Joe’s Journal

In today’s business world, one needs more than a great idea and a business plan to be successful. One needs the skill to think analytically, strategically and creatively. Apple is one such company that thinks in this manner and their success is confirmed by their bottom line “…frantic sales of 21 million iPods during holiday season boosted Apple’s quarterly profit to $1 billion, almost double the profit it made during the same quarter I fiscal year 2006″ (McMillan). With over 88 million iPods sold and over two billion songs legally downloaded from its iTunes online store, Apple is ahead of the digital music race.

Steve Jobs the CEO of Apple, demonstrated the type of Innovative thinking that has made his company successful when he unveiled the new IPhone at Macworld 2007 in San Francisco, California. The iPhone brings together three products: 1) a mobile phone, 2) a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and 3) an Internet communications device with email, web browsing, maps, and searching into one small handheld device. The iPhone introduces a new user interface based on the large multi-touch display letting the user control everything with just a touch. The Iphone ushers in a new age of powerful mobile software never seen before in a handheld device thus clearly demonstrating Apples creativity, ingenuity and forward thinking.

Apple strategic and analytical thinking became evident when they announced the Iphone and snatched the media’s attention from the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2007) held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Iphone was the topic of every conversation long after CES 2007 ended. Apple also announced their name to Apple Inc. Thus redefining their direction and focus and strategically positioning themselves in markets previously not available to them.

Apple continues to turn heads with its innovative products and services. They analytically thought out when, where, and how to release their products and services and strategically position themselves to do so. Apple leads the industry in innovation with its desktop and notebook Mac computers, OS X operating system, and ground-breaking applications and services. They are a company to look to for new ideas and new approaches. Apple is a company that is able to think analytically, strategically, and creatively to produce the best products and services for consumers, which is why they are so successful.

Works Cited

McMillan, Robert. “Apple Shines, Intel Stinks on Earnings.” Infoworld (2007):6

By Joseph Eulo

Microsoft released eight different versions of its popular office suite sporting a easy to use user interface and a new feature called the ribbon. There is an Office 2007 suite for every type of consumer: Basic, Home & Student, Standard, Small Business, Professional, Ultimate, Professional Plus, and Enterprise (see figure 1). All eight Microsoft’s Office 2007 suites include the four core office applications that made it so popular: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. The only exception is Microsoft’s Home and Student 2007; it substitutes the New and Improved OneNote 2007 with Outlook (see figure 1).

Microsoft Office 2007 introduces several new additions to its Office suite: Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007, Microsoft Office Groove 2007, and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. Groove 2007 and Accounting Express 2007 are currently available, but Office Communicator 2007 currently scheduled for release the second quarter of 2007.

Office Groove 2007 is a desktop client that allows team members to quickly create and customize collaborative workspaces right on their PCs and easily invite others within and across organizational boundaries. Groove offers customizable tools, automatic synchronization, and integrated alerts. Groove’s contextual communication tools let teams work together dynamically from virtually any location, helping save time and increase productivity. Groove integrates with other Microsoft programs and technologies and is a great application for use in an Office environment. Groove comes with Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate and Enterprise editions or can be purchased by itself from Microsoft’s web site.

Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 is a new program designed for the millions of new businesses that use pen and paper, spreadsheets or personal finance software to manage their business. Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 is Full featured accounting application that provides a single place to manage a company’s business finances with the familiar look and feel of Microsoft Office system programs. Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 is included with Office Small Business, Professional, and Ultimate suites. Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007 is also available as a free download from Microsoft.com.

Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 due to be released mid 2007 is a communications program that helps people to be more productive by enabling people to communicate easily with others in different locations or time zones using a range of different communication options, including instant messaging (IM), voice, and video. Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 integrates with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Groove, and SharePoint Server to offer information workers many different ways to communicate with each other. Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 will be eventually released with Office 2007 Professional Plus and Enterprise suites, and be available for download from Microsoft website the second May of 2007.

All of the new Office 2007 applications that Microsoft introduced can benefit all types of business and corporations. The collaboration feature of Groove 2007 combined with the communication features of Office Communicator 2007 could increase productivity and lower the cost of doing business. Microsoft’s Accounting Express 2007 address the needs of small business that currently use pen and paper methods of record keeping and allows them to view their data in ways they could see before. These three new additions to Microsoft’s Office suite can definitely be used in an office environment to help increase productivity and efficiency.

Microsoft Office 2007 introduces a new file format based on XM; which are based on open standards. The new XML file formats enables fast creation of documents from different data sources, speeding up document assembly, data mining, and content reuse. The formats simplify exchanging data between applications in the 2007 Office suite and enterprise business systems. The Office 2007 released is not required to create a document in the new XML formats. Users can improve productivity by publishing, searching, and reusing information more quickly and accurately in the environment they choose using XML which is based on industry-standard XML and ZIP technologies, support full integration by any technology provider, and are available via a royalty-free license.

While the best way to minimize compatibility issues is to standardize your environment on a single file format, many organizations will need to deploy the 2007 Microsoft Office system in a phased rollout, or will need to collaborate with other companies. For this reason, Microsoft Office Excel 2007, Microsoft Office Word 2007, and Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 contain features to ensure compatibility with previous versions of Office. You can use the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack to allow backward compatibility, so that previous versions of Office can open and save files in the new file format. In addition, the openness of the new file format makes it more compatible with non-Office programs.

In Office 2007, Microsoft replaces the traditional menus and toolbars with a new User Interface called the Ribbon. The Ribbon organizes commands into a sets of tabs. The tabs on the Ribbon display the commands that are most relevant for each of the task areas in the applications. For example, in Office Word 2007, the tabs group commands for activities such as inserting objects like pictures and tables, doing page layout, working with references, mailings, and reviewing. The Home tab provides easy access to the most frequently used commands (Microsoft). Office Excel 2007 has a similar set of tabs that make sense for spreadsheet work including tabs for working with formulas, managing data, and reviewing. These tabs simplify accessing application features because they organize the commands in a way that corresponds directly to the tasks people perform in these applications.

It took me a little while to adjust to the new layout and use of the Ribbon, I admit at first I felt a wee bit disorientated, but after a few uses I felt right at home. In fact, I dislike using Office 2003 now. The Office 2007 User Interface provides me with easy access to the commands that I use the most and helps me become more efficient and effective at my task. The only thing that I miss from Office 2003 is the “Ask your question here” help text box at the top right corner.

Microsoft Office 2007 system requirements are fairly straight forward: for a PC with a 500 megahertz (MHz) processor or higher, at least 256 megabyte (MB) RAM or higher, a Hard drive with at least 2 gigabyte (GB) available; a portion of this disk space will be freed after installation if the original download package is removed from the hard drive, a CD-ROM or DVD drive, a 1024×768 or higher resolution monitor, and Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack (SP) 2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, or later operating system. Speech recognition requires a close-talk microphone and audio output device. Remember that these are just the minimum system requirements. I tried to install Office 2007 on a computer with 512 megabyte (MB) of shared memory and froze halfway during the install, I recommend at least 1 gigabyte (GB) of memory to alleviate this problem and to activate additional features such as OneNote Audio Search, and Grammar and contextual spelling features in Word.

In conclusion, I recommend upgrading to Microsoft Office 2007. Its streamlined interface is easier to use and will increases user productivity and efficiency. The new applications included with the suite will assist businesses and organizations of any size collaborate more easier and effortlessly than ever before. Microsoft Office 2007’s systems requirements are straightforward, the cost of upgrading your hardware is paid in full the increased productivity and efficiency that the suite provides.

By Joseph Eulo

With the release of Windows Vista, The question on everyone’s mind is: “Should I upgrade or should I wait?” This is not only a difficult decision for consumers but confusing as well. Microsoft has released six editions with many different features: Starter, (not available in North America) Home, Home Premium, Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise. Vista’s different versions and strict hardware requirements are leaving many consumers scratching their heads. Corporate and business decisions makers have a lot more to consider than which version they will use. Since Windows Vista’s hardware requirements are more demanding than the previous Microsoft OS releases. Business and corporate customers must also figure in hardware upgrade, deployment, and training costs into the equation; they must also think about legacy software compatibility and upgrade, configuration, and service pack issues. In this article I will discuss what a software manager for a large corporation needs to know in making the decision to upgrade to Vista.

Before making the leap to Windows Vista, you must know which version fits your business or personal needs. The first step is to compare Vista features and decide which version is right for you or your business. You should then list the benefits you expect to receive from a Vista upgrade. Furthermore, you should find out if the software you currently use will work with Vista. Software managers must contact their software venders, to see if their software packages need a service pack, a patch, or an upgrade.

After determining that you or your company will benefit from an upgrade to Vista you should make a list of all the systems, you would like to upgrade and their current operating system and hardware configurations. List the age of each system above and its remaining life expectancy. Check each system and verify its Vista upgrade path (either a clean install or In-place installation). Test each system for its Vista hardware compatibility using The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor (a free download from Microsoft). The advisor will tell you what hardware upgrades you will need in order to bring your computers Vista compliant. Next, List the total cost of any hardware upgrades necessary, the cost of any labor to perform the upgrade, and the cost of the Vista itself. Then determine the per system cost and the age of each system. Compare the total costs of the upgrade to the expected benefits, and finally consider the outcome above vs. buying a new PC with Vista preloaded (Technical Specifications).

If it the upgrade to vista is not mission critical, then it is a good idea to wait a few months until the first service pack is released. Microsoft says that software that runs on your XP system should run on your Vista system, the key word here is “Should” (Microsoft). Do not take that for granted, some software manufactures are still working on a Vista version of their software. When considering Vista, one should check with software venders to ensure Vista compatibility.

First, it is important to understand the range of Vista options. Windows Vista, at the time of its release, will be available in six different flavors. Windows Vista Starter: This edition is a 32-bit only version of Windows aimed at emerging markets, with a very limited features and minimal graphical improvements over Windows XP (Simonds). Your typical customer probably will not want this edition; the better choice would be Windows Vista Home Basic. Microsoft’s Home Basic is the entry-level version of Vista and targets the modest consumer who wants the newer elements of the Vista, but does not need the advanced features like Media Center or DVD Maker. Windows Vista Home Premium adds the Aero Glass interface, tablet PC support, synchronization features and digital media applications (Microsoft ). Home Premium is essentially at the same level as Windows XP Media Center Edition.

Windows Vista Business is the most basic business-oriented edition of the operating system, and includes the ability to participate in a domain, as well as better management and security features, like Group Policy support and Encrypting File System capabilities (Simonds). Windows Vista Enterprise builds on Vista Business and adds the subsystem for UNIX applications support as well as Virtual PC Express (which allows you to run virtual Operating Systems). Vista Enterprise is available only to Microsoft volume-license customers. However if you want all of the features Microsoft has to often then Windows Vista Ultimate is for you it contains all of the goodies in every edition (Microsoft).

For small businesses that run XP Pro, Microsoft recommends reformatting the drive prior to installing Vista (Microsoft ). You need to back up your data, reformat the drive, reinstall your applications and then reinstall your data. Typically, that is when you will find some of your applications will not work with Vista. It is not just your PC either. Upgrading to Vista affects your PC peripherals such as digital cameras, printers and scanners. Part of the upgrade process involves hunting down and installing new drivers to make these devices Vista compliant.

There are two ways to get Windows Vista: 1) Installed on a brand new computer system, this maybe the easiest way to upgrade to Vista, because the hardware is built with Vistas hardware requirements in mind. 2) Upgrade your existing machine, this may be time consuming and difficult for an inexperienced person. Older computers need an extensive hardware upgrade, especially memory and processing power and hard drive space. For businesses, the cost of upgrading to Vista may be a substantial investment.

For business, I would recommend Windows Vista Business Edition. To succeed in today’s changing market, businesses small and large must constantly strive to maximize their competitive advantage. Today’s business applications give the unparalleled ability to expand the impact of the most valuable asset in those businesses: the employee. Windows Vista Business Edition will help people to work more efficiently, help teams to collaborate and communicate more effectively, regardless of their location, and enable IT managers to lower costs and increase security (Simonds).

By Joseph Eulo

Portable MP3 players have come a long way since their humble beginnings in the late 1990s. The world’s first MP3 players, The Eiger Labs MPMan F10 and the Diamond Multimedia Rio PMP300 were shipped with 32 Mbytes of internal memory. MPEG Audio Layer III (MP3) the standard for audio compression that makes any music file smaller with little or no loss of sound quality redefined how music enjoyed and launched a new industry (Bellis). In October 1998, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that Diamond’s Rio PMP300 violated the 1992 Audio Home Recording Act. The Feds ruled in favor of Diamond, which paved the way for the development of the MP3 portable player market. Apple was one of the first companies to take advantage of this new industry when it developed and released the iPod. Microsoft entered the game in 2006 with its Zune. The iPods and the Zune are very popular MP3 players and are similar in features they offer. However, they are also very different. By discussing their Features, Ease of Use, and Synchronization software, I will compare them and discuss both types of MP3 players in some detail. I will then give my pick and my reasons why.

Ease of use is one of the most important selection criteria one must consider before purchasing a MP3 player. Apple’s 30GB iPod features a simplistic user interface called the click wheel. It allows the user to select, adjust the volume, pause, play, and seek music, videos, and podcast with just a thumb. Other then the click wheel there is a hold switch and an earphone jack that sits on top of the device. The 30GB iPod weights in at 4.8 oz, and the 2.4″ x0.4″ x4.1″ body makes the device easy to handle. In contrast, Microsoft’s Zune weighing 5.6 oz with a 4.3×2.5×0.7 body is a lot thicker, blockier, and heavier than the 30GB iPod. The Zune has no buttons on the sides, only a hold switch and an earphone jack on top, and a USB/accessories port on the bottom. The three control buttons are simple and are flush with the body. The heavier and bigger Zune does not fit as comfortably as the IPod and it is cumbersome to control.

Features are very important in a player and both the iPod and the Zune have what consumers are looking for, however they differ in a several ways. The 5G iPod has a bright 2.5-inch LCD display, a sleek design and 3.5-hour video battery life. The iPod supports gapless playback, an instant search feature, and enhanced games. Movies are available for purchase from the ITunes or sync with your own. The iPod has Notes, Calendar, and Phone book features and can synchronize with your calendar and or contact program. The iPod supports MPEG-4 and JPEG photo playback and can be used as an external hard drive. The iPod does not feature a built in FM Radio or Wi-Fi like the Zune. Microsoft’s Zune plays audio, and displays video and photos just like the iPod but sports an impressive 3-inch (4:3) screen. Unlike the iPod, the Zune offers a FM radio and Wi-Fi capabilities and works well with Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace software. The integrated wireless allows limited sharing of songs and photos. However, the Zune Marketplace does not offer video content and cannot play protected content. The Zune is not backward compatible with WMA-DRM9. Unlike the iPod, the Zune cannot be used as a hard drive.

Apple and Microsoft both have developed software that allows users to synchronize music to their players. Apple’s iTunes not only allows users to preview, purchase and download content but rip their current CD collection as well. Free podcasts on every topic from gardening to learning how to speak Spanish are offered on iTunes. In addition to music, iTunes also allows users to purchase games, movies, TV shows, and audio books and synchronize them to their IPods. iTunes helps organizes user’s audio and video libraries and play everything from your Mac or PC, Then synchronize it to your iPod to bring it along. iTunes is very easy to use and allows you to Burn your own custom CDs, iTunes is a free download from Apple.com. Like iTunes, Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace software allows you to purchase music and sync with your Zune. It allows you to synchronize your music, videos, and pictures to your device, and it allows you to sync up with an Xbox 360. You can Rip and burn CDs and create playlists just like iTunes. However, the Zune Marketplace software only works on windows and not MAC (Technical Specifications).

In conclusion, I like the 3″ screen of the Zune, the built in FM stereo, and Wi-Fi Features. however, I love the ease of use of the iPod and the fact it fits perfectly in the palm of my hand, it is easy to take out of my pocket, and adjust the volume or change tracks with just one hand. Apple has been in the industry since the beginning and has worked out the bugs of previous models. Over the last few years Microsoft’s has been trying catch up and the Zune and it has not been the “IPod killer” that it was billed to be. Ease of Use, seamless UI, and easy synchronization are the reason why I chose the iPod over the Zune. Even thought I like the big 3-inch display and the built in Wi-Fi. I will save my pennies for Apple’s next iPod release.

By Joseph Eulo

The Hard drives discussed in this report have been tested with two industry benchmark applications: PCMark05 and HD Tach. The PCMark05 Test measures the performance of your PC and determines its strengths and weaknesses. The HD Tach is a physical performance hard drive test that checks the hard drives actual physical performance. In This article I will talk about two hard drives the Hitachi Deskstar 7K500 and Seagate NL35.2, both 500GB and 3GB SATA drives.

Each drive was tested by Computer Power User magazine’s Marty Sems, singly on a fully updated system with an Athlon FX-55 (2.6GHz/1MB of L2 cache), 1GB (2 x 512MB) of PC4400 DDR RAM at 400MHz, with a 1.5Gbps Western Digital Raptor 74GB Hard drive, and Windows XP Professional with service pack 2 (Sems 16). The Nvidia nForce4 chipset on the DFI LAN-Party NF4 SLI-DR main-board provided the 3Gbps/NCQ SATA controller.

The Hitachi Deskstar 7K500 was the first hard drive to ship with a half a terabyte of storage capacity. The 7K500 was PCMark05’s clear favorite between the two 7,200rpm hard drives in this report, almost matching the 10,000rpm Raptor’s scores. The 7K500 sports a 3GB SATA interface and has a seek time of 8.5 ms, with 16MB of Cache. The 7K500 cost $379.99 and comes with a three-year warranty. For performance the 7K500 is definitely the better choice. It can be purchased on-line from Hitachi, http://www.hitachigst.com, or bought in your favorite computer electronics store.

The 500GB Seagate NL35.2 is rerelease of a Barracuda 7200.9 with modified firmware (Sems 17). The Seagate NL35.2 also has a 7,200 RPM spindle speed and a 16MB of Cache. Although it did beat the Deskstar 7K500’s Windows XP start up time, its seek time is only 11ms which makes it slower of the two drives tested. The NL35.2 has a 1-million hour MTBF rating because of its build, tolerances, and testing (Sems 17). The NL35.2 did well in HD Tach benchmark test conducted by Computer Power User magazine’s Marty Sems. The Seagate NL35.2 is your best choice for 24/7 reliability. The Seagate NL35.2 cost $384 and also comes with a three-warranty. The NL35.2 can be purchased directly from Seagate, http://www.seagate.com, or from a retailer.

For performance The Hitachi Deskstar 7K500 is your best bet its performance in both PCMark05 and HD Tach were excellent (see table 1). For longevity, The Seagate NL35.2 is the pick with its 1-million hour MTBF rating. When purchasing a drive one must decide what is most important: short-term performance or long-term reliability.

By Joseph Eulo

Managers of business must be aware of the environmental trends that can give them a competitive advantage in the marketplace. They must deal with market and environmental forces more effectively than their competitors and must consistently perform “something” of high value that their competitors cannot achieve or perform as well. Customer Service is one such “something” that can give businesses a competitive advantage.

Business Week’s March 5 article, “Customer Service Champs” highlights twenty-five businesses that excel at providing customers with a level of service unmatched by their rivals. Their commitment to adding value to their products and building lasting relationships with their customers give them an advantage over their competition.

I think the missing link in business today is a good customer service ethic, business take their customers for granted. Making customer satisfaction a factor in setting pay is a great way of making sure that everyone is invested in providing the best customer service. Having employees experience what their customers go through is another. I think that businesses that take care of their customers and sincerely care about them will have a competitive advantage in the market place.

One such company that I believe that excels at customer service is Southwest Airlines. In 2001 Southwest Airlines (number thirteen on Business Week’s list) created a new executive customer service position. This position manages all communications with their customers in the event of a flight disruption (McGregor 54). This proactive approach demonstrates Southwest Airlines commitment to their customers.

By Joseph Eulo

The registry is a hierarchical database that is used by the Operating System (OS) to store information that is necessary to configure the system for users, applications and hardware devices. It contains information that Windows continually references during operation, such as profiles, applications installed on the computer and the types of documents that each can create. It also contains information for property sheet settings for folders, application icons, hardware that exists in the system, and the ports that are being used (”Windows registry”).

The Registry replaced most of the text-based .ini files used in Windows 3.x and MS-DOS configuration files, such as the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys. You can edit the registry by using Registry Editor (Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe). But be careful if you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you can cause problems that may require you to reinstall the operating system (”Windows registry”).

The Windows Registry is split into five logical sections. These all begin “HKEY” (an abbreviation for “Handle to Key”). Each of these keys is divided into sub keys, which contain further sub keys, and so on (see table 1). Any key may contain entries with various types of values. The values of these entries can be: a String Value, a Binary Value (0 or 1), a DWORD Value (32 bit unsigned integer), a Multi-String Value, or an Expandable String Value. Registry keys are specified with form similar to Windows’ path names, using backslashes to indicate levels of hierarchy. E.g. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows refers to the sub key “Windows” of the sub key “Microsoft” of the sub key “Software” of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key (”Windows registry”).

By Joseph Eulo

With support for dual-core CPUs and the latest graphics, motherboards are packing more muscle than ever before. One such monster for the Intel Core 2 Extreme, Core 2 Duo, and the Pentium EE is the ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Motherboard (see figure 1). It features NVIDIA’s nForce4 SLI x16 chipset, in an ATX form factor that supports up to 8 gigabytes (8GB) of DDR2 800/667/533 non-ECC memory and a blazing fast 1066MHz front side bus. The P5N32-SLI SE offers more than enough expandability options with its 7 internal PCI expansions slots (2 x PCI Express x16, 1 x PCI Express x14, 2 x PCI Express x1, 2x PCI). The back panel of the P5N32-SLI SE sports a plethora of external ports: 1 x Parallel port, 1 x S/PDIF Out (Coaxial + Optical), your typical PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse ports, and 1 x External SATA, 2 x RJ45, an 8-Channel Audio I/O, and 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports. the P5N32 also has two Ultra DMA 133/100/66/33, and four Serial ATA 3 Gb/s controllers and supports NVRAID: RAID0, 1, 0+1, 5, and JBOD on Serial ATA drives (”P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe”).

The P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe features NVIDIA’s SLI technology which takes advantage of the increased bandwidth of the PCI Express bus and features intelligent hardware and software that allows two Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) to efficiently work together to deliver mind blowing graphics and performance. NVIDIA’s SLI technology offers twice the PCI Express bandwidth of the X8 SLI solutions making use of the two full-bandwidth 16-lane PCI Express links (”P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe”). ASUS’s 8-Phase Power Design builds a more steady power supply environment for the CPU and generates less heat than conventional power design. Moreover, with this strong power pump, the P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe can perform better when over clocking the processors.

The ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe motherboard supports the next-generation hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA) 3Gb/s storage specs, delivering improved scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval disk writes. As a plus the P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe offers an external SATA port on back input output panel that is designed for external SATA devices; is hot-swappable compliant and supports up to 16 devices with port-multiplier functions (”P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe”).

The P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe features “Stack Cool 2″ technology, which is a fan-less and zero-noise cooling solution. It effectively transfers heat generated by the critical components to the other side of the specially designed PCB (printed circuit board) for effective heat dissipation. The fan less design provides a cool environment without all the typical problems associated with fan less solutions. Cooling fans, over time, become noisy as the ball bearings wear out. The ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe can be purchased at ZipZoomFly, http://www.ZipZoomFly.com, for about $209.99 to $214.99. If you are a serious PC, gamer or power user the ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe motherboard is for you.

By Joseph Eulo

In this essay, I will discuss the similarities and differences of two popular customer support websites: support.microsoft.com and support.gateway.com. I will provide a review of Microsoft’s and Gateway’s support Web sites based on content, format, organization, mechanics, and ease of use. I will point out key elements and provide you with my pick of the best for ease of use.

Microsoft’s support website, http://support.microsoft.com, exhibits a very appealing look and feel. The blue theme Microsoft chose invites the user to explore and provides a sense of tranquility. Microsoft’s support content is up-to-date, robust, and informative once you are able to find it. Its content is written more for the experienced professional, non technical-savvy end-users may have trouble understanding the techno-jargon Microsoft employs. The format of the site which includes the FAQ knowledge base, and support contact information are simplistic and easy to find.

The website navigational controls shift from the left side of window to the right, depending on the link that you clicked, this could confuse or frustrate site visitors. The navigational links are context sensitive and change according to the type of support page that you are viewing. Clicking on the Windows XP link displays a webpage with Windows XP’s Latest News and Solution Center articles that are placed in the main content area of the webpage. The organization of Microsoft’s support website pages are somewhat awkward and are presented with a vast amount of information, a significant amount of scrolling is necessary to view all of the material. It is easy to get lost or distracted when surfing the site.

The consistent element throughout Microsoft’s website is the navigational banner at the top of each web page. It is the only element that never changes, and it is home to the Microsoft’s website search engine. The search engine allows users to search Microsoft’s content more quickly. A link to Microsoft’s site map, support, and home page are also in this area. Microsoft’s support site is very informative; but it contains some confusing navigational controls. I found no spelling or grammar mistakes anywhere. Microsoft’s support site is definitely tailored towards power-user and computer professionals and leaves the average end user scratching their heads. Microsoft’s web site has the potential to be a better support site than it is, all it needs are few usability tweaks and content adjustments.

Gateway’s support site, http://support.gateway.com, boasts a brilliantly designed user interface. The home page is appealing to the eye and welcomes the user to explore the website. The first element that you see when the website loads is the navigational aids at the top of the webpage. This gives the user a sense of control and direction. Like Microsoft, Gateway also displays a search engine at the top of every web page.

Gateway’s content is easy to follow and understand than Microsoft’s support website. The unique design of the user interface provides ease of use and quick access to content, downloads and technical support. Gateway also includes a help link that displays an FAQ and the website requirements and procedures. Quick links back to the home page and site map round off the top navigational element. Gateway also provides the user the opportunity to provide feedback. It is obvious that Gateway put a lot of time and effort into the design and implementation of their end user support web site. Gateway’s support site features well formatted easy page views with very little scrolling. Users are able to find content in a matter of seconds. The step-by-step layout ensures that users find the right support needed quickly.

I like Microsoft’s and Gateways look and appearance, they are both very eye appealing. Equally, both support websites display a consistent navigational and search engine element at the top of each webpage. However, that is where the similarities end. Gateway support website is easier to navigate and provides the user quick and easy access to needed information, driver downloads, and technical support. Gateway also put text-only navigational links at the bottom of each page with little or no scrolling. The ease of use, the layout and the content are concise and to the point, that is why I prefer Gateway’s support website over Microsoft’s.

By Joseph Eulo

The birth of Web 2.0, a second-generation of Internet-based services, offer users a variety of web based services. Social networking sites, wikis, and communication tools, let people collaborate and share information online in previously unavailable ways (Baumann). The number of “social utility” websites that allow users to create personal profiles, and join, or create social networks have increased in recent history. Hundreds of these social networking websites such as hi5.com, Blogger.com, and Classmates.com have experienced success since they started. The most popular by far, based on the number of user, has been Myspace.com (Myspace) and Facebook.com (Facebook); they are just a few of many Web 2.0 websites that are considered social networking utilities, but are far the most widely used. They both have millions of registered users and are similar in the services they offer. However, they are also different; from the number of features offered to the type of user they attract. In this essay I will discuss both websites in detail and compare them based on their features, layout and design, ease of use and the number and type of users they attract.

Myspace is home to over 2.2 million bands, 8,000 comedians, thousands of filmmakers, and over 100 million members; on a typical day, it signs up 230,000 new users (Sellers). Myspace describes itself as, “a social networking service that allows Members to create unique personal profiles online in order to find and communicate with old and new friends” (”About Us – Myspace.com”). A contributing factor to Myspace’s success is that fact that site visitors do not need to have an account or be logged in order to use sites features. Similarly, Facebook like Myspace is also a “Social utility” in that it connects users with the people around them. Users of Facebook can use its services to share information with people in their networks and see what’s going on with their friends. Facebook is also made up of many networks: individual schools, companies, and regions (”Facebook | welcome to Facebook!”). Facebook is different than Myspace in that in order to become a member, users must be validated through a school, work or regional network. Moreover, Facebook is more exclusive than Myspace and claims to be the home of over 9.3 million users and signs up 20,000 new members a day (Kornblum). Users also must have an account and login in order to use any site features or services, see figure 1 above.

Facebook and Myspace offer their users a variety of dynamic and easy to use features, content, and services. Myspace offers an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, internal search engine, internal e-mail system and videos. It recently added an instant messaging application called MyspaceIM, see figure 2, which allows users to instant message their Myspace friends any time and allows users to find and view friends’ profiles with one click. It also provides a one-click login to mail and bulletins and provides instant alerts for all requests, messages, and comments. Myspace’s content is constantly updated and new features are gradually added and made available to all users. Similarly, Facebook also offers users personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, internal search engine, an internal e-mail system. Facebook like Myspace allows user to join or create networks. Facebook is the number one site for photos, ahead of public sites such as Flickr, “with 2.3 million photos uploaded daily” (”Facebook | Inside Facebook Engineering!”). However, Facebook does not offer music or video content. Facebook content is mainly provided and update by its users.

Facebook and Myspace hit the mark on website layout and design and on ease of use. Myspace’s blue theme is pleasing to the eye. The home page is not too flashy or busy, see figure 3, and the websites content changes every time you refresh the page or visit the site. Myspace’s navigational elements is displayed in the blue and white logo banner at the top of every web page; you will find a search engine here which rounds out Myspace’s navigational element. Site visitors do not need to log in or have an account in order to use Myspace; however, registered users have access to extra features and content that is not accessible otherwise. Advertisements are strategically placed on every page, top, right and left of web pages, except for the home page, but are not annoying or disruptive. Similarly, Facebook exhibits a very appealing look and feel, see figure 4; the blue and grey theme Facebook chose invites the user to explore and provides a sense of professionalism and tranquility. Facebook content is robust due to user contributions. However, the main difference between Myspace and Facebook is that users must log in before they can use any of the sites features. Once logged in, the user interface provides a clean and easy to use environment. Similarly to Myspace, Facebook also displays a search engine at the top of every web page, but the main navigational element is placed vertically on the left side of every page instead of the top. This gives the user a sense of control and direction. The site is fuss free and easy to use along with its navigational elements. Facebook site design and visual layout is more cleaner and succinct than Myspace’s layout.

The creation of second generation of internet based services, known as Web 2.0, has provided people with the means to share information online in new and innovative ways. Myspace and Facebook are far the most popular of these internet based services known as “Social utilities.” They both exhibit an appealing look and feel and provide a place where millions of users can keep in touch with friends, colleagues, and family. Myspace and Facebook are alike in the services and features they offer, but are different in the types of features and the manner they offer them. As these two sites grow they will continue to offer features and services that will attract users.

Works Cited

“About Us – Myspace.com.” Myspace.com. October 21, 2006 <http://www.Myspace.com/Modules/Common/Pages/AboutUs.aspx>

Baumann, Michael. “Caught in the Web 2.0.” Information Today 23.8 (2006): 38-38. Academic Search Premier. Ebsco. Union County College Libraries, Cranford, NJ. 21 October 2006. <http://search.ebscohost.com.>

Graham, Jefferson. “Yahoo, Microsoft check into Facebook.” USA Today 22 SEP. 2006. Academic Search Premier. Ebsco. Union County College Libraries, Cranford, NJ. 19 October 2006. <http://search.ebscohost.com.>

“Facebook | welcome to Facebook!” Facebook.com. October 21, 2006 <http://www.facebook.com/>

“Facebook | Inside Facebook Engineering!” Facebook.com. October 21, 2006 <http://www.facebook.com/jobs_engineering.php>

Kornblum, Janet. “Facebook will soon be available to everyone.” USA Today 12 SEP. 2006. Academic Search Premier. Ebsco. Union County College Libraries, Cranford, NJ. 21 October 2006. http://search.ebscohost.com.

Lacy, Sarah. “Facebook: Opening the Doors Wider.” Business Week Online (2006): 8-8. Academic Search Premier. Ebsco. Union County College Libraries, Cranford, NJ. 19 October 2006. <http://search.ebscohost.com.>

Sellers, Patricia. “Myspace Cowboys.” Fortune 154.5 (2006): 66-74. Academic Search Premier. Ebsco. Union County College Libraries, Cranford, NJ. 20 October 2006. <http://weblib.ucc.edu:2113>