple.'"
And there's one other thing about these folks, and this explains the voyeur part: They absolutely, positively, would not under any circumstances ever buy a Mac.
Well, maybe I am not exactly a Mac Voyeur, but I feel the second paragraph is a little unfair. I will never forget the first time I had a chance to enter a shop full of Apple products. That same day I decided I were going to buy a Mac. Of course I want to buy the best, so I will have to wait until I have plenty of money.
Monday, April 19, 2004
My English sucks III (or is IV?)
I have just spent five minutes trying to read my last posts and I am once again amazed by my awful writing style.
It is very easy for me to realize when I am reading a nicely written blog, and mine isn't. The problem is that this skill I have is good to discriminate the good from bad but it is not helping me at all in producing good prose.
Still, I see some direct hits coming form people I don't know. Maybe there are some people besides Pink-Candle (Hi to you there!) that has bookmarked my blog! Thanks for your forgiveness to all! I would be amazed to know that somebody has actually subscribed to my feed.
Once again, apologizes.
It is very easy for me to realize when I am reading a nicely written blog, and mine isn't. The problem is that this skill I have is good to discriminate the good from bad but it is not helping me at all in producing good prose.
Still, I see some direct hits coming form people I don't know. Maybe there are some people besides Pink-Candle (Hi to you there!) that has bookmarked my blog! Thanks for your forgiveness to all! I would be amazed to know that somebody has actually subscribed to my feed.
Once again, apologizes.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Windows Server feedback
Some time ago I found that Microsoft created this site for receiving feedback on their Windows Server products. The sole fact that this site exists is a great advancement for them. But when I took the time to fill a form with my most outstanding complain, I only received a very polite answer, with some links to some not so useful information. As a result I am not sure the people processing the feedback have their "ears" too open, and in sum, I am not too convinced they are letting us help too much.
Here is the text of the feedback I sent:
Description of the scenario:
During file operations like copy, compress, uncompress, encrypt, decrypt on large files (i.e. more than 100MB), the OS often gets unresponsive. It is impossible to regain the control of the computer either to cancel the operation or for the server to perform any other background or interactive task. Also, UI often stops refreshing during those operations.
Current workaround method (if applicable):
I just try to avoid these operations during busy work hours. When there is no choice, I start the operation, and I go for a walk or coffee! I have looked at Windows Resource Manager, but I couldn't find any help for me on it.
Value or impact to your organization:
As with almost anything else, we could be more productive if we could just use the computer all the time.
Suggested solution:
I don't know if the problem is related to IO overloading the CPU or just due to some flaw in the task scheduling code. Anyway, there are should be some way to automatically throttle the resource usage of file operations. In addition, maybe a priority slide control along the progress bar in progress dialogs would be of help. A way to set a default priority would be useful too. It looks like there should be a general QoS approach to this kind of problem.
Thinking a little bit more about this, I think the File Server role has become a commodity a long time ago, and as a result, it has been disregarded, not only by Microsoft but by everybody else. Of course Windows Server 2003 is a faster and more scalable file server than previous versions, but the set of functionality in this domain hasn't changed for a while.
For instance, from a previous life, I know about the existence of some file server "optimizations" like "opportunistic locks" that are really bad for some old fashioned shared file applications (even for some Microsoft products like Visual Fox Pro), but still the only way to fine tune a file server in this regard (or almost in any other) is to touch the registry (there is no Management Console for the File Server role) and all changes are global to the server, when it could be very convenient to be able to tune each share independently.
Here is the text of the feedback I sent:
Description of the scenario:
During file operations like copy, compress, uncompress, encrypt, decrypt on large files (i.e. more than 100MB), the OS often gets unresponsive. It is impossible to regain the control of the computer either to cancel the operation or for the server to perform any other background or interactive task. Also, UI often stops refreshing during those operations.
Current workaround method (if applicable):
I just try to avoid these operations during busy work hours. When there is no choice, I start the operation, and I go for a walk or coffee! I have looked at Windows Resource Manager, but I couldn't find any help for me on it.
Value or impact to your organization:
As with almost anything else, we could be more productive if we could just use the computer all the time.
Suggested solution:
I don't know if the problem is related to IO overloading the CPU or just due to some flaw in the task scheduling code. Anyway, there are should be some way to automatically throttle the resource usage of file operations. In addition, maybe a priority slide control along the progress bar in progress dialogs would be of help. A way to set a default priority would be useful too. It looks like there should be a general QoS approach to this kind of problem.
Thinking a little bit more about this, I think the File Server role has become a commodity a long time ago, and as a result, it has been disregarded, not only by Microsoft but by everybody else. Of course Windows Server 2003 is a faster and more scalable file server than previous versions, but the set of functionality in this domain hasn't changed for a while.
For instance, from a previous life, I know about the existence of some file server "optimizations" like "opportunistic locks" that are really bad for some old fashioned shared file applications (even for some Microsoft products like Visual Fox Pro), but still the only way to fine tune a file server in this regard (or almost in any other) is to touch the registry (there is no Management Console for the File Server role) and all changes are global to the server, when it could be very convenient to be able to tune each share independently.
Just thinking
I know some people that are afraid others will steal their ideas if they speak too loud in the open. For these people, ideas alone hold the secret to create and wipe up fortunes. Of course there are many actual examples of this happening (including some patent litigation cases).
I am not a believer on ideas by themselves. I think nobody should ever ignore the importance of other ingredients like self motivation, team work, and even pure luck. I know it because I have had some great ideas myself, but each time one or two of the other ingredients were absent. This is obviously one of the many reasons I am not still a millionaire at the age of 34 ;) (Not only that, but I sometimes struggle just to keep financial stability).
There is one businessman I have met in the last year and a half that seems to be completely the opposite. He seems to enjoy playing poker with his cards facing up. I guess he likes the challenge, and he must love the adrenaline, and god, he plays hard! I can say I respect him for this, but I couldn’t say I fully understand his reasons.
What is the point? I don’t know. Maybe this is part of my belief system review, and a way to find out what kind of fish I am in this sea.
LOL, now I see this could even be some kind of reflection on proprietary and open source software.
I am not a believer on ideas by themselves. I think nobody should ever ignore the importance of other ingredients like self motivation, team work, and even pure luck. I know it because I have had some great ideas myself, but each time one or two of the other ingredients were absent. This is obviously one of the many reasons I am not still a millionaire at the age of 34 ;) (Not only that, but I sometimes struggle just to keep financial stability).
There is one businessman I have met in the last year and a half that seems to be completely the opposite. He seems to enjoy playing poker with his cards facing up. I guess he likes the challenge, and he must love the adrenaline, and god, he plays hard! I can say I respect him for this, but I couldn’t say I fully understand his reasons.
What is the point? I don’t know. Maybe this is part of my belief system review, and a way to find out what kind of fish I am in this sea.
LOL, now I see this could even be some kind of reflection on proprietary and open source software.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Naked Objects Framework
Once again, I have to find some time for reading. I have just found Naked Objects via James Tauber's blog (in turn via Tim Bray's blog).
TheServerSide.NET also has an article about the .NET version of it.
If this framework delivers what it promisses (developing complete applications by only coding "behaviourally complete" business objects), then it really worths whatever I need to do to find some time to read.
TheServerSide.NET also has an article about the .NET version of it.
If this framework delivers what it promisses (developing complete applications by only coding "behaviourally complete" business objects), then it really worths whatever I need to do to find some time to read.
JavaWorld Editors: Sun without McNealy?
Jennifer Orr, editor of JavaWorld, has an interesting take on the Sun - Microsoft deal.
Her thinking could represent the point of view of the Java devotees (or should I say Sun dittoheads? ;). They feel defeat and dizziness.
My own take is that McNealy created his rhetoric for everybody else to believe it, not for himself.
Microsoft has always been a threat for Sun business model, so he came up with the idea of distilling some FUD. Pretty original! In more than one sense Microsoft was for Sun what Linux is for Microsoft.
But McNealy knew all the time that Sun and Microsoft are just companies, “neither good nor evil in their nature”, but really needing hard revenue.
He knew all the time that what Microsoft was doing with their Java Virtual Machine was just business. But he still pushed and pulled really hard and what did he get?
He got almost 2 billion dollars for Sun. Not bad, eh?
McNealy has showed how smart he is! Respectful applause! Now I cannot think of anybody better for the task.
Her thinking could represent the point of view of the Java devotees (or should I say Sun dittoheads? ;). They feel defeat and dizziness.
My own take is that McNealy created his rhetoric for everybody else to believe it, not for himself.
Microsoft has always been a threat for Sun business model, so he came up with the idea of distilling some FUD. Pretty original! In more than one sense Microsoft was for Sun what Linux is for Microsoft.
But McNealy knew all the time that Sun and Microsoft are just companies, “neither good nor evil in their nature”, but really needing hard revenue.
He knew all the time that what Microsoft was doing with their Java Virtual Machine was just business. But he still pushed and pulled really hard and what did he get?
He got almost 2 billion dollars for Sun. Not bad, eh?
McNealy has showed how smart he is! Respectful applause! Now I cannot think of anybody better for the task.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Busy or just nothing to blog?
I haven't been blogging lately, however, I have been commenting on other blogs here and there.
Maybe there is nothing that surprises me enough to give it a second tough, or maybe I am going thru some kind of introversion period.
It is just that my beliefs-system is under maintenance, so every time I try to blog about something, the QA department puts both thumbs down.
Still, In the last days I have been meeting some interesting people, and I have been having interesting conversations with them, so, I guess I will find something to blog about soon.
By the way, for those that have been reading my blog thru some kind of translator (in either French or Spanish), I am so sorry it gets even more unreadealble than in English!
Maybe there is nothing that surprises me enough to give it a second tough, or maybe I am going thru some kind of introversion period.
It is just that my beliefs-system is under maintenance, so every time I try to blog about something, the QA department puts both thumbs down.
Still, In the last days I have been meeting some interesting people, and I have been having interesting conversations with them, so, I guess I will find something to blog about soon.
By the way, for those that have been reading my blog thru some kind of translator (in either French or Spanish), I am so sorry it gets even more unreadealble than in English!
PatHelland's WebLog
Sunday, April 11, 2004
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