tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42737584421268347132024-03-13T04:10:25.712-07:00Berkeley LogicTechnology and cultural musings of Vernon Keenan and the Berkeley Logic staff.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-87246537540893151262013-07-02T17:18:00.001-07:002013-07-02T17:18:56.396-07:00It's 1984 and George Orwell was rightAll the latest revelations from the deep, dark world of the spies in the United States government has made me rethink many of my assumptions about Internet privacy.<br />
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Here's what has changed. We are in the era of Big Data with all the cheap storage and fast networks proliferating around the world. Combine that with the Patriot Act, the War on Terror, FISA courts and the NSA monitoring "foreign" communication and we now have a terrifying witches brew of capabilities that could make the US government come after any one of us when we least expect it.<br />
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A decade ago I was unconcerned about anyone monitoring my daily activities in the Internet. I figured with all the trillions of data packets flying around the Internet, someone would have to be particularly interested in me to find out what I was doing. I assumed that if I was the target of a criminal investigation, then a law enforcement agency could get a subpoena and my ISP or email provider would give up the goods. I assumed that without a subpoena, all of the bits I generated on the Internet would fly off into the proverbial bit bucket when I was done with them.<br />
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Now, it would be a mistake to think that the government needs a subpoena to check up on me. What seems to have happened over the last 10 years is the government has developed the ability to collect large amounts of real-time data from the Internet and store it in huge data warehouses. They may be scanning real-time for keywords or nefarious activities, but the real scary part is that they could go back and see what data was going back and forth to Google or Yahoo at any point in time.<br />
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That means that if I were to come under the scrutiny of the government for any reason, it is possible that they could go back and look at traffic attributed to me and look for anything even slightly illegal or improper.<br />
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What does that really mean for me and you today? We don't know because all of the Government's spying capabilities have yet to be revealed. We have to assume that we are only starting to get the facts. So, it's probably worse than what we know now.<br />
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If you are concerned about the government collecting your Internet data, what can you do? I don't have any answers yet, but there are implications for how we treat cloud computing and whether one really wants to put your entire life online. Encryption may help, but that may also be a red flag in the data stream that just makes the government <i>more </i>interested in your data.<br />
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For me, I am willing to wait for more information before I recommend pulling back from the Internet or discontinuing the use of cloud-based services. Hopefully, democracy will work in the United States and we will get some public debate on this subject that may translate into further disclosures. I would like to see a rollback of some of the legislation that has permitted these abuses, such as the Patriot Act.<br />
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But, things will never the same. My naivete about the government's capabilities has been replaced the realization that while they probably aren't watching me today, they can go see what I have been doing for the last five years with the click of a mouse.<br />
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In other words, it is 1984 and George Orwell was right.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com02020 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA37.871087 -122.2709130000000112.349052500000003 -163.579507 63.393121500000007 -80.962319000000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-70830232313187880562013-04-05T00:36:00.000-07:002013-04-05T00:36:35.431-07:00Windows 8 Is Bad For Business, and MicrosoftMicrosoft is in deep trouble, and if you run a business or enterprise you should be concerned. They have apparently suffered a fatal case of <i>iPad Envy</i>. In a failed attempt to thwart the iPad, the momentum of Microsoft's bad decisions now threatens to destabilize the 30-year-old Windows ecosystem.<br />
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<span class="s1">The short version of this post is that business and enterprise computer buyers have no reason to prefer Windows 8 over Windows 7. There are very few new features worth chasing, and the training and support costs required to roll out Windows 8 don't make sense.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Berkeley Logic customers should avoid buying Windows 8 computers for their businesses. </span>Customers should continue to order computers from resellers like Berkeley Logic, since we can get new Windows 7 computers from the big distributors until the end of 2014. Online shoppers can find Windows 7 computers today at Amazon.com and directly from the Dell, HP, Acer and Lenovo websites.<br />
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</span><span class="s1">This is a change in course for me. Throughout my career I had regularly been a proponent of buying the latest versions of Microsoft OS and applications. But, the problems are so serious now that I strongly advise against Windows 8 at this time. It is disconcerting to me to break a decades-long recommendation because now I cannot give a good prediction of what my customers will be buying for IT solutions five years from now.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Microsoft’s reaction to Apple's iPad tablet computer is what is killing them. The three-year-old iPad has the momentum to replace Windows as a preferred platform for IT in the home. Only Google's Android, and its cousin Amazon Kindle Fire, has gained headway into the home tablet market.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">While its days in the home may be numbered, Windows still matters plenty in business and enterprises like governments, schools and nonprofits. The world has spent the last twenty years investing trillions of US$ into IT, much of it going into Windows clients and servers. This investment has yielded tremendous productivity gains in businesses and enterprises of every size. There are now tens of trillions of US$ in global and local economic activity being facilitated by Windows computers every year.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Despite this success in the enterprise, the PC industry in is crisis over a lack of growth. In the last decade the PC industry went from a growth industry to a commodity durable goods industry. Except for China, India and Africa, it seems like of the rest of the world has bought all the PCs they will need. Today the PC industry is all about replacements and incremental improvements. We aren't even sure if next-generation IT will even need a PC or if those emerging markets will make do with mobile platforms.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Even if the PC market is not growing, IT departments and small enterprises are happy with Windows as a platform, even as a desktop client. Even with flat growth, the PC industry is huge, at over $800B in revenue and 361 million units shipped in 2011 according to IDC (see this <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/11/pc-market-peaking-microsoft"><span class="s2">Guardian article</span></a> for a great analysis of IDC research). The problem is the PC industry isn't growing in North America, Europe and Japan. This is a problem for the big hardware makers because Wall Street and investors don't care about industries without a growth trajectory.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The fact the PC market isn't growing can explain why we are four months into the Windows 8 era, and this new OS has barely made a dent in the IT world. Unfortunately, the lack of adoption could be due to a bigger problem. In an effort to appease itself Microsoft has made Windows 8 unattractive to their core audience: enterprise IT departments.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">How did all this happen? It started when Microsoft </span>took much too long to react to the quantum leaps in touch and mobile computing made by Apple and Google in the late 2000's. Android, iPhone and the iPad quickly made Microsoft's phone and touch solutions seem pathetic. Instead of reacting to touch and mobile innovations like Bill Gates reacted to Netscape's Internet innovations in the 1990's, Microsoft's CEO Steve Balmer allowed infighting, politics and lack of focus take over.<br />
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<span class="s1">While we don't know the real inside story, there is evidence of discord in the ranks. Soon after the November 2012 launch of Windows 8, Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows division, resigned with little explanation.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The result of Microsoft's machinations has given Windows 8 a dualistic view of IT. One view, Microsoft claims, is the future. This future consists of a touch interface with active tiles and device independence through use of the cloud. Previously known as Metro, the new official term for the tiles interface is the Modern UI.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The other view is the familiar desktop. And never the twain shall meet. You have to flip your screen back and forth between the desktop and the tiles. Yes, there is a way to park tiles next to the desktop, but practically speaking, most Windows 8 desktop and laptop users simply stay in the desktop mode to use their familiar applications. We have yet to see if Windows 8 tablets will gain any traction in the home, much less the enterprise.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The dualism is where the problem lies for enterprise users of Windows desktop computers. All business users care about is using their familiar applications. Whether it's Quickbooks, Adobe CS, Microsoft Office, or even Internet Explorer, the introduction of the Modern UI does nothing to enhance the use of those applications. In fact, all the tiles do is get in the way of using productivity apps. The Windows Modern UI is decidedly anti-productive.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The biggest anti-productivity feature of Modern UI is what IT departments have to do integrate Windows 8 into their enterprise. They will need massive training and help-desk programs to support the introduction of a radically new user interface. And for what? To help users learn how to get back to the desktop so they can get work done?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Modern UI is so useless to enterprise IT that it threatens to bury all the good things about Windows 8, and t</span>here is plenty to love about the goodies in Windows 8 and Server 2012. Windows 8 is faster, more reliable, very compatible, and quite a bit more manageable. Windows 8 and Server 2012 are designed to work together very well for large enterprises, and there are a ton of new storage management and remote access features that could be worth deploying.</div>
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<span class="s1">But why ship what is clearly a dual-mode UI, even on Server 2012? Microsoft decided to stand up to the iPad in order to maintain their relevance in mobile platforms and the home market. My guess is that Microsoft finally saw what the iPad and Android were doing, and decided it had to finally react. This is when they had their <i>all in</i> moment, and decreed that the Modern UI had to be on <i>everything</i>. Unfortunately for the IT world, it looks like the decision to graft Modern UI on top of planned major upgrades to Windows OS was a huge mistake. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">When Ballmer and Sinofsky approved the plan to have Desktop and Modern UI in Windows 8 is when Microsoft management started to make their fatal errors. Their next major mistake was the introduction of Windows RT.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Now, four months after the introduction of Windows RT, this ARM-based version of Windows is an afterthought. In fact, it damaged the Windows brand by introducing another set of complicated explanations of what Windows really is. Right at the launch of a new touch UI, they had to explain why you couldn't run x86 applications like Adobe Flash on a Windows computer. It looks like Microsoft botched a few billion in R&D making Windows run on a new CPU/APU architecture.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Microsoft Surface hasn't done anything to help Windows 8 adoption either. Surface is another multi-billion dollar mistake.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">How is the failure of Windows 8 relevant to everyday business owners and enterprise managers? The answer is simple and unnerving: uncertainty is entering the PC business. Up until now, it seemed reasonable that we could count on Microsoft being relevant by advancing the state-of-the-art in IT. We were counting on that leadership to help leverage the trillions of US$ invested in an enormous, global infrastructure that impacts billions of lives. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Instead of leadership, Balmer and Sinofsky have delivered uncertainty. Microsoft literally bet the farm that they could make a difference in mobile and touch computing. Instead of making a difference, they diluted and damaged the Windows brand. Their failure to make any impact at all in touch or mobile computing means that leadership is now compromised. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Take the simple premise of how to advise your friends and relatives about what PC to buy for the home. I’m sure many of you steer people to Apple products, but I’m also sure you also know plenty of happy Windows users who don’t want to convert. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">What do you tell someone who has an old Windows XP or 7 computer and needs an upgrade? Do you tell them to buy a Windows 8 laptop at BestBuy or Fry’s? I am now wary of telling individuals to invest in Windows, because I can see how it could become a dead end choice. Take the sum total of mistakes and one has to conclude the Windows 8 launch is totally botched and a major setback. This new uncertainty about Microsoft worries me.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">If Microsoft’s leadership is diminished, this means we will depend more on vendors who will see the light and help to maintain the status quo for IT departments. I am encouraged by Dell’s move to go private because, in theory at least, that will allow them to focus more on customers.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Hewlett Packard's CEO Meg Whitman, on the other hand, has recently stated that tablet computing and Windows 8 is their future. If you follow my logic, that could be a fatal choice for HP too. Perhaps getting out of the Wall Street spotlight is what this industry needs to help with further consolidation of Windows investments. Maybe we will get lucky and Dell will ship an OEM version of Windows 8 without the Modern UI. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The story of Microsoft's failure to maintain its relevance as a new technology vendor is a familiar one in American business. Once, Microsoft was a leading catalyst for wealth creation and the spread of the information age. Today, instead of innovating the company bears the yoke of supporting a huge installed base. That limits Microsoft’s ability to react quickly and effectively. It's not unlike what has happened in steel, railroads, autos, telecom and other big American innovations that bestowed monopoly-status upon a revolutionary innovator.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">In the mid-1990’s Microsoft under the leadership of Bill Gates managed to “turn the supertanker on a dime” by quickly adopting Internet Explorer as a response to Netscape. Will this latest attack by Apple and Google, Microsoft under Balmer’s leadership has failed to react in time. As it stagnates, Microsoft is now not a single entity but competing technical, political and business interests.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">There is no doubt we have entered a new post-Microsoft age of uncertainty in IT. For now, businesses and enterprises should continue to buy Windows 7 and invest in 2008-era Microsoft technology. Enterprises should hold dearly to their investments and hope that vendors like Dell will come to their rescue and keep things afloat. And, hopefully we can look to innovators like Apple and Google, plus others yet unknown, to continue the advance of the information age.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0Berkeley, CA, USA37.8715926 -122.2727469999999837.7713231 -122.43410849999998 37.9718621 -122.11138549999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-50559614551479279552013-03-08T21:53:00.004-08:002013-03-08T21:55:10.553-08:00Berkeley Logic is now a Carbonite Reseller!<br />
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We are proud to offer this popular and affordable online backup service to small business customers.</div>
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<span class="s1">Berkeley Logic offers customers the ability to buy Carbonite service using our normal accounts payable methods. Plus, we offer all nonprofits and schools a 10% discount off of normal Carbonite prices.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Carbonite gives you secure, automatic offsite backup that protects your files from accidental deletion, spills, theft and just about anything else that could harm your data. Once installed, Carbonite backs up your files to the cloud – so you can get them back when you need them most. Because Carbonite works continually, backing up new and changed files whenever you’re connected to the Internet, you can rest easy knowing your backed up files are always protected. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Product Highlights</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">Set it & forget it. Carbonite backs up your files automatically to the cloud - so you never have to remember to back up. No hardware required. </span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">Continual Backup. Whenever you’re connected to the Internet, Carbonite backs up your files – eliminating potentially costly backup gaps created by daily or weekly backups. </span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">Secure transmission. Carbonite uses the same encryption technology used in online backing and e-commerce transactions.</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">Safe offsite storage. Your backed up files are stored in one of Carbonite’s highly secure state-of-the-art data centers which are guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">Easy file recovery. If anything happens to any file, Carbonite finds it in your backup and puts it back in its original location on your computer – in just a few, simple steps.</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">Anytime, Anywhere access. You can access your backed up files from any computer connected to the Internet ― or even from your iPhone®, Android™ or BlackBerry® smartphone.</span></li>
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<span class="s1"><b>The Plans</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">With 5 plans to choose from, you can find the Carbonite subscription that’s right for you. From individuals, families and students to home office users and small business professionals, Carbonite has a plan to fit every backup need.<br />
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<li class="li3"><span class="s1"><b>Home</b> - With the Home plan, you'll enjoy all the essentials of unlimited online backup. Subscribe today and your irreplaceable files on your computer - like photos, documents and music - will be backed up automatically, and accessible at anytime, from any computer or smartphone.</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1"><b>HomePlus</b> - Using the HomePlus plan you’ll receive all the benefits of the Home plan, PLUS additional features that make your backup more complete. With HomePlus, you can include your external hard drive in your online backup, so you can rest easy knowing that all of your important files are backed up safely, offsite. In addition, you also get Mirror Image backup, which creates a local backup of your entire hard drive - including your operating system and software programs.</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1"><b>HomePremier</b> - HomePremier is the most comprehensive backup solution of the Carbonite Home plans. In addition to all the features of Home and HomePlus, you'll also get automatic backup of your video files (instead of having to add them to your backup manually). In addition, you'll have the option to use Courier Recovery - a Carbonite service reserved exclusively for HomePremier customers. Courier recovery allows you to have a copy of your entire backup shipped directly to you – which may be the fastest way to get your files back, when you need them most.</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s1"><b>Business</b> - The Business plan is geared toward those looking to backup an unlimited number of computers, external hard drives and NAS devices. Using this plan, you receive 250 GB* of backup space.</span></li>
<li class="li3"><span class="s2"><b>BusinessPremier</b></span><span class="s1"> - Using BusinessPremier, you’ll experience all of the same benefits you receive from the Business plans. Now, in addition to backing up all of the computers, external hard drives and NAS devices in your business, you can also backup your Windows Server. Using this plan, you receive 500GB* of backup space.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="s1">* Additional storage packs are available for both Carbonite Business plans</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-1429611462525377592012-06-23T19:04:00.002-07:002012-06-24T00:18:43.451-07:00How Storage Area Networks Can Save The Day!Being responsible for running a company network is usually smooth sailing, but there are a few situations that will make for a very bad day. A critical component of your server will fail and all of your applications and file servers will be down. Then you will be at the mercy of a computer repair man who may or may not be able to get your systems up in a day or two.<br />
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Don't you wish there was a way to keep that from ever happening again? Big companies and service providers can't afford to have any downtime, so they have elaborate systems of redundant hardware that automatically take over when something goes wrong. Until recently, smaller businesses couldn't easily afford redundant systems. Now there are plenty of affordable options that can harden a small business network.<br />
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Divide and Conquer with SANs</h3>
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The first step in hardening computer networks is to take a divide and conquer approach. This is where you separate the file storage from computing power through the use of Storage Area Networks, or a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_area_network" target="_blank">SAN</a>.<br />
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A SAN presents persistent storage to a Windows or Linux server completely transparently. Both Windows and Linux effectively use a SAN just like how an operating system uses a local hard drive.<br />
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With a SAN one may easily create backup computer resources and even have off-site backups. With a full SAN deployment it only takes a few keystrokes and mouse clicks to recover from a hard drive failure. A SAN recovers from hardware and software failures within minutes instead of days.<br />
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I Want a SAN Now!</h3>
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Sounds exciting, but how exactly does one buy a SAN? Just a few years ago, the answer would be "call up a SAN vendor and pay a whole bunch of money." The reason was that the SAN computer interconnects and networks were specialized products. The computer boxes that were sold as SAN storage servers were also specialized and commanded a high price to guarantee compatibility.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nMmHr9s7e4/T-aMvbfuOAI/AAAAAAAAsYc/UbNu88n2oAE/s1600/SAN+Design+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Berkeley Logic Small Business Storage Area Network Design" border="0" height="325" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nMmHr9s7e4/T-aMvbfuOAI/AAAAAAAAsYc/UbNu88n2oAE/s400/SAN+Design+(2).png" title="Please visit www.berkeleylogic.com for more information on Berkeley Logic!" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fortunately the march of computer technology has make everything cheaper, so that even SAN technology is now affordable. Through the use of standard network and computer equipment, the cost of a SAN has come down nearly ten-fold in the last five years.<br />
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Two factors share the honor of bringing SANs to the masses: iSCSI running on Gigabit Ethernet and Free Open Source Software (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_and_open-source_software" target="_blank">FOSS</a>). Cheap and fast gigabit Ethernet replaces the specialized computer interconnects sold by SAN vendors. The FOSS stacks <a href="http://www.freenas.org/" target="_blank">FreeNAS</a> and <a href="http://www.openfiler.com/" target="_blank">OpenFiler</a> both turn standard computer server hardware into SAN storage servers using a TCP/IP protocol called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iscsi" target="_blank">iSCSI</a>. FreeNAS and OpenFiler used the tried-and-true FreeBSD and CentOS operating systems, respectively.<br />
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My NAS must do iSCSI?</h3>
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Servers built with FreeNAS or OpenFiler are called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage" target="_blank">NAS</a> devices, where NAS stands for Network Attached Storage. NAS devices are standard computers configured as a server, with persistent, redundant storage being fast hard drives or maybe SSDs.<br />
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As a Dell Partner, Berkeley Logic has found an extremely practical way to create an OpenFiler or FreeNAS server is to order a low-end Dell server with the necessary storage. We make it a single-socket system with 16 GB of RAM. The R310 has worked fine for us. We prefer to use hardware RAID with the PERC controllers, but OpenFiler and FreeNAS are perfectly happy without the extra card. Use a 4 GB <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_on_module" target="_blank">SATA DOM</a> (Disk On Module) to install the NAS operating system. Set the server to boot to the SATA device, and away you go!<br />
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If you don't feel like rolling your own NAS device with FOSS, there are plenty of affordable iSCSI NAS devices are coming onto the market all the time. Many of them are based on the same Linux and FreeBSD kernels as OpenFiler and FreeNAS.<br />
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Be careful, though. Most NAS devices on the market are not iSCSI-compatible. One of the latest compatible market entries is the <a href="http://www.buffalotech.com/products/network-storage/terastation/" target="_blank">Buffalo TerraStation iSCSI</a>, which comes in 4 TB mini tower and rack-mount configurations for well under $2,000.<br />
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How do I recover with a SAN?</h3>
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A SAN gets its power by switching connections between servers quickly and easily. Here's a scenario on how a SAN works. A basic SAN configuration is to segregate all of your file shares into an iSCSI volume on a NAS. A separate server computer has Windows Server 2008R2 installed and running. The Windows server attaches the iSCSI volume and publishes the file shares using enhanced Windows DFS file sharing.<br />
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Suppose your Windows file server goes down due to a new malware infection. A backup file server can be brought online and attach to the same iSCSI volume and take over where the old server left off. The advanced capabilities of Windows DFS (Distributed File System) makes the server switch invisible to end users.<br />
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NAS devices are much more reliable than standard Windows servers due to their small attack surface and advanced security capabilities. Nevertheless, it is reassuring to have a backup NAS sitting around somewhere ready to take over if the main server goes down or needs maintenance.<br />
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The combination of Windows DFS replication and iSCSI makes is simple to make an exact, dynamically-updated backup of one iSCSI volume to another iSCSI volume. This backup can be made even better by putting the backup NAS at a branch office location connected by the company Wide Area Network (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_area_network" target="_blank">WAN</a>), thus helping to implement a sophisticated disaster recovery plan.<br />
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<h3>
Sounds Good, What's Next?</h3>
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Upgrading to a basic SAN architecture mainly involves carefully reviewing all of your file shares and organizing them into a Windows DFS hierarchy. After you've implemented DFS, then it's time to bring your new NAS online. Configure the NAS to publish an iSCSI volume, and attach it to your server. Copy all of your files into the new iSCSI volume, move the DFS targets, and your're in business!<br />
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DFS can be quite an undertaking in terms of learning Windows. Be sure to check out some links at the end of this post for some resources to get you going.<br />
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But, Windows DFS isn't technically needed to get going with iSCSI. DFS is strongly recommended, however, because it implements fail-over transparently to your users. DFS has the added bonus of making iSCSI volume replication a snap.<br />
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You may also be wondering how to affordably have a backup to your Windows and Linux servers. One way is to use a Virtual Machine <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypervisor" target="_blank">Hypervisor</a> like VMware or Windows HyperV and "physical to virtual" tools to create a backup of all of your servers and keep them on stand-by in your hypervisor host. More on the power of virtualization in hardening a small business network in a future post!<br />
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<h3>
Good Luck!</h3>
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Affordable SANs are now within the reach of many small business network owners. Best wishes as you undertake this exciting upgrade that makes sys admins sleep easier. If you're in the East Bay be sure to give Berkeley Logic a call to help you with your SAN network needs at 510-228-4500.<br />
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<br />
Vernon Keenan -- June 23, 2012<br />
<div>
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<h3>
Resources</h3>
<ul>
<li>SAN Vendor: EMC - <a href="http://www.emc.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>SAN Vendor: Dell - <a href="http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/iscsi-san-products" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>SAN Vendor: HP - <a href="http://h18006.www1.hp.com/storage/networking/index.html" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>NAS Software: OpenFiler - <a href="http://www.openfiler.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>NAS Software: FreeNAS - <a href="http://www.freenas.org/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>FOSS: CentOS Linux - <a href="http://www.centos.org/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>FOSS: FreeBSD Unix - <a href="http://www.freebsd.org/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>Microsoft DFS How It Works - <a href="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc782417(v=WS.10).aspx" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>Microsoft DFS Step-by-Step Guide - <a href="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727150.aspx" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>Microsoft DFS Replication Overview - <a href="http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771058.aspx" target="_blank">web</a></li>
<li>NAS Vendor Information - WhichNAS - <a href="http://www.whichnas.net/" target="_blank">web</a></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-55143619470659996442012-05-03T09:57:00.000-07:002012-05-08T10:35:37.272-07:00Enterprise ComputingBerkeley Logic sells and installs a wide range of laptop, desktop and server computers suitable for organizations of any size. We can meet or beat advertised prices for many business-class computer systems, plus we will deliver and install new equipment at your business location.<br />
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Berkeley Logic recommends some of the features found in business-class computer brands. For example, when one compares business-class computing brands like Dell Optiplex and Lenovo Thinkpad to more consumer brands like HP Pavilion or Acer Aspire, a big difference is the length of time a particular model stays on the market.<br />
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<a href="http://berkeleylogic.com/images/enterpriseit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://berkeleylogic.com/images/enterpriseit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The short lifespan of IT products is one greatest frustrations of business computer buyers. The rapid rate of change means it is usually impossible to buy a new version of the same computer you bought only six months ago.<br />
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Being able to buy a computer that has the same basic architecture, but has all the latest and greatest processors and memory components, allows Berkeley Logic to use advanced system management techniques to greatly streamline buying new systems. The is a leading reason why we recommend <a href="http://berkeleylogic.com/index.php/store/computer-products/desktops">Dell Optiplex</a> and <a href="http://berkeleylogic.com/index.php/store/computer-products/laptops">Latitude </a>for business computer buyers.<br />
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When building a business network Berkeley Logic uses disk imaging and network profiles to cut-down on per-computer setup chores. Estimates for installation and setup charges for business network installation vary according to individual customer requirements.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-48669566294534248202012-04-28T11:39:00.001-07:002012-05-05T12:31:23.992-07:00Cloud System IntegrationToday we're starting a new series where we are posting some of newest pages from our updated web site, <a href="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/">www.berkeleylogic.com</a>.<br />
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To kick it off, here's a very timely subject: Cloud Computing. -- Vern Keenan<br />
<h1>
<a href="http://berkeleylogic.com/index.php/tech-services/ondemand-services/cloud-system-integration">Cloud System Integration</a></h1>
The Cloud refers to any Internet-based service that performs a business or personal information function. Yahoo Mail and Hotmail were among the first cloud-based services introduced in late 1990's.<br />
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Today you can use the Internet to run practically your whole business with services ranging from <a href="http://www.box.com/">Box</a> for file sharing to <a href="http://www.salesforce.com/">Salesforce.com</a> for a sophisticated customer relationship management system.<br />
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<a href="http://aws.amazon.com/">Amazon Web Services</a> and <a href="http://www.windowsazure.com/">Microsoft Windows Azure</a> has taken it a step farther by offering pure-platform solutions. Today it is possible to have a new Windows or Linux server up and running on the Internet in less than 10 minutes. With this type of service, one may run any type of application. The only bottleneck will be the speed of your Internet connection.<br />
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Small enterprises have mixed feelings about the cloud. On the one hand, it's great to not buy servers and other computer gear for the office. On the other hand, one can worry about the security and performance of data stored on someone else's server.<br />
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The reality is that a hybrid system of having some of your data stored in a server in the office, and other data stored in the cloud is the best solution. Berkeley Logic helps you evaluate available cloud-based services and create a hybrid environment tailored to your requirements.<br />
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Berkeley Logic integrates the business operations of our customers into the cloud in several key areas of technology.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Email Migration.</b> As a partner with Google Apps and Microsoft's Office 365, Berkeley Logic helps customers find the best way to move from an in-house email server to a hosted service. Every migration is different, and they vary according to usage patterns.</li>
<li><b>Advanced Cloud Backup.</b> Keeping backups at an offsite, professionally-managed data center is becoming the norm in IT best practices. Berkeley Logic works with your existing IT infrastructure to install automatic and continuous backup mechanisms. Plus, we can help you re-architect your existing server setup into a Storage Area Network (SAN) that integrates with advanced backup tools like the Amazon AWS Storage Gateway.</li>
<li><b>New Application Deployment.</b> Berkeley Logic can help you create a private cloud that makes your proprietary applications more usable, scalable and safe. When you buy a software product from a vendor who doesn't have a hosted version, Berkeley Logic can use Amazon AWS or Microsoft Windows Azure as a platform for your new software instead of buying a new sever.</li>
<li><b>Application Migration.</b> If you have Windows or UNIX applications running in a server you own, you may avoid upgrading that server by migrating the applications to the cloud. Berkeley Logic can take those applications and move them to the cloud, and ensure that all your users still have the same functionality they had before.</li>
</ul>
If you're thinking about making the leap to cloud computing then give Berkeley Logic a call at 510-228-4500 for a free consultation on what combination of on-premises and cloud-based services would work best for you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-7477001129245824312010-08-17T20:46:00.000-07:002010-08-17T21:35:19.452-07:00Gaining Productivity In Your Business With Information TechnologyBy Vernon Keenan<br />
August 17, 2010<br />
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Let's face it, the economy is still miserable and many small business owners are struggling. While the Bay Area may not have been hit as hard as other parts of California, we are still trying to claw our way out of a hole dug by unemployment rates over 11%.<br />
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With this kind of uncertainty, business owners are reluctant to hire new employees even when faced with increased demand. Fortunately, when applied correctly Information Technology (IT) improves worker productivity, helping to stave off the need for new employees.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Top Small Business Productivity Boosters</b></span><br />
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<ol><li><b><i>Break out of Email Jail with cloud-based services. </i></b>If you still download your email to a desktop program like Outlook or Thunderbird, and you cannot view those emails when accessing your web mail, then you are trapped in email jail. Consider switching to a service like <a href="http://www.google.com/a/">Gmail</a> where all of your mail is stored online. You can continue to use Outlook to work with your mail, the only difference that your mail is now stored safely online.</li>
<li><b><i>Use email instead of fax or letters.</i></b> Have you ever wished you could simply email a document to someone instead of faxing it or stuffing it in an envelope? You can do it if you have a PDF print driver installed in your computer. With a free tool like <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/">PDFCreator</a> anything that prints can be sent as a PDF document. Other tools like <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/">Adobe Acrobat</a> or <a href="http://www.nitropdf.com/index.asp">Nitro PDF</a> allows you to create PDF forms that are filled out by your customer and emailed back to you.</li>
<li><b><i>Upgrade or replace computers.</i></b> Don’t let frugality in computer buying impact your customer service. Focus on computers that support “customer-facing activities” like a cashier, service ticket writer, or customer service agent. A new computer increases worker productivity, especially if the old computer has been in service for five or more years. Replace customer-facing workstations first and then delay upgrades for back office workers. </li>
<li><b><i>Use business-class printers.</i></b> Nothing ruins a day more than a dead printer, especially when that printer works as your cash register receipt printer. Replace inkjet printers with higher-end laser models that include onsite warranties. Focus on those printers used for customer service to shave seconds off of customer waiting times. Always use original equipment manufacturer toner supplies to avoid glitches from remanufactured cartridges.</li>
<li><b><i>Make better use of your smartphone.</i></b> There are several ways to make that iPhone or Android device an even more useful part of your business life. Start with synchronizing your calendar and address books. Learn how to use financial services apps to keep up with your banking and credit card activity. You can even use your smartphone for remote access to your work computer.</li>
<li><b><i>Use your web site to communicate with your customers.</i></b> Do you still have a form on your web site that people fill out and fax back to you? Does your “Contact Us” page have a spam-proof form where people can reliably get in touch with you? Do you service customers calling in to check the status of their order? Consider using secure web forms to collect and store customer information. Web forms collect legible order information, validate and process credit card orders, and give your customers ways to perform self-service when making order inquiries.</li>
<li><b><i>Access your work computer from home or the road.</i></b> Think of all the times you had to go into the office to retrieve some information you left on your work computer. Or, when you are traveling and play "blind man's bluff" with someone in the office to look up information for you. Remote access solutions range from a monthly service like <a href="http://www.gotomypc.com/">GotoMyPC</a>, configuring a router, or setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN).</li>
</ol>I hope these Berkeley Logic tips for small business productivity help you make more with less. Please allow me to invite you to give us a call in case you need some assistance putting these ideas into action. Or, you might be interested in trying some of these ideas on your own. In any case, best wishes in your business ventures.<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com02342 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA37.8668843 -122.267988337.8626493 -122.2752838 37.871119300000004 -122.2606928tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-57800439921663043372010-06-25T10:38:00.000-07:002010-06-25T12:01:27.228-07:00My iPhone 4 Review or Why My Apple Fanboydom is Now Complete<div>by Vernon Keenan</div><div><br /></div><div>June 25, 2010</div><div>Berkeley, CA</div><div><br /></div>Many years ago, in 1984 when the original Macintosh came out flying that pirate flag, I was what we call today an Apple Fanboy. I was young, and very much impressed with the GUI, the mouse and all that neat stuff the Mac brought to the world.<br /><br /><div>I would carry around my original Mac 128K in that huge duffel bag and hook up the dot matrix printer and gape in amazement when a halftone graphic printed. And after the original LaserWriter came out, it was off the races for the next ten years of my IT career. <div><br /></div><div>Like I've written elsewhere, I have strayed from the Apple camp for a number of years. I only dabbled with learning OS X, but I felt comfortable since I use Linux professionally. I even bought a black MacBook in 2006 just for fun, but I was pretty much still not that impressed with Apple.</div><div><br /></div><div>Boy, has that changed. It started in 2007 when I got the original iPhone. Not only do I think they are ready for world smartphone domination, <a href="http://blog.berkeleylogic.com/2010/06/apple-extends-their-world-domination.html">see previous post</a>, but this new iPhone 4 is a super product I don't have any trouble recommending to clients.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did manage to get online after about 20 tries on June 15, the day of the pre-order online scramble. I think I managed to get through by using one of my cloud-based servers that gave me a significantly faster Internet connection than most other web users. I was lucky enough to be in the first batch of owners to receive their packages on Wednesday June 23. </div><div><br /></div><div>That package is almost identical to the 3GS package; it only has a minimal instruction book, warranty information, the basic Apple Headphone earbuds with a mic, a basic iPhone-USB cable, and the two-pronged AC adapter. For me, activation was super-simple and simply took plugging it into my MacBook and syncing with iTunes. It loaded my old iPhone backup and I had everything on there but my iPod content.</div><div><br /></div><div>The new size and design of the product is very nice, giving it a much more solid feel and heft than the 3GS plastic design. I can still hear the buttons rattle when giving it a good shake, but that noise is much less than before. </div><div><br /></div><div>I like the new glass surface, but I am also a bit worried about marring or breaking it. I wonder how forgiving they will be at the Genius bar with cracked iPhones? The lack of curves and the tight corners between the glass and the metal band gives your fingers more to hold onto than the previous model. Even with the glass, it is less slippery than the 3GS model.</div><div><br /></div><div>The most impressive new feature to me is Apple's new Retina Display, where they claim their 326 pixel per inch screen renders images so accurately the human eye cannot resolve the individual dots on the screen. I had to take out my over-40 special contact lenses to really see, but their claim is true. It is the finest computer screen I have ever seen, and you can actually read a full web page with no magnification. Although the type is only 5 or 6 "points" on the screen, it is totally legible and can be read.</div><div><br /></div><div>Naturally, most of us won't be squinting at the tiniest rendering of text. However, the fine resolution of this screen makes it look as good as you would see in a fine art magazine. It certainly makes it more possible to watch movies, look at high-res photos, and read books on the iPhone.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a few minutes of tapping apps, using the phone, doing texts, and using Safari, I was impressed with how much the new processor, more memory and the new multitasking capabilities speed up everything. Before it was quite painful to switch between any application and Safari mainly because you were actually re-launching the browser every time and it would re-load the page. Now, Safari runs in the background all the time, keeping track of its network connections and avoiding unnecessary page refreshes. Cutting and pasting between Safari and other apps just got a lot faster.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another big improvement is the new 5 MP rear camera, the flash and 720p video recording. It is no replacement for a Nikon or Sony Handicam, but does anyone want to buy a Flip video recorder?</div><div><br /></div><div>My call quality seems to be up, but that's is super-anecdotal on my part. I've only had it for two days now, and I can't tell if what I'm seeing is a reliable pattern. </div><div><br /></div><div>I must say, though, that my personal experience with AT&T signal quality has been good, even since my original iPhone in 2007. I pretty much stay in the Berkeley/North Oakland areas, plus southern San Diego county, so I don't go to the bad zones very often. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, I have had all sorts of problems with my iPhone 3GS in downtown San Francisco, including getting dropped calls when I have four bars of strength. The worst is 3G data performance in San Francisco. I haven't run any serious tests, but loading web pages on an iPhone in downtown San Francisco sure feels like it's going at quarter speed compared to downtown Berkeley.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are a bunch of iOS 4 features I haven't used yet, such as FaceTime, but I have instantly grown used to the new dashboard folders and the multitasking. The new combined inbox and email threading is nice too. The multitasking works by double-tapping the menu button and a list of your active applications pop up. Swipe to the app you want, and you've just saved about three taps and five seconds of another application launch.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could drone on, but you get the idea. Here is the bottom line. If you have an original iPhone or 3G, you should upgrade right away if $250 is in your budget. The new iOS 4 update doesn't work on the original, and it will go much slower on the 3G. Just order the iPhone 4 from the Apple Store online and have it delivered. That's the simplest.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have a 3GS and aren't tempted to do it for fashion's sake, then first try out the new iOS 4 free update. That will give you 80% of what iPhone 4 owners get. You can wait and see about price drops or easier availability later this summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you are on another smartphone, especially a Windows or another bad design that hampers your use, then I guarantee you'll get more use out of your mobile device if you switch to the iPhone. Note that I'm not talking to the Blackberry or Android Fanboys out there. We'll talk another time...</div><div><br /></div><div>In any case, Apple has another real winner with the iPhone 4. And, yes, I confess to being an Apple Fanboy reincarnated. </div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-47007992852012428682010-06-09T20:40:00.000-07:002010-06-11T10:49:16.692-07:00Apple Extends Their World Domination With iPhone 4?Vernon Keenan<br />Berkeley, California<br />June 9, 2010<br /><br />The latest announcements from Apple, combined with the fact it has recently passed Microsoft as the world's most valuable technology company, highlights a remarkable 15 year evolution.<br /><br />I am deeply impressed with how Apple has taken devotion to various computer industry strategies, and transformed these devotions into real market share, economic activity, and platform domination.<br /><br />Apple's success with the iPhone and iPad are tremendous testaments to the power of proprietary vertical industry integration. Smartphones like the iPhone, Google Nexus 1 and the HTC HD2 are designed using various layers of functionality, such as an operating system that talks to a certain piece of hardware, and its all enhanced with a rich source of software and a global digital network. Alone amongst my examples, the iPhone is based on products and services from a single technology vendor, Apple. The others are all based on loose confederations of technology companies who work together to deliver a single product to the consumer.<br /><br />The content, the apps, the operating system, the hardware platform and the Internet are each a layer in a technology ecosystem that runs a smartphone. In the Microsoft technology ecosystem Microsoft has tight control over just one of those layers: the operating system. It emulates the way Microsoft grew to dominate the computer industry. The whole premise of how the Microsoft computer ecosystem grew was based on interoperability of the various pieces of the hardware layer. Since Microsoft didn't make the hardware, they left the market free to compete for customers based on technology innovation.<br /><br />Hardware interoperability worked tremendously from the start for Microsoft. Companies like Compaq and Dell flourished as they shipped PC systems around the world. The Mac languished in a proprietary backwater while the whole world geared up with Microsoft-based desktops, servers, laptops and networks. In the subsequent decades the diversified hardware ecosystem worked beautifully for Microsoft and Apple became a virtual afterthought by 1995.<br /><br />But the evolution of the Microsoft ecosystem slowed tremendously throughout the 2000's. This was primarily due to the nightmarish scenarios confronted by system integrators and hardware builders who had to deal with the inherently unstable design of the Microsoft hardware driver and memory management systems. Every time a new technology was introduced, such as more RAM, wireless networking or more powerful graphics cards, it was up to Microsoft to orchestrate the chorus of hardware vendors who chimed in with their own APIs and programmatic controls. Often, the result was incompatibility and fragile systems.<br /><br />My feeling is that a commodity hardware marketplace worked pretty good for the computer industry from the 1980's until about 2005. Then we all stood around waiting for Microsoft to figure out how to keep up with the hardware innovations and then watching them misfire with Vista in 2007.<br /><br />Although it didn't seem to be true at the time, Steve Jobs had it figured out way back in 1985 when he dealt with his biggest crisis at Apple. He had to face how the IBM PC hardware ecosystem had displaced Apple as the #1 computer company, and how he might have hired the wrong CEO, former PepsiCo chief executive John Sculley. Jobs quit Apple because he believed so deeply in integrating the hardware and the operating system. He was forced out by Sculley who decided to bow to ever-increasing power of the Microsoft-IBM-Intel "standard." When he was told the company would emulate the Microsoft business model by licensing the MacOS to other hardware companies, Jobs turned in his resignation and sold all but one share of his stock.<br /><br />Without re-telling the whole John Sculley and Gil Amelio story, Steve Jobs eventually came back in 1997 and used his NeXT operating system to form the basis of OS X, the next generation OS for the Macintosh. As Jobs was vindicated, he canceled the MacOS licensing agreement with all the clone makers, thus reasserting his belief in vertical integration within a technology platform.<br /><br />Apple also vertically integrated the retail industry stack. Steve Jobs' control ethic is in full force with the Apple Stores where the staff are actual Apple employees and all of the stores have a consistent look and feel. No other global brand has such a successful retail presence. Millions of iPods were sold in the Apple Stores, and the iTunes digital store tamed the wild digital music world.<br /><br />As the PC industry languished for the last five years, the features and usability of OS X consistently outpaced Windows. Microsoft still hasn't recovered from the Vista debacle, and the growth in the industry is now degraded to replacement of older equipment instead of delivering on new capabilities. iTunes is now a such a major factor in music sales Apple can afford to dictate terms to most of the music labels. It was Apple's ability to slowly evolve their platform with consistent and reliable results that has caught the attention of the world.<br /><br />Until 2007 the smartphone marketplace was a mishmash of hardware and operating systems, most of them hard to use with inaccessible features. People put up with it because they wanted the communication and messaging features. When Apple introduced the iPhone they not only vertically integrated the hardware and the operating system, but also set out strict rules for developers and created a digital delivery mechanism that they controlled. While leaving the wireless part up to service providers, the only layer they don't control in the iPhone package is the content itself.<br /><br />By simply announcing the iPhone in 2007 Apple lapped all of the competition. What Apple delivered wasn't just a phone, but a pocket Internet computer that worked very well. Plus, it was so easy to use that many advanced features are well-used by iPhone owners. The marketplace has caught on and the iPhone is now the leading smartphone as measured by unit sales. This week's iPhone 4 and iOS announcement totally solidifies Apple's leadership in smartphone technology and platform dominance.<br /><br />Even as Apple becomes the world's most valuable technology company in 2010 they are still very well positioned for what could be a shift from PC products in the home to more iOS-based products. iOS is revolutionary in it's approach to the human-computer interface by eliminating the mouse and using touch. That advantage could translate into sales for new products in the digital home.<br /><br />As the smartphone becomes better integrated into business information, iOS could penetrate more into corporations. I think that Apple could even experience a resurgence of OS X in corporations as users want better integration between IT systems and smartphones.<br /><br />There is still plenty of room for the iPhone to grow within the US smartphone market as soon as versions compatible with other 3G networks become available. Plus, Apple is well-established in all the major international markets. A major set of decisions and challenges will be how fast and where Apple will scale its operation.<br /><br />It seems to be coming down to vertical platform integration, aka Steve Jobs' personal religion! Using that platform philosophy already sells more iPhones than any other smartphone. The rest of the smartphone industry is based on the hardware ecosystem model that served the computer industry so well in the 1980's and 1990's. Apple's unit sales, financial success and iPhone momentum makes the Steve Jobs' way of doing things seem to be a safe bet.<br /><br />I've been an observer and fan of Apple since 1984 when I got my first Macintosh. I abandoned them in 1995 when they weren't paying attention to the Internet. I got excited again when I got my iPhone in 2007. Now I'm saying they are well positioned for a long-predicted inflection point in the technology industry where they could even grow much larger.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-46429861755164297662010-06-04T10:23:00.000-07:002010-06-16T15:16:39.381-07:00Small Business Antivirus EvaluationDetailed Antivirus Product Comparisons for Small Business Clients<br /><br /><br />By Robert Crabbs<br />4-27-2010<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>INTRODUCTION</b><br /><br /><br />One of our larger clients just had an Avast! license expire. Because of the wide range of malware threats found on the internet, having a current antivirus subscription is imperative for all computers running Windows.<br /><br /><br />Unfortunately, Avast’s product fell far short of Berkeley Logic’s expectations. The product was not easily managed from an IT standpoint, and thus took time away from other tasks at the client. In addition, Avast’s technical and sales support staff responded slowly to help requests, and often failed to understand the basic nature of the requests themselves. Their support structure was clearly disorganized and ineffective.<br /><br /><br />Because of the shortcomings of the client's current security software, Berkeley Logic is replacing it with a competing product. We put substantial effort into searching for suitable replacements, evaluating various offerings based on three primary criteria:<br /><ul><li>Low performance overhead. The client has a significant number of older computer systems in place in its network. Antivirus software we use should not impair system speed and usability, especially for these older machines.</li><li>Strong technical support. Quality product support reduces the overall costs of deploying and managing software, and allows Berkeley Logic to focus on other IT needs of the client.</li><li>Low yearly cost. Naturally, reducing operating costs is desirable. Security software should be within budget without sacrificing performance or quality of support.</li></ul><br />Berkeley Logic investigated products from sixteen major vendors: Avast!, AVG, Avira, BitDefender, CA, CoreTrace, ESET, F-Secure, G-Data, Kaspersky, McAfee, Microsoft, Panda, Sophos, Symantec, and TrendMicro. This report covers the five antivirus suites that satisfied all three criteria above; the other eleven were found lacking in at least one major aspect. The finalists were:<br /><br /><br />•<span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre" class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Avira Antivir Professional<br />•<span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre" class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>AVG Antivirus Business 9.0<br />•<span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre" class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>BitDefender Small Office Security<br />•<span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre" class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>F-Secure Antivirus<br />•<span style="WHITE-SPACE: pre" class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>G-Data Business Antivirus<br /><br /><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>PRODUCT: Avira Antivir Professional</b></div><div><br /></div><div>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.avira.com/">http://www.avira.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Avira’s business antivirus software was one of the fastest security products we evaluated. Performance was minimally impacted, even on the older Dimension 2400 computers at out client. The centralized management software operates smoothly and is generally straightforward. </div><div><br /></div><div>PROS</div><div><ul><li>Remote deployments proceeded quickly and smoothly</li><li>Centralized console is clean and simple</li><li>Antivirus engine is known to be quite effective</li><li>Software uses little memory and CPU time</li><li>Generates custom reports of security status</li><li>Can easily configure client software settings en masse or individually</li></ul></div><div>CONS</div><div><ul><li>Somewhat expensive for 1-year licensing</li><li>Cannot send alerts or notification emails to Berkeley Logic</li><li>Server locates all network computers, but cannot perform mass deployments</li></ul></div><div><b>PRODUCT: AVG Antivirus Business 9.0</b></div><div><br /></div><div>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.avg.com/">http://www.avg.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>AVG offers a strong security suite which is both fast and effective. Though somewhat slower than Avira’s Antivir, AVG’s engine also does not affect system speed much. The ability to control individual components of each installation is quite useful, and allows a large degree of performance tweaking. Virus-scan reports can be generated and saved on a schedule. In addition, the AVG server can send email alerts to Berkeley Logic in case of a critical security issue.</div><div><br /></div><div>PROS</div><div><ul><li>Remote deployments proceeded without errors</li><li>Centralized console is clean and simple</li><li>Antivirus engine is known to be quite effective</li><li>Software uses little memory and CPU time</li><li>Generates custom reports of security status</li><li>Can send alerts or notification emails to Berkeley Logic</li><li>Can easily configure client software settings en masse or individually</li></ul></div><div>CONS</div><div><ul><li>Somewhat expensive for 1-year licensing</li><li>Server locates all network computers, but cannot perform mass deployments</li><li>Installations take a long time to finish (expensive deployment)</li></ul></div><div></div><div><b>PRODUCT: Bit Defender Small Office Security</b></div><div><br /></div><div>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.bitdefender.com/">http://www.bitdefender.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Bit Defender’s software stands out for two reasons. First, it had almost no performance impact, even on very old Dell Dimension 2400 computers. Second, the license pricing is the least expensive of any of the 15 major antivirus products we reviewed. Its centralized management is quite streamlined and easy to use. But despite its simplicity, it also contains many powerful administrative tools beyond the scope of normal antivirus software.</div><div><br /></div><div>PROS</div><div><ul><li>Remote deployments proceeded quickly and smoothly</li><li>Centralized console is clean and simple</li><li>Software uses almost no memory or CPU time</li><li>Generates custom reports of security status</li><li>Can send alerts or notification emails to Berkeley Logic</li><li>Supports deployment to any of number of workstations at a time</li><li>Can easily configure client software settings en masse or individually</li><li>Includes many tools for IT users to manage networked computers</li><li>Lowest cost of all antivirus products reviewed</li></ul></div><div>CONS</div><div><ul><li>Antivirus engine effectiveness is somewhat of an unknown to Berkeley Logic</li></ul></div><div><b>PRODUCT: F-Secure Antivirus</b></div><div><br /></div><div>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.f-secure.com/">http://www.f-secure.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>F-Secure’s biggest strength lies in its centralized management interface. Of all the antivirus products we reviewed, F-Secure had the cleanest, most well-organized front-end. Performance impact was noticeable but by no means excessive. We did have an issue using the remote installation tool, though it may simply be a limitation of the trial version we downloaded.</div><div><br /></div><div>PROS</div><div><ul><li>Centralized management user interface is best-in-class</li><li>Generates custom reports of security status</li><li>Can send alerts or notification emails to Berkeley Logic</li><li>Supports deployment to any of number of workstations at a time</li><li>Can easily configure client software settings en masse or individually</li></ul></div><div>CONS</div><div><ul><li>Antivirus engine effectiveness is somewhat of an unknown</li><li>Yields somewhat slower performance than the other offering</li><li>Could not use remote deployment with the software package we downloaded</li></ul></div><div><b>PRODUCT: G-Data Business Antivirus</b></div><div><br /></div><div>WEBSITE: <a href="http://www.gdatasoftware.com/">http://www.gdatasoftware.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div>G-Data’s antivirus product is unique in that it employs two separate scanning engines (Kaspersky and BitDefender) to search for viruses. While we expected this approach to make a larger drain on computer resources, G-Data actually impacted performance less than most of the other antivirus suites. The centralized console is well-organized and relatively easy to use, though it does not generate on-demand reports like many other products do.</div><div><br /></div><div>PROS</div><div><ul><li>Remote deployments proceeded quickly and smoothly</li><li>Centralized console is clean and simple</li><li>Software uses little memory or CPU time</li><li>Can send alerts or notification emails to Berkeley Logic</li><li>Supports deployment to any of number of workstations at a time</li><li>Can easily configure client software settings en masse or individually</li></ul></div><div>CONS</div><div><ul><li>Does not generate custom reports of security status</li></ul></div><div><b>EVALUATION CRITERIA</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Each antivirus product was evaluated based on the following:</div><div><ul><li>Ability to install and uninstall on network computers via a server-end application</li><li>Ease of client management (updating, changing settings, etc.) after installation</li><li>Quality of client status monitoring and virus reporting</li><li>Performance impact on workstations (i.e. startup times, file access, internet browsing)</li><li>Support of Windows Server 2003 and Server 2008</li><li>Effectiveness of scanning engine at detecting/preventing/eliminating threats</li><li>Yearly licensing cost</li></ul></div><div><b>CONCLUSIONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The table below shows the relative rankings of each product in several categories, with 1 being best and 5 being worst.</div><div><br /></div><div><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt" class="MsoTableGrid" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Avira<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">AVG<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Bit Defender<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">F-Secure<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">G-Data<o:p></o:p></b></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Yearly Cost<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">5<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">4<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">3<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Performance<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">3<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">5<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">4<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Ease of Deployment<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">3<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Ease of Client Management<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Reporting and Alerts<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">2<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">1<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">3<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Effectiveness<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">Good<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">Good<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">Unknown<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">Unknown<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center">Good<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 2.2in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="264"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">OVERALL RANK<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">3<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 45pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="75"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">4<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 81pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="135"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">1<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 63pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="105"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">5<o:p></o:p></b></p></td><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 0.7in; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" valign="top" width="84"><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">2<o:p></o:p></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>All five of the finalist security suites proved to be strong candidates; there is no clear “best” antivirus product. For example, it is true that BitDefender ranks top in most of the categories. However, the differences were often small. Other differences in features were not readily quantifiable; each central interface had advantages the others did not.</div><div><br /></div><div>Each offering’s centralized management interface seemed polished and easy to use, though F-Secure’s stood out among the rest. There were a few caveats as well. Some of the products did not seem to support mass network installations, which increases their total cost of deployment. Others, like Avira, did not have advanced notification and alert tools to inform Berkeley Logic of possible virus threats.</div><div><br /></div><div>Performance is important, naturally, but less so as older Celeron and Pentium computers are gradually replaced by newer Intel and AMD processors. Still, not all of the aging workstations have been replaced. Fortunately, every one of the antivirus suites ran smoothly on 6-year-old Dell Dimension 2400 Celeron systems. F-Secure was somewhat slower than the others, and BitDefender appeared to barely impact performance.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because all of the offerings are strong, perhaps yearly cost is the deciding factor. Berkeley Logic happened to get a good deal since we signed up as new reseller for BitDefender.</div><br /><br /><br />For other organizations looking to pick a new antivirus solution, we hope these notes will provide you with some insight into your research and help you make a good choice.<br /><br /><br />-- Robert Crabbs (rcrabbs@berkeleylogic.com)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-71119162954599253182010-06-04T10:02:00.000-07:002010-06-04T10:09:21.384-07:00Back to BloggingWell, it's been a looooong time since my last posting on the Berkeley Logic blog. I could make up some excuses, but I'll just cop to laziness!<div><br /></div><div>But, we have some new and fairly interesting things going on at Berkeley Logic, so we're going to step up our blogging and social media efforts. </div><div><br /></div><div>We have some interesting blog posts coming up, including Robert Crabbs comprehensive look at antivirus products for small businesses, our picks of the best new computers, and a look at digital signage with cloud-based services.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, on a daily basis we'll try to give out some quips and other tech tidbits on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Berkeley-Logic/#!/pages/Berkeley-Logic/99348137132">Berkeley Logic Facebook</a> page. Come on by the page and give us a Like to keep up on the daily IT buzz from a Berkeley Logic perspective.</div><div><br /></div><div>Vern</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-57308683656131882282009-03-08T17:36:00.000-07:002009-03-09T12:10:56.803-07:00Windows 7 -- Boy am I pissed!I downloaded the Windows 7 preview DVD a while back. And, with my lab now back into shape I decided to load it on one of my bench computers. Well, after I got a look at how much better the user interface became, how much faster and simpler the installation process had become, and all of the other little refinements, I wasn't happy that they had finally gotten closer to fixing it. <div><br /></div><div>No, I was pretty pissed that Microsoft has perpetrated another multi-billion dollar fraud on the public and got people to pay through the nose just to once again be test subjects!</div><div><br /></div><div>I would say the difference between Vista and Windows 7 is significant. It is significant enough that you should wait until Windows 7 becomes available before doing any significant Windows XP-to-Vista upgrade projects. In my view, Microsoft came clean at the last developer conference where they published their roadmap for Windows 7 and released the beta. They have clearly given up on Vista and so should you if you are planning what to do with a Windows XP sites a few years from now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's face it, we'll have to upgrade old corporate XP computers eventually. They will start to wear out. But, given what Microsoft said at the last PDC you'd be crazy to say that Vista is the way to go and then start buying new systems with Vista. I am sure there are millions of sites around the world that have stumbled into the Vista upgrade path by blindly buying new systems and now they are stuck with a dead-end OS. Seems like the Windows Millennium debacle all over again.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, this puts a real squeeze on the computer manufacturers. After facing up to the fact that smart people are going to wait for Windows 7, now the computer makers are facing a worldwide recession. I suppose the industry can look forward to a "Windows 7 bump" sometime in 2010, but that seems like a long way off in March 2009.</div><div><br /></div><div>-- Vern</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-58399580545819532602009-03-08T11:34:00.001-07:002009-03-08T17:31:32.002-07:00Review - MSI Wind U100 Netbook<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/uploaded_images/intel_atom_cpu-763931.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/uploaded_images/intel_atom_cpu-763908.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Just like everybody else, I am intrigued with the new "netbook" class of computers. I am curious if it will be useful to small businesses as a way for a worker to easily connect back to their desktop and access applications. Using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) one should be able to run specialized applications from a netbook without actually installing the software on the netbook. <div><br /></div><div>So, I undertook a "chore" that most computer geeks like me actually cherish: a review of a new IT hardware product. Unfortunately, no one is sending me free netbooks for review, so I needed to pick the one I thought was the best and give it test run in some of my customer sites. </div><div><br /></div><div>The main thing that distinguishes the netbook is the use of the new Intel Atom processor, which comes in a package smaller than a child's fingernail. Besides using a platform built around the Atom chip, netbooks are less than 3 pounds in weight, don't have an optical drive, have from 512Mb to 1Gb of RAM, and 120 Gb of hard drive space. The screens range in size from 8 to 10 inches in size using a widescreen pixel layout (1024 by 600). Most have webcams. All of the viable netbooks run Windows XP Home. The sweet spot price for a well-equipped netbook seems to be $400. </div><div><br /></div><div>These are clearly kid computers. Some adults will have a hard time seeing the densely-packed pixels on the small screens. Optimized for email and web surfing, netbooks also support real time video chat. I think they will amp up the already frenetic pace at which kids adopt technology.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perfect for high school or even going off to college, they are affordable enough so that if they are lost or destroyed then it isn't a huge disaster. Netbooks aren't quite fast enough to handle business chores, like Office 2007, so I don't think that IT departments are going to care too much about them at this time.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div>ASUS is credited with shipping the first netbooks, and they also pioneered the use of flash memory for hard drives and the use of Linux as a desktop OS. Many of the other competitors matched the use of flash hard drives and Linux, but that now appears to be a dead end in the netbook market.</div><div><br /></div><div>After sleuthing around I settled on the Lenovo Ideapad S10 mainly because, as an old fart, I needed the biggest screen possible and the Ideapad had a superior keyboard layout. They are also a leading global vendor, and my distributor had supplied this product in late 2008.</div><div><br /></div><div>Much to my dismay, the channel was sold out so I had to make an alternative selection. I eventually settled on the MSI Wind U100 (model 432US). Mine is black and has a six-cell Lithium-ion battery, 1.6 GHz Atom N270 CPU, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB HD, Intel GMA 950 video with a VGA-out port, Ethernet 10/100, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 10" widescreen (1024x600), 1.2 megapixel webcam, and a built-in microphone. The retail price is about $409. You can get this exact unit on Amazon.com for less than $400.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/uploaded_images/MSI-Wind-U100-787864.jpg" />MSI, aka the Taiwanese giant Micro Star International, is a major motherboard and component manufacturer. Like ASUS, MSI is now trying to sell whole systems under their brand. </div><div><br /></div><div>Basically, I am thumbs up on the MSI Wind netbook. It feels solid, the texture of the interior surfaces is nice, but the shinny outside surface can get a little messy with fingerprints. The trackpad should be bigger. The keyboard isn't perfect, with the comma and period keys being smaller than they rest of the alphabet keys. Power management is good with a pre-set that uses hibernate mode, which is usually more reliable than Windows sleep mode and saves on battery drain. We didn't really do a drain test, but we were able to get 3 hours of use without a charge.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are no complaints when it comes to performance. With a full gigabyte of RAM, Windows XP works fine. I didn't install any heavy-duty programs, but I did manage to get some image editing programs to run OK. The Wi-Fi networking is reliable, but the range seems a bit limited, probably due to the limited size of the internal antenna. I was unable to test the N networking, so I can't confirm that it makes any difference. The hard drive performance is good, which in the past was a problem with budget portables. I wonder how the constant movement a netbook can experience impacts the reliability of the hard drive.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think the main thing that concerns me is durrability. How will it survive a drop? When will the hard drive fail? How many power cycles will the battery survive? Does the hinge break or is there a seam that comes loose? Nothing like that has happened to mine, yet. In my personal experience, I have found that MSI motherboards can be overly sensitive to heat, so I suppose that is the source of my concern especially versus a vendor like Lenovo.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have tried to use the netbook in a few business situations. Remote desktop works good, and one can get at applications running on the desktop. However, the small screen seems to be a problem for using catalog-type applications and looking a diagrams and instructions. So, I don't see a lot of adoption in business, yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll continue to test this unit at some other customer sites, so perhaps netbooks will find a place at Berkeley Logic customers. But, until then I think they are great little computers for young people. And, it fits nice in my bike messager bag!</div><div><br /></div><div>-- Vern</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-1926790037333874222008-08-26T17:56:00.000-07:002008-08-26T18:04:40.855-07:00Welcome to Cal Students!It's still summer in Berkeley, but the University of California campus is swarming with new students. Berkeley Logic welcomes back returning as well as new students!<br /><br />Just in case any of you are looking for a job, we are always looking for talented young men and women who are looking for a flexible, interesting gig with our Berkeley and North Oakland customers.<br /><br />For more information check out our <a href="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/helpwanted2008-Aug.pdf">recent fliers</a> seen around campus, our <a href="http://berkeleylogic.com/jobs.php">Jobs Page </a>as well as our recent <a href="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/cl3.html">craigslist</a> posting.<br /><br />-- VernAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-90050068973847259982008-06-09T00:34:00.000-07:002008-06-21T23:53:06.462-07:00Google Apps: Hella IMAPAs the kids say in North Oakland and Berkeley, the IMAP service built into Google Apps and Gmail is "hella good." Why such a strong accolade? It is because Gmail is now the leading mass-market free email system, and adding IMAP to that free offering puts it over the top. With the Google Apps packaging and support for custom domain names, the system is tailor-made to accept the content of other repository-based enterprise accounts. This is an opportunity for Google to grab market share from Microsoft in the elusive small business category. And, it is an opportunity for small business IT specialists like Berkeley Logic to provide the services and support necessary to ensure a smooth transition to what looks like email nirvana in the cloud.<br /><br />IMAP promotes Gmail into an efficient, standards-based email repository system. With IMAP one may use a client like Thunderbird or Outlook and not even see the Google advertising. This new, freely available IMAP server's feature list is extensive: search (one may "google" ones own email, easily finding old correspondence), carrier-class infrastructure, 6 Gb storage capacity, very large attachments, and the cost is literally zero.<br /><br />Creating an alternative to Microsoft Exchange is a holy grail in the Open Source and ABM (Anybody But Microsoft) worlds. Thousands of huge enterprises around the world have a crack-like addiction to the email, shared folders, and calendaring functions of Microsoft Exchange and Outlook. There is a continuous churn in companies relicensing Exchange and some big enterprises are looking to avoid the big hardware and software investment to go with an Exchange 2007 upgrade.<br /><br />There are also thousands of small businesses (5 to 100 employees) in the United States that are using in-house implementations of Microsoft Exchange and Outlook. Google Apps is aimed squarely at those small enterprises who don't use the advanced features of Exchange or could adapt to Google Calendar and Google Docs as a practical groupware solution.<br /><br />I think the IMAP feature for Gmail released in late 2007 might just be the pixie dust needed to accelerate the advance of Google Apps for small businesses. With the availability of the feature-rich IMAP protocol for Gmail, it and Exchange now share a critical set of features that enables a smooth migration to Google Apps. Using a scripting language like Python or PHP, several developers, including Google, have already deployed web-based tools that transfers an email repository from Exchange to Google Apps using the IMAP protocol.<br /><br />At Berkeley Logic we use a Linux-based tool called <a href="http://freshmeat.net/projects/imapsync/"><span style="font-style: italic;">imapsync</span></a> to write shell scripts that transfers <a href="http://www.cpanel.net/">cpanel</a>-based IMAP email repositories to Gmail. Our imapsync server runs in the <a href="http://www.lmi.net/">LMi.net</a> data center directly connected to a high-speed Internet backbone. While this hot connection makes transfers go a lot quicker, we have found that one needs to be careful not to overload any IMAP server with multiple simultaneous transfers.<br /><br />For home and small business users I think the greatest feature of Gmail is the fact the data is stored in the Google global "cloud" which is backed up by one of the world's most extensive data networks. This means that all that valuable personal and business data locked in personal hard drives doesn't have to be vulnerable to the eventuality of hardware failure. And, all of that old data all of a sudden becomes useful once again.<br /><br />I became sold on this technology after I used Gmail IMAP to upload my old mail archives. I have managed to keep an email archive dating back to 1997. Using Thunderbird I was able to upload 57,000 old email messages into my All Mail and Sent folders. I should have used imapsync, which was thankfully found later, but this exercise helped me get used to the nuances of IMAP Gmail, such as the fact it doesn't store duplicate messages.<br /><br />The ability to quickly find any old email is a stunning productivity-enhancer. Not only is much time saved looking for a critical document, but I have begun to use the feature to look for things I wouldn't have bothered with in the past. It definitely has made keeping that 57,000 message archive intact worth the effort.<br /><br />We are definitely very excited about the possibilities that Gmail, Google Apps, IMAP and Thunderbird gives Berkeley Logic and our customers. We are now actively looking for more small businesses who want to switch over to what we believe is email nirvana in the cloud. We believe the safety, speed, search power, and the flexibility of Gmail and Google Apps provides a compelling solution for thousands of small businesses in the East Bay.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-68109145315830204172008-05-13T09:51:00.001-07:002008-05-13T22:34:44.399-07:00Berkeley Logic sells computers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://berkeleylogic.com/images/dell_REGISTEREDpartner.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://berkeleylogic.com/images/dell_REGISTEREDpartner.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Good news! Berkeley Logic is authorized to resell Dell computers. I know what some of you are thinking: "Yuck, you like Dell?" Well, we actually are not ashamed of reselling Dell computers, and here is why.<br /><br />Let's face it, there are only three or four major PC makers left in the world: Dell (USA), HP-Compaq (USA), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Lenovo</span> (China), and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Acer</span> (Taiwan). When judging what brand is better in terms of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">reliability</span>, it is always best to look at industry statistics rather than one's personal experiences. Based on my research, all of the these vendors are putting out a good product that should last for at least three years and maybe as long as five years. The "Lemon Rate" for these vendors is way below 1%.<br /><br />Besides, if you are buying basic box-type computers then most of the components are just a commodity and all of the manufacturers put out essentially identical boxes that differ slightly in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">performance</span>, price and support options. All of the manufacturers have speciality products, such as small form factor designs. Laptops is certainly an area where the vendors differ significantly.<br /><br />Given the fact the PC industry is highly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">commoditized</span>, what made Berkeley Logic choose Dell for our recommended PC maker? First of all, Dell's online configuration tool is the best in the industry and saves a lot of headaches, especially when it comes to buying servers. Also, I have had good experience with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">onsite</span> Dell service technicians where they will replace parts readily (including laptop parts that have been abused by a user). Finally, Dell is a little less anonymous for me because Berkeley Logic has our own real person sales team that sits in an office in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Oklahoma</span> City. So we have real people and phone number we can use to escalate problems or get quick answers.<br /><br />Also, Dell is making an effort to get rid of the bloatware present in many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">pre</span>-installed systems. They have a new line (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Vostro</span>) that is specifically designed for the small business user who doesn't want to wade through a bunch of junk to get going with their new PC.<br /><br />So, for Berkeley Logic these factors push Dell past the others, but race is very close at the finish line. Since the products are largely commodities we are always looking at the competition and occasionally choosing non-Dell solutions. We like the small form factor designs from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Acer</span>, and I have had some pleasant experiences with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">HP's</span> business-class laptops.<br /><br />In any case, if you are looking to upgrade or buy some new systems, the Berkeley Logic will be able to meet your needs with a cost-effective, well integrated solution.<br /><br />VernAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-19067803068170004702008-04-23T21:46:00.000-07:002008-04-23T22:15:44.307-07:00Web 2.0 Conference Notes From The FieldWent to the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco. It was a small show but it had some of the fun elements I look for in a high-tech trade show. There were plenty of companies I had never heard of, and no one could explain what "Web 2.0" means.<br /><br />According to what I saw on the exhibit floor, Web 2.0 is either Enterprise Social Networking, Web Applications like Google Apps or "Platform As A Service" (PaaS). These are really three completely different things; it looks like the Web 2.0 moniker will have to live with this fractured definition, probably until the term becomes old hat.<br /><br />Enterprise Social Networking seems to be MySpace for companies. I see FaceBook filling this market niche already, but there are a whole bunch of little startups who are making software or services that will outfit a big enterprise with a private version of MySpace. Related to these companies are the enterprise wiki companies all doing products like Google Sites.<br /><br />There were plenty of web application companies on the show floor too. Again, Google is doing this with Google Apps. Honestly, I'm not quite ready to drink the web application koolaid quite yet. I still need the richness of an application like Microsoft Word to produce printed documents. But, given the size of the market represented by Microsoft Office I am sure it will only be a matter of time utill the quality of the applications, offline capabilities, and really useful groupware functions will drive a significant part of the market to web applications.<br /><br />I suppose if I had to pick my personal favorite definition for Web 2.0, it would be Platform as a Service. I think this is the most important trend identified at the conference, because it represents the largest potential stake of the future of technology.<br /><br />It doesn't take much to realize that what Platform as a Service represents could be as significant as Windows OS or the TCP/IP protocol stack. And the key to it is developers. As this idea begins to catch on, more big applications like salesforce.com will be deployed using a particular PaaS provider's APIs and other programming tools. Salesforce.com realizes this and they have been courting developers right from the beginning to get them to use Force.com as a programming platform.<br /><br />There were plenty of other big players at the Web 2.0 show to court developers with their PaaS offerings, including Microsoft, Amazon.com, Entelos, and Yahoo. I suppose the real question here is whether any of them will be able to catch up with salesforce.com's tremendous lead. Experience shows that betting against the leader in high-tech marketing is usually a bad idea, so let's all start learning the force.com platform.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-49372048321120415182008-04-16T00:25:00.000-07:002008-04-16T00:34:54.238-07:00A University Googlizes their emailHere is a <a href="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/Google-Apps-to-Meet-iPhone-at-Texas-University/">nice story in eWeek</a> that chronicles how Texas University is moving a mishmash of Java and Exchage servers over to Google Apps Education Edition.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/Google-Apps-to-Meet-iPhone-at-Texas-University/">http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/Google-Apps-to-Meet-iPhone-at-Texas-University/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-31639719789575322652008-04-11T10:50:00.000-07:002008-04-11T14:25:57.418-07:00Berkeley Logic Knows AdwordsThere is a lot to know about online advertising. From organic search results to pay per click models, content networks to "meta-tagging," online advertising seems to have a language of it's own. Every day, our emails link to claims of mastery, "27 secrets that adwords won't tell you," how to make a bazillion dollars, how to get hits, how to increase traffic, how to do just about anything with <a href="http://google.com/">Google</a> behind you. There are SERP's, CPC's, PPC's, URL's, CPM's, Keywords, Adwords, Adsense, Banner Ads, Radio Ads, Yahoo!, MicrosoftLive, and Google. Indeed, there seems to be an entire universe that you could get lost in if you only had the time.<br /><br />Well, don't worry too much, because <a href="http://berkeleylogic.com/">Berkeley Logic</a> has been spending our time surveying the online advertising world. And, We have some good news- Online advertising works!!!<br /><br />But beware, there are tricks. No, it doesn't mean that Google is trying to trick you, but there are ways to use their online advertising campaigns that simply work better than others. Berkeley Logic is dedicated to helping our customers get the best results for their advertising dollars. And yes, results in cyberspace can be linked to our willingness to spend. Indeed, we recommend refocusing those advertising budgets that traditionally went into print media, and re-allocating them to the new world of online ad campaigns.<br /><br />If you have the time, read up on <a href="http://adwords.google.com/">Adwords</a> at the Google site. Once you've done that, try and apply your new-found knowledge to a real and active Adwords account. Make sure that it is linked to your website through the Google Analytics code. This is a "white hat" trick of the trade. "White hat" stands for an accepted practice. "Grey hat," and "black hat" marketing moves should be avoided by all but the unscrupulous. If your still not getting the hang of online advertising with Google, you may want to take a seminar on the topic. Berkeley Logic recommends the Google sponsored seminars like the one run by <a href="http://sitening.com/">Sitening.com</a> . They are fast paced and informative, but may help those who have a little bit of background in the field more than the laymen.<br /><br />Remember, Online Advertising is a little bit art and a little bit science. Don't get too frustrated, be patient, it takes time to see results. If you would rather, Berkeley Logic can help you. In fact, running online advertising campaigns for our clients is the fastest growing sector of our business. We can create advertising campaigns for your website and/or business. We have reasonable fee structures that allow you to budget according to your needs and abilities. With Goolge Adwords, you set the limits. There are no surprise fee's on an account that is run correctly.<br /><br />Whatever the case, Berkeley Logic recommends that you take your money out of the dying print market and move it to the blossoming online world. We know that it can bring newfound success. If for some reason you don't want to do it all yourself, We would be happy to help you!!!<br />Thank you for reading our blog.<br />Sincerely,<br />Matt Angell at Berkeley Logic<br />matt@berkeleylogic.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-24143484058041170182008-04-06T02:32:00.000-07:002008-04-08T10:18:50.152-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;"><a name="px8j"></a><a name="xygi"></a><a name="vpc:"></a><b style="">Review of Netgear Powerline HD Network Kit (HDXB101)<br /></b></span><a name="swul"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/images/Netgear-hdx8101-package.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/images/Netgear-hdx8101-package.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 14.15pt;"><span style=""><a name="mmn1"></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">by Vernon Keenan, April 6, 2008</span><a name="e-uu"></a><br /><a name="tflx"></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><a name="o58e"></a><a name="gi:k"></a>Powerline To The Rescue</span><a name="o-tc"></a><span style=""><br /><a name="bnea"></a><br />Using an unreliable wireless network connection is huge waste of time, and can be quite infuriating. I'm sure many of you have had an unforgettable experience when your wireless connection failed at the most inopportune moment. Or, you might be mystified why you can't get a desktop computer to connect using WiFi to a new router in the next room.<a name="o7an"></a><br /><a name="negq"></a><br />What is the ambitious home networker to do? Is he or she doomed to spotty connections forever? Never fear, </span><a name="htc2"></a><a href="http://netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineEthernetAdapters.aspx">Netgear comes to the rescue with its Powerline products</a><span style="">. Using Powerline adapters is the smart way to network media centers, servers, and desktops in the home and small businesses<a name="v_l0"></a>.<a name="cesm"></a><br /><br />Powerline technology works by plugging two-pronged adapters into regular home power sockets. When two or more of the adapters are plugged into the same power network they link up to create an Ethernet network<a name="gvya"></a>.<a name="bqbd"></a><br /><br />I use these handy devices by connecting one to my router, and the other to my desktop computer upstairs. They work magically with no set up required. They also work well in very large home or dormitory. You can have up to 16 Powerline devices. I have used three Powerline devices to make a three-node Ethernet network in my home without any problems. It couldn't be simpler<a name="c1vo"></a>.<a name="k.5n"></a><br /><br />Once you have an Internet router plugged into one end of the Powerline Ethernet bridge and a computer plugged into the other end, the computer will have a direct Ethernet connection to the router. No special software is needed on the computer to use an Ethernet bridge<a name="w0eo"></a>.<a name="rdt3"></a><br /><br />Ethernet bridges are very useful because they are universally compatible with any Ethernet device. That means that Powerline Ethernet bridges are compatible with a game console, SlingBox, WiFi access point, and anything else with an Ethernet port. You can easily "split" an Ethernet connection with a $20 Ethernet switch. I think this will be pretty useful in a modern living room with a Media Center PC or MacMini hooked up to a HDTV setup<a name="tpi4"></a>.<a name="inhu"></a><br /><br />The modulated signal used by Powerline encrypts the digital data, which enables separate data networks to exist on the same power network. There is a Windows application used to control these advanced features. Most users won't ever need them<a name="i1gd"></a>.<a name="itkl"></a><br /><br />I have used several of Netgear's Powerline products. They have Ethernet bridge kits which include two matched devices. They also have WiFi versions where one end is an Ethernet bridge and the other is a WiFi access point. They also have three different speeds you can buy, and the speeds don't all interoperate! I have to say it is confusing picking just the right product to order<a name="w4m9"></a>.<a name="ob_i"></a><br /><br />I have used the Netgear Wall-Plugged Ethernet Extender Kit (</span><a name="o810"></a><a href="http://netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineEthernetAdapters/XE102G.aspx">XE102G</a><span style="">) with no problems whatsoever. I added a standalone Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridge (</span><a name="j7::"></a><a href="http://netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineEthernetAdapters/XE102.aspx">XE102</a><span style="">) to have a total of three Ethernet nodes. I have also used the WiFi access point Powerline Wireless Range Extender (WGXB102). I did have reliability problems with the WiFi access point functionality, and I don't recommend using Netgear's <a name="ej9a"></a><i style="">wireless</i> Powerline devices. I worry about heat and other factors inherent in this design. I do definitely recommend the pure Ethernet solution.<a name="xn9z"></a><br /><a name="v7kk"></a><br />I wasn't really impressed with the speed of the XE102 bridge, however. It wasn't any faster than a good wireless connection. So unless you need it, there really is not a speed advantage. That was why I was eager to try out the newer Powerline HD Network Kit (</span><a name="zu0w"></a><a href="http://netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineEthernetAdapters/HDXB101.aspx">HDXB101</a>). They claim a 200 Mbps top speed.<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;" filled="t"> <v:fill color2="black"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\VERN~1.HUT\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title=""> <w:wrap type="square" side="right"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a name="j-g5"></a><a name="xiwh"></a><a name="i.er"></a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 14.15pt;"><a name="r-s1"></a><span style="">I bought my adapters at Frys in Concord, California. They had them in stock for the same price ($169) as </span><a name="b330"></a><a href="http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4894430;jsessionid=ELQKJAogKecoLppls0vkBQ**.node3?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG">on their web site</a><a name="tquc"></a><span style="">.<a name="bwx3"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/images/Netgear-hdx8101-usage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/images/Netgear-hdx8101-usage.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I set up my new adapters with one in the basement connected to the router and my servers, and its twin upstairs next to my desktop. Everything worked super smooth on the first try. I attained a top speed of approximately 40 Mbps. Now that is actually pretty good, hitting right in middle of the 100 Mbps capacity of most Ethernet devices. That speed should allow for streaming of an uncompressed DVD with no problems<a name="e_nf"></a>.<a name="ycrx"></a><br /><br />It is interesting that Netgear claims a top speed of 200 Mbps because the Ethernet port on the HDXB101 is 100 Mbps! Technically, it is impossible for the end user to ever see 200 Mbps. I suppose this marketing claim can be substantiated because they have overhead due to the encryption or some BS. Funny how things never change in Silicon Valley<a name="w86n"></a>.<a name="ai0."></a><br /><br />In conclusion I heartily recommend the Netgear Powerline Ethernet bridges. I'd recommend sticking with the kit packaging for the straight up bridges. That would be the HDXB101 for the high speed, the XE103G for the medium speed and the XE102G for the low speed. According to Netgear the XE* units will interoperate, but I have only tested the XE102G and have never used the medium speed units. I suppose a followup to this review would be to compare the speeds of all three units to make sure there is some real value in the faster, and more expensive, units<a name="ohl1"></a>.<a name="m5f1"></a><br /><br />Happy networking! I hope this ends a frustrating situation for someone. Please let us know with a comment below! -- Ver<a name="mz-e"></a>n<a name="cu.k"></a><br /><a name="nlzc"></a><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]--><a name="vbna"></a><a name="i3g5"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-5267160089960950872008-03-30T13:13:00.000-07:002008-03-30T16:26:54.015-07:00Software Product of the Year: VMwareIn my opinion, the most impressive software product of the last three years is <a href="http://www.vmware.com/">VMware</a>. Starting in 2006, gaining speed in 2007 and consolidating its base in 2008, VMware has taken the software industry by storm and created a whole new set of standards and expectations for enterprise computing. Besides having a major effect on data centers, VMware is also significantly changing the computing landscape for power users and small business system integrators like <a href="http://www.berkeleylogic.com/">Berkeley Logic</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Based in Palo Alto, California, VMware offers a line of products and services based on a computing principal now known as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtualization">virtualization</a></span>. Virtualization refers to the concept of running an entire computer operating system on top of a hardware platform that exists entirely in software. </div><div><br /></div><div>Virtualization works by using a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypervisor">hypervisor</a></span> to delve out <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_machine">virtual machines</a></span> that run each instance of an operating system. The hypervisor is a master program that runs on top the bare metal of a computer or it may be integrated into a host operating system like Windows Server or Linux. The hypervisor uses hardware-specific drivers to create generic versions of the hard disk, network and display drivers. This works by the hypervisor emulating standard devices like an Intel CPU, an Adaptec SCSI controller, a Marvell network card, and a generic SVGA controller. With this capability one may create virtual machines running any Intel-compatible operating system.</div><div><br /></div><div>What this means is that any Intel-based Windows, Linux or Mac server or PC can now run a copy of any other Intel-based operating system. For example, if I have a MacBook laptop and I need to run an application that depends on Internet Explorer 7, I can install Windows XP SP2 into a virtual machine on my MacBook and run it in a window in the Mac OS X Finder. </div><div><br /></div><div>Only recently have PCs had the power to effectively run virtual machines. The trend towards multiple CPUs per chip, such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_%28CPU_architecture%29">Intel Core</a> architecture, has truly unleashed virtualization technology. Virtualization, after all, has been around for decades. It got its start with IBM timesharing mainframes in the 1960's. But, the trend towards using multi-core CPUs to increase CPU power now makes it possible to cram the equivalent of 16 CPUs into just a couple of server slots. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is in the server room that VMware is making its big impact. Let's say I'm the CIO for a big university and I have half a dozen big data centers scattered across a metropolitan area. There might be hundreds of server boxes in those data centers that are running a single OS on three to five year-old hardware platforms. With VMware's more advanced products I can take those old boxes, boot them with a special CD, and then suck the boot drive off of that box into a new VMware server. My new VMware server will be a super-tricked out 8-core box hooked into my new 3Tb SAS iSCSI SAN. I can probably cram up to 50 of those old servers into my new VMware hypervisor box, especially if those old servers were lightly used.</div><div><br /></div><div>The impact of VMware in the data center is why I am saying that it is my "product of the year" for 2006, 2007 and 2008. VMware has actually been riding this wave quite effectively for the last three years. Selling all of the advanced hypervisors, management tools and consulting services propelled VMware into a partial buyout with global storage leader EMC and an IPO in 2007. Clearly VMware is here to stay and every enterprise IT guy better know all about it in order to keep competitive.</div><div><br /></div><div>VMware plays a pretty big role here Berkeley Logic. We use the free version of VMware's hypervisor (VMware Server) running on an 8-core Dell PowerEdge 1950 Windows 2003 Server box with a nice 143 Gb 10,000 RPM SAS RAID1 array. The server is hosted at <a href="http://www.lmi.net/">LMi.net</a> data center and connected directly to the Internet. We are running three VMware virtual machines. One is running Fedora 7 with Best Practical's RT3 request tracking system. Another virtual machine runs Fedora 8 with Nagios to do active system monitoring. And, a third machine runs Ubuntu Gusty Gibbon as our LAMP development server. We basically have a nice set of Linux servers plus a Windows 2003 server host all running on a single box.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have also used the VMware Converter utility to save defunct workstations. In one case I had a manager workstation that had a server program installed on it. The workstation had to be up and running in order for the server application to work properly. If the server app wasn't up, workers couldn't do their inventory work properly. Well, it was finally time to upgrade this old workstation and we didn't have the installation programs needed to re-create the server application.</div><div><br /></div><div>VMware Converter saved the day here. We installed the converter and attached a portable USB drive to the old workstation. The converter runs while the workstation is up and running. It creates the virtual machine disk files on the external drive. This can take up to three hours depending on the size of the disk an the speed of the old system. </div><div><br /></div><div>After the converter spools the virtual machine on the external drive it is moved to one of our multi-core servers with VMware Server already installed. The virtual machine disk files are copied from the external drive to a drive on the server. Using the VMware console we then were able to launch the virtual machine, get access to the Windows desktop and launch the server application.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that the old workstation is saved as a virtual machine the legacy software installation is permanently archived. We don't need to find that old consultant with his weird installation disks, and the end user doesn't have to keep his workstation on to make a server app work. And, we did it all with the free versions of VMware products.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a ton more to say about VMware. There are some inherent advantages for backup and reliability, for example. And, it is probably the most significant thing IT people can do to save on all that electrical power spent on running old servers. Plus, VMware isn't the only kid on the virtualization block. There's VirtualIron, Xen is now built right into Fedora 8, and a version of Windows Server 2008 will have a hypervisor built in too. There are caveats, of course. Getting your software licenses set up correctly can be a pain sometimes.<br /><br />I'll try to wrap it up by saying as VMware has revolutionized how to deal with old servers and make a data center much more efficient, it has also made a big impact in the day-to-day lives of small business computer users. VMware has been building momentum for years, and 2008 looks to be another year of continued growth for the company as it continues to make significant contributions to IT capabilities and efficiency.<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-24481097643462211082008-03-25T22:16:00.000-07:002008-03-25T22:35:04.242-07:00Microsoft's Vista ProblemMicrosoft has a big problem with Windows Vista. We are into the second year of the newest version of Windows and new computer buyers are still yearning for the older, circa 2003, Windows XP.<br /><br />I think I actually understand what Microsoft might have been thinking when they delivered a new OS that was horribly slow on most PCs shipping in January 2007. Vista needed to stay viable for at least four or five years, and it was overbuilt for 2007 PCs. It looks like Microsoft engineers were trying to anticipate what a new PC would be like in 2010. It will be nice in two or three years when quad cores and solid state drives are common, but right now one needs a pretty expensive system to get Vista to run smoothly.<br /><br />Another big problem with Vista is that it had bugs and performance issues that are only now being resolved with the SP1 update. While I think I understand why Vista is so mismatched with today's common hardware configurations, I am sadly dismayed that Microsoft is still using the computing public as extended beta testers for their code. Back when Windows 2000 came out and worked pretty good with the first version, I had begun to assume that Microsoft was getting better with their quality in new OS shipments. But, Windows XP needed two service packs to solve some major security problems, and now the Vista SP1 debacle exhibits a pattern where Microsoft is getting worse with their new OS quality assurance.<br /><br />Finally, perhaps because of the bloated overhead and the buggy first release, many vertical industry software vendors have yet to support Vista and are advising their clients to only use Windows XP as the only supported client operating system.<br /><br />Dell, HP and others still ship new PCs with Windows XP. Microsoft will supposedly terminate the OEM's ability to pre-install XP in June 2008. What will Microsoft do? What should a technology partner like Berkeley Logic tell its customers?<br /><br />Well, there certainly isn't a clear answer here. The pressure on Microsoft to extend the XP deadline is intense, and it is my guess that they will extend it to December 2008. However, I would still encourage any client who needs to do a multi-unit computer upgrade to consider getting their orders in before May 15 just in case Microsoft pulls the plug.<br /><br />VernAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-85912438865283232842008-03-12T23:48:00.000-07:002008-03-13T00:00:57.761-07:00Apple Customer Service, Part 2At nearly the same time my iPhone flew out of my pocket and was shattered, I noticed that my sleek black MacBook had a new physical defect! The top of the computer that covers the keyboard and includes the touchpad was splintering right on the edge. It was where my right wrist rests while typing and is where the little bump on the screen hits the cover.<br /><br />I was getting ready to glue it, but I peered into the new hole in the my MacBook's case and saw there wasn't anything to there to be a base for a glue job.<br /><br />After my glorious iPhone customer service experience, I thought why not try the Genius Bar again? Even though my MacBook was about four months out of warranty I had high hopes.<br /><br />Got there at 11:00 am on a Sunday morning just as they opened. I was first in line and my assigned Genius looked at my damage for about two seconds and then started looking for the right part in the inventory. They had it, and my computer was wisked into the back room for immediate surgery.<br /><br />I asked how much, and my newest best friend looked up and said, "Oh that is free! It's a known defect. It will be ready in about 20 minutes. We'll call you on your cell phone when it's ready."<br /><br />Wow. Kind of stunned, I strolled around the mall and bought a new pair of pants. While checking out my phone rang. The Apple store says my computer is ready. Perfect timing.<br /><br />Another fantastic customer service experience.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4273758442126834713.post-59740537844779930672008-03-11T22:24:00.001-07:002008-03-11T22:45:01.293-07:00Apple Customer Service, part 1In just one week I had two Apple customer service "orgasms!" It was such a great experience I had to start this Berkeley Logic blog to share my wonderful experience.<br /><br />It all started with my ringing iPhone being flung out of my pocket while riding my bike on rough asphalt! It hit the ground hard, but I picked it up and answered the call. The phone worked and I thought I had lucked out.<br /><br />But, the next morning I saw there was a crack in the face of my iPhone! It went straight across the middle. After looking carefully I saw that the glass in one corner was shattered. Must have been where it hit...<br /><br />I googled around and saw several posts from 2007 where people when into an Apple Store and a generous Genius Bar worker would replace the phone for free. Others said they had to pay $250 to get an in-warranty replacement. I decided to take my chances with the Emeryville Apple Store.<br /><br />The next day I went in at 7:00 pm for my online-generated appointment. I saw my name on the monitor. At like 7:02 my name was called and my appointed Genius was a 20 something perky young man. With his soprano-pitched voice he asked what was up, and I just showed him the phone without speaking a word. I know, it was kind of sneaky!<br /><br />The Apple Genius grabbed my iPhone and studied it. He looked up and said, "So when did you notice this?" What a perfect opening. Without hesitation, I said "This morning." He kept looking for about five seconds, and then said "OK, you're getting a new phone."<br /><br />Wow! That was super cool. My new best friend kept looking at the phone and said "I see you've got an impact shattering here. I'll let you slide this time!" And, I didn't even have to feel guilty because he busted me and let me off!<br /><br />I've been watching Apple for a long time, and it is amazing how they have evolved into the #1 model for creating a global brand <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>making the customer happy.<br /><br />VernAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735972351010253794noreply@blogger.com0