|
|
|
 |
|
February 18, 2002
|
|
"I can understand MacVittie's enthusiasm for WDO 1.1--I'll take two copies of any product that can deliver a one-minute download, two minutes before it's requested."
Brian Miller, Independent Consultant
|
|
Mathematics for Dummies
I suppose Lori MacVittie has been taken to task for her claim that Web Data Optimizer 1.1 decreased transfer time by 300 percent ("BMC Software's Web Data Optimizer Lets Even Slowpokes Zip Through Your Site," Jan. 7, 2002). I can't believe this product is capable of time travel for only $995.
MacVittie must have meant a speedup of 300 percent, but even that is amazing given that the compression ratio is only 2.5, which would imply a speedup of 150 percent. What's the real scoop?
Mark Riordan
Senior Systems Engineer
Standard Networks
mark@stdnet.com
MacVittie's review of Web Data Optimizer is thorough and well-written. I can understand her enthusiasm for WDO 1.1--I'll take two copies of any product that can deliver a one-minute download, two minutes before it's requested.
Actually, MacVittie states WDO "showed a 300 percent decrease in transfer time." How are we to interpret this?
Brian Miller
Network Engineer
Independent Consultant
brianmiller@mindspring.com
Lori MacVittie responds: Thank you for pointing this out. The difficulty here lies with the fact that decreases in response times/sizes generally result in increases in performance. This led me--obviously in a crazed state of mathematical anarchy--to do the math as an increase, but use it as a decrease. You'll find the official correction below.
I have written to the college that conferred upon me a minor in mathematics and have asked it to revoke the honor.
 |
Discretion is the Better Part of Valor
Steven J. Schuchart Jr.'s Jan. 7, 2002 Rant, "Invasion of Privacy: Web Sites Are Going Too Far Now", is excellent. It is exactly the kind of light we need to shine on the types of sites Schuchart describes.
David Spangler
Senior Planner
Verizon Communications
E-mail withheld upon request
Schuchart's Rant on invasion of privacy was the principal topic of conversation between myself and six colleagues at lunch today. I'm better informed about invasions of privacy than they are; apparently most of them are unaware of the tactics Schuchart discusses. Thanks for spreading the word to unsuspecting and uninformed surfers.
DavEd Spongberg
Nolan Associates
espongberg@nolanassociates.com
Bravo for Schuchart's Rant on invasion of privacy. I agree with Schuchart and am planning to tell some of the sites I visit exactly what he said. I paid for NonagsPlus because it's worth the money and it doesn't mess up your computer. I also have paid for extra storage at Hotmail and Yahoo, which I use as backup in addition to my external hard drive. Useful and secure services will flourish; let the market decide who will be the winners and the losers.
Thomas Weatherly
Chief Inquirer
subliminal Eclectic Enquiry
xyxx1@nyc.rr.com
|
Cache as Cache Can
Richard Hoffman's Dec. 16, 2001 BuzzCut, "Another Day, Another Microsoft Security Flaw", is good stuff.
Regarding short-term protection for enterprise users, there is one type of solution Hoffman does not mention: If you force all Web access through a Web cache proxy, you can run a set of filters at the cache that would block some files according to filtering policies, possibly using a virus scanner too. This method is being employed for e-mail filtering in many companies.
On a side note, I have wanted to write an open letter to the FCC for some time now, calling upon the organization to protect consumers, as the FDA and the FAA do, and guard consumers' well-being while we use the Internet.
ThomaLeonid Rosenboim
Consultant
LR24@actcom.co.il
|
Cruising the B2C Waters
I enjoyed Lori MacVittie's Dec. 10, 2001 cover story, "Don't Miss the B2C Boat". I find the piece very useful for those of us in the field--especially the pros (and cons) for the build-it-yourself types versus outsourced development.
I do think the $72-per-hour rate for outsourced professionals is a little low, plus the model doesn't take management time and opportunity cost into consideration. However, MacVittie's points are all well-made.
Brian Walsh
Founder
bwalsh.com
brian@bwalsh.com
Editors' Note
The products reviewed by Doculabs in "EAI Systems Bring IT Together" (Jan. 21, 2002) were tested in mid-2001. Some of the vendors have revised their products since then, so be sure to contact the vendors directly to see what, if any, changes have been made to their EAI applications.
Correction
In Lori MacVittie's Jan. 7, 2002 article "BMC Software's Web Data Optimizer Lets Even Slowpokes Zip Through Your Site", the decrease in transfer time she mentions should be 67 percent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RSS
