For yesterday’s release of the Office 2010 Beta (download a free suite here), our marketing pals have come up with this Facebook app that analyses what kind of app you—and your friends—are. Me? I’m OneNote. Which is good. I like that fit. What are you? See more at the Office fan page. --Doug Thomas
It's come to my attention that some of you (who shall remain nameless thanks to my own sense of restraint and corporate responsibility) have been left behind in the world of computing. Let's just assume — for the time it takes to read this post — that it's not your fault. In fact, I think I know why so many of you have been reticent to jump in there and start mail merging and frolicking in the task pane: You have no clue what these things are or how they can give you a better life — or at least free up some of your time.
When you're trying to get help—any kind of help—one unknown term or phrase can give you that deer-in-the-headlights feeling, stymieing you in your jump across the highway of knowledge.
For example, what’s the difference between:
- a shortcut menu and a keyboard shortcut?
- server and client?
- menu, menu bar, and toolbar?
As well, what are these???
If you want my full list visit my column Demystifying a few computer terms and get on with your life on Office Online.
"I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." — Lily Tomlin
— Crabby
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![office_logo[1]](http://blogs.msdn.com/blogfiles/inside_office_online/WindowsLiveWriter/Office2010Betaishere_78A3/office_logo%5B1%5D_3.png "office_logo[1]")
Well, what does that mean?
1) Anyone can download and work with the latest versions of Office 2010 for free in this testing phase. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/ to download them.
2) Lots of cool things will pop-up and you can monitor and join the discussion via Twitter using the #officebeta hashtag or check out the new things at www.facebook.com/office.
We’ll keep this post updated with what others think about Office 2010. –Doug Thomas
Here’s a quick peak at the Beta release:
They found water on the moon! How cool is that? I was just on tweetdeck checking the technology news when NASA's announcement started popping up all over the place like meerkats on espresso.
If it were Monday I'd tie this back into Office somehow, but it's late afternoon on a Friday (Friday the 13th, no less) and my "productivity" focus is, what can I say, blurred? More fun to imagine the conga line at NASA right now.
But hang on a minute......speaking of parties....
-- Holly Thomas
photo by Kevin via flickr
The Office OFFline comic pick this week was inspired by all the ways that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) has affected our lives these days.
Have you been able to find happiness? What keywords did you use?
Is your job wild or weird? Does Office help you do it?
Maybe you fly through hurricanes, raise alligators, dive reefs, dig subway tunnels, teach skydivers, build oil rigs, track butterfly migrations, train SWAT teams, run a professional kitchen, or test roller coasters. Whatever the setting and no matter how unusual your occupation, if you use Office but don't work in an office, we'd like to talk with you.
E-mail us a short description of what you do. We’ll get back to you!
--Holly Thomas and Leslie Cole
Photo by Ilse Reijs and Jan-Noud Hutton
We’ve just made job-hunting a little bit easier….again. Now you can upload your resume directly from Word 2007 to Monster.com. Just download an easySubmit resume template from Office.com, , such as this Functional resume with page border template, and install the add-in from the Word 2007 ribbon. Complete the resume, save it, sign-in to Monster.com, upload, and voila! This Help article walks you through the step-by-step.
Besides resumes, the Career Center at Office.com (powered by Monster.com) and Office templates collections can hook you up with detailed job descriptions, cover letters, business cards, Monster’s job listings for your area, expert advice, and more. Job competition may be fierce right now, but with these resources to help you organize and save time, you can focus more on presenting your professional best. Good luck!
--Holly
The Office OFFline comic pick this week was inspired by the recent elections.
After creating this comic, it occurred to me that elections are a lot like business meetings. The people in charge usually have an agenda. Most people never participate. And when it’s over, we spend a ton of time trying to figure out what really happened.
Have you noticed other similarities?
-David
Webster's Dictionary defines a scam as "a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation." And that's it. There are no secondary definitions. It's pretty simple, really: Someone is trying to bamboozle you.
We all know them: The e-mails that come to you promising you weight loss, cases of fine champagne, and offers to erase all your fine lines and bad memories. Before I get into the specifics here, let me state a few clichés:
- If it seems too good to be true, it is.
- You don't get something for nothing.
- A fool and his money are soon parted.
Strangely enough, we humans, as moderately intelligent life on this planet, seem to forget these sayings when presented with sparkly things: A new queen mattress set (still in its plastic!), cash from Bill Gates, or magic crystals that bring fortune into your life. And that is exactly what the people who set out to relieve you of all your money are banking on — that you'll unplug your capacity to reason and believe everything you read (yet another cliché).
What I'm about to tell you today is probably nothing new to you. Perhaps you've even warned others about it. Though we may want to give people the benefit of the doubt and trust what they say, there are certainly times we shouldn't. Specifically when it comes to e-mail from strangers. (How many times did your mother tell you not to take candy from strangers? Not to get into a car with a stranger or help him look for his "lost puppy"? This is exactly the same thing, only for grownups.)
The scams: How they work, and how you can avoid them
Here are five basic scams — a few of my favorites — that have been circulating over the years. Most of these are bona fide financial scams designed to empty your bank account and rid you of any goodwill you had toward your fellow man or woman. Some of these scams and rumors have been around a long time, some play with new riffs on an old idea, and still others are so creatively concocted that one must almost give credit to the "artists" who created them. Whatever they are, and however they're presented, you can avoid becoming their victim — whether it's a victim of theft or merely of ignorance and stupidity.
Note You can't help but be impressed with some of these scams; so brazen, so without morals or ethics, and yet…so creative.
My top 5 list
- Helping someone get money out of a foreign country, of which you'll get a bundle…for a large fee.
- Phishing scams — people trying to get your personal information — that can lead to serious debt and identity theft.
- Lots of credit…for a small fee.
- Lottery winnings…for a small fee.
- A buyer of your item for sale (on, say, craigslist, or eBay) who wants to pay by wiring you money or using a fake money order or cashier's check.
Now, let me give you some examples of how even the most savvy of you can fall into these traps…and how to avoid that.
Read my full Crabby Office Lady column on Office Online.
"The world wants to be deceived." — Sebastian Brant
— Crabby
