Never pay retail again

While many people are bemoaning the rising costs of staples and fuel, there are still ways to keep up on deals and get better pricing. CNN recently reported on it and a couple of my favorite resources are:

http://slickdeals.net
http://www.currentcodes.com/

Never pay retail again: "Comparison shopping, haggling and swapping discount codes are all becoming mainstream marks of savvy shoppers. And retailers are playing along.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Never pay retail again

While many people are bemoaning the rising costs of staples and fuel, there are still ways to keep up on deals and get better pricing. CNN recently reported on it and a couple of my favorite resources are:

http://slickdeals.net
http://www.currentcodes.com/

Never pay retail again: "Comparison shopping, haggling and swapping discount codes are all becoming mainstream marks of savvy shoppers. And retailers are playing along.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Imaging

I'm new into the Windows imaging and I do wish there was something a little more elegant to do this but I'm using Hisham's blog (http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep) as a guideline. If you have other tips and suggestions, please do send them my way.

Aron

Editing MSI Features

Came across some nice tips for editing properties of MSI files on Novell's site. While they talk about using ZenWorks for deployment you can still edit MSI characteristics using the Orca application from Microsoft's Software Development Kit. Very cool and super easy.

http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tip/19182.html

10+ things you can do to motivate your team

A simple but neat post on leadership...

10+ things you can do to motivate your team: "

To get things done these days, working in teams is almost imperative. But how can you, as a leader, motivate a team to accomplish your objectives? How can you avoid common mistakes that can kill performance and morale? This article discusses ways of doing so.

Note: This information is also available as a PDF download.

#1: Believe in your team’s objectives

Do you believe in what you want the team to accomplish? Do you think your goals are realistic? If not, rethink your position, because your team will sense your uncertainty. You may say the right words, but your body language and overall demeanor will give you away. On the other hand, if you truly are dedicated and believe in your goals, your team will sense it and will react accordingly.

#2: Model the behavior you want from the team

Don’t be a hypocrite — lead by example. You want your team to interact courteously and professionally with others, but do you do so yourself? If you ask them to put in extra hours, are you there along with them? Country artist Rodney Atkins sings about how one day, his four-year-old son said ‘a four-letter word,’ but how later that night, all by himself he got on his knees and prayed. What did the son say when asked about how he learned to do both things? ‘I’ve been watchin’ you.’

#3: Keep a positive attitude

• Game 1 of the NBA Finals has just begun. Fifteen seconds into the game, one team connects on a field goal, making the score 2-0. The other coach slumps in his chair, puts his head in his hands, and yells, ‘@(*@&@, this series is OVER!!’


• (On November 12, 1989): Person 1: ‘The Berlin Wall just came down!’ Person 2: ‘Horrible! The guards are now out of a job!’

Don’t laugh. If you have these attitudes, how do you think your team will react? If you model a negative attitude, your team will pick it up. I know it sounds trite, but try to stay upbeat.

Doing so doesn’t mean being unrealistic. It does mean, however, that you try to look at the glass as being half full rather than half empty. Instead of saying, for example, ‘This project will never succeed because of issues 1, 2, and 3,’ consider saying, ‘If we want this project to succeed, it’s critical that we resolve issues 1, 2, and 3.’

#4: Be clear about your goals

It’s hard for your team to accomplish its goals if those goals are unclear or unknown to them. More important, it’s hard to get them even to agree with those goals if they don’t know what they are. Make sure your team knows what you are expecting of them. If you can quantify your goals so that you can measure how well you did compared to what you expected, so much the better.

#5: Get feedback from the team members

Unless you hear from your team members, you may have little or no idea of how effective or clear you are. Few of us enjoy hearing bad news or criticism, but if there’s a problem in what we’re doing, it’s important that we hear it.

When discussing issues with the team, don’t shoot the messenger. When listening to a team member, try to separate the message and issue from the person. Similarly, when someone is offering suggestions or discussing issues, try to separate your own self and ego from the discussion. If you do shoot the messenger, all you will have done is make your team even more reluctant to talk frankly with you in the future.

#6: Set expectations

Make sure your team knows what to expect of you. If they do, there’s less chance that they’ll be unpleasantly surprised or disappointed.

Suppose, from the previous point, you had a discussion with a team member, who made a few suggestions. Some of them are workable (so that you could act on them), but others aren’t. Before having this discussion, it would be good to let your team know that while you will listen to them, you may or may not adopt all of their suggestions. One would hope they’d realize this already, but it’s best to be explicit. Furthermore, if you do adopt a suggestion, make sure everyone knows about it.

#7: Avoid mixed messages

Consultant and trainer Robert Mager, in his book Analyzing Performance Problems, discusses the uses of consequences and rewards in shaping human behavior. Specifically, he points out that to encourage desirable behavior, there must be positive rewards for it. Conversely, to discourage undesirable behavior, there must be consequences that result from it. Believe it or not, some people mix up these two points. Have you, as a parent, ever said to your child, ‘Any time you have problem, you can talk to Mommy or Daddy’? What happens when they do? You become irritated and yell at them, ‘Come back later! Can’t you see I’m busy?!’ If you send similar mixed messages to your staff, you will make it harder for them to act the way you want.

#8: Know the difference between exhorting and belittling

It’s fine and good for you to want greater and higher quality results from your team. However, be aware of the line between exhorting someone to do better and belittling them because they aren’t right now. The latter might work, but the chances are greater that it might only create resentment and turn out to be counterproductive.

A couple of weeks ago, after a rehearsal of the choir I direct, I said to two young men, ‘I want to see confidence in your eyes when you’re singing.’ I didn’t say to them, ‘You idiots, you don’t know the music.’ In other words, in keeping with the positive/negative point discussed earlier, I focused on where I wanted them to be, rather than on the fact that they weren’t there right now.

#9: Correct in private

If personal issues of a team member are becoming a problem, address them with the person in private. Don’t embarrass the person by bringing it up in public. Such issues include attendance and punctuality, dress, and general professionalism.

What about a mistake involving work? Use discretion here. Using the choir example again: Suppose a person has an incorrect rhythm in a measure. I will just take a moment and work it out with that person in front of the group. If he or she gets it, fine. However, if he or she were consistently missing notes and rhythms, I would need to talk privately with that person to see what’s going on.

#10: Praise in public

When someone does something right, you probably are happy and want that person to continue doing it. You also probably want to make that person look good in front of the others, and for the others to be motivated to improve their own performance. For those reasons, recognize good work in public, rather than in private.

Other things being equal, of course, most people would prefer money and praise rather than praise alone. However, praise alone still can motivate, as long as you’re sincere and specific in what you’re praising. Generalities are unhelpful. Rather, focus on the specific action, and how it benefited the group.

In the case of the young men I mentioned earlier, I spoke to them again just a few days ago, after our last rehearsal, which went really well. I said to one of them, ‘Remember I told you I wanted to see confidence in your eyes? Well, I see it now.’ To the other, I said, ‘You’ve been practicing, right?’ When he nodded yes, I continued, ‘See what a difference it makes?’

#11: Believe in your team

England expects every man to do his duty.

The Battle of Trafalgar, in 1805, established British naval supremacy for decades afterward. In that battle, a fleet led by Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet off the coast of southwest Spain, near Cape Trafalgar. As both sides were preparing for the battle, Nelson sent his now-famous message to his fleet. Sadly, Nelson suffered a mortal wound and did not live to see his ultimate victory.

People tend to live up, or down, to your expectations. If you expect high performance from them, and they realize it, you have a greater chance of getting such performance than if you expect low performance.

It can be rewarding to see a team come together and execute the way you want. It’s even more rewarding to see people develop the way you want. However, try to be realistic. The members of my choir are all teenagers and friends with my younger daughter, Rayna. One day, I asked her, ‘Rayna, do some people in the choir tell you how much I’ve influenced them?’ At that, Rayna replied, ‘Daddy, don’t flatter yourself.’

---

Calvin Sun works with organizations in the areas of customer service, communications, and leadership. His Web site is weee.calvinsun.com and his e-mail address is csun@calvinsun.com.

"

(Via Clippings.)

10 developer want ads that will attract topnotch talent

This is a pretty neat list of things to pay attention to in recruiting developers although many elements could apply to most traditional IT personnel.

10 developer want ads that will attract topnotch talent: "

When your company is trying to hire programmers, there is a good chance that your ad on Monster, CareerBuilder, other similar Web sites is going to be the first thing potential candidates see of your open position. Unfortunately, most programming ‘help wanted’ ads are written in a way that makes the best candidates fairly unlikely to respond to them, even if they are a good match for the job.

Why? Because the people writing these ads often don’t understand developers, and they produce a generic ad that reads like a boilerplate job description with an Apply Now link at the bottom. Here are 10 want ads for developers that show how to get top programmers to click that link.

Note: This information is also available as a PDF download.

#1: Show them the money!

While the compensation for this position is ultimately dependent upon the candidate’s experience and other qualifications, the approximate salary range that has been approved for this position is $XYZ/year to $ABC/year.

There are some good reasons why most job ads omit salary information. The problem is, candidates don’t care about your reasons for omitting it. They want to be shown why they should apply for your open position. Programmers are busy people, and they don’t enjoy sneaking away from their desk to have a 20-minute discussion with recruiters doing the ritualistic ‘compensation dance.’ Providing an approximate salary range (with all disclaimers, of course) in the job ad ensures that no one’s time will be wasted and encourages candidates to apply.

#2: Leave the laundry list at home

We are looking for candidates to fill a senior Java developer position. Position focuses on creating and maintaining Web services that interact with a complex database and implement precise business logic. Candidates with experience in the insurance industry will be given preference.

Did you notice that the only technical skill listed is Java? Most job ads turn away many qualified candidates by presenting a laundry list of skills that are ‘must haves.’ In reality, few candidates will actually have that precise combination of skills, so they simply will not apply. What generally happens is that the technical manager writes down all the technologies they use and how often their programmers use them. The recruiter then turns that into the list of ‘must have’ and ‘plus’ skills based upon the usage. When job seekers see the list, especially the items labeled ‘must have,’ they do not apply, even if those skills could be easily learned. Another downside of the laundry list is that it takes up a huge amount of space in the ad. In the example above, skills like XML and SQL are implied by the statement that the work is in Web services; there is no need to explicitly mention it.

#3: Offer a chance to learn

Even the most experienced developers in this position will have the opportunity to expand and improve their skill sets in many advanced areas of knowledge.

The very best programmers did not become good just sitting around and learning by osmosis; they did work beyond their capabilities and learned how to do it. They are much more interested in jobs where they will use old skills in new ways or learn new skills entirely. If your project is run of the mill, you will have a harder time recruiting (and retaining) top talent compared to a more exotic project. But if your project is a challenge, let the candidates know. Not only will you attract more of the best developers, but the programmers who are not as interested in having their limits stretched will be less likely to apply.

#4: Show a commitment to their education

The firm believes that it is critical to encourage personal development to have a successful team. As such, we have established a budget for employee education and allow developers to take training courses or otherwise improve their skill set during normal business hours.

One of the best ways to attract (and retain) developers is to show them that you really value them. And one of the best ways to do that, as well as to show that your company is special, is to establish and advertise an education program for your programmers. Most companies fail to do this and at best allow managers to buy a few books. The expectation is that programmers are supposed to show up ready to work with all skills already learned, and any new skills have to be learned on the employee’s own time. By advertising a formal education program, you are letting candidates know that they will be valued, and that your position is a smart career move for them.

#5: Play up the most attractive languages, when possible

Interested in Ruby? So are we! We are hiring developers to work in Ruby. Candidates with prior Ruby experience will be given extra consideration, but all candidates with a strong grasp of programming principles, particularly experience with other similar languages (Perl, Python, Lisp, Scheme, etc.), will be viewed favorably. We are hiring one senior member of the team and three mid-level team members. Training in Ruby will be provided at the company’s expense.

Wow, an ad that essentially says, ‘We are looking for a skill you don’t have, but we will hire you anyway’? Yup, that’s right. There is something magical about Ruby amongst programmers. People who work in Ruby are extraordinarily loyal to it, and it seems like a number of really smart programmers are willing to travel or otherwise make sacrifices for the chance to use it professionally. As a result, working with Ruby and advertising that fact will get the resumes piling up pretty quickly. Other languages out there have similar followings, such as Python, Lisp, and Scheme. If your team is using a language that developers are really passionate about using, advertise it.

#6: Mention that relaxed atmosphere

Our development environment has a laid back feeling, with business casual dress throughout the week and Friday ‘jeans day.’ Schedules are flexible within reason, and employees are given the option of working from home one day each week.

When applicants see an ad like this, they know you will be a lot less likely to feel the need to have them under your thumb. Top programmers hate that feeling, and it may very well be a reason why they are thinking about leaving their current job. When you post an ad like this, you are showing candidates that you are not just looking to fill empty chairs, but you actually will give them the latitude in hours, dress, and in-office presence that most developer positions can allow.

#7: Offer toys!

We believe that the most productive developers have the full backing of the company. We ensure that our developers have the most modern workstations and provide a modest budget for all developers to customize their workstation or purchase peripherals they require.

The best developers tend to be interested in computers in general, not just in cranking out code. While many developers are not working on projects so massive that their PC’s capabilities will make a huge impact on their ability to complete the project, giving them a super-nice PC will win big points with them. It shows the developers that you are willing to put your money where your mouth is in terms of supporting them. And giving them a moderate budget to customize their tech is just icing on the cake. When your ad makes it clear that you get the right tools into the hands of your development staff, potential candidates will be more likely to apply.

#8: Advertise the benefits of your location

Our office is located right in the middle of downtown Manhattan, one block from the E line and a wide variety of restaurants.

If your office is located in a place that has a lot going for it, let the candidates know. After all, if they are choosing between your ad and another one that looks roughly the same in terms of work and compensation, things such as the ease of commute, lunchtime options, and after-hours entertainment suddenly become deciding factors. If your office is in or near a great school district, that is a major selling point too. But whatever makes your location special (in a positive way) should find its way into your ad if possible. The response rate to your ads is likely to improve.

#9: Show that you ‘get’ developers

Our company is committed to making our developers as successful as possible. A manager with a work history in IT leads each team, and our sales process includes technical personnel throughout every step of the sale to ensure technical viability of every project.

Some of the biggest complaints voiced by the best programmers are business problems, not IT problems. All too often, their ability to do a good job is hampered by managers who do not understand the special needs of a programming project or by a rogue salesperson who makes wild promises that the development team knows it can’t fulfill. When your job ad shows that your environment works the way a programmer would have it work, candidates will be a lot more interested in your ad than the others that look like another exercise in corporate futility.

#10: Advertise your success

The department has increased revenue four years in a row and is considered the ‘crown jewel’ of the division.

One of the things that can scare a possible job applicant away is a project (or department or company) that might be teetering on the brink. After all, why jump jobs only to lose the new one a year later? Even if the job itself is in no danger of going away anytime soon, no one (especially top programmers) likes working for a project that is not successful. When your candidates know that this job would have them working for a proven winner, they will knock down your door to apply.

"

(Via 10 Things.)

Overcoming Jet Lag

Some great ideas mentioned by John. While I couldn't forego the caffine part I agree with most suggestions. Staying up that first day upon arrival is tough but it helps. I also set my watch to the destination time zone as soon as I sit down in the plane and check it frequently to start thinking in the local time zone.

Overcoming Jet Lag: "Every May on the last Thursday of the month, I lecture to European Hospital CEOs in Geneva. After a full day of teaching, networking, and group meals, I have two choices - fly back to Boston on a Friday, or travel to some European city for the weekend, then fly back on Sunday. For the past few years, I've done the European weekend option, visiting Paris, Prague, Rome, and Vienna/Saltzburg. This year, I'll be in Istanbul for the weekend and my experiences there will be the subject of my blog tomorrow (no cool technology blog this week).

My schedule this week will be Boston to Paris to Geneva to Lausanne to Geneva to Zurich to Istanbul to London to Boston in 4 days with 6 to 7 hour time changes.

Traveling in economy class, wedged in a middle seat, traveling from point to point just in time for my lecture responsibilities, how do stay coherent? Overcoming jet lag and enjoying foreign travel requires a few simple steps

1. Avoid all caffeine and alcohol - they truly do not help. Caffeine leads to more fatigue and alcohol leads to interrupted sleep. I have similar feelings about taking medications on airplanes like ambien, benadryl etc for sleep. They just make you groggy.

2. Wherever in the world you arrive, push through to the time you would normally go to sleep in that country. Never take naps - that will prevent your body from adapting. If you go to be at 10pm each night at home, go to bed at 10pm local time on the first day you arrive at your destination, no matter how painful it is to stay awake that first day. By the second day, you'll be adapted.

3. Expose yourself to sunlight as much as possible (with appropriate sunscreen to avoid too much UV). Rising with the dawn and staying outdoors will help your body rapidly adjust to the new time zone.

4. Avoid heavy, fatty meals. Several light meals make adaption easier. To the extent possible try to eat similar foods to your diet at home. Traveling as a vegan is sometimes challenging, so I eat vegetarian while traveling. Eating light salads, fresh breads, and soups keeps my energy up without weighing me down.

5. Stay hydrated. I drink 1-2 liters a day while traveling, especially when I'm wandering through a city on foot. I use a Platypus Hydration bladder in a small backpack as I'm walking the streets of Europe. http://www.platypushydration.com/

6. Avoid pre-packaged tours. While traveling, I like to experience a country by walking among the locals, visiting their shops and restaurants, and understanding the terrain between points of interest instead of crowding on a bus to sprint from point of interest to point of interest, then eating an Americanized meal of rubber chicken at a roadside tourist diner. Pre-package tours tend maximize crowds and minimize walking, making you feel more fatigued.

7. Do something out of the box. While in Japan, I climbed Mt. Fuji at dawn on the first day of the climbing season. While in Salzburg, I hiked up the Untersberg, where the Sound of Music was filmed ('the hills are alive...') to enjoy the wildflowers. In Istanbul, I've found a master flute maker who creates and plays the Turkish Ney. The Japanese flute is said to be the most challenging instrument to play with the Ney a close second. I've arranged to purchase one of his flutes and take lessons. Luckily, I've also found a Ney master in Boston so I can continue the instruction when I return. Doing something that's not in any tourist guide will give me a reason to want to get out of bed in the morning and will create a lifelong memorable experience.

8. Exercise. Rather than consider caffeine or other stimulants, get moving. Walk the city and you'll feel more invigorated throughout the day. Generally I walk 15-20 miles a day while I'm touring a city.

9. Do something intellectual. While in Istanbul, I've arranged to have lunch with a Professor of Ottoman History and we'll walk the Sultanahmet area (Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia) reflecting on the history of old Constantinople. This will keep my brain engaged so I'm not just wading through a sea of tourists.

10. Go with the flow. From the moment I land in Turkey at 1pm on Friday to the moment I leave at 1pm on Sunday, I have no schedule and no plans other than to call the cell phone numbers of the Ney maker and Ottoman Professor to arrange meetings. This means that I can explore Istanbul 20 hours a day without any concern of the next tour bus to catch. I can eat when and where I find something interesting. I can take side trips I would have never been able to plan. The end result is a stress free unique experience.

I may not have WiFi access in Istanbul, so tomorrow's blog entry may have to wait until Sunday night, but I'll be on Blackberry if you need me."

(Via Clippings.)

10 free Windows Security Downloads

Seems like there have been some pretty good Windows top 10 lists recently. Now what I'm looking for is a free way to elegantly clone my Windows laptops and desktops..... Any suggestions?

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9087778&source=NLT_AM&nlid=1

Twitter: Tweeting from your Mac

Twitter is pretty interesting and I know plenty of Tweets. The part that this article mentions that I've also found infuriating is the lack of reliability......

Twitter: Tweeting from your Mac: "Twitter is probably the most beloved unreliable web-service on the net. That said, if it is running (even with some features turned off), I tend to be using it. Here are some Mac clients I've been using with it instead of the default web interface."

(Via Clippings.)

Adieu to the true audiophile?

I put myself through my undergraduate education while working in a high end audio retail store and my . At the time and into my late 20s I was an avid audio enthusiast as well. As time went on and MP3s became more mainstream I reluctantly adopted encoding my music and eventually putting all my CDs into large plastic containers and never again getting them out. For myself and I believe most people, the convenience of the iPod and MP3s is worth the, at least to me, negligible difference in sound quality. I believe much of the same is beginning to happen with video. While I agree with most analysts who have said that people don't feel as inclined to own their video as they do their audio, the portability is a greater feature than the greatest resolution, and hence the reason for the fact that BluRay hasn't taken off with the same enthusiasm as DVDs did 10 years ago.

Adieu to the true audiophile?: "True connoisseurs of home stereos will take exception to the notion, but complicated home stereos may be going the way of baby boomer taste-setting."

(Via Clippings.)

DropBox

I just signed up for the public beta of DropBox, a very cool online file sharing application that's integrated into Windows and Mac. While companies should really use their own solution or a hosted secure solution, this is pretty neat for stuff you need to access from multiple computers or share with others. Watch the video, it's pretty cool. http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/22/dropbox-seamless-file-upload-and-sharing/

Aron

RIM execs on best BlackBerry apps: eight downloads

RIM execs on best BlackBerry apps: eight downloads: "Here are what they find to be the most valuable and use the most, from GPS apps to travel aids to media players -- and many are free.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Why You Should be Shooting Photos in the Raw

Why You Should be Shooting Photos in the Raw: "An increasing number of digital cameras can shoot in a format known as RAW, which gives you much more control over how your photos turn out. Here's how to use the format to your advantage. In Gadget Lab.

"

(Via Wired: Gadgets.)

The ‘Power’ of the Network

I've been waiting for IP-based appliances for a long-time--I would love to be able to control the thermostat, the fridge, timers on the oven, etc. from a web page. I predicted that it would have been mainstream by now so my timing was off but it will be here soon....

The ‘Power’ of the Network: "

About six months ago, I installed solar panels at my house. Not that I expect to go ‘off the grid,’ but its impact is already showing as the days grow longer. Being a tech-geek, I was naturally fascinated by the computerized electric meter that came with the installation. The built-in technology tracks my usage and diverts the energy as needed. So, if the sun is high, and my consumption is low, I am in fact sending electricity back into the grid. This got me thinking, and doing a bit of research….

Sending power back into the grid isn’t new. But it does open the whole discussion of smart metering, the ability to monitor and possibly adjust one’s electricity consumption, and leverage the network. We’re already seeing companies focused on helping industries manage peak utilization by cutting off or reducing non-essential loads; helping municipalities better manage their street lighting; and helping farmers better manage their irrigation based on weather patterns. But this is only the beginning.

Soon, I’ll be able to log into the network and view my home’s energy utilization. In fact, at least one company in Silicon Valley already offers this as a service. I’ll be able to set policies to automatically reduce usage based on cost, or adjust it manually. But, what’s exciting is that this same capability can be extended to my security system. With an IP-enabled system, I’ll be able to see what’s happening in the house, and check on the heating or fridge (hey, who took the last yogurt?!) from anywhere in the world. Yes, this technology exists today. But only recently has the connectivity, either wireline or wireless --within the house and between the house and the Internet--been available. It’s moving beyond the early adopter and hobbyist to the mainstream. And mainstream folks are seeing a new use of the network infrastructure…tens of millions of endpoints, always on, always communicating. The IP network has really transformed how we communicate, but now we are seeing the potential of how it can transform our lives and help the environment.

"

(Via The Platform: The Official Cisco Blog.)

Universal/Unified Threat Management Devices

In working with several small to mid-sized companies I'm finding more and more of them that are really not well-equipped as far as their border networking is concerned. Several have consumer grade network devices, often router/WAP devices from Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, etc. While these companies all make very good devices, they are really consumer-grade and don't offer some of the more advanced features that products from Sonicwall, Juniper, SnapGear, etc. With these $400 - $1000 products you get more sophisticated networking capabilities, anti-virus, anti-spam, port/data type blocking, etc. Some have real-time intrusion detection and blocking of malicious activity. Unfortunately, many do require annual subscriptions for the full feature set so factor that into your buying decision. I'm fond of the devices that are more open-source based, such as the SnapGear because of the lack of licensing costs and the fact that they used standards-based protocols and don't require proprietary clients for connecting (seems like most of the VPN clients for most of the bigger brands are licensed individually).

ComputerWorld did a nice write up about a few of them and what to look for.

Image gallery: Reader favorites -- 10 great free network tools

Image gallery: Reader favorites -- 10 great free network tools: "After we reviewed several surprisingly powerful free network utilities, many readers wrote in to tell us about their own favorites. So networking pro Greg Schaffer set out to review them -- and a couple of his own choices -- to recommend a tool kit every net manager should have on hand.

"

(Via Clippings.)

Go Green — Buy a Used Car. It's Better Than a Hybrid

Go Green — Buy a Used Car. It's Better Than a Hybrid: "Driving a Toyota Prius may make you feel better, but it won't necessarily make you greener. Fuel-efficient used cars are a better choice.

"

(Via Clippings.)

A cure for the 802.11 ABC's

As I'm working on remote access for users with my employer I came to much of the same conclusion as John Halamka based on currently available technologies. SSL-VPNs rule in terms of ease of use and zero client configuration. For my regular users we're using WPA enterprise with Active Directory authentication.

A cure for the 802.11 ABC's: "Every week, some industry publication calls me to discuss the latest wireless acronym. Questions abound such as 'are you implementing 802.1x on your 802.11a/b/g networks? How about EAP-FAST supplicants? IPSec VPN over wireless? TKIP, MIC, LEAP? How do you feel about the future of 802.11n....w,x,y,z?

It's dizzying.

Users want something simple - just open a laptop and be connected to the internet. If they can do it in a hotel why is the corporate enterprise any different?

At BIDMC and Harvard Medical School, I need to support several wireless use cases ranging from insecure wireless internet access for visitors with unmanaged virus-infected laptops to highly secure wireless access for trusted users of corporate managed devices.

With thousands of PCs, Macs, Linux variants all needing wireless access, what can a CIO do to navigate the 802.11 ABC's and create a sustainable, supportable solution?

After months of experimentation by my teams, we found an approach that meets the needs of our users, provides reasonable security, and keeps help desk calls to a minimum.

Before I discuss our solution, a few comments on what did not work.

Although supplicants worked fine on PCs, support for Macs and Linux machines was problematic and a support challenge.

Configuring complex wireless protocols such as TKIP/MIC/EAP-FAST on Red Hat Enterprise Linux required expert engineers.

Using IPSec VPN's on any platform was very invasive to the operating system and tended to cause errors, instability and calls to the help desk.

After ruling out these technologies, we implement something very simple.

For the visiting user who wants access to the internet and nothing more, we created an 802.11a/b/g SSID which offers access only to the public internet and sits outside the firewall. Any laptop - PC, Mac or Linux (such as Red Hat Fedora) can pick up this SSID without any configuration. Just open up the lid and you're on the internet. We do show an 'appropriate uses' page when users first open their web browser to discourage violations of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, but no login or configuration is required.

Once on the internet, any user on any platform can access secure resources behind the firewall via an SSLVPN. The SSLVPN (Juniper) works in any browser, on PCs, Macs, and Linux-based laptops with identical features, no client and few support issues.

For our power users who are willing to accept a minimal amount of configuration to get behind the firewall without SSLVPN, we created an SSID that uses WPA and PEAP. For Mac users, no configuration is necessary, just open the laptop lid and sign in to the network using enterprise (Active Directory) credentials. For PC users, a small amount of configuration is necessary depending on the driver used for wireless (Windows, Intel, IBM etc.). For Linux, a custom driver may need to be downloaded, which makes the solution less than perfect, but most Linux users are happy with SSLVPN, so calls to the help desk are limited.

The bottom line - two SSIDs, one unsecured with a simple 'appropriate uses page' and one with WPA/PEAP, provides a wireless solution that works everywhere for anyone.

One caveat - after hours guest network support is tricky, especially for private laptops, because we have no control over 1) who is using the system 2) what they are doing on the system 3) the integrity of the laptop software and drivers. One misbehaving user and/or laptop driver can wreak havoc on other local users.

As more and more mobile devices provide support for wide area networks, users are likely to be able to connect to their choice of high speed EDGE, EVDO and eventually WiMax, making guest connectivity to 802.11 in public places less important. The current Verizon commericial is about getting out of the jail of your Wi-Fi internet cafe. Staying connected will become easier and easier."

(Via Clippings.)

Top 10 Wired.com Reader Black-and-White Photos, Decided by You

These are some outstanding B&W photos posted on Wired. I can't pick a favorite as they are all quite incredible either technically or for the mood that they capture.

Top 10 Wired.com Reader Black-and-White Photos, Decided by You: ":

For the past two weeks we've asked you to go on a color fast for our black-and-white photo contest, with enlightening results. We now permit you to gorge on the entire visible spectrum once again, but first check out the fruits of your abstinence. These 10 photos are the highest-ranking black and whites among Wired.com readers. Whiffleboy won the contest with his photo 'A Bit Spotty,' at left. Whiffleboy will be receiving a subscription to Wired magazine and a digital picture frame for his desk.

Since we had so many great photos that we thought should've received more votes, we've also compiled a Wired.com Editor's Choice Black-and-White Photo Gallery.

Our next twice-monthly photo contest is water. Show us your best homage to life's elixir. Check out the contest page for more information.

Left:

A Bit Spotty

Submitted by Whiffleboy

Photographer's comment:

'A self-portrait in a stairwell.'

:

Straw Dogs

Submitted by Jason Flett

Photographer's comment:

'Taken in drought-affected area of Victoria, Australia.'

:

Man In the Fog

Submitted by David Gordon

Photographer's comment:

'A man walks the Golden Gate Bridge through the fog.'

:

Running Through

Submitted by Harrison

Photographer's comment:

'Taken back in February. The bus didn't show up for another 30 minutes.'

:

Wicked Path

Submitted by Shawn Kresal

Photographer's comment:

'Taken in Yosemite after an unusual rain-filled winter loosened once-still stones and slicked paths.'

:

Girl, Unafraid

Submitted by Neil Bernhart

Photographer's comment:

'This girl was playing around at dusk with the incoming waves.'

:

Cape Fear

Submitted by Vilhjalmur Ingi Vilhjalmsson

Photographer's comment:

'Canon EOS 40D + Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6. Two exposures combined together to create a high-dynamic-range image (hdr) then converted to blue/black sepia.'

:

Pitty

Submitted by Charline Messa

Photographer's comment:

'Canon EOS 400D. Sigma Lenses 70-200mm f/2.8. This picture was taken in a rock festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil, promoted by a radio station with lots of famous Brazilian bands. But in my point of view this moment was unique, the stage was all covered with smoke, her hair was flying with the wind and her face was so quiet and peaceful behind all that noise, I had to take a shot and document that moment.'

:

Silhouette

Submitted by Andrew Scharlott

Photographer's comment:

'Lizard inside a frosted-glass light fixture outside a hotel in Kauai, Hawaii.'

:

Hidden?

Submitted by bushn

Photographer's comment:

'Black & white macro of pill bug in defense mode.'

"

(Via Clippings.)