This Blog is No Longer in Use

I will keep this up as long as Google allows. However, all of my blogging now takes place at:

http://www.michaelnelson.info/

Quotations, memorable quotes at Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

Just thought this site might interest people:

Political Quotes

Google Notebook | PigPog

I just saw this post on PigPog about the new Google Notebook. This looks like it could be a great research tool.


Google Notebook | PigPog

Using EverNote for Academic Research - From GTD Wannabe

I have been meaning to write about notes management programs for some time now. Below is a post about how one dissertation writer uses EverNote to organize reading notes and other research information:

GTD Wannabe Reference Pages

I tend to enter most of my reading notes directly into EndNote. But I think the above might be a great solution for some people, especially since it is free!

I also use Microsoft OneNote for many of my other note-taking purposes. At some point I hope to do a bigger write-up about such note-taking solutions.

Categories: Note Management, Reference Management.

What can I do with my [Pocket PC]

My favorite Pocket PC resource, www.aximsite.com, just released its new guide:

What can I do with my Dell Axim

This is a fantastic resource for ANY Pocket PC user (and even some SmartPhone users). So check it out!

Categories: Pocket PC

Searching the Desktop

A key tool in a paperless world is the Desktop Search. Indeed, one of the reasons I am increasingly paperless is because desktop search engines are a great way of finding my information. Just imagine if you find any paper file simply by telling the filing cabinet what you are looking for. At their best, desktop search engines do just that.

Desktop search engines seem to be rapidly evolving. Leading contenders include:

Google's Desktop Search

Yahoo Desktop Search

Copernic Desktop Search

MSN Desktop Search

X1 Desktop Search

BlinkX

The following is a post from Lifehacker providing their rundown on these options (except X1 and BlinkX):

Seek and Ye Shall Find: Desktop search showdown - Lifehacker

CNet has a review here.

I myself have tried Google, Copernic, Blinkx and MSN. For some reason, Google became a memory hog on my two computers. I have temporarily removed it. MSN Desktop Search has been undergoing some great transformations lately. I have it on my desktop at home, but rarely use it.

BlinkX is mostly known for its video search, but it has some creative features for desktop search. One feature is a tool bar that sits in Word (or many other programs) and is constantly keeping track of possible items on your computer or on the web that might be relevant to your current document. Another cool feature is the ability to create Smart Folders. I created a Smart Folder called "Africa International Law" that automatically found items on my computer relevant to those terms as well as updated news and website information. Unfortunately, I found BlinkX to be a bit of a drain on my resources (512 MB RAM is all I have), especially since I tend to have four or five major applications running at any given time. UPDATE: Their own website doesn't seem to carry desktop search anymore, though I have a strong feeling they are merely in a new phase of development. Try here and here for information about downloading an internet-only version.

Currently, Copernic is my top choice for desktop search. I like the way search results are presented and I even like the web search features it provides (though I mostly still use google for the web).

Categories: Getting Organized

Windows Live Academic Search

Windows Live Academic Search is now up and running! According to CNet, the service should only cover three disciplines: physics, electrical engineering, and computer science. However, I did a few quick searches for international relations-related topics and found that searches in that area already turns up some useful items. [Type in "international relations" and more than 27,000 items come-up.] And I am sure they will contionue to expand the database.

One advantage of the service is the two-pane view. On the left are the search results. On the right you have three choices: Abstract, BibTeX, and EndNote. The default is Abstract. When you hover your mouse over any search result in the left pane the abstract and bibliographic information pops up in the right. I think that could prove to be very useful.

I haven't had a chance to discover all the features, but I encourage others to begin trying it out. Also, since all (?) Windows Live services are in beta this might be a good opportunity to make suggestions to Microsoft as well.

Happy Searching!


Categories: Web Tools