Joseph Hinkle at MyITForum.com

This is a terrific idea. I'm sure a lot of you noticed this already. My MCE box downloaded it last night. I'm sure the legions of AOL users will be thrilled.

"The Package Installer for Windows is used to install software updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems and for other Microsoft products. Software update 898461 installs a permanent copy of the Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4 on the computer so that subsequent software updates can have a significantly smaller download size."

(Via .)

Chris has some info about the SDK update that was released a few days ago. I'm very appreciative the new .NET interface info!

"The biggest portion - a whopping 1000+ new reference topics - is the SMS .NET interfaces. Personally, what I think is most significant is that this is the first time we've provided comprehensive documentation of the Site Control File."

(Via CheekySimian.)

Over the past year, my company has increased our support of the Macintosh platform. Although we have had Macs for years, we didn't have a real Mac support plan, but there was a push from one of our divisions for better support. I had never used a Mac at that point, but I'm generally the first technical person to look at new things, so there I was.

I'm fairly open minded about platforms, but I'm a Windows guy. I've used DOS, then Windows, since I was about 10. I'm an SMS admin! I'm also a technical person that loves to use and see new things, so I've jumped into the Mac platform with both feet. My theory is that I can't support and script for a platform that I don't know. Therefore, I'm am now a Mac guy too.

Now, you may be asking yourself why I'm posting this. I'll be posting more things about the Mac platform, that's why. Not just scripting experiences, but also ways to deploy software and other things I run into along the way. I'll do everything I can to equate it to things in the Windows world. I know that I'm not the only one who is facing this challenge, so I hope that I can help guide people being thrust into this position. I look forward to your feedback.

The Blackberry thread made me start thinking. If you look at the "A-List" bloggers, they have open conversations via blog. I believe this is a good thing for the community. Things get accomplished when people talk in an open and honest way. We need more of it here at MyITForum. If you're a blogger and have a thought, comment, or criticism, post it!

We are all adults and have opinions about things. Rod and I disagree on Blackberries, but we agree wholeheartedly on Adobe and how horrible their products are to deploy. Without the conversation, those things aren't out in the open. We can affect things if enough of us start talking.

You made me post about this again.

The product does offer little, but it is really good at what it is really good at. I just did a comparison of a few devices for work. The Blackberry 7100g, Treo 650, Siemens SX66, and Audiovox SMT5600 were included. My conclusion? None of them are the end all of anything. It just depends on what you want to accomplish.

Text messaging is extremely basic, but that's why it works. We don't have the bandwidth for video messaging yet, and who really wants to deal with it anyway. It would be like the obnoxious guy with the Nextel phone beeping his walkie-talkie all over you, but with everyone doing it.

Does any device do what you ask? Maybe the SX66 came close for you. I know you were very happy with it. I have high expectations for products too. I'm almost always disappointed. I thought I would be thrilled with the Treo 650. I wasn't. All I really want is a quality phone with a great e-mail experience. Everything out there has some major flaw. The Blackberry 7100g has that crappy half-keyboard that they're trying out. Oh, and no voice dialing either. Bluetooth, but no voice dialing. Who made that decision?

"Are companies now trying to control employees even further?  Is the iron-fist coming out for blogger’s?

(Via myITForum Blogs.)

This is one of the main reasons I talked to my boss and his boss before I started. I'm still guarded about what I post. I don't post code I wrote on company time. I don't share anything that I even think will cause a problem. Why? Not just for me, but for my company too. Companies have to protect themselves from danger at all times. Can it be an overreaction? Sure!

My boss reads my blog, but not to keep tabs on me (well, not mostly). He reads more blogs than I do. He got me hooked on RSS when I didn't even know what it was and why I should care. Not everyone has that luxury. Not all managers understand the technology or the community. We've been a part of the community for a long time.

I read lots of blogs for a long time before I started. I came to realize that not all of us work for Microsoft. Not all companies are open to criticism from their employees. Some companies have different definitions of what is or isn't a trade secret. As much as we'd all like to be Robert Scoble, not all of us are in that position.

I'm fortunate that I work for people who understand the difference between what I do at work and what I do here. Its my job to make sure this doesn't interfere with work or compromise my company and their intellectual property, even if I created that property. If you're going to blog about things you did, wrote, or were in the room for at work, think hard about the ramifications. Talk to people, especially your management. Spend some time reading about people that know the consequences, like Mark Jen. Read Scoble and Shel's stuff over at the Red Couch.

I don't know the specifics of the people that were berated for blogging. I can only take Rod's word that they hadn't done anything that should have raised an alarm with someone. If you're going to blog, there are risks. I'd like to think that we're not one post from termination, but some people may be and not even know it.

Have a Blackberry? Why?

Hey Rod, I've got one. It works for me too, even in elevators, parking garages, an some funky buildings my cell doesn't work in. I have one of the old RIM 950s, so maybe the complaint is with the newer models.

Don't forget that RIM only sells one Blackberrry, the 5790, that runs on the older networks. Almost all of them, except the new 7270, use cellular networks. Building penetration depends on the cellular provider's technology and band. Blame the providers. Go on another Cingular rant. :)

Not everyone uses a Blackberry because they were sold on it by a marketer. I've carried one for 6 years now. They weren't really being pushed by anyone then. It's a little unfair to the Blackberry user base to make a broad statement like that. Coverage is really good for a lot of people in a lot of places.

Were your comments based on experience? I used an SX66 for about a week and thought it was a pretty useless device for me. I went back to my Blackberry and my cell because it was more effective for me. Outlook Mobile Access was less effective than the Blackberry for me. Does that make the Blackberry great for everyone? No. It makes it great for me though.

As soon as I have an alternative that works as well for mail, I'll switch. I'm not a Blackberry lover, though I have come to its defense in this post. I would love to see Exchange 2003 SP2 and Windows Mobile 5.0 be all that we want and more. Right now, for people that want mobile e-mail, it is one of the best solutions out there. Does that mean we all drink the Kool-Aid and buy because we're told to buy? I doubt it. Some people do fall into that trap, but not the majority. The majority of the users are there because it works for them.

The choice of mobile device and provider is based on many things. People are willing to put up with the inconveniences you mentioned if they get a product that is ultimately more useful to them than the others available. Mobile data services have a long way to go before we get to the robust coverage you're looking for. We'll reach coverage that rivals the coverage in Japan eventually, but it will take a lot of time and money. We'll get to the bottom of that parking garage before you know it.

Where's my bloggers?: "Blogging at MyITForum has dropped off in the recent weeks.  Everyone too busy?"

(Via myITForum Blogs.)