Written by The use of computers to improve efficiency by removing anyone you would want to talk with over coffee.
Anonymous
Posts tagged office
Daily mumble: Thinking about
Sometimes I look around myself and think of how much effort I put into my work (well payed or not it’s not the matter) just to cover the inefficiencies of others.
People simply “stay” in the office, don’t think of working for an objective or to do things well.
Is not a matter of working for living, or living for working: is a matter of caring of something bigger than yourself.
Office automation
Office Automation: The use of computers to improve efficiency by removing anyone you would want to talk with over coffee.
Anonymous
Microsoft Office webapps vs Google docs
Kevin Purdy at Lifehacker writes an article comparing Microsoft Office Webapps and Google Docs (full article at http://lifehacker.com/5560352/how-does-office-web-apps-compare-to-google-docs).
Kevin underlines as winning points for office:
- Microsoft Office compatibility: that’s true, but I wouldn’t expect anything different
- Font selection: this is true, but really depends on the use of the app. In some cases, those using webapps, use them for an “on the go access”, rather that working constantly on them. Especially if you use them in a business environment with strict policies on documents sharing/filing
- Storage Space and Access: 25 GB is approaching the size of a small PC…
- One note integration: this also depends on how much are you using one note.
As winning points for Google docs:
- Interface and organization: true, because Google User Experience is mostly awesome.
- Sharing and collaboration: again true, but depends a lot on who you are, becasue, again, corporation don’t like particularly the sharing and filing outside company’s walls.
- Speed: Yes is important but is a tradeoff with User experience
- Google interaction: as for Office, I give it as something obvious.
This posta as a comment also at http://lifehacker.com/5560352/how-does-office-web-apps-compare-to-google-docs
Paperless office: are we ready?
Productivity 501 blog puts online ten myths about going paperless (full article at http://www.productivity501.com/paperless-office-myths/7375/).
What follows are my comments:
- 1. Technology isn’t ready for a paperless office: Technology is ready, but are we? The average user (but also the high end one) isn’t. Changing from paper to digital isn’t at all a problem of technology: is mainly a problem of habit.
- 2. Going paperless is “All or Nothing”: True what is said. Is not an “all in” affair, but a step by step go through, with positive impacts also if made in minimum part
- 3. Paperless is less secure: Did someone remember “social engineering”? We leave more risky and interceptable traces in paper than in electronic format. The only point is that our feeling of control on paper is stronger.
- 4. Scanners are the most important part of going paperless: Not at all. The most important thing is how securely and fast we can store and access the datas.
- 5. Reading on a monitor is too hard: is hard but manageable. On pure feeling point of view, you can like or not reading something on monitors (and in my case there are some kind of documents I appreciate and other that I don’t : for example books)
- 6. Going paperless is good for the environment: I’m not sure of the balance, since less paper means more eletronic, more power used and definitely more CO2 in the air
- 7. Going paperless is too expensive: Yes it is, or at least it is expensive if you seek for high end solutions.
- 8. Paper is safer than digital: Not at all, but in some cases it is, because of some institutions need to have original paper docs.
- 9. Digital formats are all equivalent: no they aren’t.
- 10. Going paperless will save time: depends a lot on instruments but also on personal attitude (e.g. since Windiws CE I tried many times to go digital with a PDA. Never succeeded. Then came the IPhone…
)- This post as a comment also at http://www.productivity501.com/paperless-office-myths/7375/
Microsoft affected by inertia or by monopoly?
the oracle at Lockergnome writes an article on Microsoft reporting former employee impressions on different topics, including Redmond’s inability to produce a serious breahtrough in tablets (full story at http://www.lockergnome.com/theoracle/2010/02/05/microsoft-isn%e2%80%99t-going-anywhere-soon-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-called-inertia/).
In my opinion, a couple of factors affect Microsoft:
a) first of all, the “winner inertia” started when acquired (and is still maintaining) the “de facto” monopoly of os and offic applications. This situation doesn’t help people innovating and, in consequence, doesn’t bring a winning product (both software or hardware) to the market
b) Microsoft not being able of introducing (and communicating) a style, a unique “flavour” that differentiates from competitors (such as Apple user interface)
Again on free software
ozthech at Lockergnome tells us a story on his problems with Open office (full article at http://www.lockergnome.com/oztech/2009/07/30/how-openoffice-probably-cost-me-a-job).
I remain on my idea: I really apreciate free software, but the standard is another one and if free software is not 200% compatible with the standard, it makes the alternative a non alternative because of lack of trust.
This post also as a comment at http://www.lockergnome.com/oztech/2009/07/30/how-openoffice-probably-cost-me-a-job/#comment-8057
Microsoft predominancy is over? Long live to Microsoft
Rick Hodgin at Geek.com (http://www.geek.com/users/RickGeek/) writes an article asking if Microsoft days as a predominant player are over (full article at http://www.geek.com/articles/linux/opinion-microsofts-days-as-king-are-ending-2009079/).
No they aren’t for the following reasons:
- Transition to new OSes is not so easy for the average user and installed base is big.
- Companies are the largest Microsoft users and Open Source is percieved oftenly as no so reliable
- Other Micrososft products (like office) are a “de facto” standard and cannot be changed so easily
This article also as a comment at http://www.geek.com/articles/linux/opinion-microsofts-days-as-king-are-ending-2009079/comment-page-1/#comment-1667921
Office 2010 and web based application
Christian Zibreg at Geek.com comments on Microsoft information on Office 2010 and its web free apllications (full article at http://www.geek.com/articles/news/microsoft-strikes-back-office-2010-arrives-in-h1-2009-includes-free-online-apps-that-rival-google-docs-20090713/). Same thing does Dvice (full article at http://dvice.com/archives/2009/07/microsoft-to-ma.php)
We are moving again towards a full webbization of applications, while Internet isn’t so fast and so accessible everywhere.
And average users are not so skilled to use everything on line.
This comment as a post also at http://www.geek.com/articles/news/microsoft-strikes-back-office-2010-arrives-in-h1-2009-includes-free-online-apps-that-rival-google-docs-20090713/comment-page-1/#comment-1663441 and at http://dvice.com/archives/2009/07/microsoft-to-ma.php
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