Home Forums Discussions Problems DEEP THOUGHHTS by Walter Handy

Thanks guys. Just wanted to mention that Bert's idea of getting the exact same computers in your practice is an excellent idea and possibly one of the most cost effective things you can do. (Especially if you're just starting out.)

As Bert mentioned it's much easier to upgrade/replace if you have all the same computer. Troubleshooting also becomes much easier when you can rule out a hardware issue. Another huge benefit is that you can do something called imaging. You can set up one computer will all the software and drivers. Then use that image on the remaining computers.

I know some practices who have had 20 workstations installed and their IT guy configured each one individually. (took days) That's just to pad his bill. It would've been much cheaper to have a legitimate MCITP come do it. He would've just imaged one and distributed to the rest in a few hours.

Crucial and Intel SSDs are both pretty good. Both use the same Marvel controller and both have the same warranty. It's just user preference after that. The Crucials are just a bit cheaper. I've been seeing some great deals on them recently. Both are great choices and you can't go wrong with either one imo.

Thanks for the kudos Sandeep.

jimmie,

Sometimes when you say best bang for your buck, it may mean hiring a Micosoft Certified IT Professional. And, you have your brother-in-law, correct? Having SBS 2011 set up correctly the first time will give you a clean error report.

This is my rule of two when it comes to others helping.

1. Most will recommend what they are familiar with. Do you think I would advise you to use Linux? Probably a good idea that they are familiar with it.

2. Most will recommend what they would purchase if they had your money.

Anyway, getting an objective person who is Microsoft trained help you with the hardware and the install of either your server or network can save tons of money, and maybe they even remote in for a comfortable price.

If you have an issue, most can remote in, look at your event monitor and tell you your problem. If they monitor it everyday, your event monitor will likely be clean.

I will have to research to see if there is a local microsoft certified IT Professional, I do have my brother in law but can't lean on him too much-he has always been very helpful, but don't want to become a pain in his a$$ either, and then I have two local IT guys that we pay to keep some of the hardware and billing side of things going, but this electronic health record side of things is relatively new to them as well. And you guys have been more than helpful but I will just have to take the plunge at some point (so I will quit being a pain in your a$$ as well)but I like the idea you are suggesting. Thanks for the excellent recs Bert and Sandeep.

If you get a server with hardware KVM aka remote management/IPMI, the remote installer can pretty much configure everything remotely short of connecting the power cord and ethernet cable. It's pretty awesome because even there's a blue screen, the KVM still works.

Are you getting SBS Standard or Essentials? With essentials, you should be able to follow the video tutorial. SBS Standard is a bit more complicated.

Also don't freak out if you get errors on SBS Standard Report. Microsoft has pointed out that many errors that will even show up on a fresh install of SBS 2011, and they are benign. Personally, I went through to eliminate all of them anyway, I don't like those error indicators in red.

Well I think the best thing to do is go over this information with my paid IT guy and share all the recommendations, and let you know, and may PM you if I have any questions, if that is okay Sandeep. But your talking to a guy who gets nervous just trying to hook up his printer to his PC--my innate wiring to handle this stuff is a little shakey. But thank you.

And Also to Walter, I would like to thank you once again for opening up your personal way in which you run your office, and I am extremely jealous, if I had the knowledge and where with all I would likely emulate how you run things, it appeals to my "scottish" nature that you can get a $600 refurbished machine to make it work in your office, but I think my "skill level" won't allow me to do that.

Jimmie,

You are very welcomed. Like I said be 100% better to go high end if you have the budget. The way I did id just for my entertainment or someone with full IT support in the background, I also forgot to mention that Doc not to be involved because her time is too valuable to do those mundane tasks even if she is a computer expert. Consider that Doc could make thousand of dollars a day, kidding me. To set up the way I did probably just to keep my brain running a little faster then your antique VW. My doc is a gourmet cook, she could spend half of her day cooking, then getting so tired she left it all to me to do those tasting and cleaning tasks. I told her that we could eat out for 200 bucks and still have plenty extra, enough for couple of Ipads. I guess we are perfect that way because we feel so good to do something so nonsense.

I might have one of best jobs in the world, satisfaction scale might be a little lower than an Australia guy who is paid to to look after a small private island, he is not by himself mind you, it was on the morning news couple days back.

AC running so well, I am bored at the clinic and have nothing to do (my doc is cheap, she assigned me a smallest room. I have to share the space with three computers, routers, switches, hardware tools (I am also clinic chief maintenance dept)) I should have spent some time to create a HIPPA compliant doc about how our system protect patient privacy.....
The real fact, one of my very smart former employees before she left did create a clinic operation manual in three hours, some 30 pages. one of those last page saying Walter even he is our chief, much smaller rank than the next higher, our doc, rarely in the office... if you need him leave a message....easy to spot smart kids,who we'd love to have in our staff. My former employee invited me to her master graduation ceremony next weekend, graduated first both undergrad and grad, only in a little over 4 years.

So I can come and go as I want... are you jealous? don't be if you are looking at my salary. My doc feels pity so she gives me a small salary and a big title, CIO, she also said you had been working long, having enough Social Security credits, a small pay is perfectly ok so you can be compliant enough to work til late 60s then come out to the clinic and greet my patients. You are not a med doc, so you don't have much value after 55. One of my former colleagues from India told me that over there they force you to quit when you reach 55. It has been a while I don't know that they still doing same 55, pack your box and go or not. But still we are doing better here, you can go at 50.

I like to question younger people about their careers. Are you a star in your field? If you are a star then your job security is good, if you are just ok, be prepared. Medical field making good money but be warned, win some loose some. Probably kids take my advice, only 50% want to be docs. Probably after playing with AC 10 years, enter 30 patient charts a day, non stop then in 20 years, those want to be docs then would go down to 25%.

Walter,
When I was nearly finishing High School I read all the James Harriet novels, and decided on becoming a veterinarian, but 1/2 way through my BS in Animal Science reality struck, and realized that due to my GPA it would be unlikely to get into a Vet School program unless I got a masters, because of the limited # of vet schools only about 10% of students in our program that applied to vet school got accepted because west virginia did not have a vet school and had contracts with georgia, ohio state, penn state and tuskegee at the time.
So with great advice from my program director and with 3 medical schools in the state I had a bout a 30% chance of getting in first time and luckily did--
So when you say you can come and go as you want does make me a bit envious and wonder if I had become a veterinarian if I would have a bit more flexibility of schedule than I currently do. But with that said, like you, I feel I have one of the best jobs in the world as well.

jimmie,

My biggest regret is that I didn't use a certified, objective IT person to set up my server years ago. There is a running joke in the industry where when you ask him how much by the hour, he will say, "$75.00 an hour if you don't watch, $100.00 an hour if you do.

I agree about the errors. And there are other SBS tools that are helpful which will show errors. You can have the IT log in daily or just use them as needed. You would be surprised how a MCITP will remember your system. Sandeep says it is easy; it is easy for a surgeon to fix an inguinal hernia, but I wouldn't know where to drape it. You may not be able to boot from the DVD, and I simply remind you to change the boot order. You say, "What?" I tell you look in the BIOS. You may say, "What is a BIOS.

If you need someone GOOD, really GOOD, I can recommend a very good one. He isn't cheap, but he will set it up perfectly and check daily. He will provide free email support.

The beauty of that is do a six month or one year contract. If you want to keep on, go ahead or by that time, you may feel comfortable. I don't think your B.I.L should do it for many reasons. There is a BIAS there. He is not a SBS and networking specialist. And there is the I need help in an hour, and he is on a job site somewhere. I have emailed my friend for over five years and never has it taken more than 30 minutes to hear back, AND I AM NOT EVEN PAYING HIM.

Personally, I prefer SBS 2011 Standard. By the way, if you use the higher version of SQL, I have someone there too.

My second biggest recommendation is Train Signal. Pick up http://www.trainsignal.com/Small-Business-Server-2011-Training.aspx

These are the best training videos by MCITP in that area. I always recommend watching the entire video from the comfort of your home, then install SBS section by section as you play the TrainSignal video. I used it for 2003, 2008, Exchange 2003 and 2007, SQL 2005 and 2008 and WIN 7 Pro. And, you can refer back to it. I think this one is streaming. If you do it yourself, I highly, highly recommend using these. The first time run through will at least give you an idea of what's ahead. And, for a bonus, if you decide to make this purchase, I will cover 50%. But, you must buy within the next week. (actually serious about the bonus).

jimmie,

You can't double-book two dogs.

I have no idea where that came from. Just trying to keep your vet story going.

Bert,

Will you cover 75%? Then I might. No seriously, I should be paying you for all your time and effort, and each time I think I am about do drive you crazy with more questions, which you always graciously answer, you continue to amaze me with more practical information. Thank you for the offer, but I will look at the web site and if okay PM you some time about the IT person you are referring to if that is okay. You da MAN!!!!!!

One thing i learned in animal nutrition 101 that has always stuck with me (and would probably be more practical for David), is never eat the liver of a polar bear, as you will die of vitamin A toxicity if you do.

Maybe not. I once ordered 100,000 IU IV on a patient, and the GI docs went nuts. Turned out, the patient still had a low Vit A level.

Now mind you this was back in the 80's when I learned this stuff (a bit rusty) but a great prof trained at Univ of wisconsin--madison taught reproductive physiology. Fascinating and practical stuff, so at one time I could tell you which mammals had Os penis's (bone) the walrus and dog come to mind, the boar pig has a corkscrew shaped, and a sow pig a bicornuate uterus (two separate uteri)the bear sow can hold onto the zygote and stop the gestation process for a length of time, i think even till next birthing season depending on body fat/nutritional status. I think the possum can do the same, the cat can be fertilized by multiple toms and carry them to birth.
But you are right I can't double book two dogs.

This is why Technicians love IPMI/Remote Management. They can even do this with remote access. <$20 extra on top, most servers have it already. Excellent feature to have on your server. All of the ones in the recommended section have it. I believe almost all Dell Servers have it as well. The high and very high end desktops (Q67) in the recommended section have it as well.

It can make life much much easier for a remote installer. Saves you a bit of time too.

Keep going Jimmie, Bert, I am watching We Bought A Zoo and you make my happy Sat

Walter,
I had to brush up a bit a pig does have a bicornuate uterus but bicornuate is not two separate uteri.
Duplex have two separate uteri/cervixes--possum, mice, rabbits
bipartite--single cervix two uteri--deer, mouse elks and cats
bicornuate--upper part of cervix separate, lower part fused--dogs and pigs
simplex-- one uterus and cervix--humans and upper primates
also the bears mating season is the spring and the fertilized egg is called a blastocyst which floats in the uterus and does not develop unless implanted later in fall if the sow is nutritionally able otherwise it is absorbed by the uterus.
Sandeep--thank you

Sandeep,
The bottom line don't take animal reproductive physiology unless you decide to become a veterinarian, it is stuff like this that clutters the brain.
Bert if i double booked a dog and both female I would be quadrupling the uteri.
sorry walter i will quit for now.

jimmie,

This researching for a server has pushed you over the top, lol.

Bert, my attempt at simple math and humor failed miserably, I think you're right. Then trying to explain the difference in the mammalian female reproductive tract sort of compounded the problem, but I was trying to keep the vet story going.
So forget what I just posted the last 3 times and hopefully Walter won't throttle me for screwing up his blog.
I need a shrink!!!! But I'll settle for a beer.

Another reason to stay away from servers. Take a look at where they took Jimmie. I am fairly sure that with peer-to-peer, the cervix to uterus ratio is always one-to-one.

Ha, my JBS Jon came to my rescue. Cervic to uterus is something I could understand, but bicornuate is vaguely familiar. I told her that if she brave enough I could put on a white coat and be her for newer patients. I think I have a doc look with thick eyeglasses and gray hair and know everything about celebrex for knee joint pain plus 5 minutes consultation for family doc and up to date handy.

We need to have many more PtP seats to hold tight to our majority votes. Any thing available to get Jimmie? Tough, if he has deep pocket and such a powerful lobbyist knocking on his door, you know who.

Bert if you could change blog to something more fun, and less serious, love must be bidirectional to last. MS sharepoint is a good one but copyrighted and bone dry, blog not that entertained as too monotonic I don't know why it is popular. A non existent term perfectly sounds. We are number one because of creative minds, don't be offensive when I say 11 years plus training and newly patient attitudes has its effect.

My brain is really no longer same. To tech experts like James NT and Sandeep, my brain pointers pointed to wrong brain cells (addresses) lots more, blue screen of death when that happened. I thought of love but word coming out hate, even happened to my writing. Some sports, over 25 is old, any neuro doc on boards? best productive period still 30 to 40? Best leadership qualifications over 50?

You don't want to miss this post, internet time, we all know about you more than you know.

http://amazingcharts.com/ub/ubbthreads.php/topics/44449/Staff_leaving_attention_Walter#Post44449

I came across this site while coming up with the new name as requested by Walter.

http://www.boche.net/deep_thoughts.htm

The irony is if you change suffix from deep_thoughts to "computers.htm"

You will get Walter's computers along with the peer-to-peer group

Then again, if you click on the links above the guy, you get Sandeep's computer, and I think that is Tom's VM monitor.

I love Bert. I bought some buy-one get-one free Niacin to help with my heart and got hot flush, same popping head veins look per deep thoughts guy in the picture. I also looked at Sandeep current system, the above link and made a quick out of my head calculation, racks and shelf and front and back plates alone might cost 1000 bucks, a professional rewiring charge another 1000,... 18000 medicare reward money, 5000 tax, 4000 bonus pay, 9000 left, enough but then I might be out off my job.

Need to go to Las Vegas again, this time I'd bring my ATM. Get Bert out off Brewer for a month, a fully paid five star retreat with the new first class ticket. Bert has enough stress already, my compensation.

Look at this new 8 seat only first class section with bed and large monitor included in the retreat package.

http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/flying-with-us/first-listing/newfirstclass/,

if Bert doen't want to fly singapore how about

http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/images/Private%20Suites_media%20player_1_tcm275-684933.jpg

Solo doc likes to travel economy style, 10K first class is too much to qualify for medicare annual PE charge

I'm tempted to just start selling the recommended servers. Take the headache out the equation. Who would be interested?

Perfect business sense Sandeep, even you could remote login and help them, since your client watching, charge them 90.00 an hour, a discount of 10% for AC forum members. Enough money to cover extra expenses unless you were like me born rich enough. Also be warned, your friends have more time to study and they can eat you for lunch. How many docs in the forum working part time when in med schools, raise your hand please.

Watch out, Sandeep, or Bert will move you to the vendors' forum!

I have no doubt that you would be overwhelmed with business. Go for it, put your talents to work to provide some income for more of your own fancy computers! We all admire your technical know how.

I'll spend the 10K if everything comes with it.

I was referring to the book. Come on, guys, I am not that shallow.

I tried to change the name of Walter's blog at least five times. Thought I lost my admin touch. Then I realized it was three pages long. Not sure, but it has to be in the Top Ten for longest thread.

I seriously doubt Walter knew this when he made his first post. Plus, it keeps getting resurrected.

Lol.

Bert,

The title of the book, could it possibly be "how to double book two dogs?"

I don't know if there's much more I can add. I spent more on my computer than I did on the server haha. You won't see me using a thin client anytime soon.

Pictures for the cool people ():
Triple "Floating" Screens (w/Mechanical Keyboard+G500)

650D Tower


900W UPS+extra cables for easy access


Case Side Panel Window


Case Internals

Server Builds on other hand tend to be quite boring:
http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk94/sandeepluthra/Server%20Build/

Is that a Cyberpower? Nice though. Can't understand why the P2Ps can't get it, lol. J/K I can't get it either.

Yep. I have 3 now lol. CyberPower has worked out better for me compared to APC. So now I just use CyberPower. It's the 900W Pure Sine Wave UPS (CP1500PFCLCD). On my server, it lasts about an hour, on my desktop about 10-15 minutes.

Anyone have an extra "H"? Looks like Bert ran out.....

Gene

I only use CyberPower unless I feel like ordering batteries every three months and trying to fit a 5 inch by 5 inch battery into a 4.5 inch by 4.5 inch corroded opening.

Not that we should get into this. We have had this discussion before. The APC works great for many users.