iDreamBIG | Blog

Annoyingly as of April, 2006 anyone running Flash content on their website had to side-step the ugly “click to activate” issue for Windows Internet Explorer users. GOOD NEWS! Starting December, 2007 Microsoft will push out an optional “patch” to fix this. Then in April, 2008 they will force an update of their browser to remove this activation requirement all together!

One last cross-browser issue to worry about!? According to Microsoft, we will not have to do anything once they “patch”, BUT that is yet to be seen. You might want to have your own “patches” ready just in case! :)

Microsoft Developer Information Article

Think INK jets! Not dot matrix. Not laser. INK JET$!

Granted you can purchase an ink jet printer for mere pennies now days, but the real cost of ownership is in the INK supply. Now back in the day, I used to gripe about the cost of INK cartridges, but I got over it for the most part. Really, I got over it once I started buying off-brand INK for half the price.

More recently, I’ve had another horrible end-user experience with my office INK jet printer. Apparently, I had not noticed this before, but when you run out of just one of the six colors that remain it won’t let you print. Even if you just want to print black text with your remaining full black ink cartridge!

I’ve read a lot about how much INK these printers WASTE. I often get the blinking light, a.k.a. “your ink is all gone”, when actually there is at least 20% or more remaining. I used to be able to keep printing on my older ink jets, but these modern ink jets refuse to keep printing.

I’ve read recently that the modern ink cartridges are now shipping with chips that actually expire, whether or not you’ve actually printed anything. Is this actually true? Ouch.

I’ve always purchased Epson INK jets in the past, but seriously, I’m desperate for a better printing solution. Seriously, these INK jets are wasting INK every chance they get!

Greetings All,

Sadly, my entry into the Blogosphere is simply the result of a horrible end-user experience. You know what I’m talking about, right? No? Well, I have this computer and I like to run software on it. It’s supposed to make life easier OR at least help me do my job better. In reality, Adobe Updater is out to get me. No really, I think this new and improved updating software is set on my demise – at least mentally!

Long story short, Mac users have long since been accustomed to installing and placing their applications wherever they need. You know, for better organization or whatnot. For example, I might place all my design software in a folder like this: Applications > Design > Photoshop.

Well, apparently you can still install your expensive software wherever you want, BUT when you try to update it to the latest and greatest (read: bug fixes and such) the Adobe Updater can’t seem to find your software.

Not to mention, you must first wait for the updater to download and setup everything while the progress bar creeps across and sometimes crashes. Ouch.

In addition, forget about moving your software – presuming you want to reorganize your directory structure (a.k.a folders)! If you do this, your pain-ware will let you know that it has been moved and needs to be repaired.

Great, you might be led to believe! So you type in your password and click OK. Of course, nothing is actually repaired AND each time you start your software it forces you to repeat the process. :)

With a little internet research, I soon discovered that this was a frequent experience for many Mac users running the Adobe Updater. I’ll let you know if this is ever resolved!