TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Once again, I was walking through a computer store and some PCs were running
that nifto Marine Aquarium screensaver. I finally decided that I had to have
it.
Unfortunately, for whatever reason (probably from talking to a clerk), I got
the idea that it came from Microsoft. So, I went to the MS site and found
it. It, and a couple of desktop themes were $20. Since I was going that far,
I decided to spring the extra $9 to get the PLUS! bundle. Shouldn'a
bothered.
It turns out that the screensaver on the XP PLUS! CD is just a demo. You
find that out when you click the button that says "Order more fish online".
Instead of arriving at a Microsoft page, you land at www.serenescreen.com.
Deep in their FAQ, they explain that Microsoft liked their fishy screensaver
so much that they made special arrangements for a demo, and if you want to
upgrade it, you ... can't.
Well, I still really like the darn piece of eye-candy, so I bought the real
thing from SereneScreen. It wasn't that I was so anxious to get the extra
fish, but they also provide a version for dual-monitor arrangements. I now
get a lot of traffic to my cube, to watch the extremely lifelike and
colorful fishies swimming among the coral and from one monitor to the next.
Very well done. I switch it on several times per day, just to stare at it.
The small productivity loss is offset by the de-stressing. Besides, I've
decided to modify the old saw about writers... "A tech writer is working
even when she-or-he is staring into /s/p/a/c/e/ the fishtank."
Unfortunately, the program is available only for Win and Mac.
I asked on a couple of Linux lists if there was anything anywhere near as
good for Linux, and got a bunch of "sorry"s and a couple of huffy responses
(this after Googling and getting no satisfaction).
If anybody on this list knows of a Linux aquarium app (screensaver or
in-window app) that approaches the quality of this one from SereneScreen,
please let me know.
Meanwhile, I'll have to unload the silly XP PLUS! pack. Maybe there's a
school around town that could use a freebie.
Kevin
--
The information contained in this electronic mail transmission may be
privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected from disclosure. If
you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately
by replying to this message, and then delete it from your computer without
copying or disclosing it.
The information contained in this electronic mail transmission may be privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer without copying or disclosing it.
WEBWORKS FINALDRAFT - EDIT AND REVIEW, REDEFINED
Accelerate the document lifecycle with full online discussions and unique feedback-management capabilities. Unlimited, efficient reviews for Word
and FrameMaker authors. Live, online demo: http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archiver -at- techwr-l -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Send administrative questions to lisa -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
