8 ms·

I work for a help-desk part of IBM. We use IE6. :(

by Drakim 15y ago

Maxious 15y ago
That should be very rare these days http://www.sutor.com/c/2010/07/ibm-moving-to-firefox-as-default-browser/ http://www.sutor.com/c/2010/07/ibm-moving-to-firefox-as-defa...
- PakG1 15y ago
  If ISSI (internal software updating tool) hasn't hit you yet, it's very possible to still be running IE6. ISSI can't hit everyone all the time. And there are still apps that can't run on Firefox, so needed IE (6 if not a newer version of IE). (IBM PM during the day here)
  - redwood 15y ago
    Sorry to take a tangent here but interesting to be able to ask two individuals for their experience: Curious what you'd say about someone who is moving to NYC and thinking about what kind of work to find. Formerly worked for one of the big SV tech companies in a project management role. Would love to work for a smaller company now but there aren't as many tech startups in NYC so perhpas IBM is the best bet. How do you like working there all in all? I understand hierarchy and bureaucracy are the name of the game back east, especially at big blue, but I suspect this will be nothing new... and that SV just claims to be more flat. But would love to hear your perspective and whether it's fulfilling in your org.
    - PakG1 15y ago
      It really depends on your department. Some people get to work on the really cool and fun stuff. The stuff that gets IBM so much respect on HN these days, most people inside IBM never even touch. Then you have other areas, where there are internal applications that still rely on IE6 and have horrible interfaces (edit: and yes, Lotus Notes is really truly the application that should not be named :D). You're right, hierarchy and bureaucracy are name of the game, but that's true in any big org. You're probably best off asking someone who's actually working in the department where you'd be applying. There are so many departments and each one has their own culture, processes, etc. Someone who complains or is happy about stuff in one department is most likely not reflective of another department. For the record, my department isn't exactly great, but they're giving me the opportunity that I actually care about (an opportunity to live in China so I can learn Mandarin).
      - redwood 15y ago
        Thanks for the reply! China sounds like an awesome gig. I did some time in India with my last gig but China would have been the preferable option... at least for me. Anyway to be honest I sort of like the idea of honesty about being hierarchical. Sometimes SV's claims of flatness feel like propaganda and rub me the wrong way when they're not realistic. I can imagine what you mean about most people not being on the really cool stuff: I can see that IBM is keen to develop really awesome stuff that doesn't necessarily make money but which ensures IBM's brand is synonymous with innovation. Better than splattering coke and pepsi signs across the world's cities after all :) Cheers!
hessenwolf 15y ago
As an IE7 user in work, finally I can gloat! (no, actually, it's shit)
Peaker 15y ago
IE6 worries you? There's Lotus Notes!
- mitchty 15y ago
  Oh god Lotus, very few things are worse than IE6, VERY few.
  - RollAHardSix 15y ago
    Hey, watch it! We use Lotus Notes at work. - "It's what the President already knows." "Oh...good reason." =)
whatusername 15y ago
Wow. I haven't opened ie on my think pad in years. And it's been longer since I ran ie6 IE 6 as a requirement is really rare now. (as an FYI for everyone else - IBM has one of the largest Mac fleets in the world, and fully supports a Linux desktop client as well. ( and yes Lotus Notes runs on win/mac/Linux/iOS/Android)
redwood 15y ago
Sorry to take a tangent here: Curious what you'd say about someone who is moving to NYC and thinking about what kind of work to find. Formerly worked for one of the big SV tech companies in a project management role. Would love to work for a smaller company now but there aren't as many tech startups in NYC so perhpas IBM is the best bet. How do you like working there all in all? I understand hierarchy and bureaucracy are the name of the game back east, especially at big blue, but I suspect this will be nothing new... and that SV just claims to be more flat. But would love to hear your perspective and whether it's fulfilling in your org.
- Drakim 15y ago
  There is a horrible amount of waste because of the many levels of management. The higher ups often push software changes on us because of some agenda (it was developed in-house) when the software is very inferior and will hurt our productivity greatly. IBM tries very hard to encourage us to participate and let our voices be heard, but in my experience anything that takes time, effort or money is ignored, making the whole thing a silly puppet show. I'm leaving the job soon because of things like this. I absolutely hate it when people say "such overhead is inevitable within such a big organization" because it's become an excuse for EVERYTHING. You wouldn't believe the sort of things we spend weeks on doing that should take minutes. We are talking manually renaming files and proccessing log files, because the "budget for such changes is already used up" or some other bullshit. There is no ridiculous mind-numbingly slow process that isn't justified by the fact that the organizational aspect is in the way. I think it's become a warm blanket that managers can wrap around themselves to avoid taking responsibility.
  - redwood 15y ago
    Sorry to hear, sounds like some of the major negatives I experienced in Silicon Valley. Nevertheless all companies have their healthy and unhealthy divisions and practices. Presumably someone is doing something right to pay for everyone else. We'll see if they continue to stay in the game. Thanks for the info! I guess the NYC job market's a tough one especially for tech.

I work for a help-desk part of IBM. We use IE6. :(

by Drakim 15y ago

I work for a help-desk part of IBM. We use IE6. :(

That should be very rare these days http://www.sutor.com/c/2010/07/ibm-moving-to-firefox-as-default-browser/ http://www.sutor.com/c/2010/07/ibm-moving-to-firefox-as-defa...

PakG1 15y ago
If ISSI (internal software updating tool) hasn't hit you yet, it's very possible to still be running IE6. ISSI can't hit everyone all the time. And there are still apps that can't run on Firefox, so needed IE (6 if not a newer version of IE). (IBM PM during the day here)
- redwood 15y ago
  Sorry to take a tangent here but interesting to be able to ask two individuals for their experience: Curious what you'd say about someone who is moving to NYC and thinking about what kind of work to find. Formerly worked for one of the big SV tech companies in a project management role. Would love to work for a smaller company now but there aren't as many tech startups in NYC so perhpas IBM is the best bet. How do you like working there all in all? I understand hierarchy and bureaucracy are the name of the game back east, especially at big blue, but I suspect this will be nothing new... and that SV just claims to be more flat. But would love to hear your perspective and whether it's fulfilling in your org.
  - PakG1 15y ago
    It really depends on your department. Some people get to work on the really cool and fun stuff. The stuff that gets IBM so much respect on HN these days, most people inside IBM never even touch. Then you have other areas, where there are internal applications that still rely on IE6 and have horrible interfaces (edit: and yes, Lotus Notes is really truly the application that should not be named :D). You're right, hierarchy and bureaucracy are name of the game, but that's true in any big org. You're probably best off asking someone who's actually working in the department where you'd be applying. There are so many departments and each one has their own culture, processes, etc. Someone who complains or is happy about stuff in one department is most likely not reflective of another department. For the record, my department isn't exactly great, but they're giving me the opportunity that I actually care about (an opportunity to live in China so I can learn Mandarin).
    - redwood 15y ago
      Thanks for the reply! China sounds like an awesome gig. I did some time in India with my last gig but China would have been the preferable option... at least for me. Anyway to be honest I sort of like the idea of honesty about being hierarchical. Sometimes SV's claims of flatness feel like propaganda and rub me the wrong way when they're not realistic. I can imagine what you mean about most people not being on the really cool stuff: I can see that IBM is keen to develop really awesome stuff that doesn't necessarily make money but which ensures IBM's brand is synonymous with innovation. Better than splattering coke and pepsi signs across the world's cities after all :) Cheers!

hessenwolf 15y ago

As an IE7 user in work, finally I can gloat! (no, actually, it's shit)

Peaker 15y ago

IE6 worries you? There's Lotus Notes!

mitchty 15y ago
Oh god Lotus, very few things are worse than IE6, VERY few.
- RollAHardSix 15y ago
  Hey, watch it! We use Lotus Notes at work. - "It's what the President already knows." "Oh...good reason." =)

whatusername 15y ago

Wow. I haven't opened ie on my think pad in years. And it's been longer since I ran ie6 IE 6 as a requirement is really rare now. (as an FYI for everyone else - IBM has one of the largest Mac fleets in the world, and fully supports a Linux desktop client as well. ( and yes Lotus Notes runs on win/mac/Linux/iOS/Android)

redwood 15y ago

Sorry to take a tangent here: Curious what you'd say about someone who is moving to NYC and thinking about what kind of work to find. Formerly worked for one of the big SV tech companies in a project management role. Would love to work for a smaller company now but there aren't as many tech startups in NYC so perhpas IBM is the best bet. How do you like working there all in all? I understand hierarchy and bureaucracy are the name of the game back east, especially at big blue, but I suspect this will be nothing new... and that SV just claims to be more flat. But would love to hear your perspective and whether it's fulfilling in your org.

Drakim 15y ago
There is a horrible amount of waste because of the many levels of management. The higher ups often push software changes on us because of some agenda (it was developed in-house) when the software is very inferior and will hurt our productivity greatly. IBM tries very hard to encourage us to participate and let our voices be heard, but in my experience anything that takes time, effort or money is ignored, making the whole thing a silly puppet show. I'm leaving the job soon because of things like this. I absolutely hate it when people say "such overhead is inevitable within such a big organization" because it's become an excuse for EVERYTHING. You wouldn't believe the sort of things we spend weeks on doing that should take minutes. We are talking manually renaming files and proccessing log files, because the "budget for such changes is already used up" or some other bullshit. There is no ridiculous mind-numbingly slow process that isn't justified by the fact that the organizational aspect is in the way. I think it's become a warm blanket that managers can wrap around themselves to avoid taking responsibility.
- redwood 15y ago
  Sorry to hear, sounds like some of the major negatives I experienced in Silicon Valley. Nevertheless all companies have their healthy and unhealthy divisions and practices. Presumably someone is doing something right to pay for everyone else. We'll see if they continue to stay in the game. Thanks for the info! I guess the NYC job market's a tough one especially for tech.