UPDATE: Windows Live Writer Beta 2 now includes a good solution for more. So the ‘more tag’ is kind of redundant. It was a great solution while it lasted but I’ve now turned it off and just use the built-in solution from WLW. END UPDATE

I have always struggled with Windows Live Writer and the ‘more tag’. Now a plug-in by ‘for the life of Jon’ may have an answer. You simply download his plugin, activate it and then insert a short-hand version of the ‘more’ tag and voila. The more tag is placed in WordPress. It also suppresses the short-hand ‘more’ tag in your post so it isn’t seen in the browser.

This seems to be a simple yet effective solution. Why did it take me so long to find it?!

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Well, the debate is fairly one-sided about the new Vista operating system over at the SMH site. It’s worth having a look to see the various comments. To be honest I haven’t had that much trouble with Vista. There’s a couple of programs that don’t work as well (or not at all) but I was kind of expecting those kinds of problems.

What happened to the WOW? Writing in Icon this week’s Icon, Roulla Yiacoumi asks if the Vista honeymoon is over.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Blogs: MashUp

The verdict at SMH is that no-one seems to like it and it’s too early to change. That’s probably not a bad call for business users who have mission critical needs from their IT. Continue reading →

Just a quick update on the Skype and Vista situation. A new version of Skype was released on 14 March 2007. While documentation doesn’t say it’s compatible with Vista, the sound quality is greatly improved. You can download here.

There are also a couple of new features in the latest version too, including a advisory type service where Skype users can offer themselves as helpers and assistants in their area of expertise, and earn some money into the bargain. It’s called Skype Prime.

Also new in this version is SkypeFind. This is a kind of directory service that searches other users recommendations of particular goods and services. It might become popular, but there are plenty of other choices for that information on the web.

Well, into week two with Vista. I’ve managed to find the graphics driver from Intel and installed it. It seems to be okay, although on first try it feels as though the system is running a little slower.

I was concerned to find that when I logged into my Second Life account it wouldn’t work with the generic driver that comes with Vista. So I found the Intel driver here. It is easy to install and I now have the buttons on the screen of the R1F working, and I have the rotational options in the status bar that I was after.

I think it also installed a driver for the sound but I’m not sure. There was a bit of clicking and carry on with the speakers at first, but I think it’s okay now.

I have also downloaded the latest Skype Beta that is rumoured to work okay with Vista so I’ll give that a whirl and see how it goes.

Other than that, the Vista experience is fine. Just waiting on some software to catch up including Quicken accounting and AnitVir (this is installed but won’t update to virus definitions).

I’ll keep updating the Vista experience as we go, but for now I’m reasonably happy. I’ll keep an eye on the Intel graphics driver and its use of resources to ensure that its not degrading the experience.

Well, for some mad reason I decided to upgrade the ol’ R1F to Windows Vista Business. I don’t know why I decided to that. I don’t know what possessed me. But I committed to the upgrade and frankly there is no going back now.

But, what has the outcome been? Well, all in all not too bad. There is very little support on the ASUS site for the upgrade process and so you’re pretty much flying blind. There is little info on the Vista site too about the vagaries of upgrading.

Vista upgrade advisor is of some help, but it doesn’t identify all of the difficulties you may face, as I found out – the hard way. Continue reading →