Pearl's Paradise

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled teams yearning to breath free…"

January 19, 2013
by Steve Pearl
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Lenovo Yoga 13: Major League Hardware, Whiffle Ball OS.

A little over three months ago I picked up a Lenovo Yoga 13 to replace my small-ish Acer 11.6″ TimelineX.  My college-aged son needed a new laptop on which to do game design studies, so I gave him my 15″ Macbook Pro and decided it was time to head in a new direction.

I know.  I’m weird.

Who in their right mind would give up a perfectly fine, super-fast, super-durable, 15″, non-Retina, unibody Macbook Pro for anything but another Macbook Pro or say a Macbook Air?

I thought about the Air, really I did.  I even considered the super cool, ultralight, 11.6″ Macbook Air.  I even bought one as a super duper open-box buy at BestBuy.  I liked it.  A lot.  Very snappy.  Very sleek.   Instant on.  I mean, hey, it’s a Mac!  Duh!

And then I tried to lay the display back a little bit further than Apple decided a display should move.  No joy.

And then, because I’m spoiled by my iPad and my Android tablets, I tried to touch the screen to move around some document elements with my fingers.  No joy.

So I decided to think out of the box.  WAY out of the box.  I stumbled upon the Lenovo Yoga 13 at BestBuy and immediately fell in love.  You remember that old song?  I think it was Fred Astaire who sang, “Heaven…  I’m in Heaven…”

At first, it was a joyous engagement.

Then…  Well…

Great hardware can only do so much to mask so-so software.

Read on for the details.

Click to continue reading “Lenovo Yoga 13: Major League Hardware, Whiffle Ball OS.”

December 19, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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Haunted by an Image of Innocence Lost

(WARNING:  After the break this posting contains descriptions that may be too visceral and too fresh for readers who have lost loved ones due to gun violence.  I urge you to read the remainder of this post with that caution in mind.)

There is one picture from the Sandy Hook massacre I just can’t shake.  I see it when I put my head on the pillow at night.  I see it when I wake up in the morning.  I saw it dance before my eyes as I drove to the office the other day.

It’s not a picture of one of the dead children, those beautiful, smiling kids whose lives were snuffed in the blink of an eye.  I can’t forget those images, either, but they don’t haunt me in quite the same way.  If God is truly as merciful as He promises, then I must believe they are with Him in paradise.

No, the image seared in my memory is the picture of a chain of children being led from the Sandy Hook Elementary school.  I think the third girl in the chain is the one whose face I can’t shake.  It’s the face of innocence lost, of adult horrors bestowed on too young a child.  Her mouth is gaping, her eyes clamped shut.  She is clearly sobbing.  The trajectory of her life has been altered permanently by actions of unspeakable evil.

Click to continue reading “Haunted by an Image of Innocence Lost”

September 18, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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Matthew Perry Hits Home Run with “Go On.”

I pretty much wrote off NBC.  I'm still not sure what I think about a network that airs insipid, deliberately offensive comedies like, "Animal Practice."

But tonight, I saw a gem in the making.

Subtle.

Intelligent.

Heartwarming.

CLEAN.

Matthew Perry is one of those actors I "want" to like.  He "seems" likable.  He "plays" likable.

Tonight, I liked Matthew Perry.

"Go On" is a new half-hour sitcom by NBC that revolves around Perry's relationships in a bereavement support group and his life as a radio sports personality.  From start to finish it had laugh-out-loud moments, deft, intelligent acting, and characters with some nuance.  Yes, it was absurd at moments.  Aren't all sitcoms?

But there was something about the show that reminded me a little bit of one of my favorites from the 90's.  It felt like an updated version of "Mad About You," minus Helen Hunt and with an ensemble cast that drew the whole thing to a touching, logical conclusion.

I'm watching again.

You should, too.

Matthew Perry may not be your cup of tea, but perhaps…  just perhaps…  "Go On" is.

April 4, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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Learning about Love, One Day at a Time

Recently I was prompted to go back and look for resources that would help me do an extended study on the subject of "Love."  We all think we know what love is, right?  It's that gooey, warm feeling you get when you meet someone you think is your "soul" mate and then you start to plan your life together.

Wrong!

The infatuation that comes with that first meeting, that "love at first sight" encounter, is nothing but a passing fancy.  The first time you hit a speed bump you realize all is not well and perhaps, just perhaps, your "soul mate" really isn't all that and a bag of chips.

Perhaps you survive the speed bump.  Things get back on track and you move forward.  So you stop worrying about it and life gets back to "normal," whatever "normal" represents for you and yours.  Of course "normal" might not mean "healthy" and there might just be festering yuckiness lurking under the covers of your relationship.

Then you hit a bigger speed bump.  

This time it's a whopper.  You hit the wall at warp speed and this time things get really bitter, really fast.

Click to continue reading “Learning about Love, One Day at a Time”

January 6, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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What’s On Steve’s iPad Part 3 – When iWork isn’t as Cloud-Friendly as You’d Like

(In Part 2 of this series we looked at Apple's entry into the productivity software world.  Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are fantastic tools for getting beautiful work done on your iPad.  But what if Apple's solution seems a little disconnected from YOUR world?  What if you use Google Docs and you can't seem to get your documents into and out of your iPad so you can edit them on the fly?  Buck up, friends.  This is your answer…)

Editing In the Cloud with iWork Alternatives

It's time to face reality, friends.  Apple isn't exactly known for its open-minded approach to computing.  Where Apple is concerned, it's either Apple's way or it's no way.  (Considering that my Apple stock is sky high compared to when I bought it and Microsoft's is stuck in 1st gear, I guess I shouldn't complain too much.)

You want to use that beautiful Mac Operating System, OS/X?  

Buy a Mac.  

You want to edit your movies with that gorgeously simplistic software called iMovie?  

Buy a Mac.

(Well, now there's iMovie on the iPad, but let's not quibble.)

You want to store your documents in "The Cloud" so you can download them, edit them, and the re-upload them no matter where you are in the world?

Well…

Click to continue reading “What’s On Steve’s iPad Part 3 – When iWork isn’t as Cloud-Friendly as You’d Like”

January 5, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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What’s On Steve’s iPad Part 2 – Pages, Numbers, and Keynote

In our Part 1 of this series we set the stage.  I'm a geek, I love tech toys, and I have definite opinions about what high-quality, must-use software should be on just about anyone's iPad.  Now we get down to business.  It's time to talk APPS!

Real Work, Real Apps:  Apple's iWork Suite for iPad

Let's start our tour of "What's On Steve's iPad" with Apple's earliest and most mature contribution to the iPad software cause; The iWork suite.

iWork on the iPad includes the same three apps as iWork on the Mac.  Pages (Word Processing), Numbers (Spreadsheet), and Keynote (Presentations).

Pay attention to this caveat…  

iWork apps on the iPad still don't contain all the same features as their big brothers and sisters that run on Mac computers.  Running a productivity app like a spreadsheet on a small-ish 9.7", 1024×768 screen will cramp your style in a hurry if you aren't ready to make some compromises.  Go in forewarned.  

Forget mail merges.

Forget including links to external data sources in your documents.

Forget anything that even remotely looks like an advanced script or automation tool.

If the advanced stuff is your bag you better hang on to your trusty copy of Microsoft Office.  iWork on the iPad will disappoint in a hurry when it comes to advanced features even if it will be precisely the eye-candy you wish you saw every time you fired up Microsoft Word.

(For a decent, in-depth review of the software package, take a look at this PCWorld article.  Yes.  I'm deliberately steering you to a non-Mac publication.  Gotta go contrarian once in a while even if I am an admitted Apple Fanboi.)

Click to continue reading “What’s On Steve’s iPad Part 2 – Pages, Numbers, and Keynote”

January 5, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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What’s On Steve’s iPad Part 1 – A “Best of Breed” App Guide for Noobs and Devotees Alike

The "Making Meetings Matter" and "Crisis Communications" series are on hold.  Right now I need to answer a burning question I found myself asked three times in the past two days.

"Hey, Steve, I'm buying an iPad.  What programs do you recommend?"

You want my opinion?  Really?  Little old me?  Awe, shucks!

Well, who am I to deny my oh-so-well-informed geeky counsel to friends in distress?

iPad, iPad…  Oh How We Love Our iPads!

A little over a year ago I posted an comprehensive list of what I considered "must-have" apps for the original iPad.  It was a pretty good list at the time, giving readers a solid idea of what I use on my own iPad on a day-to-day basis.  I included a software mix that showed the average user how to equip the iPad so they could leave their laptop at home and actually get real work done using Steve Jobs' self-proclaimed "magical" tablet.

Well, a lot of time has gone by since then.  It's time for a revisit.

I admit that most people aren't total geeks like yours truly.  Most iPad users really don't care about the nitty-gritty like, "Is it an A5 or an A4 processor," or, "How much usable RAM does it have?" or, "It heard it's supposed to render graphics up to 9x faster."  Though there are some people out there who know (or care) what "Jailbreaking" and "Cydia" mean, but most devoted iPad users could not care less.  They just love their iPad because it works well, it's super-cool, and by-golly Steve Jobs told them it was "magical."

When people see me toting my iPad (or my Android tablet, for that matter), they always ask me two questions:

  1. What Apps should I buy?
  2. What kind of case should I buy?

We'll tackle that second question in the future.  For now, let's take a bite out of the App store and talk about "Must Have" iPad software.

(NOTE:  Where possible, I'll include links to outside web sites that provide unbiased, in-depth reviews of each piece of software.  Caveat Emptor.)

Click to continue reading “What’s On Steve’s iPad Part 1 – A “Best of Breed” App Guide for Noobs and Devotees Alike”

January 4, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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Review: Republic Wireless $20/mo “Unlimited” Cellular Plan

Yes, you read that title correctly.

This is a review of a WiFi/Cellular phone and service provider that purports to break new ground by charging you a measly $20 a month for "Unlimited" phone service.

I can already read your mind.

"You're kidding, right?  An "Unlimited" $20/mo cellular plan?  GET OUT OF HERE!"

No.  I am not kidding.  

It truly is a $20/mo plan and – to a certain extent – it is indeed "Unlimited."

I'm reading your mind again.  You're wondering if there's a catch.

Yes, there is a catch.

What Republic Wireless is offering is not a true "cellular" plan.  It's more like a WiFi-first, cellular-second plan.

In other words, as long as you are sitting in the middle of a nice, strong WiFi signal and can freely access that signal with your phone, you can talk to your heart's content all over the US for FREE, FREE, FREE.  Not only that, but Republic Wireless is providing international phone numbers for FREE incoming calls.  It's kind of like what we'd always hoped would happen once Android hit the landscape in full stride.  FREE WiFi calling over Skype or some such service.  If you're familiar with how T-Mobile threw in something called "UMA" into its phones to allow calling over WiFi you'll understand how Republic Wireless' service works.

But remember…

The second you move off your WiFi footprint you revert back to a cellular signal, in this case provided by Sprint, and the meter starts running.

As I'll note in a second, that move from WiFi to cellular is more than just a little bit sketchy.

Click to continue reading “Review: Republic Wireless $20/mo “Unlimited” Cellular Plan”

January 2, 2012
by Steve Pearl
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Detours, Delays, and the Reality of Life

Nothing bugs me more than dropping the ball on a promise.

A couple of months ago I "promised" I would return to my two recent series ("Making Meetings Matter" and "Crisis Communications") in late November / early December.  The "Crisis Communications" series resonated with leaders who find themselves confronting unexpected crises, lacking the skills to communicate effectively with their clients or communities.  Likewise, the "Making Meetings Matter" series seemed to register a positive note with people who really hate it when high level meetings suck wind.

Well, life threw me some curve balls in early November.

Owing to the crummy state of the economy and an lack of paying clientele to keep my consulting firm alive, I found myself forced to head back into the full-time workforce.  Part of me was relieved.  After all, I thrive on the dynamic of team leadership.  As a consultant in a small, start-up firm you just don't find many people willing to work for free, so being back in the salaried world with a real team to lead is comfortable territory.

Don't get me wrong.  I didn't give up on consulting because I couldn't find clients.

I gave up on consulting because the kind of clients I like to work with – non-profits – are sucking wind right now.  They're struggling.  Donations are down and they just don't have the kind of money it takes for me to keep my family of five fed, clothed, and college educated.

Nothing gives me greater joy than helping non-profits adopt best-of-breed leadership principles and communications methods.  They just can't pay for that kind of expertise.

In November I walked into a firm that a friend told me needed some help and and gave them a little pro-bono consulting on improving their web image.  We talked brand identity and positioning for a couple of hours.  It was like throwing a drowning man a life preserver.  At first they flailed wildly in the water.  Pretty soon they got a good grip on the life preserver and managed to throw a leg over the transome.

I still have a dream that some day some eager benefactor will step up to the plate and say something like this…

"Hey, Steve, I like what you guys are trying to accomplish.  I'm going to give you that $250k of seed money you need to crank up a leadership consulting firm dedicated to pro-bono service to the community.  I'm going to help you take that gig on the road to every hurting non-profit all over the country.  I'll help you get the RV gassed up and keep your family fed so you and your partners can go out there at low or no-cost and help build the team leadership skills it takes to achieve organizational success as a non-profit in today's world."

Ahhh…  Someday.

Click to continue reading “Detours, Delays, and the Reality of Life”

December 9, 2011
by Steve Pearl
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Still Crying for the “Unknowns”

My wife learned a long time ago that I cry at the drop of a hat.  It used to be embarrassing.  Now it's just a family joke.

Yes, I am a sap, a wimp, and a mushy-wushy softy over the silliest things.  

You remember the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life"?  Well I actually cried when Jimmy Stewart went running around the town yelling, "Merry Christmas!" at the top of his lungs. 

How about the Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant period piece, "Sense and Sensibility"?  I remember sitting behind my wife in the movie theater in the Chicago suburbs, crying when Emma Thompson exploded in tears of joy upon learning that Hugh Grant wasn't married.

"Die Hard"?  

Just kidding.

Which is why I also learned how to compartmentalize really, really important stuff worth crying over versus sappy, wimpy, mushy-wushy stuff worth crying over.  I never lose sight of what's really important in life.  Those cries are worth having.

Tonight I had one of those moments when real life collided with fantasy and I went right over the edge to tears.

Click to continue reading “Still Crying for the “Unknowns””

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