Will Kelly

My Acrobat.com Wishlist: Buzzword, Create PDF and MyFiles Edition

I've been getting some use out of my Acrobat.com account as of late and regularly use Buzzword and MyFiles and had a minor let down with Acrobat.com's Create PDF features. Acrobat.com is a maturing service and I have some wishes for what I want to see in future iterations of Acrobat.com.

Writing Samples for Technical Writers

My latest round of interviews and potential client meetings are causing me to reflect about writing samples and their use in the interview process.

At least in my experience, what passes for quality technical writing can vary slightly if not significantly from one organization to another. This means that an A+ document in one organization may not cut it in another organization.

Reasons why I am dropping MobileMe

I made the decision not to renew my MobileMe account when it comes up for renewal in June.

1. Apple's launch of MobileMe was botched and while Apple comped me some free months of membership the botched launch left a sour taste in my mouth.
2. The synchronization between my Macs was never really so great.
3. My @.mac.com email address never became one of my main email accounts.
4. Mozy.com and Windows Home Server are my home office backup solutions of choice.

My Impressions about VisualCV.com

I've been using VisualCV.com to help get the word out that I am available for a new contract or full-time employment opportunity.

Zoho on Facebook

Zoho also offers Zoho Online Office suite as a Facebook application which is a logical move for them. They adhere to Facebook application standards and allow you to map to your existing Zoho account or to create a new Zoho account.

Checked out Wolfram Alpha Today

I checked out Wolfram Alpha today and just not sure that I get it.

Computer Book Technical Editing

I am back to contracting and freelancing and trying to research how I can diversify my income streams. Back in the day, I spent a lot of my evenings as a computer book technical editor and reviewer.

Zoho Gadgets

The integration of Web Office technologies and Social Media seems like a natural fit and leave it to the good folks at Zoho to launch Zoho Gadgets to do just that.

Zoho Gadgets enables you to integrate Zoho Docs, Zoho Mail, Zoho Calendar, Zoho Tasks, Zoho Contacts, and Zoho Planner with a static Web site, Facebook, iGoogle, Orkut, and services using the Open Social XML standard.

Installing Internet Explorer 8

I finally broke down and installed Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 on my primary Windows XP machine. So far, my entire Internet Explorer 8 experience has been underwhelming to say the least.

Buzzword and Acrobat.com Export Options

While I use Google Docs to draft blog posts and rough ideas because I can switch back and forth amongst my home office PCs, I am trying to do more with Buzzword and Acrobat.com.

Inheriting Microsoft Word Document Pet Peeves

It is safe to say that while Microsoft Word and Word documents (*.doc)  have the crown as the most used business word processor and document format in today's business world there are usage problems that still linger.

However, despite the wide spread use of Microsoft Word  there is a whole lot of document butchering going on that can make it painful to inherit a Word document from a previous author.

Now Available for New Senior Technical Writer Opportunities

I am currently available for new full-time or contract employment as a senior technical writer in the Washington, DC area or via telecommuting.

Details of my experience are after the jump.

Contractor versus FTE

It never ceases to amaze me the connotation that being a contract IT worker has with some organizations especially in light of today's economy.

Car payments, mortgages, and other bills don't discriminate whether they are paid from money a person earns from contract work or as a full-time employee. Employers need to remember this fact.

Choosing a Wiki for your Enterprise

This is probably the first contract hunt where I am starting to see Wiki experience as a job requirement. Nothing could make me happier, because I am a big believer in Wikis and online collaboration tools for the enterprise and glad to see such tools become part of contract and job prerequisites.

Google Results for Will Kelly

I am very surprised that willkelly.org, a Web presence and an archive of my old blogger powered blog shows up in the first page of the Google results for  Will Kelly.

Checking in with ThinkFree

When I first started following the Web Office Space while I was writing for Processor Magazine and PC Today Magazine, I ranked the Web Office space players as follows:

• Google Apps
• Zoho
• ThinkFree

Saturday was the Hungry for Music Crawfish Boil

It was nice to get outside, eat Crawfish, drink beer, and catch up with some friends I haven't seen in a while.

Yojimbo and Me

It is safe to say that personally and professionally that I am a pack rat when it comes to papers and research so I've been looking for an electronic solution for the filing and indexing of my important information. While a paperless office might not be in my future, I am looking to cut down on paper.

Google Apps now supports LDAP

I am a bit late in blogging about the news that Google Apps is now supporting LDAP and this is a real development in the Web Office space especially in regards to the challenges and FUD that many industry watchers see for enterprises moving from the ubiquitous Microsoft Office/Exchange Server implementations that are the standards for Office productivity and online communications.

No Access to Product?

I was meeting with a prospective client on Friday who was probing me on my work style and whether or not I am the sort of technical writer that works hands on with the product I am documenting. Of course, I stressed to them that I believe that a technical writer has to have access to a product to product quality technical documentation.