Point to point, point observation
I'm thinking of starting another blog that talks about using SharePoint in a home environment. While I haven't run across any that discusses the subject, there's certainly no shortage of SharePoint blogs out there. Tho while I'd hate for this blog to morph into a running technical commentary, when I'm busy and distracted I don't write enough here, let alone another one.
I've only really used Windows SharePoint Services (WSS), the downloadable adjust to Windows Server 2003 that features the core coponents. On my system at home, it's a bit clunky, but what remains intact is SharePoints simplicty , clear logic, and unity of concept - it's likely the most intutive "system" I've come to use.
An unanticipatedside-effect was a (somewhat) necessary ramp-up in interest in some of the various associated technologies.
While Microsoft hypes WSS to business as a turnkey solution (and on some points, it is), it's as much a tinkerer's toy as any open-source server. I've found out through trial and error that there's a lot one needs to contextually understand to get the full benefit of the thing. Starting from scratch, one is quickly forced to carefully consider how one approaches and deals with information from multiple angles. It's not just X and Y axes, but X, Y, Z, back to A and all the way through again.
It's also very technical. You have to understand the basics of databases, client-server relationships, security. While Microsoft architects the WSS system, many of the tools are coded by geeks patching together thieir own systems. I've probably written more scripts in the past six months than I have previously in my career. Who knew VBscript was so handy? Not I. It's been challenging, frustrating, and also rewarding. I'm coming in from a unique perspective - this is my own adventure, I'm my site's sole sponsor, it's (junior-to middling level) system administrator, itsinformation architect, and user. And what's emerging is more than an aggregation of my data, but a evolving lesson and mapping excursion of my learning processes.
Yeah, that sounds pretty suiqshy and melodramatic, and it is, but there we are. Ask anybody that's ever drawn a paycheck in the information architecture field, and they'll tell ya that it's extremely difficult avoiding utopian language. But the reality is that SharePoint has enabled me to get a grasp around how I approach problems and situations, and to see that process visually. Things become less abstract. It also stimulates my creativity - the thing's as skinnable as WinAmp. Dig this sexy page:
This is my default page. I laid out the page, colors, and table cells for the various sections. Within each section are Web Parts - easily movable, configurable, and customizable snap-in modules. In the left column, the weather is a Web Part, so are the library tree, and statistics. Fully integrated Outlook modules make up the center, and on the right are the handful of RSS feeds I care to read more than once a day.
The links point to the various SharePoint "sites" that dedicated to my finances, my libraries of pdf/chm e-books, fonts, and images, my personal portfolio, computer configuration data - the works. It's been slow building out, but hey, it's one guy with a lotta shizzle. Whenever I open my browser, I can check my email and schedule at glance. And it looks pretty... 'cept the broken bullets on the lower right, but that's my fault. :-)
And speaking of pretty, the new Windows Vista fonts, engineered to make full use of the ClearType technology, are a marvel. I personally love Calibri and Corbel, and have already switched all my standard system fonts over to them. They're not released yet, but are available to beta testers. Microsoft is spanking anybody that tries to distribute them outside of the beta program, so don't look here.
I've only really used Windows SharePoint Services (WSS), the downloadable adjust to Windows Server 2003 that features the core coponents. On my system at home, it's a bit clunky, but what remains intact is SharePoints simplicty , clear logic, and unity of concept - it's likely the most intutive "system" I've come to use.
An unanticipatedside-effect was a (somewhat) necessary ramp-up in interest in some of the various associated technologies.
While Microsoft hypes WSS to business as a turnkey solution (and on some points, it is), it's as much a tinkerer's toy as any open-source server. I've found out through trial and error that there's a lot one needs to contextually understand to get the full benefit of the thing. Starting from scratch, one is quickly forced to carefully consider how one approaches and deals with information from multiple angles. It's not just X and Y axes, but X, Y, Z, back to A and all the way through again.
It's also very technical. You have to understand the basics of databases, client-server relationships, security. While Microsoft architects the WSS system, many of the tools are coded by geeks patching together thieir own systems. I've probably written more scripts in the past six months than I have previously in my career. Who knew VBscript was so handy? Not I. It's been challenging, frustrating, and also rewarding. I'm coming in from a unique perspective - this is my own adventure, I'm my site's sole sponsor, it's (junior-to middling level) system administrator, itsinformation architect, and user. And what's emerging is more than an aggregation of my data, but a evolving lesson and mapping excursion of my learning processes.
Yeah, that sounds pretty suiqshy and melodramatic, and it is, but there we are. Ask anybody that's ever drawn a paycheck in the information architecture field, and they'll tell ya that it's extremely difficult avoiding utopian language. But the reality is that SharePoint has enabled me to get a grasp around how I approach problems and situations, and to see that process visually. Things become less abstract. It also stimulates my creativity - the thing's as skinnable as WinAmp. Dig this sexy page:
The links point to the various SharePoint "sites" that dedicated to my finances, my libraries of pdf/chm e-books, fonts, and images, my personal portfolio, computer configuration data - the works. It's been slow building out, but hey, it's one guy with a lotta shizzle. Whenever I open my browser, I can check my email and schedule at glance. And it looks pretty... 'cept the broken bullets on the lower right, but that's my fault. :-)
And speaking of pretty, the new Windows Vista fonts, engineered to make full use of the ClearType technology, are a marvel. I personally love Calibri and Corbel, and have already switched all my standard system fonts over to them. They're not released yet, but are available to beta testers. Microsoft is spanking anybody that tries to distribute them outside of the beta program, so don't look here.
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