In Search of Everything All at Once

Google Calendar has been out now for over 2 years.

In that time, I have been a vocal advocator for a task-list feature to be added to Google Calendar, and I'm not alone.

Back when I used to use Outlook, I used the task list extensively. While most of that has been replaced by things like Unfuddle for my software projects and a paper notebook I carry around for notes, I really miss having a task list on my computer now that I use Gmail instead of Outlook.

Shortly after its release, ZDNet speculated on Google adding a task list to its Calendar product, and even found pieces of code in it that seemed to indicate one was in the works, but we're still 2 years out from that and no progress has been made. Many improvements have been added, like little weather icons, public events, Outlook sync, etc., but not one mention in Google's Calendar blog about the addition of, or even plans to add it.

Having a task list just makes sense. Sure you can create events on a calendar and then set reminders, but that's not really a clean way to do it. You can also add the task-list widget to iGoogle, but I don't use iGoogle. Even if I did, I'd like that in my calendar, not on my start page.

Please Google, add a task list!

This sort of dialog box is either a textbook example of Microsoft's arrogance, or a display of its poor design choices:

This pops up after you've used Vista a bit. Now, let's say you don't want to join the program. You'll notice the "OK" button is grayed out. It only lets you click on it once you pick Join the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program and then make your selection. In my case, I chose I don't want to join the program at this time.

Why in the world would they make it to where you cannot choose "no" without jumping through hoops? Is it arrogance on their part, assuming anyone would want to say yes? Or is it just bad design. Or both?

Either way, whatever you choose, you still have to confirm with the UAC prompt that pops up afterwards.

I'll start this article with one simple word:

WOW.

This is my first time recommending a Mac to anyone. I don't even own one yet, but recommended one. Those that know me will recount me being on the PC/Windows side of the fence for quite a long time. My main argument was hardware and not software based. Since I love Linux and use it daily, my argument for PC's was always the winning one usually, as before Mac's got Intel chips, PC's were simply the best computers to buy. And, even afterwards, it really took some convincing to bring me to the conclusion that Mac's were better, because XP simply worked.

Then came Vista, and all of that changed.

My sister-in-law is soon to purchase another computer, and being the family go-to guy for computer advise, I told her to get a Mac. So why did I finally recommend Mac to my sister in law? Simple - I'm fed up with Windows.

Vista, specifically. XP was a good operating system. It had its flaws, but once you got it updated and everything you used installed, it ran fairly well with few problems.

The same can't be said about Vista unfortunately. Vista is a conglomeration of crap. I won't get into the reasons I (and may others) believe this (if you want them, simply search my site for Vista and read one of my many rants about it). Quite simply, Vista is a broken product. Service pack 1 doesn't help matters much, it still has a multitude of problems that I don't see Microsoft being able to fix in this release of Windows.

I told her that if she absolutely wanted to get a Windows machine, do not get one from the value $500 or less variety, because Vista runs horribly on them. After we discussed it for a while, I think she's going to give a Mac serious consideration.

There are several things that have changed in recent years that make a move to the Mac for people (including her and I) feasible, including:

• More and more applications that people use everyday are going online (i.e. Gmail), so the OS you run doesn't matter as much
• Apple has improved its interoperability with Windows machines considerably, and the move to Intel made running Windows applications via virtualization possible.
• Most hardware is now compatible with both Windows machines and Mac's. I looked up all of her accessories, including her camera, printer, and scanner, and found them all to be compatible with Mac OS X.
• The growing list of quality end-user open source software, like OpenOffice and Firefox (both of which she already uses for Windows) means that those applications are available on all major platforms - if she moves to a Mac, she won't have to get used to something different.

As for Microsoft, they have done a terrible job convincing people to stay with Windows. The many editions of Vista, the shoddy performance, and the "how did this get out the door like this?" problems have made the Mac more appealing to me.

For me, I'll enjoy having the beauty of the UNIX command line to get my work done while still having all my favorite applications (sorry, Linux just can't do this - yet) at my fingertips. For her, she won't know or care that UNIX is under the hood - but will benefit from its stability and openness.

I do have to say, I'm not particularly pleased with all of Apple's business practices. I think their iTunes DRM is appalling (Amazon MP3 will soon force them to change this though), and I think they've made some stupid moves in the past that some of which they haven't recovered from fully. Their attitude of elitism is frustrating as well, but as more and more people give up on Windows and use Mac's, this will diminish.

So that's right, I recommended a Mac to her. I'll be getting one soon myself.

It's probably nearing freezing in hell as I type this and pigs are sprouting buds that will soon be wings.