A post-advertising future of newspapers

Writer James Surowiecki has an interesting article in the December 22 New Yorker magazine about where and how the newspaper industry is going in the face of dwindling subscribers, diminishing ad revenues, and shrinking resources. 

Among his solutions:  Foundation-based funding and deep-pocketed investors.  (Hope there’s a “Plan C” out there…)

As I was reading the story, I was musing about the future of the New Yorker, too.  I had subscribed to the magazine (in print) for a long time, but gave up about two years ago when I decided: a.) I didn’t actually get around to reading most issues and b.) 95% of the articles I wanted to read were available online for free. 

Although I find value in the articles, I must admit that I probably wouldn’t be willing to pay for them, if the New Yorker went to a “paid” access model, nor would I consider going back to a paper-based subscription.

I may be their biggest fan and worst nightmare rolled into one.  Tough business to be in…

How paperless I am?

Last year around this time when I was doing a year-end computer backup and paper shred, I thought it would be interesting to find out just how much paper comes into my life in a year.  So, I decided that instead of shredding it throughout the year, I'd save it in an expandable file this year to see just how big the pile would be after a year. 

The results are below:

 

After 12 months, I ended up with a 3-inch pile of paper.  It includes everything I wasn't able to "avoid" -- receipts, insurance forms and policies, tax packages, a few things from clients, and credit-card offers.   Except for the credit-card junk, I scanned everything as I received it, so as soon as I do my year-end computer back up, I'll shred the pile.

So, what did I learn from this?  Well, I think I've reached the point where I'm as "paperless" as possible right now.  I've checked with several of my "paper sources" to see if I they can turn off the stream, but the answer, for now, is no.  For example, probably half is comprised of insurance policies and statements of benefits, but my insurance companies say that state law requires them to provide this stuff on paper.  On the plus side, with the economy tanking, the flow of credit card offers ought to be slowing down soon...

Is wired the new wi-fi?

Interesting article in the Chicago Sun-Times today about the advantages of returning to a wired home network, rather than using wi-fi to serve to growing number of Internet-connected devices and appliances we all seem to have proliferating around the house.

I use a mix of wired and unwired on my own system, and I can’t say that I notice a major speed difference from device to device. 

Wired:

1. Office desktop
2. Network storage
3. Slingboxes

Unwired:

1. Kitchen system (draft N)
2. Tablet (draft N)
3. Laptop (G)
4. TiVo's (G)
5. PDA phone (G)

After switching to a draft N router, I saw enough of a speed improvement that I can stream video with no drops or glitches (standard, not HD) among any of my devices, so I’m satisfied with wireless speed right now. 

Is it fast enough for HD?  Time will tell.

Another view of electronic magazines

Blogger, GTDer, and digital fellow traveler Howard Robson has posted on his blog a very interesting response to my comments about the end of Mygazines.com.  Howard makes a strong case for why magazine sharing through a site like Mygazines is detrimental to the magazine business even beyond the outright piracy issues, noting that the circulation of these journals can't be audited.  That, in turn, can erode a magazine's advertising base -- and even drive it toward bankruptcy.

He also points out that magazines are different from both time-driven news stories and evergreen music files in that they have a timeliness, but don't last forever.

These are good points, and I'm very sympathetic to the arguments, being a copyright holder and magazine writer myself.  There's no doubt in my mind that copyright violation is wrong, and I have seen firsthand how dwindling ad revenue can break a magazine.

But, as a digital cheerleader, I have to ask: Wouldn't it be smarter for publishers to change their model to meet the needs of the age than for them to protect a dying approach that can't be secured?

Rather than comparing magazines to newspapers or music -- although they obviously share some attributes of both -- I'd argue that a better comparison is with commercial television.  Most magazines -- at least ad-supported ones -- operate much as commercial television does, by presenting a product that attracts and holds a reader's attention long enough to expose them to advertising images.  But, unlike television, magazines charge both the advertiser and the consumer for the service.  Ironically, rather than creating two income streams, this has left magazines doubly vulnerable -- as readers abandon ship for other information and entertainment options, advertisers are willing to pay less to reach smaller audiences. 

My sense is that publishers ultimately will have to choose what business they're in:  Are they creating content that readers value?  If so, they need to find new ways to monetize the value -- and limiting access probably won't work.  Or, are they selling advertising opportunities?  If that's their business line, they face even bigger challenges, since the very platforms where they propose to place the ads are rapidly disappearing.

Tough business to be in, Howard...

Back after a quick refresher...

Heading back to work after giving myself a few days off during the Thanksgiving break.  Well, almost "off"...

• Computer shopping again...Looked at a couple of possible computers to get my mother for Christmas. (Browsed online, of course. Not a chance I'd go near a store during the Black Friday mayhem...)  I haven't found a better buy than the Acer I bought myself last month, so it looks like I'll be getting another. My plan is to get it, load it with the appropriate software, test it, and pre-load it with her files, which I'll snag remotely via Hamachi.  She'll have a computer ready to go, tested, and customized the way she likes it.  (Don't tell!)

 

• TV shopping, too...I also looked at some of the super-cheap flat screen LCDs that are on sale for the holidays, since I'm thinking of getting a new set for the bedroom.  Haven't seen anything I'm ready to jump for yet, but looking at a few models gave me an idea:  I ought to think about getting a set that allows for a computer-in, as well as HD and other TV ports.  With relatively cheap computers available (including those with Media Center options), it might be worthwhile to consider getting a small CPU to stow in the bedroom.  It could replace my Tivo, act as a PVR, run Slingplayer, and extend access to my network, the Internet, and all my media files.   My Tivo already does a lot of that, but this definitely would extend my capability.

 

• TV viewing...Speaking of Tivo, how did I live before I got one?  One of my big projects over the last few days has been forced rest -- no computer, no phone, no errands, no thinking, just vegging out on the couch.  As a result, I've caught up on about 10 weeks of fall shows that I had Tivo'd.  It was less than inspiring, but highly conducive to not thinking.  Best tech on TV:  NCIS and Criminal Minds.  I wish my computers ran that fast...

 

• Slingbox online...Those placeshifting fiends at Sling have launched a new service that looks to me like a big winner: Sling.com, where anyone can watch shows (similar to Hulu) and where Sling users can view their home TVs through a web interface. This second feature is especially interesting -- essentially it puts placeshifting "in the cloud" without any software needed.  Previously, Sling users had to use Slingplayer software to watch their programming remotely.

 

• New PDA phone...Last Wednesday, I bought Verizon's new HTC Touch Pro Windows Mobile phone. After five days of use and tweaking, I've got to say I'm unimpressed and frustrated.  Verizon has crippled the phone -- locked GPS to their fee-based service, removed Internet Connection Sharing, reduced RAM to half the levels of the AT&T and Sprint versions, etc. Very disappointing, because this has the potential to be a GREAT PDA phone, with a form factor smaller than the iPhone.  My hope is that the mad modders at PPCGeeks and XDA-Developers will have this puppy unlocked and re-ROM'ed in the next couple of weeks. If not, I have a decision to make before the 30-day return kicks in:  Do I return the phone and return to using my three-year-old PDA phone until a (hopefully) better choice comes out or live with it.  Watch for more details on modding a "phone for all seasons" over the next few days.

 

• Cranking up the GTD machine again...After a mid-week holiday, I always feel a little confused about "what day it is," so I spent some time this afternoon doing a GTD review to get myself back in fighting trim for the week ahead. (Is it a "review" or a "preview?" Hard to tell sometimes...)  Nothing focuses me better, calms me down more, or reinvigorates my thinking more effectively than doing this.  Tomorrow morning when I sit down at my desk, I'll be able to get right into action: I've already figured out my next actions, loaded them onto my lists, and set myself up for getting stuff done.

 

• And, a thought on goals...CNN founder, entrepreneurial genius, and all-around convention-buster Ted Turner was a guest on this morning's Meet the Press, where he offered some typically unconventional wisdom drawn from his new book.  He attributed his father's suicide to reaching his goals in life too easily:  "He set his goals too low, and he suggested to me that I don't do that.  Set goals high enough so they can't be achieved in your lifetime, then you'll always be motivated to keep working and keep engaged."    I love it -- totally sets all the talk of keeping goals "doable" on its ear.

 

I'm refreshed and ready for the new week.

Another new tool in the digital lifestyle arsenal

As much as I enjoy having a 24/7 system in the kitchen, one thing that has continued to bug me is having my flatscreen sitting on the kitchen table. It's a small table, so even the small monitor took up a lot of room. Plus, it made the kitchen look too "office-y" -- I wasn't going for a second desk, just a way to access electronic data and info instantly.

I found a clamp-on swing-arm for the monitor, but, alas, the 2001-era 15-inch HP flatscreen I was using wasn't VESA compliant, so I wasn't able to attach it to the swing-arm.

Time to give up? Not a chance! Last week, I got a 19-inch Samsung Syncmaster 920NW. Fits great on the swing-arm and the wide screen makes viewing multiple windows (and the Windows Vista Sidebar) much more pleasant. Getting it up off the table also lets me re-claim all the table space, too.

Tonight when I was cleaning up, I snapped a couple of pictures. Here's what it looks like when I have the monitor turned so I can sit at the table and view it:

Here's what it looks like when I push it back to the wall so it's out of the way. (BTW, the cable you see in both pictures is actually a power cable, not anything to do with the monitor. For some reason, the kitchen outlets in this building are all halfway up the wall, rather than in the normal position closer to the floor. All the monitor and system cables are hidden.)

All in all, I'm pretty happy with it. I think I've been able to avoid an "office" look pretty well. What do you all think?

GTD and Maslow

The other day, a client and I were talking about how economic and social uncertainty might affect the way some of our target audiences perceive messages.  The discussion turned to how needs and personal status affect perception and action -- the same ideas that psychologist Abraham Maslow first offered in his Hierarchy of Needs theory.

Maslow envisioned a five-level pyramid that represented how an individual's motivation changes depending on various needs:

1. Physiological -- basic needs, like food, water, sleep, and shelter

2. Safety -- feeling secure in terms of health, employment, personal safety, etc.

3.  Love and belonging -- having friends, family, intimacy

4. Esteem -- confidence, achievement, respect from others, respect of others, etc.

5. Self-actualization -- where an individual is "growth motivated," rather than "deficiency motivated"

As we were talking about some of the traits and needs related to people at various stages, it occurred to me that many of the factors that define self actualization are also good predictors of success in using GTD.

Maslow and others noticed some specific identifying traits in people who are "self actualized:"

• They are independent
• They are autonomous
• They don't seek outside approval or validation
• They embrace reality and basic truths
• They are spontaneous and flexible
• They enjoy solving problems
• They transcend their circumstances, rather than merely "coping with" them

 

Sounds like a great description of a successful GTD user to me.

I've seen people comment that GTD is only applicable "for executives" or "for people who can control how they work."  Others suggest that it doesn't have enough innate "motivating tools" or that it isn't "structured enough."

Although I believe these criticisms are off base, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if what GTD's critics are actually getting at is the degree to which a user is self actualized.  After all, if someone is at a point in life where they need approval or they don’t feel comfortable being autonomous, they may not be entirely comfortable with operating in the self-sustaining way GTD requires.

The good news is, using GTD could put someone on a path to self actualization by offering a framework where they can learn to operate in a new way.  For example, it’s a lot easier to “transcend” your circumstances and embrace reality if you’re experienced in casting your activities in terms of “context” and taking action based on current reality.

Similarly, GTD supports spontaneity and flexibility by weaning users off the artificial structures of task scheduling and teaching them to assess their options in the moment. 

I’m curious to know: How do GTD users feel about their own efforts and the degree to which they are self actualized.

No BlackBerry in the White House

The following people are allowed to use BlackBerrys: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This man is not:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’d demand a recount.

GTD and showing up

Woody Allen once said that “80 percent of success is showing up.” I was reading a thread in the Getting Things Done Yahoo group today and thinking that applies to success in using GTD, too.

Getting Things Done (GTD) is the personal productivity system management spelled out in the 2001 book by management guru David Allen.

Allen’s process has users plow through everything in their lives, distilling their commitments and projects (both big and small) down to two questions:

1. What is the outcome I desire from doing this?
2. What is the next physical action required to move forward?

Doing this takes the uncertainty and ambiguity out of the working -- since you’ve already defined how you’re going to do things, you can sail through the work of “getting things done.” It’s also incredibly energizing, since it gives you a sense of having everything squared away at all times.

Allen also offers some guidance to help keep the flow going and leverage efficiency, such as organizing your next actions according to the resource you need to do them (such as having a “calls list” for the phone calls you need to make).

Seems simple enough, and, for most people, it is. But a noisy few complain that GTD’s approach doesn’t work, because of their “unique situation.” They make very elaborate cases for being “different” and sometimes create complex “alternative” or “hybrid” GTD systems to accommodate their “needs.”

A casual observer might be inclined to say that’s understandable, since everyone’s different. But, as someone who has been more than a casual observer for a few years now, here’s the fact: About 99% of these complaints are a total cop-out by people just can’t or won’t own up enough to their own commitments and actions to succeed.

GTD asks users to cut through all the systems, structures, piles, and debris they’ve built around them to confront basic truths about their lives:

• These are the projects and commitments I have
• These are the desired outcomes I want
• These are the resources I have available now
• These are the actions I must take to reach my desired outcomes

Reaching those truths requires a fundamental willingness to face life with “no bull” and an openness to finding out that, when it gets down to bare metal, your desired outcomes may not be what you’ve been telling yourself they are.

Then, once you do sort out your desires and commitments, it’s time to do the work. Since you’ve already identified the resources you need and the actions you’re going to take, you have no excuses for not acting.

I believe that’s why some people are so dedicated to maintaining the myth that GTD’s two fundamental questions – what do I want and what’s the next action – don’t apply to them. Their systems complicate what they do just enough to give them a way to avoid thinking or acting in a new way. Their approaches subtly sidestep facing reality. And, if all else fails, they fall back on blaming David Allen for not (somehow) accommodating them in his book.

So, for those who passionately defend their flawed (and failing) approaches to GTD, here’s some advice: Cut out the all the approaches, tweaked systems, and other nonsense. Just ask yourself what you want and what’s the next action to get there. Then, try showing up.

(Hmmm…now that I think of it, I wonder if David Allen and Woody Allen are related…)

Good e-news from Wachovia and advice for Congress

Last week, I got a message from Wachovia (soon to be Wells Fargo) that they’ve added the ability to download securities account statements automatically in Quicken and Money.  Banking and credit card customers have been able to do this with Wachovia for years, but Wachovia's securities side has lagged behind. 

This made me think about how much banking has changed in recent years.  For Wachovia and the rest of the financial sector, the last decade has involved a huge shift as customers have demanded more online access and the federal government has pushed policies that encourage "e-banking." 

Yet, discussion about the banking crisis has included almost no mention of changes brought about by the electronic-based banking model.  Although the upfront costs for online services is high for the banks, they should be seeing consider able benefits now, as customers shift away from paper and away from transactions that require human interactions.

They also should have access to more information than ever before: about one another, about their customers, about their holdings, and about the entire sector.  Plus, with electronic communications, they have unprecedented options for conveying messages to customers, the markets, regulators, and the rest of the industry.  Despite this, they're failing for many of the same reasons banks failed 70 years ago: Overextending credit to risky borrowers, inability to meet reserve calls, dwindling confidence in equities markets, and so on. 

Before Congress starts pulling apart and re-regulating the banking industry, I hope they'll look at this:  Why hasn't the banking industry been able to use the information it receives through electronic innovations more effectively?  What role can electronic commerce play in ensuring better transparency throughout the sector?  In a world where any amateur can Google someone for an hour and get at least a *sense* of whether they're nominally creditworthy, the banks should not be in the position they are today.

Similarly, Congress should take a look at how technology can drive operational improvements across the auto industry before even considering a bailout there.  We're hearing a lot about encouraging Detroit to make more energy efficient cars, but they could save a helluva lot of a resources just by reducing the paperwork involved in shipping, selling, and/or buying a car. 

Rather than propping up 19th-century commerce models to keep these sectors limping along, use this crisis as an opportunity to turn them into the 21st-century successes they could be.

Rant-to-Own: Comcast Round 2

Ah, Comcast, you find new ways to annoy even when you're trying to please.

The day after my recent post about the lousy Internet and TV service I've been getting (for several years), I got a very nice message from someone at the company saying that they'd like to get the issues resolved.

I was impressed.  Obviously, they're making a pro-active effort to look for customer issues mentioned on on the Internet and taking fast action to get them resolved.

So, I responded with details about the problems I've been having.  The Comcast rep immediately responded that he'd put me in touch with a local rep, who would get back to me that day.

At 5:30 p.m. that evening (Wednesday), I received an email from the local service rep, who asked me to contact her to set up a visit for a technician to come out.

Since I didn't get home until quite late Wednesday night, I didn't have a chance to answer the message, much less think about when I want a technician to come out. 

Thursday morning, I left my house at 7 a.m., didn't return until around 5.  As a result, I missed the local rep's 4:30 phone call, which she pointed out in a 4:32 email:

"I just left a message on your answering service as I have not heard from you.  If you are still experiencing service issues, please contact me.  I will schedule a visit  with our Technical Resolution Technician at a convenience  [sic] time for you to resolve the service issue."

(Sounds like the technician will be coming out to watch me resolve the issue, doesn't it?)

Although I was a little annoyed at the "if you are still experiencing service issues" -- I mean, did she think they miraculously resolved after four years? -- I figured I'd call her today (Friday) and set something up.

But, life intervened, and I was out most of the day and didn't have time to call.  At 5:05 today, I received the following email:

"Thank you for contacting our executive office with your questions and concerns.  We value your business and would like the opportunity to resolve your issue as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, our attempts to contact you have been unsuccessful. 

"Please contact our office, at [phone #] at your earliest convenience if we can be of assistance, between the hours of 8am and 5pm.  In the event that we do not hear from you by 11/21/08, we will consider your issue resolved. We look forward to hearing from you."

So, now Comcast puts me on a one-week deadline because I didn't respond to THEM within two business days?   Gimme a break.  I'm still waiting to hear back from them about an billing error in 2004.  Heck, I've spent 48 hours ON HOLD waiting to talk to Comcast service reps over the years.

(OK, I'm exaggerating.  My record was 3 hours, 22 minutes on hold with Comcast in January 1996.  I'd have hung up, but after the first hour, I became fascinated to see just how long it would take to reach a service rep.)

Just for fun, let's parse this model of customer service a bit:

1.  "Thank you for contacting our executive office with your questions and concerns." 

Actually, YOU contacted ME.  And, it wasn't a "question or concern," it was a complaint about lousy service. 

Moving on...

2. "We value your business and would like the opportunity to resolve your issue as quickly as possible." 

Mmmm-hmmm, I'm listening...

3.  "Unfortunately, our attempts to contact you have been unsuccessful." 

Your attempts to contact me have indeed been successful; your attempts to get an immediate response from me have been unsuccessful.

4.  "Please contact our office, at [phone #] at your earliest convenience if we can be of assistance, between the hours of 8am and 5pm." 

How should I know if you "can be of assistance?"  (The track record is not good.) 

BTW, my "earliest convenience" is unlikely to occur "between the hours of 8am and 5pm." But whatever...

5.  "In the event that we do not hear from you by 11/21/08, we will consider your issue resolved." 

You're giving me a deadline and a threat?  Guess you don't value my business that much. 

It's no wonder that Verizon trucks have been circling this building like hungry jackals for months now...

Mygazines RIP

Just wanted to note the passing of mygazines.com, the magazine uploading site that appeared to aspire to become the YouTube of magazines.  Turns out that legal woes and financial troubles got the best of the service, just a few months after opening its doors.

Too bad, because it was a great idea, despite its copyright problems.  I wish more publishers would catch on to the idea that many of us would prefer to read magazines electronically -- and might even pay a little to do so.   (Ask Zinio -- we really do!)

Below is the message now posted on the service's homepage.

Google reaches deal with publishers over ebooks

Spotted some good news in today's New York Times.  Turns out that Google was able to reach a deal with publishers over including out-of-print/in copyright books in Google Book Search.  This will open the door to a treasure trove of information being unlocked in these hard-to-find books.  Awesome!  Read Google's news release about the deal here.

The Times also noted that several major publishers, including Penguin, are looking at new ebook models, including monthly subscriptions that would allow electronic access to best sellers.  Sounds a little like Netflix for books.

The article also notes that while traditional book sales are falling, ebook sales are up 55% over the last year.  It suggests, probably accurately, that Amazon's Kindle and Sony's Reader are responsible for at least part of this increase.

Despite this, my bet is that tying texts to a specific device or platform won't prove a sustainable model.  Ultimately, the device -- whether it's a Kindle, Reader, mobile phone, iPod, laptop, or whatever -- is merely a storage tool and viewer.  Users are going to want to be able to move their data to wherever it suits them, just as they do with music. 

The faster the publishers and ebook vendors realize that the same unfettered access that has made digital music work applies to texts, the faster the ebook market will grow.

Rant-to-Own: Comcast? "Triple Play" or "Three Strikes You're Out"

Since I'm in a ranting mood today, here's one regarding one of my favorite whipping boys: Comcast.

Comcast is the largest cable provider, second-largest Internet provider, and fast-growing telephone provider in the United States.

Note I use the word "provider" in its modern sense of "electronic gatekeeper, irritant, and extortionist," not in the bygone, service-oriented sense.

I have some beefs with Comcast, such as its new 250GB cap on monthly data usage, the way it keeps moving my favorite TV channels to higher-tier (more expensive) packages, and its "load shaping" tactics.

But, that's not my rant today.

This week, my Comcast service went down, knocking out my cable and Internet. This happens about every other month, with outages lasting anywhere from 5 minutes to several days.

Living in an urban area, literally steps away from the capital of one of the largest, most industrialized countries in the world, where we've had cable television for several decades, this has always struck me as a little suspect, but again, that's a matter for a different rant.

Anyway, I called Comcast's service line. During the 35-minute hold to talk to a service rep, I got to listen to two things: A Muzak loop montage of Mozart, Bryan Ferry, and Wham! and ads for Comcast's "Triple Play" service, where they can provide my cable, Internet, AND phone.

Good idea! That way, when Comcast's service goes down, I won't be able to call and complain. Think of the time I'll save and the cost-cutting they'll be able to do when they reduce their customer-service center even more!

Help me, Obi-Wan

I couldn’t let the election get too far behind us without commenting on CNN’s holographic reporter.  That comment is:  “[Sigh…].”

The idea of holograms is great, and good for CNN for bringing them to TV.  But, let’s think about the wisdom of using them in news:  CNN spends millions of dollars each year to send reporters and technology around the globe to report “on the scene” and “take us to where news is happening.”

Now, CNN is spending millions of dollars to create the illusion that the reporter is back in the studio.  How do they do this?  By surrounding the reporter by a few dozen HD cameras set up in a tent…that screens out whatever is taking place at the scene. 

Reality, it turns out, is much too noisy, visually busy, and chaotic for television.  Much better to create a fake reality that blends better with the newsroom.

So, American TV now offers:

• Synthetic news, presented by holograms of reporters inside cocoons that filter out the annoying reality of reality
• “Reality” programs that send privileged people to sets on distant corners of the planet to suffer fabricated hardship and humiliation for sport
• Sports, with electronic football grid lines, electronically enlarged pucks, and ads digitally superimposed onto ballpark walls and fields
• A few dozen channels in languages I don’t speak.  (Ironically, I speak enough French to enjoy the French channel, but it broadcasts in English…)
• Assorted crap and Law and Order reruns.

 

Plus, just last week, Fox cancelled King of the Hill, a cartoon show far more true to life than 99 percent of the live shows. 

Coincidence?  I think not.

(Sorry, I’ve been in a bad mood since Mad Men ended its season last month.  All my Tivos can find for me to watch is Frasier reruns.)

Metro search = Traveling light

According to today's Washington Post, security officers on the city's subway system, Metro, are beginning immediate random searches of backpacks, purses, and bags. Metro officials say that next week's election and the upcoming inauguration are prompting them to take additional security measures.

While it sounds like a major hassle and time-sink for many Metro riders, for those of us who are paperless, mobile, and a little organized, it should be no big deal. Armed with my PDA phone and a tiny key-chain wallet, I'm usually set for the day for meetings and visiting clients. With a few extra pockets in my coat, I can even avoid carrying a bag or briefcase completely, if need be.

This is a paperless time-saving advantage I'd never even contemplated before...

Welcome to the Vista 64 world

My long-serving Compaq (circa 2001) desktop -- which I'd moved to "semi-retirement" in the kitchen last summer -- finally gave up once and for all the other day.  Since I've come to like having a desktop in the kitchen, I decided to replace it with the smallest, cheapest desktop I could find at the neighborhood Best Buy. 

Enter the $479 Acer AX3200, a 12-pound, 3-inch wide desktop, with 4GB of RAM,  a 320GB hard-drive, and 2.2 GHz triple-core processor -- pretty good specs at the price. 

One hitch:  It comes loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit version.  But I wasn't planning to load many programs on it and I work virtually on my other desktop through LogMeIn, so, as Alfred E. Newman used to say, "What, me worry?"  

I hit my first problem on the very first thing I tried to install, when I inserted my two-month-old D-Link DWA-130 USB network Wireless N adapter.  The D-Link setup program had a few hiccups running, but it appeared to finish and instructed me to plug in the adapter.  As soon as I did, the D-Link software crashed and told me to reboot the machine.  When it came back up, Vista informed me that the D-Link software isn't compatible with 64-bit architecture and it wasn't able to find a the right driver.

So, I grabbed my laptop and checked the D-Link site for a 64-bit driver.  No luck -- they don't have a 64-bit driver and apparently don't intend to make one for this model, although their website says it is "certified for Windows Vista."  As several other users had noted in various forums that they hadn't been able to use their DWA-130 with Vista 64-bit, I figured I was screwed, uninstalled the D-Link software, and deleted the DIR-130 from my Device List. 

Now, here's the odd part.  I'd forgotten to unplug the adapter, so a little while later when I re-booted after installing some other programs, Vista tried to "reinstall" the adapter on start up.  Through some weird Microsoft magic, this time, without any D-Link software,  it managed to recognize the device and find a 64-bit driver for the DWA-130.  The adapter now works flawlessly.

I'm still scratching my head over that one.  (D-Link users, take note and don't give up!)

Here's how other programs have stacked up so far:

No luck:

• The Weather Channel Desktop Weather
• Photoshop Express 4 or 5
• Family Tree Maker

No problems:

• Firefox (and most add-ins)
• MS Office 2007 (Outlook, OneNote, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Pagemaker 11 (had to download version 11.2)
• PDF Create 4
• Slingplayer 2.1
• Logmein Hamachi
• MS Money 2007
• MS IntelliPoint and IntelliType 6.3
• Foldershare

I was a little nervous the first evening I had it when it randomly crashed and re-booted a few times, but it has been running solid since Saturday.  Keep your fingers crossed.

PowerPoint and Multiple Monitors

Speaking of PowerPoint, here's one other trick I learned recently.  Unlike the other Microsoft Office programs, PowerPoint won't let you open two instances of the full program so you can have different presentations on different screens.  For those of us who use multiple monitors and are accustomed to having different Word documents (or Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PDF, etc.) open simultaneously on different screens, having to revert to ALT-tab to toggle between two different PowerPoint presentations can be very frustrating.

I could squish everything onto one screen:

 

But, why do that when I've got a whole empty screen next to it?

 

Anyway, I haven't found a solution, but here's a workaround:

First, click on the restore down button (the one just left of the red exit button), grab a handle on the PowerPoint window, and drag it across to a second (or even third) monitor.  Here's what that looks like as I drag the PowerPoint window across two of my monitors:

 

Then, once you have both screens filled with the PowerPoint window, go to View>Arrange All.  You'll have one presentation open on one monitor and one on the other.   Although the PowerPoint controls will sit only on one screen, you'll at least be able to work with two full-sized presentations simultaneously, without having to toggle between them.

 

BTW, those of you who are detail-oriented and click on the screenshots to see larger versions of them will notice that the two presentations show on the taskbar for the monitor where they're displaying.  That's thanks to a program called UltraMon, which adds several features that are great add-ins for multiple monitor users.

OneNote and PowerPoint

Just wanted to pass on a quick tip I found for streamlining the process of collecting notes related to PowerPoint presentations. Rather than going into PowerPoint and trying to edit a slide, trying to make notes about particular slide numbers and jotting down comments, or marking up a paper printout of the presentation, I realized the other day that I could print a "handouts" version of the presentation to OneNote.

Here's a sample what it looks like, using a Microsoft presentation I downloaded and scribbled on:

I've found several benefits to doing this:

• Quicker than opening PowerPoint and trying to insert comments or edit slides, especially on the fly in meetings or on a phone call
• Faster opening -- I generally keep OneNote open on my desk on tablet PC in meetings, so I don't have to wait for PowerPoint to fire up
• Easier to edit slides later -- I can open my notes in OneNote on one screen, open PowerPoint in another screen, and edit a presentation without having to flip between presentations in PowerPoint

P.S. -- Apologies to the people to wrote the MS presentation -- comments made as a "simulation," not an actual recommendation on your presentation!

Using OneNote for GTD Project Tracking

In working with OneNote, I realized that it offers a great solution for people using GTD with Outlook who want to see the status of all their next actions on a specific project, regardless of context.  In fact, it makes a great Project Notes (and project inventory list) resource for anyone.

I created a sample project to show how it could work.  (FYI, I've collapsed a lot of menus, notebooks, and lists I normally keep expanded for privacy's sake.)

First, say I've just been on a call with Bob.  With his permission, I've recorded it in OneNote, which can search audio files for key words.  I've also typed a few notes.  If I click on these notes, it will play the audio that was being recorded when I wrote down any specific word.

My OneNote page might look something like this:

 

So, I process the call.  First, I highlight the due date and add it automatically to the "hard landscape" of my calendar in Outlook as an all-day event.  (In OneNote:  Tools>Create Outlook Item>Create Outlook Appointment).  An Outlook appointment window will open automatically that I can add more info to:

 

 

Then, I go through the rest of the notes in OneNote and process them.  By tabbing as I type, I can automatically create a table of next actions and due dates, if any:

 

 

I can do the first four steps immediately, so I turn them into Outlook Tasks, adding them to my Next Actions lists.  By inserting a cursor just before the text on each item and pressing Control-Shift-K, OneNote will open up an Outlook task that I can customize, adding whatever category/context or additional info I need.

Here's the task I created for Research Acme Industries.  I've added the @computer category, but OneNote and Outlook created the rest automatically.  Clicking on the link in the notes section of the task will automatically open my Johnson briefing page in OneNote.

 

 

As I create the tasks from OneNote, the program flags each item that has a task associated with it.  If I left-click the flag, it will mark the task as complete in both OneNote and Outlook.  If I right-click the flag, I can review the status, delete the task, or open it it Outlook.  If I hover over the flag, it will show the date started/date due info. 

Here's what the list looks like once I've added tasks to all the actions I can take right now:

 

 

Meanwhile, my Next Actions list in Outlook looks like this.  (I've filtered out all my other NAs for these screenshots.  Normally, all my NAs from all projects would appear in their contexts. ) 

 

 

So, I get to work doing these next actions, checking them off in Outlook like any other tasks as I finish them.  The next time I do a project review, I go back to my project page in OneNote, and I can see at a glance that I've completed two of the actions, but I still have two on my next actions list.  If I want to change the status of any of these -- converting something from complete to incomplete, for example -- I just have to right-click on the icon next to the task.  That will also update my Outlook Task list automatically.

 

 

If I want to add more tasks to the project, I can go back into my table in OneNote and add rows or columns, just as in Word or Excel.  Or, I can simply click in the last box of the table and press Enter to add a new line at the bottom. 

I could also create a subproject within a task by indenting within the same box, or move existing tasks into other boxes to create hierarchies.  (Unfortunately, there's no way I know of to link these hierarchies within Outlook's tasks automatically.) 

Within the list, I can create check lists of things that don't need to go on my Next Actions list.  For example, in the list below, I've put check boxes next to the things I want to take with me on the trip.

Once I get into the project and get more of a sense of the steps and dependencies, my list in OneNote might evolve to look something like this:

 

 

Meanwhile, my next actions list in Outlook still reflects the context view of things that I actually work from:

 

That should provide an idea of the extent to which OneNote and Outlook can integrate to support GTD.  Using notebooks, lists, and sections, as well as multiple lists on the same page, those who need a little more project planning and review than a straight list option offers may find what they're looking for.

Thin clients and virtualization

I guess I'm not the only one who is thinking about the benefits of virtualization and "thin clients." The New York Times ran a long story this week looking at how thin clients -- computers that rely on remote processors or other computers for much of their work -- are growing in popularity.

James Kendrick at the wonderful jkontherun blog touched on a similar idea this week when he described how he uses LogMeIn to control his Mac from netbooks and systems running entirely different OS.

A few years ago, I would have said that cheaper, big local data storage was driving the trend toward more digitally based lifestyles, as people put more music, movies, photos, and data on their home systems. Now, I'm beginning to think that remote access will power the next wave.

It's interesting to imagine where this will go, especially in terms of software and licensing. The other day I was thinking that as my options for accessing one computer's resources with another computer -- through programs like LogMeIn -- become more robust, I could eliminate my need to install updates on multiple systems or even buy additional copies/licenses for more than one machine. The cost and time savings could be considerable.

At the same time, I could (in theory) extend the functional life of my equipment. As long as I had a powerful, fast "main" system running my software, any additional systems would need little more than a good browser, fast network access, and whatever minimal software I might need without a connection.

Some platforms could change dramatically -- or even go away entirely. The other day, I was using LogMeIn on my Windows Mobile phone to control my desktop. It's a little like peering through a keyhole to try to operate a system with three 19-inch monitor on a 2.8-inch screen, but it's not utterly futile. I was able to use Outlook and Money quite easily, and working with Internet sites like Google Reader and Wikipedia was MUCH faster -- well worth the scrolling around.

Another vote for dropping security

The people over at  are really getting into the idea of dropping firewalls and other security measures.

Aside from the article I mentioned last month, today Wired notes that dropping a firewall and other virus/malware protection is a good way to speed up Internet access. 

Meanwhile, one big threat (and annoyance) may be on the way out: The Federal Trade Commission won a federal court order to shut down one of the largest U.S. spam rings. According to the New York Times, these particular spammers may account for one-third of all spam.

Micro Place-shifting

I've been home with a cold, and it's had me shifting around the house all day: I've been too tired and achy to sit at my desk for long, and too restless to stay glued to the bed or couch. But, thanks to the beauties of "place-shifting," I've been able to keep working (and enjoying the other benefits of digital access) wherever I plop down.

The Set-Up: I keep the desktops in my office (at home) and kitchen running 24/7, plus I have a Tablet PC and an old laptop. First thing this morning, I grabbed the old laptop to use in bed, then later I fired up the Tablet PC when I was hanging out on the couch. That gave me four live, networked "stations," wherever I went -- five, if you count my PDA phone.

The Apps and Uses:

• Virtual computing -- My old laptop is getting REALLY old and slow -- it's a 2001 Toshiba with just 256MB of RAM. Although I have Outlook 2007 on it, most of the other apps are a couple of versions behind. So, rather than trying to update it or deal with slow programs, I "went virtual" -- I shut off everything except Firefox and connected to my desktop through LogMeIn. That let me take advantage of the speed and updated programs on my desktop, and, in full screen, it looks and acts exactly as if I'm working on the desktop. In essence, LogMeIn lets me turn my old laptop into a "slim client" -- and that extends its useful life.

 

• Newsreading -- I can't function without checking out the news on my various feeds through Google Reader first thing in the morning. Everything stays synced through Google -- stories I scanned and "starred" first thing this morning on my laptop show up on the other systems when I'm ready to read later.

 

• Email and PIM data -- I use hosted Exchange, so all the data stays synced automatically and instantly available on every computer. Aside from email, this also keeps my action lists, calendar, and contacts updated and synced.

 

• Active documents -- I've been working on several projects throughout the day , but rather than using Word, I've been using OneNote to create, draft, and edit them. Because OneNote synchronizes (and saves) data in real time, the latest version of every document I'm working on is always available on every computer. I can type half a sentence on the tablet pc on the couch, walk into the kitchen and finish my thought on the desktop there, then wander into my office to edit it, all without saving or syncing manually.

 

• Reference documents -- Thanks to Foldershare, all the other documents I've saved are also synced to all my computers. It's not quite as automatic as OneNote -- I actually have to save them to trigger a sync through Foldershare -- but it's great for keep resources accessible everywhere.

 

• Entertainment -- For much of the day, I didn't even feel like working -- I just wanted to watch TV and rest. Thanks to Tivo and Slingbox, I've even been able to move my entertainment around with me. This morning when I was still in bed, I started watching a movie I'd Tivo'ed there. When I went to the kitchen to eat breakfast, I kept watching it via Slingbox, which sent the signal to my desktop computer. After breakfast, I streamed the movie from the Tivo in the bedroom to the Tivo in the den, where I watched the rest of it from the couch. This afternoon, I even streamed a movie to my PDA phone, while I took a long bath.

 

The Outcome:

This certainly hasn't been my most productive day ever, but thanks to my "micro place-shifting," I've been able to take advantage of every second I've felt like working, without having to save, recopy, or search for data. I've also enjoyed entertainment wherever I've lighted.

Almost every day, I find another benefit and advantage to automatically synced and "cloud-based" computing. When I got hosted exchange service two years ago, it was a revelation to watch data synchronize automatically across machines -- now, I want EVERYTHING to work that way.

Going digital: Barriers to Entry

I'm always amused to see how people react to the idea of using digital technologies or "going paperless." They all say that it sounds great, shake their head in wonder at the idea of going "off road" from the paper trail, and then say, "But…"

The "buts" are remarkably consistent:

• "I'm not technical, so I don't want a complicated system…"
• "I don't have time to create one…"
• "I need to be able to access info/take a note/enter data quickly…"
• "I don't like reading off a screen…"

The first three are easy to address with a little quick info. Most already have the tools they need to shift most work and processes to digital, so they aren't facing complicated, time-consuming, or tedious processes. In fact, going "digital" usually amounts to expanding and streamlining the processes we're all using already. I find that people are surprised -- and a little skeptical -- when I explain this to them.

The fourth one, "I don't like reading off a screen," is a tougher nut, because it's ostensibly a matter of personal preference -- it's not like you can respond, "Yes, you do!" But, the more I hear it, the more tempted I am to respond just that way.

Take last week, for instance.

One day last week during a long meeting, a colleague sitting next to me leaned over and asked if I had a copy of a document we were discussing. I looked up from my Tablet PC where I was taking notes, clicked on a tab in OneNote where I'd pre-loaded all the documents we'd be using in the meeting, immediately found the info she wanted, and handed her the computer to read it.

Rather than reading it, though, she handed the computer back and said, "Never mind. I don't like reading off a screen."

Now, here's the funny part: She then pulled out her BlackBerry and spent the next four hours reading through emails and who-knows-what-else as the meeting continued.

Later, I asked her if she liked reading stuff on her BlackBerry. She said she did, because it's so convenient and quick. Then, I asked her if it bothered her to read off the BlackBerry's screen. "No," she said, "this isn't really a screen."

Amazing, huh? I think it's telling, too. Looking at something that she knows will give her the information she wants the way she expects it -- on paper or a BlackBerry -- works well. But, looking at a screen that seems more technically complicated or unexpected is undesirable, even if it is aesthetically "equal" to the other options.

I wonder where the tipping point is that makes the fact and experience of reading off a screen invisible.

eBooks through Publishers

The other day, a colleague recommended the book The Grid: A Journey through the Heart of Our Electrified Land, by Phillip F. Schewe, so I decided to check it out. Not finding it on eReader or Mobipocket, I looked on Amazon to see if it was available as a Kindle book. (I don't have a Kindle, but availability for Kindle often indicates that an ebook is available somewhere.) But, no luck there, either.



Just out of curiosity, I decided I'd take a quick look at the publisher's website. Paydirt! Turns out Joseph Henry Press is an imprint of the National Academy of Sciences, which makes PDF etexts of its stock available online. They even offer "bundled" prices, where you can get an ebook and the hardback at a discount rate.


Congratulation, Joseph Henry, you're now my official favorite publisher!


(I wish they hadn't put website headers and other identifying footers on the texts -- makes them a big PITA to read. I ended up pulling the PDF into Omnipage and deleting all that (although with page numbers), so I could have a clean text to read in eReader or Mobi.)


This is the third time recently that I've found ebooks through their original publishers, rather than through the usual channels.I commend the publishers on their vision for this -- it's a good way to avoid going the way of music publishers.