A long-time Smooth Harold reader — and by long-time I mean four days — writes:
Dear Smooth Harold,
I’m looking forward to the book you’re writing, but your fans want to know: What technology are you using to write a book about life/tech balance?
Yours in blogging,
David Cole
Cambridge, Mass.
Hi David. I’m writing the book in iA Writer. I’ll also require electricity to turn my computer on, an internet connection, and working plumbing. Does that answer your question?
As for the book, I’ll be launching a website, newsletter, and maybe even a podcast soon with sample chapters and the process I’m going through to ensure the book gets maximum visibility (i.e. the best agent, publisher, and distributor my idea can buy). So stay tuned. And by that I mean keep refreshing this page every 30 seconds for the next several weeks.
Thanks for writing.
Assuming his biography well represents him, Steve Jobs was a jerk for much of his life. A work-a-holic with eating disorders, incredibly bratty, ruthless.
I’m sure a lot of devout followers will excuse his actions with “no one is perfect.” I prefer that justification, however, for people who are at least trying to improve their social skills with age, instead of sticking to their anti-social guns as Jobs did for much of his life.
Continue reading…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu927_ul_X0&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Long live the mouse and keyboard… at least until a better replacement comes along (which it hasn’t).
I’ve been using Google’s new Chromebook for over a month now. I use it a lot, often times reaching for it over my Macbook.
Why? It starts and stops faster. In a single second even. It connects to the internet faster. In seconds, mind you. The thing is quick and lightweight. Much like a tablet computer or iPad.
Better still, the Chromebook has a full-size but no-nonsense keyboard, making it the faster and better input device when compared to tablets. And it has a lot more “apps” than closed-system tablets.
Admittedly, the trackpad is finicky. But overall, I’m very impressed with the Chromebook, especially as it’s replaced some of the functions I used to prefer on either my desktop or laptop. It might be the best living-room laptop ever made. And it’s a great travel option as well.
If manufacturers price this thing under $300, I think it will make significant waves in the computing world upon release this summer.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFeD3qGVsrM[/youtube]
I watched the Google Chrome OS demo today and came away impressed. The product won’t meet the need of power-users, producers, and mult-media creators. But for everyone else, including power-users when they don’t need extra power, Chrome OS is the first legitimate consumer rival for both Macintosh and Windows I’ve ever seen. Much more so than Linux ever was (at least in a consumer sense).
Some highlights about Chrome OS, which has a planned release of “mid-2011” in select Acer and Samsung laptops:
- “Nothing but the Web.”
- Chrome OS features a fast and simple setup process, remarkably fast boot times and an instant resume feature to minimize wait time when the OS wakes from sleep.
- Unified experience across Chrome on netbooks, desktops and more.
- Multiple user support and guest mode — everything a user does in guest mode is private and history is deleted instantly when a session is ended.
- Verizon Wireless cellular data connectivity (international options are available as well) in every Chrome OS notebook/netbook — no contracts, no activation fees and monthly plans starting at $9.99.
- Updates are seamless — no user operations are required to update the OS or apps.
- Most secure OS in the world — security is a major focus of Chrome OS; all Chrome OS data is encrypted by default.
- Verified boot — core OS components are in firmware that cannot be modified.
- Enterprise options — Google is working closely with partners like Citrix to ensure the enterprise market is addressed.
- Google’s Chrome OS PCs get faster over time, not slower like other PCs.
- Initial manufacturing partners include Acer, Samsung and Intel.
Will Chrome OS overtake the world? No. But I could see it becoming as ubiquitous as Google’s own Gmail, if not bigger. Which is huge.
In other words, watch this space. Desktop computing is about to change. If only in how we store an access many of our files.
See also: Will Google Chrome OS change computers?
Like Click To Flash or Flash Block, Caffeine is a must for portable Mac users. With this tiny program installed, your monitor won’t dim unless you say so by clicking an icon on the menu bar. First discovered in December (thanks, Matt!), it’s just the shot my portable video needed to stay awake. There’s also a PC version.
I want to completely transition to Mac next month, having preferred my PowerBook to my Windows desktop for three years now. Only problem: after hours (and I do mean hours) of research, I can’t seem to find a viable alternative to QuickBooks Online, which only runs on Internet Explorer 6 or higher, and therefore unavailable on Mac.
I’d prefer not to run Boot Camp to quickly invoice someone or receive payment. Any ideas, small business Mac users? You’re my only hope, as a lack of accounting software is the only thing holding me back from fully basking in the Macintosh waters. Thanks in advance.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVyTnTdijog[/youtube]
And by better I mean more convincingly, funnier, and with more style — whether that definition is accurate or not is up for debate.
DISCLOSURE: I operate both Windows XP and Mac OSX machines.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrmF-mPLybw[/youtube]
The above ad is better than the Seinfeld mashup, but it doesn’t make using a PC feel any cooler. Plus, the soft response to Apple’s “I’m a Mac” ads only make me think of Apple, not Microsoft. Sorry, but again, this is fail.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6amk3P-hY[/youtube]
Behold, this is what Redmond is using to combat the effective and clever “I’m a Mac” ads. It’s bland, forgettable, and awkward — outside of the Spanish subtitles and quick shower scene.
I really like Seinfeld, and I’m a Windows XP user, but this is more Bee Movie and Office Paperclip style than anything else. Too bad.
Link
NOTE: I run XP on my desktop and OS X on my PowerBook.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av6fWfmugds[/youtube]
Good stuff, though I like more DC IP than I do Marvel IP. Best line from the spoof — Superman says, “I might actually fight a supervillain in my next movie.”
See also: Novell spoofs both PC and Mac with Linux
Not the most creative ad-parodies, but still funny… assuming you know your Linux history. Sadly, not many people do, so not many people will get the new Novell ads. The second one is the best.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtp5gNhBZgo[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVOnFdMf0RU[/youtube]
