Windows 7 Is Near!

As most of you know by now, Microsoft is ready to sweep Windows Vista under the carpet just like they did Windows ME. October 22nd marks the retail release of Windows 7 (yes, with all the editions just like Vista...). While I've been playing with the release candidate (RC) for a while, I would like to say that I'm hoping that Windows 7 will be the solution that Windows XP. I'll keep everyone posted breaking news regarding Windows 7!

What’s Going On With the World

This is just going to be a quick rant about some current events that have taken place over the last couple of days.

Rant #1: Disney purchases Marvel

     Why? Why the hell did this one happen? No good can come from Disney owning Marvel comics and the respective characters. I don’t want to see Mickey Mouse and the Incredible Hulk ever in the same scene. How could Marvel be bought for $4 billion? I think that after Iron Man 2 is out in theaters in May, it might be my last Superhero film for the rest of my life!

Rant #2: A.D.V Films is out of business (http://www.advfilms.com/)

     I’ve just heard of this one and it shocked me completely. The current state of the economy is really hitting companies harder than one would have ever imagined. When Geneon went under people thought that the anime industry in the United States wouldn’t survive but it did. Now with another major player in the U.S anime industry down, the road ahead for anime in the U.S looks extremely bleak!

What A Weekend + Update Time

     As many of you have heard in the media recently, 4 big names have passed away recently. Ed McMahon (age), Farrah Fawcett (cancer), Michael Jackson (heart related), & Billy Mays (heart related). The Grim Reaper has taken many this past week with 2 being complete shockers. The one that really shocked me though was Billy Mays as he seemed healthy as an ox. Everyone mentioned may they RIP in peace, and Billy I really wish that you would have taken on Vince because we all know you would have kicked his ass!

On a lighter note, Firefox users, today marks the release of Firefox 3.5. So if you haven’t already make the upgrade today. IE users, switch and make everyone’s life easier!

del.icio.us Tags: billy,mays,michael,jackson,ed,mcmahon,farrah,fawcett,death,celebs,firefox,internet,explorer,microsoft,mozilla,technology,software,hollywood

It's Alive Again

Back in March, the nation's 2nd largest electronics retailer went under. Everyone though Circuit City was out after the liquidation of all of its merchandise and closed all of there stores. Well Circuit City's website is back up and running again. It seems that Systemax has bought the Circuit City name and has relaunched the said website above on May 19th, but Systemax bought the rights on May 13th for roughly $14 million.

It seems that Systemax is looking to snatch up any failing electronics retailers (such as CompUSA and TigerDirect). If this keeps up, who knows, maybe Fry's will be next on the list if they are starting to strugle.

Let's see how long this lasts after millions of people were outraged by the "low" prices that the original Circuit City had during their original closing. Personally, when CompUSA went under, I continued on with my life with either NewEgg or BestBuy. When CompUSA was bought by Systemax it couldn't convince me to think about where I go to get my electronics. Only time will tell if the consumers trust can be regained! Though something tells me that this may take a while to regain that trust.

Anime Convention Coming Up!

This post is just to inform those who attend these kind of things! Next week (April 3rd to 5th), Tekkoshocon 7 is hitting up the convention center in Pittsburgh. This will probably be my last Tekko for some time, but I will be posting pictures as throughout the convention. So stay here for the madness that is an anime convention.

The True Meaning of ‘netbook’

After browsing Slashdot today, I ran across this article http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/03/02/1135208. This article points out how a company called Psion had the term ‘netbook’ trademarked in the late ‘90s. Though it seems with the popularity of netbooks (internet notebook computers) thanks to companies like Intel and ASUS, Psion would like to cash in on this now.

After visiting Save the Netbooks, I’ve realized that it seemed the Psion left their trademark dormant  with their discontinued NetBook line. It was until recently that they ‘started’ to sell these NetBooks according to Psion at least. I browsed their website (http://www.psionteklogix.com/) and I could only find these NetBooks on their discontinued products section of the website.

Intel, Dell, HP, ASUS, and other companies didn’t coin the term netbook, but instead tried to market notebooks that were only for the sole use of the internet and email. As it stands, it seems that the term netbook is generic and should be that way as it describes a group of specific notebook computers.

If one even goes to Wikipedia definition of Netbook, one will see what makes a netbook a netbook. As you can see, consumers adopted the term ‘netbook’ as a generic term. Hopeful the courts will see this and Psion will be forced to relinquish their trademark on this because it is obvious that the term netbook is already known by the masses out in the world.

Windows 7 Beta Brief Recap

As with my previous 2 posts, Windows 7 Beta (Build 7000) is looking very promising for those who either are still running Windows XP (Home or Professional) or for those who have had no choice other than Windows Vista (any flavor of Vista). Windows 7 has introduced some features that I feel that the user needs to experience 1st hand and is why I didn’t include them in my last 2 posts. Below I have included a link (click the Windows Orb) to a short 3 minute video (1280x800 resolution) I took with HyperCam showing off some of the features that are within Windows 7.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FILE IS 117MB, SO BROADBAND CONNECTIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Questions or comments about anything or about Windows 7, leave them here or at deggert@calucabana.com.