mjm wired ;)  

From Microsoft's own website. In order to run Windows Vista in any other mode than Home Basic (i.e. no effects, and with removed functionality) Microsoft recommends the following:

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB of system memory
• 40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
• Support for DirectX 9 graphics with:
  • WDDM Driver
  • 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)
  • Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
  • 32 bits per pixel
• DVD-ROM drive

Huh?

Most personal computer manufacturers cut costs by shipping lower quality hardware that runs pretty well (since Windows XP is over 5 years old now). Microsoft has tried pushing their otherwise unpopular Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) and Windows Tablet Edition stimulating different software/hardware usage. But I guess no one really buys it because they don't need it or just plain don't care. Video gaming in Windows hasn't changed much in the past few years (hello Xbox 360!!). And for the most part people don't do much more on their PC's than they did a few years ago. Even video editting was perfectly useable in the pre-XP days (anyone heard of a Macintosh?). The bottom line is that if you bought a new computer in the past 2 years or so it should run Windows XP pretty decently and other than space issues (downloading "stuff", taking pictures, etc.) it probably meets all your needs.

When the Pentium processors came out (1993?) originally people used Windows 3.1 (3.1.1 32bit if you were lucky). Windows 95 was revolutionary in many aspects and finally allowed you to do significantly more from your computer than ever before. So 12 years later ... Windows has not really changed much past Windows 95. Sure there are plenty of improvements, but realistically it is essentially the same. So can this Vista do for XP what 95 did for 3.1? That's easy to answer.

And yet, hardware manufacturers see that people eventually stop caring for the most wham-bam latest-greatest hardware (64-bit, Dual-Core, etc.). A $500 computer from Dell seems to work just fine. Ahhh, so now a new revolution begins. Having unnecessary software just to use your unnecessary hardware. Progress at its finest.

The whole push for obscene requirements just for the basic operating system seems so idiotic it just boggles my mind. Microsoft really has given hardware manufacturers something to smile about. Will this Vista cause sales for hardware and computers to increase? I doubt it.

There's something to be said about innovation. How about - it should be innovative? I know it's wishful thinking.

"Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." Everytime I visited a friend or relative with digital cable, I always thought "how cool". Yeah, so I have digital cable now, I didn't choose to get it, it's sort of just there, so I sort of use it. And it's somewhat of a disappointment. Yeah, not as nice as the brochure.

Biggest pain: It effectively killed my urge to channel surf. You know when there isn't anything on, but you just want to flip? Now it takes like 2 seconds for the image to display and for the "information" to show. And worse, sometimes the channel doesn't update on the screen, so it jumps like 2 or 3 channels. A co-worker recommended I start flipping through the "tv guide" menu and read the words. Unfortunately, its not quite the same.

The On Demand Movies feature is very disappointing. The free movies are either all black and white or they are those movies that no one really wanted to watch. Chances are if it's good, I have already seen it. So the new movies are all $3.99 - but in 10 minutes I can rent the DVD for $3.00 in wide screen and 5.1 surround sound. Worse yet, the fast forward and rewind are incredibly non-responsive. And to add insult to injury the sound sometimes "blips" and on occasion there is some digitization or loss of frames.

So you pay more for a premium service right? The TV channel guide actually has ads!!! It shows 3 channels and their schedules and in the forth row is a little banner for another TV show or movie. And I watched a (free) On Demand horror movie and every 30 minutes at the bottom flashed an advertisement for Fear.net. Not small - taking up a quarter of the screen.

So everyone who has had digital service probably already knows this, but to me I'm shocked how pathetic it all is. I remember reading in the early 90's how cool this technology would be, unfortunately it has quite a ways to go.

Yesterday night my youngest brother landed in California ready to start a new job and new life. Just last month he was sitting in an arena listening to speeches from a clueless kinesiology student, random honorary graduates and the university president which he really didn't like too much. However the final talk by David Bing, a former Pistons basketball player, was very sincere and in many ways enlightening. Mr. Bing said that one of his coaches once mentioned the "5 P's" to him: "Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance". I liked it. Unfortunately my brother in his quasi-euphoric mindset wasn't really paying attention.

After a few days of hurredly packing 2 suitcases, a dozen cardboard boxes and plenty of last minute shopping all was done. Not much time to relax, not much time for anything I guess. Oh the irony.

Anyways, I'm not in any position to exclaim my great accomplishments (or lack there of), but I know my brother knows he could have done a little bit better in the past few years. I know I did my best to encourage him (the iPod incentive failed miserably), but realistically I knew he was not too much different than me. Except for the fact that he had more avenues for advice, better car to drive, high speed internet, his own computer, cooler stuff and a guitar. Of course, not that I'm jealous or anything ... but ANYWAYS, before he left I made sure to tell him the important stuff.

I started off by listing all the things he forgot to do, and that it pretty didn't matter much anymore. But the one thing I made sure to express was that he could now put aside all the fumbles and missteps of college and other disappointments. He was given a clean slate. Just that he should realize that even though there are plenty of mistakes to be made, he's now free to finally pursue something real. Who cares what, perhaps playing a (seldom used in 3 years) guitar, a sport, grad school, community service, perhaps a real hobby (collecting beer bottle caps and key chains don't count) - just that he should have something to show for himself.

This isn't about me, but sometime at the end of 2003, I told myself that I wanted to redeem myself, not like some wrongfully accused man in Shawshank but just more along the lines that I had too many regrets. I honestly want my brother to feel that when he gets older that he did something productive with his time. Of course you can always lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink (or her, I'm not sexist). I doubt he'll do all the things he promised, but then again neither did I.

It's funny I write this in the first person, but the target audience is specific. ... Yeah. I'll miss him.

Just days before the new year, I came down with some bad sinus headaches. As much as I looked for a cause (lack of sleep, computer, alcohol, etc.), I could find nothing. So I tried my best to avoid any unnecessary medicine but only a day into the new year, most of that pain had shifted to my right ear. I took some aspirin, hoping to be okay for work the next day, and slept.

On the morning of the 2nd, ready to go back to work, I turned on the radio to check the weather and traffic. For whatever reason, the radio sounded like it had bad reception as I could hear an echo in the broadcast. I ignored it to eat my breakfast. Moments later someone else asked me how I was feeling and they're voice caused an echo as well. ... Great! After a flu shot and almost 2 weeks of perfect holidays, I figured I had an ear infection. A trip to the doctor later confirmed it. So I was given a perscription for anti-biotics and vicodin for the pain. I filled it and tried to get some rest. Ear-aches really really suck by the way.

Funny thing about that vicodin. I know its a pain-killer and that in can make you drowsy, which upon the first few times it did happen. So I thought I would take it at night to ease the pain and let me sleep. The first night I took it, I had some weird dreams. Not to sound like a dead-head or anything, but I was hoping for a repeat the next few nights, but nothing happened.

The anti-biotic on the other hand, was just too week and now after the dosage is almost over I feel only minimal improvement. Most of the sinus pressure at my eyes and ears has resided, but I still have a 24 hour ringing and pain in my ear and on a quiet night I can hear the pulsing of my heart (either that or its my brain, but brain pulsing sounds a little gross).

So now a second trip to the doctor has provided me with a much stronger anti-biotic. And I'm pretty sure that will fix my banging ear, but I am left a little upset. Why didn't I get the stronger stuff on the first visit? The doctor renders his prognosis rather quickly with minimal investigation. Was he correct? And what about costs? Primary care visit co-pays can be between $20-$30 per visit (if you have insurance). And to add, I really don't feel happy knowing that I was taking unnecessary drugs for the past week. And I'm disappointed I didn't have any more cool dreams with the pain-killer.

Ah well, in the end, money is trivial when it comes to your health. From now on I will be more careful when sticking foreign objects in my ear.

I have been a little uninspired lately. I could blame plenty of external reasons, but the truth is no one does anything for you, you have to make your own way.

I can't even list all the happenings of the year, most of them I didn't even blog about. There was some "50 Rules to Life" that says visit some place new every year. Well I visited 3 major spots, outside of Germany, the local trips pushed me far outside of my comfort zone and that to me is probably one of the most significant accomplishments I can list for the past decade.

On the "technical" front, I am exuberant over the visitors to my site. And a really big thanks for everyone who supported me technically, financially or just good advice. Its hard to quantify what a few words of encouragement or thanks can yeild. Thank you. All of you. Big or small, I appreciate it. All of it.

And other things, life, work, play, blah blah and all the things I intentionally keep vague. Well I doubt my supervisors or co-workers will ever read this. But you guys cut me a lot more slack than I deserve. Thanks. ... And for all the friends and family who either forget me or remembered me or forget me first then remember me again. Thanks too. ... Lots of cool gifts. I finally got an MP3 player - it only took me 3 years.

And on a more serious note, I feel I contributed more this last year. Hopefully in the future I'll do better. I don't feel like it means much, but I can feel I'm moving in the right direction.

Thanks for reading. Yes, I know I still have errors on my site. Yes, I know I owe many many people pictures. Yes ladies, I'm still single. No guys, it does not play OGG. Yes, I'm supposed to be spending more time developing more sites. And finally - NO - I'm not going to bother with new years resolutions this year. Every day is a new year - just make it so.

I am in the process of switching servers. It is a MESS. There was some problem with Apache and htaccess which I thought I fixed. Now there seems to be a problem with email. Nothing works. The whole weekend has been a disaster.

If you are having problems accessing this site, please be patient.

Thanks.

Mr. Mauriat has just died - Mr. Paul Mauriat that is.

I never downloaded the "Love is Blue" MP3. Coincidentally a fan of Mauriat (not me) happened to email me the file, just because he liked it so much, he thought I would like it also.

The sentiment was nice, and so was the music.

I have received at least a dozen different automated calls telling me to vote for someone. Majority after I voted. So much for Do-Not-Call.

Anyways, this is the second draft of this post. Originally I had planned to explain my reasoning for the candidates and state proposals for which I had voted. I did vote earlier today, but after I did, I realized that my reasoning does not make much difference for others to read. The bottom line is that common sense and rational thought does NOT prevail in politics. It is up to the voters to do that. I want to emphasize how incredibly devisive and partisan this country has become. To affiliate with anything seems to imply close-mindedness. I don't know how to combat that ignorance.

I did vote for change and balance. We'll see tomorrow if it makes a difference.