During the course of any day in my life, the subject of any given discussion at hand, more often than not, affords me an opportunity to get a little insight into the computer usage of the person I'm talking to. Usually, the person has a Dell or a Gateway or some ancient 500MHz box that's been since overtaken by modern technology. All of them are Windows users and I pity the poor bastards.
I've owned a Mac since since 1997 and I'm amazed at its ease of use and why people don't just get a Mac. Why do they struggle with .dlls, service packs, viruses, malware and preventive software? Why don't they just get a Mac?
The die-hard Windows users will always throw the usual Win-facts in your face. "We have more games. Our machines are more upgradable. Windows machines are cheaper. Our OS does just what the Mac OS does." Their reasons are usually flawed.
Why do American corporations supply their employees with Windows boxes and then have to staff their IT departments with armies of techies just to fix all the problems that arise from the software and networking? The cost in wages and training must be astronomical.
I'm a firm believer the problem lies not within the particular OS in question, but rather in the psyche of the average computer user. Because they have a Windows box at work, they have to have one at home. And no matter how hard you try, you just can't get some people to even think about, let alone try a different OS, be it Linux or Mac OS.
Why do the Windows users think we Mac users are arrogant and smug? Because we are, in varying degrees. We know, we just know how great computing can be. There are die-hard Mac users just like their Windows counterparts. We're just like the Hatfields and the McCoys with keyboards.
If you have the time, I urge you to read this explanatory Ars Technica post about "Cognitive Lock-in". The article is neutral, neither Windows nor Mac. It's just about us. Humans.
And since you have the time, read this MacDailyNews article about the "Stockholm Syndrome" and "cognitive dissonance". This article really dissects the human psyche when it comes to the ongoing Win v. Mac differences and rivalries.
The Windows versus Mac conflict will go on for years to come. It will be up to the individual platform companies to design an interface system for all humans of all walks of mind. One mind, one computer.
(Sources: ArsTechnica; MacDailyNews; Wikipedia)
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Windows v. Mac - it's all in your mind
Penile artist
New Babes
Here it Saturday and I'm sitting here with nothing but time on my hands. A coupla minutes later and poof, we have new babes here at SixPackTech.
A new rump and a new rack for yuz.
The BOTW is a sweet readhead and Nat or Not is a blonde that will make your mind wander. And don't forget to vote if you think she's a natural or not.
Look next door.
Saturday beer taste
The beer of choice this week is Krusovice Imperial, a Czech endeavor. If I think I know eastern European language nuances, I'd say it was pronounced "kroosh-oh-veets'-eh". Maybe I'm close; maybe I'm way off.
This brew was a buck sevenny nine at the local beer store and it was in the front row of the import shelf in the "orphan" beer cooler. It comes in a 16.9 oz. gold-labelled bottle and presents itself as if it were a Russian Czar or Czech potentate.
Disregarding the goldleaf covered cap, I popped it open and peeled back the leafing a little so I could wrap my mouth around the opening. At first whiff, I knew I'd be in for a treat.
This beer is robust in the fact that it announces itself like a high ranking public official when it hits your taste buds. A little heavy, a little bittery but all beer. It leaves a nice reminder in the back of your throat that says "I was here" through the entire imbibement.
After the first few bottle swigs, I decanted it to my stein (I call it a "mug"). It showed up with a nice head and dark golden color. The pouring cut down on the sharpness just a tad and the beer was gone before I knew it. Well worth the price of the bottle.
I'd say that this beer is special in the fact that, if you bought it by the case, you'd save it for that first tasting at a big family event or celebration. Then go back to Miller or whatever Budweiser crap you have for the rest of the evening.
A link to the Krusovice brewery is here.
Extreme rock, paper, scissors
Believe it or not, there is an event called the World RPS Championships. Players from far and wide compete in this "sport" hoping to take home the top prized of $50,000.
The RPS Babes at at the left, the 2:30 video is below.
Virtual engine
Here's a computer simulated video of the assembly and internal workings of a modern 4-cylinder engine. The video is 4 mins. 51 secs.
Stick with it. You shade-tree mechanics may learn something new. For you seasoned veterans, what make of engine is this? Maybe it's generic.
This is interesting, nonetheless.
Care for a bit o' Spotted Dick?
Ahem. Spotted Dick is not what it at first seems to be. This is about a local European colloquialism for something you eat. (Stop snickering.)
It appears that Spotted Dick is spotted with raisins. (...and the imaginations run wild).
It's actually a dessert (oh. my. God.) enjoyed by many Brits usually with custard or brown sugar.
One variety comes in can. (Good Lord!)
It's shown here below.
I'm done. You can all go sophomorically crazy now.
(Via wikipedia)
(Photo: C.P.Storm)
Music, greed and the iPod
Beer on tap at home
Gizmodo recently featured an article on the Asko Home Pub. The pub is an upright refrigerator with lots of room inside including storage for two 5-liter kegs of beer. The yuppified beer fridge costs about a grand and for now, is only available in a few countries in Europe. They will introduce the unit to the U.S. soon, they say.
Why "yuppified"? Look at the guy. Obviously a male model. What sort of guy is being targeted by the Asko marketers. Well, guys like me "ain't that guy".
If you're going to have some buddies over for beer and a poker game or to watch the fights or football, with swearin' and fartin' and diggin' and scratchin' and peein', then this isn't your kind of tapper. You want something a little more manly. Maybe even a beer tapper you built yourself. Then you'll have beer on tap and something to brag about. Yeah, sweat equity.
May I propose a Kegerator? Get yourself a used fridge, tear out the innards, buy a few parts and assemble them. This can be done quite cheaply anywhere from about $50 to $350 depending on your wallet and expertise. There are many variations on this theme.
Decorate the fridge on the outside, buy a keg and hook it up. Wait for it to get cold and then invite the guys over for a "beer fridge christening" party where you can all break the fridge in and give 'er a name. The babes will love it because you built it and may want to feel your muscles. "Oh, Joe. You're so handy and good with tools!"
Here's a how-to post explaining the steps involved in building your own. Thanks to realbeer.com.
Now get out there and buy a fridge and build a home tapper for yourself. But first, some advice. Advice I offer from personal experience. Don't drink beer during the assembly process. You'll get lost and may lose parts and your interest in the project. Drink beer afterwards. It'll be so much more rewarding.
