Padd Solutions

From Vietnam to Iraq, the song is still relevant. I'm thankful the troops will be home this holiday season.

Last month, I wrote about cutting the cord and our choice to move forward without cable or satellite service. Surprisingly, it's been an easy transition, and I'm happy with our decision.

Originally, we purchased a Boxee Box, but I wasn't thrilled with the interface and the device was returned within a couple days. While I can see the appeal, it seemed cluttered and had a significat amount of C-rated content that I simply wasn't interested in.

I got the impression Boxee was trying to be everything to everyone.

Also, I've learned there isn't a device that can single-handily replace cable. Boxee promised to stream our favorite shows from websites of the major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox) and include content from Comedy Central and other cable channels.

Streaming from the network sites was less than user-friendly, and content from Comedy Central was more about clips than episodes. To Boxee's defense, I've learned that cable companies seem willing to put their content on your computer because it likely won't replace television, but they draw the line when a device is designed to put the content on your TV through your internet connection.

So we've settled on two devices in our living room: an Apple TV and digital antenna. The antenna allows us to get about 20 channels, including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, MyNetwork, PBS, and several others (including lots of Spanish content I've deleted). The channels are in HD and the clarity is better than anything I ever received from Time Warner, Comcast, or Dish Network.

I've learned that we download most of the content we watch on the computer, which has made Apple TV the perfect choice for us. If you download through Apple TV, you pay for the content you choose to watch, and our television watching has become more productive, which is great.

But we haven't missed "Grey's Anatomy," "Law & Order: SVU," and I've become a big fan of "Breaking Bad." Soon, I plan to add "Hell on Wheels" to our list.

Another added benefit to Apple TV is the integration we have in our home. With a MacBook, iPod Touch, Apple Time Capsule, and Apple TV, everything works together. Next on our list are two iPhones, and iPad, and iMac. The seamless integration makes all the sense in the world. All of our music and videos are streamed from our computer to Apple TV with the smallest amount of setup; it literally comes out of the box, is enabled to share, and *boom*, it works.

I have missed two things: live sports and 24-hour news, but even sports has been less problematic. The digital antenna gives us Sunday football, and we caught the World Series, as well. The Astros will be on Fox Sports Net, so we won't see them, and now that basketball season is set to return, I won't catch the ESPN/TNT games, either.

Also, I've started getting my news from the YouTube interface on Apple TV, Podcasts, CNN.com, the radio, and the TV at the restaurant during the day.

I imagine there will be a day we turn the cable or satellite back on, but there's certainly a possibility we won't. I truly don't feel like we're missing anything. As a matter of fact, if Apple TV would include Hulu or Hulu Plus, we might just be set for good.

We were tired of paying nearly $80 a month for Dish Network. Even though we enjoyed the service (including the customer service), it just seemed ridiculous to pay so much money for television we didn't watch. Having 200 channels is nice, but since we only watched between 8 - 10 of them, it seemed like a waste. Really, who watches the Angel One network or Free Speech TV?

Moving to Houston has given us an opportunity for a clean break... or at least an attempt to cut the cord from cable/satellite providers.

I've spent the last two days searching for the best alternatives that (1) are easy for my wife to use since she's not a techie, (2) easily allow my daughter to watch her children's programming like Sesame Street, (3) allow us to rent moves, if we like, and (3) provide the most content.

I've considered all the front-line candidates:

• Apple TV
• Boxee Box
• Roku 2
• Google TV

Apple TV & Google TV both seem very limited, and I didn't love the interface of Roku and would prefer a web browser be included. Boxee Box seems to be the consensus winner, but I have hesitations about this device, as well.

So tomorrow I'm purchasing two things: an antenna for the TV, and a Boxee Box [What's Boxee Box? Click here.].

The antenna may bring visions of rabbit ears and snowy screens, but in the digital world, this is (supposed) to be a thing of the past. It'll allow us to get the local stations (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, PBS, and more) in HD content. From my reading, I hear the HD signal is better than the cable company provides.  Also, a lot of their content (including Grey's Anatomy) are streamable on their websites to watch on demand.

Boxee Box will then be my wife's center for apps that play movies and other TV shows. Netflix is an app currently available - although we do not have a subscription (and I'm not sure that will change).

Hulu Plus is an app not currently available, but should be available soon. I'm very interested in this app, and because their website says it's coming, I'll purchase the box. However, should it not show up, I'll be quite upset. The app is currently available through Roku, but I'm still gonna pass on that device.

Hopefully tomorrow, I come home with a winner... we'll see.

Google+ is a new experiment from Google that's designed to be a competitor to Facebook. This isn't Google's first attempt, with Google Wave and Google Buzz being the two that didn't fare so well.

At this point, Google+ is in "field test" mode (early beta testing?), meaning it's not available to everyone; you must have an invite. Luckily, I was able to snag one - thanks to my friend Jessica! I've been interested in giving this bad boy a shot since it's taken up a lot of traffic on technology websites and blogs.

Before receiving my invite, the feedback seemed mostly positive. The same basic concept from existing social networking sites seemed to remain, but many new features differentiated it from Facebook (which is the only social networking site that really matters).

After playing around with the site, I'm not so sure I'm immediately in love, however, if things fall into place, it could offer some great advantages over Facebook.

While the design is very similar to Facebook, it's central point of focus seems to be Circles. While Facebook lets you believe all friends are created equal, Google+ requires you to separate your friends into Circles, and when you communicate, you do so to a specific group of people, or everyone, should you so choose.

It'll be helpful to people like my mother who doesn't want everyone to see every thing she posts. However, as you read along, you'll understand why I do not believe people like my mother are jumping on board this quickly.

Personally, I see potential in creating a circle specifically for my restaurant staff and being able to communicate to them important information related to my business. And while I imagine some circles will remain static, I'm sure people will find use in creating circles for small groups or projects that are only necessary for a short time.

You begin by seeing your list of Google contacts, and are directed to separate them into the appropriate Circles. Friends, Family, Acquaintances, and Following are the default circles; you can add as many as you'd like. There is, however, a bit of confusion about what exactly I'm doing with my contacts... I'm separating them into circles, and as they sign up for Google+, they'll be in place? What if they choose not to sign up? Do they remain in a circle taking up unnecessary space, and a visual reminder of who has chosen not to play along?

Also, it made me realize how many of my friends I have in my contact list without email addresses (which, at this point, is how their contacted). With nearly every friend I communicate with on Facebook, who needs email addresses? I only use them for business or bills.

At this point, I like what I see, but I'm not sold... yet. While there are features I like, I will first need a few things:

Facebook & Twitter integration. When I open my browser, Facebook is the first site I visit. I have too many friends and family members solidified within Facebook, that I want to know what's going on in their lives, and I doubt they'll make the jump to Plus as an early adopter. As an added bonus, it would be fantastic if I could organize my Facebook contacts into Circles, as well.

Blogger integration. I understand Blogger will be repackaged soon, and I have no specific suggestions, but if there was a way I could 'not' neglect this blog, I would welcome it.

Integration with Google Calendar. I use the calendar regularly. It would be interesting to see shared calendars from friends, that way I can know what's coming up that week, or even where they are now.

At the end of the day, I'm not buying Google+ taking over the world in the immediate future for a number of reasons, and while Circles may be one of the coolest features, I also believe it'll push people away. Geeks love lists and find them valuable, but I do not believe users looking for an easy social networking experience do.

I do not see my wife spending 15 minutes organizing her contact list into sets, mainly because she doesn't have the need or desire, but also because I'm not sure she's ever organized her personal address book!

I've been wrong before... but it's still early. We'll see.

It's taken me 30 years, but after hearing the same lesson over and over, I believe I finally understand.

It's been said that anyone can have a great idea, but it's the execution of that idea that separates people.

I've had a number of, what I believe, are very good ideas related to the company or business I was working for, but for whatever reason, I never executed them.

This will begin to change...

I own a Nook e-reader from Barnes & Noble that was a gift purchased at Best Buy. About a week ago, I started seeing lines on the screen, so I planned to bring it to Best Buy for repair or replacement.

Wednesday, Rebecca and I were taking Olivia to the beach, so I brought the Nook along to make a stop at the Port Arthur store, since we'd be nearby.

I had my receipt in hand and spoke to the lady at the service counter. She was very friendly and legitimately looking for a way to help me.

Since I didn't purchase a protection plan, she recommend I talk to Geek Squad and see what my options were, and assumed that the 1-year manufacturers warranty would repair my Nook, but they'd likely need to send it away for repairs, leaving me without the device for at least a week or more.

I asked her if an even exchange was possible, so she took my receipt to give it a try. Because I purchased the Nook in February, June was far outside the return policy, but to my surprise, the system would allow an exchange. Unfortunately, there were no Nook readers in stock.

Apparently, Barnes & Noble is releasing a new version, causing the current stock to deplete. According to her computer, there was one available at the Beaumont location.

I thanked her for the help, and left planning to stop by the other location for my exchange. This would be a lot quicker than waiting for the repair to be shipped, fixed, and returned.

The next day, I stopped by the Beaumont location with my receipt, Nook, and power adapter hoping for an easy in-and-out exchange. This would not be the case.

For starters, the item I needed wasn't in stock, meaning I would have to send the product in for repair, or exchange it for in-store credit.

The girl at the register seemed genuine, but said the computer would not process my exchange since it was outside the window for returns or exchanges. I explained that the location in Port Arthur would allow the exchange, and after a brief conversation with her supervisor, she told me I was out of luck and would need to go to Port Arthur for the exchange.

I got the impression she thought I was trying to pull a fast one and was calling my bluff. The broken Nook sitting on the counter apparently wasn't enough for her to believe I had a legitimate problem.

I asked about repairing the device with the manufacturers warranty, but she was also unable to help, saying I needed to contact Barnes & Noble directly. When I mentioned the Port Arthur store recommended I go through Geek Squad, she replied that I could try it, but she didn't know.

At this point, my options are to (1) talk to Geek Squad about repairing the device, (2) ask to speak to her supervisor, but since she said "no" in the beginning, I didn't believe she'd be much help, or (3) return to Port Arthur for the exchange.

I decided I'd travel back to Port Arthur.

After the 20 minute drive, I spoke to the same girl from the day before and explained to her what happened in Beaumont. She rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of the story, processed my receipt for the exchange, and (since they were still out of stock), gave me a Best Buy gift card for the amount of the original purchase.

I was out the door in 3 minutes.

Since there wasn't a Nook in stock, I decided I'll wait until the next generation hits stores. While I could get mine repaired, it was buggy and a bit clunky.

I imagine they have customers who try to take advantage of the system causing them to by cynical, but I had both a receipt from the original purchase, and a Nook that clearly showed it wasn't readable from the lines on the screen.

When the girl in Port Arthur told me an exchange was possible (causing me to bypass the long wait for the repair from the manufacturer), and the store nearby had the product in stock, it was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, Beaumont wasn't willing to play nice.

It's odd that the same system from different locations would process my receipt differently. Rather it's true or not, something felt 'fishy' about the situation.

Because she was extremely helpful, I will be sending a gift card from my restaurant and a 'thank you' note to the girl in Port Arthur. Also, when the new Nook is released, I will purchase it from her store, as well.

This is both the good and bad from these big box companies - they make corporate policies that allow returns or exchanges very easily, reducing the hassle for the consumer. However, some of your employees are willing to do the right thing for the customer, while some aren't.

I don't believe the girl in Beaumont (or even her supervisor for that matter) was trying to give poor customer service, I believe they were following policy. Unfortunately, that policy just caused this buyer to travel to the other location for future purchases, because they were willing to do right by the customer.

Since I live in nearby Orange, traveling to Port Arthur or Beaumont means I'm on the road the same amount of time. There is no inconvenience.

Except it doesn't look like the new Nook will be in Best Buy stores anytime soon. There's no word of a release date outside Barnes & Noble. I'm not looking forward to the wait.

Washington DC is a fantastic city. Beautiful monuments, lots of grey buildings, expensive food, heavy security, and culture were main themes of our trip.

It doesn't feel much like a vacation, though, because we walked all day, every day. But that's okay - we saw just about everything we wanted.

A few things we'll take away with us:

• We noticed many of the professional women weren't married. Rebecca and I didn't see many wedding rings.
  
  
• For the large number of pedestrians, there were very few garbage cans along the street. Unless you were in a National Park (like the Mall), they were hard to find.
  
  
• The size of government is massive. Seeing each department housed in a building that spans multiple blocks adds perspective, and it makes me nervous.
  
  
• Many conversations we heard from folks around town were about people's travels overseas to England, Japan, China, etc. I left with the impression people were expected to travel abroad; a far cry from families in the south encouraging their children to stay close by.
  
  
• Everyone walks quite a bit. Many people used public transportation (again, very different from the south), meaning they walk many blocks from the Metro station to their place of employment.
  
  
• Other than McDonalds, seeing fast food was rare. Finding fried food in restaurants was also rare. Everything was served in small portions.
  
  
• Very few people had visible weight issues. Obviously a byproduct of the active lifestyle and healthier eating.

It was 8 days that we were glad to spend in DC. For my first time in our nation's capital (and my wife's second), we were able to see a lot in a city that offers something for everyone.