Archive for the ‘tech’ Category

Where are the “I’m a mac vs PC” ads?

Posted: April 3, 2010 by datechguy in tech
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Speaking of Windows 7 have you noticed something missing from your TV screens?

That’s right the I’m a mac, I’m a PC ads have virtually disappeared. I haven’t seen one since the first week of windows seven, the “trust me” ad.

It has been half a year and windows 7 has apparently been exactly what Microsoft claimed it would be, a solid operating system on a good computer that can be purchased for almost $1,000 less than a comparable Mac.

This seems to have been lost in all the Ipad, Iphone business lately, but it is VERY significant.

Is this Microsoft’s Domino’s Pizza moment? If so I would highly recommend keeping that extra grand in your pocket and get the Windows 7 machine instead of that Mac.

Sticky Notes Error on Windows 7

Posted: April 3, 2010 by datechguy in tech
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If you aren’t familiar with the “Sticky Notes” program you ought to be, basically it is a small app that allows you to create post-it type notes that can be placed on your desktop. These can be used as reminders for all kinds of things, VERY useful.

After my last windows update My Sticky notes program decided to stop functioning. As everything else was working one doesn’t want to be constantly undoing updates since you might end up creating security holes.

My first step was a simple uninstall/reinstall. This failed to solve the problem meaning that the update didn’t overwrite any file within the Sticky notes program, this suggested that the issue might be with a system file the program used

Lucky for us the old XP SFC function (System File Checker) carries over to windows 7. This is a function that can repair and re-write damaged system files. It can be accessed as follows

Go to Command Prompt (enter command prompt in the search box to access it)

On the Command line enter the following “SFC /SCANNOW”

This will begin the scan of system files. I would strongly recommend not playing with anything while the scan takes place. It will take some time but it will repair any system files it finds off. One advantage of Windows 7 is you will likely not need system CD’s for this function to work. In XP it often called for the install disks during the scan.

When it is complete you you should have your sticky notes working once again. You may have to change the icon back, but the program will work.

How could I forget the Free Speech Diva…

Posted: March 24, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, tech
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…when writing about Google and China:

As of now (still early morning in Beijing), Google.com.hk is accessible from mainland China although specific search results for sensitive terms result in a browser error – or in other words, are blocked. Same as it’s always been for sensitive searches on Google.com from inside mainland China. This is network filtering and would happen automatically as part of the “great firewall” Internet filtering system.

via Glenn Reynolds who put me to shame.

Oh BTW I’ve been calling Rebecca MacKinnon the free speech diva since I was blogging at Hiwired, to my knowledge nobody else does. They should.

Erin Burnett thows cold water on the Google Hero stuff…

Posted: March 23, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, tech
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…she points out on Morning Joe that google gets only 1 1/2% of its revenue from China and has struggled there. She must have read this Wall Street Journal article on the subject.

So Apparently google is making lemonade out of lemons here. A pretty smart move.

Then again it doesn’t change the fact that it is the right thing to do so I’ll give them kudos anyway for taking the road less traveled by, as the Journal says:

Google is trying to continue to offer search services to Chinese users outside the purview of mainland Chinese law, a strategy that few other companies, even those who have expressed growing frustrations with doing business in China, are likely to follow. Google appears to be setting itself up to fight China’s rules on its own and to manage what is likely to continue to be a complicated relationship with Beijing as it tries to ensure the government allows it to maintain some of its operations in the country. “This is an elegant solution if it were to hold, but I’m not convinced China will allow this to continue,” said John Palfrey, an Internet scholar at Harvard Law School.

Could it also be that Google sees that China’s bubble might be ready to burst too? If so such a move has even greater rewards long term.

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