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It you listen to the comments on Microsoft’s Windows Vista made by the Technology Journalists affiliated to CNET or PC World, you would probably shy away from the software. This is because they consistently bombard the public with anti-Microsoft reports. I follow their reports weekly and what I find lacking is ‘objectivity’. My weekly routine involves digesting tech news from Websites such as CNETTV, Revision3, Cranky Geeks, DL.TV, Web Alert, BBC’s ‘Click’, Leo Laporte’s TWIT and a lot more. I believe that Windows Vista has not received fair treatment. Most of these so called ‘experts’ only have a casual relationship with Microsoft’s software programs and their experiences are limited to the Web Browser and some of the Office Applications. I am basing my conclusion on the fact that they have suggested that Open Office, IBM Lotus Symphony and Google Docs are worthy alternatives to Microsoft Office. This is ridiculous. As Journalists they might think so as they are not creating complex spreadsheets or doing complex Word Processing on a daily basis.

They are often puzzled by the fact that there is an abundance of ‘Free’ software available yet users are still buying Microsoft’s software. The answer is simple, those who use Microsoft’s software in a business environment will tell you that they work, and they work consistently to the point where businesses can build their systems around them.

Back to vista. There is a WOW factor but some Windows Vista users will not experience it. As usual, some feel that they can ignore the basic system requirements and get Vista to run the way it should on their PC’s. Let’s look at a few facts;

• Microsoft broke the mould when they created Windows Vista. Unlike Windows XP, it will NOT run on any old PC. Without the required hardware, some features of Vista will be turned off automatically. If you have stubbornly bought and loaded Vista unto on old PC without first checking its compatibility, you will experience problems. Vista will cause you to spend money, you may have to upgrade the memory or you may need a new video card or you may need to upgrade your hard drive. Microsoft has provided a tool (The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor) that you can use to evaluate the compatibility of your PC to run Vista. Use it before investing in Vista. Additionally, you may run the ‘Windows Experience Index’ in the Control Panel to rate your system. The highest score is 5.9 but you can get the ‘WOW’ with a much lower rating. Whatever your score, the rating system will point you in the right direction as to steps that you can take to improve your rating and thus guarantee you the experience that you deserve.
• There are a lot more drivers and software available that can run on Windows Vista operating system (both 32 Bit and 64 Bit) than you are led to believe. In fact, many of the 32 Bit software will run without a hitch on Windows Vista including the 64 Bit version.
• If you continue to listen to some of these so called ‘experts’ you will bypass Vista while waiting for Microsoft to introduce the next operating system when you could have significantly improved your computing experience by upgrading now.
• There is a learning curve with Windows Vista, but once you get pass the initial hurdles; you will not look back to Windows XP. Over the next few weeks, I will demonstrate that Vista is a better interface than Win XP and it is also a perfect partner for Microsoft Office 2007.
• Microsoft did the right thing by extending the support for Windows XP. Locking down Windows XP would have prevented a number of people from owing a Windows PC as a typical Windows Vista PC is not cheap. In the long run, Windows XP will be seen as low cost alternative to Windows Vista rather than a competing alternative operating system. This is my opinion.
• There are enough compelling reasons to upgrade from Windows XP to Vista. Some users are disappointed that Microsoft did not introduce 400 new features to the new operating system. Some are even disappointed that Microsoft has included features that are readily available in other operating systems. How ridiculous can we get? Some people want features that are never used while others want features that that cannot be replicated by other software manufactures. This is their concept of ‘cool’ features.

OK. Let’s look at some of the reasons why I am using Vista and loving it. Please note that some of the features that we are going to discuss can be found on Windows XP but the interface is different and the process takes much longer.

Firstly, let us look at ‘Instant Search’. This may be the single most important feature introduced in Windows Vista and is a major enhancement to the ‘Start key’. By clicking the ‘Start key’ or pressing the ‘Windows Key’ on the Keyboard, the embedded Instant Search Box appears and you can start typing your search terms. The main feature of ‘Instant Search’ is the scope of the search. Searches covers;

Favourites and History- This feature has been available in a few browsers such as Opera for some time. It was just added to Firefox 3 and users have been oh so excited about it. Firefox users should note that the feature is NOT a desktop search; it is mainly history and favourites. This makes Vista’s Instant Search far more useful. Although searching history and favourites is a feature of Internet Explorer, Vista users have been able to search Favourites and History using Instant search from inception and it is lightning fast(WOW). There is no need to open Internet Explorer or your default browser first as once you click on the search result it will either launch the default browser automatically or open a new tab if the browser is opened already.

Files – Windows XP users have the option of using the inbuilt search tool to search for file names or content. Microsoft has also provided a download (Windows Desktop Search) which is more efficient and I would advise all Windows XP users to use WDS. Windows Vista comes with WDS automatically. There is only one drawback; you cannot search the contents of PDF files. This requires the addition of a PDF filter. I am using the 64 Bit version of Vista and the ‘Ifilter’ for the Foxit Reader works perfectly. Foxit Reader is a worthy alternative to the Adobe Reader. I am saying all of this to indicate that as soon as you start typing in the Instant Search field you automatically start to search for files as well as their contents (PDF) included once the filter has been installed.

Communications (emails, task, contacts, events etc.) – The
Instant Search box also allows us to search the various communications related folders for the file names and the contents of all emails, task, contacts and so on. If you use Microsoft Outlook and/or Windows Live Mail, the relevant folders are searched automatically. Additionally, I installed the free Outlook Connector and this allows me to include all my Windows Live Hotmail folders in the search also.

Programs –Searching programs is nothing new. The cool thing is that it is extremely easy to launch a program from the Instant Search Box by simply typing a keyword. Also, because the results are displayed as you type, you can launch the program long before you have finished typing the keyword. (WOW)

Search everywhere – This option will give you a Windows Explorer type interface. It also includes the results of your keywords or phrase for all index locations i.e. History, Programs, Desktop Folders etc. In other words ’search everywhere’ is a full Desktop Search. You will notice that the instant Search Box have been added to every Windows Explorer Folder so you can search everywhere with the same speed and efficiency.

Search the Internet – Yes, you can search the Internet right from the Instant Search Box. (WOW) The Instant Search Box uses the default search provider for the Internet Explorer. Users can setup any provider they choose as the default search engine. The following quotation shows how it is done.
The’ providers’ link is available under the drop down menu of the Instant Search Box in the top right hand corner of the Internet Explorer screen.

‘Add Search Providers to Internet Explorer

To add a provider to the Internet Explorer Instant Search box, click the provider’s link below. You can set any of these as the default search provider by selecting the Make this my default search provider check box in the Add Search Provider dialog box that appears when you click the link’. In summary, the Instant Search Box;

• Provides results as you type
• You can select the result that you want or if you want to look at all results, you can click search everywhere.
• You can also bring up the ‘context menu’ for a particular result by ‘right clicking’ the result thus making available other options such as print, send to, cut, copy etc. This is a major improvement in how we manage files and if this was the only improvement in Vista I would still upgrade. The Instant Search Box makes it virtually unnecessary to use folders for filing documents etc. Because of the ease with which one can search file names or the content of files.

Please come back to this page for the next article in the series.

Let us support Jamaica National’s JN Money Services Ltd. in their quest to eliminate utility bill payment fees for all consumers. We can guarantee their success if we pay our bills via JNMS. They have opted not to charge an additional fee beyond the commission paid by the utility companies (my assumption). This was the approach adopted originally by Paymaster before greed set and customers were bombarded with fees from the majority of players.

The challenges facing Jamaica National now is to create products that will attract additional business from the very significant number of persons who will be coming through their doors in the near future. They now have at least 16 other outlets that they can introduce ABM’s, branch type services on a limited scale, money transfer services and a whole host of other products. Also, they should not be afraid to go after other payment services such as cable rental fees, mobile phone top-up for Digicel, C & W, Miphone etc. now being dominated by other payment agencies  as in the final analysis, customers prefer a one stop shop. This saves time all around, gas from driving between payment outlets, time off from work etc.

Jamaica Gleaner News – No bill payment fee, JN promises – Becomes JPS collector February 25 – Wednesday | February 20, 2008

The major players in Jamaica’s telecommunications industry have stopped competing. This spells doom for consumers as without constant innovations and aggressive attempts to conquer the market, consumers will lose their pride of place as ‘Kings’. This must be a very short-sighted approach as without price as a basis of competition between the companies, we are left with a few options, services being the main one. This is an area however where all big Jamaican companies have fell short without exception. Most customer service representatives, although trained to be pleasant, lack the requisite technical knowledge to help any but the ‘casual’ caller. This makes it very annoying after an unsuccessful attempt to get assistance to hear them say, ‘thanks for making it Digicel’ or ‘thanks for calling C & W’.

All companies offer a fairly decent range of mobile phones at affordable prices but regrettably, they offer similar calling ‘plans’ at similar prices. Take for example ‘international calls’ form mobile phones.

Miphone’s ‘Miphone International’ offers calls to any USA or Canada number or any UK landline for just J$999. This gives you 1,000 minutes of talk time.

Digicel’s ‘Unlimited International’ is not really ‘unlimited’ and offers the exact 1,000 minutes for the same J$999.

Finally, Cable & Wireless, they were offering the same 1,000 minutes for J$999.

The same situation holds true for their other calling plans for pre-paid mobile. Digicel charges $12 to call the other networks during peak hours and $8 off-peak. C & W’s bMobile charges are $10 and $8 respectively. Both companies charges $3 for sending local text messages and $6 for send international text messages and I could go on and on and on.

We have to conclude that they have all decided to ‘rip’ of the consumers. They may as well announce a ‘joint’ board of directors to set prices. It appears that they have been able to ‘agree’ on prices without meeting officially. This cannot be good for consumers. How else can they all be charging the same prices? These companies all have different overhead expenses, they all have different size client bases and they have different size infrastructure. Somehow I was hoping that Carlos Slim’s America Movil’s entrance in the Jamaican market would have made a difference other than being ‘one of the boys’ but it is early days yet. He did not become the world’s richest man just by towing the line, so I am still expecting big things from Miphone.

The competition authorities should be looking into this.

The ‘hustle’ mentality is preventing many Jamaican businesses from embracing the Internet.

It will take much longer for Jamaican businesses to capitalize on the opportunities that are made possible by the Internet, particularly e-commerce. One definition of e-commerce is ‘Using electronic information technologies on the Internet to allow direct selling and automatic processing of purchases between parties’. We have become accustomed to a situation where we do not publish our prices for fear that we will assist our competitors in ‘under selling us’. This concept has been carried onto the Website of many Jamaican businesses. They will display the products in all its details but when it comes to pricing information, you are asked to call a telephone number for details. This is not e-commerce. To be categorized as e-commerce, the complete transaction must be automated i.e. the sale or purchase must be conducted on the Internet. This cannot be done if we refuse to publish prices.

The problem we have with publishing prices is that most Jamaican businesses are not concerned with making a ‘reasonable’ profit. They want to make ’super-profits’ and this is a direct consequence of the ‘get rich quick’ mentality that permeates the society. Therefore selling prices are not fixed based on an accounting calculation that accumulates ‘costs’ to which is added a ‘reasonable’ profit but rather it is based on an accumulation of costs PLUS an additional amount that the potential customer is perceived to be able to pay. This flexible price policy is reminiscent of what take place on a ‘used car lot’. This is just a ‘hustle’ that has proven disadvantageous for people who are appear to be ‘well-off’ or ‘not from around here’ based on the salesman’s quick evaluation of the potential client. As a result of this it is not uncommon for ’society’ people to ‘dress down’ when they are visiting certain market places, not only out of fear of being targeted for robbery but also in attempt to ensure that they are treated just like the ‘other man’.

This mentality will have to change if we are to take advantage of some of the real opportunities that the Internet offers. This will not be easy as it requires what amounts to a ‘change of business culture’. Let us not be naïve, this is not the only hindrance to e-commerce in Jamaica today. The costs of computers and the cost of accessing the Internet are much too high. Many households cannot afford to buy a computer not to mention accessing the Internet even with combined income. This forces some people to use their employer’s computer and time to conduct their personal e-commerce transactions. This is not good for business and is a direct consequence of the short-sightedness of computer resellers and ISP’s who do not know how to generate sales to keep their businesses profitable.

E-commerce offers real advantages to businesses. A few of these have been listed below. These have been taken from the Website http://www.isos.com.my/ecommerce/advantages.htm and are as follows;

Catalog flexibility and Online fast updating

• Direct “link” capabilities to content information and visual displays already existing on other client web site. You can update your E-Catalog anytime, whether it’s adding new products, or adjusting prices, without the expense and time of a traditional print catalog.
  
• Extensive search capabilities by item, corporate name, division name, location, manufacturer, partner, price or any other specified need.
  

Shrinks the Competition Gap

• Reduced marketing/advertising expenses, compete on equal footing with much bigger companies; easily compete on quality, price, and availability.
  

Unlimited Market Place and Business Access Which Extend Customer Base

• The Internet gives customers the opportunity to browse and shop at their convenience and at their place. They can access your services from home, office, or on the road, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  
• The Internet allows you to reach people around the world, offering your products to a global customer base.
  

A 24 Hour Store Reduced Sale Cycle

• Reduce unnecessary phone calls and mailings.
  

Lower Cost of Doing Business

• Reduce inventory, employees, purchasing costs, order processing costs associated with faxing, phone calls, and data entry, and even eliminate physical stores. Reduce transaction costs.
  

Eliminate Middlemen

• Sell directly to your customers.
  

Easier Business Administration

• With right software, store inventory levels, shipping and receiving logs, and other business administration tasks can be automatically stored, categorized and updated in real-time, and accessed on demand.
  

Frees Your Staff

• Reduce customer service and sales support.
  

Customers will love it

• Gives customers control of sales process. Builds loyalty.
  

More Efficient Business Relationships

• Better way to deal with dealers and suppliers.
  

Workflow automation

• Shipping, real time inventory accounting system which adjusts stock levels and site, location availability instantaneously
  
• Secured, automated registration verification, account entry and transaction authorization features
  
• Automated RFP and RTQ features for vendor bid development and selection.
  
• Banking and accounting features customized for pre-approved third party direct sales, vendor, consignment or internal transfer transactions.
  

Secure Payment Systems

• Recent advancements in payment technologies allow encrypted, secure payment online.
  

There are also disadvantages for using e-commerce but that discussion is not for this forum. I intend only to show that we will not reap the benefits of the technological changes that are taking place around us if we do not change our mentality. The hustle approach must stop.

If this report is true, this will be good news for the companies that have been suffering at the hands of scrap metal thieves.However it is debatable whether an outright ban  while regulations are being formulated is the best way to deal with the problem. I have no idea who are the key players in the export of scrap metals but doesn’t an outright ban lump together people doing legitimate businesses (i.e. purchasing scarp metals from legitimate sources) with those scrap metal businesses purchasing metals from crooks? or are they all crooks? Will we not lose foreign exchange that we need so badly during the period that the ban remains in force? Has the government established a committee/task force with a clear mandate and with a definite time table when this exercise should be completed? How many people depend on income from the scrap metal industry and how many families will suffer from the loss of income?

We should send a strong signal to crooks that we are going to put them out of business, but in the process we should not hurt the innocent.

Jamaica Gleaner News – Scrap metal exports banned – Wednesday | October 31, 2007

It is a foregone conclusion that products do have ‘life cycles’ and for businesses to survive in this modern world, they need to continuously create new and improved products to match the changing needs of the consumer. Gone are the days when businesses were dedicated to maintaining the ‘core’. Apple was never a competitor of Microsoft, Dell or HP in the ‘PC’ market, they found their ’niche’ with consumers who were not afraid to spend ‘big’ bucks for a product that they wanted.

Apple realised that to go to the next level, they needed products that were new, innovative and relevant. They found their new space with the Ipod and all its spinoffs. This is the driving force behind successful businesses today. Some companies achieve this through buying other companies and face the challenges that follow such as integrating both businesses. Others set aside resources for research and acquire the necessary people skills to get the job done. Whatever the strategy, the need to be flexible, to change in order to survive cannot be over-emphasized. The frightful thought is that this principle also applies to individuals. If we do not change, improve our skills, knowledge etc., we will find that the world will pass us by.

What do you think?

What is your outlook? Is it bleak like the picture above?