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IT Crush

Last week I posted a coined phrase "I.T. crush" on UrbanDictionary.com describing the relationship some IT people have with their coworkers. I’ve never heard anyone else use that phrase, but I’ve used it for a while and think it fits nicely, so I put it out on the web just for fun.

Here’s the definition I posted online (05/16/2008):

IT crush – noun – When a technically inept computer user or geek-wannabe repeatedly hassles a legitimate IT (information technology) person in an attempt to befriend them and pick their brain for free computer knowledge. The person with the IT crush can’t be bothered with reading books themselves, and also considers you be their personal IT person and will email you directly instead of opening a support case through proper channels. The IT crush may also go so far as insisting on being on your IM buddy list, and sends you ‘helpful’ email like computer advertisements and virus warnings, cartoons, etc..

Usually the most prone to latch on are also the most prone to be infected by a trojan or virus.

Examples:

1. "Dude, Kevin in purchasing keeps hanging out in my cube wanting to talk computers and pestering me with questions about his home wireless router. I think he’s developing an IT crush on me."

2. "I ran this attachment I got but nothing happened. Can you run it on your machine and see what you think?"

3. "btw did you see Dilbert today? Hilarious!"

Skip forward to today, and the Daily Dilbert (05/20/2008) matches perfectly!

Daily Dilbert 05/20/2008

Feel free to vote it up or down. 🙂

Credits: Props to Cory Rammer and Bo Bracey for assistance with rounding out the definition and examples!

Side note: Personally, I have no preference for the spelling of "IT" or "I.T." – after all, nobody spells V.C.R. anymore. English History majors, feel free to disagree.

Disclaimer: Some content on UrbanDictionary.com is considered NSFW – be advised

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RAM Requirements for SBS 2008

cougar I get this question every couple of days, so I’m throwing it on the blog:

QUESTION: "How much RAM will (Cougar) Small Business Server 2008 need, and what’s the maximum amount of RAM it will support?"

ANSWER: Here are the current System Requirements for Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard (one server) and Premium (second server):

Server 1 (SBS 2008 Standard):

  • Processor: 2 GHz or faster x64 min. (no 32-bit servers folks)
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM recommended / 32 GB maximum
  • Available Disk Space: 60 GB minimum free space

Server 2 (SBS 2008 Premium):

  • Processor: 2 GHz (x86/x64 processors) or 1 GHz (IA64) or faster
  • Memory:  2 GB RAM recommended
  • Available Disk Space: 12.2 GB minimum free space

Both Servers Also Require:

  • 1 Network Card: Ethernet network interface card from the windows server catalog
  • Internet: Some Internet functionality may require Internet access (fees may apply) and a Windows Live ID Account
  • Fax Modem: Fax Services require fax modem (only if you fax)
  • Supported Client Operating Systems:
    Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition SP2 or later;
    Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate;
    Windows Mobile 5.0 or later
  • DVD-ROM drive
  • Super-VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution monitor
  • Keyboard and Microsoft® Mouse or compatible pointing device

Source: Microsoft SBS Site

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How to Insert Scanned Images into Word 2007

From the help desk file…

Reported Issue: Scanning pictures into Word 2003 was easy, but how do you do that in Word 2007?

Observation: Thanks to user feedback and the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program, Office 2007 spanks the llama in almost every way.  However, the issue of scanner support is one area where Office 2007, quite frankly, stinks like a sumo wrestler’s thong.

Behold…

word_2003 Word 2003 – Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy:

  1. Open Word 2003
  2. Click Insert
  3. Click Picture
  4. Click From Camera or Scanner
  5. Your scanning software takes over and begins scanning the picture
     

image 

And now the stinky way…

word_2007_iconWord 2007 – Not so easy, un-peasy, and you’re the one getting squeezed:

  1. Open Word 2007
  2. Click the Insert tab
  3. Click Clip Art in the Illustrations pane
  4. When the Clip Art side bar opens on the right, click Organize clips…
  5. Click File in the Favorites – Microsoft Clip Organizer window
  6. Click Add Clip to Organizer
  7. Click From Scanner or Camera…
  8. Your scanning software takes over and begins scanning the picture
     

image

Once you’ve saved the scanned image as a TIFF file, you can insert it into your document.

I’ve presented on Microsoft Office 2007 quite a few times and have parroted the logic that the great thing about “The Ribbon” interface is that ‘everything that you can insert is on the Insert tab’. I stand corrected.

Verdict: Definite pain in the butt = doable though.

Research Info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827100

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SBS 2008 Pricing Announced

Per the Microsoft press release dated 05/13/1008:

Slated for general availability later this year, Windows Essential Server Solutions are much easier for small and midsize companies to implement and manage than separate products. In response to customer and partner feedback, Windows Essential Server Solutions provide flexible pricing and licensing that offer substantial cost savings over purchasing individual products like those included in the solutions. Examples of licensing improvements over the current Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 product include these:

  • Customers will be able to purchase single client access licenses (CALs), so they will pay only for the exact number of employees using the product.
  • Customers can cost-effectively purchase a mix of Standard or Premium CALs, as appropriate to the technologies that individual employees are using.
  • CALs now apply to other copies of Windows Server, SQL Server or Exchange Server on the network, eliminating the need to purchase additional CALs.

Also, Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes additional Windows Server 2008 Standard technologies with SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business, making it an ideal platform for critical business applications.

Windows Essential Server Solutions pricing* is as follows:

  • Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $1,089 (U.S.); additional CALs $77 each (U.S.)
  • Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $1,899 (U.S.); additional CALs $189 each (U.S.)
  • Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Edition software, including five CALs, $5,472 (U.S.); additional CALs $81 each (U.S.)
  • Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition software, including five CALs, $7,163 (U.S.); additional CALs $195 each (U.S.)

Microsoft also today announced rebates of up to $200 (U.S.) for solution provider partners configuring Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 for their clients who acquire the software and purchase Software Assurance within a certain time period. With Software Assurance, customers will receive the upgrade to Small Business Server 2008 at no additional cost when it is available, as well as access to support, tools and training. Terms and conditions of the rebates are available at http://www.SBSrebate.com.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/may08/05-13PublicPreviewPricingPR.mspx

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Windows Me – Still Alive

Filed under: Crazy Screen Shots

Spotted in the wild today – Windows Me

  • Expired Norton 2000
  • Missing 41 updates
  • No firewall
  • Connected to the internet via broadband

image

Wow! Can you say "pwned"?  Sure, I knew you could!

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