Blogs Posts

Why I am a PC

2009-08-25T18:11:20Z

I am a PC. But it wasn’t always that way…

I grew up using Apple computers when I was a kid. I spent hours on that damned machine every day making drawings and creating simple 3D models. I loathed Windows computers. I bought all the hype about their substandard performance and I only though of them as computers for office workers who wanted to write documents and edit spreadsheets. Macs were for creative people, like me. Then I got my first job as a web designer and was forced to use a PC.

It was difficult at first, just getting used to the different key board shortcuts and all. But I soon realized that my experience on a PC wasn’t much different then on a Mac. I was still creating documents and saving them into folders that I could organize any way I saw fit, all the applications were the same ones I had learned on a Mac. For what I was using a computer for – Mac or PC didn’t make a huge difference.

Once I was ready to purchase my first machine (all my previous computers were my parent’s) I got a PC because the price was right. Then, I found out how easy it is to upgrade hardware manually to make for an even beefier machine at a fraction of the price of buying brand new. I was sold. I found it quite easy to learn how to customize and tweak a Windows machine then I ever did on a Mac. Add that to the fact that Windows computers were basically the only PC that played all the newest computer games, and there was no going back.

Don’t get me wrong, I admire Apple computers because they are easily accessible and it’s hard to ruin those machines. But I found the fact that I couldn't build one from the ground up or easily upgrade the hardware to be the tipping point. It seems to me that I need a bigger/stronger/faster computer every two years and the upgrades usually cost me about $400-$600 to make my machine pretty close to “top 0f the line”. If I had to buy a new Mac every two years, I would be homeless and poor, but I’d have a very pretty piece of metal in front of me.

I will say this though; I love the iPhone. I wouldn’t trade it in for any other phone on the market. But I am saddened to see Apple head down the same road Microsoft was caught in several years back and that is not playing nice with developers who want to create software for their OS (the iPhone OS, to be exact). The application process for the iPhone App Store is a joke. Sure, Apple says they remove certain apps because of poor coding that could harm the phone’s hardware or because of questionable content. But the fact that they also deny us apps because they infringe upon an existing iPhone feature (see the Google Voice app or the fact that Safari is the only browser allowed on the phone) is saddening. That’s like a Windows or Apple computer saying “Sorry, you can’t install FireFox because this OS already came with a browser built in!”. Give the people freedom when it comes to what applications they want.

Remember that old 1984 Apple commercial (above)? Apple’s idea was that we should not conform to how “the man” tells us how to use a computer. Computers/technology should set us free! Now it seems that Apple is making us conform to how they want us to use their machines. Someone go get me my mallet and orange short-shorts! I’ve gotta head over to Apple and smash a big screen.

In summary: I prefer Microsoft over Apple, but it’s more a personal taste then some sort of hatred of the latter or some moral conclusion.

15min Video: How to Build a Computer

2009-07-24T17:22:12Z

I ran across this video today about how to build your own computer. The video explains every step in the process and if is a very useful tool for anyone who might be interested. I think everyone should know how to build their own machines. As long as you don't go overboard with all the components you can save a lot of money in the long run and be the envy of all those non-computer-literate dolts (actually you'll be seen as less cool by normal people, you have been warned).

Anyway check it out if your interested. And dude at the beginning of the video says he's Will Smith, but I am not fooled.

How to Build a PC - Every Step Explained from Maximum PC on Vimeo.

Mahalo Answers

2009-07-22T16:46:38Z

Mahalo Answers is a community of Internet researchers that was founded in December 2008. Users and the public can can submit questions regarding any topic to our broad-based, informed community of users.

I have been giving Mahalo Answers a try for the last week or so and have gotten some good information from it and quick feedback to a couple of questions that I have asked, I am giving the Answers Widget a try in this blog post and if I like it and get some good feedback I will move it to a more permant spot.

HACK: iPhone 3.0 Tethering

2009-06-19T06:34:53Z

It's well known that the OS update to the iPhone includes the ability to use your phone for tethering your 3G connection to your PC or laptop. Sadly, AT&T doesn't want to give this feature away for free even though other smart phone will let you tether without having to update your service plan.

After one day of the release of the 3.0 update, a hack is available for your phone that will let you tether you connection. For free. For now.

The hack is so simple too. Just go to this address on your iPhone's browser, http://help.benm.at/help.php (thanks to TechCrunch.com for the original article) and in few clicks your all set to release the power of the 3G network.

Check out the video for proof

(Sorry for the poor audio and low light of the video)

But don't get too excited. It isn't outside of the world of posibility that AT&T will catch on to the hack and put a stop to it somehow. But as of this writing it's working just fine.

Enjoy it while you can!

Bing Search - a one week trial

2009-06-03T04:53:10Z

Cataloging my first week experience using Bing.com as my main search engine.

2009 E3 Coverage

2009-06-02T19:51:53Z

If you've listened to this weeks podcast (Episdoe 4a) you might have heard that we'll be poster several shorter podcasts this week to cover the day-to-day news that comes out of this year's E3!

Stay tuned for the new episodes to come out each day during the event! And, of course, we'd love to get your feedback and comments about some of the new technologies being shown and new game titles.

- Milton

Part 2: Document/File collaboration and sharing

2009-05-14T02:58:09Z

Talking about document collaboration and sharing, SharePoint and Google Docs.

The Multi Computer Shuffle

2009-05-06T22:11:53Z

So if you are a Geek or Nerd, and if you made it to this site than I think we all know the answer to that question. Then you probably either own or use more than one computer, manage computers for friends and family, and want to have access to your files and media where ever your are.

Well I have been running into the same questions and have been looking at some solutions, both paid and free. Lets start with Remote access and management.

If you have all of the machines using static IP addresses then no big deal just setup RDP shortcuts to them and presto you can manage the network. But if you are managing say your mother-in-laws computer and others that have dynamic IP addresses then their are multiple solutions for you.

FREE:

Configure the machines using NOIP's client software. This will allow you to access the machines using yourname.no-ip.com instead of a hard to remember IP address or URL.

Live Mesh is a new beta service from Microsoft that will allow you to setup a "network" (those are air quotes) of computers that can be accessed and share files within the network. I have used this solution and it works fine, the remote access piece is a little slow. but the setup and interface are simple. You will need to have a Live.com, Hotmail.com, or MSN.com account.

PAID:

Go-To-MyPC is a service provided by Citrix, now I am a big fan of Go-To-Meeting but I cant bring myself to pay $19.95 for access to 1 PC, $29.95 for access to 2 PC's then a reduced price for 3 - 20.

LogMeIn has a free version and a paid version, I haven't tried this one so I will leave it to you Loyal Reader to make a judgment.

Next week Part 2: Document/File collaboration and sharing