Cloud Excel

Excel Web App 2010 Overview
Editing in Excel Web App – Part I

I haven’t used the web app yet, so take my comments in that light. Fidelity appears to be the word of the hour. Clearly MS thinks it’s important, but I’m not so sure. I don’t expect my bank’s website to look the same in Firefox as on an iPhone. When I’m using a “lesser” medium, I expect some reduced functions. And by reducing those functions, the overall experience is better because I’m able to use the core functions more easily.

Parallel that with Excel on the web. Will ever higher fidelity result in some lack of usability? Will it be like being stuck in an over-javascripty website and feel like they’ve crammed non-web stuff onto the web? If MS spends too many resources on fidelity, are they spending enough on features? These are the questions that interest me.

I’d also like to hear about navigation. I don’t make even simple lists on Google spreadsheets because I don’t like navigating around them.

Databases

The Database Design Process

I’ve bookmarked this post for later reading. I didn’t know that I needed to rethink my database design process until I read it and the first several comments. Clearly there are people way smarter than me who have thought this through. I intend to learn something.

Licensing

Via Alex & Access, Licensing Office in Terminal Server.

Here’s a quote

You can have Office Pro 2003 on the TS and permit access from Office Pro 2003, Office Pro 2007, Office Enterprise 2007, HUP and FPP Office Ultimate but you cannot have Office Pro 2007 on the TS Server and permit access from Office Pro 2003!!!, it must be Office Pro 2007 or Office Enterprise 2007, HUP or FPP Office Ultimate

But what about TPS reports? Seriously, the only conclusion I can reach after reading that article is that Microsoft has no love for the little guy. I have a Terminal Server and it works great. But I don’t have Office on there. I can’t afford to hire a full-time person just to figure out the licensing. If Microsoft wants to score big with me, they need a new product – Microsoft Office Terminal Server Small Business Amnesty Pack. It’s more than five words, so I know marketing will like it. This product will allow five specific users to use Office on a TS. It won’t matter what version of Office they have or what version is on the TS. It won’t matter if they’re concurrent. It’s basically free reign to use Office in a small shop without worry. If you need six licenses, then you have to do it the old way. I’d buy that.

Training

DataPig announces his 2010 Training Schedule. I’m on the schedule and really looking forward to it.

Marketing

PeltierTech uses the power of hot chicks. Walkenbach does not. The aforementioned DataPig takes it to the next level. He not only has the picture, he’s named the woman. Heather says… buy my stuff. Awesome. Although Heather looks a little blurry for this early in the day. Women don’t usually start looking that blurry until midnight. Considering the expression on her face, can you guess which program she’s using?

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