David Coursey

The last seven days have been busy ones for Microsoft. In a single week beginning last Friday, the company gave Longhorn its new name, took the wraps off Beta 1 of the new OS (but couldnt ship it), implemented a mandatory version of the Genuine Advantage verification program and met with the financial analyst community. […]

Im not sure who Cisco is trying to impress with its attempt to silence Michael Lynns revelation of holes in its Internetwork Operating System. At the same time, I wonder what point Mr. Lynn is trying to make, but its obviously something he feels is worth quitting his job and getting sued over. Unless I […]

Click here to view a slideshow of Windows Vista Beta 1. In the Windows world right now there are two types of people: Beta Ones and Beta Twos. Each group will have a different reaction to the Wednesday beta release of Microsofts next-generation operating system, formerly known as Longhorn. Developers and need-to-know IT professionals are […]

Windows Vista, huh? About the time when “Longhorn” was starting to sound like a workable permanent name, Microsoft releases a dopey video—I am still not certain of its significance—and a name that, well, does it really matter what the name is? “Vista” is not a word I commonly use. As a kid, the neighbors had […]

I am at the beginning of maybe doing what for me would be a major blog project. So, I am spending a lot of time thinking about what makes blogs different from other mediums. As best I can tell—and maybe I am missing something—the answer is: not much. As the Catalyst Groups recent blog usability […]

Hot news: Sales taxes are going to be collected on purchases made over the Internet. It will take a new federal law and a clearinghouse arrangement to handle distribution of the revenue, but its going to happen. Thats not a prediction, thats a promise. And it will happen within five years, too. I am not […]

If youre honest about blogs and you pay close attention, there isnt very much in a blog-usability study thats going to surprise you. If, however, youve signed up, been drawn in, drank the Kool-Aid or have merely gone simple, the Catalyst Groups new report is a must-read. Or maybe its just that youve never thought […]

Theres a quick way for Microsoft to extract itself from the controversy over its anti-spyware program and its rumored plan to buy Claria, the big spyware company. I can also think of a slow way, but the quick one is more fun. Here goes: Just change the name of the software from Microsoft Anti-Spyware to […]

Good news for Plaxo users: Thanks to the just-announced AOL deal, Plaxo probably wont go broke. Lacking a means to attract the 10-to-20 million users needed to turn a profit, Plaxo was running out of money. The company had $20 million when it started in 2001 and, by my estimation, is now down to $10 […]

The moral of this story may be that if youre going to use someone elses Wi-Fi network, dont draw attention to yourself. Thats the mistake a Florida man made, and now hes charged with a third-degree felony. The Associated Press reports that Benjamin Smith III was spotted using a laptop in his car while parked […]