If you follow Chris Pirillo’s live stream or chat for a while, you have noticed that we have been talking about the problems with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for a while now. What Chris has said in the live stream are true, that the problems are not in Windows (XP, Vista) per se, but more on the software that has been provided with the computers by the OEM. All of these software are mostly crap. We don’t need it, and maybe we will never use it at all. Most of these softwares are the reason of the malware and viruses problems.

So what are we gonna do to solve this problems? Well, if you have it, you can reformat the computer and install a fresh new Windows and install all the necessary drivers (without the OEM softwares). But normally people don’t have an original Windows CD/DVD. We only have the ones that have been shipped with the computers (the restore CD/DVD). Some cases, we may have to burn the CD/DVD ourselves!

So, if you are in the later situation, you may have a look at this website: “Zap the Crap on a New Windows PC”. It explains detail instruction, what you have to do and why. I don’t need to repost it in my blog here. Just a waste of time.So, I hope that will help. Lastly, if you are using Windows, please install an antivirus software and a firewall for your own protection.

Keep safe!

There are a number of virtual machine software that is on the market. Name few are Parallels and VMware. I have never tried Parallel before, but VMware works fine for me. Here are the comparison of application virtual machine.

The great thing about virtual machine is that you can try new OSes such as Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Mandriva, and Vista without damaging your current OS. If you don’t like the OS you are trying, you can just delete it and nothing will be affecting your host OS.

Another reason why people are using virtual machine is because of software compatibility. Everybody said that a lot of programs that they are currently using in Windows XP are still not compatible with Vista. So this is not a reason anymore, hence you can run XP inside Vista. ]]> http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2008/02/19/virtual-machine/feed/ http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2008/02/18/who-is-chris-pirillo/ http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2008/02/18/who-is-chris-pirillo/#comments Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:38:00 +0000 fr3ak http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2008/02/18/who-is-chris-pirillo/ Chris Pirillo. Maybe someone not that famous, but he is pretty famous among the geek community. Since the holiday started, I have been watching his online stream every single day. He talks about computer and technology everyday, he takes live calls from the community, anyone with computer related problem can call him, and he will help as much he can. If not there is also a live chat where people talks about tech 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Included in this post I embedded the live stream. Come watch the stream and join in the chat room.

By the way, he is a pretty funny guy.

• Launchy - it would be the similar to the search function in Microsoft Windows Vista or Finder in Mac OS X. Since I have Vista on my laptop, I fell in love with the search function. With Launchy, I don’t need to browse for the programs in my start menu anymore. I just use the shortcut Alt+Spacebar and just type in the name of the program. It even catalog my bookmarks from my Firefox. I have been using it for quite some time now, and I love it, a lot.
• DeskSpace - ever heard of multiple desktop from Linux or even the new Mac OS X Leopard? I really wished that Windows made it in their OS. Not even Vista have this function. Started wishing for this function while I was testing Ubuntu last year. Then last week while I was in the Chris Pirillo’s live chat, the community recommended this program. Have been using it for a week now and have not encountered any problem(s) yet. Currently using it on both my XP and Vista machine. You have to pay it though, there’s an older, free software which you can find it here.

There are a lot of people that can solve the cube better than me. I am not a genius like them. Just a normal guy that have nothing better to do at home.

The model seems to be solid, and there are no money we have to spent if we just want to try it. I decided to give it a try. Although I will waste some time by clicking the links if it is another scam.

I will be gaining more money if I add more referrals. Now, I don’t have any. So, if anybody wants to join in, please use nick as a referral point (xvi99) or you can just click here - http://bux.to/?r=xvi99

Thank you in advance for adding me as a referral. I will report it if it is a scam and also when I got the money. ]]> http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2008/01/04/creating-bucks/feed/ http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2007/12/21/social-photographing/ http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2007/12/21/social-photographing/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:56:00 +0000 fr3ak http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2007/12/21/social-photographing/ Photosynth, that is the future of web photo album. Picasa Web Albums, Flickr doesn’t even come close to this.From Microsoft Live Labs and the University of Washington, Photosynth was born. Although it is still in the preview, it impresses me, a lot. Photosynth will change how we experience digital photography in the future.

They build a 3D model from the pictures that we post in the internet. Don’t know what am I talking about? You’ll understand after seeing this video:

Now they only have a few models such as from NASA and BBC that we can look at using this program. But I am sure more will come.

Before you go to the Photosynth website. I should warn you that a decent computer and internet connection is necessary to enjoy the Photosynth’s experience.

For the past few weeks I have been having problems with my time to sleep. Actually, I don’t really sleep. Lots have been bothering me. I do have stress. This is what happened when I have one. Sleeping disorder.

I can only sleep for just a couple of hours in a day right now. Christmas is just around the corner. Christmas, the most interesting time while I am here in Germany. I will be going away for this Christmas. Visiting a friend of mine. It has been a while since I last met him. More than a year.

I hope after this trip, I will get better. I hope so, I have to. At the end of January next year is the exam time once again. I have to study. Have too….. ]]> http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2007/12/20/sleeping-disorder/feed/ http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2007/11/27/living-or-dying/ http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2007/11/27/living-or-dying/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:54:00 +0000 fr3ak http://www.lockergnome.com/fr3ak/2007/11/27/living-or-dying/ 2 choices. If you can choose, do you want to live or do you want to die?

Personally, I can’t decide.

Living. Why do people want to live. Especially in this world we are living right now. There are wars here and there, you would die eventually. There are lots of bad people that will make you miserable till the end of your life. Still, this might be the right choice. The good one as most people would say it. Not that we are living in a perfect world where everyone are happy. There must be a point that we would be sad.

Not that living is really that bad. We can enjoy life. If we choose to. But if we live, we would make the best of it, if we can, if we want to. We can do whatever dead people can’t. Believe me, dead people will miss a lot of things.

Dying. This is an easy choice. Is it? There are happiness when you are dying. Others would appreciate you more when you are dying. You will live like a god when you are. And the most important thing is that you are living in your present. No responsibilities as there are no future for you.

Some say, at the end of your life, you will be closer to god. It can be good and bad. Good if you believe that you will end up in heaven and bad if you think you will end up in hell. Some doesn’t believe in heaven and hell, or even god. So, dying might be the right choice, for them.

If I die now, this blog would be a hit after my funeral. As I am saying it out loud. Who would know? My friends do. And they would remember me, remember what I wrote in this entry. That would be fun, wouldn’t it? Sadly, I will not be here to experience all of it.

Who knows when will I die. One can try to kill him/herself but to die is not his/her choice.