Hello, iPad

I am an Apple Fanboy and I fully admit to it. Over the last few months the rumors have been growing about Apple coming out with some kind of tablet to compete with the Netbook market, and in many ways to pick up where the Newton left off over a decade ago. I think this graphic really sums up the level of excitement (taken from the Apple event this morning):

"Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it." - Wall Street Journal

You don’t even have to ask.  I’m getting one.  The 32 gig non-3G model.  Why get 3G when I can just tether with my jailbroken iPhone?

Mouse Cursor Affordance

Tips and insights into good design and usability

via Mouse Cursor Affordance.

Project Management/Bug Tracking Software

I’ve been in something of a pickle for the last few months.  I’ve been evaluating several project management software packages to find one that’s “just right” for my current job. While I’ve evaluated several good packages like Jira and RightNow Web, nothing has really caught the attention of my coworkers or my boss.

Basically, I’m looking for a software package that offers the following features:

• The ability to create “tickets” which can be used to assign individual work tasks to individual developers or groups of developers. The tickets must also be able to handle multiple iterations of changes and hold onto conversations between the developer and the requester.
• Should have the ability to support 10+ “projects”, as well as have hierarchical categorization for projects and tasks.
• Must be able to handle over 250 users.
• Must have a built-in, modifiable workflow.
• The ability to generate metrics based on input/output, open/close rate, iterations, length of ticket life, etc.
• Web-based interface.
• Must be enterprise level and hosted on-site (NOT off-site like Basecamp).

I know it seems like a lot of stuff but it’s really not. I’ve evaluated large and small packages like Jira, RightNow Web, MS Project, PVCS Tracker. We’re currently using an old version of PVCS Tracker and it’s just not cutting it. My developers didn’t like Jira, nor did my clients. RightNow Web was the closest I’ve found to what we’re looking for but our clients balked at the $40k+ price tag.

Anyone out there have some ideas?  Please post a comment if you’ve got some ideas.  Thanks!

Changing hosts!

Due to some technical issues with my previous host, I’ve decided to finally take the plunge and move to Media Temple (mt).  I’ve been contemplating this decision for a long time but until today I had no real good excuse.  Unfortunately my host since March of 2005 had a fairly massive network outage in the middle of the day.  An outage so bad that it knocked out their entire network, their status page (which wasn’t hosted on my primary network), and even their homepage (not a normal occurance when an ISP has an outage).

That said, please forgive me if you have any trouble accessing my sites over the next week or so.  I’m trying to move everything over slowly and careful so the downtime is minimal.

And… if I don’t post before next week, have a great Hannukah and a Merry Christmas!

P.S. Don’t forget – you can follow me on Twitter @mexijew!

Maryland Gun Laws, or Why I’m Totally Conservative About This Issue and This Issue Alone. Sort of.

Those of you who are regular readers of my blog here at ScottASavage.com and of my previous blog on Mexijew.com probably have conjured the image of me as some hardcore far-left liberal.  While I am, at my core, a very liberal person I have in recent years started to shift some of my opinions a little more towards the middle of the road.  One thing that has, recently, become a huge change in political and social perspective for me is gun laws.

Still alive! Seriously!

I’m very sorry for the lack of posting lately.  Between the new house, the job, and all of the other work that has fallen into my lap over the past few months I’ve had so little time to be creative and write here.  I”m getting back into it, however.  I’ve got a notepad full of outstanding topics I want to discuss on here.

Come back soon for more great discussions and debates.  Till then!