Mar 11, 2008
Posted by Perry
Here at McKain Performance Group, we’re a Mac family. Everyone uses a Mac for everything we do – from web design to document preparation and presentations – all are primarily done using the quality and reliability we’ve become accustomed to from Mac products.
I had been having trouble on the typing front due to using an older wireless keyboard. Now while I think wireless is a wonderful thing – it’s not me. The keys on this had gotten to the point of sticking, and resulted in me literally banging on them to type even a simple two paragraph email (much to Shelley’s amusement who compared me to Mozart whenever I typed.)
Well, as of today, those problems are long gone – I got a new mouse and keyboard!! 🙂 I simply love Mac stuff, their computers are top-of-the-line, their graphics and software are awesome, and their ease of use is quite honestly – second to none. This new keyboard is the redesigned one that came out when the iMac was redone and it’s fabulous!
The thinner design and ‘low profile’ keys make keystrokes very efficient (less finger travel) and it’s comfortable. I highly recommend it to anyone using a Mac — and at less than $50 — it’s well worth it to anyone who types a lot.
The mouse I got is a Kensington ExpertMouse Trackball. I prefer the trackballs to conventional or even optical mice because you don’t have to use your wrist, its all controlled by your fingers, The added control makes for more precise movement and scrolling (thanks to Shelley for putting me on to these!)
At long last – I am now in typing bliss thanks to the great products and people of Apple. Yay me!!
Mar 11, 2008
posted by Shelley
As I type this post, I’m missing my own computer desperately. This computer doesn’t have all my favorite bookmarks, I can’t remember any passwords and it takes me at least 10 times longer to do even the simplest tasks. I should be back to normal within the next day or so. **crosses fingers**
I was talking to my brother today about my computer issues and the need for more hard drive space just to do a backup of everything I require just to operate. I have a spare MAC and I have his laptop (I don’t even count the PCs I have as real computers), but neither had enough space to hold all my stuff. We reminisced about the good ole’ days when we didn’t think we would EVER fill up a 50 gig hard drive — and now, I need more than that just for my music folder.
So today I make an appointment online at the Apple Store in Louisville and head to the Oxmoor Mall. Walking in the door, I’m greeted by a geeky-looking guy that took the computer and carried it for me to the Genius Bar — all the way introducing himself and asking how he might help. I explain i have an appointment, he notifies the gentleman ‘genius’ that I’ve arrived and after about 10 minutes of troubleshooting, my sick computer is staying overnight in the nearby state for emergency surgery. If you’ve never been to an Apple Store, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s the total experience. Even if you’re not a MAC fan, I promise you would be impressed.
Upon arriving home, I’m having trouble getting connected to one of my high-speed Internet connectivity accounts. Yes, I have 2 because neither are reliable enough to depend on for my line of work. I have to have 2 just to make certain I have a backup plan when one or the other craps out on me. Sad, but true. Still upbeat even though I’m without my computer (I could probably function better with one arm), I call Insight to ask a couple questions — simple ones that any technical support person within an Internet service provider company should know.
Me: I’m having a problem sending email through Insight. Do you require authentication?
Him: I don’t know.
Me: Well, I don’t know either! That’s why I called. Is there anyone else that might know?
Silence…
Me: Ok, I’ll try to figure this out on my own, and if I can’t, I’ll try back later and see if I can get a representative that can help me.
Him: Have a nice day (with sarcasm dripping from the words.)
Now let me say that at least this gentleman spoke English, and I understood his lame answer. But tell me, since he didn’t know the answer to a legitimate paying customer’s question, wouldn’t you think he would’ve instead said, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out for you?” The Apple Store would’ve had that guy around about 5 seconds. Not only would he never qualify for ‘genius status’, he wouldn’t have been fit to carry my MAC to the help desk.
Mar 10, 2008
posted by Shelley
You’re online or you wouldn’t be reading this — but if you’re a business owner, or just someone that finds Internet facts interesting, this post is for you.
Check out this list of Who’s Online from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
Did you know that Technorati is currently tracking 112.8 million blogs and over 250 million pieces of tagged social media? They also report that bloggers update regularly (over 1.6 million posts per day, or over 18 updates a second.)
The New York Times published an article recently that cited a survey that said only 5% of small businesses with fewer than 100 employees are blogging. Doesn’t sound like many …but with 25.3 million of those same biz types, that translates into about 1.25 million that DO have a BLOG.
Now I could make this a “business-type post” and say that with blogging, podcasting, vidcasting/YouTube.com affording low cost and no cost of production, it’s simply inexcusable not to be using any or all of the above to promote your message — but I’ll leave that for another BLOG. 🙂
Mar 9, 2008
posted by Shelley
It’s 52 degrees this mid-afternoon after the big snow. We have ‘sprung ahead’ in the burg and our clocks have been changed so that we’ve lost an hour of our lives (ok, so maybe we haven’t really lost that hour — but it sure feels like it to me!) Although crabby-patty, Perry, complains about the snow, there are others that seem to enjoy it very much.
I’m guessing this will be winter’s last big hoorah and I welcome spring…
Mar 8, 2008
Posted by Perry
As I read Shelley’s last post, it really sunk in as to just how much snow we actually got. Did I mention just how much I hate winter?
Have you ever looked at mosquitos, or even a roach? They’re animals that really serve no useful purpose – meaning they are a bane to everyday life. Winter , to me, is a useless season. It serves as no real benefit to everyday life (except to give you a good case of frostbite) and is basically a bane when it comes in such as it has.
Yeah, I know, it does make for postcard-type scenes, but seriously – would you send someone a card of this stuff that says ‘Wish you were here’? I thought not.
While Libby thinks all this white stuff is fun, she hasn’t yet grasped that playing in drifts that are a foot taller than you is not very productive in the fun department. She tries anyways, which always makes us laugh to see a brown hound covered in the powdery stuff. Taking care of her business outside has turned into an adventure for her as she now has to try to find a path where the snow isn’t so deep. It’s not easy for the little brown gal – but she manages to somehow find a spot suitable for her needs.
So here we sit – with a plan in place for chili, hound watching, and WoW playing to get us through this bout of winter’s majesty.
More to come…
