 Chris Goh's "On the Net"
Microsoft's XP a winner
It's here, Microsoft XP. Before I start, I have to say, Windows 2000 has been the most stable operating environment I've seen from Microsoft. It is the first Microsoft operating system I'm confident I won't have to reboot once a month (unlike NT).
XP is based on the same environment but with much better legacy (native emulation) support for MSDOS and Win 9x applications. XP is also a very - dare I say - sexy looking OS with 3D buttons, extended menu functions and a nice initial background to boot. But there is one catch. Buy a PIII 600+ with at least 128Mb of RAM and 20 Gig Hard disk before you get XP, otherwise you're going to feel a bit of lag.
Stats show that a Celeron running Windows 95 application with the same memory and hard drive is faster at running the same programs than a Pentium IV with double the memory. Microsoft contributes 40-50 per cent speed decreases to the driver support that is not up to scratch. So unless you're itching away, wait for the first service pack for XP before jumping in.
If you have Windows 2000 and have everything running the way you like it, XP's kernel is principally the same, so unless you like prettier menus and some extended multimedia functions (and the start bar has some new cool things) XP will make your machine a lot slower.
If you've had problems moving to 2000 and have some legacy applications which you can't do without, XP has the support well covered and is not a bad upgrade for Win 9x users.
But I've heard it's better to start a clean install of XP than the upgrade, mainly for stability reasons and driver cross-over issues. If you have any extended multimedia hardware, like Video Accelerators, Video Capture or specialised sound cards, check for XP compliancy before diving in head first. There is a good chance you can use the old drivers support, but there will be notable differences in performance especially from video.
As any battle-hardened IT person will tell you, wait for the first service pack to be released first before committing yourself and your machine.
HotNews
Toyota and Sony, makers of the first commercially available Soft AI (Artificial Intelligence) toy, Aibo, have combined to create intelligence for the next generation vehicle. The portable system, called the 'Mini Pod', will let a car learn about your taste in music, your driving temperament and even tell you about your (good or bad) driving style. Toyota also hopes the Mini Pod will be connected to the Internet and GPS to deliver instant information about passing restaurants and whether they serve your favourite food. It sounds like targeted marketing to me.
A landmark decision for the digital world was made last week - a ruling by the US Appeals Court that allows code to be published on the Internet so people can descramble the regional and copying locks for DVD. It's a big blow to media and film publishers that thought DVD encryption would prevent the piracy so prevalent with VHS tapes. They also face a legal battle with SonicBlue makers of Replay TV, a new digital VCR that can record over 300 hours of material on one tape and maintain a consistently high quality. The best part is that it allows you to record with no adverts and lets you send snippets or entire movies to friends over the Internet. There is a scramble by a coalition of networks to ban it before it hits the retail shelves in the USA.
On the opposite side there's Microsoft, which has all but weaselled its way out of the US Department of Justice's long-running Antitrust campaign. Instead of being broken up, all the Gates gang has to do is agree to a five year deal that will see its operations supervised, as well as adhering to limitations on market reach. Yeah, sure.
If you've ever owned a laptop you'll know about the consistent problem with its inability to shut down. Now many manufacturers have service packs to fix the problem. And guess what? If you own an ultra portable with a 440MX chipset, be prepared to download a patch if you're buying XP, because your computer won't turn off unless you pull the power and the battery out.
Hotsites
www.driversms.com.au/
This is an interesting concept from Oz. It has a registered list of Australian drivers with their mobile number and number plates. The idea is you look up someone's licence plate number and you can SMS them on their mobile. While it might have practical implications - like SMSing someone you think is having their car stolen (ringing the police is preferable...) attractive blondes driving red Ferraris through town should prepare for the worst SMS pick up lines in the world. Of course companies want to advertise to passing traffic, but I suspect it's just another technology driven invasion of privacy. And how many people will have accidents while distracted checking their messages?
www.floss.com/
I admit it, I have total dentistophobia. It's not just the drill, it's those spit sinks and the funny mirror and pointy things they poke in your mouth. While I recommend for others to visit your dentist regularly, this website also gives you a good rundown on oral hygiene and options to create a winning grin.
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