March 2009 - Posts
Avoid the Linksys 160N (from Cisco now) I was unlucky enough to buy one that only had a version 1 firmware and no chance of an upgrade, their support was awful and very unhelpful apart from ‘can you reset everything back to factory defaults …’ not surprisingly that did not fix the problem of it loosing connection to the internet and dropping the wireless compatibly step forward the D-Link 655 which has survived 10 days and the latest firmware no trouble. It’s so trouble free it just sits in the office and works, no complaints at all, nothing like the Linksys heap of crap which is so troubled I’d not even give it away or keep it as a spare.
Before TEC was DEC and they were very good, I am sure the TEC’s are good too because I’ve not had a chance to attend one (I was involved in the accident a couple of months before the 2008 one). They have the advantage of being smaller than a TechEd and a lot higher level – they are not for the faint hearted but are very welcoming and the people are the best I’ve met at any of the tech things I go to regularly. Gil organises one hell of a good conference with speakers who really know there stuff. Highly recommended, it was no small part in my education and success in my career. This year’s is at http://www.tec2009.com/ and I know is very late for this year but you should go if you can and money and the shitty conditions allow, there will be another one next year and there is one in Europe.
if you are lucky enough to going to this year’s I’m jealous but for those who have thought of going I can recommend them - they the reason I’m where I am, they cost money to go to and spending money there but they are very good value. Now the first one I went to was back in 2001 at Atlanta and if you make an effort and don’t go mad they needed cost a fortune. So head over to http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2009/ and browse it, if your interested you’ll and you go you’ll not regret it.
I did not know this was still causing problems but if you need a self signed driver for 64 bit Windows there are very good instructions on the technique I use here, I did not know this was a great secret but it appears after years of using this technique that it is. Microsoft I feel had no choice they needed something to force the industry to get with the program and start signing their files and if your on a budget a can not afford anything they also provided the tools free but for for those that have a budget and will be distributing there files to everyone the signing codes are not very expensive but I agree with Mark they are overkill for one off’s and personal use. So good luck.
Have a look at the Migration Portal for a look at the way MS are developing the tools available to us all.
HSBC announced a 12.5 Billion through a right issue but on the back of a profit half the size of last year but still 6 Billion pounds – most of the redundancy’s will effect the states, not a bad choice because it was the purchase of Household that brought the exposure to the loss and a bunch of problems.
The bank still feels one I’m happy to have my money in and I’m still confident about my salary insurance being delivered – the only bank I can say that off if I honest.