Have Laptop Will Travel

Windows Validation error irks PC users

Originally posted on August 28, 2007 @ 7:27 pm

One of my biggest beefs about the last two generations of the Windows operating system is the very annoying Windows Genuine Advantage carousel ride that all users have to go through periodically. It is irritating that a person who has legitimately bought a piece of software will regularly have to be made to feel like a criminal just to assuage the mind of Microsoft that they are not being duped. So much for giving the customer the best experience possible.

Last August 24, the Windows Genuine Advantage gave Microsoft a big headache when an error in processing validations erroneously tagged legitimate Windows owners as using pirated software. Microsoft’s help line were inundated with calls from irate customers and forums were flooded with messages that came short of calling for a lynch mob in front of the Microsoft Campus.

Microsoft claimed that the problem was immediately fixed and that only 12,000 systems were affected by the problem. But whether it is 12,000 or 12,000,000, the fact still remains that Windows Genuine Advantage sucks. Microsoft has to rethink of a better, more customer friendly way of proving the legitimacy of its software — or even scrapping that process altogether. It’s not like Microsoft is going bankrupt, right?

AMD making its presence felt in the laptop market

Originally posted on July 26, 2007 @ 10:57 pm

Here’s something that not many people know about me — I am an AMD supporter. I’ve had four computers pass through my hands in the last ten years. Only my first computer was an Intel (a “fast” Pentium 800MMX with 32mb of RAM!), all of my succeeding desktops have been AMD since then. What I love about AMD is quite simple, it costs so much less compared to an Intel processor even though speed could be considered as more or less just the same. I see no reason why I should pay more just for a brand.

Now, here’s the deal. My first laptop, which I bought almost two years ago, has an Intel processor. ‘What happened?’ you might say. Well, the reason is quite simple, AMD chipped laptops are hard to come by. For some reason Intel has gained a big market share in the laptop market and AMD is still playing catch up. As an avowed AMD supporter, this is not a good situation because it limits my ability to choose the laptop that I want.

I have to say that the present situation seems to have addressed this problem. More and more laptops are carrying AMD processors and this is driving down the price of laptops in the market. With AMD’s acquisition of ATI, I foresee more exposure for AMD in the portables market.

Dell releases The Beast

Originally posted on October 1, 2007 @ 11:51 pm

There seems to be no lull in the innovations that laptop manufacturers are putting in gaming laptops. With the gaming laptop sector the hottest in the laptop market, it’s a wonder they haven’t yet found out of a way to include an espresso machine attachment to laptops.

Dell is really upping the ante with its new gaming laptop offering. A week ago Dell released the XPS m1730 notebook — or as its design team calls it, The Beast. And it really is one hell of a gaming monster. the notebook contains an Ageia PhysX physics chip, which I think is the first notebook to have one, as well as a Game Panel LCD.

The Beast will retail starting at $2,999, which means you need to have very deep pockets or a very generous girlfriend or parents in order to get one of these babies. The other specifications of the new notebook include a Core 2 Duo T7500, a 256mb Nvidia GeForce Go 8700M GT GPU processor, 200 GB 7200 RPM hard drive, and the aforementioned GameLCD display — which is basically a secondary display located on top of the backlit keyboard. This panel will show different game statistics that the most hardcore of gamers will need. It will also possess so many connectivity options, it would look like a cilia-equipped machine if you decide to use every single one of them.

This is the type of notebook that I can only hope to own in my most feverish dreams. For those who can afford it, I salute and envy you.

Bioshock to have two sequels

Originally posted on September 12, 2007 @ 5:55 pm

I haven’t even bought the video card I was eyeing in order to finally play Bioshock on my PC yet but I already have to anticipate two more sequels to the hit game.

According to Bioshock maker Take Two Interactive, the company is already considering “bi-annual” titles that will continue the Bioshock story.

The company is not afraid that they may dilute the market too much with its franchise because of the prolific scheduling. According to Strauss Zelnick, Take Two chairman, the two-year period is just right. He cited Grand Theft Auto, a franchise that has been following roughly the same schedule but has maintained its popularity, as a great example of how it can really work. Zelnick feels that Bioshock is turning out to have what it takes to be another important gaming franchise and they want to maximize its chances of becoming one.

Musical chairs with audio formats

Originally posted on August 8, 2007 @ 7:31 pm

I finished ripping about twenty CDs from my collection last night. That means I’ve still got, oh, 968 more titles to go before I finish this project.

I used to rip some of my CDs to an MP3 format, at around 192kbps. At that time, that setting suited my purposes of having a decent enough sound quality without the file getting too large. With the arrival of the iPod, I started ripping from between 256 to 320 kbps. I still used the MP3 format but there was a time I actually used Apple’s AAC format just to try it and because I knew it had a smaller file imprint. That experiment didn’t last long because AAC may be great if you only have Apple compatible machines. Put the file in an environment where “Apple” means a kind of fruit and you’re left with unplayable music files. I’d rather go for the more universally accepted format.

With this present batch of CDs though I am tinkering with a lossless format, specifically FLAC. I’m doing this for three reasons. First, I installed Rockbox on my iPod, which means I can now play practically any format. It’s liberating to know that you can dump OGG VORBIS, FLAC or even Monkey Audio into your Rockbox’ed player and be confident that it will work. My second reason for using Flac is that I’m looking at really archiving my collection for easy access and to protect my CDs from unnecessary scratches. If I want to play something from my collection, I’ll just get the FLAC file with no worries at all. Third reason? Well, with storage capacities at its largest and most affordable, it’s not a problem consuming such a large space for my music files.

What about you guys? What kind music formats do you use when ripping your CDs?