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Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - Picasa for Windows

   2.2.0 Build 28.20 (May 26, 2006)

   "Picasa.ini in all the folders..."
   
   While this may be a drawback for some, I find it very useful. The main reason is that I store my images on my server and access them by logging in from multiple machines. This way, when I install Picasa on a client machine and point it to my P: drive (which is my networked images drive), it automatically grabs all of the information and organizes my photos on the client. Saves me from having to set up all of the same settings on every computer manually.
   
   As for the software itself, I haven't found a better photo album program yet (and I've tried plenty.)

2. 
   Review - Microsoft .NET Compact Framework Redistributable

   2.0 SP1 Beta (Apr 26, 2006)

   ModderXManiac: You running Paint.NET on a handheld device? Otherwise this won't affect Paint.NET. This is different from .NET Framework 2.0. This is for mobile devices.

3. 
   Review - Windows PowerShell

   RC1 (Apr 26, 2006)

   sn0wflake: Because of the price of VS 2005 versus this (free)? Also, this is quick and easy. I'm not sure if you have done any development work, but I can tell you that most sys admins I know don't know anything about programming and sure as hell won't be able to figure out how to develop and build an application in VS if they can do it with this in a tenth of the time and without the need for a CS or Engineering background.
   
   Anyway, this is (or at least will be once it's past RC) an absolute necessity for anyone who has to maintain a number of systems (whether networked or otherwise). It's extremely powerful, very easy to learn and helps to simplify many tasks which previously had to be done by hand for anyone who couldn't write a full program to do it.

4. 
   Review - Microsoft Visual Basic

   9.0 Technology Preview (Jan 24, 2006)

   In response to guti, Microsoft has all but discontinued support for pre-.NET versions of Visual Basic. If you're looking for information about VB 6, check out VBRun (the MS Visual Basic 6.0 Resource Center): http://msdn.microsoft.com/VBRun. I played around with this version a bit and didn't really see any significant advancements over VB.NET 2005. I personally recommend VB.NET 2005 Express Edition if anyone's interested in learning VB.

5. 
   Review - Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE)

   5.0 Update 6 (Dec 2, 2005)

   It's really interesting how so many people comment on Java as a language when in reality they're discussing JavaScript and webpages that use it. Java and JavaScript are two completely different beasts. Yes, they are both based upon the Java programmng language but have very different uses. I have developed across many platforms with a variety of languages and still find Java to be one of the best, especially when developing for more than one platform. I am personally not a fan of Java applets (for many of the reasons stated, especially speed), but I (as well as people I've developed for in the past) use the J2RE to run various Java-based applications. There's a lot more to Java than most of you realize and until you get some programming experience (and learn the difference between a truly object-oriented programming language and imperative or hybrid languages such as C and C++) you have no right to attack Java as a whole.

6. Comment - Microsoft Opens Windows Source Code

   5.0 Update 6 (Jan 25, 2006 - 8:48 PM)

   First off, only developers will have any interested in the source code. From a business stand-point, looking at the source code will be worthless, even with engineers who understand the code. Basically it's designed to allow developers a closer look at how Microsoft does certain things (i.e. certain networking technologies, UI development, etc.) so that they can make their products interact with Windows better.
   
   On a side note, any company who purchased ME for their systems deserve what they got because ME was never designed for the business in mind. That's what Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 were for.

7. Comment - WinFS Examples in Action at PDC

   5.0 Update 6 (Sep 14, 2005 - 11:14 PM)

   My main concern is how to back it up. I haven't seen how the information is actually stored beyond using some sort of SQL backend. Does that mean, to back it up, you have to back up the individual files and the SQL backend?

8. Comment - Suit: Intel Sabotaged Compiler for AMD

   5.0 Update 6 (Jul 14, 2005 - 1:13 PM)

   Even if Intel is executing different instructions for its processors than AMDs (which I don't doubt considering, like others said, their developers are more familiar with Intel chipsets), it honestly shouldn't even be that big a deal. There's nothing locking software developers into using Intel's compilers for their programs. If AMD wins this part of their suit, all it will do is (maybe) convince some developers to move to a different compiler.
   
   If AMD is complaining about the compilation process, they have a few options. A) Provide Intel with the information they need to optimize their compiler for AMD chips (which Intel can actually use or just ignore). B) Make their own compiler (but they'd probably do the same thing against Intel chips that Intel is doing). C) Simply remove the AMD-specific isntructions and adopt all of Intels so that they have the same instruction sets and therefore optimize the same.
   
   Either way, as someone who does write software applications and occassional embedded apps, I've seen how different programs run under different processors, operating systems, graphics cards, etc. It happens.
   
   Is there anything saying that Intel's compiler even has to support AMD chips? I can mention quite a few compilers for handheld computers which will only compile for specific chip manufacturers (not even chip sets, I mean physical chips). At least Intel's giving the option to compile for AMD chips, even if it is sub-par compared to compilation for their own chips. They could simply cut AMD support all-together and leave developers out to dry, causing them to have to switch to a different development enviornment or simply not support AMD chips for their software. But I'm ranting, so I'll shut up now. :D

9. Comment - TigerDirect Sues Apple Over New OS

   5.0 Update 6 (Apr 29, 2005 - 2:22 AM)

   I've been involved in two patent infringement lawsuits in the past few years (as a witness) and I'm currently working with a laywer as a consultant to see whether a client's package can be patented or not, and while Tiger's timing is rather inappropriate, they technicnally have the right to do this. The real question, however, is should they. In my opinion, no. It's absurd. They're just jealous that Apple's getting in the spotlight. As I see it, though, Apple's "Tiger" and TigerDirect's "Tiger" are unique enough that no one in their right mind (no matter how stupid or naive they are) would mistake the two. As for them being knocked from Google, they were never number 1 in the first place. And they're still number 2, with Apple in a rather distant 4th. They were never bumped. Plus, search ranking should never be a criterion for suing someone. If they had worked harder to solidify themselves on a search engine, they'd never even be threatened because there'd be no way for the #2 or any other company to catch up (such as searching for "Windows". The third choice on Google (Windows to the Universe) never has a chance of moving up past Microsoft, at least not as long as they dominate the PC market as they do). Anyway, I'm ranting. But, either way, although I don't agree with everything Apple's done in the past, it doesn't give anyone else the right to abuse the law against them.

10. Comment - AOL to Release 9.0 Security Edition

    5.0 Update 6 (Nov 19, 2004 - 3:14 AM)

    Because the average AOL user is a neophyte who doesn't know what productsr are available to protect themselves. While I absolutely despise AOL, I think this is a good move on their part. Many of my clients use AOL (even after I showed them they can get DSL for nearly the same price) and I can't tell you how many hours I've spent removing viruses and spyware from their computers. This will help protect these average users against all of the current threats that they are exposed to by being online for hours each day.