Tech Talk
ISBS Tech Guide: Windows Vista Desktop Search
Monday, April 30th, 2007As we discussed last week, Windows Vista is not that big a change from Windows XP, other than a few “Wow”-inducing items and a couple of very useful enhancements. Even those enhancements, though, are typically just tweaks to existing Windows functions (like the breadcrumbs navigation technique that replaces the Windows Explorer tree or the Flip 3D function that enhances the existing Alt-Tab feature). Desktop search is an exception to this rule, though, and warrants its own entry in the ISBS Tech Guide.
First, let’s review how desktop search worked in Windows XP. Basically, it worked like an application. You ran it (Start–>Search), typed in a query, clicked “Search” and received a result set. From there, you had basic interaction capability with the files, and when you were done, you closed the Search app and the results went away. It was like changing the channel on the TV, rather than reaching for the remote control. In other words, I hardly ever used it. Instead, I’d peruse my regular file folders to find a file, use the search within my mail application to find a particular e-mail, or click through the Start menu folders to find a rarely-used application. I’d use the search app only in the very rare case where I truly had no idea where I’d put something, but even then, it was typically unsuccessful at helping me find it.
In Windows Vista, search is a function of the operating system, not an application. It has gone from a tool of last resort to the easiest way to find just about anything on the PC. Here’s how it works:
Let’s say that before the season started, my friend sent me a Word document containing the New York Yankees’ 2007 schedule, and that this morning, he e-mailed me that he’s coming to New York and wants to catch a Yankee game.
The first thing I do is press the Start key (the one with the flag on it, next to the Alt key on most keyboards). This does the exact same thing as clicking on the Windows Logo in the bottom left corner of the screen, but note that you don’t need the mouse to search in Vista. When the Start menu opens, focus defaults to it’s search box. This is key, because again, I don’t need to touch the mouse. So, after pressing the Start key, I begin to type “yankee schedule.” As I type, the list of commonly used programs that is normally above the search box in the Start Menu disappears, and search results immediately start appearing in its place. With each successive character I type, Vista refines my search and shows me a shorter list of potential results.
The results are grouped and sorted intelligently. Applications are on top, followed by Files, followed by Communications (e-mails, saved IM’s, etc.) In this case, after a six keystrokes (<Start>yanke), the first item on the list is the Word document I was looking for. I press Enter and the document opens. That’s seven keystrokes from reading the e-mail to reviewing the schedule. As I said above, search has gone from a tool of last resort to the easiest way to find a file.
The next day, I need to pick my friend up at the airport. That e-mail he sent me had his flight number and arrival time in it. I sit down at my PC and once again type <Start>yanke. The word document is on top of the list, but just below it (under “Communications”) is a list of e-mails containing the string “yanke,” the second of which is the the e-mail from my friend. So, I press the down arrow twice and then Enter again. The e-mail opens and I have the information I need – this time, in eight keystrokes. (A small aside: note that Outlook does not launch to display my e-mail, just the individual message opens. This seems like a small detail, but in the past, launching an individual e-mail message would launch Outlook, which would display my entire Inbox, and kick off a Send/Receive transaction, which would download whatever mail I had residing on my POP3 server. Most of this would happen in the background, but it would all be wasted processing, given my task at hand).
Just to round out the example, say I now want to figure out how much my friend owes me for the tickets, so I need a calculator. I type <Start>calc, and the first item on the list is the Windows Calculator app. I press Enter and the calculator appears. Others may prefer to put a calculator icon on their desktop or toolbar, but I find these six keystrokes to be a faster way to work. At any rate, you have both options.
All of this would be fairly impressive on it’s own, but the coolest feature of Windows Vista Search is the saved search result windows. Let’s say my ticket exchange above is part of a larger service I provide, distributing Yankee tickets to friends throughout the year. In that case, I probably have lots of documents and e-mails that contain the phrase “yankee,” so I’d have to be more specific in my search to find what I’m looking for. In that case, here’s what I’d do: Type <Start>yankee to bring the list up. But then, instead of clicking on an item, click “See all search results” at the bottom of the list. This opens a standard Vista window, displaying everything that matches the search (including applications, files, e-mails, etc). I can sort/group any way I want (by file type, by name, by date, etc.). Then (and here’s the cool part), I can save my search window as it’s own folder. Now, whenever I open this folder (or refresh the window), I can see all files/e-mails on my PC that contain the term “yankee.” To be clear: I’m not saving the result set from my recent search; I’m saving the query itself. So if I get ten more e-mails tomorrow regarding the Yankees, the same window will contain ten more items tomorrow. Also of note, given how Windows XP worked: the items in this window are the actual files themselves, not shortcuts or pointers to the files. I can open/edit/rename/delete/etc. the files right from this window, even if they actually live at the end of some complex folder tree in my Documents folder. The Vista architecture allows a file to be referenced natively from more than one location, which greatly enhances the usability of search (among other things).
Two other notes – one on indexing and one on the Mac search tool.
Regarding indexing: Vista Search comes complete with a small indexing application, which allows me to specify which folders are included in the search index and which are not. This covers Windows folders, but also folders within your Outlook inbox. So, for instance, since I’m such a pack rat and never empty my Deleted Mail folder, I set Search to ignore the Deleted Mail folder in my mail file. This eliminates clutter from my search results, but allows me to keep my poor man’s e-mail archive. Also, the index management tool lets me include networked folders, so I can have the Search function on my laptop, for example, search the shared network drive and bring back files that I worked on from a different machine.
Regarding Mac Search: When Vista was in beta release, many compared the search function to OS X’s Spotlight search tool. The biggest criticism of Vista’s implementation (other than the persistent cries of “copycat!”) was the fact that the search tool was not always visible on the screen (in OS X, it’s always in the upper-right corner). I find that I actually prefer this choice, since the tool is always one keystroke away. Also, while some may prefer the mouse for common tasks, I’m very much a keyboard shortcut user. I don’t know if you can bring Spotlight into focus with a single keystroke (although I’m sure someone will tell me in the comments. <clears throat>). If not, having to mouse to the upper right and click to execute a search would drastically reduce it’s utility to me (especially with a wide screen monitor).
As it stands, I’m obviously a very big fan of Vista’s search tool. I’ve already used it more in the first two months than I did in all my prior years of Windows usage.
Next week: What’s the deal with Vista security?
Categories: Tech Talk | 2 Comments »
ISBS Tech Guide: The ISBS Review of Windows Vista
Sunday, April 22nd, 2007By now, you’ve probably read several dozen reviews of Windows Vista. When I first started using it, I was tempted to join in as well, but I decided I should spend some time with it first and then offer my opinion. So here you go – a review of Windows Vista that’s based on what it’s like to use the OS on a day-to-day basis, not on the results of some laboratory diagnostic test:
It’s Good.
It’s not a buggy piece of crapware, and it’s certainly not awesome, spectacular, or life-changing (anyone who describes an OS that way is either trying to sell you something, or is such an irrational fan of Steve Jobs that he/she would use the same words to describe the iBrick). Ironically, Microsoft’s advertising campaign goes about as far as I would take it: “Wow.” And even then, only “Wow” to a couple of things. In every other aspect, Vista basically does it’s job and does it well.
The first “Wow” is the Windows Aero design. The edges of the windows are translucent, so when you drag one on top of the other, you can see a blurry image of the back window around the edges of the front window. To be sure, this is more cool looking than it is useful, but I must admit, it is extremely cool looking. If the WinXP windows looked like index cards scattered across the desktop, then these look like Shrinky Dinks, or, to use an even geekier reference, like Tom Cruise’s Minority Report computers.
The second, and much more useful, “Wow” is the Flip 3D and Live Icon features. Flip 3D is that three-dimensional rolodex interface that you’ve seen in the advertisements. Rather than using Alt-Tab to cycle through the icons of open applications, Vista lets you use Start Key-Tab (that’s the key with the flag on it – situated right near the Alt key on most keyboards) to see a 3D rolodex of the live content on each open window (including animation, video, moving status bars, etc.). When you recognize the one you want, you just release both keys and that window animates to the front.
All of the other icons in Vista are also improved. When you Alt-Tab, Vista shows you thumbnail versions of the live content, rather than those old, static app icons. If you mouse over the minimized applications on the task bar, you also see these live content thumbnails. IE7’s Quick Tabs feature shows you the open web pages in live content thumbnails. And inside the windows themselves, the icons for unopened files reflect the first page of the document, a thumbnail of the picture, or the first frame of the video, depending on the file type.
I know this sounds like pure “Wow,” but I found it a huge productivity boost in two ways. First, it’s much, much easier to recognize a window’s content than it’s icon/title, which is all you had to go on in Windows XP, so choosing/switching applications is simpler and faster. Second, you can check the status of a long running process (e.g., a DVD burn, a backup, a large download) without having to switch applications and interrupt your train of thought. It’s also noteworthy that these features only run on machines with high-powered graphics cards and fast CPU’s. At lower resolution or slower speeds, these “preview” features would look chintzy and add almost no value, and so Vista disables them automatically.
Another very useful (although much less “Wow”) feature is the breadcrumb functionality in each window’s address bar. Rather than the traditional “tree” structure taking up real estate on the left side of the window, Vista shows you each node in the current path, and provides a navigation arrow for each one. So if you’re currently in the Documents/Excel/Finance/2007/Budgets folder and you want to switch to the Documents/Word/Reports/ folder, all you have to do is click the arrow next to Documents in the address bar and select Word, then select Reports in the newly opened view.
Back on the “Wow” side of the spectrum is the Windows Sidebar. Current OS X users will find it a patent violation familiar, while long-time Windows users will enjoy the slick user interface and the wide array of available “Gadgets.” Microsoft’s Windows Live Gallery will let you browse a few thousand of them, and then download them directly into your Gadget inventory, ready for use. I also downloaded an application called Amnesty Generator, which allows me to convert (most) Google gadgets (intended for the Google Desktop) to Vista gadgets. Between these two libraries, you could easily fill up the sidebar on a portrait-shaped 24″ monitor (more on that in a future Tech Guide post!)
I’m leaving out a bunch of things, of course, and I’m sure there are more surprises tucked away for me to eventually find. Two things in particular, Vista’s search capabilities and its new security strategy, fall so squarely into the “Wow” + “useful” category that they warrant their own Tech Guide entries, so you’ll have to come back to hear about those as well.
Bottom line: if you’re in the market for a new PC, buy it with Vista pre-installed. Everything interesting that happens to Windows (and Windows software) in the coming decade will happen to Vista. If you buy something else now, you’ll kick yourself later. If you’re happy with your current PC, though, then wait a while. It’ll be around when you’re ready to upgrade. If you need some “Wow” before then, go rent Minority Report.
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ISBS Tech Guide – Introduction
Sunday, April 15th, 2007As I mentioned earlier, I recently moved my old PC into my older son’s room, and bought myself two new computers to replace it – a desktop for the home office, and a laptop to take full advantage of the wireless network I was now able to setup in the house. It’s been more than four years since I bought a new PC, and as you might imagine, quite a bit has changed in that time. Most notable, of course, was the introduction of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system, which came pre-installed on both new machines.
The new machines, the new operating system, and a healthy dose of new software has made the last couple of months a constant learning experience. I’ve discovered what “just works,” what requires configuring/tweaking, and what requires a proficiency with Google, the patience to read through user help forums and, occasionally, the right tech support phone number.
Given my crash course in all things new to harware and software, I’ve decided to start a weekly feature here at I Should Be Sleeping – the ISBS Tech Guide. Each weekend, I’ll post an entry on a different technology topic that I’ve dealt with recently, and let you in on all the features, pitfalls, tricks, tips, etc. that I’ve come across in my travels.
I know from my site analytics that posts about technology attract a disproportionately high number of visitors, mainly due to the heavy search engine activity. Google has become Level 1 Tech Support for just about any technical problem, and anything I can do to contribute to the quantity of good information out there seems like a worthwile exercise. Also, I’d like to write down a lot of what I’ve learned in the last couple of months, and this blog seems like a good place to do it. So here’s your guarantee: since I’ll be referencing this guide as often as anyone else as time goes on, I have all the right incentives to make it accurate, complete, and easy to read. Also, it’s free and you get what you pay for. So there you go…
Finally, the ISBS Tech Guide gives me the opportunity to use Blogger’s new Category feature. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a big fan of Blog categories, since so many blogs have them and I’ve never really felt the need to use them. In this case, though, I’m hoping the category view provides a true “How To Guide” feel that can serve as a reference for someone who is interested in such things, but doesn’t have a specific question.
So look for the ISBS Tech Guide each Monday morning, whydontcha? We’ll pick up next weekend with our first technology topic: The Windows Vista Review.
Stay tuned…
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Wireless recharging
Sunday, April 1st, 2007Man, talk about solving a problem no one knew they had! Scalzi just pointed this out:
Powercast and its first major partner, electronics giant Philips, are set to launch their first device powered by electricity broadcast through the air.
It may sound futuristic, but Powercast’s platform uses nothing more complex than a radio–and is cheap enough for just about any company to incorporate into a product. A transmitter plugs into the wall, and a dime-size receiver (the real innovation, costing about $5 to make) can be embedded into any low-voltage device. The receiver turns radio waves into DC electricity, recharging the device’s battery at a distance of up to 3 feet.
Picture your cell phone charging up the second you sit down at your desk, and you start to get a sense of the opportunity.
I had just assumed you’d always have to plug something in to recharge it. Apparently not.
I’m picturing public recharging kiosks in coffee shops, airport waiting areas, etc.. The possibilities really are endless…
Categories: Tech Talk, The Future is Now | 1 Comment »
A Little Something for Everyone…
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007Another one of those MadTV spoofs on Steve Jobs:
Watch it all the way to the end. Trust me…
Categories: Political Rantings, Tech Talk, The World Wide Weird | 1 Comment »
Teach a Kid to Fish…
Monday, March 19th, 2007One of my rationales for buying a new PC was to give my son, Avery, our old PC. Well, thanks to some good, 24/7 tech support at Linksys, I finally got wireless connectivity in his room this weekend, and I’m pleased to report that the investment showed returns in the first 24 hours.
Avery’s school puts on a “Variety Show” each year, which consists of each class doing a dance routine to a recording of a (semi-)popular song. This year, Avery’s class is doing Dancing on the Ceiling, by Lionel Ritchie.
So after putting the Internet in his room on Saturday night, I’m sitting in my home office on Sunday morning, and suddenly the printer starts printing the lyrics to Dancing on the Ceiling. It seems my 6-year old typed “Dancing on the Ceiling lyrics” into the Google toolbar on his web browser, clicked on the first link, recognized the words, and clicked “Print.”
The Internet was born three days before I was, although I didn’t start using it until college. Today, my aptitude with it and related technologies not only enable me to make a living, but enhance the quality of my life in numerous ways.
Google was formed eight months before my son was born, and he’s learning to use it in the first grade. I can hardly imagine the benefits his aptitude with it and the related technologies to come will bring him as he grows up.
I am pretty sure, though, that they will be worth more than the price of a new PC in 2007.
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Hewlett Packard turns Vista into Profits
Thursday, March 15th, 2007As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been a Windows Vista user for about a month now.
When I find some time, I’ll post a detailed review. This, however, warranted special mention. From Hewlett Packard’s Products site on my HP Scanjet 5400c:
We are sorry to inform you that there will be no Windows Vista support available for your HP product. Therefore your product will not work with Windows Vista.
The majority of HP products not supported in Windows Vista are beyond seven years old. If you are using the Windows Vista operating system on your computer, please consider upgrading to a newer HP product that is supported on Windows Vista.
HP has numerous products on the market that support Windows Vista:
http://www.hp.com/united-states/tradein/home_flash.html
I don’t know exactly when I bought my scanner, but my old PC is four years old, and the scanner came after the PC, so it’s significantly younger than “the majority.” Also, I clicked on the Trade-In link, only to see this:
The product you have entered does not have an aftermarket trade value. You may want to consider one of the disposal options below.
My options at this point seem to be: a) put the scanner in my son’s room (with the old PC) and go up to his bedroom whenever I need to scan, or b) buy a new scanner.
Plan A would be a no-brainer, except that I hate to take up desk space in my son’s room for something he’ll hardly ever use. I’ll probably swing by Best Buy or some such store this weekend and see if I can find a really cheap (read: <$100) scanner for the office. If not, we’ll go with Plan A.
In any case, isn’t it interesting that HP took such subtle advantage of the opportunity Windows Vista presented it, by basically declaring the back-end of their product pipeline dead on arrival? Writing Vista drivers for these devices could not be that expensive. By not bothering, they simply decided to screw over their old customers and force them to spend some money to replace something that’s working just fine as it is.
So that’s how it’s going to be, HP? OK, noted…
Categories: Tech Talk | 3 Comments »
Here We Go Again – EU vs. Apple
Tuesday, March 13th, 2007I’m beginning to believe that as Apple enters the mainstream, it will slowly but surely turn into Microsoft.
Case in point: the EU is accusing them of anti-competitive practices because of how they bundle their software
Pressure on Apple has been building, with consumer rights organizations from Germany, France, Finland and Norway recently agreeing a joint position in their battles against iTunes.
They argue that Apple uses digital rights technology to limit consumers’ free use of songs bought on iTunes, including the ability to copy and transfer songs to other users and other MP3 devices besides the Apple iPod.
It’s not that bad right now – these are just consumer groups, not the DOJ-equivalent government agencies that went after Microsoft for putting Windows Media Player into Windows. The head of that agency, though, had this to say:
Do you think it’s fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod? I don’t. Something has to change
A spokeswoman said these were her personal views, not those of the Commission. Still, ITMS and the iPod have certainly been noticed over in the EU…
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The Right Way to Install a DSL Modem…
Sunday, March 11th, 2007One of my more popular Ramblings (long-form) articles is DSL – The Darkside of Broadband, in which I describe the odyssey that was installing a Verizon DSL modem at my parents’ house. So when my in-laws purchased a Verizon DSL modem (the Westell Model 327W, for those who are interested), I braced myself for another series of weekend trips, calls to Verizon tech support, and unforeseen expenses.
I’m happy to report that this time, the entire process took less than two hours. But that’s only because I had anticipated all the problems my parents had, and made sure my in-laws did enough prep work up front to avoid delays.
So, as a public service, I present Tips & Tricks on The Right Way to Install a DSL Modem:
1) Check the O/S
Windows XP (and, I assume, Windows Vista?) supports USB 2.0 natively, but earlier versions of Windows do not. If the machine you’re installing on has an O/S that pre-dates Windows XP, you’re going to have to connect the DSL modem with an Ethernet cable, not a USB cable.
2) Check that the Machine has an Ethernet Connection
Today, every machine has an Ethernet connection, but not everyone who is switching to DSL (presumably from dial-up) has a new PC. In a lot of cases, it’s someone with an older machine (bought when dial-up was the slickest way onto the Internet), who would have had to shell out $100 or more for a NIC card back when the machine was purchased. If the machine has no Ethernet, you can pick one up at any Radio Shack, Best Buy, CompUSA, etc. In this case, I bought a Linksys 10/100 EtherFast PCI Adapter (LNE-100TX) for about $35 and brought it with me to the install.
3) Make Sure You Have Enough Filters
Before I even showed up at my in-laws house, I made them count the number of phone jacks that used the DSL-enabled line and compare with the number of filters they were sent. As with my parents, there weren’t enough. My in-laws had Verizon deliver the additional filters (including one for a wall-mounted phone, which doesn’t come in the standard box) before I even set foot in the door.
4) Make Sure the Machine Has a CD Drive
The installation software comes on CD, and as discussed above, you’re not necessarily dealing with a modern PC here. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if the PC had no CD Drive (would buying an external one be worth it to install DSL? Your mileage may vary…)
5) Manage Expectations Around AOL and Other Software
AOL now offers their service for free if you have broadband service from someone else (e.g., Verizon DSL). This was a lifesaver, since unlike my parents situation, I was able to leave the software side of things pretty much alone when I was done (they still use AOL for mail & web browsing, but everything’s a lot faster now). I did show them Internet Explorer, since it’s a lot faster than AOL at web browsing, even with a DSL connection. I also told them to assume that AOL would bill them for the current month in full, and then switch them to the free service. Who knows – AOL may pro-rate the last month, but just in case, I managed expectations downward…
If all of the above check out, you should be in for a pretty quick install:
- Go around the house and install all the filters
- Grab a small Phillips head screwdriver and proceed into the computer room…
- Open the PC in question and install the Ethernet card (if necessary)
- Put the Installation CD in the drive and follow all instructions, including how to hook up the Ethernet cable and the phone line to the DSL modem
- Log into AOL, change the service provider to ISP/LAN from dial-up (if necessary), go to keyword: Billing, select “Price Plan,” and then click “Switch to Free”
- Delete all the distracting new icons on the desktop and train the PC’s users in how the PC now gets on the Internet (AOL, IE, Outlook Express, etc.). Season to taste…
- Voila! You’re good to go…
Categories: Tech Talk | 3 Comments »
Oh, by the way, a laptop too!
Saturday, March 3rd, 2007With all the technology running through the house lately, I never got a chance to post about my other new toy: An HP Pavillion dv6000 laptop.
Here was my thinking: Now that we’re a multi-PC househould (the super-fast desktop PC in the home office and the previous office PC in my son’s room), we might as well setup an actual wireless network in the house. And what’s a wireless network without being able to access the network from anywhere in the house? Ergo, we need a laptop.
This was unfamiliar territory for me, because it meant buying a PC that wasn’t tricked out to do anything I may ever imagine doing with a PC. After all, I already have the desktop PC for that. Instead, this machine would serve more of an “appliance” function. It’d be the machine we keep in a drawer in the den, so we can surf the web or check our e-mail while watching TV, or the machine that my wife would use when she’s doing some work from home while taking care of the kids. So it had to be cheap and competent, as opposed to expensive and awesome.
Stop #1 was Dell.com. Every computer I’ve ever bought for myself has been purchased through Dell.com. I know some people have had troubles with them, especially lately, but my experiences have all been good (knock on silicon…). It turns out, though, that Dell doesn’t do “cheap and competent” all that well. The cheapest laptop I could configure from Dell with my minimum requirements came to more than $1,500 every time. Very odd. So, I found myself doing something I haven’t done since my parents took me shopping in grade school – going to a computer store to buy a computer.
My first instinct was Best Buy. Large store, big selection, and if you’re lucky, some competent sales people who can answer basic questions about the products. I can’t say I was disappointed in this regard. I learned a lot of about laptops and about Windows Vista there, and actually decided on a laptop: a Gateway, 17-inch machine for just $700. Quite a steal. So good, in fact, that they were sold out of it and couldn’t predict when they’d get more. I left the store empty handed.
My next stop was CompUSA. By this time, I knew exactly what I wanted: a 15-inch screen, Windows Vista Home Premium, at least a Pentium Duo chip, 1GB of RAM, a graphics card with at least 200MB of dedicated RAM, a decent (but not huge) hard drive, and whatever other bells & whistles they could throw in. CompUSA had the HP Pavillion dv6000 for $700, plus $150 for accidental damage & warranty for two years (for most devices, I ignore these packages, but a laptop has a higher chance of being dropped, spilled on, etc., especially with kids in the house). So, I came away with a new laptop for $850, all-in. A little more than I hoped for at the outset, but still a pretty good deal for a brand new PC.
I’ll post later about my thoughts on Windows Vista, my experience with wirelessly networking the two machines together, as well as my thoughts on file sharing (Vista on the receiving end and Windows XP as the host – not exactly a common configuration these days). But I’ll close this post with a quick word for my Mac-friendly friends on the topic of “it just works.”
When I opened my laptop, the first thing I saw was a piece of paper that said (I’m paraphrasing here):
Congratulations on purchasing your new HP laptop. The first time you turn it on, your laptop will optimize Windows Vista for you, based on your answers to a few simple questions. During this process, the laptop screen may go dark for short periods of time, and the computer may appear unresponsive. Do not turn the machine off during this time. The process will take approximately 25 minutes.
I plugged it in and turned it on. It asked me for basic ID info (name, address, phone number) for the purposes of registering with HP, and it asked me for my timezone, preferred language, etc. to setup Vista properly. Then, it went to work. Most of the time, the screen had “feel good about the machine you just bought” advertisements on it. Occasionally, it did go dark as the paper said – including a couple of automatic Vista reboots. In the end, though, exactly 25 minutes later, I was up and running with my new laptop. It really could not have been simpler.
So, there you have it. My new PC is still in boxes in my living room, but I’m already a full-fledged Vista user, and a bit of an expert on wireless networking and file-sharing. Turns out the laptop served the unintended purpose of training me to be my own IT Support desk, before attempting the big job that awaits tomorrow.
Should be fun…
Categories: Tech Talk | 4 Comments »