Microsoft

The 64 bit computer revolution is coming

The processor technology for 64-bit computing has been available from Intel and AMD for several years but consumer acceptance has been slow due to hardware issues and a lack of 64-bit application software. Microsoft has had a 64 bit desktop OS starting with XP Pro but it saw little success.  That is rapidly changing as software developers and manufacturers are coming out with a flood of 64-bit applications. The new Windows 7 operating system comes in a 64-bit version that is becoming the choice among the early adopters of the OS over the 32-bit version. 

Microsoft 64 bit technology offers 32 bit compatibility but DOS and 16 bit support are no longer available. Several Microsoft application servers have 64 bit versions with 64 bit Office applications expected by 2010. Manufactures such as Adobe and Apple are offering or have in the works 64-bit versions of their popular software.

One of the main advantages of the 64-bit operating system is memory addressing. A 32-bit OS is limited to 4GB of RAM. However, the amount of memory a 64-bit OS can access is exponentially greater, potentially up to several million gigabytes of RAM.

As more 64 bit applications are written and as the cost of memory comes down, the 64-bit revolution will be just around the corner.

Hybrid clouds come of age

One of the most exciting new technologies to evolve from the Internet, intranets and extranets is cloud computing. Business enterprises are now beginning to implement the concept despite initial concerns. With cloud computing databases, applications, and services can be accessed and shared by researchers and strategic partners across multiple platforms.

Hybrid clouds may be the next step in cloud computing for business. A hybrid cloud combines a company’s internal cloud with a public cloud service provider. Higher utilization rates, lower costs and better security can be achieved by keeping sensitive and frequently accessed data in the enterprise’s private cloud and “cloud bursting” or sending the extra load to the public cloud when demand is peaking.

At this time, cloud computing and hybrid clouds are mainly of interest to large enterprises. Amazon, Google and Microsoft are rushing into the cloud space as well as dozens of other lesser known tech firms. Software companies are increasing their investment in virtualization and enhanced security to overcome earlier concerns and meet the demands of cloud computing.

The building and maintaining of a hybrid cloud computing infrastructure is not an inexpensive undertaking. However, as the cost and availability comes into line, small to medium sized business will begin to embrace the concept.

Confessions of a Windows XP Pro diehard

Ok, I admit that I have been hanging onto Windows XP Pro like grim death. I tweaked, patched and massaged it over the years to the point that it was as comfortable as a pair of old shoes. My grip tightened as it was clear from the onset that Vista was not an option. However, the end is near and my hold is loosening as I learn more about XP’s replacement, Windows 7.  

Windows 7 carries over some of the flashy features of Vista that most business users do not really care about but apparently, Microsoft has done this without the Vista bloat. I can live with that. One new feature that should be of interest to business users is XP mode in Windows 7. With this feature, you can install and run Windows XP applications in Windows 7 with the new Windows Virtual PC utility.

There are some hardware requirements and I will be checking out this feature and reporting on it in future posts. Additionally, I hope to learn about the ease of installation, hardware compatibility and security issues as I work with Windows 7 RC. Let me know if you have downloaded Windows 7 RC and what your take on it is.

Windows 7 Release Candidate ready for testing – part 2

In Windows 7 Release Candidate ready for testing – part 1, I talked about how to obtain the OS download and the Windows 7 Upgrade advisor. In this installment, I will discuss the system requirements.  

The minimum requirements and I do mean minimum, are outlined on Microsoft’s site. As in the past, I think that Microsoft has set the minimums extremely low. If you are planning on using Windows 7 in a production environment, I would suggest beefier specs. The following system requirements are from Microsoft with my comments: 

·       1GHz 32 or 64 bit processor; I would recommend a 64 bit processor  in the 3GHz range.

·       1 GB RAM; RAM is cheap. Install at least 2 GB or more, if your machine can handle it.

·       16 GB (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit) disk space; Don’t cramp yourself. You know that patches and updates are  coming. Build a large enough partition for future growth, 25 - 30 GB.

·       DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model) 1.0 or higher driver; this could be one of the gotchas that stops a lot of upgrades from XP Pro. You will have to decide if the old box is worth the cost of a new video card.

Windows 7 looks promising as a replacement for XP and hopes to smooth over the ruffles that Vista caused. Businesses need to take a serious look at this new operating system as XP Pro is now a bit long in the tooth and support for it will vanish as soon as there is any degree of acceptance for Windows 7. One final caveat, Microsoft advises that the Windows 7 (RC) software will expire on June 1, 2010. On March 1, 2010, your PC will start to shut down every 2 hours as a gentle reminder. Let us know how your Windows 7 (RC) testing goes. Good luck.

Windows 7 Release Candidate ready for testing - part 1

If your organization is considering an upgrade to Windows 7, now would be a good time to start evaluation and testing. Windows 7  (RC) is now available for download to IT pros from Microsoft TechNet. It will be available through July 2009 and Microsoft is not limiting the number of license keys, allowing you to set up a test network with real hardware.   

If you are upgrading from Vista, no problem but if you are currently on XP Pro, there is no direct upgrade path, a clean install is necessary. Also, if you are running Vista, Windows 7 (RC) should run on the same hardware without a problem. However, machines that are running XP Pro should be evaluated for compatibility. A good place to start is the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta .

Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade advisor will also test any peripheral devices such as printers, external storage, and scanners; so make sure that everything you plan to run with Windows 7 (RC) is plugged in, including all USB devices.

In Windows 7 Release Candidate ready for testing - part 2, I will layout Microsoft’s minimum system requirements and add my own recommendations and comments. 

Microsoft: No limit on apps in Windows 7 Starter edition

Things are looking better for Windows 7 as Microsoft announced there will be no limit on the number of applications that can be running in the Starter edition. The company originally planned to limit to three the number of applications that could run at the same time to keep the cost down; hoping users that wanted more would upgrade rather than be limited.

This marks a reversal in strategy for Microsoft and is aimed at the emerging “netbooks” market comprised of basic, less expensive portable computers used primarily for email and surfing the net.

Microsoft did say that the Starter edition will lack some of the features and capabilities of the other more expensive editions.     

Microsoft updates BI strategy

During the past week, Microsoft has made announcements regarding changes to their business intelligence strategy. One significant announcement stated that dashboarding, scorecarding and analytical functionality were being moved from PerformancePoint Server 2007 to become a component of SharePoint Server. PerformancePoint Server would no longer be offered as a standalone product. Microsoft says that they are doing this to lower the total cost of ownership and make BI information more accessible across the enterprise.

For companies considering a move to integrate SharePoint Server with Dynamics GP, this would make a lot of sense. Those now owning Enterprise SharePoint CALs with Software Assurance can upgrade to PerformancePoint at no additional cost.

The future of trustworthy computing

The departure of security guru Steve Riley from Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group last week raises questions on the direction of Microsoft in the security arena. The move was termed a restructuring. Under the current economic conditions, many companies are now using this line to justify cutting costs or deadwood from their ranks.

Clearly this could not have been the reasoning in Steve’s case. His salary could only have been a microscopic particle compared to Microsoft’s multi billion dollar budget and he was far from deadwood. Steve is an author, blogger and much sought after speaker who entertained his audience on the normally dull topic of security. He wasn’t singled out. Apparently, Steve’s boss was sacked as well.

So what’s up? One comment on the subject from an IT industry consultant was: “I guess Microsoft thinks their software trustworthy.” I would like to hear what you think.