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Blog Archive: Gary Duffield
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Bill Gates has left the building (and taken Windows XP with him)
Posted by Gary Duffield · 27 June 2008
Those prone to conspiracy theories might argue that Bill Gates leaving Microsoft today after 30 plus years service is an elaborate smoke screen, constructed to bury the real news of the day. Windows XP has left the building. Well sort of.
Nobody puts Baby in the corner
Posted by Gary Duffield · 24 June 2008
If you reconise the quote above, this blog isn’t a review of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, it’s a 60th birthday greeting to what is generally acknowledged to be the world’s first electrically programmable computer – The Manchester Baby (.NET Framework MCMXLVIII not included).
Windows Server 2008 & the branch office
Posted by Gary Duffield · 03 June 2008
Are you responsible for managing IT in an organisation with servers scattered throughout the country / world? Looking after branch offices that are equipped with a server, a UPS and a wing and a prayer can be a challenge. Especially if there is no onsite support. Often the server is locked in a cupboard or perched on a filing cabinet. Is there anything in Windows Server 2008 that can make your life a little less stressed?
PowerPoint Top Tips
Posted by Gary Duffield · 22 May 2008
To many, PowerPoint sends shock waves down the spine, the thought of public speaking is apparently in the top three of most stressful situations. The reality is, in today’s world, being able to write and give compelling presentations is not an optional skill. Whether pitching for new business, explaining a new process or justifying an old one – good presentation skills (and by association PowerPoint skills) give competitive advantage. Hopefully this blog will help you get a bit more out of PowerPoint…
Heroes Happen Here (in Macclesfield)
Posted by Gary Duffield · 27 April 2008
The current Mrs D. recently abandoned me for the weekend to go off on an away day at York University, bored and on childcare duty I decided 7pm Friday night was the time to upgrade my home office server to Windows Server 2008. What a night that turned to be...
Who ate all the Easter eggs?
Posted by Gary Duffield · 18 March 2008
Have you ever noticed that some things can just disappear without you ever realising, like Spangles, Artic Roll or Rumbelows. The first time I realised the Cadbury Wispa bar had gone was when it was reintroduced. Has the hidden software Easter egg gone the same way as the BL Allegro? (1.7L Vanden Plas of course).
IO IO it’s off to upgrade to Dynamic we go!
Posted by Gary Duffield · 16 March 2008
How’s that for a cryptic subject heading? There is a quote I use to launch my current Microsoft seminar. Said Steve Ballmer CEO of Microsoft to Information Week just after the recent product launch: “The way you beat any other competitors? You offer good value, which in this case means good total cost of ownership [TCO], right? Because total cost is really, at the end of the day, the issue...where better value reflects the applications that are available, [and] the quality of the tools.” Introducing Microsoft Infrastructure Optimisation...
What, you were expecting the Rolling Stones maybe?
Posted by Gary Duffield · 02 March 2008
Back in 1995, Mick Jagger and his pals received a pot of Microsoft gold for supporting the launch of Windows 95. It was a major media event. Last week, without an aging rock star or X Factor wannabe in sight (unless you count Steve Ballmer) there was another, major, Microsoft Launch...
Bring back MS-DOS 6.22
Posted by Gary Duffield · 17 February 2008
Do you remember the days when you could walk up to any computer on your network and access any application? Just typing WS, SC, HG… would launch WordStar, SuperCalc, Harvard Graphics or a bespoke application applicable only to you. Of course, those days ended abruptly with the arrival of Windows 3.1. Well, happy days are here again, and not a COMMAND.COM in sight…
Windows Server 2000 Certified?
Posted by Gary Duffield · 14 February 2008
Have you been putting off upgrading your MCSA or MCSE 2000 to Windows Server 2003? Shame on you, how long has that been on your to do list? The upgrade exam is about to set sail so if you do not want to miss the boat, you should read on…