Disqus - Latest Comments for bobcaswell

Re: We sell content, not paper!

bobcaswell — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:41:58 -0000

Glad to share! Actually, to clarify on one point, students will be able to keep a copy of the digital version just like they keep their books when taking a class using that method.

Re: We sell content, not paper!

bobcaswell — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:04:52 -0000

It's the same content that comes in the book. MCTs/CPLSs/students can opt to print certain sections, if they'd like. Otherwise, the class would be conducted with everyone referring to their materials on a monitor rather than in a book.

If this is not a good solution, depending on the preference of the student or the facility being used, etc. the book version (traditional way) of delivering the class is still available.

Re: We sell content, not paper!

bobcaswell — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:30:41 -0000

CPLSs will be able to purchase this for use by students. So something new for both MCTs and students. For MCTs, the main new thing is the inclusion of the separate lab manual. For students, the whole concept of digital materials is new, as these courses have traditionally only been offered in book form.

Re: Microsoft Bleeds

bobcaswell — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:03:25 -0000

Using the same logic, should we put together a list of Google's distractions that are happening "simply because someone else has had success at it"?

Re: Complainers Now Praising Microsoft

bobcaswell — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:09:15 -0000

Yeah, well, but until then, I'm sitting on my chair comfortably...

Re: Iran Election Protests Outside My Apartment

bobcaswell — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:13:21 -0000

Thanks for helping provide better perspective. Sometimes, in all the noise, we forget that protesters are usually just quiet neighbors. It takes an especially awful situation to get the noise level up. And this is one of those cases.

So no need to apologize for the noise, keep it coming!

Re: Iran Election Protests Outside My Apartment

bobcaswell — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:10:19 -0000

Thanks for the comment. The more I read up on the situation, the more I understand why you (and others) are very upset about all this.

Re: It’s official: I now use Bing instead of Google

bobcaswell — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:54:49 -0000

Thanks for the thoughts, Bighappy, hopefully Bing will get to the point where you'll want to use it for tech info or classic cars.

When you say that 93% of your searches have "absolutely nothing to do with shopping, travel, health, and local" that means less than 1 in 10 times you "search" online it doesn't fall into those categories... that's a lot of searching for technical information and classic cars!

Re: Is Faster Better? Or is it Just Faster?

bobcaswell — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:05:16 -0000

Nothing much too add, just wanted to say thanks, Sarah, for an insightful post. I've had similar thoughts on this topic for a while and am glad to see I'm not alone. I mean, I love the Interweb and all, but I think it still has a ways to go before it replaces every other way I get information...

Re: It’s official: I now use Bing instead of Google

bobcaswell — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:48:04 -0000

Great examples, Fadzai, thanks.

Re: It’s official: I now use Bing instead of Google

bobcaswell — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:18:00 -0000

Glad it's working out for you, James. I had no idea about that Safari limitation, wow.

Re: It’s official: I now use Bing instead of Google

bobcaswell — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:15:05 -0000

Hi Daniel,

The first half of the Google result is comparable (for the food query) but the second half, comparing Bing's easy-to-find, more appealing landing page with a "scorecard" to Google's hidden, less flashy version... seems to me Bing wins on that one. Granted, the actual difference in info presented on the two landing pages is not significantly different (though Bing's does have more), but Bing's seems more intuitively designed and easier to navigate/find.

As for travel, sure, it competes with kayak (a service I know and love, btw). But I really doubt the audience Microsoft is going after with this is likely to be die hard kayak fans (or even people who know what kayak is). I'm guessing the majority of new users of Bing that come to test it after seeing some of the ad campaign have likely never heard of kayak. Point being, as compared to Google, which is what everyone has heard of, this is a definite value add. And even for those who have heard of kayak, there is something to be said about having one less place to check. I'm used to kayak but prefer getting these kinds of results directly from my search engine now that that's an option.

As for the other two verticals, I haven't played with health but I definitely have played with shopping. Left that one out because it was a similar comparison (in my opinion) as the restaurant. I really like Bing's product/shopping landing page over Google's.

All in all, though, I can definitely see how this could come across as a disappointment to an experienced user as yourself. These are smaller, incremental improvements that experienced searchers are already comfortable with. But Microsoft is the one bringing this kind of new perspective on search into the light. Remember that as Google improves stuff, it rarely tells anyone beyond a blog post. I could be wrong, but I'm guessing the majority of Google searchers probably use Google the same way that they did 5 years ago. That is, even if much has changed in the past 5 years, Google user search habits probably haven't.

Thanks for the link, loved the discussion over on your site.

Re: I’m a PC and my shirt says so. He’s a Mac and yells in my face.

bobcaswell — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:07:39 -0000

Hey John! Glad to see you're still a PC after all these years. :-)

Re: I’m a PC and my shirt says so. He’s a Mac and yells in my face.

bobcaswell — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:24:56 -0000

Wow, Alice, of all the things about the situation that could have been labeled "frightening" you pick my shirt choice? I wonder what you think of the millions of people who wear shirts with brands all over them. I hope that kind of thought doesn't "frighten" you too much.

As for provoking unstable individuals, I had no idea such a shirt would attract unstable individuals. Again, you pick that as the "sad" part of the situation? How "sad" is it that someone becomes an "unstable individual" when seeing a shirt like this?

Re: Is This Twitter Making Money? I’m Not So Sure.

bobcaswell — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:17:49 -0000

Hi Rob, just checked out your post and didn't even think about one aspect which seems now like such an obvious hole in this whole idea:

"Will Super Chirp subscribers have to sign some kind of non-disclosure agreement agreeing not to reproduce the content of monetized Tweets in whole or in part?"

Very good point!

Re: Bing Is Live & Getting Unique Coverage

bobcaswell — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:46:58 -0000

The more I use Bing, the more I like the focus on the four verticals: shopping, local, health, and travel.

Re: HP’s earnings offer some evidence that downturn has run its course

bobcaswell — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:57:33 -0000

Not sure if I follow how your title of "HP earnings offering some evidence of downturn running its course" is any more than speculation. As much as I'd like to believe it, I don't see this loose correlation as evidence.

Re: Twitter is the New Digg, Only This Time with Celebrities

bobcaswell — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:39:43 -0000

@tom4cam You know, the funny thing is... I don't think I've ever tweeted via SMS. I always use an app on my phone. I wonder, though, what the ratio of tweets is among web / phone app / SMS.

Re: Twitter is the New Digg, Only This Time with Celebrities

bobcaswell — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:06:07 -0000

@digidave Yes, exactly. Twitter has plenty of celebs on it... but what celebs ever talk about using Digg?

Re: Twitter is the New Digg, Only This Time with Celebrities

bobcaswell — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:40:09 -0000

@arrington Wait, which one are you saying is the maybe (in terms of being "disruptive") out of youtube, digg, facebook, and twitter?

Re: When Comments Come Before The Blog Post

bobcaswell — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:07:08 -0000

What the? Just noticed Disqus comments now have Twitter integrated?! Cool, tweeting from a comment on my blog.

Re: When Comments Come Before The Blog Post

bobcaswell — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:56:27 -0000

Nice! Just set myself up with selective twitter. At first, I turned on Facebook Twitter updates, but I like the idea of controlling it more so I don't confuse FB with retweets, etc.

Re: Hulu iPhone App “Badass?” I Doubt it.

bobcaswell — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:27:55 -0000

Yeah, streaming stuff does me no good when my phone has to be in "airplane" mode half the time I'd ever want to watch anything on it in the first place. (Isn't there always a TV / computer nearby unless you're traveling?)

The "cloud" is awesome, sure, but it's not quite ready for my sole reliance.

Re: Having Fun at Work: Microsoft Gamers Event

bobcaswell — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:35:50 -0000

You pretty much nailed it. I couldn't afford the consequences / time suck of two bad habits (regular gaming and MMORPG gaming). And after a while the MMORPG gaming just felt pointless (for me, anyway). Like watching a good TV series with a great story and good closure (regular gaming) vs. a reality TV show with no story that never ends.

Wow, that sounds harsher than what I mean to say... but you get my point. And it's quite possible that I'm simply in denial and would love to play WOW more if I could find the time / self control. But the opportunity cost just feels like it's too much (i.e., giving up other games from my regular gaming time quota in any given week).

Re: Having Fun at Work: Microsoft Gamers Event

bobcaswell — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:21:39 -0000

LOL! Answers:

1. Never too busy for a 3-hour tournament on a Thursday afternoon/evening.
2. That's the beauty of working at Microsoft... everyone's pretty much welcome everywhere. This event had nothing to do with where I work / what I do. I found out about it because I'm part of an internal MS email group of gamers.