Hardware should not be behind where style and substance comes. Computer World have an article about "Concept" Notebooks, style statements which project the notebook and the user as one . Article here : http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9070158 . Also my Five Good sites. Sites where there is neat information on utils, tips, tricks and resources for us to "feed" our tech hunger on:
[ LoCS ]
AJAXIAN [ http://www.ajaxian.com/ ] All on AJAX for the techies.
SCRIBD [ http://www.scribd.com/ ] Online Word, PDF, PPT etc rendering site. Online Office documents opening.
JOTT [ http://jott.com/ ] Jot your "Mind Notes" online by "calling" to this site. Sounds exciting ?
TECH REVIEW [ http://www.techreview.com/ ] The Authority on Technology review !
UBER NOTES [ http://www.ubernote.com/ ] Not for the Mundane ! Online Notes Taking Software !
[ /LoCS ]
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Browser Wars and the way ahead.
I have been working with various Browsers and do feel that a browser will be the OS. A browser software today has become extremely powerful with various Plug-Ins letting access to content and Software too ! You name it - You have multimedia plug-ins, development plug-ins, "viewer" plug-ins, remote access control plug-ins, FTP, Powerful search plugins, etc.With the next generation of internet websites rendering software that allows user to "Edit-In-Site" and "Render-In-Site" and"View/ Download" from site, the browser will be the only thing one will need to WORK and PLAY !
I have experienced the speed of various browsers. Of late, in terms of sheer speed, the newest of the lot, Apple's Safari Browser is Blazing Fast. Mozilla Firefox comes in second. IE (even 7.0) comes after these two. Safari looks appealing with its BareBones, Sleek looks (see pics) but still is in its nascent stages in terms of plug-ins. Firefox eats and breathes JavaScript and has a wide array of plug-ins. IE7 and above (are you still on 6.x ???) have the widest variety of plug-ins for Document Viewing, Multimedia etc.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
D(H)ELL - The DELL Hell. Boot.ini disappears automatically.
It is rightly said - When you least expect, the worse happens. I was happily working on my DELL Inspiron 6400/E1505 (having DELL Media Direct). Morning - I copied Picture images from my DigiCam and then shutdown the laptop. I don't remember doing anything wrong as I waited for the computer to shut off completely, But Voila ! on Next Boot I am greeted with the message.
The following file is missing
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\System32\Hal.dll .
This is not the original error, but appears as Windows Boot Loader does not find boot.ini in C:\
I checked and yes It was NOT There ! How on earth could it get deleted one (fine *&%#) day ??
I got bamboozled. I had shutdown absolutely normally. What could have gone wrong ?
Answer: DELL had the HELL called Media Direct (I do not use it regularly) whose some button I had pushed while OS was shutting down. It simply WIPED OUT C:\boot.ini (How could DELL be so careless ! They do have good Hardware level Advanced Diagnostics Utils etc .., but software NOPE)
Repair:
I ran Windows System Recovery Console. Got to command prompt after Administrator Password. It loads a Read Only file system. (Heck) ! So how do you create a boot.ini in C:\ ?
Microsoft (as always - Had a KB Article saying boot.ini corrupt but not as to How ?) Link here --> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184
1) Login to recovery console using XP setup CD (after boot from CD)
2) run command bootcfg /rebuild
it will try to detect existing windows installations and write a boot.ini file. After that Win XP was up and running again !
BTW: My DELL was custom built, and OS pre-partitioned by DELL. Inspite of that it got me back Win XP running normally. (Yes, at one point, I was thinking of calling DELL Technician due to non-standard Partition that DELL had installed and XP Setup CD detected and warned me about !)
The following file is missing
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\System32\Hal.dll .
This is not the original error, but appears as Windows Boot Loader does not find boot.ini in C:\
I checked and yes It was NOT There ! How on earth could it get deleted one (fine *&%#) day ??
I got bamboozled. I had shutdown absolutely normally. What could have gone wrong ?
Answer: DELL had the HELL called Media Direct (I do not use it regularly) whose some button I had pushed while OS was shutting down. It simply WIPED OUT C:\boot.ini (How could DELL be so careless ! They do have good Hardware level Advanced Diagnostics Utils etc .., but software NOPE)
Repair:
I ran Windows System Recovery Console. Got to command prompt after Administrator Password. It loads a Read Only file system. (Heck) ! So how do you create a boot.ini in C:\ ?
Microsoft (as always - Had a KB Article saying boot.ini corrupt but not as to How ?) Link here --> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184
1) Login to recovery console using XP setup CD (after boot from CD)
2) run command bootcfg /rebuild
it will try to detect existing windows installations and write a boot.ini file. After that Win XP was up and running again !
BTW: My DELL was custom built, and OS pre-partitioned by DELL. Inspite of that it got me back Win XP running normally. (Yes, at one point, I was thinking of calling DELL Technician due to non-standard Partition that DELL had installed and XP Setup CD detected and warned me about !)
Way 2 Healthy Life !
Perma Link Here ---> http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/20-foods-to-snack-on-for-enhanced-productivity.html
Avocados. These keep you from bloating up after a big lunch and are tasty either on their own, with sugar or salt on top, or with your salad. Too much of these are a debatable topic. Just enough (1 - 2 per day are great)
Almonds. Great for brainpower. Absolute for Memory enhancement as they repair damaged cells. Great for Strong Hair. Read more here.
Raisins. Want more energy? Grab a pack of raisins. They are high in energy and antioxidants, and low in fat and calories.
Figs. They help maintain high energy levels while keeping your appetite far away. Whether you find fresh figs or a pack of dried fruit, enjoy its natural sweetness.
Olives. These are anti-inflammatory and they reduce symptoms to arthritis, asthma and menopause.
Walnuts. These are full of omega 3 fatty acids to help you think more clearly and keep you focused. Excellent source of protein, but be sure to chew well.
Carrots. I love carrots and have at least six carrots in a big glass of juice every morning. They are also good for other times too. Snacking on one cup of chopped carrots will give you six times your recommended daily value of Vitamin A. They improve eyesight, especially in the dark.
Strawberries. As with carrots and flaxseeds, strawberries surprisingly aid in better eye sight. Eating strawberries has also been linked to preventing cancer.
Flaxseeds. If you’ve been working hard all day, have some flaxseeds. They are great for your eyes to stop them feeling a little dried out, and allowing you to feel fresh even after a hard day.
Water. Nothing beats water, the healthiest drink on the planet. It speeds up your metabolism, makes you feel fuller instead of eating junk and keeps you hydrated.
Sunflower seeds. A popular way to beat fatigue. Chew properly as it can take some time.
Papaya. The colorful fruit helps protect you against the potential damages of secondhand smoke, rheumatoid arthritis, and even the common cold.
Pear. Usually only available during the pear season and when they come out, I always get them. They taste good, they’re cool in the mouth and they are hypo-allergenic.
Green tea. Shun your regular tea which has a bit of caffeine content, but it’s also very healthy for your body. They are full of antioxidants and strengthens your immune system.
Ginger. Use in Green Tea. Great for beating nausea and stomach gas. Have it as ginger tea, ginger in your stomach or as low fat ginger cookies. Also helps ease stomach tummy muscles.
Peppermint. If you have a stomach bug or just need to perk up a bit, have a peppermint drink. It’s a great muscle relaxant and helps you clean up your nasal passages and breathe easily.
Watermelon. There is nothing like cool, red sweet watermelon that gives you great energy and nutrients without any calories. It’s a great energy booster.
Low fat yoghurt. Also known as Pro-Biotic Yoghurt. Aids in metabolism. Yoghurt is refreshing and cool when you put it in your mouth so it’s a great, tasteful wake up call for your mind.
Dark chocolate. Women would love it's mention. Having one small bar a day will satisfy your cravings for sweets and give you a load of antioxidants.
Raspberries. These beautiful fruits are a great source of antioxidants which are great to neutralize your free radicals which can affect your cells.
Have these T20 (True20) good food and you will have a healthy body and glowing skin.
Avocados. These keep you from bloating up after a big lunch and are tasty either on their own, with sugar or salt on top, or with your salad. Too much of these are a debatable topic. Just enough (1 - 2 per day are great)
Almonds. Great for brainpower. Absolute for Memory enhancement as they repair damaged cells. Great for Strong Hair. Read more here.
Raisins. Want more energy? Grab a pack of raisins. They are high in energy and antioxidants, and low in fat and calories.
Figs. They help maintain high energy levels while keeping your appetite far away. Whether you find fresh figs or a pack of dried fruit, enjoy its natural sweetness.
Olives. These are anti-inflammatory and they reduce symptoms to arthritis, asthma and menopause.
Walnuts. These are full of omega 3 fatty acids to help you think more clearly and keep you focused. Excellent source of protein, but be sure to chew well.
Carrots. I love carrots and have at least six carrots in a big glass of juice every morning. They are also good for other times too. Snacking on one cup of chopped carrots will give you six times your recommended daily value of Vitamin A. They improve eyesight, especially in the dark.
Strawberries. As with carrots and flaxseeds, strawberries surprisingly aid in better eye sight. Eating strawberries has also been linked to preventing cancer.
Flaxseeds. If you’ve been working hard all day, have some flaxseeds. They are great for your eyes to stop them feeling a little dried out, and allowing you to feel fresh even after a hard day.
Water. Nothing beats water, the healthiest drink on the planet. It speeds up your metabolism, makes you feel fuller instead of eating junk and keeps you hydrated.
Sunflower seeds. A popular way to beat fatigue. Chew properly as it can take some time.
Papaya. The colorful fruit helps protect you against the potential damages of secondhand smoke, rheumatoid arthritis, and even the common cold.
Pear. Usually only available during the pear season and when they come out, I always get them. They taste good, they’re cool in the mouth and they are hypo-allergenic.
Green tea. Shun your regular tea which has a bit of caffeine content, but it’s also very healthy for your body. They are full of antioxidants and strengthens your immune system.
Ginger. Use in Green Tea. Great for beating nausea and stomach gas. Have it as ginger tea, ginger in your stomach or as low fat ginger cookies. Also helps ease stomach tummy muscles.
Peppermint. If you have a stomach bug or just need to perk up a bit, have a peppermint drink. It’s a great muscle relaxant and helps you clean up your nasal passages and breathe easily.
Watermelon. There is nothing like cool, red sweet watermelon that gives you great energy and nutrients without any calories. It’s a great energy booster.
Low fat yoghurt. Also known as Pro-Biotic Yoghurt. Aids in metabolism. Yoghurt is refreshing and cool when you put it in your mouth so it’s a great, tasteful wake up call for your mind.
Dark chocolate. Women would love it's mention. Having one small bar a day will satisfy your cravings for sweets and give you a load of antioxidants.
Raspberries. These beautiful fruits are a great source of antioxidants which are great to neutralize your free radicals which can affect your cells.
Have these T20 (True20) good food and you will have a healthy body and glowing skin.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
[ LoCS ] List of Cool Sites
- http://www.makeuseof.com - Digital tips for increased personal and official productivity.
- http://lifehacker.com - Your not so mundane way of getting things done.
- http://www.netvibes.com - One page to get them all. One page to bind them !
- http://www.yankodesign.com/ - Inspired Ideas of unique and cool workspace, home, gadgets, and design.
- http://alexshalman.com/ - Personal Practical development !
[ /LoCS ]
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Before I start with whats Web 2.0 and its impact as in the sites that it has spawned (and spawning ...), I would like to say that I will be regularly blogging about life anecdotes, new age music (yey! I love music), cool softwares, cool tips n DOs, and all things digital, and yes, blogs will be interspersed with my lists of cool sites (LoCS), How-Tos (H-2), Productivity Hacks (pHk) and more. Keep Visiting ...
First Post. Lets not talk about Web 2.0, and NeXT Gen >> websites. I would like you to take you way back in time. There is a very good website that archives (well) almost the whole internet : http://www.archive.org/web/web.php . This website will give you archived pages of how a particular website looked way back in a point in time. So if you want to see how the master search sites - yahoo, google, etc. looked when they started as net babies, this is the site which will show you ! Enjoy the DejaVu !
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)