Could Windows 7 may be the real deal?

Recently I had a chance to see a review of the Windows 7 beta by the folks at CNET. Like many of us, I tune out these days when I hear about the words "Microsoft" and "new operating system" used in the same sentence. With many disappointed with Vista, most of us have moved on to Mac OS X or have downgraded our systems to XP.

I respect the approach CNET applies when testing consumer products. So when they said they actually liked the beta it caught my attention. As a result I downloaded Windows 7 in the hopes of seeing something new and different.

Installation
Since Windows 7 is still in beta I started with a fresh installation on a non-production computer. Even though the installation completed without a hitch I strongly recommend that you not replace your current OS with the beta. That being said, the installation process was surprisingly easy. All of my hardware devices were automatically detected so no third party drivers were needed.

One thing that still bugs me about Windows is its "performance assessment" and activation of the Aero desktop. For all the hype Microsoft puts into adverting, they make it amazingly difficult for users activate the functionality. After much searching there seems to be no way to activate or deactivate the functionality on demand. To make Aero happen you (still) must have huge graphics card. I was only able to get this working after installing a 256MB beast. Even with the card my computer only scored a 2.8 out of a possible 7.9 performance score.

Windows 7 Task Bar
However its not all bad news. One item that seems promising is the enhanced task bar. In a nutshell they've borrowed most of this functionality from Mac OS X but have applied it in such a way so that it makes sense for Windows users. One item that seems be completely original is the ability to hover over a single icon and to have it show multiple "preview" windows. It may seem like window dressing but I found it be quite slick and can envision the popularity of this feature.

Mousing over a preview windows displays the actual window is full user mode. If you're the kind of person who likes to have a pile of apps open on the desktop, this feature alone could make sorting through your applications quick and easy.

Other Tid Bits
Other items that I found interesting included "Sticky Notes", "The Snipping Tool" as well as the ability to set a series of background images that automatically display based on a set interval - neat!

I am sure there are many other features but these are some of the highlights I found in my initial tour. Feel free to post any questions you may have about Windows 7. I would be happy to test the OS and compile my findings a future posting.

Why can't Seattle operate when it snows?

If you've kept track of recent news you no doubt know the Pacific Northwest has been hammered with a series of snowstorms that have brought the city to a standstill. Even though we've received a"moderate" level of snow compared to other standards, 24-36" of snow for our region is a highly unusual event, and has made national news.

I had the opportunity of traveling throughout the holidays so I wanted to share my own observations as to how technology (or the lack of it) impacted my ability getting from point "A" to point "B".

Yes, we are snow challenged
First off I've always considered myself to be a fairly informed person so I like to stay close to home when these things happen. When it snows in Seattle (once or twice a year) our community hunkers down and closes its schools and businesses. Practically no one in our region owns a shovel, winter tires or driving chains so driving is treacherous. Yeah, it's a silly system, but it's our system.

Seattle is known as the place where it rains - a lot. Granted, we do get our fair share of rain, especially during the winter months. We are also known as a major technology hub, supporting major software development and IT companies such as Cisco, Adobe, Microsoft, Google and RealNetworks.

It's more than just a "snow day"
People like myself are noticing that our unusual winter weather is starting to have a direct impact on more than just our schools and businesses. With our recent storms Seatac airport was brought to its knees because critical equipment needed operate our planes failed to arrive. In conjunction with the snow, the situation left hundreds of people stranded which created a logistical nightmare. Here's a video I took that shows only a small part of the mess:




In December 2006 a severe windstorm knocked out a major power grid in our area, causing close to 1 million homes to go without power for days (also making national news). By some accounts this was actually a more intense situation as residents had no idea who to call, where to go or what to do.

As a technology professional I often observe my environment as a series of systems. With our unusual weather events becoming more commonplace perhaps its time for us rethink how the general public should be informed. One suggestion I would like to put out there is the implementation of a "public information system".

From Airports to the iPhone
If you track tech trends you know that experts see mobile technology (e.g. cell phones, PDA's, smart phones) as the next great thing. It's a fact that more people own a cell phone than a PC. PDA's like the iPhone have upturned entire industries by introducing the concept of location-based computing. An example of this can be seen in applications like Credit Card Terminal from Innerfence as well as Urbanspoon. The concept being that information becomes much more useful if you can use it where you need it. Other examples of useful location-based services include technologies like GPS, text messaging and Twitter.

Airports have applied location-based services for years through electronic boards that show times and scheduling for departures / arrivals. Sure, I could pull out my iPhone and get the same information, but 95% of us still don't have one (or can't afford it). I could program my cell phone to provide me with flight updates but this can be a complex procedure at best. The electronic boards provide the information where I need it, without requiring an Internet connection or additional portable device.

Taking this one step further hotels like the Hilton Hotel at SeaTac have their own electronic flight boards that link information directly from an airport's main system. Now I don't have to drag around my laptop to check the status of my flights. Awesome.

The case for a public information system
During my return trip from the airport I stopped at the Bellevue Transit Center with plans to take a Sound Transit bus to my final destination. My group had already taken other buses during the day so we assumed we would have little problems getting to our final destination (even with the snow).

After about an hour of waiting, rumors started that it was snowing harder in parts of the city which was impacting bus schedules. Once the word got out people started to scatter and were calling friends to come pick them up. The point was that no one really knew what was going on which left everyone frustrated. If the transit center had an electronic board (like an airport) it would have allowed the 50+ people to be informed and to make the appropriate decisions.

Taking this idea one step further a public information system could be implemented not only at transit centers but at any location where people congregate (e.g. shopping malls, theaters etc.). A city-wide public information system could provide basic information on the status of services like bus schedules, regional weather, traffic and important city/county announcements. The puget sound already has websites that track some of this information. Putting it in the hands of the public where it is needed would make a huge difference.

Granted, there would be additional items to consider when implementing a public information system, (e.g. keeping the system safe and secure from vandalism) but I have a strong hunch Seattle has the talent to get this done.

What are your thoughts on a public information system? Do you know of any other cities that are doing this?

The Universal Spreadsheet

As working professionals we are constantly challenged to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Most of us have a friend or colleague who regularly attends their son or daughter's soccer game, but whose cell phone is constantly ringing, or they are clicking away on their Blackberry. In the age where countless technologies are allowing us to become more efficient, newly found efficiencies are rapidly transforming the 40-hour work week into the "infinity" work week. Twelve-hour workdays are becoming increasingly common, and checking email on the weekends or before you get to work is now the norm.

In addition to common technologies such as cell phones and email, I've encountered a specific software technology that causes the same diminishing returns. It is the universal spreadsheet. In an effort to streamline operations within an organization, the universal spreadsheet causes companies to become more labor intensive, inefficient and less scalable. What is the universal spreadsheet? Here are some examples.

Spreadsheets for Inventory
It's the spreadsheet that manages your in-house inventory. It's updated by the four department heads on a monthly basis before it's sent off to the manager for approval. Each department head forwards the document to each other via email before it is submitted to the manager.

Spreadsheets for Accounting
It's the critical group of 30 spreadsheets that contain account receivable balances for all your top customers. Since you joined the company three years ago the business has always used this method to manage its accounting processes. The last company you worked at used specialized accounting software, but you've been assured that packaged software "doesn't meet the specialized needs" in your current job.

Spreadsheets for Contacts
For your small business, it's the list of names and phone numbers of your top prospects or customers. It's easy to work with because you can have sales or marketing update the spreadsheet with new names or fields anytime. You feel good about the money you've saved by not buying ACT! or Goldmine.

Most software solutions thare are successful make business activities easier. This could be as simple as reducing the number of phone calls your customer support department receives, not having to work the weekend preparing the big presentation, or providing the means to generate that important report in a single "click" instead of five hours of clicking.

What causes the universal spreadsheet syndrome to occur?

The Balancing Act
Without question, the biggest hurdle to overcome for small business is allocating time. With limited time comes limited options, which translates to having to design "creative" solutions that more established firms take for granted. Also, most small businesses lack the technical resources to research, deploy and maintain mature software solutions. The universal spreadsheet seems to be a fit because it has the ability to store information (such as lists) in a tabular format, and it is relatively easy to access and edit.

For medium-size businesses, new business growth may dictate the need to introduce more structure to managing information. This could include the creation of financial reports for management, tracking customer relationships, or supporting customers during your first product release.

In one example, someone in the accounting department (a.k.a. the power-user) likes to track things using spreadsheets and they design a spreadsheet that tallies, calculates and automatically sorts information referenced in three other spreadsheets. The "solution" is presented at the next staff meeting and management loves it. Even though the staff doesn't understand how it works, it's obvious that it produces good results. It is adopted as the new company reporting "standard". This universal spreadsheet seems to be a fit because the company didn't have to go through the IT department (or outsource) to get the solution they needed.

The Solution or the Problem?
The universal spreadsheet, although savvy, has a number of side effects. The most obvious is that the solution is often "home-grown", labor intensive and is not designed for long-term use. It's great to have company employees organizing the business rules for complex reporting standards, but seldom is the power-user a professional programmer. This becomes a problem when the company experiences significant growth, and changes are required to an existing spreadsheet to support the company's needs. Now the benefits of using spreadsheet technology are long gone, the power-user has left the company, and no one can figure out how to generate reports. To make matters worse, new team members attempt to "decode" work that was previously implemented, but without adequate documentation most of the company's technology investment is lost.

Another scenario is that a business may continue to create individual spreadsheets as their company grows, but are challenged when they get to a point where they need to review large quantities of information in order to make an important decision. With their critical business information stored in multiple locations (individual spreadsheet files) most of their software productivity gains are lost by searching through countless spreadsheet files and other sources of information. Tasks that used to be straightforward now take hours to complete.

How can companies take advantage of spreadsheet technology without experiencing diminishing returns?

Migrate critical business data away from information silos
Information that is critical to your business should always be stored in a central location that is easy to access. This strategy allows co-workers, management, partners and customers to access a single version of your business data, thus having the entire organization on the same page. It makes new information easy to maintain as your organizations grows.

Storing spreadsheets on the company network meets part of this responsibility, but moving mission critical business information away from spreadsheets and into true a database is what any size company should be looking to achieve.

Upgrading from spreadsheets doesn't always mean an investment of 10K or more. Depending on your level of need and your industry, there are likely off-the-shelf software solutions available to make things easier for your business. Products like Quickbooks which is the silver bullet of the financial sector, as Intuit has helped millions of businesses migrate their information away from unstructured spreadsheets and into structured data formats.

Plan for growth
For more specialized needs, database solutions such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and IBM DB2, are designed to manage large quantities of data (millions of records) so that different types of software can access the same information.

For example, companies that have unique business requirements for tracking customer orders can move this data to a centralized SQL Server database. Now they can have specialized software built, or continue to use of-the-shelf software to access this information. This strategy opens many options for an organization, as agile companies plan for multiple applications to use the same data.

These companies still continue to use spreadsheets, but also use project collaboration tools such as Joint Contact along with web services to provide information to customers and to collaborate with partners.

For businesses looking to get started with database technology, leading providers also provide free, fully licensed versions of their beginner database platforms so that organizations can test and experiment with the technology. Among others, this includes solutions from Oracle and Microsoft.

Conclusion
Moving away from the universal spreadsheet is a challenging, but greatly rewarding process. With careful planning and some technical assistance, you can transform your biggest information problems

Kiva and the emerging trend of microlending

I first heard of the concept of microlending this past summer while listening to the entrepreneurial thought leadership series hosted by Standford University. I had always thought that peer-to-peer lending sites were so "90's" and assumed that this model already dominated by the big league players such as PayPal. However, while hearing the former Eloan executive speak about his current venture (Prosper Inc) it sounded like a fresh and interesting idea.

Microlending in a nutshell
The basic idea of microlending is to provide investment capital to another individual, with the expectation of recouping your investment along with a small amount of return. In essence, you act like a bank (not exactly, but sort of) allowing you to pick and choose the people and opportunities you would like to invest in. Even though angel investment groups have been doing this type of thing for years, the difference in microlending is that everything is done on a "micro" scale. For example, you may invest in an individual wanting to open a corner store and they need 5K to get it off the ground. Even though this doesn't seem like a lot of money, the borrower may be a new business owner and may be having difficulty securing a loan from a traditional lending institution like a bank.

Microlending provides a great "final option" for entrepreneurs, especially if you only need a small amount of capital. Typically, company founders are told to tap friends or family, or be lucky enough to find an angel investor (you've got about a 1% chance of closing an angel deal so good luck). Microlending seems to fit the bill when the bank tells you "no way" and you've run out of other options.

How I discovered Kiva
I am a big fan of podcasts and listen to them all the time. Some of my favorites include CNN AC360, The Slate Daily Podcast and The Public Speaker. I also watch watch Frontline World as a video podcast. These short 10-15 segments seem to be a spin off from the regular "Frontline" documentary series that is normally shown on PBS. Overall I enjoy learning about different happenings in parts of the world such as the Congo, Pakistan or Brazil.

Their most recent podcast publication focused on Ghana, and the work Kiva is doing in that region (click here to see the episode transcript). Like Prosper Inc, Kiva applies the same concept of microlending but focuses on providing loans to those in developing countries. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one of the co-founders worked for PayPal and that the Kiva engine is built around that platform.

What I learned
When most of us think about successful businesses we often think about global brands such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Wal-Mart. Ironically, these companies are mentioned often in the media because of their size and profitability. However, for every Microsoft, there are thousands of smaller businesses that probably have a larger impact on their community than these corporate giants.

Guy Kawasaki, one of the most respected supporters of entrepreneurship, often defines a businesses goal as something to "create value and meaning". Creating value and meaning doesn't necessarily mean generating zillions in profit, but could also provide hope for a community that is in need of a corner store, a sewing machine, or a local community center. Providing hope to our fellow inhabitants is something most of us have the power to do, and that's where Kiva comes in.

With the current global economic crisis in full swing I think there's something to be said about giving opportunities to those that need it most.

When I was interested in raising my own investment capital colleagues would often tell me that it takes the same level of effort to raise a small amount of capital as it takes to raise a lot. And they were right. It's difficult enough to launch a business under the best of conditions and all business owners understand good opportunities are hard to come by. Interestingly, this truth applies to building a dotcom business in California or in a school in the Congo. Hats off to Kiva and their work in giving hope to others through entrepreneurship.

(Note: After writing this blog post I found this BusinessWeek article comparing Prosper and Kiva. I thought this information was also useful so here is the link.)

How Crowdsourcing supports Coworking

Crowdsourcing and coworking. Two words that sound similar and are indeed connected. Related to alternative work methods, coworking and crowdsourcing allow groups to join together to solve problems and create business value. This article attempts to defines these trends and explores the ways in which they are connected.

Coworking 101
Many independent professionals dream of having their own office for conducting business with employees, partners and customers. As is often the case, reality sets in and we discover that negotiating a lease as well as hiring a realtor, lawyer and subcontractor could put us out tens of thousands of dollars.

The alternative? Starbucks or Tully’s. Being able to meet with colleagues, grab a cup of coffee and perhaps check email while on the go is a great way to get business done and stay productive. The coffee shop option can work, provided that your meeting topic is conducive to the location. For example, it may be a great place to discuss ongoing projects, but may not be suitable for a first time meeting with a client or potential investor.

A new option that is gaining momentum is coworking. Coworking combines the benefits of a traditional office with the coffee shop model. The idea is that you come to work each day (to an actual office), but work in cubicles, small workstations or desks like you would at a coffee shop. Coworking allows you to network and connect with like-minded individuals, allowing you to share common interests and potentially share resources. The fact that each worker represents a different company or interest actually strengthens the network, allowing groups to form that represent various backgrounds and experiences.

Crowdsourcing 101
The term “crowdsourcing” relates to large groups that are organized to solve a specific problem. Mentioned frequently in relation to Web 2.0, crowdsourcing is often associated with other terms like “mass collaboration”. The crowdsourcing model can been seen in many Web 2.0 applications currently being used to today such as Wikipedia and Joint Contact.

Building on the idea of a traditional printed encyclopedia, Wikipedia solves the problem of content management and creation by permitting anyone (anywhere) to contribute to its online archives. An enthusiastic volunteer force of contributors provides not only an adequate number of topics to rival Encyclopedia Britannica, but redefines our notion of an informational resource by providing a number of unique and diverse subjects.

Joint Contact also supports the crowdsourcing model by allowing groups to create documents, tasks, discussions and other items related to project management. Joint Contact solves the problem of information management, allowing professional groups to build supportive models that foster communication and collaboration.

Making the connection
Crowdsourcing and coworking provide tremendous benefits to the small business community. Under a coworking model, individuals who have complementary skills can work together to answer questions, provide different points of view and create value. As mentioned, the benefit of gaining different perspectives when faced with a problem are usually better than working in isolation.

Crowdsourcing relates to coworking in that both groups (virtual and physical) are likely to produce more than if they where to work independently. For example, conducting an in-person project review meeting will always produce diverse and interesting results. In some cases, more questions may be produced than answers which may result in your project taking a new and unanticipated direction.

Social networking websites like Biznik represent the coworking model in the virtual world. One example of this concept is through the use of Biznik’s “BizTalk.” Using BizTalk, people submit questions to the Biznik community that may be related to business, marketing, technology or human resources. Under this crowdsourcing model thousands of people instantly access this information, allowing them to respond, contribute and add value.

Lastly, both models allow small business owners to benefit from economies of scale, allowing entrepreneurs to reduce their monetary cost by spreading any expenses with their peers. Surprisingly, crowdsourcing and coworking are based on a similar pricing model (a prepaid monthly subscription), if cost does become a factor. In small business, this provides great flexibility as circumstances often change.

Even though coworking is not a definitive technology, it can be associated some of the most widely adopted technology concepts and services available.

Anatomy of a Tweetup

This week I've been asked by some folks to write about cool and funky things that occur in the Web 2.0 environment that some of us may not be exposed to. To that end, one thing that amused me this week is Forrester Research Analyst, Jeremiah Owyang and his ability to organize a networking event for over 100 people - all through Twitter. Here's a screenshot Tweet he posted just prior to the event.


How did he do it? He just followed some of the same principals marketers and other professionals use in basic event planning. This included identifying his target market segment, picking a relative topic and communicating with that target audience using the tools and technologies his audience is used to. The event topic was pretty straightforward, (a simple networking event) but it was great how he used Twitter to announce the event to his 18,000 followers, and then used Twitter to redirect his traffic to a simple 'upcoming' (a free event hosting service hosted by Yahoo) to manage event registrations.


As you've assumed, 'live' in-person events organized through Twitter are called Tweetups and Jeremiah provides a great example of how to use social media to communicate with an audience to provide tangible business results. Other examples of how Jeremiah makes use of Twitter can be seen here.

Why isn't Evan Williams confident about Twitter?

As talked about in my previous posting I've been a big Twitter fan for most of 2008. The PR and craze about microblogging has been amazing, and who would have thought a single textbox (allowing 140 characters) would have investors and sponsors falling all over themselves, all wanting a piece of the action.

In a recent article published by NY Times, Evan Williams (the creator of Blogger and Twitter) talks about his dealings with Facebook and his thoughts about the competition. As I read the article I actually found myself being ok with Evan's rejection of Facebook's stock offer for $500M (wow), but was taken aback with his concerns with technology behemoths like Yahoo and Microsoft "stealing" the Twitter concept.

Like most of us I am happy about the contributions Microsoft has made to the technology industry. With the success of Windows and Office it would seem that they "print their own money" and now have their hands in most segments of the computer industry. However, I was reminded in a recent Paul Graham essay that Microsoft's original business idea was to design and sell platforms for programming applications (and languages). Many of the current business models adopted by the company were presented to Microsoft by IBM, almost 5 years after the company's inception.

My point is that big companies (like small ones) have the ability to decide on which technologies to invest in. Startup companies actually have an advantage over large companies because they can experiment with different business models and can keep changing things until they "get it right".

Other "disruptive" technologies (like the iPhone, Google, TiVO) have been introduced into the market that have clearly blown Microsoft out of the water. Microsoft has produced some competing products to match these industry leaders. Others, like the iPhone have no Microsoft counterpart.

Microsoft was known as being an extremely large company that could change strategies very quickly. Now that Web 2.0, Social Media and cloud computing dominate the landscape it would seem that even they have a lot of catch up to do.

My advice to those at Twitter would be to continue doing a great job by focusing on customer needs and don't worry about the potential competition.

When you start thinking about what your competitors it zaps your own creativity and ultimately impacts morale. A great book that supports this approach is "Tuned In" by Craig Stull.