douglasmkelly's posterous

History: You could say that I'm an Apple Lover. I own 2 Apple Macintosh G4 Desktops - in use - one Graphite 500MHz I tricked out with a Dual Gig-a-Hertz processor, additional hard drive and maxed RAM. There's a MacBook Pro in various pieces in a drawer in my office. I won an iPad at a Networking Event (see the top article from the previous link and others on Networking in GR). And, I'm writing you from my big girl friend - See above article. I own an iPhone 3GS purchased the day they came out June 21st, 2009. It's white. I loved her until 2 months ago, when alla-sudden she started being whiny when using location based services or switching between the 3G AT&T Network and Edge (2G) or the WiFi radio. Essentially she'll just crash. Poof. Narcolepsy.

Apple? Are you listening?

I've just pretty much stopped using the AT&T 3G Network, consequently. It does work if I'm connected to a power source, so driving while using Google Maps, requires being plugged in. If I use location in one place, and use it again in the same place, I should be ok... but not all the time. Generally she gets all whonky when I move around between towers using Location apps. I think the tower database may be corrupted or perhaps the battery... But who really knows, since the Apple.com site is no real help with this regard. Monday, the speaker at the top, where your ear goes, ceased to work. Lucky I have Blue Tooth headsets and/or ear buds. Just one more thing that isn't happy with her.

Yesterday I went into the Apple Store, was met by a cutie at the door, saying that I needed an appointment - the next one available was for 4PM in the afternoon - there must have been at least 35-40 patrons in the store, and at least that many Apple-logoed, blue-shirted people with iPads walking about. Last weekend the employees at all the Apple Stores redid the stores to put iPads at every product station, where you could learn more about that particular product and request an Apple Employee to assist you. They were up late getting ready for the opening. It was different, and slightly cooler. The iPad apps that are Apple iStore-Only are cool, but I don't know how 10th Anniversary-Cool it all was. The manager introduced himself to the conversation and was able to over-ride technology to give me an appointment with an Apple Genius in 1/2 hour. I made for the Starbucks and should have offered the cutie some coffee, she kept yawning.

30 minutes later... The Genius, after listening to all that I'd already accomplished, backed up my iPhone, then did a wipe and told her that she was a new iPhone. I'm pretty sure she didn't believe him. She might have played that game before. Funny thing: When I initially purchased my iPhone, they had to set up a device twice, as the first one didn't take to me. I'm wondering if there's a symbiotic thing. So anyway, my phone was done: Dude turned her on - I switched from Edge to 3G, did a Google Maps look up, switched off 3G started importing all my contacts - EVERYTHING WORKED!

I left the store believing that the phone was working, and made it to my car, wherein the New Amnesia Girl Friend starts acting like her old self. I returned to the Apple Store to talk to the girl answering the door. She remembered my name. I'd like to think it's because I'm cute - Yep, I'm going with that. The Genius that assisted me, ran up. We turned the phone back on and it did the same thing, wouldn't finish booting unless plugged in... He thinks the phone is somewhere between death and burial. MEH.

Note: Neither the Cutie nor the Apple Genius made mention of the fact that AT&T may do some original thinking with regards to my contract, as it was just about to expire ;-)

I walked down the mall to the American Telephone and Telegraph store. That store was empty, save for 3 employees. $50 for a refurb 3GS. $200 for a new 4G under contract. $450 for an out-of-contract new 3GS. I'll let you know what I decide.

Let me conclude on a positive note: The Apple employees that I interacted with, were awesome. From the Manager that was able to intercede with an appointment squeeze, the Greeter that remembered my name and email address even with helping the intervening 40 or so people in the hour and 1/2 since we met, to the Genius, who really was a genius. Even though they couldn't fix my device, they checked in to what they could do including offering me a minor discount on a new gal.

I have heard, and read, some awesome stories of Apple hook'n a brother up. I would love nothing more than to write a post on how over the top Apple's Customer Service really is to those of us that have owned Apple products since 1997 and still actively purchase them.

I have a laptop, but am finding that I check email just as much from my iPad and my iPhone. Depending on the response required I haul out the appropriate device to respond. Some people are telling me that they're starting to move away from all this technology, including a couple sales people that won't put email on their Blackberry - but I've just found that I can put it down and walk away.

What do you use most for connectivity to the World Wide Web? A desktop, smart phone, tablet or laptop? Why do you use that device - and how often? I want to hear your stories.

So, I started writing this blog post 21 days ago - I guess I've been too busy again. This is the final post in the "Too Busy" series. (I might just do a prequel ala CS. Lewis, though.) One of the primary things I've added to my life since a month ago, when I was so busy I couldn't see straight, was cross syncing software for iPhone, iPad and Laptop. Collaboration is extremely valuable to me as well. SimpleNote is one such app, that is open source. Open source makes it so others can write apps using their API (code) - adding new functionality that the drafters might not have envisioned.I've not started sharing SimpleNote yet, but once I'm comfortable using it - the functionality is there to allow for increased collaboration. Dropbox is becoming my favorite, can't-live-without collaboration app. Dropbox, as mentioned in a previous post is where you can drop files into the cloud and share them with other computers or people. That's been awesome for sharing files with affiliated partners as we work to quote new projects together.

EasyTask is another app that is cross device syncable. EasyTask has an app for the iPhone as well as a free web interface. You can setup projects and assign tasks. It does not have an SSL site so be careful in public WiFi. One more app that allows for some syncing is PaperDesk. It's a note taking app for the iPad that can sync online. The app has use of the keyboard or optional stylus. It also allows for voice memos. The Lite version is robust, but only allows for a limited amount of memos/notes.

I had really hoped that several of you would have added some thoughts of your own on the types of technology that you use to help you manage your lives better. So here's the appeal to the audience: Please comment below on some of the things you use, day to day, that make life easier. Give it to me full swing!

The biggest thing for me is ensuring that all my clients are taken care of in a timely fashion. As I add more and more clients to the funnel, I want them all happy. For instance, being able to access my email from anywhere is key. Luckily both Google Mail (GMail) and my hosting server allow for IMAP which leaves all my mail on the server to be access via web apps or browsers.

Something else I'm reviewing is SurgarCRM. One of my Affiliated Partners uses it and loves it. I'd love to hear if any of you are utilizing this Customer Relationship Manager, or if there is another open source app you like.

These changes giving me access to my information and files from anywhere haven't alleviated my busy-ness, but do make it so I can remain this busy but not let things fall through the cracks.

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I recently had an episode with my MacBook Pro wherein some coffee was spilled across a table and sucked into the fans on the back. As it turns out caffeine DOES NOT increase a computer's speeds. I know all you PC users, reading this, know what it's like to have a hard drive go, or your monitor give a puff of smoke and keel over. I've had the same thing with PCs my company has repaired or at places I've worked. But this type of thing had never happened on any Mac I've ever owned (6 now). Luckily business insurance covered replacement. One bonus was the prices of Apple computers had come down to pricing where I could upgrade substantially from the previous model. This is only one reason I've not blogged in a couple weeks. The old suped-up Mac G4, I was forced to use, didn't have all the passwords in the Key Chain. Yes, I could have gone to each of the websites, I use daily/weekly, and asked for a new password, but figured I'd have to do that on the new machine anyway.

One warm, sunny, February day (6 days after the "event"), Girl Friend 2.0 entered the house with little fan fare, and the box was opened carefully (but I must admit I was drooling a little). It is sexy. If you've not driven a Mac before, you seriously need to take one around the block. I know some of you like your Windows machines, and the new Windows 7 is much prettier than any other MS version, but Apple is like the 20 year old string-bikini clad bronze-beauty at the beach or that hot girl at the bar: Sleek, sexy, fast... Ok, I digress...

Again to you PC owners: I do own this Mac because it's easier to design art, websites, logos, graphics, illustrations and business cards. Yes it's also easier do image manipulation, documentation and categorization. It's better at chunking through data, massive files and multiple functions. But I use it for churning out spreadsheets, documents and emails easily. I can play games on it... but I don't. You shouldn't play games with your girlfriend. The ONLY thing I can't do, natively, is Dot Net code. You may not know that you can use Parallels, Bootcamp or VMWare with Windows running. If I'd have gotten a PC laptop instead of the MacBook, I'd have issues of software licensing – that goes with out saying, but please tell me 2 reasons to own a PC over a Mac. Valid ones. Not beliefs. Back up your rants with statistical information. I can't see any reason anyone should own a Windows PC over a Mac. Oops, I digressed again...

There are soooo many great traits to this new MacBook Pro: from the LED glossy screen, or the multi-touch track pad, to the ultra quiet fans, the up-to 8GB of RAM, to the 7 hour battery. There's the high end video card (or cards) that come standard. Most everyone knows that Apple builds their machines to work with their operating system and vice versa, making everything scream faster than (almost) every other operating system. I say "almost" because I've seen some bench marks with Linux on the same hardware that quite compare, if not exceed the Mac Snow Leopard (OS10.6) OS. Most of you also know that with an Apple machine you're not going to have to worry about viruses, popups or adware. They are going to run for a very long time (sans coffee), and give you few headaches.

The best thing about this Mac was when I was starting the machine for the first time, believing I was going to be spending the next 3-5 days loading software and configuring it, she asked me if I had and old girlfriend I was upgrading from. I said, "yes", to which it replied, "well go get her". I told her that Girl Friend 1.25 was lying in a coma upstairs, but went and removed her hard drive anyway. I inserted her brain into a SATA external enclosure and plugged it into the USB port. She asked me if I'd like to suck in all the applications, settings and passwords from the old machine! I exclaimed, "Yes, oh yes". And then she did it, in just under an hour. My Tweetdeck, Facebook, Firefox, Photoshop and even Terminal settings and plugins were all there. When I started Firefox the first time, it told me that I had crashed the last time and did I want to reopen all previously opened tabs! No amnesia. My Calendar was there. Thunderbird still held all my mail from immediately before the "event";. It was AMAZING! It was worth $500-700 right there - just for that - not to mention all the other sexy things she sports.

Now, I do have to tell you, a couple things that had to be updated, like the program that needed to be upgraded to Snow Leopard from the Leopard (10.5) version I was running on the old machine. Also my iPhone apps didn't make the move. That could have just been a jealous-lover thing or more likely some way that Apple messes with you, machine to machine. I may have lost $.99 worth of apps, that if it's that all-fire important, I'll re-download.

That's the short of it. If you run into me at a coffee house, sitting in the middle of the place, away from a power source (7 hour battery, remember?); or out at one of the local networking events, I attend weekly, ask me about my sexy new girlfriend. I'll probably gush.