Friday, November 11, 2005

Drop Vista for Mac OS X?

Before I get started, if you want to see something really funny then click here to see a really random video of supposedly rejected promos. So ZDNet believes that you should ignore Windows Vista for another three years. Why? Because when you think about it, it is kind of a small step for them. When Apple makes small steps like they did with Tiger more recently, it comes pretty often, not after nearly a decade. Their point is that it sounds like it's more of a glorified package of security updates with some already available functionality (like Konfabulator, for example). I'd like to stick up for them, but I think it's true. Sherlock, on Mac OS X, you know you want itAnd what's more is that Apple looks like it's well on its way to making the transition to x86 a success. Their processor performance and power consumption is comparable to Windows, though its application performance is still lagging a bit, and even has a better installation process and some spiffier utility programs to boot. When Apple came to campus this week, their hardware guy mentioned that Intel was really excited to work with them because they felt a certain degree of freedom to show what their chips can really do. That can't bode well for Microsoft's use of the x86, and on top of their rejection of me it adds all the more to my desire to work at Apple (they'll be back in February).

Since I'm still riding off my rejection I might as well point out that Unix beats Windows XP in some tests that none other than Microsoft ran to show that their Singularity kernel will smoke everyone. However, Singularity only beats Unix because of how they ran their tests (amateurs). I'm sorry that I haven't reported on this before, but there has been an outpouring of anger against Sony for software that their new music CDs secretly install to prevent a CD from being copied more than 3 times. I bring it up now because they've pulled it off shelves in response to hacks exploiting it. This is really why many hackers do what they do: to prove a point. And it worked. Amazon has secured a few important patents that give it control over the idea of customer reviews and the technology that, when you're at a product page, advises you what other people who share your interests buy. This is a big win for them, and I'm sure we'll see some fallout very soon. Lastly, Nintendo is saddling up for the next generation console war by hinting that they'll price their console below the offerings from Sony and Microsoft, but will it be too late? I think so, and I feel bad for them.

I'd consider the most interesting item today for movie lovers to be the new video journal entry for Superman Returns about costumes, which features the elegant style of Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey). Some of you are probably pretty interested in the Da Vinci Code movie (I know I am and feel like it makes me mainstream) and you may like to know that along with Miami Vice, it will have a new trailer tacked on to the distribution of King Kong next month. If you want to see a trailer for an almost humorously bad movie, check out the latest offering from Uwe Boll (ick) for Bloodrayne. The rumors continue on the next Bond girl and Movies Online claims that the gorgeous Cassandra Hepburn is in the running, but I don't know what they're basing it off of exactly so don't put too much stock in it. Still, I'd like to hope that the next person will be at least as good as Halle Berry. Lastly, since we all love seeing stuff from abroad check out a few international posters for King Kong.

I'm going to go with the Friday Fiver this week:

1. Have you ever been to the ocean?
I think so, but if the time I'm thinking of is correct then it hasn't been in a long while.

2. When is the last time you wore a swimsuit?
In early September when NSC went to Town Lake to go canoeing for our new member retreat. It was a ton of fun.

3. Do you respect people more for staying through difficult times or knowing when to call it quits?
I think staying the course, unless that's clearly the wrong way to go. But usually, it's important to get through tough times to learn a little something about ourselves and how to handle it in the future. It makes us stronger. I think I'd prefer someone too bold than possibly cowardly.

4. Name a TV show that made a huge splash in the beginning, but has since gone downhill:
I'd have to say Family Guy. What's going on this season? Only two episodes in this season have been as hilarious as past seasons' episodes.

5. Have you ever eaten shark?
Um, no. Should I have?

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