Archive for September, 2008

Over to the ‘Dark Side’ – Switching from WM to Blackberry

Published September 13, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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I made the plunge and switched to a Curve from my Treo 700wx, installed Blackberry Professional Software and, well, it’s OK.

Is it perfect – no, nothing is. As with most things there are some good and some not so good points. So here are my first impressions. . .

 

Good:

  • It’s small with a bright screen. Easy to hold.
  • Battery life is great.
  • Bluetooth works perfectly.
  • BPS data usage is WAY, WAY less than Exchange push. Where my office is, the EVDO signal is weak, and my Treo was constantly losing it’s data connection, and would be polling for my Exchange server all day. This was actually one of the biggest reasons for the switch (being in Canada where data rates are high).
  • Easy to learn.

What I miss:

  • Applications: I’m going to have to pay for some apps that were either free for WM (HandyShopper), or that I had purchased (AutoKeeper, ExpensePlus). Honestly haven’t found anything equivalent. I need (must) have a mileage tracking app that does it’s job in litres/100km. The only BB app I’ve found so far only does US gallons – HEY – RIM is Canadian! There’s a market up here!
  • Touch Screen – I like having a stylus – especially the after-market ones that double as a pen. Also makes web browsing a lot more usable (as much as that can be usable on these things).
  • A speaker phone – I actually miss this a lot.
  • A file system I can transfer files to and from the device directly via USB.
  • The little TS app for doing RDP.
  • Games – come on folks, Brickbreaker is just lame – I want my Cubis back!
  • My Treo keyboard – Palm got this right – RIM’s doing the best they can without infringing on any patents, but the Treo keyboard with the oval domed keys is the best I’ve used.

 

So I probably won’t stick with a BB forever. My goal is to get familiar with it as a user of the device so I can better relate to my clients, and even train them on their devices. The only other thing I need to do is get a new housing – long story, but my 8330 is PINK, thanks to an eBay purchase gone wrong. I figured I’d just get a new faceplate/housing, but the 8330 housing is slightly different than the 8310/20 housings, and they aren’t available yet. I guess I’ll just have to live with it for now as a sensitive new-age guy (SNAG).

I haven’t left you for good WM – I’ve got my eyes on the HTC Touch Pro – nice.

Gates & Seinfeld – Act I

Published September 6, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

 

Well. First impression is ‘huh?’.

Digging into the connotations of the ad (pardon the communications theory), we can go 1 layer deep (the only layer that matters), and the ad simply becomes one meant to introduce the persona of Bill Gates (perhaps to show people that he is, in fact, a real person).

Is this meant to drive business to partners? Not at this stage. As the internal Microsoft communiqué from Bill Veghte states, “This first set of ads . . . [are] an icebreaker to reintroduce Microsoft to viewers in a consumer context.”

Even though it’s not directed squarely at business customers (where the real $ is), the fact remains that business people are also consumers. So as B.V. suggests, it’s an ‘icebreaker’ – akin to an initial conversation with business prospects where we talk about the weather and attempt to build rapport.

Is it well done? Obviously not as sharp as the MAC vs. PC ads, but then we’re comparing 2 professional actors with Seinfeld and Bill Gates, who’s never been known for being a riveting speaker, never mind an actor.

Just as with the Mojave Experiment, Microsoft is inching into this campaign and not trumpeting the virtues of Windows vs. MAC, but by trying to make it ‘people’ focused. With Mojave, they accomplished 1 thing – it got the conversation started. This ad takes it to the masses via TV.

I think it’s a reasonable approach, but I’ll be disappointed if they don’t start getting more aggressive, and soon. There’s been too much talk about businesses waiting for Windows 7, and the sooner Microsoft dispels the Vista myths, the better. Mojave did that, but wasn’t main stream. Time to get this train moving a little faster.

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David S. Lee

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