#84 The Google Empire Post 2

Google has lately ventured into moving more products on to the web. Google Docs & Spreadsheets lets you do you word processing and calculating on line. It takes a bit getting used to but it means you don't need that laptop everywhere you go. Google Docs & Spreadsheet

Another application Google is promoting is their online calendar. This is a wonderful way to share information with a group on what is going on. Google Calendar If your family is really technically savvy you can set up the family schedule online!

Google Books is a Nick favorite. You can search the full text in the books or for topics. A great search engine BEFORE you go to the library! Google Book Search

Need a quick look at what happened in financial Markets? Check out Google Finance!

We use the iGoogle for our home page under Internet Explorer. You can customize it to have the information you want not that your ISP wants! iGoogle

Google has recently added Google Notebook to their list of web utilities. You can clip useful information from most web pages. You can add clippings of text, images and links from web pages to your Google Notebook without ever leaving your browser window. Organize your notes.You can create multiple notebooks, divide them into sections, and drag-and-drop your notes to stay organized. Get access from anywhere.You can access your Google Notebooks from any computer by using your Google Accounts login. Publish your notebook.You can share your Google Notebook with the world by making it public.

Lastly Google recently purchase YouTube, the online home video phenomenon.

Here is the home of all the Google products: GOOGLEMANIA

#83 - The Google Empire Post 1

Google is one of those few companies I knew was good from the get go. I first saw the Google search engine in 1998. It was developed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Stanford University students. It just worked better and is still the best search engine. They have moved on from search and here is a brief list of Google products.

This blog is hosted on Blogger a Google application. We know it is very cool.

Google Desktop was a natural extension of the Google search engine to the PC. It searches and indexes everything on your PC. It is 3 times as fast as the search built into Windows.

Google Earth. Everyone loves this application when they see it. It is essentially a composite of all the satellite photos that are taken every day. You can zoom in on your house, place of work or next vacation destination from outer space. Very cool. I saw an article recently where the rescuers of Hurricane Katrina victims used it to search New Orleans when there were no recognizable landmarks.

Gmail. There probably are better email services (we like AOL), but this one has it all at a great price (free).

Google Hello is a web based photo sharing site. Again there are lots of competitors, but this one is a bit better.

Picasa is a very good desktop picture management software. You can organize, edit, rename and even display your digital pictures. We highly recommend this product.

Google Talk is an Instant Messenger host. You can only talk with other Gmail customers, but there are lots of features that make it fun to use.

#82 - Who needs to fold a Map?

My father loved maps. He would plot out our annual summer vacation with great delight. His sisters belonged to AAA so he would get a 'Trip-Tik" made and we would all follow the sights and scenery according to the Trip-Tik. Lovely info like: 'I-95...traversing primarily rolling woodlands, with pleasing scenery. Good grade and alignment.' Wow who knew that was I-95?

I still belong to the AAA (Mainly for that great battery charge and tire change service for the Mrs.). We go on a car trip about once a decade, but when we do I call the dutiful AAA agents and ask for the Trip-Tik. AAA last year went digital and now you can generate your own Trip-Tik online or just ask for one online. I've found the online information more accurate and, well duh!, easier to change. For example we are going up north this year so when I put the request in I said "Please keep us away from congestion and New York City." That fell on deaf ears and the Trip-Tik came in with tons of I-95 through Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Newark. Oh they did avoid NYC. On line it was simple to see that there is a route to the west that avoids all those cities (I-81).

This will also be our first big trip with our GPS. I haven't programmed the route yet, but Garmin lets you plot out your route with waypoints and stops. Any changes you make on route are automatically recalculated and off you go! So is this our last Trip-Tik? I'll let you know after the July trip! Bon Voyage!

#81 - The Internet Highway?

Technology is moving to have the Internet make an appearance in your car. In fact if you have a Verizon or Cingular (AT&T) broadband wireless card you can be on the Internet via your laptop. Ford is heading in a different direction. They see that the technology of those who want to be always connected is more then just the Internet.

Ford Motor Company announced the launch of a new factory-installed, in-car communications and entertainment system that is designed to change the way consumers use digital media portable music players and mobile phones in their vehicles. The Ford-exclusive technology based on Microsoft Auto software, called Sync, provides consumers the convenience and flexibility to bring into their vehicle nearly any mobile phone or digital media player and operate it using voice commands or the vehicle’s steering wheel or radio controls. This sounds very cool. Ford says the system will eventually include getting updates and content (ie connecting to the Internet).

Autonet Mobile, meanwhile, wants to turn your car into a rolling hotspot. Autonet's book-size router plugs into your cigarette lighter and connects to the same kind of high-speed cell networks used by wireless PC Cards, while broadcasting a secure 802.11g network in your car (and a little beyond). Autonet has two big advantages over wireless cards: It is better at managing handoffs when you move from fast networks to slower ones, allowing for seamless data streaming. And everyone can share one connection, so Mom can watch YouTube on her laptop while Sis IMs her posse and Junior plays multiplayer games on his Mini Play station.

Gee and I thought the purpose of the car was transportation. Turns out it is Entertainment!

#80 - Marketing in the 21st Century

Well I must be doing something wrong. I was visiting a long standing client the other day and noticed a big box of supplies (toner & ink) in the office. I asked where they got them from and Quill was the answer. After shaking my head I handed out my price list that shows PCSS has much better pricing then Quill on Toner and Ink cartridges. The reply I knew was coming came "I didn't know you sold printer supplies!" Where have I gone wrong?

Modern marketing lore says you have to show a customer your message at least 8 times before it sinks in. In our media crazy age we are bombarded with advertisements so much that we tend to ignore all but most outrageous. Quick name ONE of the hyped super bowl commercials from 2006! No? Well what about one from 2007? Remember these advertisers paid Mega Million $$$ for these ads. Having said that I guess I don't feel so bad. The PCSS advertising budget is much less, in fact it almost doesn't exist.

PCSS tries to promote our offerings through our email newsletter, web site and seasonal hand outs. On every one of these items there is a listing or link to the products we sell and services we provide. So even if you read all three, we still don't have your complete attention. We try to target our pitches to existing customers and our target audience - Small Business Owners. I'd be thankful for any suggestions that you may have for improving our marketing. PCSS does not target the entire world as customers so that limits where we advertise and how we get our message out. Maybe we should consider subliminal ads. BUY PCSS, BUY PCSS, BUY PCSS...

#79 - Wireless limits

There are several technologies working out there that call them selves wireless. The one we are most familiar with is the IEEE802.11g protocol that we use in our houses. This technology uses the 2.4GHz frequency to send Internet throughout your home or business at up to 54Mbps(mega bits per second). In comparison, if you are wired you connect at 100Mbps. Another technology is the cellular Internet sold by Verizon and Cingular (AT&T). In this technology you plug in a PC card in your laptop and get up to 144Mbps if there is cellular Internet service available. But just like Cell phone service "Can you here me know" is the cry when you go out of cellular Internet range.

A new protocol IEEE802.11n will increase the wireless speed in your home or business to 108Mbps. It will also add MIMO (multiple input/multiple output) for increased bandwidth and strength of signal. The new protocol will not be approved until 2008 at the earliest. Many manufacturers are building wireless routers and access points that are called PRE-N standard. Unfortunately not many of the PRE-N devices are standard. That means if you have a Belkin PRE-N device it may not work with a Linksys or Apple PRE-N device. That's why they call it a standard and its not done yet!

So how fast can we stream the Internet wirelessly? Some say the new 802.11n protocol will be the limit in the 2.4.Ghz frequency. If we change to microwave or TV frequencies there are new technologies that theoretically get us to 3000Mbps wireless. Wow now that would be fast. As we try to stream more videos and movies that would be helpful. There are several Internet services selling movies on the web that you download or view in real time.

#78 - Why can't I have the latest toys?

A good customer just purchased a new digital camera from PCSS. Its the latest model of the camera the wife and I dearly enjoy. To say the least, I'm highly jealous of the new camera. It has twice the megapixels (not a biggie), a longer zoom (that is nice), quicker response (also nice) and image stabilization (huge feature!). The camera is the Canon SD800IS. It costs about the same as my camera did and is the same size.

As I have said before on this site, megapixels aren't a big deal. The best my printer can do is a bit over 3 megapixels. Anything more then that can only be used for blowing up pictures and my printer is limited to 8.5"x11" size. Longer zoom is always good as long as you don't lose any focus or speed. Quicker response is great. It means you can take your next picture more quickly. Image stabilization allows you or your subject to move and you won't get a blurry pictures. Great for sports, kids, pets and windy days. This is a big item when you are indoors and trying to take a picture without flash. This is the key important feature and worth the slight premium Canon charges in their digital cameras with this feature.

My XP laptop is great but I'm selling better models to most customers today. Bigger screen, faster processor, more USB ports. Oh well, since I just purchased the Vista laptop, I'm probably out of the laptop market for a while. My Ultra desktop PC just keeps on trucking. Its old, noisy and big. It's had the motherboard, hard drive and power supply replaced so its probably good for another year. Now my monitor is a beautiful 19" LCD. They make them bigger, but not better. Besides my desktop is full and there is absolutely no more room there.

My latest two toys are a 1 tetrabyte (1000 gigabyte) network external hard drive. I can access this drive from any PC in the house and store pictures, music, video and other backups. My Mini Mac even talks fluently with this wonderful backup system. My other new toy is a 4GB USB flash drive. I backup MY Documents to that drive and keep it with me all the time.

So don't feel sorry for me. I may envy your new purchase, but I have too many toys to try and keep up!

#77 - Microsoft's Table top PC

Microsoft unveiled a coffee table shaped "surface computer" Wednesday. The "Surface PC" promotes Bill Gates's view of a future where the mouse and Keyboard are replaced by more natural interaction using voice, pen and touch.

The Surface, which has a 30-inch interactive display under a hard plastic tabletop, allows people to touch and move objects on screen for everything from digital finger painting and jigsaw puzzles to ordering off a virtual menu in a restaurant (with pictures like in oriental restaurants!).

It also recognizes and interacts with devices placed on its surface, so cell phone users can easily buy ringtones or change payment plans by placing their handsets on in-store displays, or a group of people gathered round the table can check out the photos on a digital camera placed on top.

Microsoft said it will manufacture the machine itself and sell it initially to corporate customers, deploying the first units in November in Sheraton hotels, Harrah's casinos, T-Mobile stores, and restaurants. The company is selling the Surface for between $5,000 and $10,000 each, but aims to bring prices down to consumer levels in three to five years and introduce various shapes and forms.

The possibilities with this new PC are almost endless. If we can finally get rid of the mouse and keyboard interface, it brings the PC to almost everyone. Also moving the PC to the coffee table gets us out of these uncomfortable office chairs and back into couches and comfortable side chairs! It will put a strain on your neck to look down. I look for Holographic PC projections next so we can really lounge in our massaging lounge chairs!

#76 - How old is that in dog years?

My parents used to buy a new car every 4 years. It was like clockwork. I have a friend that gets a new car every 10 years(note its always a VERY nice new car!). Another friend never buys a car new and claims to not know what depreciation is! Frequent questions I get, "My computer is X years old, is that too old? Do I need to replace it?"

My answer depends on lots of factors. I have customers, that due to the programs they run, are doing fine with Windows 98 (now 9 year old). The computers are older, but they don't go on the Internet much and keep then on a good maintenance system. The software they have is customized and probably won't run under Windows XP, let alone Windows Vista. Another customer's business is totally based on computers. They require a high degree of uptime and can't stand to be bogged down on their PCs. They may need to have the latest and greatest PCs.

For the typical user a PC should last 4 to 5 years or through 1 operating system change. I don't recommend upgrading operating systems. Nothing good comes in that process and you end up spending more time then the value you receive. Monitors sometimes last longer and my wife is still using a HP LaserJet 4 (circa 1989). I will tell you that if you are using one of the old CRT type monitors, run don't walk it out to recycle and get a flat screen LCD monitor. There are so many bad things about CRT monitors that we'll just assume everyone has done so! If you are in the corporate world, you need to depreciate your PCs over no more then 3 years. Bad things happen when you try to stretch a PC through the depreciation period.

I got thinking about this after reading an editorial in PC Magazine on reviving dead gadgets. The point was why do we throw away perfectly good cell phones after 2 years? Shouldn't they last longer? Yes they should. But we want the latest gadget and the cellular phone companies don't seem to be able to say NO to consumers on new cellular phones. They consistently sell them for great discounts when you subscribe to their service. Just don't lose one or break it before the subscription period ends. Also if you think its broken, why not take the time to experiment with the supposedly "dead" phone and see if you can revive it.

Many of my customers are asking should I upgrade to Vista? My clear answer is NO, not on the PCs you have now. If you would like to move to Vista and are sure all your software and hardware will work with it, then buy a NEW PC that is designed to run Vista (2 GB memory, 120GB hard Drive, High end Graphics).

#75 - What ever happened to Voice Recognition?

I really thought we would have thrown away our keyboards by now and would be talking to our computers. But alas, that hasn't happened. Voice Recognition (VR)Technology has been one of lots of talk, but not much action. I first saw a VR system in the late 80s. It came free with WordPerfect 8 and was worth what I paid for it. I tried to set it up for my mother, who dislikes typing. After 5 hours of installing, testing, trying and having my mother record her voice over and over, we were no where. The VR software recognized about 50% of her words. Now my mom has a very Midwestern clear voice. We were both chagrined.

Fast forward 12 years and I tried it again with a Covington customer. Said customer had a deep southern accent, so I knew this would be a true test. Many days later after installation, testing, and him recording test tracts 5 times, it was a no go. Way too many errors. Sigh.

Today some companies are using VR in their phone support. I'm sure you've run into the 'Say Yes if this is the option you want' over the phone. Most computer companies use a modified VR system that lets you talk in one word answers. No complicated sentences with words like Reed, Read or Write, Rite.

I still think VR will happen, just not in my lifetime. If you ask the pros, what is holding up VR is processing speed. We have plenty of memory to store all the words and phrases in the English language. We just don't have computers that are fast enough to search through those words and phrases to recognize your voice and put it in context of a sentence. On the other hand. My Garmin GPS does a remarkable job in saying street names (even though it keeps thinking DR. is Doctor instead of Drive). So once we get the VR working the response will come quickly and sound good. I guess we'll give it some more time.

#73 - The long slow end of tape

Backing up your data has always been a problematic issue. I'd estimate that every two weeks I deal with a customer that has lost data that hasn't been backed up. I had another one today to ask me to try and find a data file that disappeared. The bad issue is that they were backing up their My Documents folder to a CD. They weren't backing up the data of a particular program that does not save its info into My Documents. After 20 minutes of search I couldn't find the file and the bad news was in. Fortunately there were paper backups so the data could be restored but at a terrible cost in time.

What does backup have to do with tape? The first storage units for PC's were cassette tapes. The first dedicated backup up devices for hard drives were tape units. Its the early 80s and the Robert Palmer is Simply Irresistible! Its 20 years later and people are still using tape backup. Tape is my least favorite method of backup for several reasons. First tape is sequential. You have to start someplace and then move the tape. If you want to restore files that are on the other end of the tape you have to rewind or wind the tape to get to it. A slow and tedious process. Secondly, tape wears out fairly soon. The process of wind and rewind take a toll on the tape. It stretches after so many uses and then the data is poof, gone. So much for backup.

There are many alternatives to tape so I'm confused why people still use it. There are optical drives (CD/DVD), Flash Drives, External hard Drives and even hard drive cartridges (my favorite!). Costs are actually less for most of these technologies. Lets all say a fond farewell to tape backup and good riddance.