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I got an e-mail from Matchstick a few weeks ago to fill out a survey. So, like a good blogger, I filled out every question and promptly discovered that I was outside of their required age group. They also had a bunch of grammar and spelling errors in their form that I pointed out were incorrect and sent them a nasty note telling them off. If you're going to send out a survey and want bloggers to chat about products, at least use a spell checker! I think I was also a little miffed that they asked all kinds of questions about my music listening consumption and then said I was too old.

Then, to my surprise, they called me last week to tell me that I have been confirmed and approved as a recipient of one of their blogger giveaways. Of course, the deal is, you need to blog about the product they send you. And, as a nice twist, they did specify that the blogging was not a "suck up job". If the product sucks, say so. I found that a nice change.

The giveaway this time is a Microsoft Zune. So, over the next while (when I receive said Zune) I will be chattering about how it rules or how it sucks. I am a long time iPod user and should be able to compare them fairly. The iPod rules but there are little things here and there that frustrate me.

Will the Zune be a better solution? Who knows. We'll find out.

[Crossposted from ShanesWorld.ca]

Technorati Tags: matchstick, zune, blogging, products

What is the coolest part about this whole thing - the new list of features and cross platform compatibility, the most important one being the native Mac OS X native support. No more NeoOffice for you Apple lovers out there.

I am going to down this today and start checking it out. Who is with me?

According to Yahoo Tech, border guards can search your computer files when you enter the United States.

Following in the wake of February's news that customs agents were seizing electronics and making copies of all the files on cell phones and laptop hard drives, a federal appeals court has ruled on the legality of such searches. The result: Yeah, customs can do whatever it wants to your computer when you come across the border, without a warrant, and without cause.

The ruling extends to all electronics: In addition to laptops, feds can seize phone records and even digital pictures on your camera as they hunt for evidence. The ruling was unanimous among the three appellate judges.

What does this mean for you? I have a real problem with this kind of action but I also believe that a country has the right to do what it wants to those who wish to enter it. It may not seem like the best solution for travelers but, hey, what are we going to do?

Technorati Tags: border, united states, computer, files, search

I saw this on Digg today. Need we say more?

Tech Yahoo has reported that Windows XP is officially on the way out. Microsoft started talking about this last year but, at the time, Microsoft's details were a little sketchy as what. As of June 30th, 2008, you won't be able to buy XP any more.

Will Windows XP really no longer be on sale after June 30? Sorry for the double negative, but no. All this means is that Microsoft will stop selling the OS. Finding a computer with XP preinstalled will likely be very difficult, as well. However, you'll still be able to find copies for the foreseeable future, and likely the unforeseeable one, too. See for yourself: You can find copies of just about any Microsoft product, including ancient versions of Windows and even MS-DOS, by simply searching online. But hang on to your current copy of Windows XP. You may need it down the road if you don't want to move to Vista.

Will I be forced to upgrade to Vista soon? No. But it will get harder and harder not to, especially since new software and peripherals are likely to stop working with XP. That could take years.

Will my XP machine stop working in June? No, but Microsoft will stop releasing non-security software updates to the masses on April 14, 2009. But let's be clear: XP will continue to "work" even after this point.

So, why should you care? With everything that has been going on in regards to the lackluster performance for Windows Vista or the incompatibilites there are a few realities that, I think, computer users should consider.

Windows XP Is Old

The operating system was released in October of 2001. Vista is really new and does thing a lot better. Sure, Vista may look different to do things you don't like but, come on, the operating system isn't that bad. It won't cause you to eat your pets, or suddenly decide you need to purchase a new car. It's an operating system, go crying out loud! It lets you send e-mail and work on some kind of documents you need to send to your accountant. I don't mean to sound harsh, but - sheesh - if your current system could benefit from a new operating system either pony up the dough or download Ubuntu and really have your work cut out for you learning a new OS.

Old Hardware? Get New Stuff

Some people will hate me for saying this but, compared to the price of computer hardware back in 2001 - the stuff is so incredibly cheap, save up and buy some new stuff. But also buy something you can upgrade in a couple of years. The trouble with hardware that is even a few years old, it can't upgrade that easily and may cause more headaches than it is worth. Some guy I know (a little, anyway) just spend a few hundred bucks repairing his computer from 2002. He was lucky I didn't hear about it until after he wasted his money. That guy needed a kick in the hard drive.

Change Platforms

There are those of you out there that are waiting to flip to Windows Vista at the very last second. The problem is, that last second has come and gone and not many people realize it. If you are that hung up on a new operating system, why not consider changing platforms? There are Apple iMacs and machines that welcome the use of Linux (choose your flavour later).

The point I am trying to make is to get educated and don't just "not update" because you fear the future. Vista will get the bugs fixed (although, I have used Vista for a while and it hasn't given me any grief at all) and it will become the main operating system of the Windows line - face it, it will happen. But take the time to find out really what is going on with the Vista issues and, maybe, think about another option. I would go the Linux route, myself, but if you are a Mac person, they have some good stuff too.

Every computer or software maker makes the odd mistake - forgive and forget and pick what you are used to and what it is that you like. Get off the fence and get into the 21st century.

Technorati Tags: windows, vista, xp, apple, mac, linux, ubuntu

This will purely be for my benefit but you can't ever hate XKCD. I have an eeePC and this comic is very tempting to try but without the import of a soul.

Technorati Tags: eeepc, xkdc, comic, computer love

It never fails.  If I am at the office late and I am trying to get out of here my mom calls wanting help with her wireless connection.  I don’t mind my mom calling with her computer requests they just never seem to happen when I am:

1. Bored.
2. Lacking something to do.
3. Wishing I had snack food when all I have is celery and peanut butter.  Oh, and raisins.

But, what can you do when your mom calls – you have to take the call because, if you don’t – boom – you’re never getting invited for free dinner again.

Usually, troubleshooting wireless issues are simple because there are only a few things that could be wrong.  This is the first part of a multi-part series on wireless connectivity.  I will start with some general tips and get into the nitty gritty next time.

Did You Turn It On?  What About The Router?

This is the embarrassing thing to check but checking to see if your wireless connection is even powered up is the first thing to look at.  There are, of course, two things to look at.

1. The power on your wireless router.
2. The power on your computer’s wireless connection.  (This may be a built in wireless card, or one of those cards you stick in the side of your laptop.  Most laptops come with WiFi already built in these days.)

Okay, It Is Powered Up, Is It Enabled?

Even with a device powered up, you may not have it enabled on your computer.  Most often, this will happen on a Windows machine where you have done something (put the laptop in hibernation can cause this from time to time) that has caused the wireless device to be disabled.’

There Isn’t A 747 Parked Between Your Router and The Laptop, Is There?

It is a well known fact that with all this wireless technology, there are a bunch of waves bouncing around our homes that can be bounced in the wrong direction.  Metal objects, power cables, duct work, and other such things can interfere with wireless connections.  Simply moving from one room to another may be a good idea when testing out your connection.  Portable phones may also make your wireless laptop grumpy.

You’ve Read The Manual, Right?

Companies that make wireless routers, cards, and computers with WiFi connectivity go out of their way to make it as easy as possible.  (Sure, the levels of success may or may not be adequate but it is always a good idea to check the manual first.)  Any nerd will tell you, read the manual and then come ask questions.

If All Else Fails, Call Your Geek

If you give geeks beer, they will always help you out as something that takes you fifteen minutes will probably take them ten seconds.

For those of you who missed the keynote address at MacWorld, here it is in 60 seconds.  Including a small bit with Randy Newman.  Some exciting stuff but not as thrilling as I would have wanted it.  See you in June!

In my cool feeds today, I am happy to report that the digital levy on iPods proposed by the Canadian Copyright Board has lost in the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal.

"The Copyright Board erred in law when it concluded that it has the legal authority to certify the tariff," the appeal court said in its ruling.

The Retail Council of Canada, which argued at hearings this week, welcomed the decision last night.

"This has been a very long battle, but a necessary one," retail council president Diane Brisebois said in a statement. "Retailers have fought against these levies since their creation in 1997 because it taxes a product based on what a consumer possibly could use it for."

I don’t know what you think but taxes that imply individuals purchasing a certain product will be breaking the law is completely unfair.  How the Canadian Copyright Board thinks it can justify a levy on only certain MP3 players is unreal.  They took it all the way to the Supreme Court and lost. 

I know many people who have iPods that have purchased everything they have on it directly from iTunes or have imported their CD collection.  I have imported my CDs and, apparently, this is breaking the law.  I don’t understand how the law can drag so far behind the technologies out there.  In my mind, 99% of people would happily purchase the music if it were affordable and in the format they not only want but need.  The technologies are pushing the audio industry forward not the other way around.

Crazy.

[Cross posted from ShanesWorld.ca.]

Travis and Susie were asking me about the fancy thin Macbook Air and whether or not I would purchase one for myself.  Granted, they are very light, very portable, and incredibly cool on the “nerd scale” but, to me, there are a couple of problems that I wouldn’t put up with in a consumer product.

Non-removable Battery

The big one for me is the fact the battery doesn’t come out of the machine.  Having a battery that you can’t physically remove is wrong on a laptop.  I understand the requirement of a device like a phone (although, most phones have batteries that easily pop out) and an iPod since the batteries tend to live a lot longer than the products themselves but laptops don’t.  Unless you drop it in a pond, laptops outlive their batteries and not being able to replace it yourself isn’t a good thing.  Also, with Apple’s terrible record on how they build their products, I would have thought the first thing they would have done.  Are they going somewhat backwards in creating computer waste?

Non-upgradable

This isn’t so bad since most laptops tend to last a long time and perform just how the owner’s want them to but when these machines go outside of their warranty – this type of laptop would almost put you into the poor house.  I don’t think people will want to spend $1900 on a laptop every couple of years.  I know it is asking a lot of the manufacturer with custom hardware like this but they’ve done it in the past and other laptop producers have built products with similar weights and size and still have had user-serviceable parts.

Obsolete

Apple is famous for for their ability to create products with a fixed life span.  No upgrades and a lack of anyone’s ability to do anything outside of a warranty isn’t good.

Dependence Upon Wireless

This isn’t something new in the laptop world but, wow, a laptop that is almost entirely dependent upon wireless technology.  As cool as that is, the majority of the population of the world don’t have wireless.  If we lived in a wireless city then it may be more interesting but my mom would have troubles and she is quite techy.

Final Word

I give this laptop a thumbs down mainly on those three points but I don’t think it is bad laptop.  It will fit into many hard core Mac user’s arsenals quite nicely – but I don’t think it is for mainstream adoption quite yet.  Let’s see what happens with the next version of it and I hope the improvements are there.