I think that Steve Smith pretty much summed up my opinions, why should I switch from Firefox or Safari if I’m happy with their performance?
Monthly Archive for October, 2005
I have been using Inquisitor in Safari for quite sometime and enjoy its slick interface and ease of use. Recently, info was released regarding its next incarnation, Inquisitor 2.0 which looks very promising.
I must say that the Inquisitor Instant Search Beta is an online version of the same search interface, working on any platform. Built on the same technology that powers Google Suggest with some AJAX goodness, should prove to be an interesting experiment.
I posted about this before on evolvefuel, but I want to devote a little more time to reviewing the product.
Linotype FontExplorer X is a new font management utility, much like Suitcase X1 or Apple’s Font book. I’ve been using Suitcase for a few years now and it usually works pretty good, though the PC version lacks some additional features that are in the OS X version.
Font Book sounded really good when it was first introduced but I found it difficult to manage a large library of fonts without my system slowing to a crawl or Font Book crashing out right.
In comes FontExplorer, a sleek interface reminiscent of iTunes brushed metal, and easy to use tools. Font organization is quick, featuring multiple preview options, auto-activation with an option to buy missing typefaces directly through the application. Searching for fonts is as easy and quick as using Spotlight.
I’d recommend this alone on the how its features are equal to or better than the competition, but the last selling point is that it is completely free, free forever, no ads or nagging, pretty generous of Linotype in my opinion.
Steve Jobs said they’re “greedy,” Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman has his own thoughts on Apple and now Microsoft said no to a subscription service because they don’t want to pay the labels’ price tag.
If prices are too high, consumers may go back to stealing/illegal downloading, which could hurt the record industry (though I doubt they’re hurting much, some CEO may not get a new Learjet for the Holidays). If prices stay the same, the record companies are going to incestantly complain and possibly withhold music from online retailers. Seems to me that the consumer is hurt either way, thanks for leaving us out of the equation.
Preview screen fonts, wheter Mac or PC, also preview any active system fonts, give Typetester a spin.
I decided to try out Mint, I used Shortstat before, stats have become a little more interesting and much better looking.
Side Job Track, a nice little online project & invoice management application geared towards freelance types.
That’s what I looked like when I went into EZ Lube yesterday, a mark, someone that has no idea about preventative maintance for your car, and they were ready to offer every service in the book. Granted, I can change my breaks, disc brakes at least, I’ve replaced and alternator in a ’67 Cadillac, but I’m not always the best when it comes to the things beyond the oil change.
Of course when I discuss this with my roomate, he just laughs, “you paid how much…they did what?” Thats when I began to feel like a heel. Now, I understand that many of the cars that come in for service there may need some extra things done to keep them running well, but I’d wager that the majority of cars don’t need every service they recommend.
As discussed in, Freakonomics, a rather interesting book, mechanics have an informational advantage over the common car owner. After all, they learned their trade just like anyone else, though you may have studied biology, real estate ot computer science, you and the mechanic will both use that information to your advantage in your career. I don’t want to sound pretentious, I drive a Lexus IS 300, my truck was wrecked earlier this year, so I was able to afford something a little better than I had before. Its a 2003, with roughly 38,000 miles on it, runs great, so why did I let them talk me into more than an oil change?
I think it has to do with their informational advantage, they march me out of the waiting room, show me some things that look dirty and I better get everything done or my car could seriously breakdown. Their knowledge of maintanance plays on my lack of knowledge and the fear of my car breaking down, and I help them make some extra money. When you consider that my car is basically a luxary Toyota, this means that though it has some nicer features that a Toyota model of the same class, it has the same (or better) parts that are in every car built by one of the markets’ most reliable car manufacturers. Even though I bought a K&N air filter, to negate extra charges for a replacement air filter, I was still suckered into the other things that I probably didn’t need done. Radiator flush, power steering flush, fuel injection cleaning, etc., granted these things can help my car run better, should I have even bothered, at least so soon?
I know they try and tell everyone that they need an oil change every 3000 miles, I think this applies mainly to older cars, I believe most new cars can go longer without service. I’ll go 5000 miles without an oil change, I could probably go more since I use Mobil 1, 100% synthetic oil, without needing to add a quart. I hope more people learn from experiences like this, I know I need to educate myself more to prevent being out a chunk of change for something I didn’t really need. I’d recommend that others do the same, consult multiple sources and find out what maintance you really need and which services are just a waste. For me, this is a lesson learned.
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