gadget

Unboxing the Remington Monarch

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So as I said earlier, I decided to go buy a typewriter.  Just for the tactile feedback and the increased concentration it forces you to have.  I go a little ADHD when I write on a computer, and although that’s OK at some levels I think I’d like the discipline that comes with knowing you can’t cut-and-paste.  And besides, it was only $87.  And I had had a couple of beers.

So, I went and bought a 45-year old typewriter on eBay.  Turns out there’s quite the thriving market in such things, although even the best examples are not fetching a huge amount.  However, I couldn’t go past this portable typewriter – it was in excellent condition and exactly what I was looking for.  I’ve now received it, and it is in beyond excellent condition.  Yes, I need to pick up my typing (it’s amazing how slack computers let you become), but the typewriter itself is as it was when it came off the production line 45 years ago.  And I do mean that without the slightest hint of ‘for it’s age’.

And since I wonder sincerely whether my Netbook (now 1 year old) will still be operating in any shape in 44 years time (remember, that’s 2053 for crying out loud!), I thought it would be nice to give the Monarch the unboxing treatment, as it is my ‘brand-new’ gadget.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… “unboxing the 1964 Remington Monarch.

Firstly, the eBayer who sold it to me knows their stuff had it very well packed:


I plan to introduce my children to the wonders of bubble wrap later. 

And you can see the size of it (it’s not diminutive, but it’s not impossibly heavy, as I remember my first typewriter was):


The carry case is the item that has had the most wear and tear over the years, and even it is in good condition:

With plenty of foam packaging, it was well-protected:


The Remington Monarch, with its travel protector and everything all there as well:

Everything inside the case is here, including some brushes for maintenance and the original (!) user’s guide:


The keys are in excellent condition, and after a little fiddling it was operational.  Not bad for a 45-year old machine:


And just for the record, here’s an example of its typing: 

Not bad – fortunately I do remember what it’s like to type on a typewriter.  It’s not always fun, and I will probably abandon it in favour of the computer again.  But for the moment it’s my gadget-of-the-week, and I think it does well in the longevity stakes. 

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Getting IT Right!

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This is an article that was written for the February issue of the Queensland Business Review.  It is partly promoting an upcoming ‘Getting IT Right!’ seminar to be held at BDO Kendalls on 21 February 2007.  More information is available on the BDO website www.bdo.com.au.

Introduction

Stories of failing information technology (IT) projects, IT teams that just ‘don’t understand’, lost spreadsheets that contain critical business data, and critical applications that seem to crash for no apparent reason are all too common scenarios. Information technology promises a great deal to all businesses, but often fails to live up to expectations.

These problems cause frustration for all concerned. Unfortunately ‘getting IT right’ cannot be achieved with a simple wave of a magic wand. The current skills shortage shows no signs of abating, and it is important for a business to use its staff effectively. Good business support from information technology is one of the keys to unlocking this effectiveness. Four essential business tactics exist that can assist:

  1. Understand the business strategy
  2. Have the right people
  3. Use standard processes
  4. Use the right technology

These tactics will have a positive impact on the success of your business in the context of the support received from information technology.

Understand the business strategy

An understanding of the business strategy, and the involvement of business in IT decisions, is necessary to avoid an IT team working on the unnecessary projects.

This common problem usually stems from a lack of understanding of the goals and vision of the business when it is tempting to implement technologies that seem to be the correct decisions at the time. Sometimes these decisions are right; frequently, they are not.

A business’s main strategy can be focussed upon product innovation, customer relationships, or operating excellence. Identifying the predominant strategy removes trivial distractions for the IT team. There is little point to significant investment in a customer relationship system where the main focus of the business is upon delivering the best products at the best price. Conversely, for a business focussed upon customer relationships, the priority will be to deliver and operate a customer relationship system.

The business strategy must be clearly communicated to the IT team. A written statement of the business IT strategy is useful (vision, mission, and objectives, together with supporting initiatives and milestones. Even more useful is a cultural emphasis on the importance of the role of IT in achieving the
business vision. Such a cultural emphasis can be achieved through concrete actions (e.g. declining projects that do not support the business strategy) and regular adherence to and acknowledgement of the IT strategic plan.

Aligning information technology to the business strategy will reduce distractions that arise through not having a clear direction of the role and purpose of IT in supporting business goals.

Have the right people

A common problem facing IT teams is that the staffing ratio is all wrong. The wrong staff are doing the wrong jobs for the wrong reasons. For example, a business that employs four network administrators and only one help desk person will likely have a network that works very well at a technical level. Unfortunately, there will be many frustrated end users not receiving the desktop support they require. The result can be business chaos.

IT roles that do not directly support the business strategy should be considered for removal or outsourcing. IT teams regularly have ‘legacy’ roles from the past that are no longer needed or appropriate. A regular review of the roles in the IT area and their alignment to business strategy is a potentially valuable approach.

In addition, end users need the training and skills to use the technology that is provided. Frequently no training is received by IT teams, or end users in the software on their computers, and – especially in the case of upgrades – continue to use the software as it has always been used, without using new features. Adopting a formalised and documented approach to training can be beneficial, but even recognition of the need for training through ad hoc opportunities will bring benefits to the business.

Use standard processes

Often IT teams have only one person who can resolve a problem. Or worse, each team member will resolve the problem in their own way. When the staff member leaves, no-one else can fix the piece of equipment. The end result is chaos and delays for the valuable staff member.

If the same task must be done more than once, the potential for developing a standard process exists. No IT team should be without good help desk software, and ensuring a discipline around managing problems and documenting resolutions will pay dividends. There are free help desk management tools available (e.g. open source solutions) and new social networking tools (e.g. ‘wikis’) for documenting and storing processes and procedures that are inexpensive, simple to use, and easily maintained.

Reviewing the use of help desk management software, and writing procedures for standard tasks (starting with the most common tasks) will repay the business handsomely.

Have the right technology

Technology that is simply wrong for the task at hand, or obsolete, costs businesses a great deal. Excel spreadsheets will frequently be used for tasks that really require a database. Or many technologies will be used where a single technology product would suffice. It is crucial that the right technologies are used for the task at hand. This does not mean that the ‘latest and greatest’ gadgets and gizmos should be adopted, but for a business that is reliant upon IT, it is necessary to have all technology covered by parts replacement warranties.

Technologies that are still supported by the original developers or manufacturers are fundamental to ensuring that the IT team is effective. Limiting the number of technologies to support will also help. Approaches to ensure that the right technologies are used include a statement of the preferred technologies to be used (e.g. identifying a single preferred database technology such as Oracle compared to SQL Server), maintaining warranties on all important business technology equipment, and limiting the use of customised and in-house developed software.

Conclusion

Effective information technology requires that the IT team be provided with the skills and equipment necessary to deliver upon the business strategy. Likewise, the business needs to provide strategic direction and input into decision-making for business information technology.

There are many more tactics that can be adopted by businesses to ensure that IT can deliver upon its promises. This article has highlighted those tactics that are common to most businesses and will have the most positive results. Nevertheless, there are many other tactics that can be adopted that are unique to individual businesses, and must be considered in light of the specific circumstances of the business.

Implementing your online collaboration strategy

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My speaker’s notes (not that they bear much resemblance to what was actually said) are to be found here as a downloadable pdf:  Implementing an online collaboration stategy.  This presentation was given at the Blogs, Wikis, and RSS conference in Sydney on August 29th 2006.

Implementing your online collaboration strategy

We work in a Web World for business outcomes

Introduction

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.  My name is Micheal Axelsen, and this presentation focuses on providing a practical guide to the implementation of your online collaboration strategy, with some useful tips and thoughts on how to proceed with the implementation of collaboration technologies, including blogs and wikis, into the business.

This presentation is focussed upon:

  1. Business
  2. Collaboration technologies
  3. How to succeed with their implementation

At all times, though, this is intended to be a practical look at the application of these technologies, and addressing the practical concerns of business.

Read more

High-Definition Television – Oh how sweet it is

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I was asked the definitive ‘question in the hallway’ by a partner this week about high-definition TV. I don’t want to become a gadget reviewer, but I thought it was interesting to update the current state of play. The partner in question has just purchased a 50″ plasma TV (drool).

Essentially – if you have Foxtel, do you still need a high-definition set-top box?

For a review of the current state of HDTV services – it’s about 20 hours per week – go here:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18863685-12280,00.html

A quick review on the internet confirms that Foxtel is planning to introduce 2 HD channels next year (!) and that they only rebroadcast Standard Definition digital signals for free-to-air channels (but not 7 & 10, who are apparent holdouts):

http://www.foxtel.tv/digital_1290.htm#1431

To reproduce what Foxtel have to say for themselves:

FOR EAST COAST SUBSCRIBERS (ie: Sydney Melbourne Brisbane)

FOXTEL has agreements with the Nine Network, ABC and SBS to retransmit their digital signals (standard definition digital signal only) on FOXTEL Digital’s cable and satellite platforms.

Negotiations to retransmit Seven and Ten’s digital signals on FOXTEL Digital’s satellite platform continues. FOXTEL retransmits Seven and Ten’s analogue signals on cable.

Satellite subscribers can continue to receive the Seven and Ten signals in their homes using the current terrestrial reception system, as they do today.

So therefore the answer to the question is that you will currently – and for the foreseeable future – need the HD set top box to get HD free-to-air TV. Although I wonder whether HD is worth it, on balance with a 50″ screen it’s probably something that falls into the category of A Really Good Thing.

The next point of frustration will be the Personal Video Recorder – which is what you will need if you want to pause live tv and record in digital widescreen etc. However, since PVRs won’t work with Foxtel anyway, you’re probably better off holding off until the PVRs come down in price, or are compatible with Foxtel (the whole problem is Foxtel has analogue cables and the PVRs only have digital inputs).

And that is the HD TV State of Play – you do need the set top box.

Blogging and Publishing

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Recently blogging was highlighted as being protected in the United States as a member of the fourth estate (journalism), and indeed that article seems to indicate that UK bloggers would have similar protection.

My quick bit of research hasn’t been able to dig up what the current position is in Australia, although it seems likely that what applies in the UK would end up here.  Hopefully, common sense will prevail.

I do see that there has been an Aussie blog search engine, Gnoos, launched, and I would also like it if the Courier Mail blogs had more than one entry in them – most seem to have only one or two entries, tops.

Although I have to say, the Gadgets blog seems good (much as I generally detest gadgets)…