So, I use Netvibes to manage my feeds. Its one of these Web2.0 startups (but European — its based in France) that acts as a virtual ‘desktop’ replacement. I’ve been using it since January of this year. I love it. It displays them all in AJAX-ified little boxes which are laid out grid-style on the screen. With the release of its API, it also has tons of widgets you can plug in. So, in addition to checking your feeds, you can also check your local weather, email, calendars (if you have them online ala google calendar or 30boxes), to-do lists (which are native plugins) and so on.
The difficulty I’ve been having with Netvibes recently is that for me its become like that chubby kid next door. Its become a bit ungainly. A bit heavy. More difficult to maneuver. Less light on its feet.
Perhaps this is my fault. I am tracking probably 150 feeds. Yes, I am using an archaic PC (4 years old). I use Firefox, which for all its benefits, leaks memory like a sieve (and frustrates me to no end).
Anyway, the other day I was trying to move around some of these boxes — literally moving around these little feed boxes, and Netvibes hangs. It won’t move the feeds. And in doing so, “drops” them to the bottom of the column – which is giant pain in the ass.
Arranging my feeds is somewhat important to me — it enables me to ’scan’ what I need to read; in arranging them around the screen it helps me prioritize what’s important, what’s not. I also like to group certain feeds together.
But basically moving and arranging my feed boxes has become all but impossible.
Now, this morning I discovered the real use for the “collapse all” function — its so that you can move these boxes better! By clicking on the “collapse all” link at the top right hand corner, you can collapse all of your feed ‘boxes’ into single line boxes that are very easily manipulated and moved. They don’t get ‘dropped’ either!
Problem solved. ;)
All I have to do is “re-expand” them afterwards and I have my feeds back. Now overall its still a bit groggy. And when it updates its feeds my whole computer S-L-O-W-S down … but that’s probably my fault.
And if only I could fix that Firefox leak problem …
