Hello 2013

What can we look forward to in 2013?  That is a good question.  Hopefully soon we won't have to talk about the "fiscal cliff" anymore.  I'm excited.  I think Microsoft is really getting on track with their products.  The new Windows 8 phone looks like a really good platform to build on.  As people slowly adopt the new Windows 8 for their desktops and tablets it will be a nice alternative.  Those who are fully bought into the Apple Ecosystem will now have to look and see what others are doing.  Google and Android are still doing great work as well.  Tons of apps and terrific devices.  Heck,  I love Blogger and G+.  The great news is that there is more and more for consumers and businesses to pick from.

What about the cloud?  based on this past years experience I think we will see more application of hybrid cloud solutions.  What I mean is solutions that allow companies to choose which applications and data they want in the cloud and which ones they want locally.  Why would companies want to keep data local.  Take for instance firms that move a lot of data around.  Why not move it at 1000 Mbps locally instead of 10 Mbps over the internet?  That is if you can get 10Mbps.  Then keep a copy in the cloud nice and safe in a protected data center.  What does it make sense to have in the cloud?  I think in a lot of cases Email is best kept in the cloud.  It is complicated to manage and not as sensitive to bandwidth fluctuations.

The good news is that customers have amazing products and solutions to pick from.

Happy New Year!

What Would You Tell the 25 Year-Old You? | LinkedIn

I just had to post this because it's cool.  As I've grown older I've really come to appreciate wisdom.  I try to listen more, talk less and ask better questions.



What Would You Tell the 25 Year-Old You? | LinkedIn

Looks Like Google is now charging $$ for their small business platform

Google Apps for Small Business: Partners Should Praise Paid Model | Cloud Services Providers content from Talkin' Cloud

News about touch screen demand

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57557191-75/windows-8-touch-pc-demand-strong/

A fair perspective on Windows 8

At the end of the day there is no perfect technology.  I this article talks about how Microsoft 8 might not be perfect but it is a big move for them.  I think it will be hard for some users to adapt to.  I do love the idea of on operating system for phone, pc and tablet.  It makes so much sense for businesses today who need to control security and information while giving users choices and the right technology to fit their job.
Why Jakob Nielsen's Windows 8 critique is old-school thinking

Grocery List - Online note solution shootout

I'm always looking for the practical application of technology.  Well for me one of the most practical applications seems to be the Grocery List.  Why?  First of all its dynamic.  every time I go to the store and I think I have the list down right I always get a call.  "Honey,  I was thinking you should get some cilantro for the salsa we are making for the guests we are having over tomorrow night".  Second, details are important.  "not the garlic hummus, the garlic red pepper hummus".  Finally, I'm not a mind reader.  I've been married for almost 14 years now and I can't seem to get it down.  So, the dynamic, detailed grocery list can improve my relationship with my wife instead of adding to the stress.

I've been working with 3 different applications to figure out which one performs best.  I've been using 1.Microsoft Onenote with Skydrive  2.Google Drive and Docs  and  3. Evernote.  The winner is?  Evernote hands down.  Why?  it comes down to ease of use and device synchronization.  Evernote is super easy to use and you don't have to worry about synchronization once you have it set up.   First of all I want to make it clear that I like all of these products for different reasons, however, for this purpose I love Evernote.  When I want to make a list or take something down, I don't want to have to wait for an application or worry if it is going to synchronize.  I don't want to have to search for a file or an application within an application.  That is the beauty of  how Evernote behaves for me.  Here is an example:  Last night I was heading to bed and my wife says "hey honey can you remember this number for me?  My answer was yes, and by the time I responded I had Evernote open and ready to roll.    So what do the other Two applications offer?  Well Onenote from Microsoft is great for meetings where you bring your laptop.  My only problem with Onenote has been that it is kind of slow to start up.  also, more of a manual process when it comes to synchronization while being less intuitive.  So, I use Onenote for meetings at work.  Onenote feels more like a notebook with tabs then a note pad where you can take  a quick note or a list.  What about Google docs.  I've been using this for years.  In fact, when I was interviewing for this job I had my resume uploaded and could send it on demand from my phone.  My wife and I keep our budget on Drive from Google Docs.  It works great.  we can share the document and make changes that update as we do.   It is just more of a document repository than a notebook.  So, these are all great products but Evernote wins out for the grocery list.

Thanks for reading.

~pz

Windows 8 reshapes the laptop: Touch models on the rise | Business Tech - CNET News

Windows 8 reshapes the laptop: Touch models on the rise | Business Tech - CNET News