Wow! This is a "rah, rah, gooo Mac" article. I'm not sure how accurate the claims for savings are, but I do know the author is barking up the right tree. Windows has gotten too expensive and that is pushing folks to look for alternatives like never before. Not just the Mac, but all sorts of things from Linux and thin clients to Macs to multi-user machines.
So, this is interesting and the general thrust of the article is clearly right. It's just the numbers that might vary, a lot.
Jack
Saturday, August 04, 2007
NEC and Hitachi team to water-cool hard drives
It seems that everyone knows about my on-again, off-again love affair with water cooling. I've played with it a bit and admired what it has done for various systems my friends have built. And I got no less than five emails pointing me to this post at Ars Technica.
Water cooling components other than the CPU, video adapter and motherboard chipset may be a bit far out, as in overkill, but it still is interesting, though I have to wonder where we're going to stuff all the separate, discrete radiators. Especially with the trend to smaller form factors. But that's a problem for another day.
Jack
Water cooling components other than the CPU, video adapter and motherboard chipset may be a bit far out, as in overkill, but it still is interesting, though I have to wonder where we're going to stuff all the separate, discrete radiators. Especially with the trend to smaller form factors. But that's a problem for another day.
Jack
Friday, August 03, 2007
64-bit PCs: Drivers wanted
Here's a pretty good article at CNet's News.com about 64 bit drivers. It's not just about Vista, either. The Mac OS X comes in for some comment, as well.
It's interesting to note that while they find some deficiencies in video drivers. those I know who are running 64 bit Vista at home or at work are really happy with the performance. The only qualification I have to make on this is that the peripherals and internal equipment they chose was guaranteed to be at least nominally compatible with Vista. Those who try running it without a bit of planning and thought are the ones doing a great majority of the complaining. That does not mean their complaints are without merit, just that they are somewhat out of proportion.
I have to admit I know nothing of 64 bit doings on the Mac. Linux, however, is quite another story.
I've had a little experience with Linux on the IA-64 platform. That's the Intel Itanium, for those of you who have not kept up with it. (Don't worry about that. Itanium is about as close to a niche platform as any of us are likely to encounter.)
I've got an AMD powered 64 bit Linux machine running here, now. I just wiped the 32 bit and put on 64 bit Ubuntu after a hard drive failure deprived me of my 15,000 rpm hard drive that was serving as a swap file. Basically, 64 bit Linux is indistinguishable from 32 bit, except that some apps have not been re-compiled for 64 bit, so the repository of applications is somewhat smaller.
Generally, I would say Linux is best situated in this regard, followed by OS X and then Vista. Still, Vista is not in such bad shape. Were I going to put up a Vista machine, I would be carefully choosing my components and I should think I could get along just fine once the machine is basically equipped. Software compatibilities are going away at a phenomonal rate and as far as I know, every application I would run is already well and truly ported to 64 bit versions of Vista.
Jack
It's interesting to note that while they find some deficiencies in video drivers. those I know who are running 64 bit Vista at home or at work are really happy with the performance. The only qualification I have to make on this is that the peripherals and internal equipment they chose was guaranteed to be at least nominally compatible with Vista. Those who try running it without a bit of planning and thought are the ones doing a great majority of the complaining. That does not mean their complaints are without merit, just that they are somewhat out of proportion.
I have to admit I know nothing of 64 bit doings on the Mac. Linux, however, is quite another story.
I've had a little experience with Linux on the IA-64 platform. That's the Intel Itanium, for those of you who have not kept up with it. (Don't worry about that. Itanium is about as close to a niche platform as any of us are likely to encounter.)
I've got an AMD powered 64 bit Linux machine running here, now. I just wiped the 32 bit and put on 64 bit Ubuntu after a hard drive failure deprived me of my 15,000 rpm hard drive that was serving as a swap file. Basically, 64 bit Linux is indistinguishable from 32 bit, except that some apps have not been re-compiled for 64 bit, so the repository of applications is somewhat smaller.
Generally, I would say Linux is best situated in this regard, followed by OS X and then Vista. Still, Vista is not in such bad shape. Were I going to put up a Vista machine, I would be carefully choosing my components and I should think I could get along just fine once the machine is basically equipped. Software compatibilities are going away at a phenomonal rate and as far as I know, every application I would run is already well and truly ported to 64 bit versions of Vista.
Jack
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Let's Meet a Romanian eBay Scammer...
...Hello Ghiuri Simionescu
Here's a fascinating look at the scamming and phishing underworld from Broadband Reports. Be warned, there is some foul language, and only some of it has been ****'d out.
Here's a fascinating look at the scamming and phishing underworld from Broadband Reports. Be warned, there is some foul language, and only some of it has been ****'d out.
Courts Turn Against Abusive Clickwrap Contracts
Ever read a EULA, shrinkwrap or clickthrough license and wondered to yourself or aloud "how can they get away with this?". Well, it is increasingly seeming as if "they" can no longer. A very great number of these licenses have been invalidated or at least reeled in somewhat by recent court decisions. And more will follow soon, should this trend in the courts continue.
It's about damn time, if you ask me. I'm also sure many of you feel the same way. This article in Wired News tells some of what is happening to advance consumer rights against these licenses. There is still a long, long ways to go, so it isn't time to start rejoicing, yet. But the light shines at the end of the tunnel. Let's hope it's not an oncoming train.
Jack
It's about damn time, if you ask me. I'm also sure many of you feel the same way. This article in Wired News tells some of what is happening to advance consumer rights against these licenses. There is still a long, long ways to go, so it isn't time to start rejoicing, yet. But the light shines at the end of the tunnel. Let's hope it's not an oncoming train.
Jack
Make a video about gmail!
Long story short....
On BoingBoing they pointed to a link [Best Robot movies] on chime.tv that combines a page of videos and plays them all at one time. This morning, while listening to net@nite, I saw a link to a video dramatizing a gmail traveling across the globe. Very amusing video, with 41 responses. I thought another excellent use for chime.tv!! And it worked! Most of the videos are really short, and some made me LOL, some made me go awwww, they have everything. Enjoy! I was hoping someONE that reads this will make a response (hint, hint)!
Gmail original video
Chime.tv link to original and all responses.
--MissM
I hope the links work for y'all... It was a little tricky, I believe its frames. If you post a response, please post the link here, I'd love to see it! There were 3 more responses while I was futzing around with this post. :)
On BoingBoing they pointed to a link [Best Robot movies] on chime.tv that combines a page of videos and plays them all at one time. This morning, while listening to net@nite, I saw a link to a video dramatizing a gmail traveling across the globe. Very amusing video, with 41 responses. I thought another excellent use for chime.tv!! And it worked! Most of the videos are really short, and some made me LOL, some made me go awwww, they have everything. Enjoy! I was hoping someONE that reads this will make a response (hint, hint)!
Gmail original video
Chime.tv link to original and all responses.
--MissM
I hope the links work for y'all... It was a little tricky, I believe its frames. If you post a response, please post the link here, I'd love to see it! There were 3 more responses while I was futzing around with this post. :)
Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory 2007-27
Firefox, Thunderbird and SeaMonkey have had a couple of major flaws fixed. The new version for FireFerret is 2.0.0.6 and it is available now.
Automatic update notification is delivering it to users, but if you don't have that turned on, you need to upgrade now. Exploit code for one of the flaws is now confirmed to be on some compromised web sites. As far as I know; all extensions work with the new version, except the Java console, which will be fixed very soon.
Jack
Automatic update notification is delivering it to users, but if you don't have that turned on, you need to upgrade now. Exploit code for one of the flaws is now confirmed to be on some compromised web sites. As far as I know; all extensions work with the new version, except the Java console, which will be fixed very soon.
Jack
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Printers pose serious health risks: study
More bad news and it's not even Monday. Sorry about that.
This is a short article in The Sydney Morning Herald about some Queensland University research. It seems we need to be concerned that the office, and particularly the area around the printer, are well ventilated, lest we injure ourselves further.
Jack
This is a short article in The Sydney Morning Herald about some Queensland University research. It seems we need to be concerned that the office, and particularly the area around the printer, are well ventilated, lest we injure ourselves further.
Jack
Monday, July 30, 2007
Loading Unsigned Drivers in Vista
We've always known it was possible and in several cases I've forced drivers on Windows 2000 Professional and XP Home and Professional. Now there is at least one tool to automate the process, albeit within some limitations, and expand the number of drivers with which one can work.
This essay explains it all clearly; both the possibilities and the risks.
Jack
This essay explains it all clearly; both the possibilities and the risks.
Jack
Logitech keyboard rides the Wave
Here's a nice article in The Register about Logitech's newest ergo keyboard. It has excellent pictures to go with the text.
First there was the Microsoft Natural. Lots of folks loved it. I couldn't stand it and so have stuck with "standard" shaped keyboards. Yes, there were other ergo keyboards but because sales were so slow, the cost of such solutions stayed out of my reach. Or at least higher than I could justify.
Now, it seems that Logitech has taken pity on me. This new keyboard looks good and is affordable. I'm going to get one as soon as they arrive in my neighborhood.
Jack
First there was the Microsoft Natural. Lots of folks loved it. I couldn't stand it and so have stuck with "standard" shaped keyboards. Yes, there were other ergo keyboards but because sales were so slow, the cost of such solutions stayed out of my reach. Or at least higher than I could justify.
Now, it seems that Logitech has taken pity on me. This new keyboard looks good and is affordable. I'm going to get one as soon as they arrive in my neighborhood.
Jack
10 automakers to jointly develop OS
The headline says it all. I can't help but wonder if BSODs are part of the motivation. :)
10 automakers to jointly develop OS : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)
[Thanks RawFeed]
--MissM
10 automakers to jointly develop OS : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)
[Thanks RawFeed]
--MissM
Sunday, July 29, 2007
OnComputers Radio show Podcast 07-29-07 (We had a lot of connection problems today)
This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 07-29-07. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.
Meet the XO
The XO is the One Laptop Per Child device. I find it fascinating, both as an engineering excercise and as a way to bring information technology to the developing world. I think this is the most detailed review of the device and it's attendant software yet. It's also the easiest to read.
Be sure to follow the links to see Sugar, the software interface developed for the XO.
Jack
Be sure to follow the links to see Sugar, the software interface developed for the XO.
Jack
Links from the Gregg Zone!
1) Well to start things off this week, how about saving the world? This is something I ran across that I think is the greatest concept I have seen in a long time. Skyscraper farming, this is something you need to check out, a thirty-story farm in the middle of the city, creating food and clean water for 50,000 people. With 150 of these scattered around the city you could feed the entire city of
2) Let’s continue with the save the world concept. How about running your car on water? This has always been a dream for the green thinking people of the world; well it may be coming true check out this Fox news video story, it blew my mind completely. www.youtube.com
3) This link is similar but this time lets help you save yourself. If you are at all worried about what is in your food you might want to read this one, it is about how the food industry tricks us using loopholes in the labeling laws to feed us what ever they want. I am a label reader, and this really woke me up, I will be reading a lot closer from now on. www.newstarget.com
4) Now for a couple of more edgy ones, not sure what to think about this one, if it is faked it is a good job, I will leave it up to you. http://www.liveleak.com/
5) This last link was sent to me by Jack, but sure to bring back some memories for Joe and me, and sure to spark a reminiscent conversation of our earlier adventures. I’m looking forward to playing in the archives here. Thanks again Jack. http://www.imakethings.com
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