It looks like my employer may be providing me with a company phone.
Which is certainly nice if I no longer have to file telephone expense reports.
However, what do I do with the BlackBerry I currently own?
It won't be connected to a Microsoft Exchange server for real time corporate e-mail, calendaring and contacts.
It does still connect to my other e-mail accounts, but that's about it.
No more calendar synchronization, though e-mail calendar invites do seem to show up on the BB calendar.
However, what benefit am I really receiving?
Why not go for an iPhone or something similar?
I'm thinking I pay for alot of corporate overhead that I'm not using in a BB and I miss out on the more convenient consumer features, like a much bigger screen, cool apps, etc....
What would you do?
Regards, makingourway
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
converted to Mozilla Firefox
I have to say I'm very impressed with Mozilla Firefox.
Historically, I've always been an Internet Explorer user, but have recently HAD to use Firefox, when my IE browser would not support a Web-based video conference -- Firefox worked.
Once installed I played around with it and fell in love. It manages add-ons much better than IE and has a very healthy add-on community. What I especially love is the ability for Firefox to detect whether add-on updates are available and prompt you to perform the update immediately.
In terms of speed, I don't recall a significant difference - so I can't complain one way or another.
Now I'm curious how google chrome stacks up, but I guess i'll wait a while before trying it.
regards, makingourway
Historically, I've always been an Internet Explorer user, but have recently HAD to use Firefox, when my IE browser would not support a Web-based video conference -- Firefox worked.
Once installed I played around with it and fell in love. It manages add-ons much better than IE and has a very healthy add-on community. What I especially love is the ability for Firefox to detect whether add-on updates are available and prompt you to perform the update immediately.
In terms of speed, I don't recall a significant difference - so I can't complain one way or another.
Now I'm curious how google chrome stacks up, but I guess i'll wait a while before trying it.
regards, makingourway
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Picasa 3 versus Adobe Photoshop Elements
For ages I would buy overpriced annual upgrades of Adobe photoshop elements.
I have grown quite unhappy with the annual price as well as the cumbersome mode in which it manages it's catalog files and has challenges with SAN / natwork drives. For the last year or two I've completely given up on the product.
I do want to commend the excellent use of TAGs in the product - that was very well done.
I've recently installed Google Picasa 3.
I'm very impressed with the following:
1. It's ability to access network shares is incredible - this is especially important when I have a shared hard drive with family pics sitting on the network.
2. It does a great job creating virtual albums and exporting them onto SD cards - especially at reduced resolution - I like using this to display pictures in a digital picture frame.
3. It's ability to quickly and easily import pictures from other directories.
Hope your holiday weekend is going well.
Regards,
makingourway
I have grown quite unhappy with the annual price as well as the cumbersome mode in which it manages it's catalog files and has challenges with SAN / natwork drives. For the last year or two I've completely given up on the product.
I do want to commend the excellent use of TAGs in the product - that was very well done.
I've recently installed Google Picasa 3.
I'm very impressed with the following:
1. It's ability to access network shares is incredible - this is especially important when I have a shared hard drive with family pics sitting on the network.
2. It does a great job creating virtual albums and exporting them onto SD cards - especially at reduced resolution - I like using this to display pictures in a digital picture frame.
3. It's ability to quickly and easily import pictures from other directories.
Hope your holiday weekend is going well.
Regards,
makingourway
Friday, August 01, 2008
computer repairs - buy or fix
I've had two computers recently take hits:
Desktop - chose to repair for $100 - seemed clear cut - though you can buy 3 ghz xp refurbished models with small hard drives for $200 - $400.
Laptop - 17" premium laptop. Cost $75 to mail to vendor. I figure $400 in repairs. A refurbished similar type might be $700 - $900. New high end $1500. I decided to repair it, but at 3.2 GHZ with ati 800 video card, i might benefit from the newer technology. i'll see what upgrade options the vendor offers.
what would you do?
regards,
makingourway
Desktop - chose to repair for $100 - seemed clear cut - though you can buy 3 ghz xp refurbished models with small hard drives for $200 - $400.
Laptop - 17" premium laptop. Cost $75 to mail to vendor. I figure $400 in repairs. A refurbished similar type might be $700 - $900. New high end $1500. I decided to repair it, but at 3.2 GHZ with ati 800 video card, i might benefit from the newer technology. i'll see what upgrade options the vendor offers.
what would you do?
regards,
makingourway
When will mobipassword work on vista?
I've been a mobipassword user for years - mostly for windows password synch with palm or pocket pc hand helds. It's a great program that stores bookmarks, data and passwords.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to use it since the beginning of the year.
I'm now almost completely converted to Ascendo Data Vault - which also runs on the blackberry.
However, I do miss the real time password entry of mobipassword - it does a better job than Data Vault.
BTW, I've e-mail mobipassword's makers multiple times for support and have only heard backf from their automated acknowledgement system.
Regards, makingourway
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to use it since the beginning of the year.
I'm now almost completely converted to Ascendo Data Vault - which also runs on the blackberry.
However, I do miss the real time password entry of mobipassword - it does a better job than Data Vault.
BTW, I've e-mail mobipassword's makers multiple times for support and have only heard backf from their automated acknowledgement system.
Regards, makingourway
Monday, June 30, 2008
20 google tricks and tips - or why it pays to be good at what you use frequently
There's a nice article at PC Magazine with tips and tricks on using google.
Since most of us google very frequently, doesn't it make sense to spend time learning how to user it better, faster and more effectively?
How often do people fall into inefficient, ineffective, yet comfortable patterns that they refuse to change? Here's a chance to take back some time.
It'll add up over course of a year.
The link is here.
Since most of us google very frequently, doesn't it make sense to spend time learning how to user it better, faster and more effectively?
How often do people fall into inefficient, ineffective, yet comfortable patterns that they refuse to change? Here's a chance to take back some time.
It'll add up over course of a year.
The link is here.
Monday, March 24, 2008
A cheaper alternative to wiring a home network
I recently stumbled upon the linksys plk200, it's a linksys product that allows you to run ethernet signal over your homes electrical network.
It costs about $130 for the base unit and a remote. A second remote is about $65 (the PLE200).
The idea is that you can plug wired ethernet devices into the remotes and they connect back into your network (and your router) through the base unit.
They claim you'll have up to 200 MB/s over an encrypted connection - which they offer due to potential sharing of electrical service, such as apartment buildings, etc....
The alternative is to wire ethernet for $1500 for the entire house. I would certainly have all the rooms connected, but I'd rather conserve the cash right now.
I'll update the blog on how it performs. It should arrive late this week.
Regards,
makingourway
It costs about $130 for the base unit and a remote. A second remote is about $65 (the PLE200).
The idea is that you can plug wired ethernet devices into the remotes and they connect back into your network (and your router) through the base unit.
They claim you'll have up to 200 MB/s over an encrypted connection - which they offer due to potential sharing of electrical service, such as apartment buildings, etc....
The alternative is to wire ethernet for $1500 for the entire house. I would certainly have all the rooms connected, but I'd rather conserve the cash right now.
I'll update the blog on how it performs. It should arrive late this week.
Regards,
makingourway
Friday, November 09, 2007
when will mobipassword become vista compatible?
Mobipassword is a great password control system.
Think of it as a bookmarking and password management tool that synchronizes between your hand-held and desktop.
Unfortunately, it doesn't do three things:
1. It doesn't run under Vista
2. It doesn't run on a blackberry
3. There communications are piss poor - no information about updates
Regards,
makingourway
PS If you're not using Vista, check them out at www.mobipassword.com.
Think of it as a bookmarking and password management tool that synchronizes between your hand-held and desktop.
Unfortunately, it doesn't do three things:
1. It doesn't run under Vista
2. It doesn't run on a blackberry
3. There communications are piss poor - no information about updates
Regards,
makingourway
PS If you're not using Vista, check them out at www.mobipassword.com.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Nightmares with Nuance Software & why does PaperPort have to suffer?
As previously mentioned I aggressively image my documents using a program called PaperPort 11 Profesional. Well, I used to. Ever since I upgraded to Windows Vista in June I haven't been able to run PaperPort 11 Pro.
It requires a special patch.
You can type your serial number on-line but can't download it.
After trying to reach Nuance's customer service departments since July (JULY!!) I finally got through and was told the on-line patch was discontinued. The only way I could get the patch was for free but I had to pay $9 shipping and handling. Somehow $9 does not feel free or like reasonable shipping and handling!!
I bet they come out with a new version of the product next week!!
For such a great product, Nuance is a horrible publisher. Maybe they'd like to revive the old reputation of CA - take a fine product and milk the installed client base!
I wonder what alternatives are available.
Regards, makingourway
It requires a special patch.
You can type your serial number on-line but can't download it.
After trying to reach Nuance's customer service departments since July (JULY!!) I finally got through and was told the on-line patch was discontinued. The only way I could get the patch was for free but I had to pay $9 shipping and handling. Somehow $9 does not feel free or like reasonable shipping and handling!!
I bet they come out with a new version of the product next week!!
For such a great product, Nuance is a horrible publisher. Maybe they'd like to revive the old reputation of CA - take a fine product and milk the installed client base!
I wonder what alternatives are available.
Regards, makingourway
The one button that never worked on my Brother MFC-8660DN
I'm addicted to the wonderful convenience of my brother multi-function laster printer/fax/scanner. It's incredibly useful.
After moving and upgrading to Windows Vista I could no longer use PaperPort Pro 11 due to Windows Vista compatibility issues (they should be resolved but I'll address that later).
I always image my documents and have been frustrated with eFax's expensive $0.10 per page after 120 page limit per month. You see, eFax had become my back-up imaging tool. Fax the documents to myself and save the e-mailed .pdf file. But when I started receiving $30 in excess fax fees I realized I needed to fix the problem.
The first attempt was to learn how to use the actual SCAN button on the 8660-DN. It's the one in between fax and copy.
After two hours with technical support I could not get it working. I'm almost certain there's a network communication issue - most likely I have to open a special port with the windows firewall.
I can, however, walk across the room, place the document in the scanner, walk back to the pc, click the scan option from the brother control center and it does deliver a scanned document to me. less than idea, but I'm waiting to see how I can actually fix it. One of my best friends has the same scanner and promised to work his way through technical support and get it solved - we'll see what happens.
The idea is very compelling.
The only down side is the limited scan resolution option. I'd rather avoid 800k per page.
Regards, makingourway
After moving and upgrading to Windows Vista I could no longer use PaperPort Pro 11 due to Windows Vista compatibility issues (they should be resolved but I'll address that later).
I always image my documents and have been frustrated with eFax's expensive $0.10 per page after 120 page limit per month. You see, eFax had become my back-up imaging tool. Fax the documents to myself and save the e-mailed .pdf file. But when I started receiving $30 in excess fax fees I realized I needed to fix the problem.
The first attempt was to learn how to use the actual SCAN button on the 8660-DN. It's the one in between fax and copy.
After two hours with technical support I could not get it working. I'm almost certain there's a network communication issue - most likely I have to open a special port with the windows firewall.
I can, however, walk across the room, place the document in the scanner, walk back to the pc, click the scan option from the brother control center and it does deliver a scanned document to me. less than idea, but I'm waiting to see how I can actually fix it. One of my best friends has the same scanner and promised to work his way through technical support and get it solved - we'll see what happens.
The idea is very compelling.
The only down side is the limited scan resolution option. I'd rather avoid 800k per page.
Regards, makingourway
Monday, October 08, 2007
MOZY for automated back-up - not really
I've started using Mozy for automated back-up and am quite split on my oppinion.
I use it for my laptop (all of my desktop computers were damaged during the move - not to self: file claim), however, it does not back-up network shared drives. This means that files on my shared network drive - my most important - cannot be backed up.
My gut says they're doing this to try to force small businesses into a more expensive plan to buy Mozy for individual file servers, but that fails to cover networked hard drives - an asset more and more families are buying.
So if Mozy is only backing up files that are on my laptop - but not the important drives on my shared drive - do I really get much of a benefit for $60 a year?
It certainly means any unimportant files worked on the road are covered.
It also means that off-line copies of files are backed-up, but it doesn't mean that important files - or the most current copy of them - are backed up.
I suppose I can mark more files for off-line copies, but that really doesn't suffice.
I do have an external hard drive I used to back-up my network drive. Mozy should back-up that drive if it's connected to the lap top. But what does that get me? A back-up of my back-up? Does this mean I still need to use automated back-up software other than Mozy - which I hate!
More investigation is needed here. Until Mozy addresses the networked drive issue, I can't recommend it - they don't care enough about their customers.
Regards, makingourway
I use it for my laptop (all of my desktop computers were damaged during the move - not to self: file claim), however, it does not back-up network shared drives. This means that files on my shared network drive - my most important - cannot be backed up.
My gut says they're doing this to try to force small businesses into a more expensive plan to buy Mozy for individual file servers, but that fails to cover networked hard drives - an asset more and more families are buying.
So if Mozy is only backing up files that are on my laptop - but not the important drives on my shared drive - do I really get much of a benefit for $60 a year?
It certainly means any unimportant files worked on the road are covered.
It also means that off-line copies of files are backed-up, but it doesn't mean that important files - or the most current copy of them - are backed up.
I suppose I can mark more files for off-line copies, but that really doesn't suffice.
I do have an external hard drive I used to back-up my network drive. Mozy should back-up that drive if it's connected to the lap top. But what does that get me? A back-up of my back-up? Does this mean I still need to use automated back-up software other than Mozy - which I hate!
More investigation is needed here. Until Mozy addresses the networked drive issue, I can't recommend it - they don't care enough about their customers.
Regards, makingourway
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