2007 January

Okay, here’s the scoop: if you buy an upgrade version of Windows Vista, or use one of the free or reduced cost upgrade coupons that came with the purchase of a computer loaded with Windows XP in the last couple of months, it requires an installed version of Windows on the hard drive. [...]

Two reports today on new hard drive technologies: the first is from Robert X. Cringely, a pseudonym for someone who writes a technology column on the PBS website. Those of you who have read my posts on the Lockergnome website and in their newsletters have seen me mention his name often - I [...]

What happens when a Porsche hits a bird (it might be a duck) at 250 km/h (150 mph) (thanks to TechRepublic.com and Yuretz.ru):

The link says credit card info only is affected - but CBC Radio News is saying debit cards also…
If you have shoppped at Winners or HomeSense using a credit or debit card, your safest course of action is to cancel the credit/debit card(s) and set up a new one.
UPDATE: It’s credit cards only - [...]

From TechnologyReview.com:
The popular online hangout MySpace.com has been quietly developing software designed to give parents the bare-bones of what their kids are doing on the site.
The tool, which will alert parents of the username, age and location a child lists on personal MySpace pages known as profiles, is designed to spark conversations about Internet safety.
But it [...]

Are you a small computer repair person and builder? I build maybe six computers a year for customers. Until I found this link, I thought that I couldn’t offer the discounted or free upgrades to Windows Vista that the big boys do. Here’s what you do: Go to the Microsoft Partner [...]

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, have made ultrathin silicon transistors that operate more than 50 times faster than previous flexible-silicon devices. The advance could help make possible flexible high-end electronics that would be useful in a variety of applications, from computers to communication. Zhenqiang (Jack) Ma, professor of electrical and computer engineering and [...]

Salon.com has an article on the efforts of some people - especially James Kim’s father - to find someone to blame for his death and to change procedures to prevent a similar incident reoccurring.
As sad as it is, James Kim made a mistake that led to his death - leaving his vehicle. [...]

I’ve been using SpinRite for about six months now - the first time I tried it was on a customer’s computer that wouldn’t boot into Windows XP. I thought, well, I’ll try this software first and - if it works - I’ll save the customer the cost of backing up their data, reinstalling [...]

Groklaw is posting the recent filings in SCO v. Novell, and Novell is stating:
For SCO, bankruptcy is inevitable; it characterizes its assets as merely those “remaining” and does not rebut Novell’s arguments that its bankruptcy is imminent.
Groklaw restates:
Imminent. Inevitable. Bankruptcy.
(Emphasis mine.)
Hurray!!! McBride’s mommy should have spanked him when he began using these [...]

There are a few new toys here for Vista users.
Windows DreamScene:
Your desktop background comes to life with Windows DreamScene. When you download this Ultimate Extra, you can select a video for your desktop background the same way you select a stationary picture. You can choose one of the high-quality looping videos that we’ve included, [...]

The Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference is introducing a TechTeam contest. The contest is “a highly interactive design competition where participants will tackle real-life case-study style problems proposed by our sponsors. Delegates will work in groups of approximately 5 on presented case studies in order to come up with feasible solutions. Winning team(s), as judged by [...]

Ever wanted to play with Microsoft software? Or maybe your mission is more serious - you want to evaluate MS offerings against other solutions you’re considering for your organization’s software needs. Here’s part of the answer - TechNet Virtual Labs. You can work virtually on Exchange 2007, Windows Vista, and 2007 [...]

How many of you geeks support a not so knowledgeable relative or friend? I’ve done it a lot, and there are several difficulties I have:

My ear gets sore from pressing the phone to it; or

I get frustrated because the other person has trouble doing what I’m telling them to; or

I have to tell [...]