Station17.org

I was watching TV show online thought ABC.com and NBC.com. And I thought of see what’s on CBS.com The only shows I watch on that channel are The Big Bang Theory, Jericho, and The Unit.

Now I don’t know why I went to CBS because the Writer Strike is still on. But I happen to see a listing for a pilot called “Welcome to the Captain”. I thought it would be a something about sailing or a restaurant. It’s about a guy how moves from New York to L.A. because of a friend. Now I know it sounds stupid but it’s really a good show. It’s funny, smart, different and new. New meaning there’s nothing else on. But it was funny. I’m going to watch the other episodes later and hoping the show will get picked up. But with most mid season shows it will die like some of the canceled fox shows.

Also Joanna García is in it. And I loved her in Reba.

Update: The writer’s strike is over. But it’s going to take 2 months until we see something.

When buying software you need to have stages you go thought to find the right type of software.

Stage 1: Searching

I would say Google it but that’s not as safe as it us to be. Try finding other companies that might need the same software you need. Go to online stores to shop around. Find the section you need and look at the reviews below them. That will tell what your really getting from there users. I’ll list good software stores below. I’ll also list some websites that have free software that might replace your paid versions. Because free is nice.

Stage 2: List

List all the software that you liked at the store. Have at least 5 different software’s listed. Any more than 5 and you’re wasting your time. On that list you just need to have the name, price and website. If the software company doesn’t have the price. Go ahead and call them. I just might be the right software for you. If they try to sell you something too pricey then hang up. If the company doesn’t have a good website. Then see the software looks like. If it’s confusing then don’t use it.

Stage 3: Test

Testing the software is really important because you want to have a real life trial of the software. If it’s for databases. You’re really going to need to put a real database in place to show if it’s what you want or if you need something else. Most software companies have trial versions on there websites. If they don’t, you might be able to call tech support for help. Or even have a demo mailed to you. If you can’t test it, it’s not worth it.

Stage 4: Buy

Look at the site I’ve listed below. Try to find one that has what you need for the right price. It’s ok to shop around even try the companies’ website if you can get it cheaper. Digital Downloads are cheaper but if you like to have physical copy then watch for the shipping price. And you can always just call around to your local computer store for a price check.

Stage 5: Using

Now you’ve bought the software you needed. Try to see if you need any other features you need. If so write them down. Have a list and see what other software would work better. Have other co-worker work on it to see what they think. Don’t try to work around problems; you might waste time not learning the ropes. And when you’re really in trouble Read the Manual.

Good Software Websites

Newegg
Pricewatch
Mwave
Frys

Just had a friend at work say “We just got new computers and they had Winzip installed on it.” Now I know some companies need this for saving space on there hard drive and backing up. But this company was also being cheap. They had the elevation copy on there systems. I couldn’t stop laughing. Has every company just thought to themselves and said “I don’t think theres a free way to do this. So lets just use the evaluation copy because were cheap.” I told my friend to use 7zip if he really needs to backup his files. Even though you can compress files in XP and Vista.

Here are reasons not to use Winzip:

1. It’s crappy shareware from 90’s.
2. Like I said before, you can use the send to: compression folder options in XP or Vista.
3. Who pays for software like this when you have so many free or cheap alternatives. (I’ll list them below.)
4. The features are stupid things like “Improved Compression for Audio Files (WAV)” who uses WAV files but for old phones that don’t use MP3’s.
5. There’s 3 version of Winzip but the evaluation does the most of what the standard does. And the Pro is not worth it of you don’t know how to use a computers.
6. The GUI is still the same from Win95 and they having change it much. It’s still confusing and clunky.
7. For $30 bucks you can ask at high school kid to find and install a free Winzip alternative.
8. With the way backup hard drive prices are going you can afford more space.
9. Even when people have Winzip installed they to stupid to zip old files. They start deleting them.
10. Need it because it’s the only thing that works on Win95.

Now I know some people like Winzip or Winzip PRO and still running pre-WinXP systems. Or your happy with to state Winzip is in. But your still drunk on the Dot-com bubble juice. The Dot-com bubble is over and so is the support for pre-WinXP systems. So WinXP will be over soon.

So the only reason I’d use this if I had got lost in some developing country and I need to use a computer to write a letter to the US embassy that stated why I need to get back to America. And I need to use computer running Win95 with MS word, Winzip, and using Outlook Express to send it to them because I’m on dial up, before the bomb attached to my balls blows up. Because Jack Bauer was busy getting interrogated in the other room. Even though I wouldn’t have the time for it. I’d download a small Linux Distro, burn it to a CD, run it in live CD mode, then write the letter in Gedit, use File Roller to compress the file and email it with Evolution. Just in time for me to send a message to the US embassy and Jack Bauer to save my ass.

Alternatives to Winzip:

7-zip
PeaZip
jZip

jZip is new but it works ok for me. It uses 7zips technology but made a nicer GUI.