The Barrie/Midland IT folks gathered for their monthly Strategic Interest Group session at Weber Manufacturing on June 8th.  The discussions at these sessions are always lively and technical (of course).

The writer apologizes, in advance, for any misspelling of IT terms and software names. This, over the years the group has been holding sessions, has been a source of amusement for the IT folks but, at the same time, a fine line is walked between getting the discussion points correct and not interrupting the discussion.  (Mea culpa - I am not "techie" myself - although I know a lot more about computers and systems and what goes on behind the scenes to keep your computers running (safely and securely) than I did a few years ago!)

The discussion on the 8th of June centred on:

• Project mgmt software & ERP systems - integration and lack thereof
• IT consultants
• SAP conversions
• BEZ Express vs. Enterprise
• Blackberries - data plans & replacement handsets
• Cell phone usage - work vs. personal
• Rogers & Bell both running fiber now
• Atria vs. Bell
• Microsoft Office 2010 has been released
• Open Office - not good with macros
• Google Apps - good as long as you do not have really complicated documents
• Cloud computing - store locally
• Software sales people
• Virus protection on servers only
• Instant updates - difficulties
• Desktop Central to delete unwanted software
• Power shutdowns
• APC  Network Management Card
• Password changes - how frequent, how complex
• Security issues
• Shadow copy
• Lotus Notes issues

The next session is schedled for September 14th.  Details will be forthcoming.