Posts Tagged: users

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Tech News — 2 Comments
20
Aug 09

Yet another reason to ditch Microsoft Office for web based apps

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photo credit: thoth92

This news story has flown mostly under the radar of most computer users for weeks. In a nutshell, it’s a patent infringement suit brought upon Microsoft by a Canadian company called i4i. The suit alleges that Microsoft knowingly used proprietary technologies in Microsoft Word 2003 and 2007. Last week, a judge in Texas, ruled in favor of i4i and ordered Microsoft to remove Microsoft Word from being sold and fined them nearly $300 million. Microsoft, of course, immediately filed an appeal that will draw the case out even longer.

While the appeal is being considered, Microsoft Word can still be purchased, but for how long? This case builds yet another argument for home and business computer users to consider using online based business applications like Zoho.com or Google Docs. If you want desktop software, look to OpenOffice.org.

Read more on the suit between i4i and Microsoft in the article below:

NewsFactor Network | Appeal Seeks To Keep Microsoft Word on Store Shelves.

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 2 Comments
10
Jul 09

3 Classes of Information Technology (IT) Users

swissarmyusbI left this note as a comment on a web site just now, but decided that it was good enough to be a post here at HelpMeRick.com.  IT is the fancy word for computer technology.

The more I read about and talk with people about computers, I see there are three distinct “classes” of computer users.

  1. Hard core IT - those that need every ounce of PC power for their jobs and/or personal life. They program, game, virtualize, and push the computer and OS to the limit and have no problem spending hours working out problems and tweaking the PC for their needs.
  2. Business IT – usually self-taught computer users who just want to get things done…use the computer as a tool. Sometimes tied to proprietary software, but mostly use word processing, spreadsheets (basic), email, Internet, and some digital photography.
  3. Home IT – Like the business class, use the essential functions of a computer, social networking and little else.

In my business (computer consultant/trainer), reading and travels, I find that Continue reading →