What is Dogfooding? Why should I try to eat my own?

Does the idea of opening a big can of Ken-L-Ration and plunging in with a large spoon for your next lunch scare you? Gross you out? Make you nervous about diseases, mad cow, etc?

The subject today, folks, is a #techterm (to make the term search-able is why the pound sign is there) known in the technology business as Dogfooding. What in the name of time is Dogfooding? As you may be able to guess, it means eating dogfood that you yourself have made, or simply, using your own product and solutions.

If you are a private or independent technology consultant, as I am, this idea is critical. But, in all walks of life, dogfooding is important, as it prevents a dreaded symptom of not taking our own medicine; Hypocrisy. No one wants to be or even feel like a hypocrite.

Yes, using your own solution to fix your own issues is very important and a fine way to learn more about yourself, your needs, your industry, et cetera, and on and on...however, even I get tired of Dogfooding, sometimes...like in the previous sentence. Have a great day, dear readers.

What should I do about Windows Phone 7?

Wait.

But check it out at your local T-mobile and AT&T store if you have time...it is very impressive to play with.

However, you may find yourself irresistibly drawn to it's bold new interface. It is a stunning achievement by Microsoft. Then, by all means, if you are not heavily invested in Android or iPhone, feel free to buy.

Why the New #Nook isn't DOA and it has nothing to do with hardware...

Barnes and Noble has one large advantage over Amazon in the e-reader wars that may seem as a disadvantage to the professional observer like me.

Barnes and Noble started as a #brick-and-mortar enterprise. They understand the pleasure of finding an entire catalog of works, not just the ones that sell best, from a new author a reader has become enamored by. So they will have the obscure sophomore effort by Salman Rushdie, for example, while Amazon, may not have it available to download, because it doesn't sell, you see, and Amazon is about choice, sure, but Mr. Bezos and company are also about profit margins above breadth of back catalogs.

Barnes and Noble are the specialists, they actually have helped create the demand for books in the first place. They know their customer. Amazon is still learning the habits of the highly voracious reader, a species switching rapidly to the e-publishing medium. Should be an interesting contest till Amazon buys Barnes and Noble's back catalog rights, and then, my friends, it will all be over...