Tim Marman's Loosely Coupled

January 2007 - Posts

• Jan

  31

  2007

  A word of warning about Vista upgrades

  Unlike past versions of Windows, the Vista upgrade edition requires you to have XP already installed . (That is, you can literally upgrade, but you can't do a clean install). Hopefully that version of XP doesn't need to be activated, because the upgrade process apparently invalidates your XP key . (Luckily... Posted Jan 31 2007, 10:59 AM by Tim with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Microsoft, Enterprise

• Jan

  30

  2007

  Sometimes piracy isn't about getting it for free

  The old maxim that "you can't compete with free" has been thrown around time and time again in the piracy argument. Sometimes, though, piracy is not just about price. People don't want DRM ( including Bill Gates ), and there are still no legal means to download DRM-free music. ( Ok, I should clarify... Posted Jan 30 2007, 06:28 AM by Tim with 7 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Intellectual Property, Gadgets, Music, Law

• Jan

  30

  2007

  Equity-Based Compensation

  Anthony points to a good overview on equity-based compensation. Motivation issues aside, such plans are also a key means to attract and keep top talent when you might not otherwise have the means (i.e., an early stage startup). The article discusses the three primary forms of equity - Incentive Stock... Posted Jan 30 2007, 05:48 AM by Tim with no comments Filed under: Business, Law, Entrepreneurship, Startup, Venture Capital

• Jan

  29

  2007

  Loosely Coupled's Fourth Anniversary

  I started this blog four years ago . I often find it difficult to explain why I started writing here in the first place and why I continue to write given my hectic schedule. I think John sums up my personal experience with blogging perfectly . ( via Dennis ). My personal arc (over 5 years of blogging... Posted Jan 29 2007, 07:15 AM by Tim with 4 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Personal, Blogging

• Jan

  28

  2007

  The Joys of Vista - New user folder structures

  In the past, we had C:\documents and settings\User\My Documents. Now we have C:\Users\User\Documents. Better yet, the Documents finally is just for documents. Instead of putting My Videos and My Music and My Pictures within the My Documents folder, they have been moved up a level and are now "even" with... Posted Jan 28 2007, 08:55 AM by Tim with no comments Filed under: Productivity, Vista, Microsoft

• Jan

  26

  2007

  The Joys of Vista - Search is Everywhere

  I already mentioned the updated Start Menu , which allows you to search. But there are Search Boxes literally everywhere in Vista that allow you to filter the results. This search box is in everything, including Windows Explorer. In Explorer, you can click the Save Search icon in the toolbar and save... Posted Jan 26 2007, 06:49 AM by Tim with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Productivity, Vista, Microsoft

• Jan

  26

  2007

  Understanding the Option Backdating scandals

  It is legal to grant an in-money option - there is nothing in corporate law that prevents anyone from backdating an option. So why are all these CEOs and CFOs going to jail? (Well, if you're not Steve Jobs that is , since he gets a free pass ). The companies are issuing Incentive Stock Options (ISOs... Posted Jan 26 2007, 02:57 AM by Tim with no comments Filed under: Business, Law, Entrepreneurship

• Jan

  25

  2007

  The Joys of Vista - Quick Launch keyboard shortcuts

  You can launch programs in your Quick Launch toolbar using the Win+ position . So if you have Outlook as the second item in your Quick Launch toolbar, you can open it by pressing Win+2. ( via Lifehacker ) Posted Jan 25 2007, 06:28 AM by Tim with no comments Filed under: Productivity, Vista, Microsoft

• Jan

  25

  2007

  Wisdom

  There is an important distinction between factual information and understanding how to apply it in context ( via Matthew ). Data is "the sun rises at 5:12 AM" Information is "the sun rises from the East, at 5:12 AM" Knowledge is "If you're lost in the woods without a compass, follow the direction of... Posted Jan 25 2007, 04:40 AM by Tim with no comments Filed under: Innovation, Business, Social Behavior

• Jan

  24

  2007

  The Joys of Vista - The New Start Menu

  I absolutely love the new start menu. No more Start -> Run (Win+R). Instead, you can just press the Win key and start typing the name of the program you want to run. It even searches your favorites, history, documents and e-mail. In fact, I don't even really worry about organizing my Start menu anymore... Posted Jan 24 2007, 06:21 AM by Tim with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Productivity, Vista, Microsoft