What does MVP mean to you?In my opinion, MVPs are enthusiastic people who want to help other users get the most value from Microsoft technologies by utilizing newsgroups, Web sites, books or seminars. I consider the MVP award to be an acknowledgement of demonstrated action, rather than recognition for future efforts. Therefore, being an MVP is not an entitlement and is only valid for as long as I can retain my expertise in a field and share this knowledge with the community.If you could ask Steve Ballmer one question about Microsoft, what would it be?I would ask Steve, "Why have you not put great Microsoft applications, such as Microsoft Office and applications such as Exchange Server, on the Linux platform?" I feel now that Linux is a commercial operating system, these kinds of Microsoft products could easily demonstrate their technological superiority compared to open source or proprietary software for Unix/Linux.What do you think the best software ever written was?This is a very difficult question; though I might say that one example of the best software is TCP/IP. It was designed for a few computers in a special context (military). Thirty years later, we still use it so that hundreds of millions of computers can talk to each other. Without TCP/IP, we would probably still have access to a huge network such as the Internet, but I question whether it would be as easy to deploy and maintain.If you were the manager of Windows Security, what would you change?We addressed this matter last November during the MVP Security Summit in Seattle. I feel that definitively Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and the Windows Media Player should be removable from the operating system, especially on a server operating system. If system administrators want to minimize the attack surface, the browser must be separated from any default packages. This would allow Microsoft to demonstrate that Windows operating system is flexible and modular, and allow users to decide if they want a browser, a mail client, etc. Securing the browser is extremely difficult - something that Firefox enthusiasts are beginning to discover. Essentially, I do not want a browser on servers, whether it is Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, or any other type. I also think that users should be granted limited access on the system, which would be suitable regardless whether one is working as a local admin. A Super User-like system could be constructed so that if an application needs more rights on the system, a dialog box would appear and request a password. Password-enabled access would give the application more rights on the Registry and file system without the ability to create new users or play with security settings (policies, rights, time, configuration, etc.). | If you were given unlimited data bandwidth, what would you do with it?While unlimited data bandwidth would be nice, I would also need unlimited amounts of CPU time and RAM for my desired project. I would like to give a Terminal Server session for each person who wants one, enabling one access to one’s own virtual computer from everywhere at anytime with the aid of a light terminal (such as a special sheet of paper).What was the last book you read?Hmmm - I really do not have enough time to read books - I cannot remember the last non-technical book that I read. However, the most recent technical books that I skimmed were books addressing Windows XP and Windows Security.What music CD do you recommend?I do not recommend music since I don’t consider myself a music expert, but I notice that certain music can make me work faster or be more pleasant. I like Moby and his perception of life, though I’m certain that everybody already knows his music.What makes you a great MVP?I was nominated as an MVP during the early stages of Windows XP since I was answering questions night and day about this very cool and powerful operating system in French private and public newsgroups. Then I wrote a few books addressing Windows technologies for a French editor, Micro Application. These days, I’m not as active as I would like to be in the newsgroups; however, I aspire to devote more time to the newsgroups and answer questions at all levels - from newbies to experts of Windows environments. | What’s in your computer bag?This is the only question that I can answer easily, but if I am required to mention all the items in my MVP computer bag, I fear that the Microsoft web servers will run out of disk space. My computer bag rivals the size of most women’s handbags - so, in my computer bag, you’ll find a laptop with a power supply that can also be plugged into a car or a plane, a GPS locator, a PocketPC, some network and phone cables, a USB key and a MuVo WMA player for travelling, a passive USB hub, the MVP Swiss Army knife, the latest DVD of the Technet, a notepad with a pen (which can be useful - even in 2005), and more!What’s the best thing that has happened since you’ve become an MVP?The best thing that has happened to me since 2001 is definitely the birth of my son. Though in my MVP life, the most exciting moment was during the May 2003 meeting in Berlin with Steve Ballmer, which provided an excellent opportunity for discussion about Microsoft and Linux with other European MVPs.What is your motto?Perhaps my motto is one that my grandfather used to say: "The world belongs to those who wake up early." The most literal meaning of this is that I need to wake up early even if staying in bed is more comfortable than running everywhere. Though in a technological environment, such as the computing industry, "waking up early" means evaluating and testing new technologies before others. This permits me to play an active role and not to wait for other people to decide whether specific technology is suitable. For example, beta testing allows me to serve in an advanced role and influence decisions.Who is your hero?Currently, I do not have any hero. Perhaps someday I will.What does success mean to you?I consider success to be the accomplishment of a task or an event. For me, this would be to make a better world at my level. My goal in my life is to bring happiness to my entourage. |
