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3826

Living Room / Re: Why do we always wait for apple's stuff before making a i[blank]-killer??

« Last post by superboyac on June 06, 2010, 03:33 AM »

Nice, Renegade.  I have to agree with probably everything you say.

The only thing I will add and question is, if sexy sells and is so successful, why won't the other companies give that strategy a shot?  is it because they don't have the cult following and they know without it they can't succeed?  That's one answer.  But I don't even see them trying until after Apple sucks in the market.

I mean, for example, take the ipod.  Fine, the ipod came in a and surprised everyone.  But then you'd think companies would catch on:  "Oh, we have a great technology here.  Why don't we concentrate on a nice, sexy, simple user interface."  I remember for years hearing about people complain about how the early mp3 players were somewhat klunky to use.  Then apple showed up with the wheel.  people complained for years about all sorts of things about minidisc players...bigger screen, more info, why is it so difficult to use?  Sony never seriously addressed those issues.

And with tablets, I heard the same thing.  People didn't want to use it because it was klunky.  And if you ask me, the designers were lazy.  All they really did was package a laptop running regular Windows into a touchscreen monitor.  To me it seems like they didn't think about how the experience of regular windows might be different on a touchscreen.  but whatever...it was touch screen, it ran windows...what more could you possibly want?  And for years, nothing happened, until the ipad.  Now, a bunch of companies are planning on releasing comparable tablets and I'm sure we'll find one that is much better than the ipad and runs windows or linux, and we powerusers can configure just the way we want.  but why wait until now?  They could have done this easily in 2005.

3827

Living Room / Re: Honestly, who here actually owns an iPad? be honest!

« Last post by superboyac on June 06, 2010, 03:14 AM »

Nope. Not going to either. Unless I am forced to write iPad software...

But for Apple... I just bought another TV show episode through iTunes... and I feel seriously very dirty when I do. I honestly feel like I just paid a prostitute or something. I don't know just how dirty I would feel if I bought an iPad.

-Renegade (June 06, 2010, 02:55 AM)

haha....I know how you feel.  My little sister bought an iphone recently, and i caught myself feeling weirdly defensive and uncomfortable about it.  So, I had to slap myself and yell "Snap out of it!".

3828

Living Room / Honestly, who here actually owns an iPad? be honest!

« Last post by superboyac on June 05, 2010, 10:22 PM »

We talk a big game here, but I'm sure some of us actually own ipads.  Come on!  Be honest!

And it counts, if an immediate family member has one.

FYI, I'll be getting one soon.  I'll explain why later.  Yes, I realize it might possibly be the most hypocritical thing I've ever done.

3829

Living Room / Why do we always wait for apple's stuff before making a i[blank]-killer??

« Last post by superboyac on June 05, 2010, 10:18 PM »

Why do companies always wait for Apple to come out with a very popular product before finally competing in that market?  Why did all the mp3 player companies wait until Apple invented the ipod before they started seriously thinking about better products?  I'm talking about companies like Sony.  They had almost a decade head start in the portable music department.  They had discmans, walkmans, they had the minidisc...they had it all in place, and did nothing about it.  Then Apple came out with the ipod way later, and finally did other companies start coming up with better products.

Now everyone is asking about what will be the ipad-killer.  Why did they wait so long?  Tablets have been the talk of the town for 8 years or more, from what I remember.  But now, everyone is trying to compete with ipad.  I just wonder why the non apple companies wait until they are kicked in the ass by apple before attempting legitimate contenders.

Same with the iphone.  What took so long there?

I don't get it.  Apple's ideas and inventions are implemented magnificently, but in no way are they even close to being creative to the point where i would think "Why didn't I think of that??"  To me, it would seem like the other companies don't care to push the envelope until they are forced to.  If the discman is bringing in enough dollars, why bother changing it?  Are they not able to predict somewhat what is over the horizon?  Are they really that poor of businessmen?

3830

General Software Discussion / Re: Word 2007: Are Table Styles safe to use now?

« Last post by superboyac on June 05, 2010, 09:45 PM »

AndyM... going back to your advice on using tabs instead of tables.  How would one format text so each "cell" could have multiline text in it?  I dont see how tabs allow you to do this.

-kfitting (June 03, 2010, 02:11 PM)

By using the correct tool - a table

-katykaty (June 05, 2010, 04:51 PM)

haha.  Funny.

3831

Living Room / Re: Has SEO ruined the web?

« Last post by superboyac on June 03, 2010, 04:54 PM »

The answer to the thread title is yes, a good example to illustrate it is something I was doing just yesterday.
I was searching for an online stream of a soccer game not available on TV (putting aside the illegalities of streaming) google search results gave me pages and pages of "team x vs team y June 2 2010". I will let you all guess how many of those pages actually had the stream for the game.

-rgdot (June 03, 2010, 03:49 PM)

That's precisely what I'm talking about.  You can do the same for just about anything.  Unless you already kind of sort of know where you're trying to go, good luck.

3832

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 03, 2010, 02:57 PM »

IainB, thanks so much for the in-depth story.  There's a lot going on there that i don't understand, but I was able to follow most of it.  This is very fascinating.

Right now, the only thing I'm doing is diagramming.  I just draw boxes and arrows that make a flowchart.  It sounds like the things you do are a lot deeper than all that, and I want to know what it all means.  What is going on there?  What is the thing that you do (in layman's terms)?

From what I can piece together, it is this:
A company has a certain way of doing things--their business processes.  It may not be written down or formalized, but it's there.  So you come in and formalize what they do.  You make a database (what's in it?) and you create some kind of system that does something.  I have no idea what it is.  What is the end result of all of this?

In our case here, the end result will be a manual that accurately depicts how things are done here.  So, an employee who gets assigned a project can go to the page (or website, whatever) and follow the instructions of how to complete his job.  Is this the end product of all of this?

There are so many technical terms, and strange, complicated lingo for all of this.  What does this have to do with IT?

We have Oracle here also, and there are talks of bringing in their BI stuff and integrating it with our stuff.  What that means is not known to me.  I've heard a little about their BI tools, and all I know is that they help manage stuff that businesses do.  yeah, I don't know much, i know.

3833

Living Room / Re: Has SEO ruined the web?

« Last post by superboyac on June 03, 2010, 02:20 PM »

Google is just one more sad example of how there has never been a system so respected, useful, or worthwhile that somebody didn't eventually show up and start gaming it for their own advantage.

It's even sadder when the people who created the system start doing it themselves.

And many do.

-40hz (June 03, 2010, 10:28 AM)

Yes.  Sometimes, i take a step back and just nod because you have to expect it.  Not only expect it, but understand that that is just human nature.  heck, I shouldn't even be mad about it.  The end result is frustrating for me as a user, but I guess I don't have a beef with reasons behind it.  I'm not above saying that I probably would do the same thing if I were in their shoes.  Who knows?

3834

Living Room / Re: Has SEO ruined the web?

« Last post by superboyac on June 02, 2010, 11:45 PM »

I was speaking to a friend of mine.  He wrote a couple of websites for the sole purpose to rank high in search engines using SEO.  He wrote about online education.  He knows nothing about online education, but he wrote articles about it, just to have some content.  The articles contain advice.  But they were written strategically using the right words and strategies to rank high in search engines.  The point is, the articles are useless.  This is everywhere in the internet.  Software download sites, review sites, blogs,...90% of them are beyond useless, they are often nonsensical.

Nice use of your new word

-mitzevo (June 02, 2010, 09:21 PM)

HA!!  Too funny.  if you had asked me, I would have told you I never used the word before in my life, until the website.  Nice one!

3835

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 02, 2010, 05:57 PM »

^ I've only used Visio for network design/mapping and website planning so I don't think I'm going to be of much help for what you're doing.

The book I used to learn it was Micosoft Office Visio Inside/Out from Microsoft Press. Fortunately I did that during some downtime so I wasn't under pressure to learn it by using it for a live project.

I'll ask around and see what I can find out for you. 
 
 

-40hz (June 02, 2010, 05:48 PM)

OK, thanks.  Actually, you only need to get back to me about the how to use Visio question.  I've settled on using something called BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation) for the flowchart questions.  Very interesting stuff, almost makes me want to go back to school.

I'll check out that book.

3836

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 02, 2010, 11:06 AM »

40hz:  i have some questions.  I'm having a difficult time finding the answers, please help me.

1) How do I use the document symbol?  Let's say I have swim lanes, and someone is going to transfer a document to another person.  Do I use the document symbol, or just an normal activity symbol?  If I use the document symbol, which lane contains the symbol?  The sender or the receiver, or both?  I don't quite understand how to depict transferring a document.

2) Let's say multiple people are going to review a document.  How do I show that?  Do I put an activity in each lane connected with a dotted line or something?

3) Do you know of any good Visio tutorials?  I googled a bunch, and they all are bad.  All.

3837

Living Room / Re: Has SEO ruined the web?

« Last post by superboyac on June 02, 2010, 10:02 AM »

The past couple of weeks, I've been learning a lot of new things.  About 99% of whatever I found on Google is trash.  Google is trashed, as far as the search engine goes.  you will not really find anything good without really really trying hard.  I've been learning about flowcharts, business processes, etc. and everything that I found independently using Google was worthless for the most part.

3838

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 02, 2010, 08:58 AM »

Incidentally, this may also be one of those cases where I need to learn Visio and realize it's not as bad as I initially thought, based on nothing other than the thought that "Anything is better than Microsoft".  With what I went through with Word recently, I'm a lot more open minded!  Plus, I have Visio right in front of me, and it can do swim lanes (cross functional flowcharts).

3839

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 02, 2010, 08:51 AM »

I've worked with SmartDraw on some client projects. It's very similar to Visio although I thought it was much easier to use for general purpose diagramming. I never tried using it for process mapping, but it should be able to handle a diagram like yours. They have a free 30-day eval available so it wouldn't cost anything but your time to give it a try.

I also bounced your question off an MBA/MsME buddy of mine who works for one of our giant defense contractors. He speaks well of something called TeamFlow. I can't vouch for it personally since I've never used it. But my pal is a pretty savvy project manger, and he thinks it's a very capable product. The publishers also offer a 30-day eval copy if you want to give it a test run.

 

-40hz (June 01, 2010, 09:53 PM)

It looks really good, probably exactly what I'm looking for.  I'm going to try it out.  We'll see how difficult it will be to try to purchase it.  If nothing else, it's given me a good idea of how to display the process.  I was introduced to the idea of "swim lanes" yesterday, and this uses that same idea.  Thanks.

3840

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 07:50 PM »

This diagram will be modified big time, because we have nothing now.  So when I make it, all the managers will look at it, and we'll spend some time messing with it until it's correct.

-superboyac (June 01, 2010, 06:07 PM)

Hi superboyac !

Just an idea, but if it's going to be a work-in-progress, an online solution, such as
http://www.dabbleboard.com/

might be a good approach, initially at least.

Just my 2 cents !

-PPLandry (June 01, 2010, 07:26 PM)

Thanks Pierre.  But our company won't go for that.  Two issues: they don't like anything going outside of the security network and we can supposedly get fined a LOT per day for doing anything like that.  Secondly,  we are very behind the times as far as technology, I wouldn't even attempt to approach the managers with that.

I was hoping you were going to say, "Well, IQ already does this!"  ha.  Hope you're doing well, my friend.

3841

General Software Discussion / Software for Business Process Modeling?

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 06:07 PM »

Hi everyone, i know I've been asking for a lot of advice lately.  I have a new job and I have been asked to work on our Business Modeling Processes.  We don't really have anything now.  We have a very old and outdated manual that uses a numbered lists to spell out how things are done.  However, it's not sufficient to describe what actually happens.  I'm going to need to do it using a visual diagram.  A flowchart, if you will.  After researching for a while, I've realized this is an entire industry with their own catch phrases and jargon, etc.   What I need is something that can do Business Process Modeling.  I need to create something that looks like the following:


I've searched DC threads for recommendations so far.  I've found some good options, and I want to confirm them here.  The first one I'd like to mention is EDGE Diagrammer, which mouser likes.  However, after looking at it, i think it is too simple for the stuff we do here.  I need to be able to have "swim lanes" and stuff like that.  I need to be able to show simultaneous things happening in different places and interactions between them.  Please refer to the picture above.

The other ones that stand out to me are Smartdraw and eDraw.  Can anyone comment on them and/or recommend others?  I also have Visio.  i don't like Visio that much, and I'm hoping there's an alternative that is clearly better for this.

This diagram will be modified big time, because we have nothing now.  So when I make it, all the managers will look at it, and we'll spend some time messing with it until it's correct.

After researching a bit, I realize this is MBA kind of stuff.  Maybe it's time I get the degree?  Ugh, more school.  I feel like I'm getting involved in something that MBA people consider very typical and ordinary, yet it's new and unfamiliar to me.  But, degree or not, I'm the man for the job here, so I want to make sure it's successful.  This is kind of a big deal for me and the organization.

OK, thanks as usual.

3842

Living Room / Re: How to Sell Linux to Schools

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 03:16 PM »

I can attest to what 40hz is saying.  At my previous company, they renegotiated the Office 2007 bundle to the point where all the employees got it for dirt cheap.  i don't know the details, but something happened there.

3843

General Software Discussion / Re: What is your preferred font?

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 01:22 PM »

I uninstalled gdipp from my work computer.  It made just about every program running on it give errors of some sort.  I took it off and everything works well again.  but I liked what it did with the fonts.

3844

Living Room / Re: Google Ditches Windows on Security Concerns

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 01:08 PM »

Nice avatar, by the way.

-superboyac (June 01, 2010, 11:17 AM)

Good friend did it up for me. Would you like his e-mail?  

-40hz (June 01, 2010, 12:43 PM)

No thanks.  I can probably do it better myself.  Does he have any hot sisters?

3845

Living Room / Re: Google Ditches Windows on Security Concerns

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 11:17 AM »

So why aren't they migrating to Chrome OS?

I seem to recall them saying that's where the future of OS was going.   

First rule of real system-level product development: "Eat your own dogfood."   

-40hz (June 01, 2010, 10:52 AM)

I was just thinking the same thing.  Nice avatar, by the way.

3846

Living Room / Re: How to Sell Linux to Schools

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 11:14 AM »

I've long bitched about the fact that my taxes go to pay Microsoft's license fees (or Apple's) at public schools. If students and their parents want to pay for proprietary software for use in their private schools or homes, more power to them. But a public school should be free from the legal constraints, the tech support required, and as always, the costs involved. Once you buy into proprietary software, it's nearly impossible to get out of its subtle lock-in.

I haven't lived a year yet when property taxes (the method for funding public education throughout most of the US) didn't rise. Schools always claim they need more money than a Wall Street banker. Let's at least save money on software when free alternatives can do the same work.

-zridling (June 01, 2010, 07:31 AM)

Z, I used to work at a high school.  They waste money like crazy.  The example I always like to give is this one:  you know those lab stools they use in high school?  With the gray metal and wooden top?

Well, they cost a lot more than they look.  When I was a new teacher, they had to buy a whole bunch of them before the year began.  So they did.  Thousands of dollar spent like nothing.  Then, in class, the kids would treat them like crap.  They would always be knocking them over, sliding them around, banging them here and there.  Within a few months, they were are in very poor condition.  Wobbly, screws loose or missing, the wood half-ripped off.  Thousands of dollars gone just like that.  The next year, same thing.  More stools.

These stools should last decades.  Is it the kids fault?  Is it the teachers fault?  Is it society's fault?  I don't know. But I know the money is wasted.  This is just one example.  Don't get me started on office admin costs, paper supplies, tons of money spent under special, fancy program names that tug at the heartstrings.  As long as the stools can be replaced, nobody cares.  Let's say we cut all funding, to be extreme.  how much worse can the education get?  Not much.  Whenever the adults say the money is for the "kids", it's probably not.  If you probe, there's always some weird, political, sort of shady reason for the money they have. 

3847

General Software Discussion / Re: What to use to back up 1:1 ?

« Last post by superboyac on June 01, 2010, 09:01 AM »

You shouldn't use Seagate (I myself have had several HDD failure with Seagate HDD). try Western Digital HDD. They have different series of HDD, if I recall correctly, their YS series is very durable. I have 3 units of 500G WD HDD being used for years on daily basic and never give me a single problem.

-tslim (June 01, 2010, 03:21 AM)

i too have heard vendors recommending Western Digital over Seagate and i'm curious why this is so?

-lanux128 (June 01, 2010, 03:53 AM)

You know, it doesn't really matter.  Everyone is going to have a different story.  Some are going to say their WD drive broke, some say their Seagate drive broke, etc.  I don't care anymore.  There's is exactly one thing I look for in a hard drive, and that's the warranty.  I'll get whichever drive has the longest warranty.  It used to be Seagate with the 5 year warranty, but they don't have that anymore.  The latest batch of drives I got were WD Caviar Black, because only the Black ones came with 5 year warranties. 

3848

Living Room / Re: two-monitors ergonomics

« Last post by superboyac on May 31, 2010, 03:29 PM »

They are expensive.  But without them, i find my head slumping forward, and pretty soon, I'll have upper back problems and I'll end up looking like a hunchback.  I can already feel the pain.  The problem with me is that I'm somewhat tall and lanky.  I have long legs, an average torso, and long arms.  So the correct typing position for me is having a low desk so my arms can be relaxed, but that interferes with my long legs, so it has to be just high enough to let my legs underneath the desk.  But if I do that, the monitors are WAY too low, and I'm looking down.  So, that's why I need monitor arms to raise it up to my eye level.

I never used to care about ergo, but after getting the monitor arms, I've seen how it makes a lot of sense.  But the real culprit is my crappy mattress.  before that, I never ever had pain in my back.

3849

Living Room / Re: two-monitors ergonomics

« Last post by superboyac on May 31, 2010, 01:55 PM »

Does anyone use custom multi-monitor stands?

I've got two Samsung 22" monitors (one in the centre and one to the right) and their flimsy (but very "Samsung pretty") stands mean that every knock against the desk turns them in to perpetual-motion Mr Bobbleheads...

Are there sturdy desk-mount options or am I best off going for hideously-expensive wall-mounted options (although these would be good as they could be pushed against the wall when the desk space is needed)?

-mnemonic (May 31, 2010, 05:11 AM)

At my work, we use these monitor arms that can be clamped or bolted to your desk.  They are fantastic.  I'm going to get one for my house (I use two 24" widescreen monitors).  The company that makes them is called HumanScale.  They are not cheap.  I'm guessing it will run you between $400-500.  But, they are solid devices.  Still, it is somewhat expensive.

In my case, I don't skimp on things that correct my posture or reduce future back injuries.  Without the monitor arms, my neck inches forward during the day.  I'm already starting to develop upper back pain because of my crappy mattress.

3850

Living Room / Re: What happened to my DC forum avatar?

« Last post by superboyac on May 29, 2010, 10:10 PM »

I think cmpm is on o me...I better make a run for it.