console wars

Its pretty safe to say that sony isn't heading for a happy christmas
The ps3, although a great machine with some fantastic looking games looks like either, there wont be enough supply for the US market or if they do get there assess into gear they will see that the average gamer isnt going to cough up more than 600 for its console.
On the other hand Nintendo must be grinning. The Wii is nicely underpriced compared to the other consoles plus the DS is just kicking psp butt
Nintendo really deserves this one, they worked hard on the gamecube but because it was labelled as a kids machine it just didnt get full developer support.
Even tho some of the best adult games are on it, like Resident Evil 4 and Metroid.
The Wii, is an upgraded gamecube, with a fancy interactive controller. Nintendo could easily re release all the gamecube titles for the Wii because so many people missed out on the great games like Super Mario Strikers, Legend of Zelda, Mario Party(ies) , Mario Super Sunshine ...

I have to admit I might be bias as I have a gamecube and a ds.
I wont be getting a Wii (for now) but it would be the first on my list
I don't need a 360...I have a PC
PS3 is far too expensive...and blu ray isn't going to win the next gen dvd format wars....as again its too expensive

Go nintendo!

all in one vista leaked,,,

This was straight after the billgates version
however i am just slack in updating

Microsoft Windows Vista RTM 32Bit and 64Bit AIO DVD READ NFO WinBeta

Looks like people are working on a proper activation hack, theres no proper hack yet.the best yet will make it expire late next year..

first vista now office 2007, next the activation hacks

good news keeps rolling in

Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise-WiNK

Vista already leaked

lol
Microsoft Windows Vista Final-BillGates
nothing much in the nfo..its the final x86 (32bit) version
internal compile 6000.16386.061101-2205 EN
contains all the versions of Vista, Business, Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate

only 32bit that sux...will wait for 64 bit to install myself

Movie of the week

Kenny

A very funny Australian movie about Kenny, a portaloo plumber.

Good luck finding it.

Zenith ZDV-512 divx player update

I found the Zenith ZDV-512 is excatly same as the
LG LVC737 combo player

Same menu
Same controller

That was why I was able to run the country code unlocker for the lg on the zenith.

cheap computers on sale at staples/bureau en gros pt3

HP Pavilion a1540n $749.95

Athlon 64 x2 live 4200
2 gig ram
250 gig HDD
Lightscribe burner
Nvidia Geforce 6150 LE intergated video

17 inch xplio monitor

Pros
Fast AMD dual core CPU
2 gig ram (what kind??)
large HDD (SATA)

Cons
250 gig hdd probably IDE (find out in store)
Intergrated video
crappy 17 inch xplio lcd monitor ..(not for game playing)
$50 US mail in rebate

Conclusion
Nice price, run CPUZ to make sure this is socket AM2
Find out speed of ram if its only ddr 400 then might not be worth it
Check if HDD is sata

cheap computers on sale at staples/bureau en gros pt2

Compaq Presario sr2020nx bundle $699.95
19 inch monitor
Athlon 64 3500
DDR2 4200 512
160 gig sata HDD
Lightscribe burner
Nvidia Geforce 6150 LE

Pros
fast ram ddr2 ram 800mhz?
lightscribe burner...heard you can make fancy patterns on your dvds with these
19 inch viewsonic lcd monitor

Cons
only 512 of the ddr2 ram
intergrated video card

Conclusion
Good deal for $699.95
Check with CPUZ
to make sure it is socket 939 so when you have more cash you can upgrade the cpu ram and video card.
Make sure it is also PCI Express (PCI - E)

cheap computers on sale at staples/bureau en gros

Missed a few weeks, once because i lost everything i typed

Acer AST180E bundle
with 17 inch Acer monitor
$499.95
Sempron 3200
DDR2 512 Megs
Sata 80 Gig HDD
Geforce 6100

Pros
Basic
Cheap
Expandable when u get some $$$

Cons
Sempron 3200
only 512 megs ram
only 80 gig hdd

Conclusion
You would need to make sure this is 939 or AM2 (motherboard socket type) to make the processor upgradable in the future when you have some money
Its very cheap take in CPUZ and ask them to run it

Battle of the cheap computer bundles

ok , so the $750 range isn't exactly cheap after taxes but this weeks bureau en gros catalog has 2 computers fairly similiar in price and specs, both have positives and some -

Acer AST500e
---------------
I think i have reviewd this acer previously,maybe it was even cheaper
$729.95, $50 mail in rebate
19 in Acer LCD
Intel 805 D (dual core)
1 gig ram
intergrated ATI radeon express 200
200gb HD

Positives
-----------
Decent onboard video (eg you will be able to play some 3d games)
The 805D is a highly overclockable cpu, depending on options on the motherboard, most users buying this computer wouldnt think twice but the option may be there hidden in the bios to up the fsb values (you should search on google how to do this)
You could potentially make this run twice as quick as the computer below very easily

Negatives
----------
A little pricey
mail in rebates suck but its not too much
onboard video takes some of the ram

recommendation to come

Xplio 1100DE
---------------
$750 after $50 US mail in rebate

Intel 820 D
1 Gig ram
250 gig HDD
ATI radeon express 200
Xplio 19 inch monitor

Positives
---------
820 D is next(small) step up in the dual cores
but running at the full fsb speed unlike the 805D (why it was easily overclockable)
extra 50gigs

Negatives
----------
same as the acer
mail in rebates
onboard video takes up ram

Recommendation
------------------
For the extra 20 you may as well get the xplio, as even thou the acer 805d is potentially overclockable the motherboard may not allow it anyways.
I'm only guessing but the acer LCD is probably better then the xplio LCD response time wise (you would have to ask) lower is better they are probably both over the 10ms mark
Pity both are over $700

Game of the week

Company of Heroes.

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/927618.asp

If you like WW2 RTS such as blitzkrieg , sudden strike, codename panzers etc.. then you are going to love this game
It has some building elements, like producing reinforcements from a barracks and tanks from tankfactory so in way its not pure strategy

I'm still playing this game and it hopefully has a lot more life in it.

Worth buying
Worth downloading and checking out first for those whom don't normally play WW2 RTS games.

this weeks cheap ass computer bundle deals for the poor who want lcd screens

bureau en gros

Cisnet 3220e
$659 after rebates
samsung 17inch lcd

AMD athlon 64 3500+
1 gig ram....ddr i guess
250 gig hdd
xp home
intergrated pci express video

You would need to run cpuz on this computer to check if it 939 or am2 (which it probably is)
what speed the ram is (probably ddr400)
and what kind of motherboard and onboard video it has

cheap tho...next

Acer AST650E $649
intel p4 524
1 gig ram
ati radeon express 200 128 integrated
17 inch lcd..

this is a POS , its not 64bit or dual core
for onboard video ati radeon is probably the best...the only plus
Not recommended


HP media center edition a1520n $849.95
17inch lcd
AMD 64 x2 3800
1 gig ram
250 gig hdd
nvidia integrated video

pros
nice processor which would be upgradable later
nice ram
decent onboard video....as decent as onboard video gets...

cons
postal rebate $120 us..
still $849, top of line computer for poor people
If you cant afford this get the cisnet one


They also have a m7560n for $1199.95 only difference is the extra ram and 320 sata
sata is over rated....not worth paying extra $350 now for stuff that will only get cheaper and you can add on later

crappy 3rg gen ipod mini

I will probably have to buy a replacement battery for my mini
It now has a battery life of 3 - 4 hours
i charge it overnight and it lasts for the 45min morning trip in the bus, turn it off when reaching work , then another 35min of the 45 min return trip home.
pretty sucky
I seriously think that these batteries had defects, although they would never admit it now
I won't be buying an ipod again
next mp3 player if any would have
- takes replacable aa batteries
- takes extra flash card memory

staples weekly computer deal

Looking to buy a cheap new computer, maybe this will help
Although I don't recommend buying any factory system, because your not always sure what parts they use (i think its better to go to a local trusted store like microbytes in montreal (I don't work for them) but you can customize a computer from the ground up)

This week staples / bureau en gros has this computer on sale
Acer ast160e/f

Before buying this I would recommend downloading
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
Put it on cd and take it in store to have them run it
or take down the address and have them download it at the store

It shows you the parts and is quick and efficient
Under package/socket type if it shows socket 754 don't buy it should say 939 or AMD
(It will be much harder to upgrade later)
If it shows sempron you should know that sempron is a little slower then regular 64 bit...
Click the mainboard tab
It should say PCI Express under grahpic interface - if only AGP than add to cons section
(agp is older interface)

Pros
Cheap
64 bit AMD 3500+
160 gigs, this is standard now
19 inch monitor

Cons
-------------
only 512 megs ram, some taken by video card
part postal rebate

Things you should buy in the future when you have some more money
---------------------
at least another gig of ram
A better video card -if you play 3d games

Verdict
------------------
worth buying for the price if its socket 939

Cult movie of the week

The Red Violin - internal xvid
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120802/
A little difficult to find on the net but worth the download
This movie will make you a little more cultured
and it contains the man Samuel L Jackson!!
But thankfully no lines like
"I'm getting sick of these mother f?%%n violins at this mother F$%# auction"

vista rc1

Another version...getting very close rc1 means they have almost finished
I only see the x86 ...will wait for the x64 version

Microsoft Windows Vista Build 5600 RC1 x86 DVD - BetaInsiders

end of an aussie legend

steveo died doing what he loved best. If anyone new the risks .. well..
He was a great ambassador for Australia, over here everyone knows of him
When people asked about him it was a bit embarrasing but you can always put it down to
...he's bloody crazy
the next xxxx is for you mate
r.i.p

Movie of the week

This movie is amazing
try to find it now

IMAX Chronos HR HDTV XviD AC3

pity IMAX movies are so short and I don't have a 100ft high screen to watch it

Windows updates not working the best

I've noticed that the windows updates seem to stop coming if your OS is not properly validated
I never installed the Windows geniune advantage notifications (I choose the option to hide them) and it seems that now new updates don't appear
such as the version 2 of KB918899
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-042.mspx
Looks like i will reinstall manually

New beta of Vista released

Microsoft released an updated version of Vista to "corporate" testers and later to selected tech enthusiasts soon.

Why didn't they just release it to everyone??
sucks to be you
Microsoft Windows Vista 32Bit Build 5536 DVD - WinBeta

I'll wait for the retail x64 version to be released in nov/december..

boycott madden 2007

This happened a while ago but Madden 2007 has just been released across all platforms
EA has bought the sole rights to use NFL teams in a football game until 2010, so there can be no competitor NFL games...
What do you think that does to competition , quality and value for money, they can charge full price because no one else can even release a product....
fuckers...
just download it from any torrent site

Cult Movie download of the week

Ninja in the Dragons Den 1982 DVDRip Xvid Bloodweiser
look for this one around torrent sites
Worth watching for people who those old school beatemups

check the IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084267/

cheap computers for poor people

Ok since I pretty much said that most store bought cheap computers are crap i saw one on sale in the junk mail here in montreal for $699
Even thou its still an all in one with shared ram its cheap when in the deal which includes the monitor and printer
Xplio 1090DE Desktop Computer
pentium d 805
512meg ram (only 333)
200 gig hdd
ati onboard video card x200 ?

http://www.staples.ca/FRA/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=652712&affixedcode=WW
Good things about it
dual core 805d which can be overclocked (maybe not on this board)
onboard ati radeon (well better than intel extreme graphics, at least you could play 3d shit out of the box) will do until you get some money

Cons
only 512 meg ram 256 which is shared with video so techincally onbly 256 megs
(you would have to buy a 1 gig stick , worth upgrading straight away

Kokoda

I just finished watching Kokoda.

This is a very gritty tale of what happened in Papua New Guinea and how close the Japanese came.
If your an Australian, this is a must see, and for anyone else interested in the terrible happenings during WW2 .
There are no famous people in this movie, but I could not fault these guys one bit , they did a super job.

Be warned you'll be sickened, you'll also give a bit of a laugh( because this is how we are) and if you don't get a bit teary eyed then I dunno what to say..
IMDB only gives it 6.7/10 . http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481390/
I couldn't find anything wrong with this movie, but it is not for everyone. A ranking for this movie is not appropriate.

I try to watch any Aussie movie I can find, obviously over here its not going to be in the cinemas.

I can't understand what these guys went through but I deeply respect them for everything they did for us.

Buying a new computer? Get a fucken clue

Someone I know just purchased a new computer and even thou they didn't pay much, it wouldn't be a computer I would have recommended anyone to buy, obviously they didn't ask me.
So what happened?
Customer walks into X store looking to pay as little as possible..
yes, as cheap as possible but includes and fucken lcd monitor, and freaking photo printer.

Who are these people. They seem to be from an older gen . who don't have a fucken clue, the last time they bought a computer was like 8 fucken years ago and paid $2500 for it from compaq.
They walk into the store and say to the salesman..
where the fuck are those computers on sale, the ones I saw in your fancy junkmail.
Salesman says..
we have this p.o.s system from unknown oem supplier with some parts..Its a Intel P4 with 512 megs ram for $699 and you get a printer and an lcd fucken screen..thats right an lcd screen fir $699..meanwhile alarm bells should be ringing because thats not right, but customer says.
Thats fucken cheap, I'll take that crap.

Yes I am a little mad.
Desktop computers are now seroiusly cheap in the $499 - $699 and which normally includes somekind of printer and and lcd screen package
People, seriously, there are reasons why.

1)Windows xp home, I think OEM's have free tickets to print XP home
2) All in one motherboards, these are freaking worthless
3) Cheapest of cheap lcd screens...with like 20ms response time
4) On board video card (see 2) which uses part of the systems ram..
(So techincally you dont have 512megs ram, because the little parasite on your motherboard called the onboard video card is leeching it)


What I want to see happen..
more to come

Zenith ZDV-512 divx player

I found a region hack to play any region dvds on my zenith zdv-512
It wasn't difficult to do

Follow the not instructions and obtain the file from

http://www.area450.co.uk/lg5083hack.htm

yes, it says LG! but I guess this dvd player is just rebranded. I tried it and it works well.
I can now play region 4 PAL movies from Australia. yah!
There is also more info about this beast at
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers?DVDnameid=6752#comments

Much love for Apple

A pre release for Apples Leopard upgrade...yes I call it an upgrade ...has been released on certain sites.
I don't think I will bother getting this one like any other beta release OS (vista) .

Hope they include generic LAN, sound card drivers and proper AMD support in this version of OSX ...(lol ..as if, I hope they get an anti trust suit in their ass just like intel and skype)


------------------------------------------

APPLE MAC OSX LEOPARD V10 5 WWDC PREVIEW-BETAOSX

: OSDVDs: 1xDVD5Date: 08/2006
---------------::Information::---------------
WWDC Preview? This is a copy of the preview install demonstrated on the 7th of Aug (couple of days ago)at Worldwide Developers Conference. Final is due in spring 2007, apparently but so far itlooks pretty good.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_v10.5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Developers_Conference
---Tap into the advanced authoring toolset of DVD Studio Pro to createeverything from DVD dailies to highly interactive commercial titles ¨ now in both SD and HD. Sophisticated design tools, templates, and transitions offer unparalleled creative freedom.What do you do when you reach enlightenment? Keep going. Mac OS X Tiger was ahead of its time in 2005. But that didnÆt stop Apple engineers from moving forward. Get a glimpse of the not-so-distant future. Introducing Mac OS X Leopard.Now Built InMac OS X Leopard offers some new standard features you may have seen before.Boot CampMore and more people are buying and loving Macs. To make this choice simply irresistible, Boot Camp lets you install and run the Windows XP operating system on your Mac.Front RowEnjoy your music, photos, and videos from across the room or across the house with the Apple Remote and the Front Row media experience.Photo BoothSay cheese. Photo Booth is the easy way to take fun self portraits. Just choose an effect, pick a backdrop, and mug for the camera. From there, you can share via friendly integration with iChat and iPhoto.
-----------::Website::-----------http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/

Only podcast to listen 2

I really enjoy listening to Dr Karl's podcast every friday morning here in canada

http://abc.net.au/science/k2/default.htm

He gets a little off track when explaining some reasoning but makes it even more enjoyable
And its good to see when he does not know he says it!

I used to listen to triple j in australia and I still can do so somewhat over here with the podcasts on triple j!!!

One of the recent dr karl podcasts has tim flannery on the show and they talk about whats happening to our earth from the over use of fossil fuels and answer listeners questions of course
Makes me want to read his book
the weather makers
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0871139359/sr=8-1/qid=1155604274/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2210910-3365461?ie=UTF8

Looks like one i will have to read

Fall TVshow most looking forward to

This fall tv season looks like it will be packed with plenty of TV to watch
Looks like tvtad http://www.tvtad.net/
will be getting a workout

Lost
Stargate Atlantis - This season has already started...
House
Prison Break..maybe watch this my interest has waned for this show it really burnt me when they made the first attempt and got stopped by the new contruction on the pipe...
Medium

New TV shows
Heroes - I saw the leaked pilot from the internet..nice
The Nine - also leaked, downloaded , but have not seen this one yet

bugs and personal electronic security

Its not new for Microsoft to release a large number of updates for their products.
Lets face it, no company creating software is going to produce something bug free .
The bigger applications get and the more we reuse code, the more likely it is for the bugs to be there, and to be found.
Microsoft create or own so many applications( far more than apple or oracle )that these updates look large but are updating several core programs, such as
The core Operating system
Office
Microsoft Defender(only updates)(MS really screwed this program, it used to be good)
IE (which we all know by now is part of windows)
Windows Media player (which in some part is also built into windows)

Secure your internet connection
Everyone who owns a computer (yes even mac users) should own a router.
By owning a router with Network Address Translation you basically remove the chance of hackers getting to your computer from outside.

If possible, also run a software firewall, even if it is only the Windows Firewall.

Run antivirus of some kind. The best free one is AVG free edition.
If you are a student check if your university gives you a free antivirus application

Personal Electronic Security
If you have a blog or post on myspace or classmates.com ...which are all really blogs..
(to blog is a term used to describe regularly updating a website? with personal? information.
Now special websites , such as blogger.com exist which make it very easy to blog)
Make sure you do not post any personal information on these sites which can lead someone to find out where you live. Eg your last name and suburb/city name /area.
Don't post your phone number, don't post your email address or post one that you don't care about like hotmail.

Only chat to people you know personally, block anyone who trys to add /chat to you at random.

prints from digital images

I think anyone who has paid over $100 for a photo printer is crazy.
There are the hidden costs of the paper and especially the ink in home digital printing which far outway getting them printed either through a online vendor or taking a cd with the photos to a loblaws/maxi/metro. for around $19 cents a image.

I would never ever get my photos printed at walmart since it is so heavily used they often do not replace the ink or whatever they use until it is quite noticable plus the lineups for walmart is crazy...

Make sure you burn your images to be printed on a dvd-rw don't give them a flash card as you don't want it to get damaged. Better yet use a local online printer where you can upload your images and have them deliver to your local supermarket. I did this with metro's metro.ca printer(maybe photolab like loblaw?) and was very impressed.

For printing 4x6 images my kodak 2 megapixel dc280 is just fine.
The price of digital cameras and flash cards has gone way down size i bought my camera, it will be awhile until i can afford a nicer new digital slr.

Home DVD divx players

I've recently been looking around for a combo vcr/dvd divx player
I was looking for the Zenith ZDV-512 which they normally have at futureshop but are currently on backorder.
I have one of these zdv-512 already and found it to be very good, with long filename support unlike the philips 642 which i also have.
The zdv-512 is also around $90 before tax which makes it the cheapest combo with divx...the closest was an LG combo for aroound $119 which I might have to get.

Unfortunately I require a combo and not just the dvd player. If it were only the divx player then I would have probably bought the yahoo divx player from walmart for around $49, Looks somewhat cool and gets decent reviews for the price
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=5743&Search=Search&#comments
a friend has this and says it plays divx and xvids ok. I saw it got %30 something percent in a video play test.

Walmart also have the trusty philips 642 for $70 which is a bargin.
mpeg4 certainly is mainstream now, however I suspect most people don't even use the divx side or just buy the cheapest standalone non divx dvd players.

Mac unveils a few spots of Leopard

I am sure this post will be flamed..if anyone acutally reads blogs
Firstly let me say I am not a fan of Apple , but I do work with them(ppc mac mini) and I have a special relation with my pos Ipod mini (I'll keep those complaints for another post)

I am a little wary when Apple bring on the fan fare of their new OS , Leopard.
Leopard looks alot like Tiger but with a few new features. eg timemachine ichat, mail 3...weren't those last 2 in tiger??.... and other improvements.
These really only look like addons and maybe they should call leopard a service pack....?
Just like the Office programs on Windows it looks like Apple joins the $$$ club and make you pay for upgrades which really should be free.

Speaking of free..
For all the Mac people that read and create blogs, I have some questions for you
Why isn't OSX free ? as it is based on Freebsd http://www.freebsd.org/
which is under its own BSD license (similar to GPL??..i guess not)
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php

In either case whether it be free or not apple don't have a say in what is happening underground
take for example the most informative website
http://www.osx86project.org/
Since apple started using x86 processors the x86 version of osx has been floating around, fully installable on a regular pc.
I had installed it under Vmware for the heck of it, since I had no need for osx i have removed it .
I am sure Apple know this is happening as they work to censor that site .
I am also sure the only way for Mac to fullfill their dream? of being the most prelevant OS is to release their OS as a standalone product. I suspect this will be the case, maybe not this year but certainly next a retail version of OSX will be released which includes generic drivers for hardware. Because at this stage the only thing which is stopping the common use of hackintosh (osx on x86) is the lack of generic drivers for things like sound and network.


Apple welcome to Intel. The world of piracy(and powerpc software wasn't?lol) and viruses.
And to rub it in even further Apple themselves showed that osx runs much better on intel, which ends the long debate of which OS/Processors ran apps quicker..mac or clone pcs...
**note to self ..gamecubes have ppc**

i will add some more biased information later

Games Update

What games am I playing atm?
Mario Party 7 - Gamecube -very fun family game
Battlefield 2 - only play every now and then when I have time and my son is not around
Civilization 4 - I' ve had this game for a while and recently came back to it...a good time waster.
Hard Truck Apocalypse - a fun a different game, a bit like autoduel but more based on transportation, plus i haven't found a casino in this ;)

Back

It took a while...actually I wasn't trying very hard but I found my blog...lol
will i didn't make through on my commitment of updating the blog twice weekly
one reason was I left the job I started this at
and have been happily employeed since then

what made me look again for this blog was my brother started a blog about wines
http://theredstuff.blogspot.com/

one nice sign of coming back is there is spam in the feedback..nice to see