?Why Free Software usability tends to suck??
I find this article very helpful and i sympathize with the dillemma. I'll swallow my hurtful words next time i start bitching about GUI interfaces.
Unfortunately there isn't much time for me to convert over from my Mandrake KDE over to Fedora's Gnome, because my darling of a laptop, has finally died.
Farewell my dear Presario 700. May you now join your others in the Compaq hell that you came from hopefully to be resurrected in a better, faster, less hotter, less heavy model.
On another note, if any of you dude out there have a functional laptop out there that you don't use anymore. How about passing one along this way?
Cheers
"I suddenly feel a part of my soul is missing.."
Sunday, April 04, 2004
The Lazerus Effect:
Volume 1 : The hardware
The Lazerus is a term which describes the raising of the dead. With the advent of faster games and steeper OS requirements, people have always had the notion that getting the latest OS with the latest hardware specs was the right or kiasu(chinese term for trying to be elite) thing to do. This of course is untrue from my point of view. My computers solely consists of hand-me-downs. To them, these machines are obsolete, "dead". These machines are still functioning and are performing well.
I'll approach this topic in clear steps from a bottom-up approach starting with the hardware. Make sure that each component of a system unit (the box). Use this term, yes it means the box, i hate it when people keeps on saying that their CPU's aren't working. At this point it would actually help to have spare components around or another computer around to verify your findings.
The mobo (motherboard) is the part of the "trinity" of main hardware that should work. The others are RAM and CPU. Usually it's hard to comeby with replacement components, depending on the age of the component.
Make sure that the power supply is working, then make sure that the PC speakers are plugged in to the mobo. If there are the signature beeps, those are actually good signs that your mobo is still functioning. Take note that if nothing happens and the power supply smells like burnt electronics (trust me you'll know it when you smell it) turn off the power.
Ample amount of RAM can compensate for the lack in processing power. Check that all the RAM slots are working. Then proceed with the PCI peripherals like sound cards and network cards.
Install the IDE devices and make sure that the data ribbons are properly connnected, otherwise your bios is not gonna see any devices. This is an issue with old hardware that don't have the data ribbons labelled.
Remember that your system may not be much and may feel dodgy considering that you got some parts for free or at dirt cheap prices. But the sum is greater than its parts. The end goal is a system that meets your computing requirements.
Next: OS choices, Windows or Linux?
Volume 1 : The hardware
The Lazerus is a term which describes the raising of the dead. With the advent of faster games and steeper OS requirements, people have always had the notion that getting the latest OS with the latest hardware specs was the right or kiasu(chinese term for trying to be elite) thing to do. This of course is untrue from my point of view. My computers solely consists of hand-me-downs. To them, these machines are obsolete, "dead". These machines are still functioning and are performing well.
I'll approach this topic in clear steps from a bottom-up approach starting with the hardware. Make sure that each component of a system unit (the box). Use this term, yes it means the box, i hate it when people keeps on saying that their CPU's aren't working. At this point it would actually help to have spare components around or another computer around to verify your findings.
The mobo (motherboard) is the part of the "trinity" of main hardware that should work. The others are RAM and CPU. Usually it's hard to comeby with replacement components, depending on the age of the component.
Make sure that the power supply is working, then make sure that the PC speakers are plugged in to the mobo. If there are the signature beeps, those are actually good signs that your mobo is still functioning. Take note that if nothing happens and the power supply smells like burnt electronics (trust me you'll know it when you smell it) turn off the power.
Ample amount of RAM can compensate for the lack in processing power. Check that all the RAM slots are working. Then proceed with the PCI peripherals like sound cards and network cards.
Install the IDE devices and make sure that the data ribbons are properly connnected, otherwise your bios is not gonna see any devices. This is an issue with old hardware that don't have the data ribbons labelled.
Remember that your system may not be much and may feel dodgy considering that you got some parts for free or at dirt cheap prices. But the sum is greater than its parts. The end goal is a system that meets your computing requirements.
Next: OS choices, Windows or Linux?
Monday, March 29, 2004
PC Gemilang isn?t what its all hyped out to be.
Here is an attachment for a dell site for their dimension 2400. Going for USD 399(RM1516).
It has an Intel Celerom 2.4Ghz (400MHz FSB), 17 inch monitor , 40GB ATA/100 Hard drive, 128MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (Performs at 266MHz for 400FSB systems). It comes with a 48x CD burner with Sonic RecordNow. It comes typical with a one year warranty from dell (which is better than what Pikom could offer) and also free delivery.
I think because of the big brand, and it?s reputation for good after sales service, it makes the purchase of PC Gemilang questionable. It also solves the problem of using the Win XP with Malay and the questionable sum offered by Microsoft for an upgrade to the English version. ?17 inch monitor? also another one. I guess it all depends on whether people are penny-wise or pound-foolish in terms of the whole package.
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_desktop5?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
Cheers
Here is an attachment for a dell site for their dimension 2400. Going for USD 399(RM1516).
It has an Intel Celerom 2.4Ghz (400MHz FSB), 17 inch monitor , 40GB ATA/100 Hard drive, 128MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (Performs at 266MHz for 400FSB systems). It comes with a 48x CD burner with Sonic RecordNow. It comes typical with a one year warranty from dell (which is better than what Pikom could offer) and also free delivery.
I think because of the big brand, and it?s reputation for good after sales service, it makes the purchase of PC Gemilang questionable. It also solves the problem of using the Win XP with Malay and the questionable sum offered by Microsoft for an upgrade to the English version. ?17 inch monitor? also another one. I guess it all depends on whether people are penny-wise or pound-foolish in terms of the whole package.
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/featured_desktop5?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
Cheers
Sunday, January 11, 2004
I've gotten my groove back!!!
It's been a while since i've been so pumped at training. i've met somebody that has further impressed me to continue improving myself. Sparred twice with a brown belter that has everything, same height, faster than me, has more reach than me, and he's younger. So much more potential, i'm jealous.
In the first match which was a tie, he was worned out by weight class (i'm 94 and he's 60+?), and i was keeping my distance with my kicks that weren't scoring but he was still blocking nonetheless. 2-all, i won because he jogai-ed (left the court). Ok difference of 1 foul. But the whole process, the idea that this person had the potential to be better, boiled my blood. Just when "Yame!" was called (stop the fight), he had fallen... with an open oppertunity to finish off. The at that instant i saw myself, in third person.
He will get better and so will I. I look forward to the next sparring meet.
Thought of the moment:
"It's been a damn long time since i blogged, Happy New Year you people"
It's been a while since i've been so pumped at training. i've met somebody that has further impressed me to continue improving myself. Sparred twice with a brown belter that has everything, same height, faster than me, has more reach than me, and he's younger. So much more potential, i'm jealous.
In the first match which was a tie, he was worned out by weight class (i'm 94 and he's 60+?), and i was keeping my distance with my kicks that weren't scoring but he was still blocking nonetheless. 2-all, i won because he jogai-ed (left the court). Ok difference of 1 foul. But the whole process, the idea that this person had the potential to be better, boiled my blood. Just when "Yame!" was called (stop the fight), he had fallen... with an open oppertunity to finish off. The at that instant i saw myself, in third person.
He will get better and so will I. I look forward to the next sparring meet.
Thought of the moment:
"It's been a damn long time since i blogged, Happy New Year you people"
Friday, October 24, 2003
Is this Iraq?
I lay down to sleep, but i can't. The night is dark and quiet. A long pause of silence and again interrupted with a sound or a bang. I can't take this much longer. It has been 3 days in a row, day or night there are explosions, sometimes in a continous fashion and sometimes really rapidly like the that of an MP5.
I hope this doesn't last long. It goes to show that despite the legislation and the security forces, we are all here to suffer. At this very moment as the end draws near (hopefully), there are still sounds of explosions, some just above my home and some in the distance.
This is Foong Hoh Yun reporting for GNN, on Deepavali in Malaysia.
Thought of the moment:
"Don't people ever get bored of burning away their money?"
I lay down to sleep, but i can't. The night is dark and quiet. A long pause of silence and again interrupted with a sound or a bang. I can't take this much longer. It has been 3 days in a row, day or night there are explosions, sometimes in a continous fashion and sometimes really rapidly like the that of an MP5.
I hope this doesn't last long. It goes to show that despite the legislation and the security forces, we are all here to suffer. At this very moment as the end draws near (hopefully), there are still sounds of explosions, some just above my home and some in the distance.
This is Foong Hoh Yun reporting for GNN, on Deepavali in Malaysia.
Thought of the moment:
"Don't people ever get bored of burning away their money?"
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
What the other people think about Australia
These questions about Australia were posted on an Australian Tourism
Website and obviously the answers came from a real Australian.
1. Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on
TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them
die.
2. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking
3. Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad
tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water...
4. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So its true what they say about Swedes.
5. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to
contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)
A: Let's not touch this one.
6. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a
list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?
7. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia?
(USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the pacific which does
not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings
Cross. Come naked.
8. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and
we'll send the rest of the directions.
9. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
10. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which
is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in
Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
11. Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)
A: No, WE don't stink.
12. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can
you tell me where I can sell it in Australia (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
13. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?
14. Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population
is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
15. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)
A: Only at Christmas.
17. Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year
round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter gatherers. Milk is
illegal.
18. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense
rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All
Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make
good pets.
19. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but Iforget
its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum
trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare
them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
21. Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the
girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
22. Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.
These questions about Australia were posted on an Australian Tourism
Website and obviously the answers came from a real Australian.
1. Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on
TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them
die.
2. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking
3. Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad
tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water...
4. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So its true what they say about Swedes.
5. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to
contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)
A: Let's not touch this one.
6. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a
list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?
7. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia?
(USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the pacific which does
not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings
Cross. Come naked.
8. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and
we'll send the rest of the directions.
9. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
10. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which
is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in
Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
11. Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)
A: No, WE don't stink.
12. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can
you tell me where I can sell it in Australia (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
13. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?
14. Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population
is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
15. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)
A: Only at Christmas.
17. Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year
round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter gatherers. Milk is
illegal.
18. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense
rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All
Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make
good pets.
19. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but Iforget
its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum
trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare
them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
21. Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the
girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
22. Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.
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