The Missing Piece: Issue 3


	Advanced Business Solutions 131 Travois Rd. Louisville, KY 40207


	Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium, Microsoft's latest Windows product - well, you're right, they aren't really new. This is 2001 already and Microsoft and thousands of other vendors are busily creating the next generation of software and gadgets that will "make your life simpler". And if you believe that, I have this bridge… In this article, I will try to distinguish between these latest Microsoft operating systems. Windows Millennium is the replacement for Windows 98 and Windows 2000 is the replacement for Windows NT. The way in which Microsoft names their software is very confusing: they've chosen the same name for a server product that they have for a desktop product. For example, there are four versions of Windows 2000. Three of them are for servers, (I will write about them next month) and the desktop version is called Windows 2000 Professional.


	Windows products? One thing I have learned over the last 18 years in the PC service industry is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". My general rule of thumb is not to upgrade anything on your computer unless you have a good reason. A good reason in my opinion would be to make your system faster, more stable or to take advantage of a new feature that will save you time or money, and there are features in Windows 2000 that can do that for you. Windows 2000 is definitely more stable than Windows 95/98/Me in a business environment. And it can be cheaper to manage your desktops if you have a lot of stations. Windows 2000 also has self-healing properties to it, for example it will automatically restore a system file if it is accidentally deleted. It also has a new feature called "Active Directory", which mainly is a benefit in multi server/multi location environments. Bottom line: don't upgrade your existing systems unless you have to.


	The answer to last month's riddle was "nothing". Last month we asked if anybody would be interested in attending a seminar on DSL. Since our response was very under-whelming, we will not be sponsoring one. This month we would like your input on our newsletter. This is our third edition and we would like it to be useful to those of you who receive it. Will you take a moment and tell us: Do you like the format? Is the content pertinent to your business? Are there any sections we should add or remove?


	So which desktop operating system is for you? Like Windows 98, Windows Millennium is designed for the home user and for small businesses. It is fairly easy to use and maintain. For most of you reading this article, I would choose Windows Millennium for your new systems. Windows 2000 is best used in large networks. Windows 2000 is harder to administer then Millennium but if you know it well, it can save you a lot of time when you are administering a large network. So, I guess the bottom line is, if you don't have a knowledgeable, dedicated computer person on staff, go with Millennium. Should you run out and upgrade your existing systems to one of these new

What not to say to a traffic cop

I can't reach my license unless you hold my beer. (OK in Texas)

You're not gonna check the trunk, are you?

Aren't you the guy from the Village People?

Officer says "Gee Son… your eyes look red, you been drinking?" Don't say "Your eyes look glazed, been eating doughnuts?"

Are you Andy or Barney?

I thought you had to be in relatively good physical condition to be a police officer.


	I am frequently asked whether a new computer or gadget should be purchased now or after waiting a few months, because something better might follow. It would be nice to have a crystal ball. I make this decision by taking a "snap shot" of how the product will affect my business at the present time. If it will pay for itself by increasing efficiencies, I will buy it now. Sometimes a few months later, a new product will come out that is even better than the first. At that point, I take another snap shot and analyze if it will make my operations even more efficient and pay for itself


	again. Sometimes the answer is yes, and as much as it kills me to do it, I throw out the product that I just bought and bring in the new product. Just make sure you take into account all of the costs, including installation, training and lost time during implementation when you are examining the costs. It might be nice to avoid changing something twice by seeing further into the future but sometimes that's just not possible. Where's that crystal ball when need you it?