Thoughts and links from the crew of the On Computers Radio Show as we wander the Web.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
From BEOS to Haiku
Anyway; here's a short history of BEOS that will inform and amuse.
Jack
Friday, August 10, 2007
Vista Aiding Linux Desktop, Strategist Says
Thanks Koffeebeanz
I have been saying the same thing Vista will help both Mac OSX and Linux.
Remember we will be installing Ubuntu (or the Linux distro of your choice) as a group. I have heard from a lot of Linux users that Ubuntu and Kubuntu are the way to go. Nothing to install and the ease of use is very good.
They both have a Live CD (a CD you can boot to and not mess up your windows) you can try and most things work out of the box.
AlaskaJoe
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Windows XP/Vista Downgrade Rights
Jack
Privacy winning search engine war
This is a consumer driven trend and in my opinion it is a good thing. I ought to be able to conduct the searches I please without worrying about that information coming back to haunt me. While I'm not searching for anything that would put me in jail, this principle of "none of your business" is important to me.
HTTP errors. A Photo Set on Flickr
They're cartoon illustrations of HTTP errors and sure would be a lot nicer that the "file not found" text we usually get.
I think you'll enjoy this.
Jack
Make Vista Work for the Whole Family
Vista's stronger user account control contains just enough different stuff to trip you up once or twice if you're used to Windows 2000 or XP Pro. This guide will get you through.
Jack
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Microsoft issues emergency fixes for Vista
Apparently there are problems with screen savers, network printers and some other things. I've not seen these problems in the wild and by all accounts they affect only a minority of Vista machines. Anyway; they are there if you want them.
Jack
LinuxMCE
LinuxMCE 0704 is now released. It's a huge improvement, and includes a new demo video that is a full walkthrough.
The google video is very cool!
This OS (it's so much more than just an OS.) can do everything:
Media & Entertainment
Smart Home
Communication
How about set up your hone PBX phone system and just plug in your IP phone.
It uses Kubuntu and does a complete set up for you.
You can have a media center in any room you have a cat5 drop in.
AlaskaJoe
Damn Spam
Jack
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
DRAM latency explained
I recently got a lesson in memory timing when I had to adjust it to get a system I had upgraded by adding memory to in order to produce a stable and high-performing system. The default timing settings were not stable, whereas overclocking the bus slightly yielded a very fast and stable system.
So, for those of you who are like me and a bit murky on memory issues, I give you this short report/tutorial at The Inquirer.
Jack
Microsoft becoming 'software police,' say users
Jack
Monday, August 06, 2007
Survey says: only DRM-free music is worth paying for
Read on. And there is a link here to the entire survey report.
Jack
Consumer Reports on 'State of the Net': It's a jungle out there
I get a LOT of questions from folks who want me to set them or their parents up with a computer and Internet access in such a way to allay all their fears. So far, I have demurred in most cases. I don't want to be responsible for whether or not someone sleeps peacefully at night. But I am devising a solution, which involves using a Linux or Mac OS X machine and some fairly restrictive browser settings. Yes, I know that is not a guarantee of security and that nothing really is, but it should help. Especially if combined with some common sense rules of conduct.
Jack
Sunday, August 05, 2007
OnComputers Radio show Podcast 08-05-07
The Gregg Zone!
1) To start things off this week, I thought I would explain why I am not going to be doing the show live for a while. For those who do not know, I live in
When I was up there in
I will be taping the show segment for a while, and occasionally come back live when possible. I will also post as part of my blog here an occasional update to let anyone who might be interested know how I am doing.
2) For my first link, I found what has to be the most extensive site for video on the Airbus A380 must be fifty videos here on the plane for anyone interested in what it is like inside, and out. http://www.ask.com/
3) Well you know I have a thing for green cars, I’m not sure I would fit into this one, but at 330 miles to a gallon of gas, I might be willing to try. http://gizmodo.com/
4) I have been curious about Nicola Tesla for as long as I can remember the other night I was cruising around reading about him when I stumbled on this page, There are enough stories and links here to keep a Tesla fan busy for a year or two, http://www.tfcbooks.com
5) I am fascinated, at all the change’s the internet is making in our society; and how it will change everything we know, and do in the future. A case in point the way we handle our government. I decided in the beginning when I started this blog to avoid religion and politics, I am going to stretch that just a little here. Can you imagine a future election without YouTube or something very much like it? The potential for change in my mind is staggering. I have seen more of the minor candidates for the 2008 election already than I have seen in all the previous elections combine. For my link here if you have not already seen this give it a look, the power of the internet is on display here, http://www.unity08.com/