Category Archives: Just Rambling

MVP Year 5

Just Rambling

My first MVP award was on July 1, 2003. I received an email this morning that I have been awarded an MVP (Developer Visual Basic) again. This is my 5th. I am always a little surprised since I never really know year to year what the criteria is. I just do what I do and if that makes Microsoft happy, I find out on July 1st.

I was smart this year to spend every last dollar of the past year’s Microsoft bucks before the end of June. When I was down to $5, I found these cute little “beanie baby” type MSN butterflies for $2.50 each. They will be a fun thing to give to someone’s kid. Not bad for a non-shopper like myself. My nephews got some pc games and Office 2007 Home & Student edition. I was able to get copies of Office for my sister as she expands her business. It’s nice that I can share this benefit with my family, whom I steal time to go to conferences, run my user group, etc. Before the airlines got more strict with their carry-on rules, my husband’s benefit was that I brought home a 6-pack of local brew in my backpack when I did INETA speaker trips to user groups around the country.

My 2cents on the iPhone

Just Rambling

As Philip Elmer-Dewitt says on Business 2.0’s website: “it may be the most impressive demonstration to date of Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ legendary mastery of the art of media manipulation.“

The hype has definitely works on me and this has a historical basis. I was stuck in an airport lounge late one night just when the Nano was released. I must have seen the same Nano ad 30 times that night and a few days later, I bought one (my very first iPod ever). But  for the iPhone I have a few things to protect me making the same mindless grab: 1) no iPhone’s in Vermont (no AT&T) and 2) in the long run, I think I’m too cheap.

I have a simple phone and if/when I get another, it would be to get access to my email and also share my calendar from outlook. I don’t download music or need to carry around my dogs pictures. My iPod (nano) mostly has podcasts (ala Wait Wait Don’t Tell me, Fresh Air, DotNetRocks) on it and some old Bonnie Raitt, etc. albums. When I see the iPhone ad, I GOTTA HAVE IT, but then a minute later reality seeps back in and I remember I don’t have much need for it.

There are plenty of people that will tell you the more technical reasons why you might not want in iPhone (yet) such as issues with the EDGE network if you are interested in it’s web capabilities. Others worry about the fact that you can’t replace the battery if you need to, can’t expand memory, can’t add SIMS, etc.

I bet that all of those people who lined up at the Apple stores around the country yesterday don’t care. All that matters to many is that it’s COOL and it’s SHINY and it’s made by Apple. 

Going to hang out Teens at I.T. camp

Just Rambling

I’m really excited about joining a group of about 50 high school students tomorrow who are participating in the Summer Institute in Information Technology at Champlain College this week. This is part of the Governor’s Institute of Vermont program.

According to Ann DeMarle (Director of the college’s Emergent Media Center (among other impressive titles)) who is running the program, the kids range from very creative types doing digital video to hard-core programmers. About 1/3 of the students are girls.

I’m going to go talk to them a bit about having a career as a geek (and doing this in Vermont, of all places ;-)) and then hang out with them while they work on their projects. Susan Wisowaty is going to join me as well. So between Ann, Susan and me, women with technical careers in I.T. will be well represented!

I will definitely follow up with a post on this after the fact.

Story of a Mac Powerbook that got run over by a truck on the highway and survived

Just Rambling

No, this isn’t “I used a Mac and survived”, but a great story about my neighbor’sMac powerbook that went through hell and survived.  I should qualify “neighbor”. He lives nearby, though I don’t think we’ve ever met. But he is a blacksmith who’s beautiful work you can see here on his site) 

He left it on top of his truck when he left his house last week and didn’t realize it until he arrived at his destination about 50 miles away. It had fallen off the car while he was driving down the road and yes, got run over. He posted a message on the local FrontPorchForum in case anyone saw it. I even called my husband to ask him to keep an eye on it on the way home.

Amazingly, some very nice person found it and brought it to Small Dog Electronics in Burlington who was able to track Jim down. More amazingly, it still works!

Jim blogged about this on Small Dog’s website. You can read a Jim’s story here and check out the bent up but still functioning powerbook.

Microsoft Surface – life imitates art….

Just Rambling

It’s always entertaining to laugh at the unrealistic things people do with computers in television shows – most often shows like CSI. I remember seeing one of the early demo apps for WPF that Carter Maslan created in early 2004 and thinking that it looked like the fantasy computing scenarios from t.v. coming to life.

Now another of the Microsoft Research projects that looks like life emulating art is coming unveiled… Microsoft Surface. Considering that I recently publically declared my love of using a touch screen computer, this looks like the best of that combined with the best of WPF and then blown up to a huge surface. It’s very cool and promising and apparently coming at the end of this year. There will be a unit in a NYC Sheraton starting next week and then another will be at a tech show in San Diego later this summer. Check the FIND IT page for more details. I highly recommend watching some of the demonstration videos on the site and exploring the history as well. COOOOOOOOOL….