Also: The quest for the Holy Remote; Microsoft vs. Cisco: The new clash of the titans; ‘Net neutrality face-off; and more
Don’t forget H.323
I find it odd that the article, “How to protect your VoIP network” focuses on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to the exclusion of H.323. H.323 is the more robust protocol, and with the inclusion of the H.235 and H323 Annex J, the more secure system. As the VoIP market moves forward, we can expect more vendors to support the H.325 standard as well.
Gerritt Holdrum
IT consultant
Orlando, Fla.
Controlling the remote
Regarding Mark Gibbs’ Gearhead column, “The quest for the Holy Remote”: Great article. I’ve heard from people in the consumer A/V industry that the test for usability is referred to as WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). It is becoming more and more important as home A/V becomes more complicated and wives ask for more functions and features (DVD, DVR, whole house iPod, etc.). The Logitech Harmony series are great remotes, and their Internet-based programming is a huge step forward. It’s a lot easier to program than my Philips Pronto; however, I like the full LCD touch screen of the Pronto and am skilled enough to do my own custom programming. This may be a little bit of an advantage since I’ve also done contract programming on AMX, PHAST and Crestron systems (really large and expensive remotes).
I also wanted to point out that while The Harmony does a masterful job of “activity” macros, it was not the first. That award goes to the Harman/Microsoft Take Control Remote (TC1000). It was way ahead of its time, too expensive (although I got mine on eBay for $25) and just knowing it’s based on a Microsoft OS doomed it from the beginning.
Chuck Ward
Simsbury, Conn.
Using the competition
Regarding Howard Anderson’s column, “Microsoft vs. Cisco: The new clash of the titans”: When Anderson says Microsoft is “behind” on voice mail, he neglects the fact that Cisco’s voice mail product uses Microsoft’s Exchange server as its back end. They are a lot closer than you think. Cisco’s Call Manager is also a Windows server, though it is getting ported to Linux.
Joe Pampel
Redding, Conn.
Transmission vs. services
I enjoyed your “Face-off” on ‘Net neutrality (Yes; No). I worked in this industry during the development of the router and understand all aspects of transmission, including newer QoS-type issues. I think it would be helpful to separate transmission from services in these discussions.
Services should be allowed to compete freely. Transmission companies (carriers) should not be allowed to restrict or control speed of an external service any more than they would restrict or control speed of services they themselves provide. If this defines Net neutrality, I’m all for it.
Bill Richter
Victoria, Texas
Rebel against Microsoft
Regarding Kevin Tolly’s column, “TCO and the PC upgrade problem”: I think the press has a great opportunity here to start raising its voice to rebel against Microsoft’s lack of empathy for its users when it comes to upgrades. If Macs upgrade as smoothly as Tolly describes, why shouldn’t Windows do the same? I have yet to upgrade my home PC (still running Windows ME) to XP mainly because all the software I would have to re-install to get it running productively again. It’s doing its job now fairly well and I have it well protected, so I have delayed this task.
Oscar Abundes
Dallas
The experience of upgrading to Linux would be similar to that of the Mac, except a Linux upgrade would leave everything you had previously intact. That’s the case with Novell’s SuSE, Mandriva Linux and Gentoo Linux, which are the operating systems I use.
My major upgrade successes have been with people new to computers. I set up Linux with all the stuff they need and I can rest easily knowing that operation will be trouble free. The bane of my life is the endless calls for help with Windows doing something strange or not doing anything at all. Furthermore, people who come to Linux from a Windows background have a certain mindset that tells them that all computers run either Windows or a clone of Windows; consequently, they expect something different than what they receive and you constantly have to remind them they’re not running Windows.
My converts who are happily using Linux for all their usual requirements – from e-mail, Skype, instant messaging, word processing, photo processing, spreadsheets, surfing the Web, music and video work – include a 74-year-old who had never before used a keyboard and a 66-year-old with six months previous experience on a P166 running Windows 2000.
Rather than concentrate on funded “studies,” seek out real-world users, the ones that use Linux in the workplace, and report on the experiences of schools and companies that have successfully migrated from Windows. They are out there.
Sid Boyce
Halesowen, West Midlands, U.K.
