Most people understand that real world experience > formal education and theory.

 

What inventory/asset tracking system do you use?

 

sysaid

http://www.ilient.com/

we absolutely love the product, runs great, simple, easy to teach users, has portal and even mobile aps, plus inventory tracking. its a combo product, helpdesk and inventory all in one.

 

Not always. I am a college grad, but have had computers surrounding me my whole life. Both my parents are developers and I ve had to work on all electronic equipment all the time. Overclocking really got me to learn the hardware and how to master diagnosing and fixing random problems. I am pretty well rounded in computer programming, networking, PC/Tech support, application support, Server config, web pages, graphic arts, AV, it can go one forever. Anything Geek Squad, ClickAway, even some Computer Forensics companies can offer, on top of Network Admin.

In college I learned most of the programming, How to create a database from scratch, basic Telecom stuff, web pages and programming. Its like every computer intro class for every specific computer topic out there. Then, you choose a more specific route for your "career," I was lazy and picked Telecom. So I took, Computer Forensics, Wireless Technology, Telecom Management. Now, there are like 2-3 classes for each of those topics. Now, most of this knowledge will not directly apply to an IT job. So, when a new tech comes working at your company and while that guy, or me, has been in college for 4 years, you've taken your 3 IT classes at foothill or MCSE bootcamp and worked ever since is FOR SURE going to know more about IT.

I hear that saying about college grads all the time, and I totally agree. But what happens is your boss that hired both of you guys knows that the college guy might be better at certain things, like Management tasks. And, its happening to me right now. When my PM leaves and needs someone to finish a Visio, I am the only other guy in my office that knows it (which is really sad!), not the 3 IT classes guy.

Granted, when I first started working IT for small to medium size businesses, I didnt know ****. I had never used applications like PCA, or VNC. Didnt know what DRACs were, even how computers work in a domain, how embarrassing. But I knew programming, database, and how to apply an ERP system to some case study. Then, write a budget, Visio, sell it, JAD meeting, prototype...in the end, none of this stuff came into play. What about the Operations Management, Marketing, Finance, Law, Accounting, all the CIS, all the GE classes.

In the end, I get some guy saying he is better than me at what he does because he knows more about a job he has been trained at longer. Well, thats only temporary buddy.

What I am worried about is the guys with MBA's as much as you are worried about college grads.

 

Ryan. I feel your pain... End users can be the biggest pain the the *** ever!

Wanna get paul and me and you and blow up some old cpus and stuff?

It'll make you feel better

 

office space style? haha

 

i would think if it's company property (ie. they didn't pay for it), the employees shouldn't really complain about what they get

 

Ryball, this is exactly why I left the IT field 3 years ago. I empathize with your situation.

 

haha

Oh, to be so naive!

 

Oh they can complain, but the key is what power do you have to tell them to "shut up".

With the company I am with, as I said its 1 machine for all. Don't like it, so sorry, here is your computer, pre-loaded with software, your email is already set up, your background is chosen for you, your fonts pre selected, your start menu pre staged and set up...don't like them?....tuff **** that is company standards and we do not deviate from them.

Want to change company standards, great. First write a Kazan about it, then get it approved, then do your 5s' and sumital. Next get approval for your plan of implementation, and lastly and finally we can change things...see you in a year.

 

i guess corporate bureaucracy can be useful sometimes (if you're the IT guy who wants all the comps to be the same)

 

So why don't all you IT managers switch to Citrix and use Neoware thin client terminals. Then limit the laptops to higher ups only.
I've never worked in IT but this is what my IT dept has done for a company size of about 3000 spread out across the country. All of our IT is located in Indianapolis.


The one thing I can't stand though is IT disabled searching within files and folders.

 

You think your having fun now?
Wait until you start pushing voice packets around!!

 

HAHA group policy FTW!

that sucks. of all things to lock down.. why the search? maybe so you cant do a keyword search for salary etc etc.. but all of that stuff should be locked away to where you cant see it anyhow.

 

We have 2 IT people for our company(including me)...5 locations in 4 states from West to East coast, over 300 employees.

IT sets the specs/policy...if IT doesn't buy it...then IT doesn't support it. We have no more than 5 desktop/laptop setups, it will be down to 2 or 3 within a years time.

Just stick to your guns, there's a reason we are better than everyone else, haha.