I've done dozens of ecommerce projects and suggest the following. If you need a good turn key system that's full featured, easy to skin, and turn key, I'd consider Pinnacle Cart (php/mysql). If you need a good open source system, I'd look into Magentocommerce. Its much newer than oscommerce and has received excellent reviews. I am still working to figure out how to skin it, as it uses a different approach to skinning, but should be more flexible in the long run. (php/mysql). Another good one is Interspire. Again a much newer cart (not open source), but also using a lot of newer web programming techniques. (php/mysql).

Tom Christensen www.actiondigital.com

We've used CMSMS (cmsmadesimple.org) on a number of projects and its proved easy for our users to work with. It took a bit to learn the templating system, but it wasn't that hard. But it allows us to assign individual pages to specific community editors. When they log on, they see only their pages which they can then update and change. I've looked at Drupal and Joomla and these are good, but I've found cmsms the fastest to implement.

Tom Christensen www.actiondigital.com

I use two 24" monitors and a third 22" monitor, making a total of 70" of screen space. I also plug into an overhead projector. The computer has 2 PCIe slots allowing me up to 4 monitors. These days I do more media development than coding, so this setup is extremely useful and very efficient. But I have to ask myself if I am compensating for something by having these oversize monitors(smirk). Seriously though, I do wonder if I'm really being green by having these huge monitors on all the time. May need to put some solar panels on the roof so I can feel better about myself. Of course I would never game on company time, but these monitors make gaming a lot more fun. When I code its helpful to have a website open on one screen with the code editor open on another. Two monitors is definitely worth the expense.

Tom Christensen www.actiondigital.com

I've found myself wishing many times there was more php lamp articles on CP. Actually though I see the point of having the site dedicated to M$ technologies. Perhaps CP could start up a sister site focused on LAMP.

Tom Christensen www.actiondigital.com

That is a good question, regarding getting a doctorate. Its really a question of what has value in the eyes of the people who will matter to you. A Ph.d. is a research degree. Its designed to prove you have the ability to conduct valid research into your field of study and to advance the field through the discovery of new knowledge. In the eyes of a research oriented business or university, it would be seen as valuable and would help your career path. But if you are aiming to run an IT department or be a full time programmer or such, you'd be better off doing the degree in IT/degree in business route. A Ph.d will prepare you for research and for academic studies, which isn't a bad way to go by the way. A masters in business with a degree in IT + real world experience will advance your career path in the business world. Also, a lot of univerities will laugh at Ph.d.s minted from non-acredited instutions. I think this is snobbery, but its still true. I did my doctorate a while back and thoroughly enjoyed the studies. But then went out and started an IT business. Went back to get my MBA to help me learn to run a business. Go figure.

Tom Christensen www.actiondigital.com