09 February 2000
Microsoft is releasing their latest upgrades this month. Is it for you? Windows 2000 has had good reviews. It adds a lot of new features and fixes a lot of problems. Office 2000 also seems to do more and better. But together, the cost to upgrade current Windows and Office software to the new versions is more than $500. ComputerWorld reports that only eight of more than 7,000 applications have been certified Windows 2000 ready. They say the bottom line for users is to "test your applications to make sure they work properly with the new operating system."
Network World reports "that the average cost of a Win 2000 upgrade will be $700 to $800 per desktop. But after certain factors are taken into consideration, those costs could drop to as low as $50 or go as high as $1,800 per user." This is because Win 2000 needs a loaded modern computer to run well. You may need to upgrade hardware as well as software.
Can you imagine not having to worry about software upgrades, customization, or installation hassles? The Application Service Provider or ASP is in business to relieve you of these worries. The ASP conducts business over the internet and you only need a browser to use the applications. E-mail and some PIM (personal information management) applications are already in wide use this way.
IBM is using the term 'Edge of the Network' or EON to describe the end users who connect to the internet to access services.
Information that describes the contents of a database is called Metadata. It tells users when a piece of data was last updated, its format, and its intended uses. That information can guide users through databases and help them understand the meaning and context of financial data, customer records, and business transactions ( ComputerWorld 18 Oct 1999)
The proposed additions to the Uniform Commerce Code for Software transactions is under consideration by many states. One of the big problems is that it is so lengthy and complex that many legislators will not be able to understand exactly what it is that are considering as new law. UCITA gives software producers much more clout in creating and enforcing software licenses.
In forming a security policy consider physical risk, malicious code, electronic risk, electronic downtime, the human factor, and the business model. Check out www.cslinc.com www.ctrcorp.com www.gtri.gatech.edu www.securityforum.org or www.icsa.net
"Knowledge is an asset that becomes more valuable the more its used." Questions to consider that have been formed by Professor Dorothy Leonard of Harvard Business School are: Are barriers to sharing social, psychological, or physical? How is risk taking perceived in your organization? Do people have time to share what they know? Are projects audited for what was learned? Does sharing permeate the way things are done? How are tacit dimensions of knowledge being captured and shared?
Knowing what is going on and how it happens is the way your association can involve more members. Don't let information hiding be a plague on your association.
BTW ( by the way ) - when you send e-mail to a group of folks, is your message littered with all of the addressing of each and every person you send it to? Sometimes you may not want to broadcast the names and addressess of everyone on your list. At anytime is may be a distraction away from you message. Even simple technologies like E-mail have ways of doing things and this is why you need access to technical expertise to help you solve problems you may not even know you have.
Fun, Newsletters, Short Timers Syndrome, How do you know? Listen!, Respect is not taking for granted, Remember Y member, the member list - reply and request any you missed.
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What is your association up to? Special programs or events? Successes or failures that may help others learn? Let us know, Participate in the discussion!
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