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The author reflects on the usefulness of newly hired employees in the information technology industry. He explains how new employees are often surprised to see kludgy procedures or freezing computer networks, but soon get used to these small problems. However, he notes that new employees are able to see problems that older employees ignore, and believes that this opportunity should be used to acquire information about how a system works.

The article compares a real architect, the professional who gets licensure examination supervised by the government to use such title, with an information technology (IT) architect. According to the author, IT architect pales in comparison to the real architect in terms of project designing, high level planning, estimating and adjusting of project cost, selling to clients and most importantly the owning of responsibility for the whole project. He says that having all these job characteristics will ensure a good reputation and success for the IT business.

The author comments on the issues surrounding the rejection of Microsoft's Office Open XML (OOXML) file format as an international standard. He believes that the rejection is unfortunate since he finds the standard important for organizations that need a well-defined, XML-based format to manage huge numbers of documents that may be archived for decades. He suggests the need for OOXML to be worked over carefully, over time, with a focus to meeting customers' needs.

The article highlights breakthrough technological innovations in the information technology industry since the 1960s. IBM introduced a revolutionary technology that allowed users of its System/360 mainframe to use future versions of the machine without rewriting software. Other technological advancements cited include Ethernet, personal computers, Macintosh computers from Apple and the Linux operating system.

The article focuses on the decision of a judge in Silicon Valley, California to drop all charges filed against several executives of Hewlett-Packard (HP) involved in a pretexting scandal. It states that the scandal occurred when news reporters and HP board members were spied on and impersonated as part of an effort to prevent leaks to the media. It provides a background on the case. It cites the potential federal charges that the executives involved will face following the court's ruling.

The article reflects on the developments in the information technology industry. It states that from a simple logistics of primitive data processing, companies learned to adopt automation, process re-engineering business transformation to ensure that business advantage is delivered on time. It considers hardware and software vendors as those who often pitch speeds and feeds instead of business flexibility. It adds that the industry is still dependent on the cooperation of business-side executives and managers.

The article pays tribute to the late Ray Noorda, former CEO of software company Novell Inc.

Comments on the advice given by Mike Danseglio, a Microsoft security expert, on how to fix a personal computer (PC) infected with a malware known as rootkit. Ways to prevent computer viruses; Problems associated with rootkits; Approaches suggested instead of wiping and reinstalling Windows on any PC infected with rootkits.

Presents insights on the announcement by Microsoft Vista in March 2006 on the delay of the delivery of the next version of Windows. Implications of the delay to information technology shops; Views on the Vista software product of Microsoft; Promise made by Vista boss Jim Allchin regarding the delivery of the product.

Focuses on the need to implement major technological innovations. Reasons behind users' dislike of minor innovations.

Reflects on the use of IPv6, the next generation Internet protocol. Conclusion of a report conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce's IPv6 Task Force; Effective way that could promote the use of IPv6; Key features and advantages of IPv6.

The article reflects on the response of Microsoft Corp. on computer security. According to security experts, the Windows media format (WMF) patch of Microsoft worked and did not conflict with a non-Microsoft patch that was already available. But decision makers of the company have underestimated the seriousness of the WMF threat.

The article comments on the product from IBM Corp. which could help businesses in dealing with the problem posed by the attrition of employees from the baby boom generation. It questions the significance of the IBM tool that could help companies hire employees who will replace the baby boomers. It emphasizes the importance for businesses to extract the knowledge of boomers on the business before they retire. It suggests ways by which firms can collect data essential to their business from their retiring employees.

Discusses the characteristics of people who will not survive in the information technology (IT) business. State of IT employment in the U.S. as of September 2005; Factors that IT people should consider to survive in the business; Importance of understanding how the business works.

Offers advice on training information technology users. Approaches to training users; Reason for training the users the wrong way; Significance of the questions asked by users about the new system.

Comments on the claim of a Websense press release regarding an amount being lost due to Internet use of employees in the U.S. as of August 19, 2005. Significance of the Internet to employees; Consumption of the amount by corporate information technology; Problems of the computer industry that have potential loss such as spam.

Provides information on the Summer of Code program sponsored by Google which allows information technology students to propose an open-source project. Prizes for the winners of the program; Benefits of the program to Google; Number of students that can enter the program.

Comments on the effect of a cellular telephone data theft incident that happened to actress Paris Hilton on data security. History of hacking on the servers of T-Mobile; Information on the illegal access of information committed to U.S. Secret Service agent Peter Cavicchia; Ways to protect the data of the company.

Comments on the Project Fusion of Oracle Corp., which is supposed to be ready by 2008. Overview of the project; Description of enterprise resource planning migration; Impact of the project on the computer software industry; Length of time needed by Oracle to work a technology miracle in migration.

Comments on the implementation of the appropriate-use policy for information technology by the U.S. Navy effective Spring 2005. Coverage of the Internet usage policy; Goals of the policy; Implications of the policy for Internet users.

Comments on the action taken by Sun Microsystems Inc. to put the source code for the next version of Java on the Internet. Comments from Matt Thompson, Sun's director of Java technology on the issue; Information on the many eyeballs effect of open source; Implications of the decision of Sun to use the Java Research License.

Comments on the intellectual property indemnification program of Microsoft Corp. Information on the program; Benefits of the program to the company; Speculated motive behind the program.

Commemorates the 40th anniversary of the launching of the System/360 mainframe computer of IBM. Comparison of computers before and after the introduction of 360; Impact of 360 on the computer industry.

Offers suggestions for IT managers to avoid burnout by employees in the IT industry. Impact of burnout on the performance of employees; Importance of understanding the burnout problem; Need to address the needs of employees; Ways to motivate employees and improve their morale.

Comments on the predictions of Microsoft Corp. executive Dave Stutz on the direction of the computer software industry. Discussion on how should observers evaluate his predictions; Hints about possible strategies Microsoft Corp. will employ to maintain its lead in the industry.

Focuses on customer service in the information technology (IT). Needs and demands of customers from IT companies; Misconceptions regarding customers and products; Role of IT companies to their customers.

Provides information on the amount that computer bugs can cost the information technology industry in the U.S. Estimates on the yearly cost of computer software errors; Cost that can be saved through feasible improvements in software testing; Ways of preventing computer bugs.

Comments on the reasons of companies for not considering software configuration management software as one of their information technology needs. Concept of software configuration management; Reasons for the high cost of software configuration management; Application of software configuration management.

Criticizes the U.S. Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act, a uniform state law proposed by Los Angeles, California Congressman Howard Berman that will allow copyright holders to use technological self-help measures against peer-to-peer networks. Information on the proposed law; Discussion of how the proposed law will legalize computer hacking.

Provides tips on how to cope with the possibility of being laid off from the information technology industry. Development of skills; Cost control; Adjustment of priorities.

Details the security measures taken by information technology professional at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia after they discovered that a server in their business office had been hacked. Assessment of the extent of the security problem; Role of the police and banks in solving the problems; Content of the memorandum addressed to people affected by the problems.

Deals with a computer hacker who pointed a proxy hunter at the Web site of Comcast Corp. Overview of the incident; Questions that should be considered concerning the administration of Web servers; Benefit of the incident to Comcast.