Win-dose

The launch of a new operating system is typically a time of anticipation, trepidation, excitement, and on occasion, frustration. Microsoft has been associated with the last one – frustration on many occasions. However, this time, with the beta release of the Windows 7 OS, they do appear to have a formula that works, finally.

Since I only installed it yesterday, I’m still testing it out, and figuring out stuff. But, based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m penning down my thoughts here.

1) Performance – It surely seems much, much faster than that previous behemoth – Vista. The reason being – sound common sense in design. Earlier OSes ran a host of background services, to enable users to access them anytime. For example, even if you were not using your bluetooth, its processes would keep running, and wasting processing power. Now, the OS only starts a service when needed. Simple, right?

It loads faster, makes you wait less to open applications, and is a much more pleasing OS.

However, I’m not yet sure if it will slow down over the next few days, as I keep adding a slew of programs.

 

2) Look ‘n’ feel – Broadly, it looks similar to Vista, except for a more ‘glassy’ feel to it. A couple of additions here are shown below:

If you hover over those little windows, their contents get displayed on the screen, without the windows being active. You click the window once, and presto! It opens.

Also, Windows 7 has got rid of that memory hogging sidebar that had gadgets. Now, you can add gadgets independently to the desktop, at whichever location you wish. Of course, the memory consumed is lesser too.

3) Enhancements – If you have a ‘touch’ PC, you’ve got it made. Handwriting recognition, surface touch – this version has it all. Speech recognition is supposedly better too. (I haven’t had the time to test it out yet.)

4) Control Panel – This is one feature I don’t like anymore. The control panel looks cluttered and unwieldy. Sample this:

Of course, you can get a simpler view too. But then, it doesn’t give you full features, right? So, take your pick.

5) Other added features – One of the best is that Microsoft has added a ‘Jump’ menu. When you hover over a program icon in the Start menu, some of the recentmost files opened using that program appear on a list.

Overall, the OS is speedy, efficient, and likeable. Though, I don’t understand why MS decided to remove the Windows Live programs like Movie Maker, Messenger etc. and made them optionally downloadable from its site.

Another grouse that I have is that the blue screen of death (BSOD) is still the same!! I got one yesterday, and it was as terrifying as ever. I hope MS can make it more useful to an average user in Beta 2 or the final release.

This is not meant to be a techie’s review – just a normal user’s. So, please bear with it, write back if you need to add more, or suggest anything. In case you plan to download Windows 7, visit here

Be a 'STAR'

Naturally, for many of us, filling up complicated forms is a big challenge. Some questions in these forms may include:

• "Describe a tough scenario that you faced at work and how you handled it,"
• "Narrate an incident where you made a grave mistake at your job," or
• "Write about how you demonstrated your abilities to take charge of a situation at work"

Intimidated? Don't be! Answering these questions is rather easy, if you just follow a bit of a structured thought process. This process is called the STAR technique, not just because it helps you become one, but because it's an acronym too. :P

STAR stands for:

1. Situation - What was the scenario?
2. Task - What should have happened?
3. Action - What did you do?
4. Result - What was the final outcome?

In the situation description, try and explain briefly, in layman's language, what was the scenario like. Don't make it cound like the heavens were about to fall on your head, but still, don't hesitate to add details. (Remember - layman's language, please... )

Talk about what the ideal, utopian scenario would have been while describing the task. (Essentially, this will create a contrast between the earlier chaotic scenario, and what should have happened. :P )

And now, enters our dynamic hero/heroine. :D How did you bridge the gap between the actual and the expected situation? What did you do? Try not to say "I led....," "I did this and that..." Make it more subtle. Instead of making it a direct narration of your leadership skills, bring out leadership traits that you displayed. (I know....tough to be modest, but try it... )

Ah! What did our hero accomplish? Write about the final outcome, any accolades, and your learnings from the experience.

Note: If you do this entire process well, you can make a failed attempt at something also sound positive.

Overall, the entire technique works well with tough professional/educational situations, activities you were thrust into without being given adequate skills/knowledge, when you found your team without effective leadership, conflict situations, and times when you tried very hard but failed.

P.S. Happy 'STARring' and all the best!!

'Depression' time for Morgan Stanley...

Surely, the US economy is sinking into recession. Even the most die-hard of optimists wouldn't predict happier times in the near future. Lehman is sunk. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are afloat, but barely so. Wall Street should probably be renamed 'Mauled' Street, considering the current scheme of things.

So, what has Morgan Stanley - one of the erstwhile i-banks, done to try and save itself from going under? 

First, it converted itself to a bank holding company. Now, what in the name of God is that?? Nothing too complicated really, if you keep the jargon aside. A bank holding company is nothing but a corporation that controls two or more banks. (I wonder why these Fin. folks have to make everything so damn complicated!!) The advantage of this is that the company will be closely monitored by the Federal Reserve (like our own RBI) and will be able to raise more capital from the market easily. (The how and why of this is somewhat more complicated and needs a separate discussion, so we'll dispense with it for now.)

So, Morgan Stanley had suffered majorly, during 2007's bloodbath - with its share prices having fallen by 60% during 2007. Hence, it had to sell 21% of its stock to Japan's largest bank, the Mitsubishi group, which is shelling out $9 billion for the same. 

Hopefully, the move will shore up investor confidence in the beleagured bank, and give it a new lease of life. You can safely bet that the honchos at Morgan Stanley and other top banks are praying for it. :)

Procter and Gamble

Some info about P&G - watch this blog for more info about more companies. (Do write back if you'd like to hear more about a particular company.)