learning...

well I've decided to start building on my skill set.  
Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition which happens to comprise of:
- Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
- SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
- dotNET Framework v2.0

so what does this mean?  I'm starting my adventure into the world of ASP.NET2, SQL and Visual Basic.

These are all FREE from Microsoft (which I never knew actually existed until a few days ago (get it here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vwd/download/). I've just started the online Guided Tour and it wasn't that painful.  I was thinking I'll do this as quickly as possible but then decided to take it slowly to be able to absord as much of the new language(s), interfaces and concepts of VWD.

While I'm shamelessly promoting my current PC hardware, here's another that I can claim bragging rights to.. :)

Dell 2405FPW vs Samsung 930BF LCD Monitors

Dell 24" 16:10 ratio (WideScreen in vertical position) (left)
Samsung 19" 4:3 ratio (right)

The 24" (diagonal length - top right corner to bottom left corner) is equivalent to a 19" in height, except it's in a widescreen format. The Dell 24" has a max/native resolution of 1920x1200 vs the Samsung of 1280x1024. In other words if you get a 19" widescreen LCD Monitor, then it's most likely it's equivalent to a 17" in height.

Here's a 'Neuro Hunter' wall paper on both screens (the Dell screen is my primary monitor, note the windows (blue) task bar on the bottom of the monitor.

Of course in order to run any recent games on the Dell at native resolution of 1920x1200 I needed to get a good Graphics Card in AGP form (as I shamelessly promoted below).

Welcome to my Gainward BLISS 7800GS+ AGP 512Mb.

 

which replaces the XFX 6600GT AGP 128Mb.  (right)

Here's my new Mushkin RAM - 2 x 1Gb DDR400.

 

In 2010 the desktop computer will be dead

"In a bold prediction, he stated: "In 2010 the desktop computer will be dead, and laptops will be on death row."

- according to Handheld Learning MD Graham Brown-Martin.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19268

 

I'm not an industry specialist and I've done no research to backup any of my 'thoughts' below:

 

My first thoughts:

- isn't that what they said about LPs and VCRs?

- online storage. does this mean we will get cheap wired and wireless broadband  so we don't have to access our data at 56kbps (do i feel game enough to use the word 'free')

- pay for online storage.. pay for highspeed internet connection, pay for the PC to use (oops sorry.. I mean server or consumer electronic), pay for electricity..

 

Just a few more thoughts:

- online storage.. do I trust these people to hold my data and hold my data securely?

- online vs local storage - NO ONE can hack my PC (woops there I go again, I mean server/Con.Elec) when it's not connected to the net.

- online storage - backed up and never lose your data!. err my internet connection is not working because <insert various valid reasons> and I can't get to my data. ding!

- and like the current PC gaming industry is going to move to console anytime soon.

- what's Intels current CPU roadmap for 2010?

 

Some localised thoughts:

- wonder if Telstra will roll out a fully enabled ADSL2+ within the next 4 years?

- oops have to step back abit.. will Telstra be able to provide any kind of broadband to the countryside?.

 

More thoughts:

- 25Gb free space.. sounds good!. pity I never got over 10kbps on downloads (that's just the page load, I couldn't even get 'upload' to work .. yet).

Try it yourself, you might have better luck.
http://www.mediamax.com/Brands/MediaMax/home/home.aspx

 

Brown-Martin may be right but then again he would say what he said.. he is the MD for "Handheld Learning" which roughly translate to "we work with consumer electronics".

 

 

Just in case the page "is dead or on deathrow" (in the next 4 years).. here's the article in full:

---

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19268

Home PCs and laptops are on "death row" - Brown-Martin

 

Matt Martin 13:25 24/08/2006

 

'Ubiquitous data' the future of digital content, says leading mobile consultant

 

In less than four years, home PCs and laptops will be redundant as more users and manufacturers migrate to online storage, according to Handheld Learning MD Graham Brown-Martin.

 

In a bold prediction, he stated: "In 2010 the desktop computer will be dead, and laptops will be on death row.

 

"I've spent quite a lot of time talking to computer manufacturers and they are seeing more value in selling servers that connect to consumer electronic devices such as the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS. They see this as the food chain, rather than lots of desks with computers on them," said Brown-Martin, during the Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival earlier this week.

 

"We're seeing a situation with lots of devices - consoles, video cameras, mobile computers, phones, pocket PCs - that are potentially all going to access their content from a data warehouse or server," he continued.

 

"Today you can get 25 gigabytes of online storage for free. We're seeing an emergence of companies saying, 'Pay us a little bit of money per month and dump all your stuff on our online hard-disks, we'll back it up and we guarantee you that you'll never lose your data'."

 

"Mobility isn't just about little devices – it's about the user being mobile and having all their stuff in one location, in cyberspace, on a hard-disk farm," Brown-Martin went on.

 

"Where ever you go - assuming that media is scalable and interoperable - you can access material, anywhere and any place – that's where we are headed."

---

I was just reading about the real cost of Windows (the Micro$oft) one, and what
really  gets me are the people that start talking about how M$ is bad  and everyone 
should move to Linux coz it free, faster, better, safer and if your a geek to boot 
you'll still be able to get hot chicks (well at the very least a sexy pengiun).  
Then there's others that will say Macs are better.  Just stop!

I think I'll stick with Windows as I have my reasons, so if you wish to convience me
otherwise, write to me and we'll both put our case forward and I can almost assure
you that I'll be sticking with MS Windows for a long time to come, don't get me
wrong, I'm not a MS fanboy (or work for MS) and I hold no grudges to the other
OSes.  I have used all of them (and still do to some extent), let's just say I came
from when CPM was the in thing.

I do think linux, macs and ms windows users should just stick to their preferred 
OS and be done with it.  

Just to be fair, here's some points to consider about why windows or linux
(and even macs).

To start off I have the following 'gadgets' that I regularly use:

- O2 PDA, Motorola Mobile Phone, external HDTV set top box, canon scanner,
epson photo colour printer

- Nvidia 7800GS+ AGP video card (of which I would not need or use if I was using
linux or mac), but I do enjoy my games (with all the hype that goes with it).

What's the point of the above list?.. it's 'supported' and supplied applications that
come with it and most important of all... drivers!  

Linux has come a long way, but it's still has a long way to go yet and Macs just went
off on it's own tangent.

So in saying that, I'll go on my own tangent and be happy with what I have.

news060823

Here's my new blog format, News I've recently read (from the web) is catergorised into what I think are the appropriate headings:

WhoCares:    Paramount cuts ties with Tom Cruise    

BoundToHappen:    Angelina’s bailed on Brad

ServeThemRight:    Centrelink staff sacked over breaches

TooMuchMonery:    Paris to bury goat next to Monroe, how come this didn't really surprise me

JustCantPleaseSomePeople: Bailout for workers inadequate: ACTU

KeepInMind: GlassTop TV Stands, looks good but can be dangerous.

LeaveThemAlone:

WTF:

JustBadLuck:

TooMuchSpareTime:

NoComment:

---

GoodHardware: ASRock 939Dual-VSTA ULi 1695/1567 Native AGP/PCIe, as I have a 7800GS+ AGP

Socket 939 for AMD Athlon™ 64FX / 64X2 / 64 Processors
ULi® M1695
Supports FSB 1000MHz (2.0GT/s), Hyper-Transport Technology and AMD Cool 'n' Quiet Technology
1 x Future CPU Port (Supports CPU upgrade from AMD Socket 939 CPU to Socket AM2 CPU through AM2CPU Board)
Supports Dual Channel DDR400, 4 x DIMM slots
Untied Overclocking : During Overclocking, FSB enjoys better margin due to fixed PCIE/ PCI Buses
1 x PCI Express x16 and 1 x AGP 8X VGA Card Interface to adopt both PCI Express and AGP display card
2 x Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s, support RAID 0, 1, JBOD and "Hot Plug" functions
1 x Serial ATAII 3.0 Gb/s connector by JMicron® JMB 360 (PCIE x 1 interface), support NCQ, AHCI and "Hot Plug" functions
Hybrid Booster - ASRock Safe Overclocking Technology
1 x PCI Express x1 slot
7.1 Channel Superior Quality Audio
Windows® Vista™ Premium Logo Hardware Ready
ASRock 8CH I/O: 4 x Ready-to-Use USB 2.0 Ports, 7.1 channel audio jacks

---

KeepingAnEyeOnThisPCGame: Sword of the Stars Interview at SI

http://www.lighthouse-interactive.com/index.php?main=game&gid=9

Releasedates
- USA, Canada: August 22, 2006
- UK, Scandinavia and Benelux: September 1, 2006
- Portugal and Greece: September 8, 2006
- Germany: September 18, 2006 (fully localized version)
- France and Spain: September 22, 2006 (fully localized versions)
- Russia, Poland, Australia/NZ: TBD
- ROW: TBD

 

 

 

I'm back...

after a long absent from blogging.. it looks like I'm back (not that I've blogged much).