IPod v. Zune

Supposidly this was made within Microsoft. Hard to believe for something this funny. It is true about how hard it is to get tunes into iPod, but the truth is we will have to wait for the next generation of iPods and the shakeout of the DRM wars before we have wireless sharing that works. . . ;)

Ok, I made the switch!

I just finished the first week on the road with my new laptop (MacBook Pro 15" with dual core procs). Yup, that is correct: Mac.

1) I have been very public on my opinions about open-source. Tough to show up at conferences with a wintel machine.

2) Mac does everything I want; I am running a Mac version of the Lotus Notes client, Open office, Thunderbird, and Firefox. I have no Microsoft products installed and I have not missed them in the first month on the new system.

3) Products such as "Journaler" and MindManager are better. It is easier to organize and find my information on this system than any of the windows based tools I have used in the past. Both support links; not only to websites, but to other documents on my laptop. I reference a document in my work journal notes and drag and drop a link back to the full document.

4) Security -- I have set up this laptop with encryption, VPN, and other measures and I am confident my data is much more secure than with my previous Windows based machine.

Mac users have a different life. There are no known spyware applications for the Mac. Or, viruses. Or, trojan horses. In fact, the Mac is arguably considered the most secure desktop operating system around.

Link

Or, as the Mac website says:

Freedom’s not just another word for nothing left to lose. Strong security ensures your ability to conduct your business unhampered. Mac OS X delivers the highest level of security through the adoption of industry standards, open software development and wise architectural decisions. Combined, this intelligent design prevents the swarms of viruses and spyware that plague PCs these days.

Link

Secure file deletion, File Vault, Keychain management, firewall, and disk encryption are just a few of the tools available. It is my job to know how this stuff works; it is my judgment that the Mac is the best tool for me to accomplish this.


Another link on this topic.



5) Expose with hot corners. I have set up hot corners to trigger expose functions. Basically, I move my cursor to the upper left corner (or press F9) and I get a screen of small windows showing everything I have open. I can "mouse-over" any window and get a pop up box that tells me the application and filename of what is in the window. Click on one to jump to that application. Upper right (F11) moves all windows off the desktop so I can get to icons on the desktop.

6) Spotlight -- The built in search functions are fantastic. Supports searching within documents for keywords, phrases, etc. No more lost files.

7) Alias -- "Shortcuts" in windows are 'OK' until you start organizing and archiving; then you have a bunch of broken links. Alias are self-repairing as they update when you move the original objects. Just think about how cool it is to be able to drop "alias" into my journal and mindmaps and then 3 years later use spotlight to find the original notes, click on the Alias, and find the original document in its new archive folder!

8) iCal -- Another example where Apple has embraced an open standard and delivered a great product. I use iCal to integrate the calendars from my day job, my photography business, my running/training plans, and family into one view. If iCal says the time is available; it is. It gives me one view into all parts of my life that let me plan my work schedule better.

"You lose and you're stupid too!!!"

Judge Wells had no questions for David. Many challenging questions for Brent who at one point gently attempted to argue with the Judge. The Judge ruled from the bench in favor of IBM re-affirming prior courts orders that only the final disclosures will be permitted and anything not in the final disclosures (including expert reports addressing issues not in the final disclosures) will not be allowed. Brent sought clarification as to what that means (structures, methods and concepts etc.) Marriott said it was clear to him but given recent experience with SCO, he's not sure it's clear to them. Judge Wells agreed that it was clear to her but that if anyone had questions, they could simply read IBM's briefs, that she was adopting all of those arguments. IBM gets to draft the final order.

Link

SCO, your 15 minutes are over. Can I have someone fine you for annoying us?

Microsoft -- poorly managed?

The holiday season hasn't gone exactly as Microsoft had hoped.

The much-anticipated Zune, Microsoft's portable music player entry, has received mixed reviews, and demand has been tepid. Sure, Vista made its debut, finally, last week--but only for business customers. The Windows XP successor, more than five years in the making, didn't make it into consumers' hands for the all-important holiday sales season. Ditto for Office 2007, the flagship of the company's second most-profitable product line.


Link

Ballmer claims he is "not worried", but if this was any other company, underperformance like this would result in lower stock prices and a change in leadership. Of course, once you have successfully created a monopoly . . . you can get away with more stupidity. . .

Sweet home Alabama

I had the iPod on today and Skynyrd came on. I really enjoy many of their songs. I happened to have the browser open and decided to Google "Neil Young v. Lynyrd Skynyrd". I was totally not ready for what I got.

Fights over racism, what the songs mean, and people who claim to know what Ronnie Van Zant was thinking, even though he has been dead for almost 30 years. I found the posting that basically said: "Leonard Skinard-- he a racist" a great example of how one does not need to be very informed to post on the internet.

I don't know what was in their hearts about the song; I just enjoy it and hope that the common theme that comes from loved ones, friends, and surviving band members in the last 30 years is remembered:

Not all whites in the South are ignorant racists; "Southern Man" was using a 'pretty large caliber gun to shoot a couple of bad ducks'. . .

One can google search and find lots of sites that spend thousands of words arguing if it was "Boo Boo Boo" or "Boo hoo hoo" or "Woo Woo Woo" and whether it refers to George Wallace or those that disagreed with him. . . I won't raise their google rankings with another link. I don't know if the Stars and Bars behind the stage was Skynyrd's or MCA's idea; I do know what Skynyrd though of MCA (see song "Workin' for MCA"). But I am willing to admit that my 2007 feelings about the Southern Flag should not broadly paint my views of everyone that performed near one 30 years ago. I would like to see something in Van Zant's own hand that discusses his racial views before I agree with claims of racism. Wait, we have pretty clear clues in the songs: "Things goin on", "Journey through the Past", and "The Balled of Curtis Loew". But that would take a deeper google search when the one of the top links it positive that Leonard Skinard-- he a racist"

The one thing I read that is does not seem to be hotly debated is that the comment "Turn it up" at the beginning was actually Van Zant asking the engineer to adjust his head phones and got left in because it was cool!

Well, back to the iPod. . . I am sure Jimmy Buffett will say something to get PETA's panties in a twist (carnivorous dreams anyone?)