Author Archives: halberenson

First Windows 7 Experience

Posted on January 13, 2009 by halberenson

(Note: This is all personal experience at home…it isn’t related to my employment.) I downloaded and installed the Windows 7 Beta on my decommissioned SBS machine.  I’d intended to put a real graphics board in it, but hadn’t gotten around … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Comments Off on First Windows 7 Experience

Can infrastructure get rusty after just 6 years?

Posted on January 12, 2009 by halberenson

Well, the answer is yes.  I finished ripping all my CDs, which was painful but now that it’s done IT’S DONE.  Then I ripped out the damn Escient Fireball and associated Sony CD Jukebox.  But now I realize I can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Entertainment | 5 Comments

Ripping CDs

Posted on December 20, 2008 by halberenson

The most painful part of redoing my home entertainment setup is re-ripping all our CDs.  When we built the house 5 years ago (and made decisions even before that) we went with a then state-of-the-art Escient Fireball as our music … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Entertainment | Comments Off on Ripping CDs

Pandora Internet Radio

Posted on December 20, 2008 by halberenson

I’d heard about Pandora some time ago but never gave it a try.  The other day during a discussion about how I was going to start redoing my home media setup over the holidays my friend Mark mentioned how great … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Pandora Internet Radio

Mobile Developer

Posted on December 19, 2008 by halberenson

Several months ago I decided it was time to get back into a product role and after considering several options recently joined the Mobile Developer effort in Microsoft’s Developer Division.  The Mobile Developer team is responsible for the development technologies … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Entertainment | Comments Off on Mobile Developer

Moving to Software As A Service

Posted on December 6, 2008 by halberenson

Prior to returning to Microsoft I’d co-founded a SaaS startup, PredictableIT, that included hosted Exchange in it’s offering.  I moved the email for my old consulting business (which I re-started between PredictableIT and rejoining Microsoft) to the PredictableIT server.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet | Comments Off on Moving to Software As A Service

Map-Reduce

Posted on September 10, 2008 by halberenson

I make it a habit to stay away from databases these days, but I tripped over this (slightly) old blog entry from Dave DeWitt and Mike Stonebraker on Map-Reduce.  I like Dave and Mike’s thinking, but then I guess I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet | 1 Comment

I’m Back!

Posted on September 10, 2008 by halberenson

I’ve ignored this blog for too long, but I’m back

Posted in Housekeeping | Comments Off on I’m Back!

GM and Hybrids

Posted on May 22, 2008 by halberenson

Ok, I don’t get it.  The new Malibu Hybrid gets less than 10% MPG improvement over the non-Hybrid version in both city and highway mileage.  The Toyota Camry Hybrid shows a 57% improvement on city and just under 10% on … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | 2 Comments

Rural America is adapting to rising fuel prices

Posted on May 22, 2008 by halberenson

Three years ago, with gas prices on the rise, one of my friends got tired of pouring $ into her F250 for going to/from work, shopping, etc.  She absolutely needed the F250 to pull her horse trailer, but it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy | Comments Off on Rural America is adapting to rising fuel prices