Tag Archives: Computers
Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen
It’s Amazing that any Software Works Properly!
Most of us will never have to write our own programs or even look at the programming code that is the DNA of every piece of software. Thus, for the uninitiated, it can be very difficult to understand why a program doesn’t work perfectly at all times. While some programmers are better than others and some programs are tested more thoroughly, a good deal of the fault can lie with software incompatibilities.
Random Acts of Computing
Sure, Computers are Crazy, but are they Random?
It’s easy to believe that computers operate randomly. After all, everyone has had instances where computers act differently even when given the same “input.” As much as we’d like to blame their bizarre actions on randomness, computers aren’t random. The trick to understanding the difference is isolating their patterns.
The Value in Experimenting with Technology
I Didn’t Know that I Didn’t Know
“I didn’t know I could do that.” It’s something I hear from people often. This phrase usually follows my demonstration of some technology trick that saves them time or otherwise makes their life easier. To me, these things I demonstrate are simple, but to those that are unaware of the function, they’re magic. It is not difficult to gain this level of understanding with technology; it simply requires some practice.
The Personal Computer has Grown Up
The Lack of Progress is the Exciting Part!
You’ve likely ready about the upcoming release of Windows 8. To the average user, there will be little difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8. The change from the Start Menu to the Start Screen will be trivial to most users. Some readers might want to argue that point, but we’ll all have to wait and see. I won’t delve into the differences between the old and new, because that’s not my point.
Has Technology Made the World Better?
Has Technology Improved our Lives?
It’s a question that many people have asked, even if they didn’t realize it.
My day-to-day work exposes me to some of the worst outcomes that technology has to offer, and it’s true that I might be a bit biased because of this.
Technology – Sometimes You Just Want to Lie Down
I love technology. I also hate it.
I talk to people every day that are dismayed by how quickly things change. It seems that as soon as you settle on a new technology purchase – be it phone, computer or even a music player – something new has come out. Some even say the new device makes the old one obsolete. Not only is your old device not obsolete, I’m here to tell you that technology doesn’t have to be so frustrating.
Windows 8 First Impressions
I got adventurous over the weekend and installed the developer preview of Windows 8 on my desktop. Not in a virtual machine, mind you. I actually backed up, wiped the hard drive and jumped in with both feet. I’m still getting some of my lesser used programs installed, but things are working just fine.
Despite repeated claims by Microsoft and journalists covering Windows 8 that the underpinnings are quite different from Windows 7, the interaction is similar. Sure, the new Metro interface is completely different from anything I’ve ever seen on a desktop, but it’s pretty much how I used the Start menu before. I don’t find it nearly as obnoxious as I thought I would, and I actually find myself moving back and forth between the Metro screen and my desktop. I’m a hard man to convince, and I don’t do well with change, but so far I am finding this a step up.
What else is different? Not much, yet. Last night I was transferring some files from one drive to another and noticed the file transfer dialogue box was different – rather than the annoyingly inaccurate box we used to have, we now have a box that shows us, in graph form, how the download speed has changed over the time of the download. Sure, 99% of people won’t care about this, but a true geek like me appreciates all data he can get. Oh, and setting up my network printer took 17 times longer than it should have due to the new Add Printer setup.
That’s not to say that there aren’t more differences. I just haven’t run into them. I’ve found the system to be moderately stable, which is to be expected. I might have some driver issues I need to explore, which is on the docket for later this week. The system absolutely will not wake up from sleep mode without crashing. Probably a bad default video driver.
Care for a shorter opinion? Windows 8 is good so far. I expect it to be more refined when it is released next year. If you have Windows 7 you won’t need to upgrade. If you have a touchscreen Windows 7 computer, like the ones HP has sold, you will want to. If you have XP now, you will hate it for a few months, but then you’ll be fine.