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1. 
   Review - Winamp 5 Full

   5.551 (Mar 12, 2009)

   I've used Winamp for years and like it. This release has issues though. The installer crashed three times as I worked with it. I was able to get the program installed in the end by removing some components from a custom install. I've been using Winamp since yesterday, and it seems stable now. Still, a crashing installer is enough to discourage all but the most determined users.

2. 
   Review - Skype for Windows

   4.0.0.155 Beta (Jul 30, 2008)

   The Skype developers are headed in the wrong direction with their new interface and "feature" set. I've used Skype for six years and have never been so disappointed with a beta or interface. Keyboard support is broken, the main window won't size properly, and the chat window is too busy and clunky. As a side benefit, calls seem to drop more often, and voice quality is choppy. I'm uninstalling it, and they'll have to work to convince me that they understand what users want from a new Skype. This isn't the program I know and love anymore.

3. 
   Review - Easy CD-DA Extractor

   10.5.1 (Aug 31, 2007)

   This is a program that produces crisp, clean sound quality in all of its supported formats. It also seems to handle CDs with scratches better than CDex. It's perfect for a family with several different media devices because it can handle multipe formats well. The only drawback is that it's interface takes some getting used to because setting up file naming requires you to learn how to use its syntax. It's got a detailed help file though, so it's doable.

4. 
   Review - ICEOWS

   4.20b (Dec 3, 2006)

   I have used this program for 3 years now. Why? Because it does its job reliably and without fuss. It's sort of like a desk chair... You use it and have come to take for granted that it will be comfortable and hold your weight every time you use it. Despite the harsh review below mine, this piece of software is worth looking at if you want a convenient tool that has no learning curve and that runs without bogging down your computer. Other programs have more bells and whistles, but they usually end up making the process of working with files slower and/or more difficult. Finally, if you are blind and use a screenreader, this program is easy to navigate with speech. It has some nice keyboard support as well.

5. 
   Review - Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows XP

   7.0 Final (Oct 19, 2006)

   IE is sort of like vanilla ice cream. It's fine if you like vanilla, and it does allow people to surf the web. This is a fairly major upgrade, but that doesn't mean it's worth daily use. For me, a browser must meet 2 requirements. It must be highly responsive, and it must operate without nagging me about things like downloading files. The information bar in IE drives me to distraction, and the fishing filter complains about so many legitimate sites that it's practically worthless. Start up time with IE 7 is very slow, and the browser doesn't handle having more than 4 tabs open very well. So if you're a computer novice or are clueless about the internet, I suppose IE will keep you mostly safe. For anyone who has real work to do online, Firefox or Opera are a much better, more flexible choice.

6. Comment - Verizon wins $33M in no-show cybersquatting case

   7.0 Final (Dec 29, 2008 - 6:15 PM)

   This is one time I'm glad a company has won a big lawsuit. OnlineNIC seems to be trying to confuse people and could potentially help spammers and crackers trick people into visiting doctored sites by making it look like they're part of Verizon. You might argue that people should pay attention and should no better. The truth is that we have millions of people online who think that Google or Yahoo are what you go to when you use the internet. My parents still think they have to load the Google page before typing in a new web address.

7. Comment - Psystar throws the 'kitchen sink' defense at Apple

   7.0 Final (Dec 25, 2008 - 9:38 PM)

   This could be an interesting court battle. Someone will pressure them to settle though because this case might set a precedent that certain corporations might not appreciate. That's how I see it anyhow. The really good cases never make it to court because big business sees a ruling as a possible threat to its current practices. They'd rather pay a cash settlement than let a judge actually pass down a ruling.

8. Comment - CES Countdown #11: Are the desktop PC's days waning?

   7.0 Final (Dec 23, 2008 - 7:53 PM)

   Surely this is something the major computer makers could see coming for the last 2 years or so? It has been widely discussed in tech circles on blogs, forums, and even in technology magazines. It sounds like the CEO at AMD doesn't have the ability to see around the corner, to imagine how things will be a year from now and up to five years from now. Seagate has gotten caught up in the "bigger is better" syndrome and hasn't done much to stay flexible with the changing market. I know it's hard to anticipate totally new technology, but the laptop and handheld mobile computers have been gaining steam to the point that laptops have hit the early majority of the marketing curve. If you haven't adapted to something by this stage in the game, you have to go into defense mode. It's tough to make sound decisions and creative moves once you're fighting just to stay alive. Yahoo could give AMD some sympathy here.
   
   Meanwhile, I'll continue enjoying the freedom and flexibility of using a laptop as my primary computer. When we replace our office computers in March, they will be laptops so I won't be stuck sitting at our desk to enter data. I can take my work to our front porch and get some sun. We'll have more storage space once we ditch our bulky towers, and I won't have to lean way over every time I want to hook up a USB device. :D

9. Comment - CES Countdown #12: Has streaming media already rendered discs obsolete?

   7.0 Final (Dec 22, 2008 - 4:44 PM)

   Good point. I'd rather pay more to improve capacity over time than to stick with short-term band-aids just so I can get cheap service. It makes sense that we'll have to spend money, lots of money collectively, to make sure the entire country has consistent, reliable coverage. It also makes sense that those who use more bandwidth should pay more for it.
   
   I would like to find a way to widen the coverage area for broadband so that it becomes an option for anyone who chooses to subscribe. Ideally, I'd like to see a time when geography isn't a barrier. From what I've read, the internet backbone is still outpacing broadband growth right now. That's a good thing, and it seems to be continuing to grow.
   
   On the flip side, Comcast is a player in the streaming video game. They are actively encouraging it. So customers aren't just doing something crazy on their own. I think ISPs need to post their bandwidth caps and other limitations prominently and in plain language so that customers understand what is expected of them. I also think they need to be clear about the charges they require from people who go over the limit. This will help customers to make informed decisions and will foster a partnership between ISPs and their customers. Since Comcast is a proponent of streaming video technology, I think this issue has to be resolved in an amicable way. That includes solving the bandwidth debate.

10. Comment - CES Countdown #12: Has streaming media already rendered discs obsolete?

    7.0 Final (Dec 22, 2008 - 4:17 PM)

    I agree. This makes me think of the Edsel. It was a great car, but nobody wanted it. I don't think the Blu-ray proponents understand a hefty part of their market... people who aren't eager to jump at new gadgets just because they're new. Their marketing strategy is aimed squarely at people who actually know and care what video resolution numbers mean. They are oblivious to the people who make most of the buying decisions in households across America and Europe.
    
    I think many of us have invested money in a DVD player and don't see a major advantage in scrapping a player that works fine to buy a new player to play a new type of media that mostly works like what we have now. I already had to buy a new DVD player last winter to play newer DVDs that the MPAA has encrypted. I got movies for Christmas that wouldn't play on an older machine. I had to get rid of my three-year-old player, and it still worked. That really annoyed me. I'm definitely not ready to shell out more cash for a new player because the picture is better.
    
    Telling me about the improved resolution rates leaves me feeling unimpressed. I'm content with the picture and sound as they are now, and I'm pretty sure I'd have to buy better speakers to actually hear the new sound quality enhancements if I did buy a Blu-ray player. So that's even more money to spend on something I don't think I want.
    
    I'm more likely to spend extra cash on something I don't have at all. I'm far more interested in a DVR device right now and devices that can stream movies to my TV. Then I don't have to go to the store and buy a movie when I discover that I'm in the mood for a comedy. I can sit at home where it's warm and browse around until I find something interesting. I can click on it, pop some popcorn, and watch the movie. Now that's something I can get more excited about. :) It's also something I understand without any boring numbers and terminology.