Archives for the Month of December 2006 on Ronald Cordaro's Online Journal
MIDS, Oh' The Memories
Today, I am dedicating my final blog for this class to the professor that makes it all possible when it comes to the great subject of MIDS, Professor Avital. Through out this semester, we have all learned, laughed, giggled, smirked, chuckled, slept, drool, eat, and work together. All of these fun activities were do to the great leadership of our teacher. I did not know what to expect when I first walked into MIDS, but after meeting the professor who at times teaches seriously, and at other comes up with some very funny and not so serious comments, I knew that I had made the right decision for signing up for this class. It has been a very fun semester and I will miss this subject, and especially the instructor.
I think the best part about Professor Avital is his ability to make people laugh. There were times when we would talking abut information systems that I was almost sleeping, but then the professor would call on someone for an example and no matter if it was a good example like an e-business, or something as weird as a bar of soap, Professor Avital used it and made it work and that was very funny.
I thought my favorite experiment for the semester was the play that we acted out about a company and their concerns with information sharing and systems. Professor Avital wrote the entire play, which is something that I have never really found with any of my other professors. That must have been time consuming, but it was very interesting and had some rewarding issues within the lines.
I felt that the worst part about MIDS was that is was only held on Tuesday and Thursday. This is a class that I believe needs to be held every day, and only for half the usual amount of time on Sunday. I know that might sound stupid and not possible, but think of how much we could learn about IT.
I really did learn a lot this semester. Tools such as groove and Wikipedia that I never once used are now part of my weekly activity. I found out quicker ways to share information, and extremely cool ways to write blogs. Professor Avital did a great job keeping us enthusiastic, and I am going to miss MIDS 301.
The Internet, Just Like Any Other Product
When dealing with the case presented in class last week, both teams supported their arguments very well. If I had to pick a winner for the debate, I would defiantly have to go with those who were against having a fixed cost and bandwidth for all internet users. I was a judge, so I guess by me saying I agreed with them that in fact entitle them to be proclaimed winners.
Having a fixed cost and bandwidth does not allow the economy to grow. I realized that the argument that each household would get the same amount would in fact take away from slow internet because of over users, but some people just need to over use. I felt that the best example would be a small e-business ran out of some ones home. For example, one of my friends owns his own business where he sells books over the internet. He has multiple operating systems and need to be online at all times. His internet usage may cause it to be slower for other people, but he pays for that advantage. People who have money always get the nicer things. That is just how the world works, and it has been like that forever. Now, if the internet usage was a fixed rate, he would not be able to do as much business. He would make fewer profits, and not need more internets, but that does absolutely nothing for the economy. In some sorts, it makes the economy worse off. If a small business owner can not profit due to the internet, than he will become less wealthy which will bring the entire wealth of the country down. We want just the opposite of that. We want to make money, and make this country more profitable. Information sharing systems and pc were created to do this. To make every day business efforts easier, and to share information more efficiently. By not allowing people to take advantage of this, we are simply keeping the economy from being better off.
I also understand that the people who want a fixed rate have the argument that everyone will get the same amount of internet for the same costs, which will make a more competitive market. This is not true, because it will not allow for any industry leaders. Yes, it will probably get rid of monopolies, but these are almost non-existent anyways. If people want to pay more to have a better internet, than so be it. Who is anyone to tell someone what they can and can not spend their money on? The internet is just like any other product, and for the right cost it could be as good as individual wishes it to be.
Im Gonna Be Rich!!! Scott Trade
For Christmas I am specifically asking my family members to give me money. Although they probably think I want the money to go the local bar night every night, they are wrong. I will only go to the bar a couple of times, other than that I want to put the money into good use. I will use it to start my own account on Scott Trade. 500 dollars is the amount needed to do this, and hopefully I will achieve my goal in getting that much.
Scott Trade is an online stock account. This website allows thousands of people and young college kids like me to trade stocks online at which ever pace they want. Years ago, trading stocks had to be done over the phone and through a stock broker. Today, the vast majority of it is done over the internet. It is yet another perk of e-commerce. I can simply wake up every day and trade stocks with no broker involved. I will simply log in to Scott Trade and start buying and selling. They charge a fixed rate for each transaction, which in the long run still saves people a ton of money when comparing to what it would cost to get a stock broker. The only disadvantage of Scott trade is that there is no broker to give you advice. But when you are as young and intelligent as some one like me, brokers are not really needed. On a more serious note, the advantage of not having a broker is mainly that you get to make your own decisions with out any one else telling you what to do all of the time. For Instance, if I am going to lose money I want to know that the main reason I lost it is because I am an idiot and made my own choice to gamble, not because I took the advice of someone else, who is charging me for it.
Scott Trade is another perfect example of an E-business that has just flourished over time. Most of my fellow college population uses Scott Trade to make transactions. The bottom line is that it is just easier top use than a broker and it cost less money. People can make a living off of simply waking up and trading stocks open their computers in their own homes, and that was a subject that I felt was necessary talk about.
Windows Vista , Thank You Microsoft
Operating Systems have changed the common way of life. A computer holds some of the key elements of a person’s daily activity. For instance, waking up and checking your email. This is something that I partake in every day, as well as all of my roommates and family members. Our emails are almost more important than our answering machines. Messages can be sent quickly, read, and replied. I also like to check the weather out before work, or see the latest news. This is all done with in minutes by the use of my computer. Every thing that has to do with my operating system is all because of Windows. Windows was created by Bill Gates and Microsoft, and after a long and awaited time, they are upgrading their software in less than one year from now. Windows will now be called Windows Vista. Windows Vista has been created mainly to deal with security issues. Activities such as searching the web or emails can often be viewed by others with out consent of the writer or searcher. Windows Vista is also going to offer a better search engine to compete with Google. Google will actually run and own the engine that Windows Vista will probably still call MSN, but it will be upgraded and more advanced to help people find exactly what they want and quicker. Windows has taken all sarcasm out of searches, so people are not viewing pages of which no interest comply.
The system is being introduced to provide more safety for personal computers. Operating System components such as Symantec and Norton antivirus are not going any where. These will still be very important factors, but much easier to use and manage. Even though these are still needed, Windows Vista will give a variety of antivirus systems to choose from, giving every one the chance to use their personal taste when choosing. Although these activities are still needed, Windows Vista increases the safety of computers significantly
I really thought that it was necessary to talk about this new system because of how important information and operating systems are today. Seriously, almost everything revolves around computers. There are people who buy their wives off the internet. I would attach a link, but I really don’t want to be one of those people who search for a web site like that, but there are people out there who do. This new Windows will probably once again enhance society’s technological advancement, and make everyone better off. Technology is the cause for more efficient business, and I am sure that more businesses and especially E-businesses will benefit from this new creation.