New voting system for POTM
Mon 29 Jun 2009Filed Under: *Hayabusa BLOG, Website Status | Comments Off on New voting system for POTM
I’ve got the new voting system to work with the web site and so updated the older pages hope you like it.
The best computer – changed my mind
Tue 23 Jun 2009Filed Under: Apple Computers, Computers, Windows 7 | Comments Off on The best computer – changed my mind
Umm… believe it or not I’ve changed my mind! After searching through the ads and shops it is very clear that the only Apple that would meet my requirements will cost over $4500. Yes it was a Apple MacPro Desktop. I had sticker shock. Even the second hand market for the MacPro’s are quite silly – really. Nonetheless they fitted my requirements perfectly.
I considered some more… Maybe I could live with another MacBook or MacBook Pro and possibly the iMacs. Hmmm The iMac’s are reasonably priced but I don’t like the all in one design.
iMacs: There’s no space to put in more had drives and I do not like the idea of having to take the whole computer in to be fixed if something goes wrong! Sure you can get external hardrives but I prefer to be able to have the lot in one case. iMac prices currently start at $1999 and go to $3699. I know I’ll want the 24 Inch version and at least the top range for the faster processor. Afterall I need to run the TV at the same time as programming and all the associated software on a virtualised Windows XP.
The Macbook Pros are good too but the cheapest 13′ former MacBook does not have a proper graphics card so I’ll need the 15-inch version with the 2.66GHz CPU at the very least. This version is priced at about $3,199. Honestly I think I’ll need the faster processor so the next one up is $3,699.
The prices are serious money that I’m not willing to part with. (For an Apple or PC) I guess that price is the ultimate issue I have. Performance concerns come next. Since I already use a decent MacBook I know I can run all that I want but its not the fluid speed I demand.
Apple MacBooks are now priced competitive with their PC counter parts. Sure their processors are numerically not as fast but the OSX is more efficient and I know that although lower in supposed speed they are just as fast as the supposedly higher rated PC notebooks. Besides even the fastest processor on a PC notebook is not fast enough for what I need it to do. It has to be a desktop I think.
I do not need the new main computer to be portable and do not want particularly want another notebook as a main computer. So I was not happy with the current outcome.
Then I found out about the yet to be released Windows 7 which Microsoft have promised proper XP visualization so all my old software will work. They say they will also include a anti-virus for free – a bit ironic don’t you think?
Based on the current prices of PCs I could get a seriously fast machine that could do everything for under $2000.
So I’ve decided to hold of until the new OS is released – my perfect computer could well be a new Windows based PC – AGAIN!
Norton and McAfee Anti-virus Complaint
Mon 15 Jun 2009Filed Under: *Hayabusa BLOG, Anti-virus software, Computers | Comments Off on Norton and McAfee Anti-virus Complaint
My concerns have been justified on the large Anti-virus software companies. (See the last post!) Both Symantec aka Norton and McAfee are guilty of unauthorized charging of its users. A few years ago it was Norton who tried to stop users from uninstalling the software and now trying to secretly charge renewal fees. Symantec (Norton) and Mcafee fined over renewal process
I didn’t realize McAfee was trying to do the same thing but now that I do they have completely lost my trust as well. I was considering renewing but now a definite NO.
Added to that ever since the renewal notices started being emailed and ‘warning messages’ that my anti-virus subscription was due I reread the emails and found out that there is significant price difference to what they are going to charge me! One week it is about $129 then its $90.95, then its $96.85, then $83.95 and another one for $64.95 then get this. They want to charge $181.95 for 2 years! I’ve also been to the shops and they are discounted to $49 or even free with another purchase.
Hence never get anything automatically renewed since they charge you much more!
The conclusion? I do not trust either company’s anti-virus now – sack the CEO and boards for bringing these supposed security companies images down the drain and now acting like spam and insecurity organisations. I just do not know what they are going to try next to get money off me.