Links, Articles and More

Posted by

Readers, I have a question for you.

About two weeks ago, I created a sub-blog of this blog, where I post links to articles, etc. that I would like to read and keep. It’s more of a personal link collection, but I also linked to it from the sidebar here. I would also like my readers to find stuff to read on a regular basis. But the links and articles aren’t articles that I wrote, it’s just links with no comments at all from. Since I read many articles a day (I don’t read newspapers much anymore), that could be quite a lot of links.

Would you readers prefer that I post those links in THIS main blog, rather than a sideblog? A posting would look something like this image.

sample posting

Post your answer in the comment box below. I’d like to know. Thanks, again!

Safari vs Firefox: Faster than FF, but less flexible…

Posted by

Have you tried the new XP compatible browser from Apple? If you haven’t you can download it. I managed to install one copy on one of my XP PCs but not the other. I’ve created a JPEG displaying my website in it!

hero20070611

Now, this blog isn’t going to talk about how wonderful Apple’s Safari is… their own website can do that!

safari

What I have noticed is based upon my own limited experience with this software…

Pluses: it’s install is straightforward, and it imports a lot of stuff automatically, including your bookmarks. It has that familiar Itunes theme (which I loathe) but it’s clean and easy to navigate around.

Also, the screen area on startup is much bigger than Firefox. There are also several other things I noted: it’s much faster than IE, and somewhat faster than FF 2.0. I love the snappiness of the browser. I also like the organisation of the RSS feeds, much cleaner and easier to read than other browsers (except ‘Flock’ which is a FF derivative).

rss-safari

Another great point is that it is integrated with QuickTime and ITunes. So for home users and non-commercial customers, this should be a big selling point. It’s also a very shrewd move on the part of Apple to integrate its offerings much more tightly with Windows. In fact, Apple’s Windows offerings are less of an attempt to allow Windows onto Apple as to persuade more Windows Users of the value of Apple products. Home users should rejoice!

BUT it isn’t without its problems. Firstly, it requires XP2 to install, so it wouldn’t install on two of my machines at all. It only runs in Windows XP (SP2+) and Mac. Unlike FF which can run on any Windows 95+ version right upto Vista. Moreover, FF is available on Mac AND Linux platforms. Though I don’t use either at the moment, I find that the ‘Open’ nature of the platform comforting if I ever decide to ditch Windows for Mac or Linux. I’m also attracted by the Mac Platform because of the small forms of the new mini-Mac and its ease of use.

A second problem for me is that FF is also hugely extensible as is the new version of IE. In fact, the extensibility of FF is one of its chief selling points. I couldn’t see any obvious way to create or add extensions or even themes for Safari in windows at least! So we’re stuck with the metallic Itunes theme. It ain’t pretty.

So, while it might suit for browsing pages, and reading feeds at home, I can’t use it at work, won’t use it for blogging much, and certainly can’t get anything like the power or variety that my current install of FF has!

Anyway, here’s Mr. Jobs introducing the new PC browser, enjoy.

Good one, Apple! But to win some converts, you’ve got to try harder. B++ for effort and style.

The Blogging Habit: Time, Place and Mood!

Posted by

Setting regular habits for success can be very important for blogging as for any activity in which you want to create success: writing a blog, building a nest egg, marathon running, …

As I’ve recently changed my blogging environment, I’ve noticed how this has affected both the quality, regularity and type of posts that I’ve been doing. I have made a small corner in our spare room (very small – chair backed right up against my glass door bookcase!) where for the past two or three months I’ve blogged some of my best posts, and also longest.

Recently, though, I brought home my first PC from school, that is my primary PC because I know best what it can do. I brought it home to upload photographs and movies to the web for the school but because my study is cramped, I put it in the living room. That is a big mistake because it’s right next to the TV… so instead of blogging, I end up watching TV! (Also, Grey’s Anatomy has stopped playing and been replaced with NCIS… With Grey’s Anatomy on TV, I blogged a lot! But now NCIS is back, well I’ll just have to see!).

It’s important to set up the parameters for blogging if you want to succeed at it and make something of your blog. These parameters should include:

  • time: it’s a good idea to set up a regular slot for blogging and try NOT to break it. This can be any time that you feel comfortable, have privacy and can set regularly. I like to blog late at night, when the hustle bustle of the day is done, and I can relax more and focus on what I am doing.
  • place: some places work better for me to write than others. I noticed that I work better in my ‘cramped’ office than I do in the living room or at work. And I would hardly say that the space was ‘better’, but it suits me. I have fewer disturbances here, but I’m not totally cut off.
  • mood: sometimes delaying or putting off what you should be doing actually makes it harder to get back to doing it. Exercise is a good example of how things can go wrong. It’s hard to get back into your habit! But once you get started, it’s okay!
  • distractions: there are many distractions online and offline that prevent us from getting done what we need to get done. In my office, I can control the offline distractions, but the online ones can really prevent me from doing something useful!

It’s important to understand what works for you when you need to blog. Observe yourself and make mental notes on how your performance is affected by these environmental factors. You can tweak many of them to improve!

What tips do you have for blogging habits? Are there any things which hold YOU back?