Spent The Day At Microsoft Launch Events

Eight hours of Windows Vista and Office 2007 goodness. Oh my. All in tightly packed hotel conference rooms with no wi-fi (how does that happen?). The snack food was good, though. No complaint there. And the freebies? Top-notch. New day T-shirts AND a fully licensed copy of Microsoft Office Professional 2007 (or two if you attended two sessions like someone I know)!

I heard how Microsoft was introducing a paradigm-shifting integrated desktop search (you mean the same integrated search Apple's been offering for five years in Spotlight - and Google for a few with its Google Desktop?). I heard how Microsoft was introducing an innovative new aero interface that enabled transparent windows, making it easier to find hidden windows (you mean the same translucent windows Linux and Apple have offered for years?). I heard how Microsoft was introducing new graphical improvements that enable color matching prints with colors displayed on screen (you mean the same technology that Apple's Mac platform's boasted for years?).

But, that's being a little hard on our friends in Redmond. The new Vista interface is, actually, very attractive (never mind that you need at least a 128-bit, 128-megabyte video card to enjoy it). The new Flip 3D technology for cycling through open windows is innovative (and a nice productivity enhancement). The OS' security and monitoring refinements are very nice, too.

The real gains are in the Office productivity suite, though. I have to admit I was surprised. I've been working with beta Office 2007 software for awhile. But before the demo I wasn't fully aware of all the improvements (for example, there's some sweet new integration between Outlook 2007 and Microsoft Office Accounting Professional). There are also the other highly touted refinements, such as the new "floaty" toolbars that do nothing short of rock and the new ribbon interface - which proves contextually relevant - and is actually a big enough improvement that I'm upgrading to Office 2007 as I type this.

Do I recommend you migrate to Vista right now? No. Next month? No. When you must purchase your next PC? Maybe (maybe not). It all depends on a number of factors (what applications will you run, will you be joining a domain, do you run proprietary software, etc.).

Do I recommend you migrate to Office 2007? Possibly, but not immediately. If you spend a lot of time in the main apps (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) like I do every day, yes, it's worth a look. If you don't, then OpenOffice.org 2.0 might well work for you.

But, if you're a heavy Microsoft Office user, Office 2007 is worth a free test drive. It's actually pretty nice, but you'll have to watch out for incompatiblities (unless you want recipients of documents and spreadsheets you send to have to download and install a free compatibility patch, not something I'd recommend at this juncture). The new XML engine that powers so many new features just doesn't work with older Office versions. In time everyone will migrate to the new Office 2007, but it'll take years (and until then, prepare to become familiar with the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack).

Newspapers: Beginning To Get The Net

It's been a painful education, but it appears newspapers are finally recognizing that the future of news is on the Web. While the Internet has crushed newspapers' popularity, earnings and capital evaluations, forward thinking dailies are embracing the Web and its myriad opportunities.

In a speech to hundreds of journalists, Los Angeles Times Editor James O'Shea announced a daring plan to shift more emphasis to online initiatives. For starters, the newspaper will no longer maintain separate newsrooms for its print and electronic outlets. There'll also be changes (presumably improvements) to online content, but perhaps the most important announcement was the revelation that the newspaper's online Web site would become the paper's "primary vehicle for breaking news 24 hours a day."

What took so long?

I guess the fact that the parent company is considering dumping the Times may have awakened some stody curmudgeons within its staid hallways, but I doubt it.

Either way, it's great to see newspapers taking a greater interest, and making bigger commitments, to the Web. But I'll only consider newspapers as having arrived when I can receive daily columns from The San Francisco Chronicle's Scott Ostler, the Miami Herald's Carl Hiassen and The Journal News' Ian O'Connor daily in my e-mail inbox. To the Miami Herald's credit, you can add Hiassen's XML feed to your favorite feed reader, but some of us still use e-mail.

American Heritage Quite A Find

Occasionally - and it seems to occur less frequently now - I'll come across a refreshing new magazine. I remember the first time I discovered publications like Dirt Rag and (the 1996-era) Wired.

A little electronic synapse seems to fire from deep within my soul whenever the rare realization strikes that I've found a periodical worthy of subscription. And, that's just what happened when I received my first issue of American Heritage (which I stumbled upon as a result of having air miles I was looking to trade in on something, anything). Taglined History Happens Here, every couple months the magazine serves up a heaping helping of intriguing historical content.

Now, I suspect someone will burst my bubble by revealing the secret leftist, right-wing or class-phobic hidden agenda its editors supposedly possess, but so far I'm simply enjoying reading its seemingly insightful articles at face value. The next time you're browsing the Barnes & Noble or Border's magazine rack, give it a look.

We're Going To Disney World

The time has come. The official 2007 family vacation will be to Walt Disney World.

Despite having architected intricate business itineraries, planned demanding adventure vacations requiring the concurrent shipment of mountain bikes, associated equipment and 150-pounds of formula for a four-month old to the remote Utah desert and coordinated numerous complex multi-day roadtrips, planning a Walt Disney World vacation quickly exceeds my skills. In addition to boasting its own lexicon (Disney Dining Passes, Park Hopper Passes, Magical Express shuttles, Fastpass ride-cutting vouchers, Extra Magic Hours, etc.), the trip-planner's decisions are never ending:

• Are you staying in the park or out?
• If in the park, which resort?
• If a resort, do you need a Standard or Preferred room?
• How are you getting there?
• Flying? How are you getting to the resort?
• Which parks will you visit?
• Will you visit more than one park a day?
• Where will you eat?
• How are you going to pay? (Hint, it's not as easy as you might think... I'm not sure they take cash!).
• How many nights you staying?
• Did you want to visit the waterparks? Oh, that's extra.
• Do you need a parks pass for your last day?

The list goes on. But it's all good.

I've already begun a simple Excel spreadsheet. Charting all the requirements and costs, the worksheet already has grown to resemble a small office's quarterly operating budget. Apparently that's some of the magic of a Walt Disney vacation.

After spending just an few hours on the (sloooooooooow) Walt Disney Web site travel planner, I'm reminded of being in a Las Vegas casino. Money soon assumes a surreal quality; it's almost like it's make believe... I'll take the fifteen-hundred-dollar airfare package, give me a thousand dollars of park passes, another thousand dollars of dining passes, comp me with the Magical Mickey Express on arrival and departure, pass me five-hundred in park hoppers, give me six nights at one-forty-nine per, add forty a day for a fridge, etc.).

Our neighbors (seasoned WDW veterans) have been kind enough to fill us in on the Birnbaum Walt Disney World guidebook. Recognizing that a WDW vacation surpasses my expertise, though, we're enlisting the assistance of a certified Walt Disney World vacation travel planner (yes, there is such a thing; apparently a professional travel agent isn't sufficiently educated to book such a trip).

If you've been to WDW recently, and have any tips you wish to share, we'd appreciate hearing them. Please post them as comments or e-mail them through.

Apple's New iPhone Proves Groundbreaking

I just spent the last hour watching Apple Inc. CEO Steve Job's Macworld keynote. He spends most of the presentation reviewing the new iPhone's features and capabilities. If you haven't yet seen this new device, check it out. Apple's truly revolutionizing portable music players, telephones and Internet communicators with a single, incredibly user-friendly device boasting breathtaking design.

There is no doubt Apple's just turned the mobile phone market upside down. If stock prices are any indication, competitors' tickers took a sharp downward turn, while Apple's stock took yet another spike skyward.

I must have one. At $500, the purchase will prove expensive. But the new phone could conceivably replace my iPod, telephone and need for a laptop in the field. All of a sudden $500 isn't that outrageous.

Win Orange Bowl, Drop In Polls

How do you win the Orange Bowl, one of the most prestigious of all the college bowl games, a BCS game in and of its own right with a storied tradition, and drop a spot in the college football polls?

Apparently you do it by squeaking by a weak Wake Forest team. Or, could it be you fall a spot following a prestigious bowl victory because sportswriters are still bothered by the fact you couldn't beat a top-20 Rutgers on the road in November?

I suspect it's the latter. But whatever, football polls are wacked. Bring on a playoff system. Had Louisville played Ohio State on Monday night, the Cards would have lit the Buckeyes up for 40 or possibly 50 points. What a win that would have been.

On the other hand, had we had to beat Boise State to get there I'm not sure we'd have made it. Maybe the polls aren't so crazy after all?

Louisville Hires Kragthorpe; "Bad Day Bobby"

The University of Louisville Cardinals have a new football coach, former Tulsa head coach and Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Steve Kragthorpe. I don't know much about this fellow, but in what I've managed to read and hear over the past day, no one has a single negative thing to say about this guy. Based on today's news conference, he comes across as a first-class professional.

And on the Bobby Petrino front, if you haven't heard this yet, you owe yourself a quick listen to Bad Day Bobby. It's hilarious. My favorite lines? "He said he won't go, that was a lie, he brought home a trophy now he's waving goodbye, we had a bad day, he's flying first class, shove the Orange Bowl trophy right up your a--."

As for Michael Bush, today he announced he's entering the NFL draft. I hope he goes in the first round and enjoys a long and storied NFL career. I remember watching this kid suit up as a freshman. He was electric then and I'm sure he'll thrill audiences on Sundays, too. He deserves as much.

Petrino Bails On Louisville

After four years of where-will-Bobby-Petrino-interview-next (he expressed interest annually in other head coaching positions every year he coached Louisville, including at Auburn, LSU, Southern Mississippi and Oakland), we have an answer to where Petrino will work next: Atlanta. Bobby Petrino has accepted the head coaching position with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, a move that's likely to make his next role prove of even shorter duration than his brief Louisville tenure.

I'll explain why in a moment. First, let me say that the news comes just six weeks after the man issued a press release promising, and I quote, "I am not a candidate for any job openings." And, Bobby Petrino's resignation comes just five months after signing a lucrative new contract that has but nine years remaining.

But I am not bitter. Despite Petrino's incessant interviewing, he still did a lot for the Louisville program. For that I'm grateful. But I was never much of a Bobby Petrino fan (those that know me know this to be true). While his offensive schemes proved intriguing, his lack of loyalty always colored my view of the man, and his defense proved porous at best. And, what did he really accomplish? If I'm not mistaken he only beat a single top 20 team - Wake Forest - on the road.

I fear Petrino's desire to escape Louisville (for whatever reason) overwhelmed his ability to clearly view and weigh the Atlanta position logically. His offensive style doesn't seem particularly well suited for a quarterback possessing Michael Vick's talents. His coaching style, too (described by some as militaristic), isn't likely to work well in the NFL, either. If early indications are any key, the Atlanta Falcon faithful agree. Worse, many Falcons fans suggest the team should have waited for the NFL playoffs to complete (in hopes a better coach than Petrino could be found). That's not a good sign.

Regardless, I'm glad Petrino's moved on to a new position that he's so obviously wanted since accepting the Louisville post. Hopefully it works out in Altanta, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the college ranks within two short years.

Back in Louisville, AD Tom Jurich is sure to secure a worthy or even superior replacement. Jurich has done much more for the program than has Petrino. In fact, Jurich has done much more the school and community. So, despite losing a head coach and possibly our starting quarterback (Brian Brohm) and best running back (Michael Bush) to the NFL draft, I see no reason to panic. Jurich is at the controls. All will be fine.

Update: The more I read Atlanta Falcons fans' comments, the more I see a clear pattern. In addition to worrying Petrino's qualified to lead the Falcons (for the record I think he is), fans are clearly concerned Petrino will jump ship in Atlanta after just two or three years. That's the danger of annually interviewing for a new job, I suspect.

Big East Proves Three Times Tougher Than Big Ten

Despite disparaging Big Least claims by critics, the Big East is proving to be the toughest conference in Division 1A NCAA football. That shouldn't prove surprising following commanding performances by league members Louisville, West Virginia, Rutgers, South Florida and others.

Before you argue with the claim that the Big East is the toughest conference in college football, consider the facts. Big East teams claim a 1.000 winning percentage in 2007 bowl games, while (remove hats please) Southeastern Conference members can claim only a .625 (5-3) record.

The Big Ten? Members of the once-vaunted football conference have managed to win only two of six games, giving the league a paltry .333 winning percentage.

No other league, in fact, even comes close. Atlantic Coast Conference teams boast only a .500 winning record (4-4), the same goes for Pac 10 teams. As for the Big 12, don't even think about it. The conference owns only a 3-5 record (.375 winning percentage).

However you wish to slice it, the Big East has proven to be 2007's premier football conference.

Four-Door Mustang Or Topless Camaro?

That's an easy question to answer.

Give me the ragtop.

Cards Win BCS Bowl

Each year only a very few colleges earn the prestigious honor of a BCS bowl win, but that's just what the University of Louisville Cardinals did last night in defeating Wake Forest 24-13 in the 2007 Orange Bowl. Granted, it wasn't the national championship many Cards fans began believing was possible after destroying Kentucky (itself a 2006 bowl-winner), Miami and West Virginia, but, let's be honest, you apparently have to pay your players pretty well to compete at that level.

Finishing the season with a top five ranking will certainly place Louisville atop many prospects' lists. While the Cards still may not compare favorably against the nation's best football schools, including those from the (remove hats please) Southeastern Conference, the Cardinals have built a winning reputation (attending eight bowl games in as many years) and have established themselves not only with the BCS bowl victory but with a Big East Conference Championship, as well.

Will Petrino stay, or will he be lured away to the Miami Dolphins post vacated by Nick Saban? Will Brian Brohm leave school early and declare for the NFL draft? Will Michael Bush forego redshirting his senior year?

Who knows?

One thing, though, is certain. The Cardinals are Orange Bowl, BCS and conference winners. There's no taking that away. All in all the year went very well. The time for fretting over what could have been (if the Cards hadn't lost tempo versus Rutgers), how the team will regroup (due to losing seniors), who'll head the ship (if head coach Bobby Petrino's annual job search scores him a new post in the NFL), etc. are over. We won a BCS bowl game, something only a select few other programs can boast.

Four-Door Mustang?

Somewhere Lee Iacocca and Carroll Shelby must be fuming. Today the Ford Motor Company introduced a new concept car within its venerable Mustang line. While the new mockups are striking (the new designs depict a muscle car possessing a delightfully aggressive stance and potent haunches), there's also one problem: four doors.

As a former 302 cubic-inch, V-8, Boss Mustang owner, I feel qualified to state the Mustang's heritage is being tainted. Just as storied Jeep Wrangler models are, too, now available in four-door models, the Mustang is apparently the next historic American vehicle to sacrifice substance for the sake of marketability. The Mustang, of course, fueled passionate sales and created a tidal wave of demand when it was introduced as a sporty two-door all the way back in 1964 (24 years after the first two-door Jeep, if anyone's counting).

Ultimately it's no big deal, especially if the new four-door model helps reinvigorate Ford sales. If Jeep serves as any indication, Ford's in for some smooth sailing. Sales of Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and four-door models have absolutely triggered greater profitability for Jeep.