Michael Linenberger's Blog

March 27, 2013

Microsoft in the last week or so updated its tablet app version of OneNote—and I think it points to a bright future for Windows.

Why? Because it’s one very nice app. It shows how well full-power applications can be adapted to the tablet-app environment.

You see, up to now, most productivity tablet-style apps have been smartphone-like- apps—almost too simple to take seriously as a competitor to any equivalent real desktop software. But the new Windows 8 app version of OneNote is one powerful app. It has nearly all the features of the desktop version, and is much easier to use as a tablet app. The buttons are more finger friendly, and using the pen is easier.

The key is Microsoft made it easier while keeping it nearly just as powerful, which means there is hope for the idea of migrating all software completely away from the desktop.

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March 16, 2013

I’ve been getting tons of good e-mails and comments, and questions about the Lenovo article so I thought I’d follow up with a few more things.

CNET just named the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 the best of the atom-powered windows tablets. Their article is a nice comparison of all the competitors:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-3121_7-57574581-220/whats-the-best-low-power-windows-8-tablet/

[Update 3/18] Laptop Magazine April print edition just named Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 their Editors’ Choice for Windows 8 tablets (beating the Surface Pro by the way).

Windows 8 Landscape

I received a number of comments to the effect “shouldn’t we just get one of the larger hybrids”, so I refer you to my previous article about the Windows 8 landscape:

http://www.oneminutetodolist.com/blog/windows-8-computer-purchase-the-6-types-to-pick-from/

The Lenovo Keyboard

A few have asked me about the $119 optional keyboard that was designed by Lenovo to go with this tablet (whether I’d tested it, liked it, etc.). Yes, I have it and it works quite well. However it is thicker and heavier than the corresponding Surface Type keyboard, so it is a bit disappointing in that way. But it props up the tablet nicely and has a good feel.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZN8TEM/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The Lenovo Sleeve

There is an optional case that Lenovo makes to hold both the keyboard and the tablet. I tried it and did not like it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZN8QGS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It’s way too thick and overpriced.

Instead I got the following case which is thinner, cheaper, and lighter, and it holds both items:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094J0ZRQ/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Michael Linenberger

March 14, 2013

[Update 9/8/2015: My current recommendations are for Windows 10 and a Surface 3; that said, the rest of the points in this article still apply]
{Update: 5/14/2014: Lenovo just announced what looks to be the next generation of this tablet]

My very first book, written back in 2004, was a book about the Tablet PC and it sold well. I don’t advise you to buy that book now since it’s horribly out of date, but ever since writing it I’ve been watching the tablet space and yearning for the perfect productivity tablet—one that is good for play and work. In particular, one the can run a full copy of Outlook.

We are getting close, but are we there yet? In one case, I think we are. But for me it’s not Microsoft’s new Surface Pro as many had hoped; rather, at the moment I think it’s the Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2—another new Windows 8 Pro device. More on that choice ahead.

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March 13, 2013

Here’s an issue that will affect a very small number of you, but I’ve seen it a few times still so I thought I’d post it. At the top of any Windows Outlook task list you should see a blank row where you can enter tasks. It will either be labeled “Type a New Task” or “Click Here to Add a New Task.” It’s called the New Item row, and notice how it looks in Outlook 2010:

If you click in that box and type a task name and then hit your ENTER key, you’ve just created a task! It’s a nifty tool and it saves time over using the New button.

Well, sometimes that row is missing in some users’ Outlook install. If it is missing in yours, whether in the TaskPad (2003), your To-Do Bar (2007, 2010, or 2013), or in your Tasks folder, you can get it back. Here is how:

1. Right-click any column heading of the TaskPad/To-Do Bar, or the Tasks folder view from where it is missing, and from the shortcut menu choose Customize Current View… (it may say Custom… or in 2010/2013 it may say View Settings… )
2. A dialog box will open with a large list of buttons on it. In that dialog box, click the Other Settings button on the middle left.
3. A dialog box labeled Other Settings will open, the top of which is shown below.
4. See the check boxes at the top right? If not checked, select the Allow In-Cell Editing check box; this is necessary so that you can edit your tasks in place and is required for the next step.
5. If not checked, select the Show “New Item” Row check box; this shows the row.
6. Click OK and then OK again to close the configuration dialog boxes.

That’s it, the New Item row should be visible, and now you can use it as a quicker way to create tasks. By the way, if you double-click in that row, it opens a full new task dialog box, which allows you to set more task fields.

Michael Linenberger

Feb 27, 2013

Lists some of the new features…

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2029335/five-surprisingly-great-things-about-outlook-2013.html

Michael Linenberger

Feb 23, 2013

I’ve read a lot of reviews about Outlook.com, and this one seems one of the best:

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020415143_ptechoutlookxml.html

Don’t forget to see my blog on Outlook.com:

http://www.oneminutetodolist.com/blog/hotmail-starting-phaseout-to-outlook-com/

Michael

Feb 19, 2013

Microsoft announced today that its Outlook.com browser-based e-mail service has moved out of its preview stage and that Hotmail users who don’t switch over on their own will be upgraded gradually to the new product, automatically, starting this week. Luckily, users can keep their “@Hotmail” address in that transition, and they have the option to claim an “@Outlook.com” alias, as well. Supposedly the full phaseout of Hotmail will complete by summer.

If you have not studied the new product or don’t use it yet, here is a link to an article about Outlook.com: http://hothardware.com/News/The-New-Microsoft-Outlookcom-is-not-Your-Fathers-Outlook/

As I have mentioned before, Outlook.com is not a feature-matching web version of Outlook. Microsoft just borrowed the Outlook brand name; but it doesn’t look anything like the Outlook application (OWA is the closest web experience you can get to that).

Rather, Outlook.com is Microsoft’s push to modernize Hotmail, and its attempt to compete with Gmail and other free web mail services. To that end, here is a Microsoft “comparison” of Outlook.com to Gmail and Yahoo: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-com/compare/  Granted, that comparo is highly biased, but it does point out significant potential advantages if you use free web mail a lot.

Michael Linenberger

Feb 14, 2013

In MYN start dates are huge. Using them you can hide tasks until you are ready to consider them. And they are especially important when using Defer-to-Review to prevent a long list of Low priority tasks from overwhelming you. When using Defer-to-Review, you often need to change a large number of start dates all at once to the same new, future date. You normally cannot do that in Outlook, but there is a trick that lets you do it (Windows Outlook). This article shows how.

Continue reading →

Feb 12, 2013

I get this question a lot about the MYN/1MTD system: Should I put new tasks on my task list, or on my calendar?

Simple Rule of Thumb:

• If an item must be done at a certain time on a certain day, then put it on your calendar; and set a pop-up reminder for it.
• But if an item can be done at any time on a day, then use your task list.

Even it it’s due today, if there is no specific time it is due today, use your task list (and in 1MTD/MYN, put it in the Critical Now section). Don’t use your calendar.

One reason for this rule is that if you do not complete an item, it will stay on task list into the next day reminding you to do it. But a calendar item does not auto-forward to the next day and you may lose it. Also, it’s hard to prioritize tasks if you only list them on your calendar.

Some exceptions to this rule of thumb:

• If you know it may take a fair amount of time to do the task, and you are worried you may not leave enough time in the day for it, block out some time for it on your calendar (even if it is not due at a certain time).
• If you have a task that has no specific time, but you really want a pop-up alert for it (say at the beginning of the day), in Outlook you should put it on your calendar and use the calendar reminder. That’s because the reminder feature for tasks in Outlook is unreliable.

That’s it! Questions? Thoughts? Leave a reply.

Michael

Feb 7, 2013

Major magazines and computer web sites are starting to issue reviews of the Surface Pro tablet—the new Windows 8 tablet that Microsoft will release to the public in two days. (We’re tracking this tablet closely because it will be one of the first tablets that runs Outlook at full power. Given our Outlook book, and the large percent of our clients that are Outlook users, this is an important topic to me.)

So how did it do? Continue reading →