July 13, 2009
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After being on an iPhone for a year, I don’t think I could ever go back to a Windows Mobile phone. I used the Windows Mobile platform for probably 11 years (including the original Windows CE non-phone devices) and it always seemed like the NEXT generation would solve all my problems. The next generation never did come and by the time I gave up, I was in the habit of restarting the phone every morning.
I recently tried to install the desktop search tool from Microsoft. After several tries and lots of reading online, I couldn’t get the add-on installed that would allow this tool to search my Outlook 2003 files (let alone my Thunderbird personal email). I gave up and installed Google desktop and was completely indexed on everything in one overnight session.
I have no faith in Microsoft anymore. I have had to go back to Windows on my laptop rather than Ubuntu but that is just because my 2G RAM laptop was struggling with Ubuntu and a virtual machine with Windows so that I could use Outlook and Office. If I didn’t have to be completely compatible with the rest of my company then I would likely not have a single Microsoft product on my computer or in my life.
I could survive without MS Office. OpenOffice does everything that I ever need it to do. I don’t need the extra functionality that overloads the MS Office product line.
The only product that Microsoft makes that I really like is Windows Live Writer (which I use for blog posts). But when I was on Ubuntu, I found that Scribe on Firefox was perfectly adequate for my needs.
If I could get Evolution to really work well with our company Exchange server, I would be off of Windows. I always struggle with the Calendar syncing, calendar invites, and the Global Address Book. If someone could create a smooth interface to Exchange then it would be goodbye to Microsoft for me!
RANT! WHY CAN’T A DEVELOPER MAKE EVOLUTION WORK OFF OF EXCHANGE SO THAT I CAN DROP MICROSOFT!
I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.
I read a lot of RSS feeds for work, blogging, and general interest. I used to use Google Reader for most of this before I had my iPhone. When the iPhone came out though I found that the iPhone reader was very difficult for me to read without my reading glasses (I have reached that point in life when I need to keep reading glasses like the ones found at https://felixgray.com/pages/readers-glasses, close when I am going to do serious reading). Of course, many adults reach that age earlier than they expect. Presbyopia is a condition that makes it a lot more difficult for people to see objects that are close to them. This happens to almost every adult over 45 years old (normally). Most people will need reading glasses for this, but others might decide to look for more info on presbyopia surgery. That could improve vision and prevent people from needing their reading glasses.
When I read feeds on my laptop, I don’t mind using my glasses but if I am away from the computer and just trying to catch a quick update, reading glasses are a pain to deal with.
Since the Reader on the iPhone wouldn’t let me change fonts, I went with another service, Newsgator, for my needs. This required me to use their desktop app (or web app) as well. I still prefered Google’s Reader but the entire package put me ahead.
Of course, the value of capitalism has stepped in. Where there is a gap between need and fulfillment, someone is surely going to create a product to fill that gap. I am happy to report that there are at least 3 options for reading news feeds via Google on the iPhone that don’t require the Google site. Those options are Gazette, Byline and Doppler. The good folks over at The Blog Herald are reviewing the various apps so if this subject interests you, jump over and read their reviews.
Like a lot of people, I have become hooked on “desktop search” products. These products index your hard drive’s documents so that you can quickly and easily search for that piece of information you know that you have but are missing. The most popular version of this is Google Desktop but there are others and I particularly like Copernic Desktop Search because I find it more stable than the other utilities on the market and it can read my calendar in Outlook which is a big deal to me.
As much as I like these tools, I find that there is one big thing that they all miss. They don’t rank my favorite sites higher than other sites if I am doing a web search. This simply doesn’t make sense. Obviously, I have been to that site before (or else it wouldn’t be in my Favorites/Bookmarks folder). Therefore, I trust that information more than other information.
So to all of the developers of desktop search: PRIORITIZE MY FAVORITE SITES ABOVE THE REST OF THE WORLD WHEN YOU SHOW ME SEARCH RESULTS!
I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.
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Technorati Tags: desktop+search
I am sick and tired of the bad attitude and the drugs in professional sports. I know that many athletes say that they aren’t heroes and they shouldn’t be held to a higher standard. I tend to agree with them but can’t we at least hold them to the same level of conduct that we hold our own co-workers?
If my co-worker was found to be sleeping with the boss in order to get ahead, they would both be dismissed from their position. If they lied on their resume, they would be fired. If they were salespeople and they falsified an order, they would be fired.
Similarly, if I go into work tomorrow and strike my boss with a fist (sometimes I have wanted to) then I would be fired and possibly be charged with a crime.
So why is it okay to have steroid use in sports? That is cheating.
Why is it okay for players to go into the stands and strike a spectator? I don’t care if that spectator was heckling you. You don’t hit them.
As I write this, Michael Vick recently pled guilty to training and fighting dogs. We should throw the book at him just like we would for any lowlife.
Some athletes say that they are simply entertainers and therefore shouldn’t be held to a hero’s standard. When was the last time that Dennis Miller walked into the audience and struck a heckler? Entertainers need to be judged as people and citizens and not get special treatment.
DON’T HOLD ATHLETES TO A HIGHER STANDARD – HOLD THEM TO THE SAME STANDARD AS ALL PEOPLE!
Here is some related reading for you to enjoy:
Uncle Says Vick Has Found Jesus After Dog Fighting Charges
Michael Vick – It?s A Dog Eat Dog World
Whoopi excuses dog fighting?
Undercover Dog Fighting Ruins Football Star?s Reputation
Michael Vick needs to grow up
I am done with this topic for now but I reserve the right to rant more on it someday.
Did you know that you can have these articles emailed to you? Click on the Email link in the upper right corner Subscribe section, fill out the details, and you are set. No one will see your email address and you won’t get more spam by doing this.
Technorati Tags: professional+sports, steroids, michael+vick, dog+fighting