Comments on: Interview: Technology Investments

By: Anelly

Anelly — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:54:23 +0000

When you need to invest money in new technology it is more than necessary to test and read reviews about it because it’s an important long term investment.

By: Ariane Benefit

Ariane Benefit — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:17:48 +0000

Hi Mark!

GREAT post! picked up some interesting ideas.

Re: taking 20 minutes …I don’t expect to “MASTER” the software in 20 minutes, just get going with it and do the basics. e.g. I got my Typepad blog going very quickly, then began mastering the naunces, I did the same with Dreamweaver I had a website going in minutes…then evolved into Templates and CSS…all of which I eventually mastered using the online help as needed.

Same with digital cameras…I get them up and running in minutes…except one time I got a Samsung..and the user interface was so bad, it took over an hour just to get the battery working and get it to take a photo.

In my corporate past life, I spent a lot of time evaluating software and tehnology, also in designing intuitive user interfaces and helping to minimize the need for any training at all. So I expect a lot. I know what is possible and I don’t settle for clumsy user interfaces.

p.s. I even got Quickbooks going in less than 30 minutes…then of course I evolved into the deeper capabilities. It helps that I worked for Arthur Andersen many moons ago and was able to set up my own chart of accounts…but besides that, they do have a great user interface…Turbotax does as well. : )

p.s. did you know that I started a new company call Lotus Bridge? I’m running an online coaching group called “Getting Unstuck” and am now doing coaching only…no more organizing is now only a small subset of my work in helping people who are highly creative, have ADD or depression or other challenges like that, take charge of their lives and businesses. I LOVE it!!

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:06:53 +0000

Unfortunately, I’ve had to revise the way I do this. I used to wait for the third generation of a product: the first got it to market and cost a fortune; the second fixed the problems and made it work properly, but was still pricey; the thrid generation worked and benefited from proper engineering and larger quantities to reduce cost.

But I can’t do this anymore. By the third generation, they are considered passe and too low value, and some clown supercedes it with a further integrated or otherwise superior concept.

Now I’ve had to adopt a new strategy – I barely look at gadgets, software, websites, etc, except to maintain an idea of what is out there, and partly to permit small talk. I only ever look seriously when I’ve identified a need. Only then am I in a position to make a cost/benefit judgement.