Shut up! You talk to much…

Hey! You over there, I know about your kind
You’re like the Independent Network News on Channel 9
Everywhere that you go, no matter where you at
I said you talk about this, and you talk about that
When the cat took your tongue, I say you took it right back
Your mouth is so big, one bite would kill a Big Mac

You talk about people, you don’t even know
And you talk about places, you NEVER go
You talk about your girl, from head to toe
I said your mouth’s moving fast, and your brain’s moving slow

You’re the instigator, the orator of the town
You’re the worst when you converse, just a big mouth clown
You talk when you’re awake, I heard you talk when you sleep
Has anyone ever told you, that talk is cheap

Talking is the one thing, that you can do best
You told the cavity creeps, to watch out for Crest
You never have the story, right and exact
And then you always try to bore me, with your yakkity yak

Everyday you are out fighting someone in the street
And you’re always fighting someone you know ya can’t beat
Then you wonder how, you got in this mess
Just think of what you said, then take a guess

You’re always spreading rumors, whether bad or good
You’re the damn Walter Cronkite of the neighborhood
The Barbara Walters, and the Howard Cosell
You always come around, with a story to tell

Said it’s everybody’s business that you love to mind
And talkin to you, is like dropping a dime
You’re spreading the word, like it is your job
You should be a stool pigeon, who works for the mob

A big blabbermouth, that’s what you are
If you were a talk show host, you’d be a star
I said your mouth is big, size extra large
And when you open it, it’s like my garage

You always like to gossip, just like a girl
You talk so damn much, it’s outta this world
When you’re reincarnated, in your second life
You won’t be a man, you’ll be a nagging wife

Twenty-five hours, eight days a week
Thirteen months outta year, is when you speak
I’m tired of listening to the garbage you talk
Why don’t you find a short pier, and take a long walk

But this is weird: if they want to phase out Windows XP so badly, why are we seeing Windows 7 Starter Edition prices go higher than XP? It doesn’t make sense at all.

Microsoft still hasn’t officially announced exactly how much it will charge for Windows 7 Starter Edition, and the price could be variable since it will be sold in large volumes to PC makers. Consumers won’t be able to walk into a store and pick up a copy. But Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer did suggest recently that the pricing scheme will go something like this: Windows XP, Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home, and then Windows 7 Professional.

Via Liliputing

Internet availability has transcended initial impressions for it as a fad or an optional service. I think it has now entered the level of a utility. Every home should have a stable internet connection for a variety of reasons that are just too many to mention here. Metering bandwidth defeats the very intrinsic nature of the internet as an always on connection that allows you to access information and whatever else the internet offers whenever you need it and at whatever amounts of data you download. Comcast should realize that the concept of bandwidth metering is something that users loathe. AOL has done it before. Compuserve has, too. And the consensus has been unanimous—bandwidth metering sucks.

I’m sure that Comcast can find other more creative ways of solving whatever problems they have without limiting the amount of data their subscribers get from the internet. If they don’t reconsider this option, they are in for a world of pain as internet users are a very vocal bunch.

In a recent seminar on corporate philantrophy, Bill Gates said that the new version of Windows could be released anytime within the “next year or so”. This statement seems to back up the new corporate strategy of releasing far more regular updates of its dominant operating system. This means that we can expect the next OS upgrade to Vista to come to market far earlier than what was previously thought.

The new strategy seems to be to release a new Windows version within 3 years of the last version. What Gates said, therefore, actually fits into the development cycle that Microsoft has identified. Of course, this could just mean test versions coming out and not the final release product yet. Nevertheless, this development cycle leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. The cost of software upgrades is just too steep and now, the expectation is that every four to five years you have to upgrade again? It would have been a good thing if consumers can decide for themselves when to upgrade but with Microsoft’s policy of stopping support for older OS and bundling important features exclusively to the new OS (like Vista and DirectX 10), we are being forced to upgrade at gunpoint.

This is just unacceptable.

Actually, I really need an ultraportable this week. I’m going out of town for a trip and I really need to bring a spare laptop with me to continue working while I’m away. Unfortunately, every single unit of the EEE has been snapped up faster than the stores can replenish their stocks. I am actually quite surprised by the massive popularity of ASUS’ new money making gadget. I know that the EEE has respectable specs at price point that is insanely cheap but I’ve always thought that it will still remain a niche product because it is too small and it has a Linux OS out of the box. The fact that it’s selling like hotcakes could mean that ultraportables have really established itself as a legitimately viable sector and that this is the magic price point for electronic gadgets — most especially for laptops that have been traditionally seen as very expensive.

Hopefully, I get my EEE this week…

Take for example, this statement from Jennifer Pariser, chief of litigation for Sony BMG, which was uttered during the trial of Jammie Thomas, a woman from Minnesota who was ordered to pay $220,000.00 by the court for sharing 24 songs online. Pariser testified that: “When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song.” He added that when one makes that copy, it’s “a nice way of saying ’steals just one copy.’”

Pariser just said that even if you own a CD, copying it to your hard drive for your own personal listening purposes constitutes to stealing. Isn’t that just stupid? I’ve heard the RIAA has already modified their statements regarding this topic but nevertheless, that earlier statement just shows how blinded the RIAA can get just to protect their interests. They don’t even care if they alienate legitimate CD buyers.

I wish 2008 will bring the geriatric geezers at the RIAA to their senses.

Recently, Sen. Barack Obama — showing his very progressive stance on technology issues — said that he will put government data online in a format that is universally accessible should he be elected president.

I’d rather not paraphrase Obama’s very persuasive and well articulated statement so here it is: “We have to use technology to open up our democracy. It’s no coincidence that one of the most secretive administrations in history has favored special interests and pursued policies that could not stand up to sunlight. As president, I’ll change that. I’ll put government data online in universally accessible formats.”

Obama made this statement in a speech he delivered at the Google campuse in California. In the event, he also revealed his detailed IT plan that revolves around a more open and technically progressive government. Obama’s stance is being hailed by technology experts and activists. Obama’s move can really open up the government and make information more accessible to everyone. There will be no more need for proprietary formats just to open important documents or to access information.

Of course, you should expect conservatives to oppose this move because they see a democratic approach to information is tantamount to practically giving so called sensitive information to enemies of the state. Let’s see how the debates will fuel this issue.

Marino Marcich, managing director of the ODF Alliance, applauded the move.

“Public information that can be read and downloaded by anyone without need of a particular brand of software is central to the mission of the ODF Alliance and a key feature of the OpenDocument Format,” Marcich said. “We are excited that leading American officials are joining the growing chorus of international and domestic voices that have already recognized

I admit I’m one of those guys who can’t look at a new Macbook Pro or Fujitsu Lifebook without drooling. The bad thing is that I go all metaphysical because of it. I begin to wonder how THEY can afford it and I can’t. Am I destined to forever be relegated to the group of people who always have to settle for low-end or low-midrange laptops?

In my envy, I also start mocking these people. I look at the websites they surf (Ha! Plain old Yahoo! Entertainment. What a bore!) or even the kind of information that they look for (Beyonce! Josh Groban! What atrocious music tastes!). I know that I’m being unfair and that my desire to have a really cool laptop has made the worst come out of me. But I also know that I am not the only one who feels the same way. I guess the best thing to do about it is just ignore them, be happy with what I do have — and try to “accidentally” spill cafe latte on those damn Macbooks.

Last August 24, the Windows Genuine Advantage gave Microsoft a big headache when an error in processing validations erroneously tagged legitimate Windows owners as using pirated software. Microsoft’s help line were inundated with calls from irate customers and forums were flooded with messages that came short of calling for a lynch mob in front of the Microsoft Campus.

Microsoft claimed that the problem was immediately fixed and that only 12,000 systems were affected by the problem. But whether it is 12,000 or 12,000,000, the fact still remains that Windows Genuine Advantage sucks. Microsoft has to rethink of a better, more customer friendly way of proving the legitimacy of its software — or even scrapping that process altogether. It’s not like Microsoft is going bankrupt, right?

I think one thing that is driving the prices of laptops in the market are the proliferation of so called generic or whitebox units. These are laptops that come from little known computer companies. Actually some of these companies are OEM manufacturers who have contracts to produce laptops for top name brands. They then use the knowledge that they have acquired from manufacturing parts for other companies to produce their own laptop with their brands.

Are whitebox units a good buy? Well, if the price is really attractive and the features are good enough then I say buy one. The most common issues with these types of laptops is the fact that warranty can be a bit spotty because these companies do not have the reach and capabilities to service their units. But in my view, a strong warranty service also drives prices up. If you do not plan on keeping a laptop for more than three years, then a one year warranty is more than enough for you. But if you do find a similarly price branded unit, then go for the one with the brand on it — you know, just for the peace of mind.