Monday, October 5, 2009

iPhoto vs Picasa

The short answer is: Picasa.  Here's why:
  1. Face Recognition.  iPhoto pretty much only recognizes that there is a face in the photo.  Picasa does an impressive job of figuring out who's face is in the photo.  This makes categorizing photos much faster.
  2. Files.  iPhoto requires you to store all your photos in an iphoto folder where it hides all the file names for no reason that I can figure out.  Apparently, if you can get used to it, it's not so bad. 
  3. File locations.  iPhoto offers no simple way for a user to indicate where the big blop of photos that iPhoto will make is located.  I like to have all my media on an external drive.  That's not an option with iPhoto.  Note: there is a way to configure it from the command line, but why bother given items 1 and 2 in this list.
Overall, iPhoto is kinda lame when compared to Picasa.

Dear Steve Ballmer

Hey Steve, quick question for you.  ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?  I've been out here with the Win 7 beta code for almost a year now.  I've been busting my ass telling people how it's very cool, how it's got features that Mac doesn't and how it really easy fast and light.  And you promote the thing by encouraging people to throw Windows 7 House Parties?! 

Look, I know "cool" is not something you do.  But seriously, can't you just find one or two reasonably cool employees and get them to stop you from doing things that are this uncool?  Really, I am starting to think that the majority of your problems are marketing-related.  The new ads with the kids are pretty funny, and the people shopping for a cheap laptop made some sense.  But these things are not connecting in a way that gives MS a cohesive brand impression.  And you keep gumming up the works with things that don't make sense.  Bob, for example.  That stupid paperclip guy, for another.  And now after you guys bet the farm on Vista, you are going low key on win 7 when clearly, the reverse should have happened.  But windows 7 tupperware parties.  That's just pathetic judgement on your part, Steve.