Category: RANTS!

RANT! Software doesn’t know best- it should be stupid

RANT! Software doesn’t know best- it should be stupid

By | | Comments 1 comment

I despise software that thinks it knows best! I want it to be smart enough to know what to do no matter where I put it or where its data resides.

Why do software companies think they know where to put stuff? I hate it when the install of the software doesn’t allow me to put the application on the hard drive that I choose (it is rarely the C drive that it likes). Software programmers that don’t ask where to install should be FIRED and their software should be THROWN INTO THE BIT HEAP!

I also don’t like it when it tells me where to store my data. Sometimes, I want it in My Documents and sometimes I don’t. If I know I am going to back up that data then I want it in My Documents. If I am not going to back it up, I don’t want it in My Documents. Apple is really guilty of this with their iTunes software (don’t ever let them manage your music – it will be lost forever).

While I am at it, here is a good reference to show how to change the location of your My Documents. I didn’t know how to do this until a friend showed me.

Software developers – YOU NEED TO BE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING!

I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.

Here is some related reading for you to enjoy:
RANT! Music formats should get along – 1 of 2
RANT! Music formats should get along – 2 of 2

Technorati Tags:

RANT! Golf at a decent speed

RANT! Golf at a decent speed

By | | Comments 0 Comment

I play a round of golf in 4 hours and 15 minutes (faster if I am with some of my best golf friends). If I am golfing in a two-some then I will be faster still.

While most courses are big on keeping the golfers moving, there is a limit to what is realistic. There is no reason for a two-some that is playing after a four-some to hit into the group. They are going to be slower than you are – deal with it. They have more people than you do so they can probably take you in a fight.

If you are in that much of a hurry that you can’t afford to take 4:15 or 4:30, take up a new hobby! If you are sitting behind a four-some and they are playing at a reasonable speed than just take your time.

  • Hit a few extra putts.
  • Enjoy the fresh air.
  • Find elephants and zebras in the clouds like you did when you were a kid.
  • Watch the geese make a mess of the course.
  • Scare frogs into the water hazards. But…

…DON’T PUSH THE GROUP AHEAD OF YOU IF THEY ARE ALREADY KEEPING A GOOD PACE! LET THEM ENJOY THEIR GAME AND EXCURSION!

I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.

Technorati Tags:

RANT! Airports and electricity

RANT! Airports and electricity

By | | Comments 0 Comment

I travel a fair amount in my job. I also need to be connected to the web regularly so I carry a Windows Mobile based phone so that I can get email quickly and occasionally go out to a site.

Even though I carry this phone, I still need to hook up my laptop on an occasional basis. This allows me to grab emails that are too big, have attachments that I can’t read on my phone or check a site that doesn’t format down to my phone (I am sure that I will rant about these things in the future).

But as I sit here on the floor of an airport leaning against the wall just so I can get some more power, I am fuming. Why can’t airports realize that their best customers are businesspeople that need access to power? As I write this post, I have had a dozen people look at me with envy because I found the outlet. Two people have even whispered to me to let them know when I am almost done so that they can get in line for my wonderful floor seat.

Maybe I will start a website that has electrical outlet in airport hints! I bet I could sell memberships in such a needed site. Of course, this would be totally unnecessary if the airports would just PUT IN MORE OUTLETS WHERE PEOPLE SIT!

I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.

Technorati Tags: , ,

RANT! Excuse me, is that so hard to say? 2 of 2

RANT! Excuse me, is that so hard to say? 2 of 2

By | | Comments 0 Comment

Some of you are not going to get this post. I live in the Midwest, not in Boston or New York. There are different rules of etiquette in driving in those two cities but everywhere else is pretty much like the Midwest (or should be).

When I was a kid (as my children say – back when TV was black and white, the radios only played AM, and a CD was bought by rich people at the bank), we always let others in when driving and were stopped at a stoplight. You know the situation, you are the 5th car from the light, some poor soul just spent half of his savings at the gas station on the corner, and now he needs to enter the traffic stream. Back in the dark ages, that driver would give you a wave of thanks and usually even mouth a “Thank you” in your direction.

Now, no matter the age, you are lucky if the driver doesn’t give you the middle finger as he rams between you and the guy in front. Would it kill you to simply wave at me because I could have let you sit there until the Boston Red Sox win the pennant again!

I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.

Technorati Tags: , ,

RANT! Excuse me, is that so hard to say? 1 of 2

RANT! Excuse me, is that so hard to say? 1 of 2

By | | Comments 0 Comment

I am a very polite person (okay stop laughing). I was taught by my dear mother to always be polite to others, especially strangers.

So why is it so hard to say “I’m Sorry” (my apologies to the great Elton John and his songwriter Bernie Taupin for stealing this line – couldn’t resist).

It is one thing to be bumped in a crowd. Everyone understands that you are going to bumped, fondled, and stepped on in a crowd of noisy and obnoxious people. But if I am standing in a spot with plenty of room around me for even the biggest and fattest person to crawl through, I expect you to not step on my toes.

If you do step on me, hit me with your 20 pound purse or sneeze on me, would it kill ya to say “Sorry Dude” after I get back up from the floor where you knocked me?

More on this topic later…

Technorati Tags: ,

RANT! Music formats should get along – 2 of 2

RANT! Music formats should get along – 2 of 2

By | | Comments 0 Comment

So why don’t iPods support WMA and similarly, why don’t other devices support AAC (Apple’s format)?

The why is simple. WMA is the format that many companies (e.g. Yahoo) use in their stores to sell music. WMA is developed by Microsoft and it is a competitor. Is it a better sounding format? For the most part, no it is not – the formats are essentially tied in audio capability for the average listener and the average audio speakers.

So it is a competitive issue. Apple makes the best device on the market with something like 90% market share. They don’t like Microsoft, so they don’t play nice to Microsoft. It definitely is not a revenue issue for selling songs on iTunes since at 99 cents per song, Apple isn’t making a lot of money on the songs. They do make a bunch of money for every iPod that is sold though.

They can still have iTunes be the pre-eminent way of managing your audio and video collection by supporting WMA. I even bet there is code within Cupertino somewhere that has iTunes playing WMA.

Hey Apple: Allow WMA on your iPods!! This doesn’t make any business sense! And while you are at it, allow other companies to license AAC to play on their devices – once again this will promote your iTunes product and store.

I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.

Site info