Chris Saul's Blog

Sunday February 12, 2006

Desktop Meeting sum up As usual, I've left the six monthly Desktop Practice meeting feeling pretty positive about the future of the product line we have and the improvements that are coming into Solaris and JDS to provide a decent desktop experience 'out of the box'. What makes me particularly happy is the increased focus on how best to sell the products that we have. Product quality's never been the main reason why Sun and partner sales teams haven't focused as much as I think they should on the desktop space. The problem's traditionally been more to do with a scattergun approach pushing the message to customers where it doesn't resonate, as opposed to concentrating on those areas where Sun Ray and SGD fit best. Another problem has been the a lack of strightforward sales tools to give the average sales guy something concrete to latch on to and give to his customers to get things going. We've now got some more solutions focused material to plug that gap, covering healthcare and telco, which I'm really looking forward to promoting to the field. On a personal note, it was nice to see some familiar faces, as well as to put a face to Craig Thin Guy Bender's name. I'd known of Craig for several years via internal email aliases. Since rejoining Sun I've had various email exchanges with him, read his blog, etc, etc, but had never met him face to face. As he pointed out in a similar blog entry, we got on well and share a similar sense of humour. We also both have sideburns, a stylish essential found amongst a disproportionally high number of Sun Ray fans around the world that I've met. Another thing we have in common is that his phone got pinched during the week, whilst mine was nicked the week before. Let's hope noone steals his jeans as well over the coming weeks :) ( Feb 12 2006, 07:20:39 AM GST ) Permalink

Citibank, 10 out of 10, bank that shall not be named, 1 out of 10 Customer service in Dubai can vary from the excellent to the abysmal, just like anyhwere else, but I'm amazed at how useless my main bank have been in replacing my stolen cards. Compare and contrast 'my main bank', who shall remain nameless as they are probably a big Sun customer and Citibank, whose Visa card I use and with whom I also have a current account for 'redundancy'. Citibank: Monday, report cards stolen. Speak to one agent who is able to cancel both cards. I ask for the replacement cards to be couriered to me the following Sunday. They both arrive and I am able to activate them and choose a new pin via the phone, the only minor hiccough being that the ATM card was supposed to be delivered directly to me but was instead signed for the by our office cleaner and placed in my pigeon hole, which was somewhat insecure. Main Bank: Monday, report cards stolen. Have to speak to different agents for the ATM card and the Visa card, which meant the whole process took more than twice as long, costing more money on the international phone call. I ask for the cards to couriered to me the following Sunday. On Sunday an ATM card arrives, but no pin. No Visa card arrives. I ring the bank, shout a lot at the courier and manage to wangle getting the Visa card delivered to me 'after hours'. The pin for the ATM has not been generated as 'they forgot' or had a 'system down', so they promise to courier the new pin to me the next day. I point out that I will not be in the country, so we arrange for it to be delivered to Mrs Saul. One week late,r nothing's been delivered to Mrs Saul and there is also no sign of my Visa card pin. Quite how a bank can screw up something as simply as getting cards to customers is beyond me. If I had relied on them as my only bank, I'd have ended up in the US with no way of paying for anything or getting hold of any cash. Unfortunately, my 'main bank' will have to stay my 'main bank' due to my car loan and various cheques deposited for our new apartment, so it looks like I'm stuck with morons for now. Still, things have improved mildly over the last three years. Not that long ago they wouldn't even courier things to you, you had to drive to the branch to collect them yourself. ( Feb 12 2006, 04:46:02 AM GST ) Permalink

Chick a ching chick a ching chick a ching chick a ching chick a ching chick a ching Tabu and I went to see Walk the Line, the Johnny Cash biopic, last week. Seven days later, after listening to some more of his songs on the flight over, I've still got that 'chick a ching' rhythm running through my mind! ( Feb 12 2006, 04:34:53 AM GST ) Permalink