Windows IT Pro Community Forum, May 2012

Just the Way You Are

Don't go changing, trying to please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't read you anymore

I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far, no WITPro
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll read you just the way you are!

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change your format, please don't dare, WITPro
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever digitization
And I'll never use an iPad, no WITPro
I just want something to hold on to
I want you just the way you are!

I need to know that you will always be
The same old print mag that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you

I said I read you and that's forever
And this I promise from my heart, oh WITPro
I could not read you any better,
I want you just the way you are!

I don't want clever digitization
And I'll never use an iPad, no WITPro
I just want something to hold on to,
I want you just the way you are!

—Dimitrios Kalemis

Dimitri Come Back

Spending all our nights,
All our time, editing the digital editions
Doing anything just to get print off of our minds
And when the morning comes
We're hot-linking interactive features
Trying to avoid digital is just a waste of time

Dimitri come back!
Any IT pro can see
There is something in everything about WITPro
Dimitri come back!
You can blame it on technology
Print is done and we just can't live without you

All day long, inserting audio, video, and social media feeds
Optimizing for PCs, tablets, and smartphones
And as the sun goes down
We get that digital feeling again
How we wish to God that Dimitri were here

Dimitri come back!
Any IT pro can see
There is something in everything about WITPro
Dimitri come back!
You can blame it on technology
Print is done and we just can't live without you

Now that we've put the digital edition together
Dimitri, give us the chance to make you see
We know there's room in your heart for digital
Room enough for WITPro
Click some links, just wait and see

Dimitri come back!
Any IT pro can see
There is something in everything about WITPro
Dimitri come back!
Listen Dimitri
You can blame it on technology
Print is done and we just can't live without you

—Windows IT Pro Editors
(lyrics by Lavon Peters, managing editor; vocals by Michele Crockett, VP of Content Services, Penton Marketing Services; piano by Bob Montgomery)

Long Live Windows XP

I read Jeff James’s article, “Long Live Windows XP” (January 2012, InstantDoc ID 141341). If Microsoft is having problems moving people from XP to Windows 7, this will be nothing like the problems the company will have trying to get people to move to Windows 8. Anybody halfway interested in Windows 8 has already downloaded the development version and played with it. The experience for me was like forgetting everything you know and starting over again (but there is no Start).

When it came to the changeover from Office 2003 to Office 2007, I admit I resisted the change. I saw no benefit in learning a completely new interface. After all, I spent a lot of time becoming proficient with this piece of software and therefore was reluctant to give that knowledge away, just for the change. Nonetheless, because I work in IT, I made the change and now I enjoy the simplicity of Office 2010 and wouldn’t think of going back.

My change from XP to Windows 7 was a breeze, mainly because Windows Vista did the hard work, making it easy for those of us who held off until to Windows 7. But users moving to Windows 8 will find it to be a radical change. I understand the thinking behind the unification of the OS across all devices. But at the end of the day, Windows 8 is intended for tablets and phones, not for 24” desktop screens. What happens to my soothing desktop pictures? Will I be stuck with the green card-table look just because it easier on everyone’s tablet resources?

Microsoft is going to have big problems selling Windows 8 to corporate America. What companies using XP will be rushing to Windows 8, especially when they know that this change will require more training than moving to Windows 7? I’ll get Windows 8 and learn to use it, but only because it’s my job. Why does Windows Server 8 have to have this interface? I’m too old for this.

By the way, great magazine! I love it!

—Chris Doolan