Processes Needs To Be User-Friendly

The old says. "Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance" has followed me most all my life. I find myself going back to the saying to look at ways to improve my performance. Eight out of ten times that improved my performance is done by simplifying my actions and/or thought processes.

This morning I was thinking about that planning, learning, or prep must be user-friendly. What I consider as user-friendly, may not be user-friendly to another person. If a procedure is not user-friendly, then procrastination takes over and it will eventually will not be done.

I like using Frontpage for my website. In the process, I look at the html and java script to refine what I want to do. There are people who do not attempt doing a website because of the complexity of learning the code behind the scenes.

I see a lot of computer users that do not back up their computer's files because they see it as a complex procedure. Once they are introduced to a one or two click back up process, then they start backing up their important data.

Losing Sleep Early This Year

The energy bill President Bush signed in August 2005, DST (Day Light Saving Time) begins three weeks earlier on March 11. Remember to set you clocks forward. If your computer or network is in the United States, the changes to Daylight Saving Time (DST), courtesy of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, is going to affect your operations.

I have heard a few news commentator compare the possible problems with the Y2k issue. I really don't see that if everyone has their computer patched and check their computer clock when they arrive at work on Monday morning.

The natural tendency is to be alarmist when it comes to such matters. It is better just to be aware of the issue. Other than making sure you have all your computer updates, you can't really do anything until March 12.

XP Still Tops Vista

The first sales figures are out. Cnet.com reported that since the launch of Windows Vista the sale of units sold, is 59 percent less than those sold of Windows XP in the first week after it's retail launch.

I am seeing people who are buying new computers looking for machines that have XP. 1 out of 10 want Vista. It is becoming harder to find new computers with Windows XP installed. A lot of consumers have the "wait until the bugs are worked out" attitude about Vista.

Others computer users who are more resistant to upgrading, and waiting for Microsoft to recall Vista. That is very unlikely considering all the time, and money Microsoft has put into Vista. Microsoft is really pushing hard to get Vista out.

Of course 75% of more of the computer users are going to have to upgrade their hardware to before installing Vista. Not to many computer users are willing to do the hardware for an operating system that still has bugs.

Personally, I won't upgrade to Vista for a year or two. Currently, I am running Windows XP Pro with a Vista Transformation Pak. That way I can get the look and feel of Vista without having to actually have Vista on my computer.

It is all about Marketing!

This afternoon I overheard my wife do a phone call to a perspective customer. She came off so professional and confident that the person on the other end of that phone line could not say no. An appointment was made for next week. I am a sure that they will be a new account for the Web Building department of T.E.N. Solutions.

Speaking about website marketing. The most common question I get, when talking about websites is, "How can get my website notice on Google, Yahoo, and other search engines?" I tell them it is more than having a good looking website. It takes marketing that website in forums, blogs, and to people who might be interested in the content of the website.

Google Homepage

Have you seen Google Homepage. I am starting to like it better than Yahoo. It is cleaner with a whole lot less advertisements. I like the way I can configure what news feeds I want, and quite little applications.

As much as I am for the little guy. Google has got something else right. It is not very often that you come across a company that will hit all the right bases.

Results for my Money!

Is that such a strange expectation for me to have? If I spend my hard earned dollar, why should I not expect to get the results I lay down my money.

Over the past year I have been reading and hearing about the results on antivirus programs failing tests. (BBC World News 2/6/2007) This makes me ask, “Where can I put my money to the best use?” Norton, MacAfee, Panda, Windows One Care, and AOL free have all leaked malicious programs past their wall of protection.

What I have trouble understanding is why some people still hang on to inefficient protection. Last week I talked with a couple where I cleaned 3 Trojans and over 250 pieces of spyware, on a supposed protected system. They had a name brand wall of protection, but it was money wasted. When I talked to them about upgrading to a proven system, they acted as if they did not want to hear me.

What is the use of paying for “protection” when it is full of holes? If I pay for a service, I want to get a guarantee that the service will produce the results that will work.