Why I won't be updating to Windows 8 immediately

There has been a lot of hype over Windows 8 and the new interface.  I like Windows and think that it is a solid OS.   That being said there are three reason why I won't update immediately, 

1) The Graphical User Interface.   It is completely different than any previous OS.   Here is a video that show the extent to which some users might be confused.  

How Real People Will Use Windows 8

2) Waiting is always better.   Even with the best tested OS's there are always bugs.  If you wait 6 months you are guaranteed to get  less issues and bugs.

3) Window 8 is built for touch screens.   If you do not have a touch screen, why not wait until the next hardware upgrade and then upgrade.   

Let me know you thoughts below. 

Paypal tries to limit your rights

Here is a important message forwarded to me from Albert Stern.  I work with PayPal on a daily basis and I and not heard of this.  

http://lifehacker.com/5951884/paypal-wants-to-limit-your-legal-rights-heres-a-way-around-that

Check out the implacations of what Paypal is trying to do.  If you are in any way concerned about your rights of leagal redress conerning Paypal being curtailed, I sould suggest sending the letter in. 

A bad buy at any price

Here are two hard drives that I recently had to recover for a client.   The client had been convinced to buy a used computer with used parts.   Purchased a year ago for approximately $200.00 and about $100.00 in services she showed up at my office with one dead and one failing drive. The only drive that was eventually recoverable had 487556 hours on it, approximately 8 years of constant use.  The other non recoverable drive had an even older manufacture date. I asked if she had know about the age of the hard drives, she indicated that she had no idea.

There is a lot of discussion on the life span and MBTF (Mean Time Between Failure) of hard drives, but if given a choice, I would choose a hard drive with less than almost 8 years of usage on it.

In the end the client paid for a new computer, and my services just less than one year since the purchase of the used computer.   Used computers do not make financial sense, in many cases, such as this one, you do not know what you are buying. 

Getting the most out of mobile: Tip #1 Location Based To Do Lists

Many thanks to Albert Stern who provided this excellent mobile productivity blog post.  Check out his business at http://www.healingvillagecollective.com/

Our mobile phones and tablets are wonderful with the potential to make our lives easier in many ways. A truly great tool to help ease the hassles of day to day living are location based To Do lists. Everybody has had the experience of being in a store and forgetting to buy that one important item. Be it toilet paper, pet food, staples, or duct tape our brains are just not wired to remember static lists out of context. This is where location based To Do apps can be fantastic tools. 

Phones and tablets on a data network (3G/4G) have the ability to act as small GPS devices. This is how a map app is able to deliver directions to and from a specific location. Taking this ability one step further are location based To Do lists. These apps allow one to set a specific location, say supermarket, and create an entire To DO list linked to that location. Once you walk into the location a dialog box will pop up reminding you of the items you need. Walk into the supermarket to buy produce and receive a pop up reminder saying, "Buy laundry soap."

Just experiencing this once or twice is very powerful. It quickly becomes motivating to do keep lists up to date and rid the mind of these little items to remember. 

There are variety of apps that one can use for location based to do lists. 

Remember the Milk (Android, iOS, and Blackberry), Astrid (Android and iOS), MyLifeOrganized (Android), Checkmark for (iOS), the updated Reminders app has this function as well (iOS 6)

Northwest Denver Electronic Recycling and Paper Shredding Event

Northwest Denver Electronic Recycling and Paper Shredding Event 

Sponsored By 

Rocky Moutain Driveline

Denver's Moving Boxes

Collaboration Lab

October 27, 2012 

9:30 AM until 3:30 PM

Location 4210 Tennyson Street, Denver, CO

Paper Shredding provided at $3.00 per cubic foot, one cubic foot minimum

Data / Hard Drive destruction provided at $10.00 per drive

Sample acceptable items for free recycling:

Desktop / Servers, Laptops / tablets, Keyboards & mice, Computer Components, Power & USB cables, network cables, routers & switches, desk & mobile phones, Stereo equipment (without speakers), Amplifiers, receivers,

Monitors & Flat Panel TVs (up to 40 inch), Nothing Larger Accepted

Safe Recycling Fee for the following:

Inkjet Printers $4, Laserjet Printers $4, Fax machines $4, Fax, print, scan $7, CRTs & tube TVs, Up to 17” $14

18” to 22” is $18, 22” to 28” is $22, 29” to 40” is $26, Nothing larger accepted

Items not accepted:

Speakers, Paint / Varnish, Liquids of any type, Filters / Biohazards, Mercury (thermostats, etc), lights / lamps / bulbs

Appliances of any type, Air conditioners / heaters

Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, and Visa Accepted

For any questions, call 303-997-2719

http://www.collaboration-lab.com/recycling-event/