But, Why not?

Since Apple’s conversion to Intel’s Core 2 system architecture, there have been people all over the world asking questions like “Can we run Windows on a Mac?” and other similar questions. The answers to these questions are becoming yes – no matter how hard Apple tries to control what you can do on their hardware.

Recently, there was a huge debate about a Mac Clone device that could run OS X and was not Apple-certified. I saw two distinct reactions from the community:

1. Because it is cheaper, it won’t work as well.
2. Finally! A cheap way to try OS X!

I have also been reading business reports showing that Apple is going to have to do some things to maintain its market after dominating the MP3 player arena. Analysts say Apple needs to do something to keep revenue coming in.

There is a simple solution that will earn Apple money, give DIY users - like many that read our website – full control over their systems, and still gives Apple control over the market itself.

Build Your Own Mac

Let’s say Apple licenses its architecture to a few hardware manufacturers. Let’s use Samsung, Corsair, Asus, Intel, Seagate, and Lite-on to develop individual hardware components which meet certain specifications, yet can be purchased individually. We can have Apple-certified hard drives, motherboards, processors, RAM, and optical drives. Then, distribute these parts through etailers like Newegg and allow them for sale to a wide audience of DIY customers at a reasonable price. The customer who wants to venture into this can get what they want – a computer that will run OS X, with the satisfaction of building it themselves and at a decent price. Apple earns revenue for sitting back and watching the market make their products more popular.

One of the prohibitive things that keeps me from buying an Apple computer is simply cost. I can’t afford to spend twice as much money on a computer that has the same functionality of a PC. Apple makes nice computers. No doubt there. But I won’t be buying one for a long time (if ever) because of the way PCs handle the market. If I can build a PC and have ownership of what I put in there, I will do it any day over purchasing a pre-built Mac. Especially when considering the price.

So, why would it hurt for Apple to allow its user’s to build their own Macs? It makes perfect sense to me that they should embrace the huge market and interest that would be generated by this business model. Hell, it might even drop the price of an Apple-built computer down to a more reasonable level by increasing Apple’s revenue elsewhere?

In closing, Apple should open up its computer hardware distribution to allow its user’s to build computers that meet their specific needs. There is a huge market that would be interested, and it might even knock down the PC market share a bit.

Would you build a Mac if you could?

Step 1.

If you haven’t done so, install the latest Garmin USB drivers.

Install the Garmin Communicator Plugin (this is so your web browser can “talk” to Google Maps correctly). Remember to restart your web browser after installing the plugin (just like any other plugin after installation).

Plug in your Garmin GPS to your computer via USB.

Step 2.

Go to maps.google.com, map a location first, then click Send.

Step 3.

Select GPS, select brand as Garmin and click the Send button at the bottom.

Step 4.

You will then be taken to the Garmin web site. If all goes well, your GPS is detected and an orange “Send to GPS” button is present. Click that button.

Important note: If the GPS is not found by your computer, confirm it’s plugged in via USB and that it is detected properly.

Once after sending to your Garmin GPS, you should see this under the map:

Click the “here” link will take you back to Google Maps.

Step 5.

Check to see if the Favorite was sent to your Garmin GPS and…

…ta-da, there it is!

Being that Joe and Jane computer user don’t have that kind of money to build one of these, we have to resort to a much smaller scale.

Question: Why have a disaster recovery computer?

Answer: So you have something to use in case your primary computer fails.

Your DR computer doesn’t have to be expensive nor does it have to be new. All it has to do is work in case your primary box decides to conk out.

If using Windows XP:

If using a desktop, you can get by easily with a Pentium III powered computer. This will run Windows XP easily even with only 128MB of RAM on-board (although it’s suggested you go with at least 512MB minimum). Pent-3’s are easy to come by and moreover are cheap.

If using a laptop, a 1GHz Celeron processor with 256MB RAM on-board will do the job just fine. However you should make sure that the native screen resolution is at least 1024×768. An LCD native res of 800×600 simply isn’t enough as most major web sites are designed for the 1024 minimum. This setup will also run Windows XP easily.

Either setup should have at least 1 USB port, preferably USB 2.0 hi-speed spec. It’s especially important to have this if you intend your DR computer to have wireless connectivity (you can pick up a small USB wireless adapter to enable this).

If using a Mac (OS X):

If using a desktop, a G4-spec Mini or iMac will do the job, however it’s recommended to go minimum G5 if possible as OS X is agonizingly slow on a G4.

if using a laptop, a 13-inch screen Macbook will do fine. Again, you can go minimum G4 but it’s recommended G5 or higher.

While it’s true you could use a G3 with OS9, it’s better overall if you use a Mac that will run OS X. Using OS9 instead of OS X is like using Windows 98 instead of Windows XP.

If using Linux:

As crazy as this sounds, you could “get away” with a pre-Pentium era 486 processor using Damn Small Linux. In fact the absolute minimum req’s for that distro is a 486DX (66MHz processor) with 16MB of RAM.

It will be slow, it will be only the bare essentials as far as a GUI is concerned, but yes it will work.

However, given the fact that 486-powered PCs do not have any capability for USB ports whatsoever (as none of them have PCI slots, only ISA), it’s highly recommended that you do not use a computer that slow or out-of-date. Stick to the 733MHz-and-higher territory only.

What should your DR computer have?

A quick checklist goes like this:

• Ability to send/receive e-mail easily. If you use web-based e-mail, set up the bookmark in the browser. If you use an e-mail client (such as Outlook Express or Mozilla Thunderbird), install that and set up your account appropriately.
• Ability to do word processing and other like-related tasks (OpenOffice or Abiword, your choice).
• A browser installed that has all the plugins you currently use (IE, Safari, Firefox with the at-present current Flash plugin and whatever other plugins you use).
• All instant messengers that you use.
• An OS that is completely updated. Whether Windows XP, OS X or Linux, the OS should be completely updated.

You can add in as many apps as you need to get rolling with your DR computer. At the end of setup, you should be able to boot the computer and start using it immediately without the need to set up any additional items.

Tips for maintaining a DR computer

This computer will most likely sit in a closet, possibly for many months. Your #1 enemy is dirt build-up. The easiest way to combat this is to put the computer in a duffle bag (one that can fit the computer easily) and zip it up. This will keep dust build-up out. In addition, having the computer in the bag is convenient because you can store all the cables in there along with the computer itself.

If your DR computer is a laptop, you can pick up a cheap laptop bag at Wal-Mart that will do the same job.

Is it really necessary to have a DR computer?

In my particular situation, a large chunk of my life is done by computer. Online banking, scheduling, communications, my job itself and so on. So yes, for me it’s absolutely required to have a DR computer (mine is a laptop).

The Big Question is this: How much would it impact your life in the negative direction if you had absolutely no access to a computer at home? If the answer makes your heart skip a beat and causes you to say “Wow.. that would really, really suck!”, you might want to consider building a DR computer.

Seeing as I was, indeed, part of said “heated discussion”, I thought I would shed some light on my personal choice of computer: the Mac.

In Summary, My View on The Others

Before I get into OS X, let me properly state my viewpoint on both Windows and Linux. I am not a fanboy of any operating system. All have strengths. All have weaknesses. The choice of operating system is a personal one.

Linux is great for the geek. It is not, in my view, an OS that is ready for prime time use by the typical consumer. Illustrating my point was when Rich and I asked Jason (in said heated discussion) about installing apps in Linux. He immediately started talking about “apt get”, yada yada. And, therein, he proved my point. To a Linux nerd, “apt get” is second nature. But, do you honestly expect the typical end user (think your next door neighbor) to be able to work with that?

Yes, there are package managers and they’re great. But, installing apps isn’t the end of it. Linux is still at a point where you’re either fighting driver support or are finding yourself being forced to use Terminal (the command line) to get things done. When I tried Linux, this is what I was up against. So, don’t try arguing with me, Linux nerds. This is my experience and I’m not exactly new to computers. I was literally LIVING in the command line when I was using Ubuntu. Getting dual screen to work? You have to do all kinds of config file editing. Just not workable. I have never had to edit a config file with OS X. And very rarely under Windows. With Linux, it is almost normal. (Dave now awaits the flame wars of the Linux crowd).

As for Windows, well Vista is and was a disaster. And, what that tells me is that Windows is an operating system in limbo. Windows XP is tried and true. Not that it is perfect, but at least it’s flaws are well known and have been dealt with. The end effect is that XP is a great OS with loads of support. Except that Microsoft is insistent on forcing Vista down everybody’s throat at it’s earliest convenience.

Windows is has-been. It is old news. They try to be new and they fail. For Windows to advance beyond the bloated Vista mess, it has to start ditching legacy support, move to 64-bit, and basically re-design some of the underlying things holding it back (i.e. registry).

But, I’m Using Mac

Again, I am not a fanboy of Apple. I am, though, a fan. I have been using Microsoft on my computers since the days of DOS 6.2. I have worked with every version of Windows that ever existed (for consumers anyway). But, after using XP forever, upgrading to Vista, regretting that decision, downgrading to XP again….well, I was tired of Windows. OS X Leopard was released and it looked fresh and new. So, the day Leopard came out, I went out and bought a Mac Pro. I have been using OS X as my primary OS ever since.

Now, I would never have bought a Mac if I could not have run Windows on it. That was a pre-requisite for me. I now own 3 different Macs and 2 of them have Windows installed inside of VMWare Fusion (the third is a Mini and simply doesn’t have the horsepower). But, as time goes on, I’m using Windows less and less (by choice). I use it for my accounting (because I don’t feel like buying the same software for the Mac) and I also use it for Live Writer. I also use it for Paint Shop Pro because I am so used to that particular image editor. Otherwise, you’ll find me in OS X.

Why I Prefer OS X and Apple

1. Apple is quicker to develop enhancements. Microsoft has a dirt slow development schedule for Windows and the end result (Vista) sucked hard. Apple developed Leopard much quicker and the upgrade from Tiger was truly worthy of the upgrade.
2. A Mac is the Only Computer That Can Run EVERY Operating System. I’m a computer tech blogger. I have reason to be able to try any operating system. The Mac is the only machine that allows me to do that. OS X cannot run on anything but Apple. Yes, with some hacking, some have managed to install OS X to a PC, but trust me it isn’t like running it on a true-blue Apple machine. You will be limited if you try the “hackintosh” method, if you can get it to work at all. Not to mention you’re breaking the EULA to even try. But, with OS X as the host OS, I can run any other OS I want either in a virtual machine or with Bootcamp. Personally, I have never used Bootcamp because VMWare Fusion is just that good.
3. Software Design Is Better. In general, I find the design of applications for OS X to be much better thought out. The GUI design is very good for workability not to mention the visual aesthetics are better than Windows. In fact, the entire GUI of OS X just blows Vista out of the water. Now, some Linux distros using Compiz do some pretty wicked graphics inside the OS, some of which are better than OS X. Kudos to Linux for that, but not enough for me to deal with the rest of it.
4. Conveniences. OS X Leopard just has things built in that makes Windows look ancient. For example, Quick Look allows easy viewing of any file without worrying about file attachments or being forced to open full, heavy applications just to view one file. Cover Flow makes browsing a folder so easy by providing full, graphical previews of all files in the folder.
5. Better Value. OS X Leopard retails at $129. If you buy a Mac with it, it comes with it (of course). For that money, you get a real OS that doesn’t bog down (like Vista) and comes with truly useful utilities. For example, Automator comes with OS X and is a hidden gem of the OS, allowing you to easily and graphically create scripts which can help you automate all kinds of tasks on your Mac. I paid more than $129 to buy a retail version of Windows XP. Vista is even more.

For me, these things add up to one thing: I can get my work done quicker and more efficiently on the Mac.

When I had to downgrade from Vista to XP to not have my computer experience totally suck, it was clear to me that Windows is at a plateau. I was on a dead horse. I wanted to use an OS that was leaning forward. Linux has definite strengths, but I didn’t want to use it. It not being commercial does, quite frankly, hinder it. Mac was the clear choice for me.

Popular Misconceptions

1. Mac is a different world and cannot operate with Windows users. Not true. Almost everybody I deal with uses Windows and I can open all their files with no problems at all. I have had no issues at all with that. Nobody even knows I’m using a Mac unless I tell them.
2. Everything About Mac costs Money. Not true. There are a lot of free, open source applications available for the Mac. A LOT of them. In fact, it seems as if there are just as many as for Windows. Now, obviously all Linux apps are open source. That’s a given. But, it goes to show that you can load up your Mac with free software to your heart’s content and be very happy. Much of the software I use on my Mac on a daily basis is free (including my office suite).
3. More Software For Windows than For Mac. Perhaps, but it doesn’t seem like it. Whenever I need to go out and find an OS X app to accomplish something, I find it. I think one thing that leads to this misconception is that you might not see as much retail box software for Mac. But, go online and you’ll see just how much is really available.
4. Mac is just Uber-Expensive. This debate will rage forever, most likely. The thing about Mac hardware is that it is really good hardware. It will last. With PCs, the majority of them are made of bulk parts. When you pay more to get good quality parts for a PC, you’ll end up in the same price ballpark as a comparable Mac. All this said, it is true that you will need to pay more for a Mac. The fault of this belongs to Apple - NOT because they overprice their products, but because they don’t offer mid-range systems. The IMac is an all-in-one (which many don’t want) and the only tower they have is the expensive Mac Pro. There is no mid-range tower and that is a mistake. But, if you price compare a Mac Pro with a similarly equipped PC, you’re not going to find a huge gap. I am WELL aware that people are going to read that and think I’m a stupid Mactard, but I’ll stand by it - and this is coming from a person who didn’t use to think this.
5. Apple controls everything you do. Come on, I hear the same thing about Microsoft all the time. The truth is that using a Mac is no different AT ALL than using a Windows machine - except it is a different OS. You don’t have to get your software from Apple. You don’t have to buy all your hardware upgrades from Apple. It is just not the super controlled machine that some make it out to be. If it were, I wouldn’t have bought it.

This article is already getting too long. I will leave it with this:

The choice of operating system is a personal one. If you dig Windows, more power to you. If you think Linux is the answer, more power to you. If you like the Mac, fine. All these machines basically do the same thing, just with different styles. Just the same as if you get to your destination by driving a Ford or a Chevy.

For me, though, I’m glad I jumped ship. I no longer feel as if my computer experience (which, face it, is most of my life given what I do for a living) is at a standstill using an OS which thinks the latest GUI improvement is big icons and glow buttons. Switching to Apple has made things interesting again. I am a techie and I like watching advancement and talking about the latest tech. Well, Microsoft gives me nothing to talk about. It is boring. And now that I’m using the Mac, I’m also finding that Microsoft’s slowness was affecting my work speed in ways I didn’t even realize.

The problem at this point is that you’ve got a bunch of different services and no way to combine them into a simple easy-to-manage way.

Enter the realm of the multi-protocol messaging client. These are clients that try their best to be a do-it-all solution. You may have heard of a few of them. Trillian, Miranda, Pidgin, etc. On the Mac you probably have heard of and/or currently use AdiumX.

As I wrote about recently, I found another that I have now fully switched to, Digsby. Like the other multi-protocol clients, it’s free (save for Trillian which has a “Pro” version for purchase but still offers a free version). Digsby is the only one that really combines everything into a very slick looking interface with no fuss, no muss. The software works and works well. At the present time I have two Yahoo accounts, two ICQ accounts, one AIM account, one MSN account, two MySpace accounts, one Facebook account and one Twitter account all running simultaneously - in one client - Digsby. It works for me because everything is centralized.

Today’s multi-protocol messenger developers have realized that having IM capability simply isn’t enough. It’s more or less required that it must have social networking and micro-blogging capability as well.

There are pros and cons when using a multi-protocol messaging client.

The pros are easy enough to understand:

• Centralized. Everything runs from one program. This saves system resources from getting munched up by other programs and keeps everything neat’n'tidy in a single program.
• No advertising. No multi-protocol messaging client I know of has any advertising banners or text advertising whatsoever.
• Easier logging. All chat/social network/microblogging logs are kept in a single location. This makes it much easier to find stuff later.
• Less susceptible to attack. Most exploits for instant messengers are for the “official” clients. When using a multi-protocol messenger you’re far less prone to annoyances such as text flooding.

The cons (while not readily obvious) are there as well.

• Missing service-specific features. A classic example of this is the ability to share photos via the Yahoo! Messenger client. No multi-protocol client has ever been able to do this right. It’s a Yahoo-specific feature. While it’s true you can send/receive files relatively easily with multi-protocol clients, the ability to “share” is so-so at best (assuming it even works).
• “An island unto itself.” Once you start using a multi-protocol client quite a bit and rack up the chat logs it’s sometimes impossible to transfer those logs to anything else. Yes you can edit “by hand” but there really hasn’t been too much in the way of import/export of logs in an easy-to-use manner. What this means is that once you go with a specific multi-protocol messenger, you’d better like it.
• Service disconnects. Anyone who uses MSN/Live on a different client is most likely familiar that the service drops on a frequent basis. Yes, the client will reconnect without issue, but the fact it occurs is an annoyance. You may also encounter service drops with any other service you have connected because the server is expecting a “native” client and you’re not using one.
• Portability is different per client. It can be argued that the most portable IM client is Miranda (it fits easily on a USB stick and can run in a “mobile” mode of sorts), however each alternative multi-protocol messenger has different ways of doing this. Digsby for example “carries” your information via a central login. Trillian basically doesn’t carry anything. Neither does Pidgin. The most you’ll get is possibly the import of who’s blocked / who isn’t but not much else.

Is there a way to do all this without a client?

Yes.

Your web browser can actually handle everything if you choose to go that route. You could pipe in all your instant messenger accounts via Meebo (which also can operate on a central login) and have Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and whatever else you use in separate tabs regardless of what web browser you use. You can do all this without installing anything.

The only issue at that point is that your browser and its tabs must stay open to stay connected. Some people find this to be an annoyance, but if you don’t want to install anything, that’s the way you should go. Furthermore there will be absolutely no change from computer to computer if you do everything inside the browser solely.

The end result is that there is no perfect solution when connected to all this different stuff. At this stage of the internet’s development, things are better connected but there is still inherent separation between specific services.

My suggestion to anyone who connects to a ton of different stuff is to basically try everything. Try the browser way. Try the client way. Try a combination of both. Use whatever works best for you.

If anyone has any suggestions for do-all (or even some-all) apps or web sites that multitask, feel free to post your suggestions in the comments.

Verizon’s infrastructure is also humongous (obviously). This means they can offer anything to do with telecommunications. So, if you’re the type that uses one company for everything, Verizon can usually do it.

When I first moved to Florida two years ago I decided to go all-Verizon. Why? Because it was easy and they had the lowest price. Furthermore you can combine everything using their “One-Bill” service to make managing services easy.

Or so it would seem.

Here’s My Story

After saving up for a while I was able to upgrade apartments (known as a “flat” in UK). The new apartment is literally 100 yards away from the old one. Remember that. 100 yards away. However, it’s a different physical location, so my Verizon land-line and DSL must be moved.

Okay, simple process, right? Call Verizon, inform them you’re moving and move the service. Get informed of the installation date and have everything activated on a specific date. Simple. Easy. Right?

Wrong.

During the phone call with Verizon, I was informed the scheduled activation of my land-line service was for the April 15th. The DSL for the 22nd. Being that I absolutely depend on my internet connectivity for my job, I asked if they could possibly have the DSL activated on the 15th along with the land-line.

The person I spoke to stated she wasn’t sure but that she could transfer me to someone who would help me out. At this point I spoke with another rep who said yes, there’s a good chance I could get my DSL activated on the 15th. I was assigned a work order number. Everything was to happen on the 15th. Done deal.

The day of the 15th happens.

Land-line: No dial tone.

DSL: Not activated.

I call Verizon. I am routed to dial-up internet support to a person who can barely speak English and has absolutely no clue what DSL is.

After hashing it out with her I’m transferred to someone else. I inform him of what’s going on. He promptly puts me on hold for about 15 minutes.

He comes back and states there’s basically no way to get my DSL activated on the 15th (that day). I informed him the work order would indicate otherwise. He starts quoting the “rule book” to me and says it’s not possible. After not getting anywhere I hung up out of frustration.

After regaining my composure I call back and speak with someone else. Again I am quoted the rule book and told that my service absolutely positively could not be activated until the 22nd - even though I have a work order stating otherwise.

I hung up on her too. I’d had enough at that point.

Verizon in no uncertain terms outright lied to me. I was told services would be activated on a certain day and none of it happened. And when I called back I was fed nothing but excuses.

Today I called Brighthouse and ordered service.

Want to take a guess at when it will be activated?

Tomorrow (the 17th).

No 5-day waits. No “we won’t work with you” b.s. The tech will show up tomorrow with cable modem in tow, set me up and I’m ready to go. And yes, it’s that easy.

Why?

Here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, Bright House is the largest cable provider. But the difference is that when you call, you are speaking with a local Florida office and not some distant call center in the middle of nowhere. The techs are all local, the service is local. All of it is local.

But Here’s the Big Kicker

When I called to cancel my Verizon land-line and DSL, I was finally routed to a Tampa Florida office. After all this b.s. I went thru, now I get a local office?

Want to know something else? The Verizon rep was fantastic! She was pleasant! I was almost (repeat, almost) sorry I had to cancel!

If I had direct contact with a local Verizon office in Florida, I am 100% sure that absolutely none of the b.s. I encountered would have ever happened. Reason? Because they can contact local dispatch easily.

The Moral of the Story

If at all possible (even with big telecom), have your dealings only with local offices. Find the phone numbers and keep track of them (because they’re not easy to locate). When you stay local you get better service under most circumstances.

And the Golden Rule of Verizon is this:

I have never complained about Verizon products. The product has never been bad. It’s the customer service that’s horrible. If you have Verizon service of any kind and like it, good for you. Just pray you never have to change anything on your account via customer service or you’ll end up in a nightmare like I did.

It goes without saying that this price tag is $200 cheaper than even Apple’s Mac Mini. The specs of this pseudo-Mac are:

• 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2GB of DDR2 667 memory
• Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics
• 20x DVD+/-R Drive
• 4 USB Ports
• 250GB 7200RPM Drive

Personally, I think Psystar has a huge set of twins to try pulling this off. Essentially, they are creating a “hackintosh”, a term made popular by osx86project. osx86project is an effort to allow hobbyists to install Apple’s operating system to non-Apple PCs.

The use of OS X on non-Apple hardware is a violation of the End User License Agreement (EULA) and is specifically NOT allowed. Psystar, for it’s part, vows to fight Apple’s EULA. This story on Information Week quotes a Psystar employee as saying:

What if Microsoft said you could only install Windows on Dell computers?

This employee, only identified as Robert, also said:

What if Honda said that, after you buy their car, you could only drive it on the roads they said you could?

OK, Here Comes the Official PCMech Viewpoint

Psystar, you’re going to end up in a big pile of fail. Here’s why:

If Microsoft wanted to restrict Windows to Dell computers, they could. Because they created the operating system. I’m certainly not saying it would be a smart move on their part, but they could.

Same goes for Apple. Apple created OS X and therefore, like it or hate it, they can dictate the terms of use. There is certainly nothing they can really do about things like osx86project, but there IS a problem when a company comes out and officially BREAKS Apple’s EULA for the purposes of making a profit.

Just not going to work.

To me, it sounds as if Psystar is trying to profit off the same old misconceptions about Apple hardware. The above-named employee also stated that Apple makes 80% markup on their computers. Yeah, whatever. Not true. Trust me, NO computer maker makes 80% markup. The computer hardware business is notoriously low profit margin. And as for the fact that Mac is overpriced - here’s the deal on that:

I used to think so. In some aspects, I still do. At the same time, though, Macs are high quality machines - much higher quality than most PCs. A majority of PCs out there are designed to be cheap and affordable. They are made with more inferior parts. And, while I know this cannot be proven, I would gladly pit the performance and life span of my Mac Pro with the OpenMac any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

You get what you pay for. Always. Without exception. If you buy a $399 computer from these guys with a hacked version of OS X on it, you’re going to get a box of inferior parts.

This will be an interesting one to watch. I do use Mac. I like Macs. But, I have no soldier in this fight. It’ll just be interesting to watch what happens when a company so overtly tries to make money by breaking the EULA of a major computer manufacturer like Apple.

This is how I reacted when I saw a story which cites a pair of Gartner analysts saying that Windows is “collapsing”. They go on to say that the situation is “untenable” and that Microsoft must make radical changes to the OS or risk becoming old news.

According to the story on ComputerWorld:

In a presentation at a Gartner-sponsored conference in Las Vegas, analysts Michael Silver and Neil MacDonald said Microsoft has not responded to the market, is overburdened by nearly two decades of legacy code and decisions, and faces serious competition on a whole host of fronts that will make Windows moot unless the software developer acts.

Speaking for myself, I have been THOROUGHLY disabused by the Windows Vista fiasco, so much so that I abandoned Windows altogether and am now using all OS X on 3 different Macs. Sure, I still use Windows in a virtual session, but it is XP. What Vista showed me is that Microsoft just doesn’t get it. Vista is a bloated piece of crap, and the Gartner guys correctly point out that it is weighed down by nearly two decades of legacy code.

Microsoft - STOP the legacy support! It will be the death of Windows. Seriously, are they going to release Windows 7 in 2010 and still attempt to support hardware that is 10+ years old?

Microsoft is obviously trying to make Windows all things to everybody, and in the process they are making it too little for almost everybody.

Andy Beal, from Marketing Pilgrim, makes a great point: Is Microsoft Rushing to Acquire Yahoo Before Windows Shatters? Even Arrington over at Techcrunch is echoing this point, saying THIS is why the MicroHoo deal needs to happen. The question is this: If Microsoft loses it’s grip over the desktop environment, do they then need to position themselves quickly to be a leader in the online environment?

And Microsoft hasn’t exactly been a leader online. They are a reactionary company. They see somebody else doing well in a market and they devise a way to take over. Perhaps the Yahoo deal is just Microsoft being Microsoft. Can’t beat ‘em - BUY THEM!

My only hope here is that the Microsoft culture does not kill off what we like about Yahoo. The two companies have very different cultures, and I’m really failing to see exactly how Microsoft fits into the equation - except for the fact that they are just rushing to stay relevant in a computing world shifting increasingly to the Internet.

My neighbor is getting his cable put in, I guess. So, he calls out Bright House. This is the main cable company down here in the Tampa Bay area.

Problem is that Bright House doesn’t have their own people do the work. They hire out to contractors. In this instance, they’re using some guy from CTIS. (from the looks of his truck).

He proceeds to start digging up the grass next to the box at the curb. As you might have guessed at this point, he managed to kill off all of MY communications services. I am with Verizon FIOS.

Here’s The Kicker

I go out and ask him about it. His first response is to say “No, I didn’t do anything. This is all Bright House equipment”. Well, that is the most shocking coincidence, then, is that what I’m supposed to believe?

I go check on some things and then come back out. I tell him that the problem started right when HE started working. He again says “I’m with Bright House.”. I say, yeah, but my cable went out when you started working. He then tells me “Well, what do you want me to do about it?”. He then proceeds to ignore me. While I am asking him about cutting of the cable, he just sits there an acts like I’m not even there.

At this point, I’m PISSED beyond all belief. I proceed to call him a f**king asshole and go back in (yeah, I know - it doesn’t accomplish anything, but you had to see this guy). Just a colossal ball of fail.

As Of Now

I have a Verizon guy coming out this afternoon to fix my system. They ran a test from their office and said, yeah, the guy probably cut the main cable going out to my house. The lady at Verizon said to get the guy’s tech ID later if I can and that they are going to bill Bright House for the repair job.

My Take

I’m a reasonable guy. I understand that mistakes happen and that this guy didn’t mean to take out my cable. But, gimme a break, the LAST thing you should do is act like a damn child and ignore a person talking to you. This guy just wants to do his job and not take any responsibility for the effects he causes. The head in the sand mentality just doesn’t get anybody anywhere.

That is completely unprofessional and it doesn’t say ANYTHING good about Bright House Networks.

Good thing that Panera has free wifi, because now I can post this story to potentially thousands of people before this guy even leaves my neighbor’s house. You gotta love blogging!

UPDATE 2:17 PM

The Internet has come back online at my house. Verizon had to splice our house cable onto our neighbor’s old FIOS cable to get us up and running. They will need to send a crew out to dig a new master cable in for our house. The Verizon tech told my wife he had SIX calls just today about Verizon cables being cut by Bright House contractors.

HUGE balls of fail. Biblical proportions.

Update 5:18 PM

Got an email into PCMech from Bright House. They wanted to find out who this contractor was to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I am impressed at the followup. It was not expected. Kudos to Bright House for that.

Job that is always available: Help Desk / End User Support

Help Desk, a.k.a. “Technical Support Representative” positions are a dime a dozen with a very high turnover rate. Why? Because people hate the job. However it usually pays well. This is one of those positions where they will pay you to stay.

You will most likely enter in as a “first tier” support rep. It doesn’t matter what you’re supporting, they will train you. You will most likely use the Remedy call ticketing system. Don’t know it? Don’t worry, they’ll train you on that also.

The key to support is to be a quick thinker and know how to support end users with minimal assistance.

Your job will be exactly like a Dilbert cartoon. You will “live” in a sea of cubicles and listen to your ass grow all day taking support calls.

It’s not glamorous but it does pay the bills.

Job that is somewhat available: On-Call Laptop hardware technician

It is possible to get a job as an on-call laptop technician. However you will rack up the miles on your car fast and spend most of your money on fuel rather than bills. If you have a high-mileage vehicle you can go for this if you like.

It is only suggested to go this route if you have proper experience with laptop assembly and repair. In other words, if you’ve never replaced an LCD screen (as in crack the chassis, physically remove the LCD from the bezel and replace), don’t go for this. It requires a steady hand and excellent eyesight to perform properly.

Job that is never available: Computer hardware technician / PC Technician

If you’re looking to build computers for a living, throw that idea out the window because you’ll never get it. Corporations couldn’t be bothered when they mass-purchase from OEMs like Dell.

In addition, most corporations don’t bother with in-house technicians any longer. For the ones that do, they’re mostly phone jockeys because all that happens is send-outs for repair with very little actual hardware work.

How to get a tech job fast:

Remember the following:

1. If you’re looking for a job with benefits (i.e. insurance perks), don’t bother.
2. Be willing to work short-term (one-to-six month projects)
3. Be willing to be flexible (odd hours, weekend work, etc.)
4. Corporations typically hire on temp-to-perm basis with I.T.

That being said:

Utilize staffing agencies. Some call these organizations “headhunters”. If you’re immediately turned off by that, then you’re not cut out for I.T. Corporations couldn’t be bothered with direct-hire when they can pay someone else to do it for them.

Before calling a headhunter:

1. Have a resume in MS-Word format ready to send via e-mail.
2. Don’t bother with a cover letter. It’s worthless because the recruiter will act as your cover letter.
3. Have an e-mail address that looks proper (such as firstname.lastname@example.com and not DogBone47_bleah@example.com)
4. Have a wireless phone that you can answer at any time.

Who to call?

• RHI (Robert Half International)
• OfficeTeam (another RHI)

Do you need to pay anything when you call?

No. RHI gets paid when they find you work and will take it directly from the hiring company and not your check.

If you call and ask about help desk support / tech support rep positions I will guarantee they will have something available, assuming you live anywhere near a place that has business and not some backwater small town in the middle of nowhere.

Tips if a position is offered to you by the recruiter:

• Always ask about the hours, else you may get stuck with a 2nd shift position.
• When you are informed of the hourly pay-rate, ask for one dollar an hour more. You’ll usually get it.
• If asked about any of your previous work, speak absolutely nothing about anyone you know or knew that you worked with. Don’t get personal. And don’t complain about anything either. For example if you say “The job was great but the parking lot sucked”, that alone can get you not-hired.
• Ask if it’s a temp-to-perm position or temp-only. If temp-only you may be able to squeeze out a few more bucks per hour, but don’t get too demanding.

Quick questions answered (for help desk positions):

Do you need any previous experience?

No, save for the fact you know how to use a computer and be able to look up answers easily (Google, a knowledge base system, etc.)

Is it helpful if you do?

Yes, because then you may be able to get second or third-tier support which is much less stressful.

What’s the most important part of the interview process?

If you get to this point, the most important thing you can convey is a willingness to help people and take as many calls as fast as possible.

How do you prepare for an interview for a job like this?

Simply put, go in with the expectation you won’t get the job. This will make you relaxed and at ease. Go in with the attitude of “If I get it, great. If not, no big deal.” Those who hire help desk personnel absolutely DO NOT want anyone that’s high strung or nervous all the time. If that’s the attitude you convey, you won’t get the job.

The person who is calm and willing to help will always get the job over the super-smart high-strung moron who can’t speak in front of people without sweating.