I’ve been trying both services off and on for some time now.  Personally, I have been using Box.com as a storage location since the service has an easy to use plugin for MS Word.  However, Box.com is limited in it’s free storage (only 5GB but that’s enough for docs) and it also does not yet have an app for my Windows 7 Phone (which I still love to death).  So I have been hoping that SkyDrive will continue to be improved upon and take over as my main cloud storage.  With that said, let me tell you how SkyDrive stacks up.

Being a writer, I am always working on my novel and I’m constantly picky about how the formating appears when I edit it using different applications.  So keep in mind that if you are not crafting a document as complex with dialog, then you might not need to go by my strict critique.

SkyDrive

SkyDrive has recently limited the amount of storage available from 25GB to 7GB.  All those who tried it out previous have the chance to keep 25GB of storage so long as you ACT NOW and declare your account active.  So, provided you did so, SkyDrive has the larges storage capacity.  SkyDrive documents open up seemlessly with MS Word and there is no change in formating when you save those documents to SkyDrive (other than the loss of truly funky fronts).  However, when you try to edit a document on the web using SkyDrive’s Word Web App, there are serious issues.  The first big issue for me was the loss of soft breaks between dialog.  Instead of having an indentation there is a [softbreak] notation that bugs the snot out of me.  I seriously do not understand how the document can be displayed correctly with the native Word app but the web one constantly has an issue with the soft breaks I use in my dialogs.  Secondly, and this can be a problem for everyone, the online web app does not save automatically and can actually lose contact with the server – rendering your changes unable to be saved.  Big problem.

Google Drive

Google drive has less storage, I believe it’s only 5GB of storage like Box.com, but Google has a refined web app experience.  Not only is my novel in the exact same form as when I uploaded it, but the document opens quickly, is constantly being saved and does not have a hiccup whatsoever.  What it doesn’t do is allow you to edit the document as a Word Document.  When you wan to edit a Word doc on Google’s web app you must export it to a “Google Doc” and once edited you save it as such and this doc type cannot be opened by MS Word on your computer.

So in conclusion, if you don’t have the MS Office Suite, then you can definitely use the Google Drive.  When you would need to send something as a Word Doc you could have it converted to such for that situation.  However, if you have the MS Office Suite, and a Windows phone, AND could use the 25 GB storage of SkyDrive (provided you grandfathered it), then it’s time to bang on the SkyDrive developers and demand they take a lesson from Google when it comes to their online apps.

Personally, my message to SkyDrive is “pretty” is not as necessary as “useful”.  I don’t care if the layout of the app looks exactly like the native desktop app; I want it to WORK like it.  Until that time comes, I cannot rely on SkyDrive to be my primary storage for important/constantly-updated documents.

It actually made me start to wonder whether or not I should keep the Joomla side of my website and just convert the whole website to WordPress.  I think the one thing holding me back is that I know for a fact that Joomla is more versitile.  I don’t want to run into a wall as I try to add some nice functionality to the website or some behind the scenes widget.

But it could be a nice exercise is getting to know WordPress if I dedicate myself to seeing just how many options the platform has and how well I can make this blog look like a fully fledged website.

Of course, the more I want to add to this blog the more I am starting to get frustrated with it’s no-sidebar layout.  The layout seemed to unique when I wanted to apply it to the Joomla portion and I still think that side looks good because I can change what pages show which modules.  BUT when it comes to WordPress, all widgets are available on any page – or at least so it seems.  So I can’t make the Tag Cloud disappear for a Static Page so that the page will look cleaner.  I’ll have to look in to issues like that or consider changing the theme.

The issue with changing the theme is that I am using the same theme for both Joomla and WordPress thanks to a website that offers a theme editor and basic themes.  They offer this same theme for multiple platforms and it works out great.  I’ve tried scanning through their website again to find a theme with a sidebar that I like, but it’s difficult.  For one, I’m picky and two, I can’t pick a theme that needs too many alterations because I would have to alter TWO THEMES and I am still not as proficent at altering WordPress themes since the theme is broken out over so many different files.

*Sigh* So, it’s a lot for me to consider and something for me to tinker with.

Pages I intend to make will include at least one page per chapter of my novel along with pages dedicated to my fanfiction.  However, fanfiction can still be found on deviantart.com.

A separate group of registered pages will be dedicated to my freelance work, should I ever be able to pick it back up again.  Those pages will include my portfolio and resume.  I still have yet to build an application form for those interested in viewing those materials, but it’s next on my list.

In other news, I will have a guest logging in to my website for the purposes of learning more about Joomla!.  This blog will remain unaffected since this is actually a seamless WordPress install running side by side with my main website.

That’s really low and annoying as all hell.  Thank god WordPress offers you the ability to moderate any comment before publishing it.

So yes, the moderating of comments is another plus for WordPress.  I have to say that I’m pretty impressed with the format.  I wish it was just a tad easier to change the layout or add widgets, but overall it’s gotten much better than when I tried blog script 5 years ago.

Back then, WordPress didn’t seem to have any way to add ‘widgets’ without adding them directly to code.  I still don’t like it that the code is broken up into so many separate files.  It makes editing them a bit of an annoyance.  Sadly, that hasn’t been improved upon.

I’m very happy with the new layout and controls though.  It’s easy to add categories, tags, and modify the body of the post.  I need to try out links and media though to get a full feel for the script.

It is possible to use the Task Scheduler built in to every PC to have Sync Toy run automatically at any given interval, BUT it doesn’t seem to run pairs that require reaching over the LAN.  So if you were looking to sync files located on your to an external hard drive and files from another computer on the network to the same external hard drive – the ‘scheduled’ Sync Toy will only run the pair with your files and not the pair involving the other computer.  Even if you use the operator -R that tells the Task Scheduler to run all pairs.

I wonder how many people understood all that! lol

Turns out it has to do with its location and not the file type. Move your .pst file to your My Documents and have your Outlook look there for the file, then sync! Damn thing worked. I’m thrilled and I hope this knowledge helps someone.

My only consolation is that I should have some time in the near future to put a dent in Chapter 3 of my book and finish those fanfics come March.

The novel has been a project of mine for at least 2 years now.  The world building has been slow, especially because of the amount of science.  Though I would not call it a hardcore Sci-Fi novel, it does employ enough scientific elements to be considered a Sci-Fi and I have been particular about the theories involved.  I wanted real probable devices, creations, and vehicles.  That has taken quite a bit of research and a lot of courage.  Courage because it takes guts to pick an idea and stay with it knowing that there are people out there who might read the book and toss it because they don’t agree with the science.

All those who know me are welcome to apply to be beta readers.  I only have one formally at the moment.  Drafts of the novel will eventually make it onto the website as pages that only registered users can view.

Until that time I’ll keep on updating all of you from here.

I’m checking out an HP Pavilion for a new portable work station for my day job.  I have a pretty tight budget, but I seem to be able to get a 17.3″ screen, 4gb memory, quality AMD CPU, 640 gb hard drive, with awesome screen technology and a very decent graphics card for under $500.00.  My very first laptop didn’t cost as much and it had about one tenth the power.

Though I would like to have more memory in the unit, it is expandable up to 8GB, which I might take care of as time goes on.  However, the real question is how long will this package last?

Technology seems to keep moving faster every day.  Before you know it, graphics applications and websites are using up more and more of your computer’s CPU and memory, the files you’re working on are getting bigger, and you need more communication between your system and the web to run applications that make your world go round.

So how long would this affordable laptop be able to keep me going?  I’d like to hope for at least 4 years – including the ram upgrade.   Does anyone else have another guess?

I’ll admit that I am not great network administrator who has set up massive complex network structures, but I have been able to accomplish every little great feat that I’ve set my mind to finishing.

First thing is to brush up on my networking vocab…

A virtual private network (VPN) is a network that uses primarily public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or traveling users access to a central organizational network.

VPNs typically require remote users of the network to be authenticated, and often secure data with encryption technologies to prevent disclosure of private information to unauthorized parties.

VPNs may serve any network functionality that is found on any network, such as sharing of data and access to network resources, printers, databases, websites, etc. A VPN user typically experiences the central network in a manner that is identical to being connected directly to the central network.

Thank you, Wikipedia… I think I’ve found the solution I was looking for.  Now let’s talk application.

Thankfully, it seems Windows 7 comes with it’s own VPN Setup Application (simply go to the Start button and type “VPN), but I need to find out how to connect to the network at my office.  I’m familiar with the IP address we all have when visiting the web, but there has to be more to this in order to keep random hackers from establishing a VPN into our network.  That IP address might not even be what I need, but I’m going to sort this out.

It’s possible that the IP I have would work provided I make a ‘log-in’ through the security features running at my office.

Unfortunately, it’s quite possible that the network in the office is not as stable as it should be since we currently support a vareity of Windows 7 and Windows XP machines.  All seem to have issues seeing and accessing one another.  This whole project might be folly unless I can make that network more secure as well.

Oh yeah, speaking of which, I have a individual PC back up solution that I have yet to implement.  *Sigh* Life never slows down.

Google Docs is one of the best out there, it even out performs the latest incarnation of Microsoft’s Skydrive (and I’m a BIG Windows user).  But my latest discovery with Box.com takes the cake when it comes to my particular situation.

Box.com has come up with a very handy plugin for Microsoft Word that allows you to open, access, edit, and save back to your Box.com account.  You might only get 5GB for free, but that’s plenty of space for relatively small Word documents.

This is what the plugin looks like on my 2007 MS Word application.

Cute, huh?

Now that I have this cute little plugin installed on my computer, I can edit any document I have on Box.com with MS Word as my editor.  Should I download this plugin onto my work computer, I can edit the same document and save it back to my ‘Box’.  The process is simple and efficient.  In this situation, I do not need to use any other third party editor, BUT I could.

Box.com also offers a way for you to edit the same document on their website using a version of Google Docs editor, which thankfully has been great at keeping the same formatting when it comes to MS Word Docs.

What I love the most is the seamlessness of the plugin.  I have yet to see it work improperly or act broken.  You log-in to your Box.com account and you can see all other Word documents present.  If you have MS Excel files there as well, you will not see those.

One hiccup I did notice was that if you already have a Google Docs account and you’re signed in to Google at the moment, the online Google Docs editor employed by Box.com will start to have issues.  You need to make sure you are logged out of Google first before using that tool.