So I went ahead and upgraded my laptop and PC to Ubuntu 9.04... :p
I have to say that I am real happy that all of my customizations made it through alright. Furthermore, now I can actually use the browser without it crashing every other minute. :D It deleted the stuff I manually installed though (BMPx and XFi Drivers).
Though I have decided against trying out the new file system (EXT4) due to a number of reasons.
For all of those Ubuntu Linux users out there, do check it out.
I love some of the stuff. I live in the Seattle Area. Seattle is nice. Seattle has a lot of tech companies (that I hope I can somehow get into one of them - hard being a techie with a business major). Microsoft, Amazon.com, Cray, Valve Corporation, Expedia.com, RealNetworks, Isilon, T-Mobile USA, Bungie Studios (Halo anyone?), Monolith Productions (FEAR), et al (and in no particular order).
With it comes the crème de la crème of the software world. So some of this stuff on that list really hits close to home. :p
Taken from the list: 1. People Who Talk on Smartphones 24/7. Yeah this one really hits close to home. Not only here in Seattle though. I personally still use a 'normal' bar phone (2+ year old Samsung). I really want a HTC pda phone if T-Mobile will ever pick up a proper Windows Mobile one (maybe wait for the new Windows Mobile later this year). Oh and equally weird are the people that keep bluetooth headsets on. I have a bluetooth headset. I only use it when I am driving or playing multiplayer on the PS3. Other than that, it gets turned off. :)
9. The Laptop Crowd at Starbucks and Panera.Wireless networking technologies have enabled a generation of do-nothings and posers to look busy in coffee shops and restaurants instead of finding themselves all alone in their dark basements.
Yeah these techno warriors hog up all the seats when I want to sit down for 10-15 mins to drink my coffee. Though I am insanely curious as to what the hell are they doing with their laptop out sipping a 'tall' (aka small) cup of latte (as opposed to my venti Strawberries and Cream frap). Do they really need to Facebook/Twitter that much? Personally, I prefer the 'dark basement' but then again, I have a proper mancave.
10. Today's Pandemic of IT Industry Pundits and Blowhards. Haha. I just posted something about this a few posts back. :p
Try to get some sun today guys. Oh wait, it is gone (up here in Seattle area anyways)... :(
Since I was kinda on the topic of Ubuntu Linux yesterday, I thought that I'd write a bit about Ubuntu.
Tomorrow will be the release of Ubuntu 9.04. Ubuntu uses a short release cycle (apart from their LTS release - Long Term Support). Their release coincides with the updates to GNOME (the GUI used) and happens ever April and October. There will be a couple more changes to Ubuntu apart from GNOME. A quick gander shows that they've improved the already fast boot time, made it easier to set up multi-monitors (as if it wasn't easy enough already), new file system support, and I believe that the latest version of open office will come out with it (Not that I really like open office).
Can't wait for tomorrow. Hopefully when they say 4/23/09, its somewhere like GMT or something.... :p
Again, while browsing the interwebs, I ran across another *gasp* link. My my. What free time I have.
Now to reference some stuff:
'.....netbooks had failed to make Linux palatable to the mainstream and that disgruntled consumers were shunning the cheap software for easier to set-up, closed source, proprietary Windows instead.
"There were a lot of netbooks loaded with Linux, which saves $50 or $100 or whatever, but from an industry standpoint, there were a lot of returns because people didn't know what to do with it," said Kohurt.
The Lenovo analyst also reckoned people were put off by having to "decompile codes and upload data", claiming "the average person, well, they just want a computer."
Kohurt whined that it was "just too hard" to have to go to a website and download bits of code, adding "Linux needs to get to the point where if you want to plug something in, Linux loads the driver and it just works."'
In general, not entirely unfounded. Linux really isn't for anyone. When I started using Ubuntu Linux (which I totally love BTW), my Google usage skyrocketed a good 2000% (and the proportional increase in the number of bookmarks saved). I had to figure out how to get it to work with my Windows network workgroup (and how to 'see' NTFS for that matter). To this day, I still can't get it to quite play nice with my network printers. To be fair, there is some truth to Ubuntu's slogan "It just works". I have never seen such a painless install that had every single component work right off the bat (without me having to go in and install stuff). It just worked.
The trick is, how to get the stuff that didn't work from the get go. To the average user, it really is a hit or miss kinda deal. Again in the defense of Linux, if you look around, you will find a community that is just overflowing with eagerness to help you out. I have yet to see a 'LOL you n00b' attitude when people genuinely are beginners and asking for help (something that is super rare amongst the e-community of techies - IDK, nerdy IRL dorks need to assert themselves virtually I guess haha). But even with that, do you imagine someone say, an elderly folk or a young kid that would go through all that trouble? Not really. They won't do command lines (which you pretty much need to do anything that involves stuff outside your Home folder in Ubuntu). Downloading an installer is easier than finding code and compiling it to install drivers/programs (though I absolutely whole heartedly love Package Managers - installers should be outdated coz of it haha).
So I totally agree with the writer of the article on this one. Linux is a lot of fun to the right people (those who love tinkering). Not so much to the people that think downloading an installer, double clicking, and potentially clicking on UAC's 'OK' button a few times is a HUGE pain in the ass.
But then again, Linux never was catered to the faint of heart. :)
I happened to stroll around the internet (as I tend to do with my free time - which I have had a lot of lately) and I ran across this.
All I can say is ZOMG.
CNBC would get a way better deal if they hired me as a 'Bureau Chief' (at least I know my stuff - ESPECIALLY before presenting it to people).
I have a long exhibited stance to 'fanboys' (I generally pity them for their inability to really see things they way they are and instead choose to grovel around in misinformation like they stand to gain something - lol what do you gain exactly apart from being annoying to those around you). Apple/Mac Addicts are by far the most extreme version of this (if you lumped all of the Intel/AMD, NVIDIA/ATI, Xbox/Playstation fanboys together in one boat, you wouldn't even be close to the disciples of Apple). Now I don't generalize. I know a lot of people who love Apple but don't force it down everyone's throat and from my personal observation, these people also possess a strong technical knowledge (aka have solid reasons instead of the FUD). And personally, I don't mind them. Heck, I actually like hanging around people who know their stuff regardless what it is.
But then you have the other 98% of Mac Addicts who don't know squat and act like they are the Scientologists of the tech world.
Some facts I would just like to put out there.
1) I can right click. 2) Contrary to popular belief, Macs now USE PC PARTS (Welcome to Intel and the x86 world people - it only took you guys how long? sick of PowerPC?). 3) I can run Excel Macros... :p 4) I can run Photoshop x64 (and no silly, it DOES NOT come with MACs - stupid doofus CNBC) 5) I use something that ~90% of the people who use computers are familliar with (file extensions, formats, layouts)
Now let's dissect some of the 'tidbits' of umm err 'info' that Jim Goldman provided us with.
Norton Anti-Virus: $50/year Multimedia Software: $80-$104 Photoshop: $140 Video Editing: $100 Music Software: $100 Geek Squad Visit: $129
Let's take this line by line.
Anti-Virus: There are other GOOD and FREE AV software out there. Avast! (they have a Mac version too) and AVG (no Mac versions) are two that come immediately to mind. Given that some people don't really know about free software (but hey, that's why I hope they read this blog huh). Multimedia Software: Like what? Windows Live? These things are expected of OS'. Heck even Ubuntu Linux has some bundled in. Photoshop: Since when did Mac's come with Photoshop? Video Editing: Tons of free stuff out there. Heck Movie Maker comes bundled. Music Software: I just so happen to be a big Audio enthusiast. I use Exact Audio Copy to rip my music to FLAC and user Foobar2000 to play it in Windows. BMPx in Linux. Mac people can keep their iTunes. Hmm oh yeah, they were free and not available on Macs. Geek Squad: Geek Squad sucks. No sugar coating it. Plus we have this thing called a warranty. Who the hell builds in a price variable as part of this anyways? I have an ancient laptop (~6 year old Banias core Pentium M) on my desk that runs Ubuntu like a champ. NEVER needed squat. Wasn't even from that good of a laptop builder too.
Jim also mentioned 'Intangibles' (apart from his lack of tech knowledge I guess):
Laptop Weight Battery Life Faster Chip High-Res Screen
Now anyone who knows even a little incy-wincy shred of PC knowledge will know that this is all a big generalization. Weight and Life varies with the Laptop and hardware. Your Mileage May Vary. YMMV. Faster Chip? Oh you mean Intels which PCs have been running from the start (Apple finally wisened up and ditched PowerPC). So in other words, Macs HAVE BECOME PCS. Revelation!? Yes Apple folks, you now use what PC people use. The only thing different is, you pay way more for it! So essentially, Macs have become PCs. And no, Apple does NOT manufacture anything. They outsource it to OEM builders (Asus, Foxconn, et al) which... builds PCs (and their parts)! So you really can't talk too much about build quality as its all Taiwanese. High-Res Screen? Puh-leez. Everyone knows they can custom pic what screen they want when customize their laptop build (hmm foreign idea?) If you don't like the resolution, move on to the next PC laptop. Waste of everybody's time (well ~90% of us anyways).
Disgusting video that is full of retardation below (warning: may cause dizzyness, upset stomachs, diarrhea, migranes, ED, Herpes, +/-40 IQ (depends on invididual - hey stupid people can make other people feel smarter), compulsive urge to spill coffee over individuals using laptops that has a certain fruit on the lid at your local Starbucks/Coffee Shop, and various other small issues.
UPDATE: More research on this 'Jim Goldman, Silicon Valley Bureau Chief' (aka Sad Epic Apple Fail Guy) sucks period. LINKAGE for teh PWNage.
This also brings up why I personally dislike Apple as a company. Sure their products can be pretty at times, but the company as a whole is abusive. Abusive policies, forcing formats down people's throats, and loyal zealots that follow them. Heck, they aren't even a green company (consistently ranked amongst the worst - makes me wonder if there are any Apple environmentalists out there :) ). I am proud to be 100% Apple clean (none of their extra shiny hardware, none of their retarded software). :)
One more thing. Before people start calling me a 'Windows' fan boy, I am not (I am actually typing this on my Ubuntu Laptop - Aha!). Though being a Microsoft Fan Boy would be infinitely better than being a Mac-addict/zealot, I would actually rephrase that. I am merely a humble Anti-Mac (and *gasp* I have actual valid reasons - no Mac people, 'just cuz' isn't a real reason). (I have a wider cone of interest). :)
So please do check your auto updates. Some of the bigger issues resolved is the Excel bug that was discovered back in Feb that allows Remote Code Execution (ZOMG).
Till next month dear people of the interwebs (and cherished readers of my humble blog).
Fairly recently, I had a reasonably good Sony A/V Receiver passed down to me (a perk of having a somewhat tech savvy dad haha). With that, I was happy that I could finally move on to a full digital output (as well as hook up my misc other stuff like my HD Satellite decoder, PS3, and Xbox 360) and use my HDTV as a monitor only.
However, I was dismayed that the way SPDIF out works on all Soundblasters is that if the source of the audio isn't encoded in Dolby/DTS (and their many types), then I would only get Stereo audio only. Needless to say, I found this somewhat disappointing as not all games have audio in that format. After a lot of tweaking, I at least managed to get Foobar2000 to playback to my satisfaction (I am INSANELY picky on audio lol). But still, it didn't solve my gaming experience.
So after a while, I found out that there was this thing called Dobly Digital Live / DTS Connect. DDL/DTS Connect pretty much encodes audio on the fly over a single SPDIF connection (ZOMG YAY). However, it is only enabled by default for the latest X-Fi card (Titanium) and the Auzentech Prelude cards (ultra high end X-Fis). I further found out that there was someone who managed to hack that feature (aka re-enabling). Though it seems that I am a bit too late as the drivers have been pretty much removed. Plus I read that there are some bugs for the X-Fi implementations (pfft). Fortunately (well semi fortunately), I found that Creative offered 'unlocks' for this feature for most of the 'normal full' X-Fi cards (I bet people were PISSED that they knowlingly disabled a feature of the card). It's called the Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect Pack. It pretty much allows you to encode all audio into DDL or DTS to a digital output so you can enjoy 5.1 audio. Now the keyword is DIGITAL. If you are just using the three analog outputs at the back fo the card, save your $4.72 as you won't be needing this.
Encoder window
So how was it? Well rather surprisingly, it actually works. Kinda surprising for something that came from Creative. I am using DTS Interactive (I personally prefer DTS over DD) and it sounds awesome! The audio in game is soooo awesome. One thing is that it gets pretty loud (had to turn down the volume). But hey, 5.1 is 5.1. At least I see all six speakers detected on my A/V Receiver now instead of 3. Supposedly, it uses CPU power for the encoding but I didn't see any abnormal CPU usage in game (then again, my CPU is overclocked quite a bit).
Encoder window
