I know I keep mentioning this, but it is beginning to get really frustrating. I've had cause to use conferencing services through Skype a number of times over the last couple of weeks. As I've mentioned before, using conference services can be problematic.
I had two experiences, one good, one bad:
Good - I've found that in the Mac OS X client works much better if you use the keypad to dial the numbers - using the mouse just doesn't work (even if you can do it quickly enough for it to register).
Bad - dialing US conference services from the UK through Skype doesn't work when it coms to entering the conference number and/or pin number.
I know I keep mentioning this, but it is beginning to get really frustrating. I've had cause to use conferencing services through Skype a number of times over the last couple of weeks. As I've mentioned before, using conference services can be problematic.
I had two experiences, one good, one bad:
Good - I've found that in the Mac OS X client works much better if you use the keypad to dial the numbers - using the mouse just doesn't work (even if you can do it quickly enough for it to register).
Bad - dialing US conference services from the UK through Skype doesn't work when it coms to entering the conference number and/or pin number.
If you remember, six months ago I started looking at my energy costs at the modest home office and how I could try and reduce them and lower my monthly (expensive) electricity bill. My last quarterly bill came at the beginning of February and the next one is due soon.
Determining how much I could save s not impossible, I could just go look at the meter and work out the numbers for myself, but for companies looking to save electricity their options are somewhat limited.
There's an article here that talks about methods some companies are using to determine how much their computers and data centers are costing them.
If you remember, six months ago I started looking at my energy costs at the modest home office and how I could try and reduce them and lower my monthly (expensive) electricity bill. My last quarterly bill came at the beginning of February and the next one is due soon.
Determining how much I could save s not impossible, I could just go look at the meter and work out the numbers for myself, but for companies looking to save electricity their options are somewhat limited.
There's an article here that talks about methods some companies are using to determine how much their computers and data centers are costing them.
This post is among many that have talks about the release of Adobe's Creative Suite 3. CS3 is important for many reasons - it's a huge update of nearly all of Adobe's core (and best loved) software. For Intel users like me it will also be the first opportunity to get hold of a universal version of key tools like Photoshop.
As a past semi-pro photographer (and still a keen amateur), Photoshop is one of my most regularly used tools. And today I doubt I could live without Acrobat, which I use not only to generate documents but also and archival tool for all sorts of material.
This post is among many that have talks about the release of Adobe's Creative Suite 3. CS3 is important for many reasons - it's a huge update of nearly all of Adobe's core (and best loved) software. For Intel users like me it will also be the first opportunity to get hold of a universal version of key tools like Photoshop.
As a past semi-pro photographer (and still a keen amateur), Photoshop is one of my most regularly used tools. And today I doubt I could live without Acrobat, which I use not only to generate documents but also and archival tool for all sorts of material.
I'm proud to say that I'm married to someone comparatively high up in the IT in her organization (there are only two people above Sharon).
As for the rest of IT, I see women very rarely (I'd say they make up less than 10% in our organization, and of those less than half are in technical roles). On the one hand I think this is sad - as a rule I find women easier to deal and negotiate with - but I'm also aware that many women are simply intimidated by the thught of working in what is largely a mans word.
I'm proud to say that I'm married to someone comparatively high up in the IT in her organization (there are only two people above Sharon).
As for the rest of IT, I see women very rarely (I'd say they make up less than 10% in our organization, and of those less than half are in technical roles). On the one hand I think this is sad - as a rule I find women easier to deal and negotiate with - but I'm also aware that many women are simply intimidated by the thught of working in what is largely a mans word.
I've just been away on business to Amsterdam with a group of my associates where we spent the majority of time in a single room discussing a project. Although we didn't spent a lot of time on the Internet - in fact, we tried desparately to keep laptops closed so we could concentrate on the matter at hand.
However, checking email and calls home to the various homes via Skype required Internet access. The cost was almost prohibitive, but it was a necessary expense and so therefore unavoidable.
Why so expensive?
Internet access is cheap, especially in a large modern city like Amsterdam. Is it because the hotel knows it's now almost a requirement and can therefore cash-in? Other hotels manage to give it away free, so it's not a blanekt policy in the industry.
I've just been away on business to Amsterdam with a group of my associates where we spent the majority of time in a single room discussing a project. Although we didn't spent a lot of time on the Internet -- in fact, we tried desperately to keep laptops closed so we could concentrate on the matter at hand.
However, checking email and calls home to the various homes via Skype required Internet access. The cost was almost prohibitive, but it was a necessary expense and so therefore unavoidable.
Why so expensive?
Internet access is cheap, especially in a large modern city like Amsterdam.