My clients threshold for wait-n-see was apparently 4 years. Like juuuust shy of one half the US population, they were hoping obummer would get voted out of office, and the tsunami of government regulation, taxation, and monetization would abate. After a quivering sigh, they decided they'd have to get on with it regardless. No development, no money.
So in December of 2012, all of the sudden, it was Katie bar the DOOR, we gots ta build us a buildin!
The good is, we are busy as all get out. The bad is that our clients are running around like the proverbial headless chicken. There are a multitude of conflicting opinions on any given subject which makes it difficult to find a clear path to a solution, but "We've got a SCHEDULE to keep! DO SOMETHING!"
For the first time since 2007, we are in hiring mode instead of downsizing via lay off or attrition. That's good. The bad is that all the clients now want their projects documented in 3-D. The software, which shall remain nameless to protect the guilty, is horrifically expensive on a per seat basis and on an annual $ubscription basis. And, we need new computers and new software licenses for these new hires. I do not like overhead*.
I'd rather spend the money on my people, as in put it in their pocket. My peeps are the firm. Not the hardware.
The other good is that operating in a state of constant emergency seems like "normal" to me, and I'm finding that my mood is improving. SNAFU.
On another note, my 70 something father finally decided that he needs a handgun with a little more punch than the .22 LR he has. That's good. I'd expressed the same notion to him some six months ago**.
Long story short, Dad wants Belle and I to head down and take him pistol shooting. He wants to get a handgun with a little more "punch". The last time he actually shot a pistol might be as long ago as the late 50's when he was a weatherman in the Air Force doing his mandatory training with a 1911.
The bad is that he's headed into handgun purchasing mode in the worst buyer's market in the history of the world. Dad can be irrationally conservative with respect to where and how much of his money he spends. When he finds out how expensive it's going to be to get more punch, he'll buy junk. No, really. I know the man. I grew up with him. My ace in the hole is that I'm going to lobby The Southern Belle to go shop with him. She knows her pistols.
Hanging paper with one arm and converting new shooters one range trip at a time,
Kx59 signing off.
*Leave your sense of entitlement at the door pleez. Do not complain to me about your computer in the middle of the worst recession in history. Tell ya what. I'll buy 20 new computers and hand them out, smiling like Santa Claus. You can decide which of your peers I'll lay off to offset the cost. Fairnuff?
No?
K. Get back to work.
**I've always believed in the power of a gently delivered, "off hand" comment. But, it does require an intimate knowledge of your audience.
Good Luck with your task!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keads! Got it covered. Not my first Rodeo, but a thumbs up always helps!
DeleteGet him to buy a Ruger 357. Simple, reliable.
ReplyDeleteAgreed on both points, but I doubt Dad could handle the recoil.
DeleteWell, at least you aren't bored.
ReplyDeleteBoy you got that right. The only thing I hate more than too much to do in too little time is having nothing to do.
DeleteGood luck with that.
ReplyDeleteIt's odd how maintenance goes along way on a PC.
My 5yr old desktop was just replaced. It was a beast of a machine. IT still ran fine. Especially since she had just been given an overhaul and re-installed with Win 7. The other team members who received the same exact machines were complaining of issues. Not that I don't love the new hardware but I could have gotten another year out of mine no problem.
Old : dual SAS 15,000 rpm 128gb, Core 2 Quad 3Ghz, 4gbRam
New: Dual 256 SSD, i7 quad, 16gb ram
It's a sweet piece of hardware and is quiet. The other sounds like a B2 firing up when you turn it on but it was not a necessity.
lmao. B2 firing up. The very first time I rebooted a server, it scared the crap out of me. I thought that can't be right..wtf have I done?
Delete+1 on the maintenance. I am not of the run it til it breaks and then rebuild it mindset.
Clear the crap off the disk and defrag it with a good disk maintenance app once in a while. Use something that will defrag the page file and system files on boot.
Did you build the new puter, or buy it configured that way? Either way, how much did you spend?
I ask because with that configuration, Autodesk Revit would run like lightening.
Solid state drives, I7 processor and 16 gig of ram. I am so jealous.
I can get the exact specs later if you need them but the office buys brand D for desktops. or original pricing was over $2k but i think when we ordered they were around $1800 a piece. Since I didn't sign the P.O. I'm not positive.
Delete