Podcasts for IT Pros

How do you stay current on the latest news in the tech world? In addition to a barrage of magazines, Web sites, and online classes, one of my favorite sources are podcasts. Through iTunes, I listen to several different technology-related podcasts, all of which do a good job keeping me informed and sometimes entertained about the latest in tech news.

 

Though you'll probably find hundreds of tech podcasts via iTunes and other sources, the following are my favorites and ones I try to catch every week.

 

 

One of the longest running radio programs on computers - 25 years- the Personal Computer Show is broadcast live on station WBAI from New York City every Wednesday night. For those who can't tune into the live show, a podcast is available via the program's Web site and iTunes.

 

Hosted by Joe King, Hank Kee, and Alfred Poor, the PC Radio Show offers news, discussions, opinions, reviews, and interviews on a variety of tech topics. There's also a call-in segment where listeners can ask hosts for help with technical questions and problems.

 

As tech experts with years of experience, Joe, Hank, and Alfred are knowledgeable and enjoy sharing their thoughts and ideas about personal technology. The conversations are revealing, fun, and sometimes opinionated.

 

One recent segment offered news about Sony's recall of certain AC adapters for its notebooks, opinions on Microsoft's (News - Alert) new retail stores, and a review of a USB hub from Hawking Technology. Another broadcast featured an interview with David Perry of security firm Trend Micro (News - Alert) and discussed whether or not to use Windows for online banking.

 

Since WBAI is publicly funded, some of the shows periodically function as fund raisers, with the hosts asking listeners to donate cash. But even these broadcasts are always interesting and entertaining.

 

I've been listening to the PC Radio Show for about 15 years, starting with it live on the radio and now catching the podcast each week. It's one show I never miss.

 

Windows Weekly

 

Hosted by tech journalists Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott, Windows Weekly is a great way to stay in touch with the latest news and views on Microsoft and Windows. You can stream or download a podcast of the show from its Website, or grab it from iTunes.

 

As the guy behind the SuperSite for Windows and a columnist for Windows IT Pro (News - Alert) magazine, Paul Thurrott is an expert at all things Microsoft. Each week he offers the latest news, insight, and opinions into the world of Windows, Office, and other MS products we love or don't love to use.

 

As a writer, lecturer, and tech expert on his own, Leo Laporte hosts several technology-related podcasts, including This Week in Tech, This Week in Google (News - Alert), and MacBreak Weekly. Though I enjoy all of them, time usually allows me to keep up with only one or two, and Windows Weekly is my favorite.

 

The interplay between Leo and Paul is lively, inviting, and always entertaining. The conversations are a fountain of knowledge and insight into Microsoft. I've picked up countless tips, ideas, and other useful info that have helped me in my own work.

 

Recent broadcasts have naturally focused on Windows 7, with Leo and Paul discussing upgrade problems and related issues on the new OS. But other topics of interest have included cloud computing, Windows Mobile edition, MS Exchange, and security. Add in Paul's tip of the week and favorite software picks, and this is a show you'll enjoy catching regularly.

 

NYT Tech Talk

 

This weekly technology podcast from the New York Times is short and sweet, only 30 minutes long. So it's one I enjoy listening to on my iPod while I drive about town. As with other podcasts, you can stream the show directly from its Website or download it from iTunes.

 

Hosted by Times reporters J. D. Biersdorfer, Bettina Edelstein, and Pedro Rafael Rosado, NYT Tech Talk features news, opinions, and interviews in the world of tech. Since the show is short, there's not a lot of idle chit-chat, so the conversations quickly get to the meat of the matter.

 

Each show spends a few minutes updating its listeners on the week's news, recently covering Windows 7 and the latest smartphones. The interviews are always informative, with one of the three hosts chatting with people like author and Windows Secrets editorial director Brian Livingston or Monster Cable CEO Noel Lee. You'll also catch shorter interviews with other Times technology reporters who cover specific beats.

 

One segment I enjoy is Pedro's tech term, where he explains the "geek speak and nerd words" that many of us would like to better understand. Recent terms that he revealed included "multi-touch," "OLED," and "hashtag."

 

As with the other two podcasts, NYT Tech Talk always provides several helpful bits of advice and information that help me in my daily work.

 

There are plenty of other technology podcasts beyond the three I mentioned here. But these are the ones I enjoy and value the most to keep me up to date on the wide world of tech.