Office 2013: Your Data and The Big Game Analogy

This week I ‘Subscribed’ to Microsoft’s new Office 2013. I am impressed. I had played with the Beta version of Office 2013 for a bit however it started giving me problems so I decided to wait for the finished product. It was worth the wait.

One of the first things you notice is that when going to open or save a file Office 2013 wants you to go to Skydrive, Microsoft’s online storage service. I found this fascinating. I use Skydrive and have for quite some time. I have a great deal of files on Skydrive. I might add that it will also take you to SharePoint if that is what your company is using.

In my case I also use Dropbox and Google Drive both of which can be accessed easily from Office 2013. The online world is coming alive for everyone and therein lies a conundrum.

A long time ago I realized that when enough major players put their money behind something it generally works out. Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and many many others are taking a big stake in the online or mobile world of data.

On the way to coffee this morning I began thinking how your data is like Big Game. It is Big Game to both you and to the builders of the preserves, or those online storage services.

In my Big Game analogy my concern revolves around the ability of the builders of these large preserves to keep the poachers out. At the moment I do not mind putting up mundane or pedestrian files however how am I assured that my critical files are safe?

My personal critical files are no different or less important than those of a Fortune 100 company or the government. If I am treated differently not only will I not place my files in the care of that preserve, I will not recommend that any one else do either. At issue is how long does it take for us to feel secure?

Small business can really take advantage of these online services/preserves. It helps keep the cost down. Like the new Office subscription services you can keep your costs inline and on a timely basis, without a great deal of up front investment. Now the advantage lies in the talent you have – you being yourself or your small business.

I think that Microsoft, and others, are investing in their future and it could be a gamble but I think it will pay off. I think it will pay off for you also.

Now if I could just get them to put their office apps out there for the other devices like the iPad or Android products.

It’s Sunday and I need more coffee……

Windows 8 Upgrade Get’s Real

OK, I have had some problems however Windows 8 is LIVE now on my HP notebook. In the past I have always thought that to do a clean install was the best, this time I tried to do an ‘upgrade’ (keeping settings and files) on my HP notebook.

It really did not work and back to the ‘somewhat’ clean install.

Of the issues that I had I do not believe that any were related to or with Windows 8, most of the issues were operator haste and some were the result of my HP notebook configuration. Some confusion could also be laid at the feet of websites at (HP) which looked easy however sometimes went in circles. Website design and development is becoming more difficult, but that is another subject.

Although this HP notebook is just a little over a year old I was surprised to find that; 1) the RealTek drivers for the installed card reader, which was initially the biggest issue, do not work with Windows 8. This would cause the upgrade to hang. This was followed closely behind by 2) the ATI Catalyst Control center. I had been warned by Windows Upgrade Assistant, don’t upgrade without running it first.

I did verify a BIOS upgrade and all other things recommended by HP and Microsoft. After that I upgraded asking it to only save files – no settings. I have to admit that it did so nicely. On the other hand this was the fourth try.

I did install Windows 8 on my desktop first (also HP) and was quite pleased. It went through on the first try. Very clean. I was greatly surprised to find that Creative did not have drivers for a sound card (on the desktop) that worked beautifully with Windows 7. I had to buy a new sound card which I did but not from Creative (knowingly).

I really like the speed of Windows 8 both in turning it on and in closing it down. I also appear to be getting better battery life on my notebook although that may not be related.

I have learned to work with and adjust the Tiles on the Start screen and actually find it better than the old Start button. There are so many advantages that I think I should have purchased a few extra copies of Windows 8 Pro while it was on sale for $39.

I do not have a touch screen, would like one but don’t need one. Windows 8 was not made JUST for a touch screen. I really do find the touch screen fascinating since getting used to smartphones and tablets however I do quite well on my monitors with a mouse. 

I would highly recommend a recent blog post at Computerworld to read; Windows 8 tips, tricks, and hacks. I like two right up front; the GodMode folder and the Applications folder for the desktop. Both really neat hacks.

Now to sit back by the fireside and read the Windows 8 SECRETS (on the Kindle) by Paul Thurrott & Rafael Rivera. It is also available in paperback if you need the tactile feel of a antique book.

I would also like to mention that Newegg has become a more recent resource and I find them also to be fair and quick. Between Newegg and Amazon, shopping at home gets easier all the time .

Updating word of caution: In my case neither HP or AMD make it real easy to get updates to drivers needed for the upgrade. Microsoft was better at letting me know the potential issues. HP’s web site tended to go around in circles and AMD just flat out does not make it easy. AMD wants you to deal with HP and HP did not have the drivers – at least as far as I could find.  Could not find anything at HP or RealTek for my card reader drivers. I will admit that HP did have a long article on the upgrade and directed at my notebook however some of the links off of it just did not work.

Rock on Windows 8.

Your WiFi Connection Will Control Cloud Computing

And you better get used to it. If there is one thing that can deter Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and whoever else, from having a great Cloud computing experience it will be the Telecommunications Industry.

This more so than hardware and software. This includes both cost, availability, and speed. 

I would like to see Office 365 work, I would like Dropbox to be my next best friend, however the scoundrel in the middle, who could be mucking it up, is your not so friendly Internet connection company. If that connection is wireless it would have to be the purveyor of the signal. Hmm... AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc., they control your business and your life today.

Control is a keyword here. Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, as well as Sales Force and others who rely on their customer being connected best pay attention. The Telecom's want a piece of your pie.

Fact: In this day and age, your internet connection (and that of your employee or customer) may be more important than the fuel cost. And that importance is growing.

If Microsoft wants us to use Office 365 they best weigh in on our ability to connect.

Just sayin'..........

Evernote and Issues

I started this blog to deal with technology and life as technology is applied. Back in 2003 (way back in the day) I discovered Microsoft’s OneNote. Fantastic product and as usual I promoted and convinced a number of people to jump on board. What a great product. Even taught classes for OneNote and turned on the lights.

I connected OneNote to Microsoft’s online Drive and began to sync across a couple of computers. I learned all this from listening to Windows Weekly and Paul Thurrott with Leo Laporte. Great show.

After sometime I discovered that the syncing was not always correct and if I missed something I would have multiple OneNote pages.. Now when I say I used OneNote, if could be said I abused OneNote. It was open all the time and I recorded everything. I was becoming digital. I am a prolific note taker. Sometimes I take so many notes I have trouble getting back to them – but I have them.

As usual I read and listen and I learned about a new product, Evernote, while it was in Beta. I believe that it started as one product and grew into something different, my memory escapes me. Although Evernote list’s their beginning in 2008 I think I may have been playing with it earlier. I thought “OK this could be good”.

About the time I got into smartphones, Motorola Droid November 2009, I started getting fascinated with Evernote’s capabilities.  I was having serious issues with syncing between computers on OneNote and now I could use Evernote on my smartphone – WOW! I could also access my Evernote notes on the web.

So I convert to Evernote, become a premium user, and OneNote drop’s out of the picture.

Today I run Evernote on all computers, my smartphone, my iPad and my Nexus 7 tablet. Great product.

There is, however, one problem. Editing Evernote on the computer is great. Updating notes, adding pictures, moving things around. I am now a 98% digital user. On the tablet’s and the phone not so easy. I can add notes without issue however I cannot edit notes already there without problems. I realize the different platforms create problems however it is almost like Evernote thinks you only use it on your smartphone, or your computer, or your tablet. Evernote should be able to be edited on all devices easily.

One very big example is using bullets. Evernote on the smartphone or tablet does not make it easy to edit bullets. I have also gotten use to formatting on my computer – can’t do that on the other devices.

I believe, now that I am the user (a little ego here) Evernote should work on all platforms in the same fashion. I like easy. I believe this should be true for all apps from device to device.

For example: Where is Microsoft Word? Where is Microsoft Excel? Will they lose out also? You know Pages on the iPad is not bad but it’s not on the Nexus 7 or on my Windows computer. It is useless to say “Why don’t you switch to all Apple?” It  won’t happen. It won’t happen for me and for many, many, others.

Maybe there will be something new Like Evernote was to replace Word or Excel?

Just sayin’……..

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More Windows 8–Downloading is Not A Good Idea

OK very happy with Windows 8 on desktop so decided to purchase and download Windows 8 for my notebook.

Not the best idea I have had today.

I went through the process at the Microsoft web site and first I downloaded and ran the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. I am running Windows 7 Pro so I thought this was a good idea.

I received the report and of the number of items not compatible I was most concerned about the printer, an HP C4780 Photosmart multi function printer. The report showed a link for an upgrade available so I clicked on the link. Perhaps I should have waited until I had installed Windows 8 because at that point I could not print the report or the receipt. I am resourceful, I made a PDF of the report and emailed the receipt. There were other items however I felt we could overcome them and I made notes.

Next up the pay screen(s) and that was fairly normal so on to the download.

Now the fun(?) begins. I started the download at 10:50 AM (approx.) and right away I discover that the savings was not going be as significant as I had thought. By 11:30 AM only 10% of the file had downloaded, by 12:50 PM, 3 hours later, we were up to 30% downloaded. Cost of Windows 8 download (at the current sale at Microsoft) was $39.99 (lasts until Jan 31, 2013) or $69.99 at the Microsoft store if you want the disk.

I purchased Windows 8 locally for the desktop ($58 plus tx) and we were done in an hour. It looks like it is going to take almost 10 hrs. at the current speed of download to get the file and then install the upgrade. Hmm…

Question: What, if during the balance of the life of this notebook, I have to re-install Windows 8? I am not sure the $30 savings is going to be worth it. Actually I can purchase the disc locally for about $10 less.

OH, I am on a high speed Time Warner Cable internet connection which does very well. I do not think you could do much better in Redmond WA unless you were located on the Microsoft Campus.

Recommendation: BTD – Buy The Disc.

Just sayin…..

Windows 8 and Missing Gadgets

One of the things I liked about Windows Vista was the sidebar. One of the things I did not like was the manner in which the sidebar was implemented, very little freedom. Windows 7 fixed that and when I installed Windows 8 I missed the gadgets.

I really like the clock, the calendar, and the weather buds.

Yesterday I found 8GadgetPack, a FREE download that will give you back the gadgets. I downloaded and installed the Clock, the same blue neon clock that I had on Windows 7. I also added the calendar and two weather buds.

Be careful in  that there are two different calendar gadgets as well as two weather gadgets. At first I installed the wrong one (wrong one for me). Easily corrected.

I am really liking Windows 8 more and more. It is faster and I am getting used to the Start screen and have adjusted items so that I can get to what I want easier as well as removed items from the Start screen. All things still show up in All Apps so you don’t lose. Actually I think it is easier than using the Start Menu we have had for so long. I guess I don’t miss the Start menu. So a convert I am.

I think that people who pan Windows 8 really do not use a Windows computer. Perhaps they are not ready to advance with the future. Things change and some are unwilling to adapt and that includes older tech people. At one time they were on the cutting edge and they have suddenly gotten dull.

If there is anything it is that I miss it is the smaller sizes of Solitaire that we could run in the background. I think running those games, Solitaire (Spider and Free Cell) in the full screen is not necessary and this is Microsoft’s attempt at getting rid of those games. Playing those games is suddenly obnoxious. I do not see myself going with XBox, not a valuable tool for me. So I do pan the game feature. Hey the world is not perfect.

As Jim Rohn said; “Don’t get frustrated, get fascinated!” It’s all good.

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My Saturday and My Connection To Technology

On the way to get coffee this morning I began to think of how technology is touching my life. I find it fascinating the changes in how I connect and what my daily processes are now.

Before 1993 email was not something that I was concerned with. And after 1993 it was a very seldom used tool. I did not have friends or business connections that even knew what email was. A very limited universe. The same was true from my first web page in 1994.

In the early days I always carried books, magazines, and a leather binder with yellow legal pads to write on. I have always been a prolific note taker and doodler. If I can’t write I feel imprisoned. It is my connection with myself. My car was my office and there was always something to read and something to write on.

How times have changed in just 20 of my 70 years. Actually 74 but who is counting.

This morning, after showering and dressing, before taking the morning medications or doing anything else, I picked up my phone to see if there were any important email or messages from all those out in the world, in different time zones, that I am connected to.  I first checked notifications and then went to email to see what was there. Quickly scanning subject matter and senders I thought “OK later” and then went on to what I needed to do personally. Time spent about 30 seconds at most (more likely 10 seconds).

After getting the newspaper for my wife I grabbed the computer bag and my coat (and after starting the coffee for my wife) I headed out to McDonald’s. All the while wondering why the computer bag? I have my iPad and my new Nexus 7 to read news on and clean up email.

After getting the coffee (and my Breakfast Burrito) I turned on my mobile hotspot (Samsung Galaxy S III via Verizon) and connected  the computer. I needed to update my Windows Essentials so I searched the correct link to verify my requirements and then went to the Windows Essentials page and downloaded the update.

While waiting for the update to download I opened the Nexus 7 and went to email, opened the NY Times newsletter to review today’s headlines and went to a specific article to read; The Line Between ‘Aggressive’ and ‘Evil’. Checked the rest of the news and by that time the download had processed and I am now back on the computer.

When it comes to reading I have the Kindle app on all my tablet’s, my notebook computer, and my desktop, as well as my phone. I can, and do,  read on all of them. I read more now than before, if that is possible. I just lent a Kindle book to someone for the first time; “What The Plus” by Guy Kawasaki.

It is said that technology is my hobby as well as reading, writing, photography and cutting glass. There are days when I wish I could just be a hobbyist all day long, in fact those are most days.

I have often said that I do not use paper and pencil as much as I used to (if at all) and recently I have stopped carrying a pen – only a stylus. I make all my notes on the phone or tablet and can access most via the computer. The only thing that I wish for on the tablet’s is a good word processing app and a Windows Live Writer app for blogging. But that is another post.

Have a Happy Saturday – it has warmed up outside to 33º here in the Cincinnati area.

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