Saturday, July 17, 2010

Quick overview of 4 file sync services: Memeo, SugarSync, Dropbox, LiveMesh.


I realized I'm used four file sync services. And this doesn't even include Google Docs or the miscellaneous Microsoft products (Sharepoint etc). Consolidation anyone?

MemeoConnect. Advantages: a nice interface for viewing of Google Docs. Particularly helpful if you want to "double-click" on a native Office file stored in Google Docs, edit it, and then seamlessly re-save it into Google without having to download and then re-upload.

SugarSync: Advantages: BlackBerry program that allows you to seamlessly sync folders with your BlackBerry and then using DocsToGo, view or edit documents.

DropBox: Advantages: Ubiquitous. Seems to be the most common file sync system.

LiveMesh: Advantages: Nicest interface, in my opinion. This is what I use the most. Even though it's Microsoft, there's a Mac client version. I haven't yet spent much time with the new www.docs.com versions of online Microsoft Office, but it's a different product than LiveMesh. Microsoft alone needs some consolidation among their confusing offerings. LiveMesh. docs.com. Sharepoint. Sharepoint Communicator. SkyDrive. No where on their site is simple explanation of why you'd want one versus the others. Egregious. 

What do you see as key advantages? I'm sure there are ones they I've missed?

Friday, July 9, 2010

Microsoft, thanks for Excel 2010 and please keep me

People I meet are frequently surprised when I pull out a PC rather than a Mac. Because I wear black t-shirts occasionally? I don't know. I suppose it's a compliment.

Microsoft captured me years ago for the Windows platform when Excel became unusable on the Mac after the switch to Intel. Running Excel on a Mac under emulation was too slow and it frequently crashed.

Just yesterday I sent an Excel spreadsheet to a client who runs a Mac. We couldn't get cell formats to stay fixed.

Further, even if the 2011 version of Office for Mac returns macro capability and works perfectly, Macs will still drive me crazy because I can't click and button and pop a particular window to fill the screen. They're always floating on the Mac. Plus, the ability to run two instances of a program like Excel is essential.

So, Microsoft, continue to make Excel work beautifully, flawlessly, as in the latest Office 2010 version, continue to make the Mac version not quite as good and you'll continue to keep me on Windows.