Saturday June 26th is the 8th Annual Keep Austin Weird Fest and 5K

Once again it's that time of year. Summer is here and it is time for the annual Keep Austin Weird Fest and 5K run. The festival is a celebration of everything that makes Austin unique. The bands include The Bright Light Social Hour, White Ghost Shivers, Bruce James Soultet, Dustin Welch and for the kids The Paul Green School of Rock. Local vendors will be on hand. There will be lots of food, plenty of beer and of course all the crazies that make Austin weird. It is definitely the people watching event of the year. It begins at 2pm and the race is at 7pm. The 5K is dubbed "the slowest 5K you'll ever run". The Keep Austin Weird Fest is one of the many reasons I love Austin Texas. Do yourself a favor and come be a part of the scene. See you there.....

Check out the website for more information: http://www.keepaustinweirdfest.com/

Is there a solution for those who love Apple products but are stuck using a PC due to Windows exclusive software?

For those in the Real Estate profession, or any other profession for that matter, who love Apple products, but are forced to use a PC because of applications that run exclusively on Windows, there is a possible a solution. The particular solution for you depends upon whether you use a traditional Apple Macintosh computer such as an imac or a Macbook Pro running OSX, or you use an ipad.

If you have a standard Mac with OS X you can purchase a program called "Parallels Desktop".
http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/

It allows you to install a “virtual machine” running Windows, directly on your Mac. The great benefit of this program is that you can run both Windows OS and Mac OS side by side without having to reboot and choose between the two. You can drag and drop files and also share folders. You can even run it in "coherence" mode which runs Windows applications like they were native. When you switch to “coherence” mode the Windows desktop disappears, leaving Windows applications running on the Mac desktop and appearing on the dock. However I have tried it and it can get confusing, and I personally just didn’t like it.

If you have an ipad, there is a different solution. You can purchase an ipad app called Citrix Receiver.
http://www.citrix.com/English/ps2/products/subfeature.asp?contentID=2300386

It allows you to run windows 7 on your ipad. Granted you don't install Windows 7 locally. You install Receiver on your ipad and it runs Windows 7 as a "thin client" connected to a server.

Unfortunately the ipad is probably not yet going to be a viable tool for most people that need Windows exclusive software. To use it your company must be running the Citrix Xendesktop software on the server side. And Xendesktop can be a bit pricey. Hopefully in the near future someone will offer a commercial server you can log into individually for a reasonable price.

However, for those Mac users who use traditional laptops and desktops but need Windows exclusive software, a Mac running Parallels is a great solution.


Phillip Baird
Realtor
Austin Real Estate Shop
512-289-5738
phillip@austinrealestateshop.com
www.austinrealestateshop.com

The City of Austin's Swimming Pool Schedule

I'm so excited, Shipe Park Pool opens today for the summer season!
For those of you who want to take advantage of our wonderful pools in Austin:



http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/pools_schedule.htm

Yet another first, my first flat fee listing.

Austin Real Estate Shop had a new experience that culminated last week into our third closing. I took a flat fee listing early last month. It was a flat fee for listing the property in the Multiple Listing System. And then charging an hourly fee anytime the client needed my help. Taking pictures, helping with contract negotiations, dealing with contractors, among other things, were the basic efforts that netted an hourly fee. I have to admit, it was a strange experience. I'm used to going to bat for my clients 100% of the time with no thought to the amount of hours involved. Although it was profitable, I didn't really like it that much. Just being honest! I don't like being a contractor, I like being "Johnny-on-the-spot". Just wasn't as fulfilling. Not saying I wouldn't do it again, but it would have to be a special situation! Thanks to all my friends and supporters.

Phillip