Handling certificates for Azure management API calls
Continue reading "Handling certificates for Azure management API calls" »
Continue reading "Handling certificates for Azure management API calls" »
Had discussions with few of the IT directors and IT managers of our customers to get the vibes from their end users on the new Windows 7 operating system post the Pilot rollout. What has really excited the business users is the responsiveness of the OS. Few of the business units has come clearly stating that the “time for a user to be productive” once in office has really shortened post the Windows 7 implementation. This is by faster startup and efficient way to access data and applications capability of Windows 7. The time for user to be productive has improved by around 40% from the previous implementations. The faster shut down time and efficient sleep modes has been eulogized by the IT and business and they have been truly daunted by the overall power management capabilities. These are real good signs and can further strengthen the need for a better OS for other enterprises who are into their planning phase for Windows 7 adoption.
Enterprise Applications (Especially ERP packages) are meant to be rich in functionality and address a wide range of business processes addressing multiple business needs across an organization. The user set typically includes a core group of key users having a wide span of influence as well as control. In addition, there are a large number of end users whose span of reference to the enterprise application is generally limited to their specific area of responsibility.
The overall appeal of the rich features and depth in functionality typically impresses the IT team as well as the core group of key users who would eventually have a view into the full system. On the other hand, for users at the other end of the spectrum like for example a warehouse receiver, the new system just means a change in the way he goes about doing his routine job of receiving shipments. From his perspective, does it make sense to be exposed to the actual package?
Going by Pareto principle, majority of the features/functionalities of the application would end up being used by just a bunch of people. Taking the application of this principle even further with respect to enterprise applications, majority of the daily transactions would be usually enabled by just using a limited set of features in an implemented package solution.
Continue reading "When Less is More in Case of Enterprise Applications" »
This is not a blog around a sermon on how we need to live as humans. I came across this quote today morning in a mail forwarded from a friend of mine who herself has 1 blackberry, 1 iPhone, an iPad, a laptop, a desktop at home and a desktop in office…and maybe more - that I do not know; what an irony!
However, most important point is that this triggered my thoughts around what we do in business day in and day out. Some of the thoughts here are disconnected and since I am myself not clear of the ‘right’ way; you will find certain level of cross movements.
Recently we have faced this issue of not being able to consume a WCF service which was exposed using ws2007HttpRelayBinding from Windows Azure Web Role as a client. We had registered a service on AppFabric Service Bus with ws2007HttpRelayBinding; below is the service registration code for the service.
Continue reading "ws2007HttpRelayBinding and Windows Azure Client" »
It’s been so much talked and written about technical benefits of Cloud computing. I thought of looking at it from financial accounting point of view. Comparing the traditional IT expenses with Cloud computing expenses especially SaaS model, might give a different picture of the income statement. Before I go ahead and try putting forward my interpretation, want to make a disclaimer that I am no way finance or accounting expert, this is just a plain interpretation of what I understood. Comments and suggestions are most welcome.
It’s been sometime since I have posted last blog, couple of months at least. That’s no good…but all this time I was busy doing some serious writing
, finally completed and published view point on VS 2010 Architecture Modeling, can be downloaded from here. The idea of this paper was seeded through this my earlier blog here
If you happen to read this paper and have comments, please do send me or log on this post.
Both VS 2010 RC and Office 2010 RC are now available. If you have access to MSDN Subscriber download site, you can get VS 2010 RC from it. For general public these bits will be available today (Feb 10). Like Beta 2 bits, these bits also come with "go live" license. If you had earlier bits, you will need to uninstall those before installing RC. I was trying to figure out if RC to RTM will be an upgrade path, but haven't found specific information on this as yet. If you know, do write back.
However Office 2010 RC isn't available via MSDN download as yet, but is available on connect site for specific users. If haven't got a specific invite to access Office 2010 RC, then both on connect site or msdn download site you will still find Office 2010 Beta bits.
Recently Windows update had a security update for Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 Service Pack 2 as KB954430. Like all updates I got prompted to install it, which I did and happily continued to work. But this update had a mind of its own and it would keep popping up again and again and again....
Every time I would shutdown my Win 7 Laptop, I would see the exclamation icon on the shutdown button showing that an update was pending installation. I also went to Windows update screen and installed it directly from there. Every time it would give a success message, but would popup again shortly. So much so, that I have it reflecting close to 30 times in my update history.
Finally searching online gave some hints. Most queries were for Vista, but I assumed that the solutions may work for Win 7 as well. What worked for me finally was to go to add remove programs wizard, uninstalled MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430) and then installed this update again. Since then, I have been able to rest in peace :-).
This topic has got nothing to do with Win 7 and Touch that I have been discussing in some of my earlier blogs, but is more about typing style. Check details here. I came across this interesting blog today, that talks about various typing styles and how the fingers move across the keyboard. Personally I have been using the touch typing style for many years now. Having the ability to type at a speed matching your thoughts can make a person highly productive and efficient.
If you ask me, I feel that everyone working with computers should learn typing.
Actors: Consultant (Jerry) and Client (Tom)
The Conversation:
Tom: So now that you know my needs; can you tell me what is the percentage fitment for the product you are recommending?
Jerry: Well, this depends on how you see it; but I can assure you it’s a good fitment. Nothing will meet your needs out of the box.
Tom: Can you be more specific? What is the fitment in percentage terms – 40%, 60% or 80%
Jerry: Ok, let me get back to you on this by tomorrow
Jerry lists out all requirements and puts them in an excel sheet; gives a fitment of – ‘Out of Box’, ‘Customization’, ‘Not Applicable’ to each requirement line. And yes, here is the pivot with number of requirements in each bracket. Ready for next day
Jerry: Good Morning Tom; here is the analysis. As I had mentioned yesterday you have a 70% fitment; 20% will be met with customization and 10% are not possible with the product. Net-Net a good 70% fitment is what I see here.
Tom: Hmmn. Looks ok to me. Let’s discuss the statement of work.
Jerry: Sure, Drinks anyone??