I spend a miserable morning working with Microsoft Sharepoint. A “smart quote” in a code sample from a KB article really chocolate-flavored my morning. Flavored it so much that I just had to send a profanity laced (virtually every sentence), but informative email to the MSDN keepers.
The funny thing about MS though is that interestingly enough they read and reply to feedback rather quickly. Just watch this: there will be a reply in my comments from Scoble in a day or two. Apple, Google, as well as the company where I work don’t really dedicate many people to answering customer complaints. Especially publicly. Yep, MS is funny that way – they even have real, live people looking at those crash error reports. And I hear that the suggestions and general emails get read and answered quicker than one might expect.
There’s even a link to “Request a Microsoft Executive to speak at events and functions” (notice capitalization), but sadly it does not work in Firefox. Too bad – I was gonna request that Ballmer give me and my co-workers a “Developers! Developers! Developers!” pep talk over lunch tomorrow.
Actually, here’s a little known fact for ya – if you write to One Microsoft Way and ask for Gates’ or Ballmer’s autograph, they’ll send you an Autopen-signed photo. I obtained Gates’ photo like this once, but I used it up as a birthday card for a Microsoft-loathing friend. I wonder if this trick will work on distinguished engineers past and present. I’d totally want Dave Cutler’s autograph.
In the evening I decided to go and replace my phone featured in this quaint still life from my cube’s desk. I mostly use the slide rule for pointing at the screen, poking my co-workers who having agreed to go out to lunch insist on sending one more email and drawing straight lines. I even learned how to do simple multiplication on it.

Being one of those people who insist on getting burned on new technology and then feeling resentful (thank you, Acer for making your first Tablet PC with a 256 meg ram limit and you, Microsoft developers, for using memory-hungry Win XP for the tablet’s OS) I finally decided that maybe it’s a good time to forgive Handspring for the disappointment that was the original Visor Phone. Oh, that stupid thing. It only worked when I didn’t need it and crashed whenever I did. Bulky, ugly, nasty thing. After one more crash/memory loss I sold off my Treo and my Visor phone and started using a different kind of PDA. I just shudder when I remember how Jeff Hawkins arrogantly told everyone that handheld users should mould themselves into using stupid graffiti script instead of giving us good thumb keyboards like smart people at RIM.
Well, I thought I’d get a Treo 650. I need something to type in on the train. The keyboard is not very comfortable compared to Blackberry or Danger (which design I like a lot more). But once again it’s the choice of better design vs an OS which is easier to develop for. Sadly I choose the latter way too frequently.
Also, in New York you can either pick a cellphone company that has better prices, phones and customer service or you can pick one that has good reception. Yes, everything about Verizon sucks. But they have so many damn tower that even though you get shafted on everything else, at least you get a phone that works better than others. You can actually send or receive a call in most places, even in some shallow subway stations.
Unfortunately it turned out that they want $25 extra per month for 10 megs of data, and in conjunction with a 2 year contract and $400 phone this just did not look like a good deal to me, so I passed. I guess I a destined to live with a bricky ol’ phone that is only good for making phone calls. Sadly it looks like to get better PDA features cheaper I’d need to sacrifice Verizon’s good reception.
Then I spent 3 hours this evening cleaning out spyware from a friend’s computer. I failed miserably – Adaware, Microsoft Antispyware Tool and Search & Destroy could not clean out all the crap even on multiple passes. Looks like I’ll have to reinstall.
Er, I tried to include this…
http://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/K&EManuals/manuals.htm
Yes, it’s a vintage 1924 K&E. Unfortunately poking and smacking around cubicle invaders and hallway talkers is something I have to do rather frequently, but I do not get a lot of call for slowly performing mathematical calculations :)
Actually, the Danger devices are a lot easier to develop for than Palm devices, if you don’t mind that you can’t distribute the software you write beyond other developers (unless you write something that the morons at the carriers will take for “Download Fun” or whatever they’re calling it this week).
Yeah, I bet. Almost anything is easier than Palm programming.
Pingback: mission fitness
Pingback: Dallas Wedding Photographers
Pingback: pre workout supplements
Pingback: Space Race
Pingback: bodybuilding supplement
Pingback: colorado unemployment office
Pingback: noclegi zakopane
Pingback: weight loss tips
Pingback: watch free movies online
Pingback: best over the counter sleep aid
Pingback: document scanner
Pingback: bcaa and fat
Pingback: wedding photography Oxfordshire
Pingback: Term Life Insurance Quotes
Pingback: project payday review
Pingback: WT Schule
Pingback: Escort girl Paris
Pingback: spray tan mobile
Pingback: Jennifer Ellison wallpapers
Pingback: dating tips
Pingback: marijuana addiction
Pingback: huge yield review
Pingback: rc helicopters
Pingback: become man magnet
Pingback: limited tort
Pingback: Blog sex
Pingback: loupe light
Pingback: Scott Tucker Racing
Pingback: check out this website
Pingback: Appraisal Management Companies
Pingback: reo companies
Pingback: lipo 6 side effects
Pingback: electronic cigarettes
Pingback: steven cymbrowitz
Pingback: tanning
Pingback: boot camp training
Pingback: ecommerce seo
Pingback: Fully Managed Shared Hosting
Pingback: gps fleet management
Pingback: banner stands
Pingback: how to find your soulmates
Pingback: Financial Plan
Pingback: Titten Sexkontakte
Pingback: Proactol Diet Pills
Pingback: maryland short sale expert
Pingback: natural remedies for psoriasis
Pingback: Air Conditioning Repairs
Pingback: Malibu beach house rental
Pingback: chris murray
Pingback: Montreal wedding photographer blog
Pingback: both teams to score
Pingback: What is Social Media Marketing
Pingback: Scott Tucker CBS
Pingback: Scott Tucker CBS
Pingback: Curtain Tracks
Pingback: Albuquerque DUI lawyer
Pingback: raspberry keytone
Pingback: how to get a diet program
Pingback: Chattanooga parking
Pingback: Consumer Choice Marketing
Pingback: denver web design
Pingback: home security company ottawa
Pingback: Atlanta Jobs
Pingback: Houston Limousine Services
Pingback: new books on obesity
Pingback: Subliminal Software
Pingback: Lancaster personal injury attorney,Lancaster personal injury lawyer,personal injury claim,class action lawsuit,medical malpractice,catastrophic injury,motor vehicle accident,car accident,truck accident,negligence,Palmdale,compensation
Pingback: sites like etsy
Pingback: Boise Chiropractor
Pingback: no nonsense muscle building review
Pingback: nras
Pingback: popsicle rave
Pingback: roofing software
Pingback: wedding disco london
Pingback: Learn Italian
Pingback: online dating community
Pingback: how to get rid of a sore throat
Pingback: Scott Tucker Racing
Pingback: Scott Tucker CBS
Pingback: game terminator 3
Pingback: los angeles real estate
Pingback: buy cheap raspberry ketones
Pingback: recipes
Pingback: euro millions lottery
Pingback: bed bugs treatment new york
Pingback: granite countertops Dallas
Pingback: Southern California Attractions
Pingback: mobilt bredband priser
Pingback: lan pengar snabbt
Pingback: free internet marketing brandable reports
Pingback: Tax Network USA
Pingback: free internet marketing plr
Pingback: glock 17 laser sight
Pingback: MLS Sales
Pingback: fathers day 2012
Pingback: Genealogy DNA Testing
Pingback: list brokers
Pingback: marketing training
Pingback: Cheap Auto insurance Daytona Beach
Pingback: valutakurser
Pingback: Tadalafil
Pingback: how to get abs in a week
Pingback: Car finance bad credit
Pingback: self publishing books
Pingback: wow gold
Pingback: How to lose weight
Pingback: How to lose belly fat for men
Pingback: regcure pro
Pingback: Hypothyroidism diet
Pingback: uk online casino
Pingback: queens roofing
Pingback: make money online beginners
Pingback: Argyreia Nervosa
Pingback: Atlanta Web Design
Pingback: how to build muscle quickly
Pingback: scott tucker payday loans
Pingback: scott tucker payday loans
Pingback: Matthew Roszak
Pingback: Comic Books
Pingback: print fax
Pingback: Dental Implants
Pingback: event staffing
Pingback: click here
Pingback: FL Studio hip hop beat
Pingback: how much does it cost to ship a car
Pingback: tinnitus
Pingback: Holly Springs Locksmith
Pingback: uk debt help
Pingback: Velo
Pingback: health
Pingback: internet marketer
Pingback: koszulki z nadrukiem
Pingback: Arlette Carrel
Pingback: swertres hearing
Pingback: Marriage Records
Pingback: Match Games
Pingback: best vpn
Pingback: hier kaufen
Pingback: online software download
Pingback: Mathieu De Ruyck
Pingback: plc programming
Pingback: Mathieu De Ruyck
Pingback: bushnell rifle scopes
Pingback: group insurance advisor
Pingback: curso marketing digital
Pingback: car edwards
Pingback: cam chat
Pingback: protein shakes
Pingback: USN
Pingback: Bad Credit car Lease
Pingback: what is the best way to lose weight
Pingback: Paper Coffee Cups
Pingback: best value airsoft guns
Pingback: cost reduction
Pingback: Sell website
Pingback: NIW Green Card
Pingback: free traffic
Pingback: earth 4 energy reviews
Pingback: top skincare products
Pingback: Exercises To Burn Belly Fat
Pingback: tampa marketing mastermind
Pingback: ferulic review
Pingback: psychotherapy Manchester
Pingback: Carroll Predovich
Pingback: Kamala Allegra
Pingback: Kompositfonster
Pingback: Okna Poznan
Pingback: Okna PCV Gniezno
Pingback: Okna Gniezno
Pingback: Okna pcv Mogilno
Pingback: syracuse seo service
Pingback: Dachy
Pingback: fax server
Pingback: Background check
Pingback: greyhound racing results
Pingback: led izzok
Pingback: webdesign laredo
Pingback: donut machine
Pingback: cam und telefonspass
Pingback: reputation management
Pingback: How to Unlock Iphone 4
Pingback: Pvc Nya
Pingback: fax modem
Pingback: Davida Segerson
Pingback: omni wheel
Pingback: print to fax
Pingback: digital fax
Pingback: Scrapeboard
Pingback: fax server
Pingback: joe rocket gloves
Pingback: Bed And Breakfast in Uppingham
Pingback: omni wheel
Pingback: www.pnc
Pingback: sears card
Pingback: VPS
Pingback: Scrapebox VPS Server
Pingback: http://www.onlineinvestmentfund.com/page_custom.php?page=career
Pingback: casque sans fil
Pingback: millitary communications tower
Pingback: machine a biere
Pingback: cash advance
Pingback: self supporting tower
Pingback: http://www.glaciereelectrique.fr/
Pingback: Christmas Silver Coins
Pingback: natural ponds
Pingback: http://www.camescopehd.net/
Pingback: http://www.epilateurelectrique.net/
Pingback: white ceramic watches
Pingback: Jewelry For Cash
Pingback: Sex show
Pingback: Scrap Gold Calculator
Pingback: friteuse sans huile philips
Pingback: http://www.montregps.org/
Pingback: http://www.rasoirelectrique.org/
Pingback: http://www.minilavevaisselle.fr/
Pingback: Ben
Pingback: My Blog
Pingback: http://www.piscineautoportante.net/
Pingback: link to this article
Pingback: My Blog
Pingback: criminal defense lawyer phoenix
Pingback: car accidents lawyers edwards ca
Pingback: sacoche homme lacoste
Pingback: dog gone pain reviews
Pingback: Click Here
Pingback: free scrabebox list
Pingback: "western soapberry tree
Pingback: casque bluetooth
Pingback: Bruxism Treatment
Pingback: 2 player games for ps3
Pingback: http://www.friteuseelectrique.net/
Yeah, well who wouldn’t hire a few nebbishes to answer email on $40 billion a year?
If you switch to a different OS, you can put on the poor mouth and sadly tell your friends that you really don’t know anything about the latest version of Windows.
Right. In any case, most of my friends only call me when they catch Windowitis. I mostly help them out of the goodness of my heart and to get at least some human contact :)
Sprint once offered me a $150 rebate on a new phone, if I upgraded my plan for an extra $10/mo for two years. I did the math, and switched to Verizon. There’s a rumor floating around that Sprint is the Better Business Bureau’s #1 complained-against company. Also, if you read the fine print on your contract, you’ll notice that you’ve agreed never to sue them for anything. I really have an undying hatred towards them now.
Verizon loves to rip you off too, but at least they have decent coverage.
Prod Philo (JOS) about it if you haven’t, he’s respectably responsive and not loathe to fire off an internal missile when needed.
Who’s Philo (JOS) and which one of my numerous grievances can he fire off an internal missile about?
I don’t seem to be getting most of your references thes days :)
Philo is a Microsoft Corporate Consultant and Evangelist for Sharepoint, he hangs out at Joel on Software and happens to be one of the moderators at the Off Topic Forum, as I used to be (long tedious story).
Ah, Joel’s forum, right. I don’t like the “unthreadiness” of it, so I don’t read it much. Interestingly enough, there seem to be a couple of hits coming into my blog from it, but every time I can’t find the thread.
Wait. You have a beautiful old K&E (as far as I can tell by the little I see of it; is it perhaps some old soviet-made rule?) slide rule, and you just use it to poke people? And you taught yourself how to multiply, but nothing else?
Sacrilege!
Here, at least peruse this:
There! Good deed done. I will now reward myself with peppermint tea.
Ahh!