Today’s newspaper is reporting that Microsoft has settled a lawsuit with city and county governments in California. It has the same premise as all the other anti-trust suits against Microsoft in that Microsoft is a monopoly and used it to overcharge for software. I had to almost laugh with the settlement agreement…Microsoft will pay $70 million for qualifying computer hardware and software. Let’s see, I bet most of that software will be Microsoft software. Now who is the big loser in this suit? I think that would be the taxpayers, as usual.
Stupid me, I upgraded the kernel
I try to tell myself, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Unfortunately I don’t always listen. Periodically I update my Linux server to get the latest updates. Unfortunately lately I’ve been bitten by bugs in the kernel when I upgrade. The problem arises from the fact that I’m running software RAID-1 and those that work on the kernel don’t seem to use it and therefore put out updates that break using RAID. I think it is great that people spend their own time putting out updates, but it is a little frustrating to keep having the kernel break. This is the 3rd kernel update I’ve done that has broken. It doesn’t appear that I’m the only one with this issue as evidenced by some posts I’ve read. I’d really like to get the security fixes in the kernel, but I need to think harder the next time a kernel comes out before updating. (Wasted 2 hours on this, good thing I had nothing else to do.)
Where’s the D drive?
I’ve been listening to Black by Christpher Whitcomb and as I was listening today, my ears perked up when I heard that one of the characters had an iMac. It was described as being chrome and ivory, so I was trying to figure out if it was an iMac G4 or G5. Yeah, I realize I’m a geek for even thinking about that. A little bit later, the author describes how the character put a CD into the D drive on the computer. Hmmm…I’ve been using Macs for 18 years and I still haven’t seen a D except when using Virtual PC, but I’m sure the author wasn’t talking about that.
Free email addresses used for business
For years, I’ve had my own domain (next week makes 8 years), so I’ve always had a personalized email address. I fully understand that not everyone is as lucky as me and can’t handle their own email. When I first setup the domain, only Network Solutions existed and you had to get someone to host your website and domain. Since the introduction of different registrars for domain names, domain names are not only cheaper, but in order to win your business companies provide services such as email forwarding. The company I use, GoDaddy charges less than $9 per year for a domain and includes email forwarding. What is email forwarding? Well, it allows people to send email to joe@example.com and have it goto a yahoo.com, gmail.com or whatever email address to make it look more professional. Furthermore, many of the free email providers let you set your return address to be joe@example.com instead of joe123@yahoo.com. So what am I getting at? I’ve dealt with lots of people that use free email addresses (I have no problem with them and even have a few of my own that I rarely use), but to me, it seems that if for $9 a year you can get an email address that doesn’t look free, wouldn’t you do it? Of course this is my opinion and I’m sure some people have valid reasons for using free email addresses for business.
Bummed about MacBook Pro 17"
I’m glad that Apple released the MacBook Pro in the 17″ model, but am bummed that the specs are much better than the 15″ MacBook Pro. Specifically, it comes stock with a 2.16 GHz processor, 120 GB 5400 RPM hard drive, 8x Dual Layer DVD Burner and a FireWire 800 port. I plan on getting the 15″ MacBook Pro, upgrading it to a 2.16 GHz processor with a 100 GB 7200 RPM drive which will bring the price to $2899. The 17″ model (you can choose the 120 GB 5400 RPM drive or 100 GB 7200 RPM drive for the same price) is $2799 which is $100 AND includes the 8x vs 4x DVD burner and a FireWire 800 port. I do use a FireWire 800 drive everyday for backup, so I’ll miss the port. Even though I’m disappointed, I’m still going to order the 15″ MacBook Pro soon. Hopefully Apple will drop the 15″ price or make the 2.16 GHz processor standard before I order.
Can there be an ideal car?
There are lots of features I like about what I drive, a Toyota Highlander. However, we rented a Chevy Malibu on our vacation and it has a few features that I think are lacking from my car, but at the same time, lacks many features that I have. I’d like to see a combination of features from both cars as well as some others in my next car. I’m sure that if I bought a real expensive car, I’d get them. For instance, I want:
- Auto dimming rearview mirror
- Bluetooth handsfree
- Volume and radio controls on steering wheel
- Built-in navigation system
- Automatic climate control system, i.e. set it to 70 degrees
- Car computer that gives estimated miles on tank
- Automatic headlights
- Variable speed, rain detecting windshield wipers
- Homelink for opening garage door
- Sunglasses holder
- Outside temperature displayed on main screen
- Larger displayed of info such as time, direction, etc. instead of having to hit a button to flip through a bunch of screens
- iPod integration (like what BMW just announced)
I know that there are other things that I haven’t listed, but this is just the beginning of my list. In another 7 years when I’m ready for a new car, maybe I’ll be able to get all this in one car that I can afford.
Virtualization Software
As much as I’d like to use Mac OS X for everything, there are just some things that are not (yet) available on the Mac. This includes firmware updates for my Garmin Forerunner 305, mapping software for my iQue 3600, etc. In addition, certain websites just don’t work on my browsers. With the switch to Intel, it was only a matter of time before companies started developing virtualization software for the Mac; this is different than emulation as the instruction set isn’t emulated and goes right to the processor resulting in excellent performance. Recently Apple announced Boot Camp with isn’t virtualization software, but allows an Intel based Mac to dual boot into Windows. This isn’t very interesting to me as I only need to pop into Windows once in awhile and if I have to reboot, might as well just boot my Windows machine that I control via Windows Remote Desktop. Right after Apple announced Boot Camp, a product called
Parallels was released. I installed the trial on the Intel iMac I have on my desk, installed Fedora Core 5 and was amazed at the performance. I then installed Windows XP, but since I have an OEM version for my Dell, I can’t activate it on another CPU and fully test it. However, they’re offering a pre-order price of $39.99 vs. $49.99, so I couldn’t pass this up. Even at $49.99, it is a bargain. However, now I need to find an inexpensive copy of the full Windows XP so that I don’t have to use my Windows machine. (Right now Parallels doesn’t handle USB devices attached to the Mac, but if the speed at which they’re putting out betas is any indication, I think that by the time I get my MacBook Pro, that will be worked out.)
While I don’t want to run Windows, at least this software will allow me to run it easily without having to start my Windows machine (which also means that I’ll be able to use it when I’m away from home).
Spoiled by EVDO
For the last year, I’ve had an EVDO wireless card on Sprint (Sierra Wireless AirCard 580). I use it occasionally when I travel (I don’t travel all that much) and it comes in handy. When I was in San Francisco for MacWorld, the hotel’s WiFi had such poor speed, I shared my connection with a co-worker. I haven’t used 1xRTT in such a long time, I forgot how slow it was. When we got to Kona in Hawaii, I pulled out the card to use it to get some info on stuff to do. Turns out, all we get is 1xRTT which almost seems painfully slow. I’ve definitely been spoiled by the high speed of EVDO (1xEVDO to be specific, faster EVDO is coming). When I get my MacBook Pro, hopefully a USB or ExpressCard EVDO modem will be available as I don’t know what I’d do without it.
How did I survive without GPS navigation?
When I was growing up, my dad taught me to read a map, so I’ve never had a problem navigating to an unknown location. With the advent of GPS navigation units, is there a need to learn how to read a map? Possibly, but it is significantly diminished.
Several years ago, I got a Garmin iQue 3600 to test compatibility with our product and started using it for navigation around town. I soon started depending on it for getting to places I didn’t know. I had to send the unit to a co-worker and soon realized that I couldn’t get along with out it. After looking at a few alternatives, I determined that the device was the lowest priced portable GPS navigation system I could find. Last night we arrived in Hawaii for our vacation and I had already put in the address for where we were staying. It was very dark and the signage wasn’t very good, but the iQue got us close to our destination without incident (the street addresses seem a little weird and the exact address wasn’t in the device). It took us on what I’ve now determined to be an odd route, but it got us where we needed to go. I also entered a few other addresses and it, as usual, has performed flawlessly. I’m not sure what I’d do without it.
(It now seems that I’m a Garmin household with the Forerunner and the iQue 3600; I even convinced my dad to get an iQue 3600.)
Audiobooks, do they get a bad rap?
When I first heard about Audible.com and other companies capitalizing on audiobooks that have been around for years for those that have difficulty seeing and for those that drive a lot (typically), I didn’t think much of it as I thought books should be read. I’ve always associated audiobooks with older people and could never see myself listening to one. A few weeks ago, my wife and I were at a party and I was talking to a fellow runner. She said that she listened to audiobooks while running and that got me thinking. Somehow I had collected The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Lost Light from audible through some free promotion. I loaded both books on my iPod, and was almost instantly hooked. I wanted to run even more to keep listening to the books. Now I’m on a quest to find more audiobooks either from the library or through audible.