Insider Tips
Time and again, you loyal Chic Geek-ers email or Facebook-message me with your technology and social media questions instead of leaving public comments on HerNashville.com. You say it’s because you don’t want to post your “dumb question” where the world can see, and I understand. But listen, sister, having an issue, Googling it, and finding the answer from someone who already solved your problem is why the Internet is awesome.
Don’t get me wrong, I am honored that so many of you turn to me with your tech questions. It’s just that for the good of the order, it’s essential that I share a few of your emailed queries. They’re too good to keep to myself!
Every time I ask you for help, you ask me if I’ve Googled it. Why you gotta be like that?
I swear I’m not trying to make you feel dumb, like when you call the cable folks and they ask if the TV is plugged in. I’m trying to get you to do what I’m about to do for you, which is Google your question and find the answer from someone who has already walked a mile in your fabulous shoes. See, it’s not that I know so much about geek stuff, it’s that I know how and where to find geeky solutions for a good chunk of my personal and professional needs. Give Google a try, especially for your computer, cell phone, and PDA issues. You are not the first one to have your problem, so there is no need to solve it alone!
I always see people camping out in coffee shops for their WiFi, but never ordering any coffee. Is this legal? Can you share any coffee shop-camping etiquette?
“WiFi squatting,” or the practice of camping out in a small business owner’s store for hours and hours while using resources you never intend to pay for, is selfish, rude, and offensive. Not only is the squatter stealing, he or she is also keeping others from actually sitting down and enjoying a beverage and/or tasty treat that was purchased from said coffee house. As for proper etiquette, if you are sitting down and booting up, you should at the very least purchase coffee, if not a bagel as well. Certainly, you should never bring your own beverage. And when you finish up, it’s time to go. At the end of the day, a coffee shop is still a place of business dependent on repeat customers, not picnic-packing squatters. So sip, surf, and be on your way!
I’d like to learn more about social media. Are there certain blogs I should read?
I love this question! The best way to get your arms around these ever-evolving social communication tools is to read up and test ’em out. The folks out there that really know how to use social media effectively stay on top of not only the trends, but the endless possibilities. Here’s what they are reading. In pixels: mashable.com, chrisbrogan.com, techcrunch.com, cultofmac.com, and lifehacker.com. On paper, check out Trust Agents (Wiley) by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith and Now is Gone (Bartleby) by Brian Solis and Geoff Livingston.
What Twitter application should I use on my computer?
My favorite third-party Twitter platform is Tweetie. Sorry PC peeps, it’s for Mac only. I used to be a TweetDeck fan, but I find it’s a memory hog. My desktop at work slows down tremendously when I have it open. Plus, it takes up so much real estate on my screen, I really can’t keep it up too long without getting frustrated or (at the very least) annoyed. I dig Tweetie because it’s sleek, easy to use, and unintrustive. ReTweeting is a breeze, as is unfollowing folks when they get on my nerves. Plus, it’s free, which is always nice. The good news: there is an iPhone app for it — Tweetie 2 — so if you don’t have a Mac, you can at least get a taste of Tweetie that way.
What’s the name of that to-do list you are always talking about?
You mean obsessing over? It’s online at gootodo.com. I first learned of it from Mark Hurst’s fantastic book Bit Literacy (Good Experience Press), which walks you through how to manage all the people, paper, and pixels that come at you each day. There is a small fee to use the service; anything that helps me stay organized, keeps my inbox empty, and never lets me forget to pay the mortgage is worth every penny.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d love to hear from you in the “Chic Geek” blog and column comment section; of course, you can always email me at margie@flackrabbit.com, too. Just don’t be surprised if your question turns up in print later!
