Saturday, February 28, 2009

Non Geek Speak Encounters - Installment #1

Every Saturday, the Geeks Dippin Deep Blog will talk about the Non Geek encounters of the prior week, in Non Geek Speak. In other words, over the past week, these are the things that I have been told, by people who do not consider themselves Geeks. In yellow are my comments to the Non Geek Speak Encounters that I was unable to say at the time of the encounter. Enjoy!

Here are the following Non Geek Speak encounters of this past week!

"Microsoft should get rid of Vista and go back to XP, better yet, they should go back to Windows 98 SE!"
"If Microsoft goes back to Windows 98 SE, just take my car back and give me a Horse & Buggy!"

"AGP Graphics cards are not old"

"It was only introduced in 1997, and now has two predecessors PCI, and PCI-E, but sure it's not old at all!"

"I deleted Viruses, how am I supposed to delete a Trojan? I just went through a deleted everything that I recognized the name of!"

"Is your computer still running, because if you delete EVERYTHING you recognize the name of, does that include Windows?!"

"I built a computer, it has many different parts, it has Dell parts and AMD parts. How much will it cost for you to get it up and running?"

"It's quite amazing, but some Dells now come with AMD parts!"

"How does Microsoft expect everyone to know how to use one of these things? Why don't they send a How To guide with it?"

"Amazingly enough, there is a Help feature built in!"

**This one is from a couple weeks ago, but it is well worth adding!

"You mean I have to pay for the Internet? It just doesn't come on this thing? Then why did I buy a laptop!?"

"Nope the Internet is totally free, they are giving it away now at the corner store, get yours today!"

Friday, February 27, 2009

Is there a such thing as too much technology?

I just spent about the last half hour deleting blogs. I currently have a myspace page, a facebook page, a twitter page, a wordpress page, a linked in page, a flickr page, a slide show page, a gamer network page, a XBOX 360 live account, and multiple email addresses. There is no feasible way that I could manage all of those accounts, especially while working four jobs. So I have decided to consolidate.

Most of these pages will say up, however they will be updated on a less timely manner; however I will link some of the sites to the blog, so that others in my life and stay up with what I am ranting on. So this leads up to my next entry - is there a such thing as too much technology?

I want some feedback on this - do you think that you have too much technology in your life? I feel that technology is here to make our lives easier and for me it was getting to the point where it was becoming too time consuming. Now don't let that affect my "geek-cred" because I still live and breath all things IT, however I think that there needs to be a balance. Where that balance is at - I have yet to find, but I encourage those who feel the same to also work on getting balance back in your life and letting technology help you, not hinder you.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Windows Vista, Friend or Foe?

So I have had the opportunity recently to receive opinions of the public on Windows Vista. Strangely enough the feedback seems very similar, mostly they hate it, but when asked why, they can never come back with an answer. I have heard comments like: "I heard Microsoft is junking Vista, because it is horrible", "I am waiting for Microsoft to come out with a new Operating System, then I will buy a computer", and my top two favs are "I heard Microsoft is going back to XP, and getting rid of Vista", and "I am returning this computer because it has Windows Vista".

These are only a few comments myself and others that I work with have heard in response to Microsoft Windows Vista, which mind you has been out since Jan. 2007.

So here is the deal, Microsoft starting working on Windows Vista prior to the release of Windows XP, it has been a long time comming. It is different, true, but Microsoft IS NOT GETTING RID OF Windows Vista. I do not know how much I can stress this, again, they ARE NOT getting rid of Windows Vista. Windows Vista and Server 2008 (release in Feb. 2008) have the same kernel. A kernel is the central component of most Operating Systems. It is responsible for the systems communications between hardware and software. The new kernel, used in Windows Vista and Server 2008 was created for new Microsoft Operating Systems, because it needed to be updated from their old kernel.

To debunk all of the comments from the public that I have received, Microsoft has decided to set a new tone in the IT world when it comes to the creation of new Operating Systems. Windows XP was release in 2001, and it took Microsoft 6 years for them to release a new Operating System. Now Microsoft's goal is to release a new OS every 3 to 5 years. This does not mean they are getting rid of the old Operating Systems that are prior, but only adding new and improved features. In most business, IT coordinators place their inventory on a 3 to 5 year turn-around cycle to purchase new equipment, this ensures that Microsoft will make money in those cycles. It is a marvelous idea for them to keep everyone up to date.

For the general public, this could prove to be probamatic. Most people do not purchase new computers every 3 to 5 years. I know a lot of people that purchase computers maybe every 10 to 15 years. So lets say Sally purchase a computer in 2005, it has Windows XP. She does not have the means, or need to purchase a new computer right now, but maybe she will in 2015. By 2015, if Microsoft is releasing a new Operating System every 3 to 5 years, it is possible that she will jump from Windows XP, past Vista, past Windows 7 (set to release in 2010 or 2011), and then past yet another (name unknown) Microsoft Operating System. Also her computer that was purchased in 2005 would probably not be upgradable to any of those Operating Systems either. Although this situation will occur in the near future, we will eventually get past the computers being unable to be upgraded, and the future will hold many new Microsoft Operating Systems.

To sum it up, Microsoft is NOT going back to Windows XP, I am sorry, take it up with them! They are NOT going back to the old kernel, and they are not junking Windows Vista. Although they are making a new Operating System (Windows 7), I promise you, it looks ALMOST exactly like Vista. The almost factor, means that yet again, the public will complain at some of the new and improved features!