Windows 7 officially in the hands of OEM partners
Another step closer to the release of the latest and greatest Windows OS to date
Windows 7 was officially signed off as RTM status only a few days ago. Now it's in the hands of major OEM partners so they can implement them into their PC offerings.
Monthly Q&A
Have questions? Here's your chance to get some answers!
With technology moving so rapidly, it's difficult to remain knowledgeable across the ever growing spectrum of computing. To combat this, every month there will be a Q/A post which answers your questions!
Send questions to qna@vitocassisi.com
Windows 7 to have ‘Family Pack’
Windows 7 reaches RTM, and offers 'family pack'.
Microsoft blogger Brandon LeBlanc has confirmed that Windows 7 will indeed be offered with a family pack. This 'pack' allows home users to install Microsoft's latest OS on 3 PCs within a home. Home Premium is the only version involved with family pack licensing.
Interview with LAN master DasBok
DasBok shares his experiences and observations in the world of LANing.
DasBok has been generous enough to spare some time for an interview regarding his role of planning and running gaming LANs. Check it out. :)
Alien Facade: Tubifex Worms Invade North Carolina
They're slimy, pulsating colonies, set out to invade via sewer!
North Carolina watch out! There's been Internet hype for the last few days about an apparent sewage life form with alien-like physique. Fortunately, it's now safe to go outdoors - and flush the toilet. No, the military didn't go in with flamethrowers and machetes to tackle this clearly threatening beast. It was solved with science!
We’re now doing news and interviews!
We're expanding our scope, care to join us?
I've been discussing the future of this site with a few peeps in the journalism industry, and I've decided that future posts will include news stories and interviews. But not just any old news stories, only the ones that are exciting and genuinely interesting will be covered to spare you the anguish. :P
The interviews will be with those who are making a mark either on the Internet, gaming, and tech scenes. I'm currently contacting possible interviewees, watch this space!
Familiar Quality
I don't like it. It feels... odd.
To the untrained eye of mere mortals, the distinction between two seemingly similar products becomes hazy. We often compare products to ensure we are informed in the world of tech, or for many, to enforce bragging rights via public discussion. Rarely do we think critically about the method, aim and overall benchmark when casually comparing products. Rather, many focus on the conclusion they desire, which can cause a lack of perspective.
Retro Fun!
Timeless fun. It's like Neverland for mortals!
I'm still quite young, but I do appreciate the games of yesteryear. There are quite a few remakes of some really fun retro games. I've taken the liberty to post a few here for you to check out. Get into it!
Specialised Equipment and Perception
Enthusiast kit has increased immensely over the past few years. Is it all marketing hype?
Everywhere you look, there's reference to some sort of enthusiast kit that's guaranteed to make you uber 1337 with a mere push of a button. Some claims are fair, and although they're often served with a side of hyperbole, they're a true indication of the quality of the product. An example would be the abundance of GPU flaunting advertisements for the latest ATI and nVidia cards. Yes, they're powerful. And yes, they are worth the investment if you require the performance they offer (assuming your PC is capable of harnessing it). What bothers me are the products which target the same market, but have no real value over a somewhat blander (and cheaper) alternative.
TF2 Parodies
A little humour goes a long way. I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite Team Fortress 2 (TF2) parodies with you all.
A game of values
Are we getting more from games than we bargained for?
The luring nature of leisure inducing game titles is enough for most people to part with decent sums of money. There's an attraction to virtual worlds and impossible characters that gamers can't get enough of, whether this is in the form of an action-paced FPS or a casual stroll in a vibrant RPG - or even a mixture, as presented by Bethesda's recent Fallout 3 title. Under these amusing game genres is not just a pretty picture and a procrastination enticing storyline. There's also an oft ignored element of education.
A thirst for Apple juice
Get a bunch of ranting PC fanatic fanboys together, and you'll hear about the famous 'killer' devices that plague the Apple alternative...
You'd have to be living under a rock to be unaware of the ongoing feud between Mac and PC fanboys. Wild claims are made from either camp, such as the famous line "Macs don't get virus'!" to the PC defence "What games are you running? Oh wait, you can't!" In fact, both are very wrong. Macs can be infected with viruses and hacked as easily as any Windows system. They can also play games natively, and for the many games that don't function, the ability to install Windows via Bootcamp solves the issue. But what I'd like to address in this article is the senseless use of the term 'mackiller' and its derivatives. Why do we use it? Should we use it? Is it contradictory?
Ultimate PC Guide – 3rd Quarter 2009
The ultimate collection of PC builds have been accumulated, from $600 to $2500.
I've taken the liberty to compile a selection of PC builds for 3rd quarter this year. I plan to do the same each quarter. I hope the following will help those who seek to build a custom made performance PC without breaking the bank. All prices are in AUD.
PC Design Guide: Under $2500
Build a ridiculously powerful workhorse/gaming machine for under $2500AUD!
Building a new system can become tedious very quickly. Choosing suitable parts requires a fair amount of research, or there’s the option of buying a pre-built OEM machine. Building a PC yourself can save a fair bit of money whilst ensuring maximum performance per dollar. Below is a build for under $2500AUD which is suitable for a wide range of tasks. Games play silky smooth, video encodes quickly, and everything feels lightning fast. Prices are from StaticICE, where the first 10 results (minus outliers) are averaged for the final price. The build does not include external peripherals or an OS.
Software goes from bloatware to performance-aware
Large companies are realising the need for fast and efficient software. Have they seen the light?
It's inevitable that the progression of software will lead to software with higher overheads, commonly referred to as 'bloat'. This term is often seen as derogatory, and used to convey how 'performance hungry' a program is, i.e. memory, storage and clock cycle usage. Bloat is not always a bad thing though. As software evolves to cater for new technologies and markets, it grows. Adding functionality almost certainly increases the requirements for that piece of software. Many users look at the package as a whole and get disheartened by the sheer size, for example, Windows Vista. Is this viewpoint justified? Maybe so. Nonetheless, companies have noticed a trend towards slimmer and more efficient alternatives. For this reason, we're now seeing an active effort to reduce 'bloat' within the industry.
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