Greg Moore

Category: Technology

  • Freedom

    The technology we use daily isn’t truly free. Yet, we often associate much of the experience of using technology with freedom. As a lone developer or member of an open source team, I’m free to develop and contribute any way I wish. I don’t need to prove my worthiness to get started. I’m free to…

  • Platform Indifference

    In 25 years, I’ve used a lot of technology. In fact, more than I can remember without really sitting down to think about it. It’s curious, then, when the rare and obsolete question of “Mac or PC” comes up. In these many years, I’ve seen a lot of different operating systems for different computer systems.…

  • Migrating File Servers to Dropbox, Box, Google Drive or any other Cloud Storage Service

    Some of my customers love their Dropbox/Box/Sharefile/Sharepoint/OneDrive as a file server replacement. Others, not so much and have gone back to their trusty file servers after a failed leap. Many would like to have it, if it weren’t for the other issues that it introduces in more complex environments. It’s easy to believe the hype that…

  • The Data Silos are Back

    Ten years ago in AEC technology, we were talking about trying to find ways to get data out of ‘silos’ – that is, storage and dissemination systems that didn’t integrate with each other. Files and data were strewn about in different formats and couldn’t be easily told to play nice. Over a very short period…

  • But what does it cost?

    You can look at a carton of eggs and do the math – $3 for a carton divided by 12 is a quarter per egg. Better yet, eggs are sold by the dozen. The math is already done for you. Your effort effort as a consumer to decide which carton to pick comes down to just…

  • Caught in the Middle: Subscription Software

    Software Subscriptions can feel like a vampire. They lurk on your OpEx ledger, claiming a value proposition for each month, hour or mile you use them. Gone are the opportunities to squeeze extra value beyond the design intent of the software. You can’t stop paying for them in a slow cash-flow month if you still need…

  • Business Technology

    Yesterday, we called it “Information Technology.” It was a department of talented engineers and managers that could get the infrastructure in place and got really good at procuring the tools to ride on top of that infrastructure. Today, IT is still important in larger organizations and industries who aren’t well served by mobile and consumerist…

  • Organization in a Google World

    In the era of Google Searches, Minimalism, Social Media and Apps-for-Everything, folks are less inclined to implement good old organizational skills with their data. Why bother? After all, we can Google anything we need. We can re-download that app when we get a replacement phone. I can go on Instagram and see my photos. Organization,…

  • The Innovation via Automation Cycle

    Technological innovation is often described as happening in “leaps and bounds.” As cliche as it sounds, it remains accurate through a significant cross section of technological advancements. Beyond the simplicity of this cliche exists an opportunity for businesses to get ahead in their objectives using automation. Innovations are temporary solutions Innovations in computing are making their way into the mainstream at…

  • Security needs a plan B

    Passwords are a pain. Even when armed with a great password manager like LastPass, you still have to manage sometimes hundreds of passwords at a time. While infrequent, there are occasions where you need a Plan B to get into your account in case something goes wrong. LastPass has an Emergency Access feature that, after a…

  • Removing the Performance Bottleneck in Desktop and Laptop Computers

    Removing the Performance Bottleneck in Desktop and Laptop Computers

    A performance bottleneck slows down even the most capable computer. If you are experiencing a slow computer, going through some or all of these exercises will speed things back up. Don’t run out and buy a new computer. You’ll run into the same slow computer blues you are experiencing now in a matter of months. Speeding up…

  • Get it Done: Project Management Tools for Everyday Use

    There are a plethora of tools to manage the different types of projects, each having its own unique set of niche features and approaches. Choosing the right solution plays a significant part in project success: using a poorly matched tool can create more burden than benefit.

  • Innovations to watch: Rapid Packing Container

    One of the things I love about the Internet is the way that it has revolutionized our ability to innovate. Case in point:   Wow. Just wow. I would like to see this product mature into a game changer. I like the overall concept here for a few reasons – first, these two are college…

  • 7 Simple Rules for Sending Me an Email

    We all have a love and hate relationship with our email. Technology requires a balanced approach and careful management to be the positive thing it can be. Here are my rules to help keep email from becoming an out of control beast: One request per message It seems simple enough, but how often to you…

  • iDevices and the Enterprise

    I run a medium scale enterprise with lots of Group Policy, Security and the usual IT control accoutrements. Increasingly, I’m becoming a big fan of the iPad. Sure, I still don’t have a personal need for one. On the same hand, those who have made the personal investment haven’t been a thorn in my side.…

  • Fitting In Today

    Shakespeare pondered “to be or not to be, that is the question.” Most of us in tech today ponder this same thing, but in the context of to be a tech or a manager. Most of us got into technology because we loved something about it. For some, the thought of coding day in and…

  • Giving Life to an otherwise useless server

    There comes a time in every server’s life when it’s no longer needed. The advent of virtualization has made this very real and very interesting. Here we have a fairly decent model server – HP Proliant ML 350 G5. Sure, it’s not the newest kid on the block, but it’s got some chops. 8GB of…

  • Skype: Microsoft can have it.

    I love the concept of Skype. Audio/Video communications for nothing. What’s not to love? Dial up your friends and family in far off places and not pay a cent in long distance. That’s awesome. Most visions are. This is one, however, that the owners who recently just padded their investment accounts with Microsoft stock knew…

  • Security Hard Lines: Kiss your 1s and 0s Goodbye!

    There is a misconception that electronic data can be secured. Everyone suffers from it. The fact is – the moment your data turns to 1’s and 0’s, you can potentially kiss it goodbye. Your text messages, phone calls (yes, they are 1’s and 0’s), emails, documents, banking information – it’s all available to anyone intelligent…

  • When Clouds Die: Xmarks

    Another one bites the dust. It was announced earlier today that the popular bookmark sync service XMarks is about to go under. In a post on their blog, owner Todd Agulnick admitted that the company couldn’t find a profitable business model. [sarcasm] Profitable business model? But I thought the cloud was a free-for-all! [/sarcasm] For…

  • Is VDI the future of BIM?

    For some time now, we’ve been promised to be wowed by VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) and it’s merits as a way to bring the workstation experience to either thin clients or remote desktop sessions. The problem is has always been that the workflow in most Architectural firms has required the specs common to 3D workflows…

  • SMB IT will never die

    The Cloud. It’s all the “future” of technology according to many. What these doomsday prophets fail to include is a little bit of market research. How we use technology in our personal lives and businesses is as unique to each as anything else. I don’t use Outlook or Gmail the same way as the next…

  • Cloudy Computing

    Architectural IT take note: You’re in a good spot to sit back and watch the Cloud for a little while longer. You’re also in a good spot to start consider some of the more mature options. Google Apps. Office Online. GMail. All great cloud apps. None of them have a place in your organization as…

  • Latest Windows Updates Breaks VMWare vSphere 4 Client

    For those who use VMWare extensively in their organization, beware that the latest round of Microsoft updates may break your older vSphere 4 client under all versions of Windows. More information from VMWare on the problem can be found here. Users of vSphere 4 Update 1 should not be affected. The primary update in question…