Datamation Blog

The Chinese Hacker Who's Seriously Dangerous

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:17:19 -0500

by James MaguireInteresting story in the New York Times about a Chinese hacker who really knows what he's doing. Code-named Majia, he's a solitary fellow in his early 20s who lives with his parents. Working out of his tiny bedroom,...

Who is Bill Gates Following on Twitter?

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:42:07 -0500

by James MaguireYes, Bill Gates is on Twitter. The planet's richest man, the iconic software mogul who so powerfully shaped modern computing, is posting his thoughts in 140-character chunks. Twitter users are likely expecting some trenchant quips about tech from Gates....

Four Security Worries of Cloud Computing

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:19:02 -0500

by James MaguireThe total number of dollars rushing toward cloud computing is massive. The various top research firms - IDC, Gartner, et al. -- all have eyebrow-raising forecasts about the growth rate of cloud-based computing services. But are you seeing a...

Is Your Password among the 20 Most Popular (and Hackable)?

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:04:14 -0500

by James MaguireHaving spoken with many security experts over the years, I've been amazed by tales of security carelessness. One common practice among the cubicle class: writing their password on little sticky notes pasted to their monitor. But that's downright encrypted...

Virtualization Myths and Facts

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:07:50 -0500

by James MaguireI just listened to a great Webinar about virtualization given by Gartner analyst Tom Bittman. Bittman is a deep expert on the topic. Some quick takeaways: Myth: "Virtualization is widely deployed." Fact: Only 19 percent of workloads are running in...

Is the Tablet Apple's Waterloo?

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:07:38 -0500

by James MaguireIn the interest of full disclosure I'll admit it upfront: I'm an Apple fan. A nearly rabid one. I've worshipped, uh, I mean used Apple machines since the '80s. Even as they've (occasionally) crashed and (always) cost me...

Google's Cloud-Desktop Strategy Gets Partner Help

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:47:05 -0500

by James MaguireCall it a case of "Office envy." Google eyes Microsoft's dominant share of the office productivity market and wants a piece of it. A big piece, in fact -- and wants it badly. But Office is the 500-pound gorilla....

Netbook Mouse vs. Microsoft Lion

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:24:42 -0500

by James MaguireThink of all the big bad competitors that Microsoft has dispatched over the years. Think of all the changes it's navigated to remain King of the Jungle. Heck, think of Vista -- what the tech punditry class did to...

Has Cloud Computing Jumped the Shark?

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:16:29 -0500

by James MaguireThe recent Barron's magazine cover story, Sky's the Limit, reports on the headlong rush among tech companies to get into cloud computing. The concept of the cloud, once limited to IT geeks, has become so fashionable that every...

2010 IT Job Market: Best of Times, Worst of Times

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:19:21 -0500

To paraphrase Charles Dickens, the 2010 IT job market is expected to be the best of times and the worst of times. As noted in a new report by Foote Partners, a market research and advisory firm, "there is slim to...

IT Job Outlook Improving

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:33:45 -0500

There are rays of sunshine on the job front -- and not a moment too soon. First, this morning's report about the national unemployment rate -- with a job loss of "only" 11,000 jobs -- is surely great news. (Oh, how...

Poll: How Will Technology Affect your Thanksgiving?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:51:49 -0500

By Tom DunlapTechnology and the holidays ... seems like the bond grows stronger every year. Take my neighborhood in Aptos, California. (Near Santa Cruz. Which is near San Jose.) Tonight we're doing a progressive dinner, where we get progressively hammered...

The Dice IT Job Numbers

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:41:05 -0500

Could it be -- is the number of IT job openings finally starting to trend upward? Every month I get the Dice.com newsletter, and I've watched the number of job openings fall depressingly over the last year or so. There was a time...

Poll: Will You Upgrade to Windows 7?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:02:15 -0500

By Tom DunlapIt's Windows 7 Week at Internet.com. On the day that Microsoft's new, much-hyped operating system is finally officially out the door, my hard-working colleagues at various Internet.com sites are covering all aspects of Windows 7. Among all the...

Poll: How Many Hours Do You Facebook Per Week?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:51:28 -0500

By Tom DunlapFacebook has been a hot topic around the house lately. First, old high school friends have been reaching out a lot lately (Carson High rules!) Second, my younger sister is conducting a poll for her college class and...