<![CDATA[Zen of IT - Blog]]>

<![CDATA[Zen of IT - Blog]]>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:30:43 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[IBM Power Systems - Scottish User Group]]>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:49:23 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2010/09/ibm-power-systems-scottish-user-group.htmlA new user group for the technical community that use Power Systems (AIX or Linux) in Scotland. Hope to have regular meets and events to get together and share experiences and knowledge.
Join here]]><![CDATA[Linknet and Computer Aid - portable solar powered internet]]>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:43:48 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2010/04/linknet-and-computer-aid-portable-solar-powered-internet.htmlA great article in Computing Magazine (15th April) about how Linknet and Computer Aid have created a portable interent cafe, in a shipping container. Powered by solar power, internet via satalite and thin clients by Ncomputing. Well done guys a great effort!]]><![CDATA[7 is the magic number]]>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:18:43 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2010/03/7-is-the-magic-number.html

This is a little off topic, so let me start by saying Windows 7 has some very good power saving settings. Automatic screen dim after a few mins and very fast recovery time from sleeping, makes it easy and almost enjoyable to save power.
But the main thing I want to write about is how user friendly and easy it is to use. When Vista came out - I tried it but hated it, slow to use and hard to find all the tools and tricks I was used to. As a techie I found it infuriating to have all the technical stuff hidden behind "fluffyness", just getting to network card settings seemed to take days. I firmly stayed on XP, while the rest of the office upgraded to Vista and continually moaned about it.
However due to a required rebuild of my laptop, I took the plunge and went to Windows 7 and I've never been happier. It just works. It's intuitive. After never learning Vista I thought it would take me months to get used to it - but one day in and I love it. Everything is just where it should be. You don't have to search for anything, you don't have to have secret insider information to find specific tools or settings, it's just there. Where you need it. When you need it. Bravo Microsoft

Microsoft has stated they will continue to support XP till 2014 but if you are an individual, move as soon as you can. You will not regret it. For corporates, a desktop roll out is always a major problem and full of pain. So why not try VDI? Windows 7 seems to be the perfect reason to use VDI and VDI seems to be the perfect reason to use Windows 7. I see many people running pilots this way. Think about it. Users have a new Windows 7 desktop provided by VDI andd their original unchanged desktop. They can run both systems in parallel. Move their own files and favorites between the two until they are totally happy. This will be the first desktop replacement where it will be easy, and affordable to run both systems at once - hence removing a lot of the heartache for the IT department

]]><![CDATA[The real World Wide Web]]>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:34:05 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2010/02/the-real-world-wide-web.htmlZen 101: Everytime you take a step, and your foot connects with the ground, you are connected to everyone else on the planet. Can you feel them? The real World Wide Web]]><![CDATA[The Future is Now!]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:07:59 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2010/01/the-future-is-now.htmlIt's 2010 - dear me, how did that happen? Remember the millennium bug? Doesn't it seem just like yesterday?
Well - the good news is the Q4 rush is over and I'll be able to devote more time to working with http://www.e-learningfoundation.com/ to make some serious head ways into Scotland. Watch this space!]]><![CDATA[Keep it Simple!]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:04:41 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2010/01/keep-it-simple.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoj5Scm7HaY&feature=related
]]><![CDATA[1TB, 2TB, Free TB! Free Storage from Seric Systems]]>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:17:35 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2009/10/1tb-2tb-free-tb-free-storage-from-seric-systems.htmlSeric Systems have a new storage offering bundle, consisting of hardware, software and services at a very attractive price - thanks to their "Buy 2, get 1 Free" offer on 1TB disks.
Aimed at small to mid market, the bundle is an IBM iSCSI DS3300 controller with SATA disks (idea to replace and consolidate your local storage, or as a place to store backups) and installation and training services. MD of Seric Systems, Stuart Macdonald, comments, "we know some new technologies and products can be scary, so we want to make sure our clients get the most out of their purchase. That's why we set it up but also give training and advice so that a clients in house team are left with the skills to use the technology effectively"
For more info, click here]]><![CDATA[the BIG Idea]]>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:26:10 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2009/10/the-big-idea.htmlI hope you noticed that we have a new BIG Idea on the ideas page. This idea was presented to the BCS and the feedback as been good. There is an organisation that currently does something similar http://www.e-learningfoundation.com/ so I'll be contacting them to see if I can help them and also the BCS will be looking at home they can support the e-learning foundation - so great news!
]]><![CDATA[Christmas Gift!]]>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:45:43 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2009/10/christmas-gift.html

Everyone knows someone who is hard to buy for, so get them something them something special - there very own certified Super Power! Yes, that's right, you can make someone a super hero! www.IveGotSuperPowers.com

]]><![CDATA[First Rule of Zen - it's good to laugh]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:40:23 -0800http://www.thinkprofessional.co.uk/1/post/2009/09/first-rule-of-zen-its-good-to-laugh.htmlI actually like the Microsoft Surface computer. I was lucky enough to see it a few years ago, but I love this "advert" more. Pure class http://www.hi-techscotland.com/multimedia/?video=CZrr7AZ9nCY]]>