Monthly Archives: November 2003

Update: More Office Woes

 My latest column (subscription only; very sorry) was about Microsoft Office 2003 and how, despite all the upgrades, a lot of old bugs never get fixed. That and why does every new feature appear to be more of a money spinning operation than a time saver?   Anyway, I’m not the only grumbler: Chris Pirillo, of… Read More »

News: Computers Are Not Helping

 More grim reports about how computers aren’t doing what they’re supposed to. BBC quotes new research that says computer systems at work are not working as they should, mainly because workers do not have enough guidance about technology, support staff are cut off from other staff and managers are “naive”.   The problem is there… Read More »

News: Ask Not For Whom The Cellphone Rings

 Sounds like an episode from Six Feet Under: the family of a deceased motorcyclist are suing a funeral firm after the dead man’s cell phone started ringing – from inside the coffin.   A Belgian newspaper, Gazet van Antwerpen, is reporting that the night before the funeral the family gathered at the undertakers for a final… Read More »

News: Internet Gets Older, So To Speak

 The old ‘uns are getting online. Nielsen//NetRatings reports (PDF file) that senior citizens age 65 and older were the fastest growing age group online, surging 25 percent year over year in October 2003.   Nielsen//NetRatings also found that in addition to outpacing senior males in audience growth, the rise in usage by female seniors was… Read More »

Update: More On Those Exploding Phones

 Just when you thought it was over…. The Register reports that Test-Aankoop, the Belgian consumer watchdog that reported Nokia batteries as dangerous and then had it corrected, says Nokia still has a problem. The Finnish mobile phone maker cannot guarantee that its batteries are safe, because consumers cannot distinguish between original and non-original batteries, the… Read More »