New AdWords Interface

I'm pretty unimpressed with the new interface, I don't really understand how to use it, and it's so AJAX to the max that when my connection was running slow everything started breaking. How do others feel about this new interface?

Changing Business Models

It's as usual been a long time since I've posted so I figured I was due for an update. I'm still around and working hard on two main projects. The first is BudgetSimple, which has continued to grow as one of the most popular free online budgets in the net. Since the big 2.0 upgrade that made the project "AJAX to the max!" I've been working on a 2.5 version that should monetize some of the interest in the project, while still keeping my goal of providing a useful free budget.

Besides that, Used Cars On-Line is undergoing a slight change in business models. Since it's inception as one of the first sites for used cars on the Internet in 1995, it's been exclusively for cars "for sale by owner". While I always thought this was a great little niche, Craigslist pretty much cannibalized what small market segment there existed for people who didn't want to buy from dealers. I know many people don't mind buying from dealer and in fact some people only buy from dealerships, so in the coming weeks I'll be offering dealer feeds in addition to FSBO ads in hopes of growing interest in the site. There is always considerably more dealer inventory out there then private owners, so this requires a pretty substantial update in terms of search on the site. I'll post again when it's live to get the software business community's feedback.

New Version, bad dreams

After about a month and a half of beta testing, I did a violent switcheroo for users of BudgetSimple on Sunday. I love the new version of the site, and there has been positive feedback as well as some negative feedback for the dramatic change. I wish there was a way to ease people into the new version, but the difference between the original one I wrote in a weekend, and this one which I spent months on is dramatic.

Oddly, I had a dream last night that Google was making an online budget app... it's interesting to subconsciously worry about competition for something I make no money on.

Used Cars On-Line is also experiencing a large uptick in traffic, I guess I specialize in sites that are popular in a down economy!

I decided to enter back into the world of Apple yesterday, by purchasing one of the new MacBooks (I was the biggest Mac lover from 1992-2000). It was basically my first time in the Apple store as a consumer, and I had brought 3 other friends in with me that wanted to buy MacBooks. Let me say I was a little underwhelmed.

Apple basically had $8k in sales right there ready to be purchased, but we were told that they would't sell any MacBooks without a personal shopping appointment. I was pretty much ready to give up right then and there because the whole idea of needing an appointment for them to scan a box at the register is ridiculous. Especially since there were plenty of "geniuses" around that could help you buy anything else. So reluctantly I made an appointment for later in the day.

And when I came back for my appointment....they were sold out of the model I wanted.

I think that pretty much ends my short time as an Apple Store customer.

From the "You Gotta Be Able to Take Hate Mail If You're On the Internet Dept"...

For some reason this email cracked me up this morning. I get things like this every now and then:

So far as I can see, this is the most miserable site on the internet. How would I go about looking for ads for Toyota Siennas within, say 1200 miles of New Mexico?

Most miserable site on the Internet! That's pretty impressive IMO!