What do you like about Microsoft?

I know, it's really easy to find a bunch of things you don't like about a thing - a product, a company, etc.  A company as big as Microsoft and who has been around as long has surely developed a reputation on both the plus and minus sides.  But, instead of ranting, let's talk about what we do like about it.  Feel free to chime in!

1. Employed many people and contributed to the global and national economies.
2. Very good at developing and enhancing user interfaces, especially graphics and icons.
3. Spin-offs have benefited humanity, including spin-off businesses and charities (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Paul Allen, etc.)
4. Very good at taking a product, identifying it as a marketing success, and investing in it (usually by buying it out)

Am I short on the "like" list?

Are You Upgrading to Windows 8?

Microsoft recently announced Windows 8.  In their announcement, they claim that it has been totally overhauled, redone, and as far as I can tell the biggest news is - it is using the Metro live-app panel made famous in its smart phone interface for the start menu.  Are you ready to make the switch?

My first introduction to Windows was version 1.0.  In Version 1.0, they introduced the mouse, pull-down menus, graphical interface - all the stuff Xerox developed and gave away to the world.  Wow.  It wasn't until version 3.0 that it was "stable" - and by "stable" I mean usable.  The graphics back then were really low resolution, it didn't leave much room on the screen for stuff.  DOS was better.

By 3.0 there was VGA graphics, and it did the trick.  But the Mac had PhoneNet, a networking over phone lines where you could hook up computers, share files and printers.  So Microsoft had to compete - and they came out with Windows for Workgroups.  That was a mess - ask anyone who worked with it!  Forget it.

As the industry and technology matured, they finally came out with a viable version that networked, and that was called Windows 95.  Finally, a version of Windows you could use and only reboot once a day to maintain stability from crashes.  Kind of.

Long story short, there were many many released versions of Windows - with only a few stable versions in between.  More than half of the versions were considered by the professional community to be stable, as indicated by boldfaced type below:

• Windows 1.0 c. 1987
• Windows 2.0 c. 1987
• Windows 3.0 c. 1988-1989
• Windows 3.1 c. 1989 - Didn't freeze that often, only had to reboot a few times a day on average, had to format hard drive and reinstall OS every 6 months or so to maintain performance
• Windows 3.11 c. 1989-1990
• Windows for Workgroups c. 1989-1990
• Windows 95 c. 1995 - Didn't freeze or Blue Screen that often, only had to reboot a couple of times a day on average, had to format hard drive and reinstall OS every 6 months or so to maintain performance
• Windows NT c. 1996 - (Server version) Recommended reboot once a week to maintain "stability"
• Windows ME c. 1999
  
• Windows 2000 c. 1999 - Only had to reboot once a week, had to reformat hard drive and reinstall OS once a year to maintain performance
• Windows 2003 c. 2002 R1 and R2 - (Server version) First stable, able to run long periods without reboot
• Windows XP c. 2002 - (not stable until Service Pack 3 several years later - hence both bold and non-bold characters)
• Windows XP 64 bit c. 2004 - Although generally considered a stable operating system, many of the applications were inherently unstable because of the underlying Operating System's unstable handling of 64- and 32-bit applications
• Windows Vista c. 2008
• Windows 7 c. 2009 - I reboot my laptop about 2-3 times a month because of instability that does not usually crash the whole system, just makes things annoying
• Windows 2008 R1 and R2 c. 2009 - (Server version)
• Windows 8 (the jury's out as it's not yet released)

Now, it is important to define what we mean when we say Released.  All software vendors have pre-release versions of their software for testing and preview, and it is universally accepted that these pre-releases (called Alpha or Beta releases) are or may be unstable.  A Release is an actual production of the software, deployment on sold equipment.  That is to say, that machines ship with the software loaded on them, and there is no downgrading (unless you have the disk and do it yourself).  Above are only the Releases listed - except for Windows prior to its initial release at 3.0.

By my count, that is 15 releases since 3.0.  Of those, 7.5 were considered stable (XP is mixed).  That puts Microsoft's track record on Release at 50% (let's be generous and say XP 64 really was stable, 57%).  That's pretty close to every other release.  Further, they claim that they completely rearchitected Windows.

As an analogy, let's imagine that we were a company that made cars.  We develop a car in R&D, test it out, then put it out in the dealerships to sell.  Every other model we release just doesn't work.  What happens?  A whole host of things - but many of them just crash.  Stuck accelerators, won't start, brakes fail, steering freezes.  Yet, we sell more cars than anyone else - Honda, GM, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Chrysler, Hyundai, Fiat - anyone.  Why is that?  How is that - I mean really, you must have everyone hoodwinked, right?  Perhaps it's because we have the coolest styling - yeah it may suck and isn't reliable, but at least it looks cool?  Works for Jaguar.  But I digress.

Knowing that Microsoft has "completely rearchitected" it - whatever that means - and they have a 57% track record, how do you feel about "upgrading" to Windows 8?  Are you going to do it?  How would you feel if you bought a machine that came with Windows 8 pre-loaded, and you didn't have a choice (remember ME)?

Whether you use computers for business, recreation, leisure, home, or all of the above - remember that you DO have a choice.  Your choice begins with your wallet.  Where you choose to spend your money dictates what organization your money goes to.  Do you give your money to a company with a 50% track record on their Operating System, and depending on how you count it, a 0% track record on hardware (many think X-Box is successful, albeit it is not a real money-maker in Microsoft's earning reports)?

You can buy a PC without an Operating System, and download and install Linux for free.  This runs just fine, and many apps are free.  You can buy a Mac, and be rest assured that everything works great, and you won't pay much more than you would for a non-Mac (unless you wand to get a low-end PC, in which case Apple doesn't have anything that competes at the low end).  These are 2 alternatives that are quite manageable for the average guy - if you only think a little, and take a little action to find a local store that can support you.

Did you update your hood ornament?

I know some people who have gotten hold of virtual machines running Mac OS X.  There is currently a discussion in the LinkedIn iPhone Developer's group as to how best to develop iOS apps using virtual Macs.  In fact, a couple of people showed me today 10.6 Snow Leopard and 10.7 Lion running in VM's.  What one told me was, he didn't see anything special about Mac OS X, and he really likes Windows 7.

While I will grant the one nice thing about Windows 7 is dragging an app to have it fill half the screen [EDIT: you can do this with Cinch from Irradiated Software for $7], I will rant about Windows 7 down below, as to why I think it has so many shortcomings that it is not worth it.  Meanwhile, what I told him is that running Mac in a VM on a different hardware platform not built by Apple is only getting a small part of the Mac experience.  I would equate it to putting a Cadillac hood ornament, trunk lock emblem, and nameplate onto your Honda civic and thinking "what's the big deal, why is Cadillac so much better?"

Soup to Nuts

My experience with Apple over the last 3 years has led me to believe they are a complete package company.  They think through every last aspect of a product - from inside out, from the product, to ownership and support.  Even opening the packaging on a new purchase makes you feel like a pampered spoiled brat.  If that were all they did, they would be an extraordinary company.  However, they then have this suite of products that work well together - it's not just the Mac OS X, it's OS X on the Apple hardware, with an iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Apple TV in seamless synergy.  The synergy is that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.  What you can do with them together is so much more than the sum of what you can do with each one separately.

And, when I say every last aspect has been thought out, I mean everything.  So you have this smart phone - now you need apps.  What about security, making sure the apps are from who they say they are, and that they don't do something malicious like upload all your contacts, or wipe your phone?  The App Store rigorously reviews and tests submissions, only allowing content that is certified safe.  Developers have to sign their apps with a certificate issued by Apple, and it has to be renewed each year, and can be revoked at any time for violations.  Further, when you purchase an app (or music, or a book, etc.) it signs that purchase with your very own store ID, so that digital rights are managed and you can use it on up to 5 devices, no more.  Digital rights, distribution, and therefore a market is created that protects revenue streams for developers and content providers - making a viable economy that can thrive.  This is good for the consumer because content is cheap (much is free, $0.99, $1.99, or $2.99) and plentiful, and of good quality.

It's The Hardware Too

Just like putting the Cadillac logo on your little banger doesn't give you the feeling of floating down the road in luxury, running OS X on a non-Apple hardware doesn't give you the experience.  OS X has multiple desktops to help you organize a busy life.  You can run apps in one desktop, then flip to another, and run some more, keeping them separated for organization.  On Lion, you seamlessly flip between these desktops with a swipe of your fingers on the touchpad.  Pinch out to fly out your windows and reveal the desktop beneath, pinch together to put them back.  Pinch to zoom, push to scroll, flick to display all desktops and switch between them.  These gestures are what truly make the Mac experience a dream, floating down the road in efficient luxury.

On a notebook, you have both a minimalist simplicity that makes it elegant, and a completeness that fulfills every need (like USB, digital, Thunderbolt ports, an elegant lit battery meter, infrared port, SD card slot, and the Magsafe power cord connector).  That last thing, the Magsafe connector, is truly a brilliant innovation.  Get the power cord close to the port, and it magnetically snaps into place and charges.  Accidentally pull too hard and it comes away without damaging any pins.  A simple LED light indicates power and charging status.

The combination of elegant, powerful OS and hand-selected hardware means you float luxuriously through your work, focusing on the task to be done, and not on all the myriad of problems that pop up in the way of completing your task.  Does this "Cadillac" cost more than a Windows machine?  Actually, you'd be surprised.  For comparable hardware it is comparable or less - and when you include the apps that come for free with the OS, it is a really good bargain.

Support

I have dealt with a lot of companies over the last 25 years, with a lot of products or services that I bought.  Almost always, there is a dread when I have to call them for support - I will spend X minutes on hold, digging through a maze of phone menus, and perhaps several calls before I can reach someone who will have only a slight pulse.  If they have any clue about the question I am asking, they might be able to answer it - if they cared.

Very few companies have outstanding service - Vonage, Wagner, and Apple to my recollection.  Apple, by far, exceeds all of them.  Each and every time they answer the question right the first time, provide instant coordinated feedback that integrates seamlessly with technology (e-mails, web sites, iPhone apps, calendars, and more).  Really, I have said it before: Apple should offer a series of courses on customer service, and open a training business to other companies.

Backup & Restore

Recently, my hard drive died on my laptop.  With a Windows machine this would be a nightmare.  How many of you back up?  Yeah, I'm a professional, so I do back up.  Even still, backing up and restoring a Windows machine goes like this:  Hmm, what do I need to back up?  Documents, Music, Photos - yes.  What about the applications I bought, downloaded, and installed?  What about all the settings?  (Has anyone delved into settings in Windows?  There is a central database called the Registry, this is a nasty, dirty cesspool of collected flotsam and jetsam since you last installed Windows.  What, you haven't reformatted your hard drive and reinstalled Windows in the last 6 months?)  What about all your system configuration you have done - printer drivers, preferences, network configurations, etc.?  Yeah, it is a NIGHTMARE.

On the Mac, here's how it works.  You get some kind of backup system (it could be a USB hard drive, it could be a network drive like a NAS, or it could be your Time Capsule - which is an Apple wifi router with a hard drive built into it that backs up your Mac over the network).  Then, you go to Time Machine, and turn it on with the On switch, and tell it to back up to the selected drive.  Done.  Voila.  That's it.  Yes, everything is backed up hourly (as long as you are connected to the drive).

Now how do you restore a PC?  You hopefully have copied all your data to your backup drive.  Now, you load your Windows restoration DVD, reformat your hard drive, and restore your computer to how it was installed from the factory - before you began using it.  Right, remember way back then???  OK FOLKS: WHO WANTS TO GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE WHEN THEY FIRST BOUGHT THE MACHINE?  That's what I thought - no one.  Then, you retrace your steps - did you install MasterCook?  Which version, 9, 10, or 11?  Oh, where's the 11 CD?  Oh, right, I also installed those 25 utilities, so I have to download them again.  Wait, the free one I had is no longer free?  How do I get the old version?  Damn it!

Oh, now that you spent several days reinstalling all your apps, and changing all their settings to be the way you want (did you remember all of them?  yeah right!), now you restore your data from the backup disk.  Ahhh, now you are back to something approximating how it was.  OOPS!  YOU REALIZED YOU MISSED THAT IMPORTANT FILE!

So, how did I restore my dead laptop from over 2 years of work?  Reformat and reinstall the OS.  Oh, I had upgraded it, so I had to download the new version (Lion) from the App Store and upgrade again.  Once done, I hook up the USB hard drive, go to Utilities, and pick Restore.  I waited a few hours for over 200 gigs of data to restore, then reboot.  I am done.  DONE.  EVERYTHING is back the way it was, every last setting, printer drivers, all those little files I touched outside of the Documents or Photos or Music folders.  Hey, it's all there!  Painless.  So easy, my 7 year old could do it (Back Up, that is).

For Time Machine alone (all other considerations aside) I would say forget about it, never buy another Windows machine again.  Nor Linux nor anything else for that matter - why bother?  Who can afford a complicated scheme, Acronis TrueImage and take the time or knowhow to do your backups so that they can be restored?  Yeah, right.

Windows 7 Rants

So what are my pet peeves with Windows?  I think I am not going to have enough space on Blogger.com to post it!

• The 1 nice thing - remember, dragging an app to have it fill or half-fill the screen?  This is because you don't have Lion.  Full screen apps in their own desktop, and flipping between desktops, you don't need to arrange windows like this. However, there are some times when you want to show windows side by side to compare.  In this one small respect, I wish the Mac were better.
• Compatibility.  How many times have you been burned because your 64 bit machine can't run 32 bit software?  Come on, when they transitioned from 16-32 they had the same problem for years, and did they learn?  No, still 64 bit issues for years after the 64 bit is mainstream.  So many things seem to require a tangled net of software updates or new downloads just to work.
• Performance.  Windows gets slower over time - the Registry builds up, and the hard drive gets fragmented.  I mean really, folks, fragmented hard drives?  That's so '80's.
• Annoyance.  You know those constant prompts, "Cancel or allow?"  Remember those Mac vs. PC commercials?  They were right.  So many things just pop up and interrupt what you were doing.  That is much less intrusive on the Mac.
• Usability.  This varies greatly depending on which hardware you run it on.  Dell?  Lenovo?  HP?  Sony?  Which model?  On some, the keyboards BITE.  On some, the touchpads REEK.  Isn't there one machine where everything is a dream?  Haven't found it yet.
• Errors.  Come on, people!  When I hit print, and it says "Windows could not print, OK."  It used to at least give you an error message.  And have you ever tried the "fix this" button?  Useless.
• Access to networks.  First, joining a WiFi network is slow (I never realized this until I got a Mac).  Second, in Windows 7 to join a WiFi network you have a ton of clicks to go through - it is NOT anywhere near simple nor intuitive.  It was in Windows XP, so they went way backward.  Now, when you browse a network drive in Explorer, it is often hung, often crashes Explorer (which is a key core component of Windows).
• Access to administrative tools.  They moved everything around in 7 and 2008 to non-intuitive locations with technical titles like "Roles" instead of "Control Panel".
• Reliability.  I had 7 Windows machines at home a couple of years ago.  I was constantly fixing things that broke (in the software, not hardware).  My wife, I kid you not, called me at least once a week to ask me how to fix a problem.  I now have 0 Windows machines at home (4 Macs and 4 Linux), and very few such issues (the one problem machine is an old Mac running 10.5, I wish I could upgrade it to Lion!).
• Software Cost.  There are fantastic tools that come free with the Mac.  Many others are available through the App Store for very reasonable prices.
• Support.  Have you EVER tried to call Microsoft for support?  Yeah, if you work for a big company, you get good service.  Otherwise, forget it!

Whats so great about the new iPhone 4s?

Lots of people have posted lots of stuff about this infernal smartphone. But here I am going to cut to the chase. There are perhaps 3 major developments. And one of them in my opinion obsoletes all other phones.

1. Speed. This phone is blazing fast. Can you say instant? I mean, this thing is fast.
2. Camera. This is why my wife upgraded. Really, it rocks. The only camera I have that is better is my Canon digital rebel SLR.
3. Siri. If you haven't already heard, this is the near instant digital assistant you talk to. You don't just give her commands, you have conversations with her. It completely changes how you interact with your computer (the iPhone is a Mac computer if you didn't already know). This is science fiction cum science fact. The speech recognition is nearly flawless, and it not only recognizes commands, but responds to conversations and intelligently interprets intended meanings.

My prediction: within 2 years, Siri will reach the status of cultural icon. It will become so indispensable that iPhone market share will only increase as people grow into understanding how to use it.

So, Apple does it again: the hype for a product seems too good to be true, but the reality makes the hype an understatement. Damn them, now I have to buy some more Apple products! On the agenda for 2012: two MacBook Airs, Apple TV, and hopefully another (used) iMac or two. Anyone have a part time job I can take up?

How do you report Spam Text Messages?

Have you ever been happily asleep, when you are awakened by the ding of a text message, only to find it is some gambling site trying to get you to log on?  Now, there is something you can do about it!  You know, sometimes it takes a while before the left hand learns from the right, but apparently phone companies have been learning how to handle SMS Text Spam.  Finally!

FIRST TIP:  DO NOT REPLY TO THE MESSAGE!  Note the picture below, they say "Write NO to end" - yeah, right.  I bet you anything that is a scam to get you to send them a message, which they can legitimately charge your cellular account any amount they deem.  Plus, it confirms to them that your number is valid, and they can now sell your number to other spammers.

If you have AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint, you can "forward" the message to them.  Here are the steps:

1. Select the message they sent to you - on an iPhone, hold your finger down on the message, and tap the "Copy" balloon that pops up.
2. Create a new message to 7726 and paste the message.  (Double-tap in the text area, and tap the "Paste" balloon that pops up.)
3. Hit send.  You will get a reply message that asks you to send them the number from which the message was sent.
4. Send the phone number.

That's it!  Simple, and the more we do it, the cleaner the system will be.

(Since no other carriers have an iPhone, I didn't check - I mean, come on, just get an iPhone!! ;-)  [Seriously, call 611 or your carrier's support line and ask.]

Error installing eFax Messenger Plus on roaming profile

My work computer has a roaming profile with a Documents library on a network location.  Apparently this doesn't work well with eFax Messenger Plus (the reader app to read your incoming faxes from eFax), I get the error:  "The specified path is too long: C:\Users\Jay\My Documents\eFax Messenger 4.4" Retry/Cancel.  The problem occurred on Windows 7 x64.

The solution turned out to be pretty easy.  Windows 7 has a Documents library, which is a collection of folders it uses for "My Documents."  You can specify a different folder - I would recommend changing it to a path that is shorter, for example create one.  In my example, I create a folder under C:\Users\Jay, make it the default, then install Messenger Plus, then change the default back to resume normal Windows operation.

As you can see, I created a folder called JaysDocs and set it as the default location.  The install worked fine.

Have you upgraded to Windows 7 or 2008?

In This Post

• What's Wrong with the latest Windows?
• Taking Out The Trash
• The Problem of Landfills
• Solutions

What's Wrong with the latest Windows?
Here we are on yet another rant regarding the pathetic quality of the world's leading computer operating system.  Yes, that's your warning!  Why, what's wrong with Windows 7 or 2008?  They are really pretty, everything runs great!

If you ever wondered what was so great about Steve Jobs and Apple's products, this is another key differentiator.  Garbage.  What do we mean by garbage?  Garbage collection and taking out the trash.  In specifics, with computers garbage collection pertains to collecting up unused "pieces" of computer memory - and cleaning up.  What kind of garbage do computers collect?

Taking Out The Trash
First, there is RAM - that is, the memory computers use to "think" or process while running.  This memory is relatively expensive (say around $10 per gigabyte), and only works as long as the computer is on.  Chunks of memory are "allocated" to be used by your programs (say Firefox while you are surfing a web site), and are supposed to be "freed" (or marked available) once the program is done with it.  All computers must manage RAM, and Windows does this in a fairly fragmented way.  It has always done this poorly compared to other operating systems.

However, my big beef is with persistent storage (in other words a hard drive).  Let's take for example, installing a new program.  OK, so you know how you constantly have to keep updating your operating system in order to get the latest "security" updates?  (Whose security is it anyway, Microsoft's?)  How do you think it handles these updates?  Well, these updates come in the form of system files.  Your Windows system consists of many different files, and Microsoft sends updates to these files.  What does it do with the old ones that got replaced?  Delete them?  No, because what if you want to go back and uninstall the update?  (Who ever does, but that's beside the point - what if?)  It keeps all these files in what it calls the "Windows Side By Side" directory (winsxs).  All thus junk just collects.  And collects.

What about the TEMP folder - did you know about that?  On every system there is a temporary folder where files are stored - temporarily - on the hard drive.  However, what is the definition of temporary?  What really happens is files get put out there, a small percentage get removed when the computer is done with them.  The large majority of these files just collect.

Windows has something else you may or may not be aware of - I call it the "trash" heap.  The Heap, and the Hive, are where Windows stores all this various stuff that is not files, but it still "needs."  Why the double-quotes?  Really, it is only a Windows thing.  The Registry is stored in the Hive, and provides a central database of installed applications and their settings.  This Registry, the Hive, and the Heap which stores some things about RAM, constantly get written to, deleted from, and basically left like Swiss cheese - fragmented.  (How does Mac do this?  Instead of a central Registry, each application stores all of its settings within a bundle file which you think of as the application.  When you launch it, the bundle is "unzipped" and the files within it are utilized.  When you delete an application - the bundle is removed, clean, and simple - you are done.)

The Problem of Landfills
So, what's wrong with the way Windows does things?  Guess what - it truly is antiquated.  This is technology that was developed, and let's face it not really innovated upon, since the 1980's.  Yeah, back when computers were 8-bit, and 16-bit were coming on the scene (not 64-bit...).  The more the landfill collects, the harder it is for the workers to truck around all the waste that "needs" to be stored for future disposal.  Oh, and who ever goes through their basement and empties out the stuff collecting in it?  You just say "this computer is too slow, I need a new one" and just buy a new one - which is just what the computer manufacturers and Microsoft want because you keep spending more money.  This landfill of the Heap, Hive, and Registry constantly build up - until you decide to move to a new city.  When that city's waste disposal is full - move to a new one.

So, there are collateral damages coming out of this behavior.  What happens to the old electronics?  Are you guilty of this?  Do you throw it in the trash - literally?  Well, let's take a look at what is in these electronics, and are they safe for a landfill?

Electronic circuit board components are connected with solder.  This is made primarily from lead.  Lead, if you don't already know, is toxic to humans, plants, and animals in concentrated amounts.  Furthermore, there are trace amounts of mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals.  Did you know that all computers have a lithium battery that keeps the clock running even when they are unplugged?  This battery is a standard CR2032 about the size of a quarter, just like the battery in your bathroom scale or electric candle, that needs replacing every 5 years or so (unless like me you set up time synch with the Internet time servers so the clock is always in synch with Boulder, CO).  Now, what about those old vacuum tube monitor screens?  Many more nasty stuff there.  In fact, in some states throwing these things in the trash is illegal.  (It should be a federal EPA statute.)

Hopefully you enjoyed the allusion to literal and figurative landfills I talked about here - and hopefully I opened your eyes a little to the impact of your actions on the overall earth and your pocketbook.

Solutions
So how do we solve these problems?

1. Don't use Microsoft Windows on your computer.  There are many alternatives to Windows, some free and work on your existing PC, some cost.  Upgrade your Windows to Linux, or if you really are ready to buy a new computer, buy a Mac.  Not only do Macs hold their performance throughout the years, but they also have - almost unheard of for a computer - resale value!!  Yes, you can sell a Mac for a decent amount of money years after you buy it.
2. Tune Up Your PC - just like you tune up your car, you have to tune up your computer.  You can try to do this yourself, or you can budget in a maintenance cost of taking it in once a year to your local service shop.  Find one of those little mom & pop shops - and support local small businesses - the lifeblood of American enterprise.
3. Become a Mechanic - if you really do want to try to maintain it yourself, I will follow up my next Blog post with some tool recommendations.  You can also find some recommendations here on an older post.