As a Product Manager for a scientific instrument, part of our system is a "controller". This is nothing more than asimple PC that can run our software and doesn't have any conflicts with our system. Recently, the system we used went end of sales (...
I know that Windoes 7 can be ultra stable and reliable. I have used it for mor than 2 years, and it was rock solid. Now I know that it can be made to be unreliable, unstable, and glitchy. Where I work, there are all kinds of additions. Full disk e...
I rarely complain about regulations. I know that many, if not most of them are really for the best. We know what happens when there isn't any oversight at all. But once in a while, I have a real WTF moment. RoHS, or Reduction of Hazardous Substanc...
Continuing on the theme of bad UI, this week's hall of shame goes to VMWare. Sad, because they used to "get it", or so it seemed to me. Background: I have long been a VMWare user. I have (purchased) a license for Workstation and Fusion, the deskto...
So, I have recently taken a new job (it is a kick ass place to work too), and have moved. In the process of buying a house, a lot of sensitive infomation is exchanged. Particularly around the documentation required for a home loan. Email has becom...
I am a tech head, and I do have a thing for cars. I drive a pretty sweet Honda S2000, and I have ridden performance motorcycles for most of my life. So I know a thing or two about a well running car. This morning, while walking my dogs, I walked b...
While I am no longer in a realm that has to integrate with MFP (multi-function peripherals), I now use them more than ever. For the record, I am talking about the upper end HP office printer/scanner/facsimile machines. The ones that integrate with...
Few things make me scratch my head more than people who insist upon using lousy tools way outside their envelope. Case in point: Product Requirements Document done in Excel. While there are a few positives, like easy to prioritize, and re-order li...
I recently took a new job, a couple hours from my home. While we are house hunting and preparing to move, I have been staying at a budget hotel (I have to pay for it, so it is really cheap). This has been going on for about 8 weeks, and it works w...
Just curious if I am unique. I am the Director of Product Management, and have a staff of 6. I am the product manager for our main product line (about 80% of our business), and I play the Product Owner. Today was planning sessions, and as usual, I...