Posted by the ManGeek

Tuesday, June 24th 2008 12:29 am CDT

As a long running advocate of Linux, I know I'm stepping out of my usual terrain but I think it has to be said by a competent computer user: Yes, you can run Vista.

Don't get me wrong, I still have both desktop and server installations of Linux and love it dearly. I also have a desktop that runs Vista. In fact I took it a step further and run 64-bit Vista and other than Quicken 2008 which gets shut down by DEP occasionally (Quicken refuses to look into it, by the way, thanks Intuit) the system is running great.

Compatibility? You're probably unlikely to run into a complication. Unless your application is 6-10 years old it's most likely going to work even if it wasn't designed for Vista. Guaranteed? No, but the odds are in your favor. I ran into only one compatibility issue and that is Sony who refuses to support 64-bit with their Personal Voice Recorder (an ICD-P520.) I dropped $100 for it only a few months ago. Sony, you're a bunch of jerks.

That said, it had some stability issues when it first came out but Microsoft resolved those after about 3 or 4 months. It's been pretty good for me since then. YMMV but I'd say go for it.

Trackback URL: http://www.mangeek.com/blogc/55track.html

Comments (0)

Posted by the ManGeek

Tuesday, April 8th 2008 8:28 am CDT

The latest addition to the ManGeek's computing power is a new PC. The old laptop, while quite capable, was just not satisfactory for geekdom. Anyone who's seen a ham radio operator today knows what happens when geeks get out of touch with the times. Thus I decided to push the limits on a reasonable budget and build a liquid cooled system.

Picture a radiator on your car and you have the same concept for a PC. The radiator mounts on the back and pumps coolant through tubes that are hooked up to critical components. (Processor, video card, north/south bridge...) It requires a bit of savvy and time. I needed a couple hours to do all the metal work and you have to think carefully about where each component will be installed and where plumbing will run. (Remember that the side cover has a lip on the back for the screws? Yeah. I had to get creative since I didn't.) Still after all is said and done, the system is quite quiet and the CPU runs at about 62 degrees fahrenheit.

The final specs? Intel q6600, nvidia 8800GTS 640MB, 4GB of RAM and everything on SATA. Nearly everything in Vista scores a 5.9 on the satisfaction index and it's peppy as can be. I'm running Vista 64bit as well which has actually been reasonably easy to work with. (Though I have a Logitech G15 keyboard hooked up to it and had to update the driver which was causing a blue screen.) Total cost including two 22" 2ms LCD screens? About $1750. Similarly built through an OEM? About $5k. Not a bad deal if I do say so myself.

Trackback URL: http://www.mangeek.com/blogc/54track.html

Comments (0)

Posted by the ManGeek

Wednesday, December 6th 2006 1:14 pm CST

I just read an article on MSNBC.com [www.msnbc.msn.com] that discusses with some FUD, a move by the Chinese state and manufacturing industries to attempt to corner the media market and claim control over the licensing of media technologies.

Now of course while I see the FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) in the article since it fails to identify how they will satisfy the requirements of the rest of the world, I certainly see it being something in line with the Chinese government's practices in the past.

I fail to see why it is better to adopt a pattern of isolationism and "my way or the highway" tactics. Manufacturing remains one of their only strengths and if they won't build it, I'm sure we can find someone else who will. The price may be higher but you have to play ball evenly or you won't be invited to the game.

I see no value in EVD. Nor in handing over control of media technology to the Chinese government.

Thank you for reading this post which would be likely to get me jailed in China.

Trackback URL: http://www.mangeek.com/blogc/53track.html

Comments (0)