A Couple Of Blogs Of Interest

I have discovered a couple of new blogs of interest. I was guided to them via Net@Night with Leo Laporte and Amber MacArthur. These blogs are LifeHacker.com and SmarterWare.org. Both have a great deal of interesting content. Check them out.

Microsoft Clipart, Photo’s and Sound’s

I have been telling users for a long time that if you were working with a licensed copy of a Microsoft product that Microsoft provides clipart for use with you documents or projects that you were working on. Clipart and pictures enhance and bring to life your document or project.

I have been saying that there were around 6,000 pieces of clipart and photos that you could choose from. Well today I have been enlightened – that number is more than 150,000 free images and sounds. Images including clipart and photo’s. That is an audacious number.

This information came to me via a Microsoft Office Insider Newsletter. These newsletters are good reading and have plenty of “How To Article’s” and “Tips” to make your presentations (and a Word document or Excel spreadsheet is a presentation) better.

Maybe you need a little more “attention getting” help, well it could be right here.

Windows 7 & New Install

After crashing on a regular basis (everyday) I reformatted the drive and did a complete install of Windows 7 from the ground up and it has worked now for a week without an issue.

I waited a few days after the install to add Office 2007 and that was followed in a few days by Google’s Chrome. So far everything is working very well. As said earlier it is fast. I will be adding OneNote as well as Mesh and Windows Live Workspace sometime this following week.

 

One interesting experience is installing then uploading Outlook. I have yet to figure out the best way to get everything on board without having two personal folders (PST). I know this was a real issue with Office 2003.

 

One warning is that I cannot find an easy way to make a backup of data in Windows 7 that I feel confident will be discovered by Windows Vista if I have to go back. I have downloaded the Norton 360 3.0 Beta for security and it wants to do a backup however not sure that version 2.0 would be able to read it. At present I am doing file by file copy. CMS Bounce Back does not appear to work with Windows 7 at least at this time.

Competition for Adobe?

Following a lead from TechCrunch this morning I found Aviary, a start up that, their own words you can; “Edit images, create mind-blowing effects, design logos, find colors, collaborate, and more. All you need is a web browser. Try it now for free!”. The link, http://aviary.com/home will take you there to see. If you would like to read the TechCrunch review it is here at http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/06/aviary-encroaches-on-adobe-illustrator-with-raven-the-first-vector-graphics-editor-for-the-web/.

If you have an interest Engadget has posted a link with pictures of the new Kindle 2 from Amazon. I have wanted a Kindle but have held off however this is beginning to look like it is time to get into the e-book reading devices. Check it out:  http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/06/amazon-kindle-2-launching-on-monday-well-be-there-live/

One additional link from Engadget is one to their Daily Roundup: here’s what you might have missed. It is interesting and worth a look if you have interest.

Backups

I have just had a another good lesson in making backups – what to do and what not to do. Over the years I have used BouncBack (CMS Products)software for doing personal backups and it has always been great so there was no reason for me to verify the backup – wrong. I will admit that I use the express version as this is my personal (albeit small business) system.

 

At the moment I am in this email conversation with Tech Support and they tell me that BB creates a key file for BB however it creates a file that can be accessed with Windows Explorer, in my case it did not and I lost a few years of data that I had archived via Outlook and some other data that was also included in that backup.

Well, I know myself and I know that I am known for going a bit overboard (having lost items in the past) and yesterday I found a file by file copy that I had made of the “Users” file prior to installing Windows 7 and everything that I am missing is in there. It was a normal thing that I do without thinking and I kept saying to myself “you know better than this so keep looking”. Perseverance paid off, I have everything including my 3 years tracking of gasoline purchases.

Build good habits and they will support you in the end.

Windows 7 Tips

Here is a bumper list of Windows 7 secrets from Tim Sneath at Microsoft. I just discovered this however it has been out for awhile. As I said recently I wanted my Quick Launch toolbar back and that is one of Tim’s secrets. This link courtesy of Paul Thurrott. You might also take a look at other things on Tim Sneath’s blog as it appears to have other Windows 7 information.

 

Now if it would just find my sound card.

Update Windows 7

OK all things are good. Even Will is enjoying Windows 7 in all it’s glory. If you attempt to add Windows 7 you best do it soon and do not do the “upgrade”. The trial Beta is going to close very shortly. It was extended but not forever. I am told that you can use VM Ware to install Windows 7 on a virtual machine however, as I discovered, you can not use Microsoft’s Virtual PC to do it. The only issue that I am having is that it will not find my sound card. Windows 7 doesn’t even recognize that I have one. This is the only disturbing thing.

 

Now a family update. We purchased a Wii and We love it. I just lost (2 out of 3) to my wife in bowling but I am learning and look out. This is fun and the Wii Fit looks good – at least for my wife. I may not be able to handle the Wii Fit as I have to watch my exertion, I am saving myself for the wine list.

Windows 7 Saga

Here is the current update on my upgrade installation of Windows 7 – it crashed repeatedly. This appeared to occur after an auto update from Microsoft however I cannot say that for sure. It had been working and about the only real problem that I had was lack of sound. Sometime this week it started crashing after I walked away for it for a few minutes I would return to find a sign in screen and upon signing in I would see a window that said Windows had recovered from a hard/severe whatever and was looking for a solution to the problem (I have paraphrased what the message said as I do not recall the precise words).

 

Last night I did a clean install using the current partitions and it only took about 20 minutes (give or take a few) and was up and running fine. As of this morning it is cranking away. I will admit that it is much faster than Vista (or even XP). I opened Internet Explorer and “boom” it was there. I went to Google and downloaded Google Chrome and installed it in a matter of a few minutes – very fast. Still no sound so today I am going out to Creative Sound Blaster and see. I am hoping that this will work as I do like what I see and should have done a clean install to begin with.

 

The justification for not wanting to do the clean install was to avoid the problem of having to re-install all the software, MS Office, Adobe Creative Suites, all the Live tools, Mesh, and then re-synch the files that I have in Mesh. Outlook is a major issue because of the email addresses that I have to reconfigure.

 

I know that I am always told to do clean installs however I “use” these tools to learn so that I can teach/advise/consult and often state that I live within my computer so  a clean install or a reformat is a couple of day issue for me. I am glad that I have this tablet PC to keep using (it also has all the software on it).

Now to finish my Saturday morning coffee here at Starbucks as I think I am going to have help my wife reboot the bedroom, I mean re-paint the bedroom today. ENJOY!!

Windows 7 Beta

OK so Andrew told me he didn’t think that the Windows 7 Beta would load up in the Microsoft Virtual PC and he was right. I finally (after making the appropriate backups) upgraded Windows Vista to Windows 7 Beta.

It did take two attempts and success! I woke up this morning and the install was asking for the key that was provided by Microsoft in the download. GREAT, I am up and running on Windows 7. Now to test it out.

It is faster than Vista although it looks a lot the same and since it is based on Vista that is not a bad thing. At the moment I did find that Microsoft software did load up faster (Word, Excel, etc) and that Adobe software took it’s own time – which is not unusual. I have Adobe Creative Suite CS3 and it is always slow opening.

At the moment the only issue I am having is that the OS did not find my sound card (no sound card installed it told me) and that the most recent version of CMS BounceBack software is not recognized and will not work. Fortunately it will work in Vista and if I have to use the restore feature it will be if I have to go back to Vista.

Having said all of the above please understand that I did this to see what Windows 7 would be like not because I was displeased with Windows Vista. I am using Windows Vista on 3 computers (well one is my wife’s) and “we” are happy with it. I have this desire to see what the future is going to hold for us. I am an intense user and a “guide” to others so I feel like I have to know – and that is as good as it gets.

Audible.com

I just finished “Team Of Rivals” by Doris Kerns Goodwin and although it was the abridged version from Audible and it was fantastic. As I listened to it I was often reminded of times growing up listening to the stories being told on radio. I remember the war reports in the first half of the 40’s and then “Boston Blackie”, “The Green Hornet” and “The Shadow”, not to mention “The Lone Ranger” (an early Curious Voyager). While listening to “Team Of Rivals” there was so many times that I did not want to get out of the car when arriving at whatever my destination was – including the driveway. I have to admit that NPR now has a great rival with Audible at Amazon (the “A’s” have it).

Get a trial membership at Audible by going to www.audible.com/twit2 and check out Leo Laporte at TWiT and learn more. A FREE plug for Leo and you can download and listen to TWiT from iTunes.

I am finding the “smart phone” thing really interesting. First I would never use a phone for email or messaging of any sort. Now I have a phone with a Qwerty keyboard so that I can send text messages (SMS) to my son, wife or anyone and I have thoughts about how good it could be for having “real” instant messaging. I see some advantages for business to having that “instant” contact to change meeting times, locations or updating information on the run (“We just closed the loan, now move on it.”). With the ability to install Micro Blogging software on your local server for your own internal use this has a great deal of possibilities for instant mobile messaging. There is an interesting report at SCRIBD and the link to the report is at http://www.scribd.com/doc/6221649/Enterprise-Micro-Sharing-Tools. I have to thank Pistachio Consulting for the link.

Windows 7

I did it, downloaded Windows 7 and Virtual PC 2007 at the same time. I installed the Virtual PC 2007 last night and will install Windows 7 later in the week. This should be interesting and I will post more as I go along.

Chip I may need some help along the way.

Windows 7 With Extended Download Date

Just got through reading Steve Clayton: geek in disguise blog and from this blog post it would appear that Microsoft has extended not only the time we have to download the public Beta of Windows 7 but has also dropped the limitation of 2.5 million downloads – we can all get it.

 

You can follow the link to the blog and on it there is a link to where one can go to download Windows 7. Here is a permallink to the post: http://blogs.msdn.com/stevecla01/archive/2009/01/11/windows-7-2-5m-download-limit-removed.aspx

Have a GREAT WEEK!!

Crunchie Winners'

2nd Annual Crunchies Winners have been announced and you can find them at TechCrunch (imagine that). I found it amazing that the Best Technology Innovation/Achievement category was won by Mesh – I agree with this as I am beginning to rely on this tool in my array of great web tools. Along with this the Best Application or Service was won by Google Reader which I would have a difficult time being without.

Evernote won the Best Mobile Startup and I think that was a good choice. I have my personal commitments to OneNote however Evernote is a very valuable tool for note taking and organization while surfing and one also in my toolbox.

There are others that I am going to have to look into. Check out the list.

Palm

CES is over and from what I have been able to read Palm could very well be returning to prominence with the new Palm Pre. You can check out a nice preview at MobileCrunch. Link here http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/01/09/palm-pre-hands-on-the-movie/. It might be a bit pricey however I will have to see the final “in store” promotion.

 

I could be very interested in this if it is provided by Verizon since I am kind of locked in there; phone and Air Card (which works well from most anywhere including Starbucks where I am today).

 

I have to also admit that I am getting into the Google Chrome browser. I have always tried the new “things” that come down the road so that I can comment to others my thoughts (for whatever they are worth). I started to run into a small problem with IE8 when going to Google so I went to Chrome and I the problems disappeared. The problem also occurred within my company using one of their computer’s and IE6 so I download Chrome in the office and away goes the problem. Personally, at the office I think it is something they have “switched” in their install so i would not blame that on Internet Explorer.

Speaking of “New Things” I was not successful in acquiring Windows 7  yesterday as I had to work. I guess Microsoft had issues with being overwhelmed with desire for the OS also. With only 2.5 million downloads being made available I suspect that I will miss out on this. It was going to be my primary reason for adding a Virtual Server to my desktop so that I could see how both would work but alas not enough credentials I guess. I will keep trying.

It’s The New Year & New Things

In the past I have gone on about Mesh and Live at Microsoft however yesterday I found something new that I think is, or can be, awesome in addition to these services, FedEx Office Print Online. Perhaps you have already known about this but it is new to me. A disclaimer: I do not own stock in FedEx, it’s stores and neither does my family.

What use to be Kinko’s and then FedEx Kinko’s is now FedEx Office and they offer FedEx Office Print Online. It only took a few minutes to download the print driver and one re-boot (what doesn’t). After that the FedEx Print Driver just becomes like any other print driver. You can get to the offices location from the main FedEx website as there is a tab for Office/Print Services on the main page.

After you determine what you want to print you select the FedEx Print Driver (as you would any other print driver) and then proceed as if you were going to print on your local or network printer. The only big difference is that you have to pick it up at a FedEx Office store. I have to admit it worked very efficiently the very first time I tried it, only one caveat. I tried to just print one page and since the cost was only 59 cents I had to print 2 pages as they have a $1.00 minimum. I did not consider this to be very bad at all.

 

I wrote Google some time ago and suggested that they set something up like this with Google Doc’s and perhaps Microsoft would consider it with Live as this would be a great feature for the “road warrior” or frequent Starbucks user.

Finding a FedEx Office to print to was easy. As you process the print job it asks and let’s you search by zip to find a location. Now here you are in a strange city, you can get the zip code from the barista but not sure which location is closest, use the GPS in your phone. WOW, what a concept! You have just made a sales call (or whatever) and need to get right back to the customer with a confirmation – you got it.

In talking with the person in the FedEx Office in the store on Kolb Ave in Cincinnati I discovered that software is not a problem as what they get is a PDF and that is what they print. The documents that I sent were Office 2007 native files and they had no problem.

One interesting thing is that when I installed the driver it also appeared in my Microsoft Word 2007 software as an option and added a FedEx  Kinko’s tab. I guess everything hasn’t yet changed to FedEx Office.

I did forget one thing, the driver download and install is FREE and works in Windows 2000, Windows XP as well as Windows Vista. What more could you want?

Happy New Year and become a kid again and love to learn. May 2009 be great to everyone. One last thought; All Leaders Are Readers! Now are you just holding a spot for someone else or are you a true leader.