Curious Voyager - Live like you mean it!

Michael Dell & Netbook’s

I read a blog at Cloud Ave that I like however I do not always agree but that is life. Today they ran an entry regarding Michael Dell saying basically that a netbook user will only use a netbook for about 36 hours and then want their other notebook/laptop back. Well Michael this user LOVE’S his HP Mini and I have used it now for over 4 months on a daily basis, in the classroom, in Starbucks, in the car, and anywhere I will be for 20 minutes.

As I said in my comment on the article (read the article, How Long Before You Dumped Your Netbook Into The Garbage) I purchased my first IBM PC in 1981 and have had many since, desktops, notebooks, and now a netbook. I currently have a really good desktop and notebook/laptop besides the netbook. The netbook is GREAT! Yes there are some things that I would not do on it (Adobe Dreamweaver or Illustrator) but I am running Microsoft Office 2007  without issues, I am typing this blog post on it using Windows Live Writer and I access Firefox, Chrome and IE8 without issues. Get my Gmail and have not trouble reading or replying.

Not sure about your issues Mr. Dell but for one (me) who teaches people how to get the most out of their computers (I teach application software) I can’t help but recommend this netbook everyday. I will say that this is netbook is without a doubt is a wonderful tool. I am not enamored or envious of a friend who just purchased a 20” notebook computer with an HD screen. Let’s see him take that easily into airports, Starbucks, or sit in the car and connect to check email or write a few notes.

OH yes, love my Mini……

Newspaper's & Reading The News

I understand that the newspaper industry is having a serious problem and this  morning it became very clear to me. Paper is not in my thinking when it comes to learning what I need of the news.

I sit here enjoyably reading and reviewing articles in a number of business magazines, getting world news from 5 or more different sources where I read the headlines and then if I want to I can click on a link and follow the story up.

I have Google sending me “Alerts” (via email) for those things that I am currently interested in (Google does the searching for me and each alert comes with a number of links to check out). These alerts appear daily. I get 103 RSS feeds through Google Reader where I can read that which I want and dismiss the others.

You scan the headlines just like you do in the newspaper however in this case if one is of interest I can “Star” it, “Label” it and/or set a filter and then save it to a folder. I retain a list of all information that is searchable. Should I want to print something I can send it to OneNote and then file that copy in a notebook.

When I find something of interest that I think someone else will like I can send  a copy via email that they can then review. All this while having my “Pike Place” at Starbucks in the Jungle.

What a life!!

Still trying to figure out Google Wave and when I do I will let you know something. Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!

Google Wave

OK – I received my invitation to Google Wave and now to find some friends. I couldn’t wait and yet I have to leave it alone while teaching today. I will most likely talk about it too much since I have to educate those around me as to what it is however first I have to get my own education. We are allowed 8 invites and I have used one already so have to see how this works.