From previous posts you might remember my 'fanboi' status with regards to Google. I think the web-applications they make represent the cream of the crop with regard to both front-end functionality (Ajax, Web 2.0) and backend support (2GB+ for every gmail account isn't something to sneeze at)
So when I learned about Google Apps a while back I took notice but then decided it wasn't for me. You see, I had my own nifty Linux server that did everything for me: Mail, Web, etc. I like Linux, it makes me feel empowered.
However, there comes a point in one's life where one must admit defeat and recoup their losses. Linux has been good to me, but I haven't got the time and drive to maintain my own mailserver with any degree of proficiency right now. It takes a bit more than I can spend time on right now: making sure security is tight, keeping up with spam filtering trends, etc.
But most of all, I have a 'user' that uses the mailserver too: my lovely wife isn't a technophobe by any measure (she set up the PC when we moved it downstairs again), but when the mailserver (and the associated webmail apps) keep breaking down (partly due to my own incompetence), some frustration will show.
And to be honest I got fed up too: I've tried to find a good webmail package out there (Squirrelmail and Roundcube for example), but nothing really competes with the big boys out there: Google, Yahoo, AOL...
A small light started to shine at that point: what about Google Apps? Google Apps allows you to hijack some of the major functions your domain might need and host them on Google servers: Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Webpages, Chat and collaborative Word- and Spreadsheet documents. That's a lot!
The only prerequisite is that you have full control over your domain's DNS records. At a minimum, you need to be able to point your domain's MX records to google's servers. You also need to either be able to assign an CNAME record or upload an HTML file to show you have some control over the domain.
From there on in it's a breeze! You create users, each of which gets the familiar 2GB mail storage (that doesn't 'grow' like the normal gmail space does though) and any user can then use all of the functions you enable for your domain. The interfaces to these are all the ones you're used to if you've used any of those products individually before.
And it does take a lot of worry from your mind: Google has a reputation to uphold where stability is concerned, so I'm fairly confident my mail is safe. The spamfilter is one of the best I've seen around, so that is taken care of as well.
But most importantly the wife now has a stable platform for all her mails again. Long live Google and their apps!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Goals! Goals! Goals! Goals! Goals!
There. Five Goals.
Oh, that wasn't what Riddley Walker meant me to do? Ah, I see. It's another Internet Meme. Well, I'm up for it.
I'm going to dispense with the already commonplace goals of 'Get rid of Loans' and 'Get Fit', because - be honest - we all want that. I don't notice anyone sitting in a corner ripping up money or stuffing their faces with a very determined look on their faces. And if they do, they regret it immediately afterwards.
Here are 5 things I really, really would like to achieve and think are possibly in my league somewhere in the future.
1) Write a game
This is still my #1 goal, even though I'm almost 50% there. I've penetrated the games industry and have been working in it for a year (exactly today!) now. But there's more: Somewhere in the future I'd like to start my own development studio and write at least one published game with me at the helm of it. I need a lot more development experience and probably more experience in mainstream programming languages, but I'm making headway.
2) Write a book
What do I know about writing? Nada. Well, I'm fairly proficient at the language I'd like to do it in, but do I have any ideas or inspiration? Nope. Not yet. But the written medium has fascinated me for a long time, and possible ties in with the #1 goal above. My game would probably be epic and lyrical in nature. So until the muse comes to me, I'll keep buying 'How to write a book' books and read internet sites.
3) Act
I've done a (very little) bit of acting in my past. Veeeery amateur theatre and one filmed role (I don't think it's ever seen the light of day), but you know what? I enjoyed every single second of it. Even the rehearsals - where I'm crap at remembering my lines - when I saw everything coming together. So I'd like to do it again. England is the country of Amateur Dramatic Societies, so maybe when I'm old and gray...
4) Excel
I just want to be good at something. It's my #2 insecurity (#1 is forthcoming) and probably an ever-growing inferiority complex. But I think it would be nice to be recognised as an expert in something. Something I can write about. Something I can publish about. But what? Beats me.
5) Learn to live
I'm scared to death of Death. Yes, the Captial 'D'. At best I'm an agnost who's convinced there's absolutely nothing at the other end of the tunnel. At my worst I clamp up and don't want to move for fear of dying. I don't fly, I am fearful in cars if they go too fast (ditto for trains and buses) and have severe hypochondriac tendencies. Why can't I just let go and do stuff I might enjoy? I'd love to, and so would Amanda. We could fly to our holiday and I'd drive along the small roads on the mountains.
But I don't.
There. My 5 main goals. I'd tag people, but my collection of blog-friends is only growing very slowly. I'll do it later. Maybe I need to make that a goal as well... Hmmmm...
Oh, that wasn't what Riddley Walker meant me to do? Ah, I see. It's another Internet Meme. Well, I'm up for it.
I'm going to dispense with the already commonplace goals of 'Get rid of Loans' and 'Get Fit', because - be honest - we all want that. I don't notice anyone sitting in a corner ripping up money or stuffing their faces with a very determined look on their faces. And if they do, they regret it immediately afterwards.
Here are 5 things I really, really would like to achieve and think are possibly in my league somewhere in the future.
1) Write a game
This is still my #1 goal, even though I'm almost 50% there. I've penetrated the games industry and have been working in it for a year (exactly today!) now. But there's more: Somewhere in the future I'd like to start my own development studio and write at least one published game with me at the helm of it. I need a lot more development experience and probably more experience in mainstream programming languages, but I'm making headway.
2) Write a book
What do I know about writing? Nada. Well, I'm fairly proficient at the language I'd like to do it in, but do I have any ideas or inspiration? Nope. Not yet. But the written medium has fascinated me for a long time, and possible ties in with the #1 goal above. My game would probably be epic and lyrical in nature. So until the muse comes to me, I'll keep buying 'How to write a book' books and read internet sites.
3) Act
I've done a (very little) bit of acting in my past. Veeeery amateur theatre and one filmed role (I don't think it's ever seen the light of day), but you know what? I enjoyed every single second of it. Even the rehearsals - where I'm crap at remembering my lines - when I saw everything coming together. So I'd like to do it again. England is the country of Amateur Dramatic Societies, so maybe when I'm old and gray...
4) Excel
I just want to be good at something. It's my #2 insecurity (#1 is forthcoming) and probably an ever-growing inferiority complex. But I think it would be nice to be recognised as an expert in something. Something I can write about. Something I can publish about. But what? Beats me.
5) Learn to live
I'm scared to death of Death. Yes, the Captial 'D'. At best I'm an agnost who's convinced there's absolutely nothing at the other end of the tunnel. At my worst I clamp up and don't want to move for fear of dying. I don't fly, I am fearful in cars if they go too fast (ditto for trains and buses) and have severe hypochondriac tendencies. Why can't I just let go and do stuff I might enjoy? I'd love to, and so would Amanda. We could fly to our holiday and I'd drive along the small roads on the mountains.
But I don't.
There. My 5 main goals. I'd tag people, but my collection of blog-friends is only growing very slowly. I'll do it later. Maybe I need to make that a goal as well... Hmmmm...
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