Windows 8 - No Thank You

I went shopping recently to look for a new computer for my daughter. Don't know where my head has been lately, but I realized that I can longer purchase a PC with Windows 7. They are all now pre-loaded with Windows 8. Now I am normally one for change. But I left the store frustrated. I have been using Windows 7 for some time now and I am happy with it. I use my computer daily. I do not want to waste my time learning something new. While there have been many, many improvements, the Windows OS has been fundamentally the same since Windows 95. It is what I am comfortable with. It is what I know. 

With Windows 8, things have been radically changed. One of the most notable changes can be seen immediately. The new user interface makes navigating the desktop difficult and finding your way back to the Start menu a challenge. The interface is designed with touchscreens and tablets in mind. Well that is great if you own a touch screen. What if you don't? Although Windows 8 supports a keyboard and mouse, it is not as friendly as it is in previous versions. In order to get around in Windows 8, keyboard users will be required to know short cut keys. Microsoft themselves even admit that “touch is a first-class citizen in Windows 8 and it’s not as quick or pleasant to use it with a basic mouse and keyboard. Keyboard shortcuts are the next best thing.” The learning curve for Windows 8 is going to be huge. Do I want to take the time to relearn an entire new operating system? Not really. If I did, I would buy a Mac.

Windows 8 does promise some new features not found in previous versions. New login features include using gestures on a pictures as well as a promised 8 second boot time. There will be a push button reset and Windows to Go which will allow windows to boot from a USB drive. Are these features enough to make me move from my comfortable, easy to navigate Windows 7? Absolutely not.

While Windows 8 might offer some great, new features like faster boot times and Windows to go, I am not sold on it yet. I guess the jury will be out on this one for some time. 

Broken

There is a website called Ted Talks that brings together the brightest minds from around the world to discuss Technology, Entertainment, and Design. Just recently I watched one of the videos titled “This is broken” presented by Seth Godin. This is truly a presentation you ought to watch.  Goldin talked about ideas and products that are poorly designed and how to fix them. Goldin shows how easy it is to find things that are broken and humorously categorizes them into groups like “Not my job” and “Selfish Jerks”. With the help of a television screen and humorous lines, he  demonstrates broken ideas like cell phone rebates and medicine bottles for dogs that explain how consuming alcohol with it is a bad idea. One of the funniest pieces was when he displayed a sign that showed in big letters “Caution: This sign has sharp edges. Do Not Touch the edges of this sign”. Then in much smaller print, at the very bottom of the sign, it states “Also the bridge is out ahead”. Yeah, something is definitely broken here.  He went on to show more broken products and bad business ideas like a sign on a fence that states “Do Not Hang Signs on this Fence”. Goldin was effective in entertaining his audience with his humorous examples. The video was approximately 18 minutes long and moved at a very steady pace. Goldin was able to to keep me engaged throughout the entire video. With his quick wit, funny stories, and humorous pictures, you will be entertained from beginning to end.

Here is the link to the video: http://www.ted.com/talks/seth_godin_this_is_broken_1.html

Social Media as a Marketing Tool

Although social media is a relatively new concept, it has begun to play an important role in the marketing plan of many businesses. Tools like Facebook and Twitter are quickly becoming powerful tools in the effort to both establish and expand a business.  

Starbucks for example, has long been recognized for its innovative use of technology.  With the use of social media tools, Starbucks has created a digital world to interact with its customers. Starbucks uses Twitter as an open line of communication with its customers. Here they can directly respond to and solve potential customer issues making sure that their customers are satisfied. Starbucks also uses Twitter as a marketing tool by directing their customer’s attention to new products and special offers.  With the ability to upload content like photos, videos, and posts, Facebook offers a different way for companies to interact with their customers. Starbucks uses Facebook as yet another way to advertise their products by announce events such as promotions and contests. Both of these strategies allows Starbucks to convert followers into customers.

Even companies such as Hasbro have jumped on the social media bandwagon. Hasbro uses Facebook and Twitter to promote their products, offer promotions, and to interact with their fans. They have even brought the experience of playing their games, such as Cranium, to their social networks. By using the game content like drawings and trivia questions, they are able to engage with their fans on a level never seen before. 

Social media continues to be the most visible way for many businesses to promote their product and services, interact with their customers, as well as have a little bit of fun. The use of these tools allows many businesses to forego the expense of traditional media such as newspapers and radio advertisements. No need to spend millions of dollars on advertising when you can have millions of fans doing it for you for free.

Why I am at MATC

Why am I at MATC one might ask? Before I can answer that, allow me to give you a bit of history first. One of my first jobs was for a Manufacturing business as a Data entry operator. After a few years, and a lot of hard work, I was promoted to a Help Desk Support technician. I also took classes in Microsoft Access which gave me the knowledge to be a Database developer. While I thoroughly enjoyed my job, after 13 years I switched careers and worked as an office Manager for a Structural Company that allowed me the opportunity to work from home while raising my youngest daughter. When the work slowed, I found a job close to home as a secretary. While this job has kept me busy, I have always missed working in the IT industry.  But I didn’t want just a job, I wanted a career. This to me meant going back to school to get my degree. I decided to enroll in the Network Specialist program at MATC. I chose this program because it seemed to offer everything I was looking for. I have worked with computers for so many years and found the network side to be very appealing. The Network Specialist program will give me the knowledge that I need to be able to establish myself as a Network Administrator.  

New technology always interests me so in my free time I am always trying to learn something new.  My latest learning experience has been trying to learn web design. I was able create a web site just recently using Google sites for a local girls’ softball league for which I am the secretary/treasurer. I loved every minute of it and hope to have the opportunity to do more. 

When I am not playing on the computer or with some other high tech gadget, I enjoy being outdoors. In the summers, you will always find me in the garden. In the winters, when there is snow, I am out building a snowman with my girls or taking my snowmobile out and hitting the trails.

I hope to have a successful year both personal and professionally. And look forward to all the knowledge that MATC will offer me to prepare for a career in the IT field.