A cheap shot at Microsoft

Once you start reading this, I am sure you are going to think that I am a complete Anti-Microsoft Nazi. Well, I'm not. I see many Microsoft products as the industry standard. I do, however, think that Microsoft has settled for mediocrity in many of their products for the sake of the almighty buck. It is for this reason that I am taking a cheap shot at Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer.

As a person who loves Google, I am constantly looking at their products and development platforms. I think that Google will come up, at least, in the top 5 internet software providers. I did recall reading an article in USA Today a year or so ago in which Ballmer was quoted describing some features of Google's Document application as saying, "You can't even put a footnote in. Now, last time I checked, that's still kind of important to give attribution. (Laughter.)" I'm sure Steve-O wasn't born yesterday and missed out on the break-neck speed with which Google has implemented many web-based services that are extremely robust. Unless Steve was thinking about Google not making any innovations to their product (like his company, HA!!), I am sure he could foresee them adding this feature. I personally saw this remark like telling an aircraft carrier mechanic that a pebble dinged up against the hull when it left port. I think that Steve was taking a cheap shot at a company that could be a real threat to Microsoft.

As a side note, I checked Google Docs earlier today and they have implemented a Header/Footer functionality to their program. Sorry Steve. Reload and take another shot!!!

To read the original article from USA Today, click here.

The Amazon Kindle: You'll want one, too

I just happened to be surfing YouTube (a future past-time of mine, I'm sure) and I came across a video describing a piece of consumer electronics manufactured and marketed by Amazon.com. WAIT!!!! Amazon is the internets answer to Borders, Walmart, and every other store. Why would they make their own gadget? Well, as many of you know, Amazon started out simply as an online book store, ergo the Kindle was made.

The Kindle is a an e-book reader. But, unlike any other e-book reader, the Kindle allows you to buy books in electronic format from Amazon and download them directly to your Kindle. The technical cretique of how this is accomplished is a bit long winded. Let me just say that it's not dependant on Wi-Fi and there is NO SUBSCRIPTION FEE!!!

OK, so this is just another way for Amazon to make a buck, right? Of course, they plan on making millions on digital book sales, I'm sure. But what if I have an electronic file (word document for example) that I would like to have available on my Kindle? Well, through some conversion features offered by Amazon, they will take your document, convert it into an acceptible format, and deilver the converted file to you so you can put it on your Kindle. WAY COOL!!!!!

I have to say, as an avid user of PDF's and digital documentation, I have been waiting for a device like this for years. I hope this takes off like a rocket. Here's a video describing the Kindle.

The Best of Network TV Online

In spite of the fact that I can't get CBS to come in on my new digital TV tuner, they are quickly becoming my favorite network TV website (www.cbs.com). I am a person who overall favors the classic TV shows (with the exception of Lost). If you want to catch some reruns of classic TV shows like MacGyver, the original Star Trek, or the Twilight Zone, you may be forced to either buy an expensive DVD set or wade through your local TV schedule to find these. But where other networks have failed to step up and make use of the internet in this way, CBS has succeeded by streaming video-on-demand of many classic TV shows from their website. This is a wonderful thing that they have done and I hope other networks follow suit. Please check out all of the great classic TV shows on www.cbs.com.