My dad just finsihed upgrading our connection, we should have a lot more upload at this point.
If you experiance any problems, please email be at ryan@marcusfamily.info.
Archive for August, 2006
Is Windows inherently more vulnerable to malware attacks than OS X?
“The attack I encountered occasioned a re-examination of a common question: Is Windows more vulnerable to malware than OS X? I’ve encountered no clearer or more definitive proof point than this attack.”
This is a great article that you can use to through in your Window’s friend’s face when they give you all that “it is not targeted” crap.
10 reasons to date a programmer
Created by yours truly.
- We are used to working in the dark.
- Strong finger muscles.
- We don’t mind reading manuals.
- We can quickly adapt to any interface.
- We can work all night without food.
- Precision hand accuracy.
- We understand inheritances, so you don’t have to worry about anything “strange.”
- We’re object oriented… in more ways then one!
- Our connections have high upload rates.
- We know all the uses of a microphone.
Feel free to use it if you give me credit. Also, comment any more you can think of.
The PowerBook Dilema
Well, I’m happy yet unhappy to be writing this post using my PowerBook G3… running Mac OS X Tiger.
My original plan was to install Ubuntu on this computer, but I discovered the CD drive was broken. I could not get the computer to boot off of a external CD drive, so I was stuck.
I finally booted my eMac from the Ubuntu install CD, and then booted this computer in target firewire mode. I tried to install Ubuntu this way, and got an error message 15% through the install. I spent a few hours searching the forums to find a few articles that did not work for me.
I finally decided to just see if I could get OS X running, so I booted my computer up with the Tiger install disc, and put this one in target disk mode… after using Disk Utility from the menu and reformatting the hard drive, I installed without any problems.
Fatality
I just got back from Talladaga Knights, which was great, as in, almost Animal House, Old School, Stripes good.
Anyhow, on topic.
I turn a recorded 60 minutes and start hearing about this guy screen named Fatality. Apparently, he is the world’s best video gamer. I raised my eye brow immediately. I know a lot of the people that are “up there” on the Starcraft ladder, and none of them have that name. I think it is impossible to have “the world’s best video gamer” beat everybody at any game.
The report continues to an interview with this Fatality guy, and he talks about how he plays (get ready) Doom and Halo for money, and is actually quite successful. Now, while the fact of the matter is that I don’t think anybody should play Doom or Halo, I definitely don’t think their should be money involved…
Anyhow, on topic.
The 60 minutes man walks into the room, and the guy is playing a video game, and he states that Fatality did not notice him come in. While I can say that I may not notice a 60 year old walk in while I was playing a game with all my friends, I definitely would have noticed the camera crew that came in before hand, and the person who told me to ignore the 60 year old man…
Anyhow, on topic.
He is interviewing the Fatality guy, who talks about how his games are all about reaction time, split second decision, etc. Then we jump to the studio, where 60 minute man starts talking about how “advanced” the tactics where, and how “complicated and brilliant” this Fatality would have to be.
Now, I don’t mean to be evil to all you Doom’ers and Halo’ers… but… the tactics used are anything but “advanced.” If you think that anybody can use “advanced” tactics in one of those games needs to read a history book.
A “advanced” tactic is more then just “You go left and cover my back while Bob makes sure the planes don’t land,” it should be more like “You move your dropships over to his mineral supply while I cover you with these wraiths. In the meantime, Bob will move his barracks to the fortified position and I will give him cover with my marines. Make sure the zerg don’t manage to get out of the blockade…”
The fact of the matter is that Fatality knows that these games do not involve any “brilliant” strategy. It is mostly reaction time. But 60 minute man can’t seem to wrap his head around this…
I could go on, but I think you get the idea.
Dell: Security is for the weak.
I saw a ad for Dell and I think, that after seeing it, I’m LESS likely to buy a Dell.
On new Dell computers, you can use a online tech support service (I can’t remember the URL right, now, it was DellTouch or DellOne or something.) that will allow a remote corrospondent use your computer to help you solve your problems.
Yes, Dell has implemented a VNC client… directly into there hardware! That’s right, anybody with the username and password that was set by Dell can access… and use… your computer!
This brings us to an interesting balance… Sacrificing security for support. IMHO, you should never sacrifice security. But, if you have ever tried to give somebody over the phone tech support, and this person was, say, not so computer-smart, you definitly wish you could just look at their screen and move there mouse.
My grandparents often call and email me in need of support. I got so tired of saying go to Mail -> Preferences, etc., that I installed a background VNC application on their computer. Now, when they call, I can just VNC into their computer and solve the problem. They don’t understand VNC, and they don’t want to, but at least it was installed as an option, and with their premission.
I also have a friend who is often in need of tech support, and he installed VNC on his computer himself, and gives me the username and password whenever I need it.
The thing that makes the two above situations correct, in my mind, is that both parties knew that VNC was on their computer, and they have the option to remove it.
Dell, on the other hand, simply puts it in the hardware, making it VERY hard to remove, and even harder to just disable. They did not give you the option, and they did not even tell you about it.
You may be asking why I care, and the truth is I am looking for a cheao-o laptop (400 to 600 dollars) for school. I figured I’d just get a cheap Dell (don’t worry, I was going to put Linux on it!) and use that, but now I am not to sure. More updates as warrent.
Leopard, and my thoughts
Incase you’ve had your head in the sand today, you probably saw Mac OS X 5, or Leopard.
After a brief view of the preview and a chat with my dad, I’ve decided I’m not overly thrilled.
Time Machine
Time Machine is something that has been around on Windows for a while… And it has a problem.
Here is the deal.. When you create a file, it does NOT back it up. When you delete a file, it does not really delete it.. It just waits until you need that hard drive space, then deletes them. It is NOT a backup system. If you use less then half your HD then its perfect, but if not, you’ve got a problem. This will also slow down your system.
Mail 3
Start switching to Thunderbird now. Mail 3 has a problem.
Apple is endorsing HTML email! AHHH! Run!
The idea is that you can create “stunning” emails with your photos is great… as long as all your friends have Mac’s and use mail. Most junk mail filters automatically kick HTML email, and Apple knows that, so they have created an email tag that will tag an email as “not junk.” This means that spammers are going to start using this tag, making Mail’s junk mail filter usless, unless you only get email from people in your address book.
Spaces
About damn time. Linux has had this since the start, but apparently it is still “innovative.” 
Spotlight
The new spotlight: Slow searching just got slower!
Now that you are storing network information in your database, Spotlight is going to drag, unless you want to use it to search through mail messages and Pages documents…
IMHO, Mac OS X has been going down hill since Panther. But thats me. Its been getting better, but I am no longer the target market. They don’t want developers, they want teens who like music. They don’t want gamers, they want people who want to make movies out of their photos. Its a good move for them, and I’m just glad I’m on Ubuntu.
Acoma is back!
Frank Sandoval made this post on his blog: http://www.fsandoval.net/2006/08/05/giving-acoma-one-more-shot/!
Acoma is back, and Jemez is coming along!
