Comments on: Essential Tools: Successful Blog Style

By: Char

Char — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:59:32 +0000

Thanks everyone for stopping in! I love learning about new tools that make our daily lives more efficient (or more fun!)

By: TechZ

TechZ — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:00:57 +0000

I use a wireless mouse on the desktop, but on the laptop I use wired/trackpad. Skype here is blocked by the ISP, so that their International call revenues arent affected.

By: Jason Alba

Jason Alba — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:40:47 +0000

Great post, as usual. I swear by TechSmith.com’s products and have used their SnagIt to get images from the web (and edit them) for years. I wouldn’t even try another one (I’ve tried others but this is the easiest/best for me, with no graphics ability). Also, I’ve been using the 30 day trial and will buy the license to the video recording software as I’ve already used it to record tutorials of my software. It literally takes one or two additional minutes to create a 2 minute tutorial - and has a great filesize when done. Very very cool stuff from TechSmith. Here are some examples of the tutorials (I haven’t taken the time to learn all the cool stuff although I need to): http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/archives/category/videos/

By: Gayla

Gayla — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:32:23 +0000

I’ve not gone wireless on anything yet either. I’m such a creature of habit! I know that’s so bad - especially when it comes to working via the internet.

It’s taken me a while to get talked into Firefox, but at long last, I’m going for the change - hopefully this will give me the boost I need to keep going until they finally offer something other than dialup in my area.

I’m too cheap for DirectTV so DSL is my only option and I certainly hope it’s worth waiting for.

By: Carolyn Manning

Carolyn Manning — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:54:01 +0000

Hi Char,

I’ve not stepped into the wireless world yet; the day will come soon, though.

Being here now, it’s a wonder I didn’t come over sooner. You have some really good stuff.

Carolyn

By: Char

Char — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:14:01 +0000

Phil - Thanks for stopping in and sharing your favorites! I am very familiar with the “Cute” line as I used to swear by Cute http://FTP. I’ll have to grab CutePDF, too. Right now I use Macromedia’s Flash Paper to create PDFs.

I am also a huge fan of wireless everything. I will say that my Mac is much better at playing the wireless game than my PCs are. Reminds me of the commercials…

By: Phil Gerbyshak

Phil Gerbyshak — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:56:07 +0000

3 excellent tools. Thanks for sharing them.

I would say that a wireless keyboard is nearly a necessity as well, at least for desktop use. No more kicked loose cables in mid-sentence.

I’d also say that a portable USB drive for transporting your files would be a very worthwhile addition to your toolkit.

Also, a wireless printer or a way to print wirelessly at your home. If you’re a laptop user and a desktop user, you need a way to print out your stuff. I don’t have this yet, and it drives me nuts.

I would also recommend a program like CutePDF to PDF anything you want to save that you do online but you don’t need a hard copy printed out.

By: Liz Strauss

Liz Strauss — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:06:42 +0000

At my last company, I brought my own wireless mouse. I thought nothing more about it until I sat a editor’s computer and had to scroll through 40 page Word document. I immediately went to my communications coordinator and arranged for IT to purchase wireless Mouse(s) for every member of my department. The inefficiency of using the scroll bar so frustrated me. I had forgotten what a pain it was.