Ok recently I put up a plug to my site using the xanga plugz option, it worked quite well and my site started getting nearly 100 hits a day. The traffic wasn't the problem, it was the people who decided to post. Now not all the new viewers were an issue, but some of them seemed cut and pasted from Myspace. Yeah I shut my Myspace down long ago and the last thing I need is another one. So later for now, maybe I'll start posting again when things slow down around here I've disabled my plug so that'll probably help. Maybe I'll start up a new blog somewhere else if so I'll get the people who've been here the longest a link in your emails.

Ok anyone who read my last post probably knows I'm on the super long waiting list for a Google Voice account, well due to a small twist of fate (a zatz blog contest) I've skipped ahead of the line and am now the proud owner of a Google Voice account!

So what does this mean? Well for starters Google takes all my voicemail for me. That's right, when you call my cell and leave a message you're now leaving it with Google instead of Verizon. Don't worry though my cellphone number hasn't changed, just the way I handle my voicemail.

Using Google voice I'm able to check my voicemail from the internet using my Google Voice inbox, Google handles all my voicemail just like my Gmail account. I can listen to it, read it (it's transcribed), have it sent to my email, archive it, delete it, mark it as spam, download it as an mp3, add contacts, or just let it clutter my inbox. I can also set personalized voice mail recordings for any number I add to my contacts list. Before you ask, yes I can still check my voicemail from my cell phone, but now by calling my new Google phone number.

That's right, aside from letting me use my current cell number, Google has also issued me my own personal Google phone number. It works just like my regular phone number and it's even in the same area code. So what the point of a Google phone number? I'm glad you asked. It's a lot like "Lord of the Rings", one phone to rule them all. My Google number can forward my call to any one phone number I want (cell, home) or all my phones at once. So I could set it up so that when you call my Google number my cell and house phone ring at the same time.

So it really is one ring to rule them all, and I can use all the same voicemail options for my Google number that I do for my regular cell number. That's not all, if I changed my cell number or service I'd be able to keep all my voicemails, and have the new ones sent to the same place, and the people I give my Google number to will be none the wiser.

Google is also working on integrating services for mapping Google numbers to free Voip/SID/computer/softphone numbers, this way you'll be able to make and receive free phone call's from any device with internet/Wifi access. I'm really hoping this feature is made available soon.

Google Voice really has to many feature's to mention, but I'm sure I've covered most of the important stuff. Unfortunately right now Google Voice is invite only, you could request an invite from Google, but as I mentioned earlier it's a long waiting list. Your best bet is to find someone who already has a Google Voice account, or a blog contest giving them out, and ask them for an invite. My 3 invite's aren't active yet, but as soon as they are I'd be happy to give them out.

That's all for me, just thought I'd let everybody know about a great new Google service.

PS: I searched Google to find the contest using Google Chrome, and had the Google Voice invite sent to my Google mail. Google needs to hurry up on their Google Chrome OS. Also they should build Google PC's to go with it. Then maybe they could use their Google Satellite to broadcast free Google Wifi nationwide. Google, Google, Google, Google, Google, Google, Google, Google, Google, Linux, Google.

Edit: I've added a Google Voice call widget to my blog. Try it out and leave me a message if it works.

I know I've been talking a whole lot about Linux lately, but recently I helped, a less computer savvy, friend of mine upgrade to Window 7. He called me the other day and told me it was running great.

Now I've only used, and still use, the RC version of Win 7 and it runs great. I was worried that the final release would have issues, but so far from what I've heard and read the Windows 7 final release works great.

Not to mention PC prices still haven't gone up. It's still cheaper to buy a high end PC than it is to buy a low end Mac. Windows 7 has been reported to be running as well as OSX and in some cases better.

It would seam that Apple's fun "I'm a Mac" ads have turned into nothing but a PC smear campaign based on Microsoft's track record. This worked when Vista was around, because Vista really did suck, but Apple doesn't have a single Windows 7 flaw to exploit, there ads are unfounded, and it's really obnoxious.

Is Apple scared? Maybe, PC's are working great, are user friendly, and cost way less than Mac's, one might draw the conclusion that Mac is a counter productive PC alternative.

The Mac graphic designer argument isn't even valid because Adobe makes most of (if not all of) the software used by Mac graphic designers, and Adobe programs run great on the PC (Linux too, I just installed the 30 day trial of the latest version of Photoshop Cs4 in my Linux box, and it runs perfect).

Even Microsoft doesn't consider Mac a threat. Bill Gates went on record saying "Our most potent OS competitor is Linux." Thats probably because Linux is free and Mac cost's an arm and a leg.

Steve Jobs can't even get Pixar to use Macs . They use Dell Linux boxes and when asked about it they said the hardware is the solution. Obviously not Mac hardware, Steve Jobs must have turned ghost white.

Point is when something costs less and offers greater performance it's a better deal. When something cost you an arm and a leg you're crippled. Common sense is on PC's side this time around, sorry Mac users.

PS: If your still using Vista you should upgrade, because your computer sucks, and Mac users can make fun of you.