PHP, Microsoft And EnergizeIT 2008???

Those of you are my age, which is in my late 30's, will remember the old children's show song, "One of these things is not like the other one!" Three weeks ago, I would have been singing this tune in reference to my title and I would have been right.

I am have been writing code since the early 80s as a hobby and as a profession from 1995 till 1999. I have been fairly Microsoft centric since I purchased my first copy of QuickBasic in 1990. . Fast forward to today...I am in a new position where, for the first time I will be spending much of my time writing code, this time with a focus on Internet programming. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to learn PHP.

This brings me to the purpose of this post. I have been asked by Microsoft to talk about my experiences with PHP at EnergizeIT 2008...(To hear my story as to why I had to start working with PHP, you will have to come to my session!)

It seems as if Microsoft has realized that ASP and ASP.NET might not be the only language you will need to code for the web! In fact the next version of Expression Web includes support for the language. I see this as a positive development for the language. I have fallen in love with PHP's simplicity, it's ability to run on such a large percentage of the web servers currently being used on the Internet and most importantly, the PHP community!

There are good IDEs to develop PHP sites on Windows. Personally, I use PHPED from Nusphere and love it. I fully expect Visual Studio to have support for PHP in the near future!

Technorati Tags: energizeIT,php,QuickBasic

WWITPRO Presents Vista Springboard

As many of you know, I am presenting a comprehensive overview of Microsoft Vista on the 28th of this month. I will be co-presenting with Mitch Garvis. We will be covering a wide range of topics and doing a live Bit Locker Demonstration! Visit the Waterloo-Wellington IT Professionals User Group to sign up.

Passed My MCTS: Windows Vista Client Configuration

Wrote and passed my Vista exam! This was not a very difficult exam. The questions could be answered by taking the time to think through the answers. The difficult part came from the wide range of topics you could be tested on.

Next exam, 70-290! I'll let you know how this is going!

Passed 70-282 - Whoooo Hooooo

Ok, I know, I know, my last Blog post indicated that I would likely be writing the 70-620 Vista exam. I changed my mind. I have been using Small Business Server 2003 for a couple of years now and have always loved it! In fact, I feel Small Business Server 2003 is the best product Microsoft has! I have been studying for the exam for a couple of years and started thinking, why not write the exam that I have actually been studying for!

I will keep my score to myself, after all, I passed and that's all you need to know. I don't want to violate the NDA but I will give you one big tip for this exam...experience is a must. Since this exam is heavily geared to Analyzing the existing environment and designing a business technology solution for a small or medium -sized business, you will benefit from having plenty of real-world, get your hands dirty knowledge! You might be able to pass this exam without experience, but I doubt it.

I was pleasantly surprised by this! I have always avoided certifications exams because of my prior experience with "paper" certified people! I hope my recent testing experience is the norm and Microsoft has figured out how to test people on what they know and not what they can cram into their tiny, little heads. If they have, I am starting to see the value of certifications!

My next exam is 70-620...for real. This time I'm not kidding. I have my book and everything! Stay tuned and I'll let you know how this one turns out...

Book Shopping...Then and Now!

I really, really dislike big box bookstores! As my readers know, I am looking into what my next certification exam will be. I have since decided to do the Vista Configuration exam (70-620). Anyway, I went to the local big box bookstore to find a book to supplement my training and would you believe it, nothing in stock! In fact, there are four big box bookstores within a 30 minute drive from my house and none of them had anything either!!!!! GURRRRRRR!!! This is not the first time this particular chain did not have the topic in stock I wanted! It probably happens about 80% of the time. The computer book section at this particular chain is filled with books for the home user and the hobbyist! There is only a handful of shelves set aside for the technical user! The thing that makes me most angry is this chain in particular is making the old way of shopping for books obsolete. I have been in IT since 1995 and have been using computers since the Timex Sinclar 1000 hit the market in 1982. My point is this, in the 80's and 90's there was a bookstore in Waterloo called "The Computer Bookstore", it sold books on computers! A whole store geared to the hobby and profession of IT. Whenever I had need for a book, I could go there and I would be guaranteed to find multiple books on any subject I needed. I started my IT career as a developer and often had need of books on particular programming topics such as database development and serial communications. Not only did I have no trouble finding what I was looking for at the Computer Bookstore, I was able to take it home the very same day!

I must admit, I did eventually order a book from this particular big box store. I realized that IT is all about change...that doesn't mean I have to like it!

WWITPRO Project Management Presentation

Here is the link to my presentation: PM-WWITPRO.pdf!

Thank you all for your interest! Sorry it took me so long to get it up! If you have any questions about my presentation, feel free to post them as a comment and I will give you an answer as soon as I can.

New CompTIA Convert!

I have been reading allot of forum posts debating the value of CompTIA's A+ and Network+ certifications so I wanted to add my two cents. Anyways, I have been in IT since 1995 and have done just about everything in the IT field. I started my career during the time of the Great Paper Certification Crisis of the late 90's. Like many people, I have plenty horror stories of MCSEs who couldn't properly diagnose simple problems. This turned me off of certification completely for many years! I never had anyone ask me if I was certified or not and never gave certification a second thought...until one of my friends challenged me to put my money where my mouth is. He taunted me with the old "If certifications are so easy to get you should have no trouble getting them." I accepted the challenge and have successfully passed both A+(2007) and Network+(2005/2007), and in the process have developed a new found respect for both of those certifications.

The new A+ objectives are very relevant to today's workforce and someone who passes these two exams would make an excellent addition to any business. The best new topics, in my opinion are the soft skills such as communication skills, professionalism, safety and IT environmental issues. In today's business world, these four things will have an increasing impact on how the IT department operates. It is good to see this reflected in a industry standard certification. In fact, my biggest issue with the A+ exams was these four topics should have a higher importance!

Network+ is also an excellent exam. It covers a wide range of topics including Windows, Netware, Linux, Unix and Apple networking in addition to the theory and troubleshooting techniques. Unlike many of the forum posts I read, I thought the inclusion of such a wide variety of Network Operating Systems a wise move on CompTIA's part. I have only ever had to network Windows PCs so it was good to see that the Network+ exam was truly vendor neutral, and contains questions on just about anything you are likely to see in the field. Network+ was last updated in 2005 and refreshed in 2007. I feel Comptia needs to update Network+ to be more like the A+ exam. There was very little emphasis on soft skills and I feel that the Network+ exam should include topics on network documentation and maybe expanding on the topology topic to include simple network design questions.

CompTIA does not make A+ mandatory to write the Network+ exam. Saying that, I think you should write A+ first. Microsoft allows you to use your A+ and Network+ certifications as your elective for your MCSA. This shows the value Microsoft perceives in attaining these certifications!

I also like the fact that these certifications do not expire. I do however think that CompTIA should try and include some sort of continuing education to ensure that you remain relevant. Weather it includes additional certifications or reading journals or attending classes.

I will continue to post my certification journey on my blog so stay tuned! Next stop Vista or maybe my CCNA!