Posts made by s.hackleman

With my mother, I set up the phone, got a good backup, and encouraged her to go nuts. Apples environment is pretty safe. Let her play with it, try to learn it, and give it a week. Then show her a few tips and tricks as she adjusts. She will figure it out, and she can't break it.

@RojoLoco said in Planning a Chromebook Purchase:

@s.hackleman said in Planning a Chromebook Purchase:

@alex.olynyk said in Planning a Chromebook Purchase:

@gjacobse or a washer

Or a Dishwasher.. I now have a lovely kitchen cart where mine used to be.

Bosch dishwasher FTW. I'm glad I didn't pay for mine, but damn, is it ever sweet. Quiet, too.

I loved my Samsung, until it failed 1 month after the 1 year warrantee. We stopped using it, then realized that hand washing isn't that bad, so we just don't have one anymore.

@alex.olynyk said in Planning a Chromebook Purchase:

@gjacobse or a washer

Or a Dishwasher.. I now have a lovely kitchen cart where mine used to be.

@scottalanmiller said in How Do So Many People in IT Not Know What a Database Is?:

@s.hackleman said in How Do So Many People in IT Not Know What a Database Is?:

I worked for a 45 branch retail chain that did everything for years in quick books. Active directory, firewalls, network, troubleshooting, and Excel was more than enough for a full time job, but never really had to use SQL for years. It happens a ton in small business 1-3 person IT shops.

Yes, but they ALWAYS use an application, not a database. Always, without exception. QuickBooks is an application. So the question is, how do they use QB and other applications and think that they are not applications?

I can explain confusing an Database for an Application, and thinking that the data behind an Application is just part of the application. I can also see how people wouldn't know what a Database is per say. I am stumped on specifically how you call an Application you are looking at, a Database.

@alex.olynyk said in Planning a Chromebook Purchase:

@s.hackleman Buying from Walmart. Easy to reset back to ChromeOS and return for a refund.

You could just keep it a ChromeBook... I feel like I always love the tech, that everyone else hates.

I worked for a 45 branch retail chain that did everything for years in quick books. Active directory, firewalls, network, troubleshooting, and Excel was more than enough for a full time job, but never really had to use SQL for years. It happens a ton in small business 1-3 person IT shops.

I love my ChromeBook, it is my home PC for 90% of my non development tasks. I love it, but it would choke on any flavor of Linux i would want to use. They are really designed for one purpose, and I would suggest against trying to use it for anything else. That being said, good luck.

@RojoLoco said in Most awesome yet terrible idea I've seen in a while:

@thwr said in Most awesome yet terrible idea I've seen in a while:

@s.hackleman said in Most awesome yet terrible idea I've seen in a while:

@thwr said in Most awesome yet terrible idea I've seen in a while:

There are lots of cool projects out there. What about some more pyrotechnics?

Youtube Video

You have had a weird anti Apple vibe going the last couple days..

FTFY. They do have some good products, but they are way overpriced. More like a status symbol, if you know what I mean.

I second that. No reason to buy an overpriced item just because that's what the "cool kids" like.

In the last 2 years i have drank the Kool-aid. I don't fan girl, it is nice just being able to buy a technology, and it just works.

@thwr said in Most awesome yet terrible idea I've seen in a while:

There are lots of cool projects out there. What about some more pyrotechnics?

Youtube Video

You have had a weird anti Apple vibe going the last couple days..

@scottalanmiller said in Mocking the Apple live event:

@s.hackleman said in Mocking the Apple live event:

..... I don't want anyones nasty fingers on my monitor.. especially my own......

...monitor.

Screen.. monitor..LCD display device... if it is for looking it isn't for touching.

Maybe I'm OCD, but I don't want anyones nasty fingers on my monitor.. especially my own.

I didn't get to make it up, but I have been watching the sessions and burning up my data plan. Thanks for posting these. I also wanted to take a minute to call out the guy sitting front and center to just surf the internet the entire time SAM is talking.

I will rely on the fact that my Phone uses GPS and goes off like an alarm when I am in an area with a weather warning. Also, it isn't something that sneaks up on you. When there are tornadoes in the area i'm tracking them on Radar hours before they are close to my house. Seems like a little overkill to me.

@Dashrender Agreed, I was just throwing it out as a common issue, that we see here. Most business laptops that I encounter are not running at 2800, while all Macs are.

The only thin I have seen is issues with sending screen shots from a retina mac to a PC. My understanding is in the laptops have a 2880x1800 resolution, and changing it only changes the scalling on the screen you see. So if I take a screen shot on my Mac, and email to someone using a 1300 resolution on their PC, it is 2-3 times bigger than what they can see on their screen. I just have to keep it in mind to scale my stuff down before I send it.

@thwr said in How old is too old to start down this path:

Programming is different. You need a high level of abstract thinking and - at least that's my opinion - you must be creative. @scottalanmiller said something very true, programming is like paining or playing an instrument. There is some, hell, how to say... There's a hidden picture deep behind tens or hundreds of thousands of lines, something you can actually feel at times. Sounds stupid, I know

IT in terms of administration, deployment and similar tasks is also a big thing, where analyitical and problem solving skills are required, but it's not like (real) programming. Remember: Programming != ("Coding" || Webdesign || Printers)

Scott Hanselman had a podcast a few weeks ago about code smells. I think that is the feel you are referring too.

@scottalanmiller said in How old is too old to start down this path:

IT is different. IT doesn't require different thought processes. IT is common sense, it's integrated with life, it's just another part of business. So I think getting into IT when older is fine.

That is what got me thinking, is programing fundamentally different than It? I think it is, and I agree with you, I'm just throwing the question out the universe for the purpose of discussion.

The idea came up in a thread with @scottalanmiller on another, unmentionable site today. How old is too old to start in IT and be able to compete? Most everyone I know started working with computers, as a child, and moved down the path of working on them for family by the age of 10 or 12. Scott has said on more than one occasion that you really need to know the basics of computer programing by the age of 12 to be competitive. I know he was working in the field by 13.

That being said, does IT have an age limit? I have a buddy who is a OK home computer user. Can scrap together a home system and install an OS. He is currently 27. He is former Military and wants to get a long term career going, but is a little lost as far as direction. He sees me doing well in the IT world and wants the same. I try to push him in the right direction, but this content just comes more naturally for me, as I have been doing this my entire life. Is there a point where you get to old to get serious in IT? Is it different for Development vs System Admins vs Help Desk? Does it take to long to catch up vs getting into another career path? Does age have anything to do with it, and is it more about being a life long learner?

@RojoLoco said in What did you have for lunch or dinner today?:

@BRRABill said in What did you have for lunch or dinner today?:

@RojoLoco said in What did you have for lunch or dinner today?:

Yellowfin tuna sandwich on ciabatta, nice and rare, with a little sesame-soy-ginger slaw and some steamed broccoli.

You certainly know how to eat and drink, my friend!

Life is too short for fast food and health fads. I'd hate to be on my deathbed thinking "why didn't I eat more cheese and bacon?"

Too much cheese and bacon and life becomes a lot shorter

I had a 3Gs iPhone then switched to Android for 3 consecutive phones. I even gave SAM a hard time about carrying a silly iPhone. When it came time for a new phone this year, I went with the iPhone SE. I was tired of my Android getting laggy after a couple of months, then getting software updates for over a year after they were released. (My S5 was on Lolipop, and N was in Beta when I switched.). I also wanted a smaller screen, because I hate carrying a 5.5 inch phone in a case in dress pant pockets. It looks like you are trying to smuggle a pop tart. I switched back and I love it. Rock solid, and everything just works. I listen to podcasts at work, and I love having a pair of headphones that pause and work 100% of the time. I don't have to unlock my phone and fiddle around trying to find the right app when my boss walks up out of nowhere to talk to me. I also enjoy days like today when iOS 10 will be released at noon. I will download it with everyone else, and install it with no bloatware, no waiting on Samsung then Verizon.