I replaced a Cisco/Linksys router and Airlink print server with a Belkin 750N wireless router. Included with the router are 2 USB interfaces for storage and/or printer devices. The best way to get running requires particular steps in a particular order.

On Mac or Windows the order is the same, only the version of the printer software is different.

1. Remove any existing printer (this is to reduce confusion)
2. Install latest drivers for the printer
a. on mac, get the latest gutenprint drivers from http://sourceforge.net/projects/gimp-print/files
b. on windows, get the latest Epson drivers from http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/Supportdlsurvey.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&download=ftp%3a%2f%2fftp.epson.com%2fdrivers%2fepson12348.exe&pn=Epson+Stylus+CX8400&pc=Epson+Stylus%26%230174%3b+Series&ft=driver&returnpage=%2fsupport%2fsupDetail.jsp&returnparams=%26infoType%3dDownloads%26oid%3d90342%26prodoid%3d63069506&licenseoid=17774
NOTE: do NOT setup a printer at this time.
3. Install Belkin USB Print and Storage Center software (not Storage Manager)
a. on mac, get it from http://cache-www.belkin.com/support/dl/phase1/InstaLAN_Belkin_402_F7D3302.dmg
b. on windows, get it from http://cache-www.belkin.com/support/dl/phase1/InstaLAN_Belkin_402_F7D3302.exe
4. Reboot (yes, even on the mac)
5. After restart, confirm you get the “…found a new printer” dialog
6. Click “Use EPSON USB2.0 MFP(Hi-Speed)” from “Networked USB Devices” on the Belkin menu (systray or menu bar)
a. a Windows based example can be found at http://en-us-support.belkin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3796/~/setting-up-your-printer-using-print-zone
7. NOW, if its needed, add the printer, choosing the appropriate driver for the printer (which you did in step 2)
a. for mac, follow the instructions at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3049
b. in my case, I chose EPSON CX8400 Series.

Version One – ugh

Rally Dev – pretty neat. easy to use.

ScrumWorks Pro – interesting. like the “desktop version” for “power users”

Trello – just works. free. secure. no tracking of size, effort, or capacity.

Scrumy - just works. free version isn’t secure. no tracking of size, effort, or capacity.

Excel - ugh. works. takes ton of time to setup. easy to create pretty charts.

Post-it Notes – works. perfectly. every time. especially the Big Ones.  hard to support “remote team members”.

I was prepared to be underwhelmed. And, in many respects, I was. Folks just don’t get “QA”. This term is still equating with “Test”. Ah well. More time on the soap-box. But, I also heard some inspirational anecdotes from an unlikely source – an e-commerce development shop!!

Anyhow, I want to post the full set of notes from the meeting. For now, I wanted to post that it was VERY cool to see some old co-workers (Hi Chris) and some old OLD co-workers (Hi Dan).

early feedback: I was able to use the restroom without touching any parts of the room. kudos to Kell’s.

speaker/ Greg Smith, GS Solutions Group
topic/ Ten Steps to Becoming Agile

“What is Agile?”
quecreek mining disaster is the opening story.
key aspects: time constraint, immediate adaptation, collaboration on ideas, feedback early and often.

better estimates ideas etc when WHOLE team is involved.

review of “The Traditional Lifecycle”
he missed the key advantage of “waterfall”
return to previous phase due to mistakes
he equates QA with Test
now were looking at mini-waterfall
“final iteration” is defined as customer sees enough value to release.
no review/retrospective for very short sprints.

where QA fits in:
feasibilty – not usually inc QA

release planning – painful meeting betwen team and PO
qa person is “just” the interviewer
S: apparently QA folks don’t add value to requirements definition
storey points – QA is involved, points are relative
Q: relative to what?

iteration 0 examines “foundational” issues

QA is separate from DEV and DEV is separate from both

agile vs traditional
most projects are some kind of hybrid, more traditional for government contracts.
moving to agile is like being on a half-pipe
scrum and xp are flavors of agile
scrum is a framework
scrummaster is a policeman “process management”
team is a bunch of specialist

www.dragile.com

my thoughts…

the author doesn’t understand QA
the author doesn’t understand phased development
the author doesn’t get team commitment to the project

now after updating a post a few times it’s locked and inqccessible.

NedSpace, an office-sharing location in downtown Portland, has an awesome and innovative plan to change the world.  If NedSpace can fill their remaining spaces by June 1, 2009, they will fund some scholarships in Cambodia and a technology lab in Tanzania.  Here is a snippet of the plan:

So here’s what we at NedSpace would like to make happen: Help us sell out the 4 remaining offices (at $400/mo. ea) and 60 desk spaces (at $175/mo. ea) by 5 PM PT Monday June 1, 2009.

If NedSpace accomplishes this, and of course anyone is free to help, NedSpace will in turn:

1. Donate $5,000 to Epic Change (http://www.epicchange.org/) to build an innovation & technology lab in their Tanzania school (follow @staceymonk on Twitter)

2. Provide three full scholarships to children living in Cambodia ($5,000) distributed through and overseen by Sharing Foundation (http://www.sharingfoundation.org /) (follow @kanter on Twitter)

This is a worthwhile effort to help folks “over there” and here in Portland at the same time.  If you’re looking for space, consider this as your Plan A!  You’ll feel better about yourself and still get your work done.

Requirements:

1. single tool/app/website that allows me to get Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn status updates, Instant Messages, and RSS Feeds
2. allow me to send email and instant messages, post to Twitter feed, Facebook status, LinkedIn status, and MySpace status
3. run on any OS and/or Browser
4. run on iPhone (native app is a big +)
5. use a single set of credentials

Current Toolset:

• Adium – aggregates IM and Twitter feeds
• FriendFeed – aggregates Twitter, Delicious, and Google Reader feeds as well as…

• TweetDeck – aggregates Twitter, FaceBook and Google feeds
• Google Reader – aggregates RSS feeds, blogs, etc.
• Facebook – provides status updates, links, news, etc. via email and web.  Can be updated from TweetDeck, Twitter.com, and FriendFeed.
• MySpace – provides status updates, links, news, etc via email and web.
• Mail.app – provides email, RSS feeds
• CubeTree
• Yammer
• SocialText
• Orkut
• Spokeo
• ProfileLinker
• MyLifeBrand
• Fuser
• TweetMeme
• OneRiot
• Laconica
• Identica
• Ning

Guidance:

1. which has the best inflow experience?
2. which has the best outflow experience?
3. which has the easiest “on board” process?
   1. FriendFeed couldn’t find my Facebook status.  I didn’t try Facebook notes.

I know that Borland is a huge “value” right now.  But, what does MF really get from this?  Entry to the US market or a “presence” for later plays?  I say the latter.  But, who knows.