Well, CES is kind of boring today it seems. There was only a few pages on Engadget today and a lot of it was stupid stuff. Its upsetting that CES seemed to be much better last year. Mac World is also next week so that will mean a lot of news probably.
I didn’t play my games today though I did install some new stuff. Since I am back on Windows, I can get stuff like a Commodore 64 emulator. The only thing is that I can not get it working with my USB controller. I would like to use it since it would be easier to play then with the keyboard. If worse comes to worse, I can remap the keys.
I am much happier to be back on Windows sadly. I hate to say it but Linux is just horrible for me! I love the interface but the problems out weigh that for me it seems. Sorry Linux, but I have to say that you just are not ready for the average user.
I also installed Folding at Home on my Acer. Its not going to be fast but I would rather be able to do even a little good work then none at all. I would LOVE to install it on my PS3., but I don’t like using the PS3 like that. It would be on too much for me and my house is dusty.
Join my Folding team: 103239
Supper tonight was chilly. My dad makes it with kidney beans, hamburger, and some diced tomatoes. Its not a hot chilly but its really good with some Italian bread dipped into it. I also like the fact that its more beans then meat.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
January 9, 2008
Well I just went back to Windows. I gave up on Linux now, since its just too much of a pain for me anymore! My problems are kind of random it seems to me though. I have problems that like no one can fix. I would love to run Linux but its just too much work trying to get stuff to work right for me, like my mouse and WiFi!!!
Not to much went on today other then reinstalling Windows XP. I played some Final Fantasy II today. I also installed a new emulator... COMMODORE 64! I want to get a real Commodore 64 but they are expensive for them. I am happy with a fake emulator instead of the real thing. I also have one of the NEC too!
I am also trying to get the SIXAXIS to work on Windows since maybe this will be more succesful. Windows tends to work better with this kind of crap. I played some more Final Fantasy II today. I learned something too. Don't give the fourth person good crap since they leave the party and take the good stuff with them!
Supper today was fish sandwhiches. The fish was very good too. Its the haddoc filets from Sams club. As you can tell, I get food there a lot. I love the samples they have a lot too. Its nice to be able to try something before buying it.
Not to much went on today other then reinstalling Windows XP. I played some Final Fantasy II today. I also installed a new emulator... COMMODORE 64! I want to get a real Commodore 64 but they are expensive for them. I am happy with a fake emulator instead of the real thing. I also have one of the NEC too!
I am also trying to get the SIXAXIS to work on Windows since maybe this will be more succesful. Windows tends to work better with this kind of crap. I played some more Final Fantasy II today. I learned something too. Don't give the fourth person good crap since they leave the party and take the good stuff with them!
Supper today was fish sandwhiches. The fish was very good too. Its the haddoc filets from Sams club. As you can tell, I get food there a lot. I love the samples they have a lot too. Its nice to be able to try something before buying it.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
January 8, 2008
Well, I have to say that Linux is starting to very strange for me! I have been having the WiFi problems off an on again. I also have some weird problems that I don't think anyone can fix. I have has suspend errors before. Like "Failed to hibernate" and then not even trying to hibernate! I don't want to go back to Windows XP but I have too!
I have also thought about getting a desktop one of these days. It would be easier to have Linux work right with out all the hassles. I would also need to have a keyboard and mouse though, plus an LCD. This would be nice though since I can get a nice big LCD and not have to worry about having it on my laptop.
I has a good supper today. I had Chicken Cordon Blue, which is chicken with ham and cheese in side of it. Very good! I also had these generic ravioli at my friends house. They are breaded and baked in the oven, very good and different. They also don't come with sauce which is different
I have also thought about getting a desktop one of these days. It would be easier to have Linux work right with out all the hassles. I would also need to have a keyboard and mouse though, plus an LCD. This would be nice though since I can get a nice big LCD and not have to worry about having it on my laptop.
I has a good supper today. I had Chicken Cordon Blue, which is chicken with ham and cheese in side of it. Very good! I also had these generic ravioli at my friends house. They are breaded and baked in the oven, very good and different. They also don't come with sauce which is different
Monday, January 7, 2008
January 7, 2008
I have to say, I have a lot of mixed feeling about CES. Its nice an all but the sites are just jam packed! I must have went through 10 pages of Engadget alone! Good thing I am not doing news here huh! Just think, CES just started too!
I have to say that I will be doing the news page different soon. I will be getting rid of all the links. News sites I check will be posted on the links page once I start doing that! I just need to get some motivation to make that happen. I am also working on a newly designed 404 page.
I played a little Final Fantasy II today. Me and a friend took a walk down this one store that sells old music and video games. They had an OLD Intellivision for 45 bucks. I also seen Final Fantasy IX, which I already own, for 40 bucks used! WOW!
Supper today was this chicken pot pie from Sams Club. This is one that has mashed potatoes in it. I love it but I wish they cut the chicken up a little better. I love when they have samples at Sams of it since I love it. Its easy enough to make. All you do is put it on a baking pan and pop it in the oven! Easy enough to make, but it takes about an hour!
I have to say that I will be doing the news page different soon. I will be getting rid of all the links. News sites I check will be posted on the links page once I start doing that! I just need to get some motivation to make that happen. I am also working on a newly designed 404 page.
I played a little Final Fantasy II today. Me and a friend took a walk down this one store that sells old music and video games. They had an OLD Intellivision for 45 bucks. I also seen Final Fantasy IX, which I already own, for 40 bucks used! WOW!
Supper today was this chicken pot pie from Sams Club. This is one that has mashed potatoes in it. I love it but I wish they cut the chicken up a little better. I love when they have samples at Sams of it since I love it. Its easy enough to make. All you do is put it on a baking pan and pop it in the oven! Easy enough to make, but it takes about an hour!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
January 6, 2008
I have to say that I hate CES sometimes. The web is so packed for it, its just crazy. There was a ton of crap all over Engadget today. This is more then a normal day and on Sunday besides! I have to say, I don't think I will be very bored tomorrow!
Well, I have been having some weird Linux problems, but I won't give up. I just need to get the stupid Broadcom crap to work better though. I have had the card disappear for no reason at all multiple times. I will have to just get me some good help!
Supper today was chicken wings with the steak dust. Very good! I didn't do much today. I did play a little more Final Fantasy VII though. I should get my PS2 out of the attic and use it on my TV. But then I would have to go get the memory card adapter and a PS1 memory card!
Well, I have been having some weird Linux problems, but I won't give up. I just need to get the stupid Broadcom crap to work better though. I have had the card disappear for no reason at all multiple times. I will have to just get me some good help!
Supper today was chicken wings with the steak dust. Very good! I didn't do much today. I did play a little more Final Fantasy VII though. I should get my PS2 out of the attic and use it on my TV. But then I would have to go get the memory card adapter and a PS1 memory card!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
January 5, 2008
Well, today was not a very exciting day. I didn't do very much at all really. I went a few places but didn't actually buy anything though. I did get a new light bulb for my lamp on my desk. Its a compact florescent light. Its nice and bright too so now I can see!
I hate to say this but I am going to toss the iPAQ in the drawer. It just doesn't work well enough for me to use anymore. I could send it to the person I got it from to have her take it to Best Buy but they will only attempt to repair it. This would mean I would be out of a PDA anyway.
I went to Old Country Buffet again this week. I didn't get any barbecue chicken this time, but I did get some really good breaded chicken. I also got some ice cream, which is something I have to get.
Still no word from my friend who sent the C101. Who knows when or if I will get a hold of him. I just hope he goes on MSN soon.
I hate to say this but I am going to toss the iPAQ in the drawer. It just doesn't work well enough for me to use anymore. I could send it to the person I got it from to have her take it to Best Buy but they will only attempt to repair it. This would mean I would be out of a PDA anyway.
I went to Old Country Buffet again this week. I didn't get any barbecue chicken this time, but I did get some really good breaded chicken. I also got some ice cream, which is something I have to get.
Still no word from my friend who sent the C101. Who knows when or if I will get a hold of him. I just hope he goes on MSN soon.
Friday, January 4, 2008
January 4, 2008
Well, I have decided that I should use the NEC more since it has been sitting dormant for a while. I tried to get that WiFi card that Tsubasa gave me to work on the NEC but I have been having no luck getting it to work. Some people tell me its a Prism 2.5 chip set so I tried those drivers and they woulnt work. I tried the Orinoco drivers as I was told it might be that chip set and still have no luck. I guess that the card just won't work on CE 2.11.
I have been thinking about the InterLink that I got. I messed with the keyboard and it feels a little small for me. Though the reason I wanted this for was so I could try and learn Japanese with it. I guess I won't be learning it after all. I will try to do it on the laptop since I can also copy and paste the letters from Wikipedia or the various sites on the internet. I will keep looking into it. Maybe I could find another Japanese PDA somewhere.
I also have to say that I am thinking of leaving the T20 as a Windows XP computer. I can also just use VirtualBox on the Acer though. This is not that hard but I am a little lazy. I tried to get Windows 98SE to work but the software wouldn't see the CD. This may have been the CD-ROM pass through acting up. I will have to get it working so I can use the PDAs more.
I want to start using my PDAs more. If I am going to have them all I might as well use them! They make a good eBook reader for example. The iPAQ is having the weird button problem so I will have to try and do a hard reset to see if that will fix my problems. The thing is that I don't really feel like doing a hard reset on it right now since I will have to restore everything.
I had fried meatballs for supper today. I love them since they are easy enough to make and are really good. They are just plain, no sauce, fried meat balls. I like to eat them with a piece of buttered bread and make a little sandwich. I also got some popcorn at Target and I have to say that it was too salty. They had some new slushies. They are Jones Crushed Mellon flavored.
I have been thinking about the InterLink that I got. I messed with the keyboard and it feels a little small for me. Though the reason I wanted this for was so I could try and learn Japanese with it. I guess I won't be learning it after all. I will try to do it on the laptop since I can also copy and paste the letters from Wikipedia or the various sites on the internet. I will keep looking into it. Maybe I could find another Japanese PDA somewhere.
I also have to say that I am thinking of leaving the T20 as a Windows XP computer. I can also just use VirtualBox on the Acer though. This is not that hard but I am a little lazy. I tried to get Windows 98SE to work but the software wouldn't see the CD. This may have been the CD-ROM pass through acting up. I will have to get it working so I can use the PDAs more.
I want to start using my PDAs more. If I am going to have them all I might as well use them! They make a good eBook reader for example. The iPAQ is having the weird button problem so I will have to try and do a hard reset to see if that will fix my problems. The thing is that I don't really feel like doing a hard reset on it right now since I will have to restore everything.
I had fried meatballs for supper today. I love them since they are easy enough to make and are really good. They are just plain, no sauce, fried meat balls. I like to eat them with a piece of buttered bread and make a little sandwich. I also got some popcorn at Target and I have to say that it was too salty. They had some new slushies. They are Jones Crushed Mellon flavored.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
January 3, 2008
Well, good news is that my package from Japan came today. The bad news however, is that its broken! I am very upset! I waited for this and it came busted. The screen is broken and the ribbon cable is broken in half. I emailed my friend to see what he says. I will keep this updated here.
Supper was really good today. I had a sirloin patty with Steak Dust seasoning and A1 sauce. If you ever go to Sams Club, pick up a bottle as its great on pretty much anything! We also had rice with chicken seasoning that is very good.
I played a little more Final Fantasy VII today. I got to the part where your fall in the church and find Aeris. I was going to play more but I am getting sick and don't want to play much. I also installed a few games for Linux.
Did I mention I am getting sick? I had a horrible nights sleep last night! I so far have only a sore throat and feel a little warm, I am hoping that it goes quick since I don't feel like bing sick. I have been having a terrible day and I don't want it to get worse.
I have decided the news stuff is just too much work since its just as easy to check the sites I end up checking anyway. I am going to work on the links page instead. It will have all the news pages I look at so it will be easy to just check that!
Supper was really good today. I had a sirloin patty with Steak Dust seasoning and A1 sauce. If you ever go to Sams Club, pick up a bottle as its great on pretty much anything! We also had rice with chicken seasoning that is very good.
I played a little more Final Fantasy VII today. I got to the part where your fall in the church and find Aeris. I was going to play more but I am getting sick and don't want to play much. I also installed a few games for Linux.
Did I mention I am getting sick? I had a horrible nights sleep last night! I so far have only a sore throat and feel a little warm, I am hoping that it goes quick since I don't feel like bing sick. I have been having a terrible day and I don't want it to get worse.
I have decided the news stuff is just too much work since its just as easy to check the sites I end up checking anyway. I am going to work on the links page instead. It will have all the news pages I look at so it will be easy to just check that!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
January 2, 2008
Well I didn't want to open the year with a rant, but today is officially the second day of the new year so here goes! I shall now put a disclaimer up...
The opinions expressed in the Blog are the opinions of the web master. If you don't like them tough! Thank you for your cooperation!
I Remember...
I remember when choosing an MP3 player was a real choice. I could look at tons of MP3 players and picked one I liked the best based on features for the price. Now in todays world, its all iPod crap! I seen the fall of my favorite MP3 player fall at the hands of the evil Apple. You know Apple, I hope Linux kills you once and for all. You destroy markets!
I also remember when something did what it was made for. Who remembers when the term Digital Audio Player was still used? Well now everything is called an iPod thanks to Apple. You would think most people would rather have the devices do one thing great instead of more things good. I miss the old days when my Rio 500 was king. I don't want my phone to play movies, nor do I want my MP3 player to make calls!
I remember when the PDA was the coolest thing anyone ever seen .There was once a time when taking out my Clie or iPAQ made everyone stare! Everyone wanted to see it! Now, no one cares unless you have a damn cell phone in it! Now, I do like that my PDA can play music and movies, but I still prefer separate devices for that!
I remember when a computer didn't have all the eye candy and actually ran fast for the slowness of the hardware. Now you need a at the least, 1GB of RAM, a good processor, and a great graphics card to run the best stuff. I am sorry if I rather have a computer that can run fast and get great battery life rather then have eye candy all over it! Yes, I do run Linux, but I don't use the ye candy on it!
I remember a time where video games were made to be fun instead of look good. Why is that a Super Nintendo version of Final Fantasy, or even a PSP remake of the original Final Fantasy I, is just as fun as playing a game on my PS3? I will tell you why! games were just made better then. Sure they didn't have all the frills of a modern game, but they were fun!
I also remember when games were not alway a first person shooter. While I will admit to liking Unreal Tournament 3, there is just days that I prefer a good role playing game like Final Fantasy or a hack and slash game like Zelda. Hell, there is times that I think a game would be more fun if it was a turn based RPG! Sorry, I love my PS3 but there just isn't enough role playing games! Come on! I only ask for a really fun role playing game!
This concludes the I remember rants. Now we move on to general ranting. Thank you for your continuing cooperation!
You know why I like Linux so much? I believe software should be free. I am not saying they shouldn't make money off of the hard work that goes into making a program, but I don't think they should charge for software like the do now. Sure Microsoft Office is nice, but it costs A LOT of money and some people can not afford to pay for the software! Open Office works just as good for doing your home work or spread sheets. Don't think that since the program is free its not as good! I think that they shouldn't charge for software that sucks either!
I also like Linux so much because of how different it is! Everyone has either Windows of Mac really, not many people use Linux. It also proves my point that free software doesn't suck, and that it can be just as good if not better then the programs you buy! I think that 2008 will be the year that Linux finally catches on! We have Dell selling Linux computers and several small companies like System 76 That only sell Linux computers!
I also think that we need to stop buying computers based on looks! Most of the kids who buy a Mac anymore have no to little idea of what a computer is! Sure they may have a PC, know a friend with a PC, or use one at work or school, but they have no idea what it takes t make a computer purchase! Here are my guidelines of buying a computer!
OK so you need to buy a computer right? Well now, your last computer may be aging or broken. You may also be going to school or work and need a computer. Well, this don't matter much now does it? Here is what you need to know. The main questions are:
Who is using this computer? Why are they using this computer? Where are they using this computer? How much are you willing to spend?
Lets look at these separately shall we? First up is who will be using the computer, which can be broken down into kids, parents, just you, or the whole family. This is always the first question you should ask yourself.
If the computer will be a family computer, consider a desktop computer. If the computer will be used by a kid, such as your son, then consider getting a laptop computer. If you will be using the computer solely yourself, then you can also consider a laptop. One thing that determines this though is will your spouse or children use this computer? Should this answer be yes, then a desktop is the way to go.
Secondly, What will the main usage of the computer? Will it just be for web browsing? Maybe basic office usage? The computer is also capable of some more advanced stuff though mind you! For example, you can edit ad correct photos or movies. This also helps to determine laptop or desktop. If you need more power for music, photo, or movie editing, then you should get a desktop. If you want just basic stuff like email, instant messages, and web browsing, then you should get a laptop. This is also dependent on the above question.
Another important question is: WHERE will this computer be used? A good example is for a family computer. You wouldn't want to have a laptop that can be moved around the house would you? No, this is the reason for a desktop, they stay in one place but can be moved if needed. Now, if your the only one using this, you should get a laptop, since you can use the computer anywhere! I like to use mine in the car for example.
If you are a student, then by all means get a laptop. This will save you a lot of space in your dorm room and will also be useful in class. There are also tablet PC computers I will discuss further down the page, but these are just a fancy laptop. They are more geared for a student or mobile worker. These are useful for doing drawing work also.
Of course, the question we always save for last, is also one of the biggest, if not the biggest. What kind of budget do we have to work with? This dictates a lot of what you can do with a computer. Will you cheap out and buy the basic Celeron computer, or will you go all out and buy a gaming machine? What about a mid range model? Well this all varies a lot and can even be a fine line between the two. I would also get a computer thats better then what you need as it will stay current longer, but you shouldn't spend anymore then you have to!
A low end computer will not be good for much more then the basic uses. Is this a problem? No, but it will be out of date fast sadly. A gaming computer can cost thousands of dollars and you may NEVER use the advanced stuff in it. With todays computers, a good price is around 600 dollars, give or take 100 or so. Here is what to look for:
First things first. When buying a desktop, does it come with a monitor? If not that will mean you need one separately. I will let you pick one based on the size you want, but always try to choose a brand name like Acer, Dell, or a company that also makes a good TV. If you have a laptop, you need to pick a screen size. These can vary in price also. Smaller does not always mean cheaper for example. Find one that fits your budget and is a nice size to you. Don't pick a computer based on the screen alone though! A larger laptop will get less battery life then a small one and be a lot heavier.
The next things are independent of laptop or desktop. I will combine these into one paragraph since its a lot easier. The processor, RAM, hard drive, and various internal things are important. You should get the best of these you can afford. You can upgrade the RAM and hard drive later but its better to buy it now.
The tablet thing is something you should buy if you either need it or want to show off, since it will make the computer more expensive. They have a pen that you can use to draw on the screen. They also have a special hinge that can fold the screen down to make it easier. This will cover the keyboard and mouse and everything is pen based now. Also good for watching a movie.
Now, don't let the store pressure you to buy stuff you don't want nor need! They will tell you that you need these things but you don't need at all! Now, I will tell you what you want to get and not what you don't need. Now, software wise, don't by antivirus software! Go to Avast and get it for free, all you need to do is register your email address. Don't get office, use Open Office (Link on bottom of page!) If buying a laptop, buy a bag for it, since it will make carrying easier.
DO NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRENTY!
They are a rip off! I have had my laptop since July 29, 2006, and have had no hardware problems! Don't get sucked into what they tell you!
Now, since that took so long and kind of took away from the ranting, I hope you all take that advice I took so much time to write for you all!
I am getting sick of seeing a lot of crappy phones anymore. Look at Verizon for a good example. Do you see any other provider forcing custom firmware thats crippled as hell on you? NO! I hate the Verizon stuff on my LG. That is why I went back to my Motorola and I don't see any draw backs. My dad even wants to go back to his if he can fix the charge port!
LG has been making some really crappy phones as of late too. A good example, the Venus on Verizon. WHY IS THERE A SMALL TOUCHSCREEN ON IT? Why not make the whole thing touch screen? Good job LG, I hate it and I will never buy one. In fact, I hate sliders in general. They also really need to work on the Bluetooth support since the VX8300's we have SUCK!
I also need to get this off my chest. BROADCOM, WHY IN HELL WON'T YOU JUST GIVE US PROPER LINUX DRIVERS? Is it so much to ask for something so simple? Why must Linux users like me suffer with crappy drivers!
Well, I started to play Final Fantasy 3 instead of Soul Blazer now. This means that I am playing not only Final Fantasy II on the PSP and Final Fantasy VII on the PS3 but now I am playing 3 games! If I can find IV, V, and VI, I will play them too. Plus I am also addicted to Mahjongg now!
Supper today was Hamburger Help Double Cheeseburger. Not much went on though. My friend bought a few preplayed movies today.
News for Wednesday January 2, 2008
Liquid Image intros underwater digital camera
How many times have you been in your pool swimming pool and thought WOW I need a camera to take a picture of this dead bug on the bottom on my pool! Well now you can!
Celio's REDFLY platform enables Foleo-like WinMo devices
Now this is just useless. Buy an ASUS Eee Pc and be done with it!
Skype Coming to Sony's PSP?
Well well well! Look at this. Now this is cool! I would love to use my PSP as a Skype phone but theres one problem. Well, two actually. There is no microphone or Bluetooth. Details are not very easy to find so I don't believe it till I see it!
Microvision to launch pocket sized projector at CES 2008
Oh my God! You have an important meeting in 5 minutes but you don't have a projector! Well thats all going to change soon! You can carry this one in your pocket!
NavStar's Voice Navigator ditches the screen, simply talks back
Now here is a good GPS! It doesn't have a screen, it only has a speaker and uses audio directions! Now this is better since maybe people will get into less accidents since they will be paying attention to the roads!
Alpine set to introduce PND K3 GPS
Well, here is something neat. Its a GPS that supports MSN direct. I have never seen one that has supported that.
Mystery ThinkPad surfaces, purportedly on track for 2008 release
Here is one nice ThinkPad. Its a 13 inch LED lighted screen. Now this is just a rumor but I also seen this on a ThinkPad forum. This means that it can be real but we shall see. It might not even be under the ThinkPad name for all we know!
Nigerian firm wins interim injunction against OLPC, asks for $20M in damages
Bad news for the OLPC program! Looks like they need to go and change the keyboard now. Plus now they can't sell it in Nigeria and need to pay 20 million in damages!
Lexar introduces Crucial branded SSDs
Here is another SSD on the market that will be available in 32 and 64 GB sizes. Lets just hope these prices come down soon so people can afford them! Plus, they will also have external ones too. That is more useful to me then internal.
Marvell announces "industry's first" 450 Mbps 802.11n chip
Now this is useful if you use networked storage since it will be easier to get your files but I think we still need to focus on getting faster internet access first!
Dash Express powered by OpenMoko's neo open-source hardware platform
Here is a nice Linux based GPS. It will be using the OpenMoko hardware too. Sure we have enough Linux based GPS units like TomTom but more is always better!
Celestron to debut new LCD digital microscope at CES
I am looking at this and I want it. It is only 40x however so that kind of makes things sadder. There I no prices yet and will be released in February.
Oil priced at $100 a barrel
Time to get them alternate fuels out soon!
Recording industry says ripping CDs to computer is illegal
I will never buy music again, screw the RIAA! Sue me for anything I will sue them back for harassment and I will make sure I win and I will take my REVENGE! No one will stop ripping a CD they purchased so just give the hell up and commit suicide.
Top 10 obscure Google search tricks
I have used some of these before and I think they are really helpful.
The top 10 most pirated movies and TV shows
I am not to shocked there!
The Darwin Awards
Need I say more?
The opinions expressed in the Blog are the opinions of the web master. If you don't like them tough! Thank you for your cooperation!
I Remember...
I remember when choosing an MP3 player was a real choice. I could look at tons of MP3 players and picked one I liked the best based on features for the price. Now in todays world, its all iPod crap! I seen the fall of my favorite MP3 player fall at the hands of the evil Apple. You know Apple, I hope Linux kills you once and for all. You destroy markets!
I also remember when something did what it was made for. Who remembers when the term Digital Audio Player was still used? Well now everything is called an iPod thanks to Apple. You would think most people would rather have the devices do one thing great instead of more things good. I miss the old days when my Rio 500 was king. I don't want my phone to play movies, nor do I want my MP3 player to make calls!
I remember when the PDA was the coolest thing anyone ever seen .There was once a time when taking out my Clie or iPAQ made everyone stare! Everyone wanted to see it! Now, no one cares unless you have a damn cell phone in it! Now, I do like that my PDA can play music and movies, but I still prefer separate devices for that!
I remember when a computer didn't have all the eye candy and actually ran fast for the slowness of the hardware. Now you need a at the least, 1GB of RAM, a good processor, and a great graphics card to run the best stuff. I am sorry if I rather have a computer that can run fast and get great battery life rather then have eye candy all over it! Yes, I do run Linux, but I don't use the ye candy on it!
I remember a time where video games were made to be fun instead of look good. Why is that a Super Nintendo version of Final Fantasy, or even a PSP remake of the original Final Fantasy I, is just as fun as playing a game on my PS3? I will tell you why! games were just made better then. Sure they didn't have all the frills of a modern game, but they were fun!
I also remember when games were not alway a first person shooter. While I will admit to liking Unreal Tournament 3, there is just days that I prefer a good role playing game like Final Fantasy or a hack and slash game like Zelda. Hell, there is times that I think a game would be more fun if it was a turn based RPG! Sorry, I love my PS3 but there just isn't enough role playing games! Come on! I only ask for a really fun role playing game!
This concludes the I remember rants. Now we move on to general ranting. Thank you for your continuing cooperation!
You know why I like Linux so much? I believe software should be free. I am not saying they shouldn't make money off of the hard work that goes into making a program, but I don't think they should charge for software like the do now. Sure Microsoft Office is nice, but it costs A LOT of money and some people can not afford to pay for the software! Open Office works just as good for doing your home work or spread sheets. Don't think that since the program is free its not as good! I think that they shouldn't charge for software that sucks either!
I also like Linux so much because of how different it is! Everyone has either Windows of Mac really, not many people use Linux. It also proves my point that free software doesn't suck, and that it can be just as good if not better then the programs you buy! I think that 2008 will be the year that Linux finally catches on! We have Dell selling Linux computers and several small companies like System 76 That only sell Linux computers!
I also think that we need to stop buying computers based on looks! Most of the kids who buy a Mac anymore have no to little idea of what a computer is! Sure they may have a PC, know a friend with a PC, or use one at work or school, but they have no idea what it takes t make a computer purchase! Here are my guidelines of buying a computer!
OK so you need to buy a computer right? Well now, your last computer may be aging or broken. You may also be going to school or work and need a computer. Well, this don't matter much now does it? Here is what you need to know. The main questions are:
Who is using this computer? Why are they using this computer? Where are they using this computer? How much are you willing to spend?
Lets look at these separately shall we? First up is who will be using the computer, which can be broken down into kids, parents, just you, or the whole family. This is always the first question you should ask yourself.
If the computer will be a family computer, consider a desktop computer. If the computer will be used by a kid, such as your son, then consider getting a laptop computer. If you will be using the computer solely yourself, then you can also consider a laptop. One thing that determines this though is will your spouse or children use this computer? Should this answer be yes, then a desktop is the way to go.
Secondly, What will the main usage of the computer? Will it just be for web browsing? Maybe basic office usage? The computer is also capable of some more advanced stuff though mind you! For example, you can edit ad correct photos or movies. This also helps to determine laptop or desktop. If you need more power for music, photo, or movie editing, then you should get a desktop. If you want just basic stuff like email, instant messages, and web browsing, then you should get a laptop. This is also dependent on the above question.
Another important question is: WHERE will this computer be used? A good example is for a family computer. You wouldn't want to have a laptop that can be moved around the house would you? No, this is the reason for a desktop, they stay in one place but can be moved if needed. Now, if your the only one using this, you should get a laptop, since you can use the computer anywhere! I like to use mine in the car for example.
If you are a student, then by all means get a laptop. This will save you a lot of space in your dorm room and will also be useful in class. There are also tablet PC computers I will discuss further down the page, but these are just a fancy laptop. They are more geared for a student or mobile worker. These are useful for doing drawing work also.
Of course, the question we always save for last, is also one of the biggest, if not the biggest. What kind of budget do we have to work with? This dictates a lot of what you can do with a computer. Will you cheap out and buy the basic Celeron computer, or will you go all out and buy a gaming machine? What about a mid range model? Well this all varies a lot and can even be a fine line between the two. I would also get a computer thats better then what you need as it will stay current longer, but you shouldn't spend anymore then you have to!
A low end computer will not be good for much more then the basic uses. Is this a problem? No, but it will be out of date fast sadly. A gaming computer can cost thousands of dollars and you may NEVER use the advanced stuff in it. With todays computers, a good price is around 600 dollars, give or take 100 or so. Here is what to look for:
First things first. When buying a desktop, does it come with a monitor? If not that will mean you need one separately. I will let you pick one based on the size you want, but always try to choose a brand name like Acer, Dell, or a company that also makes a good TV. If you have a laptop, you need to pick a screen size. These can vary in price also. Smaller does not always mean cheaper for example. Find one that fits your budget and is a nice size to you. Don't pick a computer based on the screen alone though! A larger laptop will get less battery life then a small one and be a lot heavier.
The next things are independent of laptop or desktop. I will combine these into one paragraph since its a lot easier. The processor, RAM, hard drive, and various internal things are important. You should get the best of these you can afford. You can upgrade the RAM and hard drive later but its better to buy it now.
The tablet thing is something you should buy if you either need it or want to show off, since it will make the computer more expensive. They have a pen that you can use to draw on the screen. They also have a special hinge that can fold the screen down to make it easier. This will cover the keyboard and mouse and everything is pen based now. Also good for watching a movie.
Now, don't let the store pressure you to buy stuff you don't want nor need! They will tell you that you need these things but you don't need at all! Now, I will tell you what you want to get and not what you don't need. Now, software wise, don't by antivirus software! Go to Avast and get it for free, all you need to do is register your email address. Don't get office, use Open Office (Link on bottom of page!) If buying a laptop, buy a bag for it, since it will make carrying easier.
DO NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRENTY!
They are a rip off! I have had my laptop since July 29, 2006, and have had no hardware problems! Don't get sucked into what they tell you!
Now, since that took so long and kind of took away from the ranting, I hope you all take that advice I took so much time to write for you all!
I am getting sick of seeing a lot of crappy phones anymore. Look at Verizon for a good example. Do you see any other provider forcing custom firmware thats crippled as hell on you? NO! I hate the Verizon stuff on my LG. That is why I went back to my Motorola and I don't see any draw backs. My dad even wants to go back to his if he can fix the charge port!
LG has been making some really crappy phones as of late too. A good example, the Venus on Verizon. WHY IS THERE A SMALL TOUCHSCREEN ON IT? Why not make the whole thing touch screen? Good job LG, I hate it and I will never buy one. In fact, I hate sliders in general. They also really need to work on the Bluetooth support since the VX8300's we have SUCK!
I also need to get this off my chest. BROADCOM, WHY IN HELL WON'T YOU JUST GIVE US PROPER LINUX DRIVERS? Is it so much to ask for something so simple? Why must Linux users like me suffer with crappy drivers!
Well, I started to play Final Fantasy 3 instead of Soul Blazer now. This means that I am playing not only Final Fantasy II on the PSP and Final Fantasy VII on the PS3 but now I am playing 3 games! If I can find IV, V, and VI, I will play them too. Plus I am also addicted to Mahjongg now!
Supper today was Hamburger Help Double Cheeseburger. Not much went on though. My friend bought a few preplayed movies today.
News for Wednesday January 2, 2008
Liquid Image intros underwater digital camera
How many times have you been in your pool swimming pool and thought WOW I need a camera to take a picture of this dead bug on the bottom on my pool! Well now you can!
Celio's REDFLY platform enables Foleo-like WinMo devices
Now this is just useless. Buy an ASUS Eee Pc and be done with it!
Skype Coming to Sony's PSP?
Well well well! Look at this. Now this is cool! I would love to use my PSP as a Skype phone but theres one problem. Well, two actually. There is no microphone or Bluetooth. Details are not very easy to find so I don't believe it till I see it!
Microvision to launch pocket sized projector at CES 2008
Oh my God! You have an important meeting in 5 minutes but you don't have a projector! Well thats all going to change soon! You can carry this one in your pocket!
NavStar's Voice Navigator ditches the screen, simply talks back
Now here is a good GPS! It doesn't have a screen, it only has a speaker and uses audio directions! Now this is better since maybe people will get into less accidents since they will be paying attention to the roads!
Alpine set to introduce PND K3 GPS
Well, here is something neat. Its a GPS that supports MSN direct. I have never seen one that has supported that.
Mystery ThinkPad surfaces, purportedly on track for 2008 release
Here is one nice ThinkPad. Its a 13 inch LED lighted screen. Now this is just a rumor but I also seen this on a ThinkPad forum. This means that it can be real but we shall see. It might not even be under the ThinkPad name for all we know!
Nigerian firm wins interim injunction against OLPC, asks for $20M in damages
Bad news for the OLPC program! Looks like they need to go and change the keyboard now. Plus now they can't sell it in Nigeria and need to pay 20 million in damages!
Lexar introduces Crucial branded SSDs
Here is another SSD on the market that will be available in 32 and 64 GB sizes. Lets just hope these prices come down soon so people can afford them! Plus, they will also have external ones too. That is more useful to me then internal.
Marvell announces "industry's first" 450 Mbps 802.11n chip
Now this is useful if you use networked storage since it will be easier to get your files but I think we still need to focus on getting faster internet access first!
Dash Express powered by OpenMoko's neo open-source hardware platform
Here is a nice Linux based GPS. It will be using the OpenMoko hardware too. Sure we have enough Linux based GPS units like TomTom but more is always better!
Celestron to debut new LCD digital microscope at CES
I am looking at this and I want it. It is only 40x however so that kind of makes things sadder. There I no prices yet and will be released in February.
Oil priced at $100 a barrel
Time to get them alternate fuels out soon!
Recording industry says ripping CDs to computer is illegal
I will never buy music again, screw the RIAA! Sue me for anything I will sue them back for harassment and I will make sure I win and I will take my REVENGE! No one will stop ripping a CD they purchased so just give the hell up and commit suicide.
Top 10 obscure Google search tricks
I have used some of these before and I think they are really helpful.
The top 10 most pirated movies and TV shows
I am not to shocked there!
The Darwin Awards
Need I say more?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
January 1, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR! GOOD BYE 2007, HELLO 2008!
Keeping in the tradition of News Years Resolutions, Here are mine for this new year. They may not be perfect but hey, I am trying!
I want to learn Japanese this year. Why? Well I am suppose to be getting that Victor InterLink C101 from my good friend in Japan soon. I am expecting it by Friday, depending on if the holiday slowed it down bad or not. I figure since learning Japanese is suppose to be easier with a PDA in Japanese, I would use it as an excuse. So far I know some letters! They are not that hard to draw either!
Another one of my resolutions this year is to read more books eBooks. I installed MobiPocket on the NEC so that will make it easier to read books. I found that the space bar acts as a next page button so I only need to rotate the screen and I have a Kindle! Well, maybe not a real one but its close and better then buying a real reader. I will try to find a greyscale one soon too. That would make it easier for outside reading. I also have thee old Casio E200 I could use.
Of course I already said I was going to use Linux as one of my resolutions. I have been on Ubuntu for 4 days now and I only needed to restart, though a few times, once. That may not be that great when you really consider that on Windows I had close to a month between reboots and I only had to because of Windows updates.
I also plan on doing some learning of programming. The only thing is I don't know what language I will choose yet. I am still undecided and might not even do it. We shall see! I might do Python since its easiest. Also good is C++ since its pretty well supported. I shall see!
I was thinking of making today a ranting post to open the new year but I decided that I would just skip the rant today and make it a happy day! I had lasagna at my grandparents for supper today. I hope everyone else had a happy New Year.
Heres the News page format. It will be now part of a blog entry. Heres todays news!
Roughed-Up Reveler Sues Club Over 3 Bottle Shakedown
What happens when you ignore the 3 bottle limit? Well, for this guy, its pretty nasty. He did get his revenge though! I just want to say one thing. Who buys 3 bottles of Vodka for 350 bucks a pop? Is getting drunk really this great that its worth at least 1050 bucks? Maybe if you are having some huge party but for one person?
100 things we didn't know last year
This is a very interesting read. For example, did you know that adding milk to you tea negates the health values of the tea in the first place? How about that chimpanzees make spears for hunting? How about that only half of the Chinese population can speak Mandarin, the national language? There is much more to read!
The 5 most annoying programs on your PC
Got a new PC for Christmas and its already running slow? Maybe you are guilty of running these 5 programs! I have to say that I agree totally and thats is one of the reasons I hate computers. Companies need to start making better programs! I am going to say this. One of the programs listed here is iTunes, used by the iPod, and that is one reason I hate the iPod!
5 packs to transform Windows to other OS
Do you still run Windows XP and think that you need to upgrade to make it look newer? Well, here is your new option. These 5 packs can make your computers look like a Mac, Vista, or Linux operating system. Since I don't have a PC to test them on. Sorry, but I can only say that I use Ubuntu to make my computer stand out!
Joystiq's top 10 games of 2007
Here is the top 10 games as chosen by Joystiq. I will not spoil them so just click the link!
Mozilla launches live chat support
Ever have a problem with FireFox and no one to help you? Well now that Mozilla has an online chat now, you can get help easy! I have to say though FireFox is easy enough to use for me, some people may not know how to do something.
Men Shoot Themselves in Tattoo Attempt
Wow, stupid people are getting stupider!
Accused Car Thief Has Very Unlucky Day
Not only did he steal 3 cars but he destroyed them all too!
Predictions for 2008
Here are Engadgets 2008 Technology Predictions
Keeping in the tradition of News Years Resolutions, Here are mine for this new year. They may not be perfect but hey, I am trying!
I want to learn Japanese this year. Why? Well I am suppose to be getting that Victor InterLink C101 from my good friend in Japan soon. I am expecting it by Friday, depending on if the holiday slowed it down bad or not. I figure since learning Japanese is suppose to be easier with a PDA in Japanese, I would use it as an excuse. So far I know some letters! They are not that hard to draw either!
Another one of my resolutions this year is to read more books eBooks. I installed MobiPocket on the NEC so that will make it easier to read books. I found that the space bar acts as a next page button so I only need to rotate the screen and I have a Kindle! Well, maybe not a real one but its close and better then buying a real reader. I will try to find a greyscale one soon too. That would make it easier for outside reading. I also have thee old Casio E200 I could use.
Of course I already said I was going to use Linux as one of my resolutions. I have been on Ubuntu for 4 days now and I only needed to restart, though a few times, once. That may not be that great when you really consider that on Windows I had close to a month between reboots and I only had to because of Windows updates.
I also plan on doing some learning of programming. The only thing is I don't know what language I will choose yet. I am still undecided and might not even do it. We shall see! I might do Python since its easiest. Also good is C++ since its pretty well supported. I shall see!
I was thinking of making today a ranting post to open the new year but I decided that I would just skip the rant today and make it a happy day! I had lasagna at my grandparents for supper today. I hope everyone else had a happy New Year.
Heres the News page format. It will be now part of a blog entry. Heres todays news!
Roughed-Up Reveler Sues Club Over 3 Bottle Shakedown
What happens when you ignore the 3 bottle limit? Well, for this guy, its pretty nasty. He did get his revenge though! I just want to say one thing. Who buys 3 bottles of Vodka for 350 bucks a pop? Is getting drunk really this great that its worth at least 1050 bucks? Maybe if you are having some huge party but for one person?
100 things we didn't know last year
This is a very interesting read. For example, did you know that adding milk to you tea negates the health values of the tea in the first place? How about that chimpanzees make spears for hunting? How about that only half of the Chinese population can speak Mandarin, the national language? There is much more to read!
The 5 most annoying programs on your PC
Got a new PC for Christmas and its already running slow? Maybe you are guilty of running these 5 programs! I have to say that I agree totally and thats is one of the reasons I hate computers. Companies need to start making better programs! I am going to say this. One of the programs listed here is iTunes, used by the iPod, and that is one reason I hate the iPod!
5 packs to transform Windows to other OS
Do you still run Windows XP and think that you need to upgrade to make it look newer? Well, here is your new option. These 5 packs can make your computers look like a Mac, Vista, or Linux operating system. Since I don't have a PC to test them on. Sorry, but I can only say that I use Ubuntu to make my computer stand out!
Joystiq's top 10 games of 2007
Here is the top 10 games as chosen by Joystiq. I will not spoil them so just click the link!
Mozilla launches live chat support
Ever have a problem with FireFox and no one to help you? Well now that Mozilla has an online chat now, you can get help easy! I have to say though FireFox is easy enough to use for me, some people may not know how to do something.
Men Shoot Themselves in Tattoo Attempt
Wow, stupid people are getting stupider!
Accused Car Thief Has Very Unlucky Day
Not only did he steal 3 cars but he destroyed them all too!
Predictions for 2008
Here are Engadgets 2008 Technology Predictions
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