Technology | Productivity501

Making Room On Your Hard Drive

2011 by Mark Shead 13 Comments

I remember when I first started looking at computer catalogs back in the late 80s. There was a 540MB hard drive for sale that I found fascinating. It seemed like a limitless amount of storage and I remember dreaming about what type of huge business you could run with that amount of storage space. Of course now that is even less data that can fit on a single CD rom and many programs come on multiple DVDs now days. No matter how big of hard drive you have, you'll eventually be able to fill it. There are two ways to clean out unnecessary information. One is to go through, folder by folder, and clean out what you don't need. This is the "correct" way to do things. However, in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Technology

Technology Worth Noticing

2010 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

Here is a short collection of different pieces of technology I've dealt with lately that might be worth looking into if you ever have a need for the particular problems each one solves. Ubuntu Lucid Lynx Ubuntu's newest version of Linux is a nice step forward. Ubuntu is an operating system. You can install it in place of Microsoft Windows or OS X. After playing with it a few hours, I've been impressed with the new look and feel. It includes a number of free applications as part of the default installation very much on par with (if not better than) what you'd expect to get with a commercial operating system. For general computing where a good deal of your work is done on the Internet, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: DLNA, linux, media, os, Technology

A Talk With The FBI

2010 by Mark Shead 13 Comments

I recently had a chance to talk with an FBI agent who works with computer evidence. Here are some of the things I took away from the conversation. A lot of his job is fairly easy because most criminals have no idea how a computer works. I asked if he ran into any type of encryption very often and he said it was very rare. There was only one case where someone was using encryption and he said it was completely luck that they were able to catch him because he hadn't chosen a very good password. Now I'm not telling you this so you can go out and start a life of crime. But the things that make Mr. FBI Agent's life easier also make the life of identity thieves a lot easier. So what do … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: crime, FBI, identity theft, passwords, Technology

5 Tips for an Organized Computer

2009 by Mark Shead 14 Comments

1. Use Your My Documents Folder The My Documents folder is there for a reason. If you don't have a My Document's folder, create one. The idea is to keep all of your documents in this folder. This makes it easy to backup your computer and easy to find stuff instead of looking all over your hard drive. You can take this idea step further and create folders for the types of items you produce on your computer. Here is an example of how OS X sets up your home directory by default: One of the big benefits of this type of setup is that you can go to one place to start looking for anything you've previously saved. It also gives you a single place where you can tell your backup software … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Organize Tagged With: computer, folders, Organize, Technology

Integration is More Important than Features

2009 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

I am working with a client that has about 10 employees. They are starting to hit a wall when it comes to productivity. While each of their systems have a bunch of nice features, none of them integrate with each other. As a result, they spend most of their time moving information back and forth. The more their business grows, the slower their back office processes become. Here is an example: when someone buys something from the online store, that information has to be manually entered into the accounting software. The customer information must be manually entered into the customer relationship management system. If a customer gets a refund, the accountant handles the refund, but then … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: features, integration, Technology

10 Tips for Creating Secure Passwords

2009 by Mark Shead 16 Comments

If you do anything with computers, you deal with passwords and you probably have a handful of different passwords for different sites and systems. The best password is something that you will never forget, but even your family or closest friend would never guess. In my experience people either have extremely secure passwords like J!*xurQ1# that are so difficult to remember that they have to write them down (which defeats the security of a password) or extremely unsecure to start with, like Jonny (the name of their spouse). The goal of this post is to give you some ideas on how to generate secure passwords. The tips start out with some simple ways to come up with terms and end with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: passwords, security, Technology

Cost of a New Computer

2009 by Mark Shead 10 Comments

It is very easy to underestimate the cost of a new computer. The cost of purchasing a computer is relatively straightforward. You pay the price that on the sticker. However, there are two other areas of cost that are often overlooked. Let's briefly look at each of them. Maintenance costs Computers are like cars. They have a finite life and at some point it is very likely that they will both need repair. The older they are, the more likely it is they will need repair. When people buy computers, they often focus on the sticker price and not the total lifetime cost. The one year warranty that comes with a computer automatically may be a lot cheaper than the three-year coverage, but how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Money Tagged With: computers, Money, ROI, Technology

Interview: Areas to Stay Low Tech

2009 by Mark Shead 7 Comments

Everyone uses technology, but I thought it would be interesting to see in what areas people have decided they are better off avoiding technology. So we asked a bunch of bloggers: Are there areas where you have decided it works better to go low tech? (3593) Personally, I have found that I prefer a mechanical watch. I think there is something about having to set it and make sure it is wound that makes me more aware of time and how I spend it. My experience with daily planners and forms is that paper forms, all things considered, are better than a bunch of software that we're prone to fiddle with. The focus and tangibility of paper planners is a powerful productivity … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: low tech, Productivity, Technology

Interview: Computer Setup

2009 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

In the next part of our technology interview, we asked a number of people: Describe your computer system setup and tell what parts you feel are most important for your productivity. (679) I was surprised at how many Mac users we had. Obviously everyone's setup is based around their particular needs, but there are some great tips in here. OS X itself is great for my productivity. In the year and a half I've been using a Mac, I've had only a few trivial computer problems, all easily solved. The two programs that most add to my Mac productivity are Quicksilver and TextExpander. To my mind, Quicksilver's versatility alone is a good reason to use a Mac. TextExpander, like the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: computer, mac, OSX, setup, Technology

Opera Unite

2009 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

Opera announced a new browser called Unite. It gives your browser the ability to share content instead of just consuming it. For example, you can share you pictures with other users, or share your music with your handheld computer. It is an interesting idea and could be very powerful. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: browser, opera, Technology

Interview: Technology Investments

2009 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

We interviewed a number of bloggers and asked: How do you decide if a new technology is worth investing in or whether it is a waste of time? (692) Here are their answers. I was impressed with how many people have a framework or set of questions they use to decide if something is really valuable to them or not. If I'm not sure, I wait. I'm not an early adopter and I'm pretty frugal with my money, too. A product has to prove itself before I'll buy it. Trent Hamm from The Simple Dollar (rss) If a product doesn't have a collection of Amazon reviews, I figure it is probably too soon to know how well it works. I like to evaluate technology before I invest in it. For example, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Productivity, Technology, Time

Interview: Learning New Technology

2009 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

We interviewed a number of bloggers and asked: How do you learn a new piece of technology? (968) Here are their answers. I play with it! If my mind doesn't start flooding with lots of ways it will save me a ton of time, I abandon it. If it's not intuitive to learn, forget it. In today's world there is no excuse for any technology to be difficult to learn. Ariane Benefit from Neat & Simple Living (rss) Giving yourself plenty of time to just "play" is important. You shouldn't buy a complicated new digital camera 30 minutes before you want to use it to capture a once in a lifetime event. I unpack, fire it up and start using it. I toss the manual in the corner and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: information, learning, mind, Technology

Interview: Effective Gadgets

2009 by Mark Shead 10 Comments

In this next interview, we asked people: What gadgets do you use on a regular basis and how do they help you work more effectively? (940) There was variety in the answers, but I thought it was interesting how many people feel a timer is one of their most important gadgets for getting more done. 1) Timer to keep me focused and learn how much time things really take. 2) Digital Voice Recorder to record all the inspirations I get while driving. 3) Notebooks and pens EVERYWHERE so if I get distracted from what I'm doing I can write down the distracting thoughts and get back to focusing. 4) DVR / TIVO - I never watch live TV and I record all the educational shows related to my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: gadgets, Technology

The Downside of Macs

2009 by Mark Shead 9 Comments

In general, I am happy with using a Mac. The operating system is very well designed and gives me everything I want from Linux without the complexity. The hardware is well designed and thought out and is (for the most part) a pleasure to use. However, there is one area that Apple is sorely lacking in and since I often mention how I like using a Mac, I felt I should take the time to mention what I hate about Apple--the repair process. When I buy a laptop, I expect to use it very heavily for 3 to 4 years. I expect it to be powered on about 75% of that time. Given the mechanical nature of laptops and the complexity that goes into their construction, I expect to have some type of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: apple, service, Technology

5 Minute Outliner 2.0 Review

2009 by Anna Leave a Comment

Sometimes compatibility issues between technological devices leave us scratching our heads and disheartened at the loss of productivity that results. One such frequent frustrate-or is programs for mobile devices. Few truly helpful organizational programs are available for use with a wide range of cell phones or PDA's. However, the developers at 5 Minute Downloads have created software that allows a user to effectively visualize and organize ideas, create outlines for projects, import information from a personal computer, and to top it all off, stay compatible with other team members in the work place and with their mobile devices. The product in question is the 5 Minute Outliner, which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Misc, Organize, Productivity Tagged With: Mobile, Productivity, Technology

As a Child I was Conned

2009 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

When I was in grade school, we talked about the future. We watched films about the huge technological advances that were just around the corner. I remember dreaming about the day we would have robots and devices to handle every mundane task in our lives. We would only spend our time on tasks that were either exceptionally important or remarkably enjoyable and fulfilling. Technology has made some very significant advances over the last 20 some years. We have miniature personal communication devices, powerful computers the size of a small book, video recorders that fit in your palm, a worldwide network that is virtually free to use, but I still feel like I was conned. Instead … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: future, Productivity, Technology

TripIt Review

2009 by Anna 3 Comments

Though vacations are intended to be a time for creating a stress-free environment and enjoying some time off, they can quickly turn into another stressful situation. Most people will know what I mean when they remember the map shuffling, wrong turns and itinerary confusion. In other words, mass chaos! Though it is probably not possible to eliminate the stress of traveling, there are some effective tools that can help vacationers organize their travel information into a single, decidedly un-confusing plan. One such tool is a product called TripIt. This helpful web-based tool allows the user to integrate all of their travel plans for a trip into a central document. The program takes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Technology, tools, TripIt

Webnotes Review

2009 by Anna 2 Comments

There are many jobs and tasks today that involve very extensive research and preparation. With the advent of the internet in recent times, the search for information for students, employees and those at the executive level is much simpler and more convenient than it was several decades ago. The internet has many advantages that we could discuss; however, it does have one shortcoming for those that are conducting extensive research. If the articles were on paper already, the researcher could easily jot down some notes directly on the paper, sharing his or her thoughts with colleagues and fellow students. It could be argued that the person could print the information from the web pages, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Productivity, Technology, web

SugarSync Review

2009 by Anna 3 Comments

Ever felt like you were tied down by carrying around too many gadgets? For those that use both Macs and PC's, transferring files across platforms can be time consuming or downright difficult, causing many to cart around two different machines to have access to both sets of files. However, the developers at SugarSync have come up with a better way of doing things. Staying connected There are a few programs out there that sync mobile devices with your computer. SugarSync not only does this, but also syncs files across the Mac and PC operating systems and automatically backs up those files to your own, personal SugarSync web site. This web site is secure, and allows the user to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Productivity, Technology, tools

Top 5 Time Savers

2008 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

Yesterday we looked at my list of top 5 time wasters, so today it seemed appropriate to look at the top 5 time savers. It is hard to measure the value of something that saves you time, so these may seem fairly random. Your suggestions for top time savers are welcomed in the comment section below. Podcasts in the Car - I have a system that allows me to subscribe to podcasts, transfer them to an iPod that hooks directly to my car stereo (when I turn off the car the iPod is paused until I start it back up again), and delete podcasts once I've listened to them. This allows me to keep informed on many topics with very little effort on my part and very little wasted time. I generally go … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With: Productivity, Technology, Time

10 Steps Toward Safely Relying on Technology

2008 by Mark Shead 1 Comment

I know many people who have easily lost a week of their valuable time because of a technology glitch. If you are willing to invest time and money on technology to make you more productive, you need to make sure you don't wipe out all of the productivity gains through an unexpected failure of your equipment. The following list covers 10 things you can do to minimize the impact of of Murphy's Law on your productivity: Expect things to go wrong. This seems simple, but most people are far too optimistic about technology. You need to assume that, at some point, your hard drive is going to crash, your cell phone will be stolen, your PDA will lose all of its information, etc. Now, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With: planning, Productivity, Technology

Choosing a PDA

2008 by Mark Shead 4 Comments

Personal digital organizers can be a a great tool for your productivity when used correctly. They can also be huge time wasters. I've used a number of digital hand-held devices over the last few years. Some were great time savers and others cost me more in productivity. Here are some tips on choosing a device that will help you save time and be more organized. Make sure you'll actually use it. For example, if the device requires you to select letters one by one using a stylus, be honest about whether or not you'll have the patience to actually type anything that way. Will you carry the device with you? If you are already toting a cell phone, wallet, pager, etc. are you going … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With: pda, Technology

EVDO Card for Productivity

2008 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

I am posting this note from the road. My wife is driving and I'm busy answering emails and arranging work with collegues from my laptop. The thing that makes this possible is a Sprint EVDO card. From a productivity standpoint, it is well worth the $60 per month. It more than pays for itself if I'm able to squeeze in an extra 30 minutes of work each month. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: evdo, Technology

Cell Phones and Sleep

2008 by Mark Shead 7 Comments

Some experiments seems to suggest that using a cell phone before going to bed can make it more difficult to fall asleep. It seems that the radio waves can mess with the mind and excite it. The effect is fairly subtle and is about equivalent to drinking half a cup of coffee, but still something to consider if you are having trouble going to sleep. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: cell phone, sleep, Technology

Trained Smelling Bees

2008 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

Scientists are training bees to smell certain diseases. The bees are then used to recognize whether or not someone has a particular disease by smelling their breath. This is a far cry from the little hand held scanner StarTrek predicted we'd have, but it demonstrates a valuable lesson. Don't get so caught up in looking for high tech solutions that you overlook simple, but very effective low tech opportunities. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: bees, medicine, Technology

Pre-Charged Batteries

2008 by Mark Shead 6 Comments

Duracell sent me a few of their new pre-charged batteries to try out. The idea is that people don't purchase rechargable batteries because they need to use them right away. In the past you couldn't pre-charge Ni-Cad rechargeable batteries because they would lose their charge while sitting on the shelf. The new pre-charged batteries seem to overcome this problem which also means you can charge up the batteries and not use it for awhile without losing power. I'm still testing them out to write up a better review of their performance. Duracell seems light on stats for the batteries with most of their efforts going into marketing based on humor, however the product seems good and will … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: Technology

No Flotation Devices

2008 by Mark Shead 1 Comment

We signed our 15 month old daughter up for swimming lessons at the city pool. Arriving early, I read the pool rules for the regular swim periods. I hadn't been to the pool in about 14 years and was suprised to see that they didn't allow any type of flotation devices. No rafts, life jackets or arm "floaties". I asked one of the lifeguards why, and discovered that the city pool puts some real thought into their policies--much more than the local library. The lifeguard explained that when people have a flotation device, they tend to rely on it instead of their swimming skills. A child with a life raft is more likely to get into water that is too deep than one without. Worse still, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With: Productivity, swimming, Technology

Interview: Managing Wires

2008 by Mark Shead 1 Comment

We interviewed a number of bloggers about how they manage the wires in their office setup. Wireless technology was the most frequently mentioned solution, but there are a bunch of other great ideas as well. Organization interview question: What is your best tip for managing the multitude of wires in a typical computer setup? (182) Use a good computer desk or table along with zip ties to keep everything out of sight John Richardson from Success Begins Today (rss) I've also had good luck with using double sided velcro for this purpose. Another thing that seems to work well is using black electrician's tape to tape up cables that are longer than what you need. I use as many wireless … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Organize Tagged With: Organize, Technology, wires

Previous Post: Technology Users

2008 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

With the launch of the 3G iPhone, I thought it was a fitting time to point to one of this site's first posts called Two Type of Technology Users. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: iphone, Technology

Encrypted Email Links

2008 by Mark Shead 1 Comment

If you are interested in sending and receiving encrypted emails, these links are a great place to get started in understanding the process and configuring your system. What is a Digital Signature - David Youd An excellent explaination of how digital signatures work. The graphics help make this easy to understand. The article focuses on how it works by telling short stories instead of dealing with all the technical background. How PGP Works - Network Associates This is a good introduction to public/private key encryption. PGP (pretty good privacy) is one implementation of public/private keys. The article can be applied to other solutions as well. Encrypted E-Mail Company … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: email, encryption, Technology

Telecommuting From Home

2008 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

This post is a series of links I asked my assistant in India to compile and summarize on telecommuting. With skyrocketing gas prices, now is a good time to consider telecommuting. You can even approach your boss about doing it to help the environment. (We've previously written about how to approach your boss about telecommuting.) Ever Given a Thought to Telecommuting? - Vishal P. Rao Should you be confused about telecommuting, this article acts as an eye-opener. Starting with a perfect definition of the term, the article also gives the advantage and the steps that can eliminate the drawbacks involved. The author also provides a link to gain additional knowledge and help you get … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Time Tagged With: Technology, telecommute

Past Post: Two Types of Technology Users

2008 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

Two Types of Technology Users - A short look at how different people approach technology. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: Technology

Handheld Copy Machine

2008 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

Quick Tip: A digital camera can serve as a simple hand held copy machine. If you need a copy of a rebate before mailing it in, just snap a photo. Want a copy of a deposit before mailing it off? Grab your camera. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: Technology

Links On Remote Assistants

2008 by Mark Shead 1 Comment

I asked my remote executive assistant to put together a list of a few posts that discuss working with a remote/virtual assistant. Below are the results: The Personal Outsourcing Olympics: Bangalore Butler or American Assistant? - Tim Ferriss Very appealing but informative article on the latest trend of entrepreneurs - Outsourcing. Having had a positive experience on all the jobs assigned to a virtual assistant, the author invites others to give their comments through this article. For a novice at outsourcing, he has chalked names of reputed companies in this field. How to get your virtual assistant to schedule your doctor’s appointments - Ramit Sethi Should you have problems … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Productivity Tagged With: remote assistant, Technology

Bigger Monitors

2008 by Mark Shead 5 Comments

WSJ has a post referencing a study showing that people with a 24 inch monitor were 44% faster than people with 18 inch monitors on a particular set of tasks. They said that performance started to go down again when given 26 inch monitors. I find that most people don't really know how to use a big monitor--especially with Windows. I've watch a lot of people open an application and maximize it regardless of how big their screen is. Then they jump back and forth between screens just like they would with a smaller monitor. You have to learn how to get the most productivity out of a bigger monitor--especially if you are in the habit of working with a smaller computer screen. This is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asides Tagged With: Monitor, Technology

Folder Template Video

2008 by Mark Shead 2 Comments

Several months ago, I did a post where I talked about creating folder templates. I've created a short You Tube video that shows the folder templates in action. I'm a bit disappointed with the You Tube quality, but I'm going to post it anyway in hopes that someone will find it useful. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Technology

Group Interview – Distraction Free Internet

2008 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

The internet can help your productivity, but it can also be a distraction. How do you obtain the benefits while avoiding the downsides?. I finally had to do two things that are working for me: In the Bookmark Bar, I narrowed the categories to only those related to business. I allow myself a set amount of time (20 minutes) to check the newsfeeds and other favorite sites for 20 minutes maximum 4 times during the day. On minute 21, I close the browser window.That means I potentially "lose" 1:20 minutes of work. As a result of the routine, it never amounts to that much. Steve Roesler from All Things Workplace (rss) Steve's suggestion to allow a certain amount of time for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Misc Tagged With: Technology

Michael Sampson on the Dvorak Keyboard

2008 by Mark Shead 13 Comments

We've talked about the Dvorak keyboard before when I learned Michael Sampson was making the switch. Since it has been a few months, I thought it would be interesting to checkup and see how it was going so I sent him a few questions about the change. checkout his responses below. What promoted you to switch to the Dvorak keyboard? There was one main reason that I switched: I was suffering from severe RSI in my left lower arm and hand, and I needed to find a better way of doing things. I knew of the Dvorak layout, and had recently read Mark Hurst's excellent book (Bit Literacy) in which he talked about his own transition from QWERTY to Dvorak. So I did some online study on the Dvorak … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Technology

Online Backup Options

2008 by Mark Shead 14 Comments

I've been trying out several online backup tools. I plan to write in more detail about my experiences with each one later, but here is an overview. My wife and I travel quite a bit. While I can take an extra hard drive with us for backups, but this seems a bit pointless since the biggest threat to my equipment is probably theft. If someone breaks into my hotel room and steals my laptop, they probably aren't going to overlook an external hard drive. I need a solution that will give me quick access to all my information if my computer is stolen or damaged. Here are three services I've tried. If you have any suggestions of other services I should check out please post them in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: backups, paperless, Technology

Habit List Web App

2008 by Mark Shead 3 Comments

Tom from App Engines put together a web app based on the Habit List. (Thanks Tom!) It keeps all your data in a cookie on your local computer. (If you delete your cookies your data for the app will be gone.) Check it out here. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Organize Tagged With: Organize, Technology

Time Machine in the Real World

2008 by Mark Shead 2 Comments

Today I used Time Machine on my first real world data loss problem. I'm embarrassed to even describe what happened, but here it is, anyway. I am working with an online store that sends me an email each time an order is processed. At first this was done just for testing, but there is some automation that happens when certain types of orders come into my mailbox. This is a temporary setup, so I don't want to take the time to move everything over to a separate mailbox. The downside is, one of my email accounts gets 10 to 40 emails that are just copies of sales confirmation. Each one represents an interruption to my day. So the logical thing to do was to setup a rule to take these … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: backups, Technology

Mozy Backup

2007 by Mark Shead 9 Comments

I have been looking for a good online backup solution. The idea is that your computer keeps track of any changes you make and automatically uploads them to a secure server. If your hard drive goes bad, it is a simple matter to download all of your data. I am experimenting with a few different services. One of the ones I tried is called Mozy and I finally gave up on it. It is nice in theory, but they just haven't figured out how to make it work on OS X. I've heard some people say they have had good results with the Windows version. Their business model is to give you unlimited backup of a single computer for $4.95 per month. Once you get a complete backup, Mozy just uploads the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Technology

One Laptop Per Child

2007 by Mark Shead 4 Comments

The one laptop per child project really sounds like a great idea. Design a computer that can be mass produced for around $100 each, give them to millions of kids in developing countries, viola! instant smart kids. While there is a lot of value in learning how to use a computer while you are young, most of the true educational value won't come through the hardware itself. This type of mindset is very common when it comes to technology. People like to focus on the hardware instead of the software. Focusing on what a piece of equipment is theoretically capable of is a lot more exciting than focusing on how you can actually use it today. In the US educational system, there are many … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Misc Tagged With: education, Technology

Initial Thoughts on OS X Leopard

2007 by Mark Shead 7 Comments

I recently upgraded my laptop and it came with Leopard. Overall, it looks like it will be a nice operating system, but there are still some rough edges. Here are a few random initial thoughts. Stability - It doesn't seem as stable as 10.4 was. This will probably change over time, but I've had several odd issues that required a reboot to fix. For example, I couldn't get to the System Preferences until I rebooted. Another time I couldn't run the laptop with the case closed while hooked to an external monitor until I fiddled with the display settings, even though it had worked correctly 30 minutes before. If you are considering upgrading your existing machine, I would recommend waiting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Misc Tagged With: Technology

On Scanning Your Signature

2007 by Mark Shead 4 Comments

Several people have commented that scanning your signature is a bad idea because if someone got a hold of the file they could sign away everything you own. Obviously you should keep the file private. I wouldn't recommend attaching it to each of your emails or putting it on a web page or anything like that, but it is probably no more risky than anything else you do on a regular basis. Consider the following: If you ever write a check or sign a credit card receipt at a store, you are essentially handing a stranger a copy of your signature already. They could easily digitize it using the process I've just shown and use to sign things as you. Most of the time when you sign … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: paperless, privacy, Technology

Tuesday’s Tip: Keeping Track of Software

2007 by Mark Shead 9 Comments

Over the years, you've probably acquired a pretty decent collection of software. There are the software restore disks that came with your new computer, the operating system upgrade you purchased a year later, the word processor you used to use, the word processor you currently use, etc. It isn't uncommon to have 50 or more CDs from different pieces of software. For most people, these CDs are all stuck in a drawer somewhere. This is fine, but as the number of CDs grows, you'll eventually need to stash the incoming disks somewhere else and it is easy to lose track of where everything is kept. Worse, the packaging is different for each piece of software, so they don't really fit well in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Misc Tagged With: Technology

Using Digg Productively

2007 by Mark Shead Leave a Comment

Digg can be a horrible waste of time. With the constantly updating links to interesting things around the web, you can lose many hours hoping from site to site. On the other hand Digg can be a great way to make sure you don't miss something important. For example, I learned that Gmail had added IMAP access from a Digg post. What I have found to work well is checking Digg once a week or once every month. Choose the technology category and then view the top items for the last 7 days (or last 30 days). (If you do this with the front page category, you'll be sifting a bunch of photos and videos.) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Technology

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