Category: General

Microsoft OneCare looks interesting

I installed OneCare today which is still in Beta and I hope that it reduces the time I spend babysitting my spouse/kids computer. They still have some work to do but I like the idea. It already feels more user-friendly than Windows Update. OneCare will search your machine for viruses, check firewall settings and even perform file backups. The only thing I’ve seen that I don’t like is a paid subscription link. I don’t know if one day Microsoft will require payment for some features of OneCare or for the application itself but they are really going to anger a lot of people if they start charging for patches and updates for their programs.

I’d like to see them add a spyware scanner/protector and registry cleaner. The OneCare team even keeps a blog which is great!

Update: Reading over OneCare blog, it appears Microsoft plans to charge for this product in the future. Bummer.

Update: After a couple of days with Onecare, it’s a bit annoying. Maybe once I teach it what to allow it will settle down. It would not allow Spyware Doctor to update itself no matter what I tried.

iPod Video review part 2

As a follow-up to my earlier review on the iPod video, I’ve now had nearly 2 months to run it through its paces and use it in many situations. I own a black 60 GB iPod video with Universal Dock. Overall, I’ve come to appreciate the attention to detail that was put into this device from people who are obviously obsessed with building the best mp3 player on the market.

I’ll start out with a few areas for improvement:

    1. I use the ‘hold’ button a lot and it’s slippery to the touch. I wish it had a little bit more tactile feel to it. I use the plug end of my headphones to switch it on and off.

    2. Maybe my dexterity isn’t as good as it used to be but I often scroll past the song or podcast I want when I only need to move down a just a few rows. The scroll wheel is great when you need to move through a long list but getting to that specific song takes some practice.

    3. I still miss being able to create folders and drag files directly into them on my computer and have that mirrored on the iPod like I could do with my iRiver. I’d liked to be able to download a single mp3 file and have it show up with my other podcasts without have to go in and setup an iTunes subscription to that feed. What makes iTunes so intuitive can have drawbacks for those who like to customize.

    4. For an expensive device the included case is really bad. I encountered a few minor scratches before buying a Speck Skintight case. The black iPod video definitely scratches easily outside of a good case.

    5. It hasn’t happened often but a few of the videos I’ve watched won’t stop playing. I’ll try to exit out but they won’t stop and I’ve had to reset the iPod a when this has happened. Probably has something to do with the encoding as it’s not happened on any video I’ve downloaded from iTunes.

    6. It took about half a dozen attempts but I finally got it syncing with my Outlook 2003 contacts and calendar. I know, probably “user error” but it should be easier.

    7. The Universal Dock is a must have add-on in my opinion if you change content often. Would be nice if it were included.

Now to the things I like most about the iPod video:

    1. I mentioned this before but subscribing and managing podcasts is so slick and intuitive. This has been the biggest area of improvement since trading my iRiver. iTunes makes it fun to discover new Podcasts. Just an excellent job by Apple in this area.

    2. The included headphones are not as terrible as I’d been reading about. Sure, they are not fantastic but they are much better than most stock headphones. I bought the Sennheiser PX100 and have been very happy with this setup.

    3. iTunes integration with Audible.com makes downloading audio books as easy as can be. It’s not so much a feature of the iPod but the smooth manner in which it works with iTunes is what sets it apart from the pretenders.

    4. The sound quality is excellent and it’s LOUD. I expected excellent sound and the iPod delivers.

    5. I really like being able to view the album art. I didn’t think this would matter at all, but now I must have this feature. I use Album Art Downloader with iTunes (Windows) for mp3s that need cover art.

    6. I like how if you remove the plug from the headphone jack it automatically pauses the song. Nice touch.

    7. I like how it marks which Podcasts I’ve yet to listen to with a tiny blue dot from the main list window.

    8. A number of little things that tell me the creators had a fun time building this device. I love the green battery icon, the “Shuffle songs” symbol, and the blue gradient on the volume bar. It has personality!

    9. During song playback I can zoom in on the album cover and even rate each song. During Podcast playback I can click to see more information about the Podcast in simple text.

A few of my friends who work for Microsoft have called me a “sellout” but that doesn’t bother me at all. I’ve used enough mp3 players to realize that the iPod is a quality device. Offerings from Creative and iRiver now look so pedestrian. They have their good qualities I’m sure, but until they are able to bridge the software gap, they are playing in the minor leagues. I highly recommend the latest iPod to novice and experience users alike.

Good free FTP Program

Tired of paying for FTP Voyager, CuteFTP or any other FTP program? If your needs are moderate and you’re looking for an easy to use and free FTP program, give Smart FTP a whirl. It’s one of the few remaining free FTP program now that WS_FTP yanked it evaluation version. WS_FTP does bring back fond memories of Gopher, Mosiac and Trumpet Winsock, but I’m bummed they went all commercial and forgot about the little guys.

Dell missing the boat

Stroll through a Fry’s or DIY computer shop and you’ll find little interest in Intel chips these days. Why? Because AMD is schooling them in the mid to high end market. Intel has little answer for the AMD X2 series of dual core chips. Right now, you simply get a fast chip for less money by going with AMD.

Last month I decided to upgrade my Athlon 2600 chip so I went to Fry’s after doing my homework online. What I found at Frys was a group of hobbiest chatting as if AMD was the only game in town. They were debating where the X2 or FX series made the best gaming chip. I didn’t hear one of these guys or a single Frys consultant even mention an Intel model.

When I got home I decided to see what deals Dell had and noticed they only offer Intel chips. Geez, so they offer nearly every model of digital camera but they can’t offer chips from two companies? The last three computers I’ve built I’ve gone with an AMD chip. I’m thrilled with my latest X2 4400+ model and can’t see a day when I’ll go back to Intel. I might have bought a Dell system had they offered AMD chips. Instead, they ended up losing a potential customer. Dell is missing the boat.

500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Kim bought me this great book for Christmas. Of course, I don’t agree with many on the list or the particular order of many but this book is a great conversation starter. It’s hard to argue with Sgt. Peppers at #1. But no Zep in the top 10 and Dark Side of the Moon no higher than #43 are my biggest beefs. And I know my brother is going to have problems with “The Joshua Tree” showing up at #27. This is the stuff that makes the book so fun though.