Favorite Files

1. Spybot - Search & Destroy

Recent Posts

1. 
   Review - Google Chrome for Mac OS X

   18.0.1025.151 (Apr 12, 2012)

   I'm very suspicious of Google's collection and use of data. That said, I can't bring myself to drop Chrome. My set of plug-ins has rendered FF to slow for everyday use (I use it as a tool when I need those extensions). I also use Camino for certain accounts and uses, but Chrome is my primary browser. It is fast, works seamlessly with all content and makes things easy.
   
   As far as cons, I don't think bookmark management or bookmarking are as simple as they should be.
   
   In addition to the advantages mentioned above, I love the translation feature and the pop-up location bar.

2. 
   Review - PowerArchiver 2010 Free

   11.63.11 (Jul 2, 2010)

   Haven't had it for long, but, so far, it looks great. Does basic archiving very well, and has a lot more features and a better interface than anything free app that I've tried.

3. Comment - SilveOS, the Silverlight-based 'operating system' takes on Chrome OS

   11.63.11 (Aug 17, 2011 - 7:15 PM)

   This isn't something that is meant for you to run from within your browser on your current PC; it is a proof-of-concept, and demonstration of how it works. For actual use, you might use it when logging in from a hotel machine, or from a new, ultra-basic terminal machine.
   
   This sort of thing has been around since the beginning of the internet. The big difference now is that cloud storage and computing power is so much cheaper and more accessible that working entirely from remote servers may finally be workable.

4. Comment - Can Vizio snatch the Android tablet biz like it did with LCD TVs?

   11.63.11 (Aug 12, 2011 - 2:50 PM)

   It does have some great features, but $298, and only an 8-inch screen doesn't seem like that great a deal. HP's 10-incher is $399, and there are plenty of 7-inch ones aimed at the e-reader market for under $200.
   
   TV remote abilities are pretty good to have, however. I loved that in my Palm Pilot; it was even useful in waiting rooms and at electronics stores.

5. Comment - Apple left default passwords in batteries, making them vulnerable to hacks, explosion

   11.63.11 (Jul 29, 2011 - 11:52 AM)

   I wonder if Tesla changes the passwords in theirs?
   
   I'm assuming you need access to the system to run these programs, which makes this interesting, but not an immediate risk.
   
   Many more Windows machines are compromised, but most Windows hackers want to use the machines in botnets, so this wouldn't be of interest to them. I could see someone doing it just for notoriety, though. Especially if they could target all laptops across a particular company or government organization.

6. Comment - Spending on public IT cloud computing will more than triple by 2015

   11.63.11 (Jun 20, 2011 - 4:05 PM)

   Cloud Computing is certainly growing, and I think it is pretty firmly established as the next phase in the constant shifting of the underpinnings of corporate IT. Of course, it isn't just one thing; it is a mixture of SAAS, outsourced applications management, outsourced infrastructure, and usage of actual massively-shared computing systems.
   
   I'm not so sure about Apple or Facebook having a big role here (enterprise IT). Instead, the usual guys like HP and IBM are battling with new players from India to provide the consulting and management services. The infrastructure providers like Amazon and Rackspace are trying to provide consulting services as well, but they have yet to show how successful they might be.
   
   On the applications side, things haven't changed all that much. Oracle and SAP haven't been seriously challenged beyond Salesforce's partial inroads. Microsoft is worried about Google, but that is more potential challenge so far.

7. Comment - Hamster Free ZIP Archiver: Easy file compression lickety-split

   11.63.11 (Jun 17, 2011 - 12:10 PM)

   PowerArchiver and WinZip certainly have their share and are technically better. WinRar is probably stronger in the downloaded movie market, due to having 'Rar' in it's name.