Quotables.

It kindof concerns me when the standard unsubscription footer in a mass e-mail I received looks like this:

In compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act, this “Unsubscribe Link” will give you the
opportunity to “opt-out” of Ixia’s mailing list. We respect your privacy. If you have any
questions or concerns, please contact us.

Makes you wonder. If it’s an “unsubscribe link,” what are they going to do with my address if they’re not actually unsubscribing? Hmm..

Personal pet-peave.

What Santa didn't bring me this Tuesday

Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 10 AM PST – Apple unveils a new lineup of mobile goodness to the world, available online immediately. The news of redesigned MacBooks and MacBook Pros is exciting, but I’m still underwhelmed by the much-awaited unveiling.

Here’s a few things that I wish Apple had considered:

1. A smaller MacBook Air. That’s smaller, not lighter. Maybe a 10″ or 11″ widescreen would be absolutely perfect for me, even if the weight stayed the same. I’m sure I’m not the only one craving a smaller Apple laptop. Many questions have been asked about the possibility of a tablet, which tends to go hand-in-hand with the smaller form factor, but this is a feature I am much less concerned about, and certainly wouldn’t influence a decision for me to buy it.
2. Firewire on the MacBook. It may be uncommon for devices other than camcorders, but Firewire is definitely a much safer bet than USB for many purposes. Though I don’t find myself using Firewire alot these days, the opportunities still arise, and when they do, I’m always glad that the connection can be made with something other than USB. For video editing, I’m not sure how users will cope. OK, so you don’t normally buy a MacBook for video editing, but iMovie is included. How does Apple expect users to capture from their cameras without Firewire?
3. Option of matte screen. This isn’t a huge deal for me, but as I work opposite a window everyday, I do appreciate the non-reflective finish of my office MacBook Pro and Cinema Display. It’d be nice to have this choice.
4. The old MacBook (white plastic) is still in the lineup at a slightly reduced price. This just seems weird. I would have rather seen a lower spec for the white MacBook and a larger drop in price, down to the 800 range.

Those are the major concerns I have. I find myself leaning towards one of the new aluminum MacBooks as my next computer upgrade, which I plan to hold off on, until the jury comes back on how they do.

facebook is for faces

A few days ago a message came up that really bothered me on a discussion list I am on for Christian organizations who use the web for their ministries. I didn’t respond directly, but I thought I’d share my thoughts here.

The questions was regarding Facebook. The gentleman who wrote the message had just created a Facebook account and had no idea how to use it. Now, see, though I could go on an entire rant about how people should know more about what Facebook is if they live in any part of the world with half-decent Internet access, I am going to take issue with another part of the discussion that ensued. Indeed many replied and discussed how they set up Facebook accounts for their organizations. That, for me, is a big giant screaming ARGGGGHHHHH!

Let’s think back a couple of years. There was a social site, known as MySpace (who uses that site, anyway?). Now as we all know, MySpace turned into a huge pile of Internet trash. Meanwhile, Facebook snuck in, and with it’s strong committment to securing registration to REAL people, built a new Internet social empire. Over the years, the registration requirements have opened up, which is good. More people are able to get on, but now, we’re heading to a dangerous territory. While before you needed an actual university e-mail account or other means of authenticating yourself, now the registration is open.

The problem I see here is that organizations are coming in and creating social accounts for their group. Facebook has done a decent job of creating a Page structure that supports non-people in the Facebook network. It really irks me that people would use anything but that for a company or organizations. It’s truly contaminating my social grid.

My mesage to groups that have practiced this. Do you really know what you’re doing? Facebook is for people. The beauty of the structure for organizations within Facebook is that it ties PEOPLE together around the group. Please please please please please use it for what it’s for and how it’s intended. I will not be  your organization’s friend, and I will have serious doubts about the accuracy of its college education, gender, birthdate, activities and interests.

Facebook is a beautiful organic network of people connected to eachother. Please keep it that way and help to encourage people to use the site for what it is, a social utility.

Better MagSafe than Sorry – or not

So I’ve tripped over my power cord on more than one occasion, and yes, just maybe the MagSafe plug has prevented my laptop from taking flight.

I’m not so sure it’s been really helpful to me, though. In my past experience giving your laptop a little airtime once in a while isn’t usually fatal. Sure, it scares the buh-geezes out of you or the person who’s laptop you borrowed to check your Gmail account, but usually the little wonder comes out relatively unscathed.

Now, a bit past a year of having my MacBook, the power cord is shot. I’m kinda grumpy about it. Why does Apple keep making power cords with ridiculously crappy strain reliefs. Maybe the magnet in the plug is still just a bit too strong to make it truly MagSafe. Though it saves your computer, clearly the resistance on the cord is enough to kill it in time. BLAH.

Anyway. I have a mind to reinforce my next powercord with mounds of electrical tape. Not sure if I’ll do it, but it’s a thought.

I guess I can be glad mine didn’t completely melt and spark as some Internet reports reveal.

Anybody else have trouble with their MagSafe’s? Or am I the only one?