Decemberice.Com: November 2006 Archives

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November 27, 2006

Playing with my Wii

That's right, I scored one. Actually, a manager from work stood out in the snow and waited in line from 4am on to get me one... and no, I'm not sleeping with him. He's just cool like that.

So, I was up till the... wii... hours of the morning last night playing with my Wii (LOL The wordplay is effortless), and I've pretty much been playing all night tonight. This thing is absolutely addictive!

I would probably be content to have spent the $250 for the console just to have the game that comes with it for free. It's this game called Wii sports that has various sports games like tennis and baseball. You get to use the controlled as your raquet or bat. It's fun. Actually, the tennis part of it is the best.

Oddly enough, the fact that you can pick it up and play a match from beginning to end in 5 minutes makes me want to play longer. I'm not sure what the psychology is there.

Anyhow, the first games I plan on getting for it are Zelda... obviously, but Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Need For Speed Carbon, and then I'll see what other cooky games are out there.

So, I played the PS3 at Target, I once owned an Xbox 360, but I think Nintendo has a hit with the Wii.

I will say that the selection of titles in the virtual console library is lacking at the moment. Only the original Mario Bros is up for the NES, and Super Mario World isn't up yet. Mario 64 though. Aside from the bare bones games you would expect, there really aren't any games up there that I'm surprised with.

I have to go pick up a few Wiicessories tomorrow. A classic controller, a few extra wiimotes, an SD card (though not the branded ones because they are outlandish), and a Wii points card. In fact... perhaps I'll put them up on my wishlist and then wait and see...

There we are!

*Zoso... I'm totally bringing this bad boy over to hook up to your ginormous hi-def TV!

Posted by Decemberice at 11:57 PM | Comments (4)

November 25, 2006

Dear Microsoft, Pt. 2 (My OS has an identitiy crisis)

Dear Microsoft,

Why must you make things so difficult. So I was totally down with Windows XP Media Center once I started using it on a regular basis. I like the remote control for my computer, I loved the DVR functionality (I've seen it done better, but hey...) Then it happened. I had to restore my computer and BAM! Gone! The restore disks I was given by dell restored it to Windows XP Pro... which identified itself as XP Media Center Edition, but was not.

I know that MCE is a variation of Pro. The trouble is, when the computer did this, the system profiler tool (I'm such a Mac dork) essentially said Windows MCE was the OS, but microsoft refused to let me download updates for MCE, because it claimed that my OS was XP Pro.

So now I'm stuck. I have a computer that runs fun for an XP Pro machine... but the things I loved most about it are gone.

So... I called in the geek squad once I lost my marbles trying to explain to my OS that it was having an identity crisis.

The Geek Squad people at Best Buy SUCK. First off, they treated me like average joe who got a virus on his computer from surfing porn sites. I never had a virus on the computer, the problem is the OS... which has so many layers of meaning, but in this instance, it was actually that the OS didn't know what OS it truly was.

I gave the guy the computer, dealt with his snobiness even though I've lead a team of Technology Specialists for my company in the past, just because I was tired of dealing with it.

The idiot tells me I need to update the drivers. I should have know right then what was up and just asked for him to put his USB drive down and back away from my computer slowly. Instead I figured, what the hell, maybe he'll accidently stumble on some unintelligible glitch in my OS.

I should have gone with option A.

$50 later, my computer still is not fixed, and Best Buy refuses to refund me because he managed to regain bluetooth functionality. I didn't even realize bluetooth was impaired. I certainly didn't ask him to repair that. I'm glad he did... but not $50 glad he did. I had the drivers for it on a disk. I could have done that myself.

So here I set, with my limited laptop. = (

Oh yeah... Dell's datasafe harddrives... let's not even go there. When I called Dell about the issue they told me I had one and how to use it. It turns out that, though it is supposed to automatically keep a running image of the PC backed up... The software for this is not factory installed and comes on a separate disk, which I never installed because the disk says right on it that it is supposed to be installed already. When I told this to the lady at dell, she was like, but we sent a mailer out to customer's to explain that it wasn't. I received that mail 4 days after talking to her. phoenominal.

Now, Dell wants me to call Microsoft. I don't want to call those bastards. I'd rather drive up there. They probably woldn't let me through the doors though because I am carrying a Dell laptop, which is essentially a bomb, with it's beautiful battery drama.

Long story short, I called anyway, MS told me to call Dell because they provided me with the wrong drivers on the restore disk, the Dell rep told me that I needed to call MS again. I called Apple. It appears that I can get a $130 discount on a new macbook through my employer. I'm thinking that may be the way to go.

Posted by Decemberice at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)

November 19, 2006

People are Camping in Front of Best Buy

Now... that's my style of camping. I could take or leave the great out doors, but camping in front of an electronics store... that I can do.

I want a Nintendo Wii also, but I have to work before the store opens. Thus, there's no point in waiting all night, although I could get my geek card punched talking about the highs and lows of Zelda with a hundred or so dorks like myself. And here I'd thought that the Nintendo Wii would be easier to get in my area than the PS3. Hmm... Well it shouldn't be hard to produce more. Nintendo isn't waiting on any special laser, and they are using processors that have been on the market for years now. I'm sure I'll be able to score one for X-mas.

Of note, Nintendo is the only company not losing money on their new system. Crazy isn't it? Microsoft and Sony lose money with each Xbox 360 and PS3 sold. Nintendo actually profits (go figure) off of their consoles.

Of course, Sony and Microsoft's goal is to make it up and then some off of game and peripheral sales. Sony is losing over $200 on every PS3 sold. Can you imagine that? With the minimal profit margin on video games... they'll have to sell a freaking bazillion games to make that up. I assume they are going to try and earn it back off of whatever subscription service they throw at the market. Kind of like Microsoft does to some extent with live.

Sony has proven to be a bit worthless and designing software, so we'll see how their live competitor fares.

To the same affect, I've seen some screens of Nintendo's Wii interface for getting to their virtual console and so on... it's a bit minimilistic for my tastes. I think Microsoft's crazy bladed approach wins the day for now.

Posted by Decemberice at 04:55 AM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2006

iPhone time

So... this is just a spectator level view... but it's totally time to launch the iPhone. Not sure what Apple has up their sleeves, or why they have decided to sleep through the holiday season, but they are kinda vunerable at the moment. Even though the Zune has been burried in the media, it's still doing OK for itself. Though nowhere near threatening the iPod, Apple still needs to push ahead of the Zune in a critical way.

I know Apple isn't going to launch their next iPod with a built in phone (that would be nice), but I still think they need to move forward with their PDA/Phone in the very near future if they don't want Windows Mobile to completely dominate the market. OSX could make a pretty swank mobile format for the average consumer. Not so much for the business user, but hey.

Plus, if Apple couls somehow finagle a way to make widgets work on a mobile phone... they'd blow the market away. At any rate, I suppose I'm rambling. Steve Jobs is not a stupid man, I'm sure he has plenty of aces up his sleeve. That will be gaurded like no other treasure on earth.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)

Buy Me Stuff!

So... I have a birthday and of course Christmas coming up. You can help me prepare for my upcoming move by shopping for me on this wishlist:

You can feed my hobbies and geekdom by shopping for me on this wishlist:

Either way your contribution to the J needs stuff fund will be grealy appreciated with a limited edition thank you email complete with personalized message.

= )

Later

Posted by Decemberice at 01:44 AM | Comments (2)

November 13, 2006

Time Has Come

So. It's final. I have finally decided that I am going to move out. This doesn't happen overnight of course. I have to find an apartment close to where I work (don't have the most reliable car). I have to get some furniture. I have to get some kitchen supplies... to be honest with you all... I own 2 pans, and a pot. That's it. No silverware, no dishware. That's OK though! Because I plan to go paper and plastic EVERYTHING. I hate doing dishes. The likelihood that I would actually do them when it's just me? Not likely at all.

I also need towels (I owned 3, not sure they are still around), I need to be able to afford to stock my kitchen (that basically translates to stocking the freezer with microwavables).

I must have internet in place, as well, before I move in. I'm not going to cope well if the internet isn't already up and running the moment I walk through the doors of my new place.

Of course I'm sure I'll forget some major stuff along the way.

I don't intend to buy a home phone... those are totally stone age. I don't intend to get cable because that's what iTunes is for.... that pretty much leaves me with the basics.

I have a bed, but I need a couch, maybe a chair LOL. Actually, for all intesive purposes I could just use my bed and computer chair. It's not as if anybody will ever come over. I'm pretty much a quiet type. Aside from my guitar, I don't make loud noises and I don't throw parties. To be honest I don't do much of anything but play around online and work. and then work some more, and if there's time I sleep.

So when do I plan this miraculous move? March or April. I know that seems kinda far away, but I literally have to furnish an entire apartment because I own nothing but a guitar, a computer/computer desk, and a bed... well, and an Alien. Go Zeldar! You're the pimpmeister.

I want a dog, but I don't suppose it would survive me. I can't keep my bamboo promethius alive, and all it requires is like water once every few weeks.

Maybe I will get a new pet bamboo instead.

Later

Posted by Decemberice at 11:51 PM | Comments (2)

November 12, 2006

The eve of the end for iPod? Hmm....

Microsoft has sat back, not by choice, and watched Apple dominate the digital media market. Microsoft has made feeble attempts here and there to compete, but primarly as a platform, attempting to put an equally big name behind what hardware manufacturers are doing to make consumers feel more confident in purchasing something other than the proven iPod.

As a business that develops platforms, more or less, Microsoft didn't have much of an interest in what Apple was doing... until Apple raked in 7.5 billion in iPod sales, revitalized, then rebirthed it's company, and assumed a hip image all off of one product. Microsoft, who's attempted a similiar feet with the Xbox took note. Microsoft had been taking a loss on every single Xbox sold to get their name out as a solid player in the gaming world. That segwayed into the Xbox 360 which, if not devastated by the PS3 and Wii, will stand a possibility of profit for the software giant.

Apple on the other hand, lost nothing on the iPod, or it's accompanying music store, and has successfully garnered over 80% of the legal digital music market and a slick 70+% of the MP3 player market. All while maintaining a profit margin on both the player, and content sales.

Microsoft is tired of sitting back watching a one time drop in the bucket compete again.

Thus, the Microsoft Zune, and Zune Music store will launch in less than 48 hours. Some stores have already begun selling the Zune. The iPod faces it's first true competitor. The Zune is a recipe of all the things that made the iPod successful that other device manufacturers failed to implement. Style, Simplicity, and all with a Flexible Platform, and the sole unique feature of Wi-Fi.

Where the Zune fails is timining. Microsoft may have been a more solid competitor 2 years ago, but they are going to have to rape and pillage to get marketshare away from Apple at this point. Is the Zune superior? Yes. Is it the better player? Perhaps, Does it stand a chance? Not yet.

There are a few elements to Apple's success that Microsoft fails to have in place. 1) Apple had an established and proprietary niche on a media store with iTunes. iTunes is also leveraged in every possible way across everything that Apple does with it's OS, with it's Accessories, and with it's Hardware. The iPod was also the first of it's kind. Though MP3 players existed before, the combination of a download store and hardware designed side by side with an operating system... had never occured, and still haven't. The interface was unique. The spacious hard drive was unique... The iPod was successful from inception.

The Zune's first battle will be amongst it's siblings. If you are a nerd like me, you probably recall that Microsoft already has a platform to do exactly what the Zune is doing that is leveraged by other players... all of which have failed. In fact, one of those players is also manufactured by Toshiba who is building the Zune. Microsoft's Portable Media Centers are competitors to it's own device. Then we have the Video store they are launching for the Xbox 360 which does not allow for direct transfer to the Zune... Uhm... that was a brilliant marketing plan. I wonder if the two were even aware of one another. Then we have the existing Windows Media Player platform and music store which allow for purchase from the anticipated flop known as Urge from MTV. Urge of course freshly launched and promoted by Microsoft just 2 months ago, has dropped off the face of the planet for Microsoft's competitor the Zune download store.

Talk about a lack of focus. Furthermore, it makes me wonder why Microsoft wasn't confident enough in the Zune to extend it's Xbox branding to it. The two are obviously targeting similiar audiences... what gives? Did they not want the Zune to muddy the 360's success if it failed?

Microsoft typically has the bugs ironed out by their 3rd attempt. That's when they typically start to dominate markets. I'll hold off for the time being. Especially because I know that Apple won't give up it's successful new market and image without one hell of a fight. Steve Jobs is obviously not afraid of the Zune as he is not rushing out the door with a suped up iPod (or as the iPod community calls it, a true video iPod) on Tuesday.

Of course, the Zune has no established market, and iTunes has established THE market.

Its interesting to see these two competitors go at it. I think Microsoft would have won this without a fight had Apple not opened their eyes and offered iTunes unchained on Windows. Or if Apple wasn't the current must have Windows PC. It's possible that Microsoft is starting to sweat a little. It starts when Apple steals the home user market by gently easing them into a new Apple since they now run windows and the Intel chips that people are familiar with. It got bloodier when Apple was the only PC manufacturer to make a clear marginal gain in sales over the past year. It should come to a boil if Apple manages to topple Microsoft on the digital media front, and finally the deal will be closed when Apple manages to swoon the business user. I guess I'd be sweating if I were Microsoft as well. But it's difficult to fear a man in turtlenecks, so they've still got ground to stand on.

Posted by Decemberice at 11:25 PM | Comments (4)

November 07, 2006

Hell, to Boise, and back to Hell

So, at sometime around 5pm Sunday night, I decide I'm going to go to Boise for 3 days. A few hours later I grab a blanket, a friend, and leave. I had a lot of fun. I took my friend Ashley because she was having a horrible week and wanted to get away for a while too. We got lost in downtown Boise, I walked into an extremely clean window and twisted my ankle in a parking lot and laid in pain for a half hour, I discovered that Starbucks drove my beloved Thomas Hammer out of business in most of Boise, and I got to hang out with my friends Austin and Sarah... who drew on me and threw salt at me.

We also tested the limits of my iPod and found that it can last the entire car ride to Boise, and that you CAN, in fact, sing along to audiobooks.

So, why did I go? Because I hate my house LOL. I should say, technically, it's a love/hate thing. Some days I don't mind it, other days I regret ever agreeing to stay here until my mom gets used to life without my dad. My neice and nephew are constantly getting dumped here, or their mom or dad will come over to use my mom's computer and boot me off of it so they can browse stupid car news websites and play games. Yes, I have my own computer, but I don't have a beautiful 19" monitor on mine, and the almighty power of OSX Tiger. Although I bought both of these things for my mom.

So, when I bring up to my mom that it drives me nuts that they are constantly here, I get: It's there house too. Only it's not. They don't pay rent like I do (excessive rent at that). They don't to take out the trash, they don't get to change the water, they don't get to buy food... I do. It's my house too, but it's not their house too. They have their own home. Had they planned better financially, they too would have the internet and a functioning computer of their own.

I guess what I'm really saying is I need to be in control of my own space, and that just isn't happening here. I wish I could say that I felt confident that this situation is going to work, because I made a promise to my dad before he died that I'm trying my best to keep up, but at some point, I might have to throw the towel in. That point is rapidly approaching.

Anyway, I've got to go find something to eat and get a shower. I've gone for 2 full days without one and it aint pretty.

Decemberice.Com

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