Just got a call from the brother. He said he's been getting a lot of positive feedback this week after pointing people to my posts regarding macro tools for Windows.
This may be one of the big "misses" in the Wintel world. In the Mac world, we've had tools like Applescript, iKey, Quickeys, and TypeIt4Me (among others) for years. We've just taken it for granted that you can use automation tools with good user interfaces to improve productivity in our personal workplace.
(Later: There's a Quickeys for Windows? Who knew?)
Not so in the Wintel world. When you ask Winheads about text replacement, for example, they start talking about how fast they can accurately type. They miss the point - no matter how fast you type, the computer can do it faster. If you have to type it over and over again, it's faster and easier just to automate the process. Dull, repetitious, tedious work is best left to the CPU on the desktop, not the one between your ears.
It's not like the tools aren't there. There are macros in the Office Suite as well as stand alone programs like ActiveWords, PowerPro and Macro Express that can automate much of the mousing and keyboarding we do every day. But it's not a widely promoted feature, and you have to wonder why - this is the sort of nonsense that computers were supposed to make easier.
I'm impressed that the utilities exist, and disappointed that they aren't pushed harder by Microsoft and the Wintel blogging press. It's an area worthy of much more attention, and - at least from what I've seen - get's short shrift when talking about reasons to stay on the Wintel platform. [code: theWebSocket;]
I didn't know there was a QuicKeys for Windows. I used to use it on the Mac years ago, before moving to OneClick, and I'm happy to see that it's available on Windows. I'll have to check out the trial version.
4:55:50 PM 
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