Archive for February, 2007
I recently took a look at Flash MP3 players by Apple, archos, Creative, iriver, and SanDisk.
I discarded the archos and iriver models immediately, as they top out at 4GB and I wanted a minimum capacity of 6GB.
That left me looking at three options:
- iPod Nano
- Creative Zen V Plus
- SanDisk Sansa e280
Features
The Zen V Plus and the Sansa both include an integrated FM tuner. That’s a plus that the Nano doesn’t offer.
The Zen V Plus and the Sansa both include an integrated voice recorder — another plus that the Nano doesn’t offer.
The Sansa provides a micro SD card slot for expansion, which is a plus that neither the iPod nor the Zen V Plus offers.
The Sansa also offers a larger screen (1.8″) than either the iPod or the Zen V Plus (1.5″).
The Sansa e280 appears to be the clear winner of the features comparison.
Price
The SanDisk Sansa is also the winner in the price department. Here are the current prices on Amazon.com:
Windows Vista is one of the most ambitious software projects that have ever been undertaken by Microsoft. It is more revolutionary than evolutionary, though, in the sense that it is still backwards compatible with most of the previous programs in XP.
This creates a problem for Microsoft as it makes XP the largest competitor of Vista as most users opt to stick with XP or wait a few more months before upgrading to Vista to give Microsoft more time to work out the bugs. Nevertheless, Windows Vista is packed with a lot of new features and upgrades that makes it the definite next-generation OS for computers.
Determining Compatibility and Upgradeability of the Old PC
XP users can check how upgradeable their systems are to Vista by connecting to Microsoft’s online Vista upgrade advisor. Here you can check if your computer has the right hardware (RAM, speed, disk space, etc) to handle at least the Vista Home Basic Edition. Vista Home Premium Edition, Ultimate Edition and Business Edition require a lot more hardware power. Windows XP users can also check out some of the new features or applications of Vista using their current OS by downloading the new Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer 7 and desktop search utility.
Determining Compatibility of Software and Hardware
Some hardware, especially the older models, may fail to work with Windows Vista. To avoid this, make sure that the hardware you install in your computer has a logo or certification from Microsoft that either says “Certified for Windows Vista” or “Works with Windows Vista”.
Hardware that is “Certified for Windows Vista” means that it is optimized to take advantage of the new applications or upgrades of the new OS. The list of hardware, drivers and software supported by Vista is still a bit short at this time but it will definitely get longer as Microsoft works out the kinks in the system and hardware vendors start adapting their drivers to the new OS.
Windows Vista Installation
After making sure that the computer is Vista Upgradeable, Windows Vista may be installed either by clean install which basically wipes out the old OS or by simple upgrade which installs the new OS on top of the older one.
A clean install means that the user will have to back up his files, applications and settings before deleting the old OS. The Easy Transfer tool that comes with Vista, however, enables the user to do this fairly easily.
A dual boot system could be a great way of assessing the new Vista’s features and functionalities while retaining the reliability and familiarity of the old OS. To successfully create a dual boot system, one has to install Windows Vista by booting the computer using the installation disk of Windows Vista as opposed to directly installing it from within windows XP. When Vista is installed from within XP, Vista is assigned to a different drive or partition and this creates confusion for the applications and programs running on the system.
DRM or digital rights management are restrictions on copying, duplicating and sharing of downloaded content such as software, utilities, movies and digital music. DRM enforces the copyrights of companies by forbidding end users to load a software application on more than one computer, sharing digital and protected content through the internet or burning disks containing copyright-protected media.
Companies with DRM or copyright protection systems use the argument that these are to make sure that intellectual property will be protected and quality is maintained. There are cases however when DRM applications may endanger the security of your system or may perform unwanted actions in your computer.
An example of this undesirable DRM result is when installed software takes priority over other programs in order to perform efficiently. Another case may be when end-user license agreements contain clauses that give companies the right to change agreements whenever the need arises. This happened when Apple Computer changed the allowable times a user can burn a song to a CD from ten to seven without the users knowing it.
Security Risks from DRM Applications
Sometimes DRM can also lead the user’s personal information to be sent to the manufacturer or the company where the DRM came from. This may cause security issues in a user’s system. An example of this was when Microsoft released its Windows Genuine Advantage Antipiracy program as an update to Windows Editions. Installation of this program then led to the system’s security features being compromised.
Sony BMG also created software that is designed to protect their newest release of digital music. This led to end-user systems’ reduced efficiency in preventing Trojans from being installed. After several class action suits, Sony withdrew the DRM software from succeeding batches, promised to get an independent assessment of DRM software that will be released with its products in the future and offered free music downloads to all the consumers that were affected by the program.
Laws on DRM and Copyright Protection
The law itself does not help much to protect the end users from these kinds of DRM applications. This is evinced by the large number of cases the Recording Association of America has filed against people who have shared music files over the internet. The law also makes it hard for people and companies to asses the security risks of these DRM applications as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act forbids reverse engineering of these DRM programs.
Avoiding DRM-Related Risks
To avoid the possible security issues a DRM application may cause, users can opt to download or buy CDs that have unprotected MP3 format music instead. Users are also encouraged to carefully read the end-user license agreements before installing software to give them an idea about what the software will do when installed and what the companies can do in the future. A backup library system or backing the files on CD audio format will also be a good investment to make sure that files are insured against any unforeseen actions of DRM applications.
Operating System Upgrades
Perhaps the most glaring change users will notice in the new Windows Vista is the increased security on all levels of the OS especially the OS kernel. The new Windows Vista comes with its own Windows Defender and Firewall to secure a computer from hackers, viruses and spywares through limiting access to the critical parts of the OS to windows programs. Vista has also increased capabilities in hardware and drive management as well as application programming interfaces.
Enhanced I/O scheduling, multi-processor sync and memory management through OS kernel changes are also available with the new Vista. Other low-level function upgrades also improve some basic tasks or functions such as task switching, security, performance and reliability of the system. Vista’s SideShow makes it possible for devices with auxiliary screens to display pertinent information without the need for the system to be powered on
Networking Upgrades
The new Windows Vista will also have an upgraded networking capability with its auto-tuning means through TCP window scaling and IPv6 native support in the new TCP/IP stack.
Performance Enhancers
Performance enhancers are also a part of the new Vista package. SuperFetch monitors frequently used programs and preloads them for faster user access. ReadyBoost permits faster flash memory data transfer through high-speed USB drives; this makes it a very effective supplementary swap file. ReadyDrive allows faster data transfer for hybrid hard drives as it has built-in flash memory caches and low priority I/O mechanisms that enable maintenance and security checks without excessive operations disruption. This means that you can run the anti virus or defrag applications in the background without noticing any degradation in the system’s performance.
NET 3.0 Framework Incorporation
The new Vista also incorporates the NET 3.0 framework. This extends the capabilities of Windows API such as Windows CardSpace known formerly as InfoCard, Windows Communication Framework known formerly as Indigo and Windows Presentation Foundation or Avalon. Central RSS store and native RSS support allows the users to detect RSS feeds through an RSS reader sidebar in the new Internet Explorer 7.
Hardware Support and Capabilities
The new Windows Vista is compatible with the new computer devices coming out of the market today. Furthermore, more realistic simulations and games are possible with graphics hardware virtualization, graphics memory paging, supporting geometry shaders, DirectX10 and a lot of other features integrated in the OS. This upgrade in graphics capability is also readily evident through the live previews of windows and documents, scalable icons, animations, flip 3D view in switching windows and glass-window frames that Vista users will see on their desktops.
Vista is also capable of supporting newly released computer technologies and peripherals like Blu-ray and HD DVD devices, HDTV cards, etc. Architecture of drivers for the printer and Audio were also upgraded along with the integration of Media Center in the Vista Edition (for tablet PC and laptop users) for stability and enhanced performance. Further upgrades to Tablet PC and laptop users includes personalized handwriting recognition, improved pen navigation and touch screen support.
Strengths of Windows Vista
Improved Security
The new Windows Vista is a lot safer than the old Windows XP. With Windows Vista, limited permissions, Account Protection and Parental Control features finally make standard user accounts practical. Even administrators have reduced privileges as OS changes are limited and verified.
Better Graphics and Search Features
The new start menu also makes it easier for the user to browse through the available programs in the system through tree-like view of menus as opposed to the cascading windows style used in Windows XP. The search box is also a lot more effective since it uses incremental search to look for a particular file.
Aside from the incremental search feature, the new Windows Explorer also comes with a better file navigation system that lets one jump to anywhere within the directory hierarchy, live icons that enables one to see what’s inside a folder by enlarging the icon and looking at the file thumbnails within, and new buttons that makes it easier to perform some common context-appropriate tasks.
The Flip 3D view in Vista now makes it easier for users to switch between windows and tasks. The users will see much better graphics in folder and window displays.
New Internet Browser
The Internet Explorer 7 also comes in equipped with tabbed browsing capabilities and better security features. Windows XP users can now try this new web browser by downloading it from Microsoft’s site.
Improved Backup
The Backup and Restore Center of Vista, like Norton Ghost, encompasses complete backups with full disk imaging.
Weaknesses of Windows Vista
Security Program Lock
Perhaps the greatest weakness of Windows Vista is the limitations in OS control it places on non-Microsoft security programs like Norton and McAfee. Vista users will have to rely heavily on the effectiveness of Windows Defender and Firewall to protect them against Spyware and hackers.
Hardware and Software Incompatibilities
There are still a lot of hardware and software that will not be compatible to the new Windows Vista. Furthermore, Windows Vista may not be compatible yet with many of the other systems currently in use by most companies. For this reason, Vista users may be forced to use two operating systems in order to be able to keep using some programs.
Hardware Requirements
Upgrading to Windows Vista will also mean massive upgrades on the hardware itself. A bigger hard drive may be needed as the operating system itself needs at least 16 GB of space. RAM, processors, etc. may need to be upgraded in order to meet the minimum requirements for the installation of Vista. Users may also need to buy new Vista Certified or Vista Compatible hardware in order to maximize the use of the new OS.
Since there are not a lot of Vista-compatible hardware available in the market; users may be tempted to delay upgrading to the new system and wait for new hardware, software and drivers. They may also need to wait awhile for the bugs to be worked out before committing to an OS change.
I just installed a replacement keyboard in my Dell Latitude D800.
I called up Dell yesterday and told them that I had lost a keycap. The replacement keyboard arrived this morning.
The replacement was amazingly easy. It required removing only two screws, and Dell even sent me the screwdriver.
My Latitude gets a lot of abuse and the old keyboard was filthy. I’m glad I don’t have to clean it now.
Dell Customer Service is top notch!
The DFI LAN Party UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert is the current motherboard of choice for serious PC enthusiasts.
For the very basics, the motherboard features an AMD Socket-939 to support an AMD Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, or Athlon 64 X2 processor.
Data integrity is provided by an on-board SATA RAID controller. The Silicon Image Sil3114 chip supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, and RAID 5.
System reliability is further enhanced by the magnetically levitated fan which is present on the heatsink.
Also featured on the motherboard are dual gigabit Ethernet ports.
For graphics, this motherboard sports a plethora of excellent features, including a 16x PCI Express bus and support for dual nVidia SLI-ready video cards.
In the audio department, the Karajan Audio audio system provides theater like 7.1/8ch sound.
DFI LAN Party UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert Specifications
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 / Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64 / Sempron
Socket 939
Front Side Bus
2000MT/s HyperTransport interface
Chipset
NVIDIA nForce4 SLI
- Supports NVIDIA SLI (Scalable Link Interface)
Memory
Four 184-pin DDR SDRAM DIMM sockets
Supports dual channel (128-bit wide) memory interface
Supports up to 4GB system memory
Supports PC2100 (DDR266), PC2700 (DDR333) and PC3200 (DDR400) DDR SDRAM DIMM
SLI / Single VGA Mode
SLI mode
- Use 2 SLI-ready PCI Express x16 graphics cards (use identical cards) on the PCI Express x16 slots.
- Each x16 slot operates at x8 bandwidth. When the graphics cards are connected via the SLI bridge, the total bandwidth of the two graphics cards is x16.
Single VGA mode
- 1 PCI Express graphics card on the PCIE1 slot operates at x16 bandwidth.
- The other PCI Express x16 slot (PCIE4) operates at x2 bandwidth.
Expansion Slots
2 PCI Express x16 slots
1 PCI Express x1 slot
1 PCI Express x4 slot
3 PCI slots
BIOS
Award BIOS
CMOS Reloaded
CPU/DRAM overclocking
CPU/DRAM/Chipset overvoltage
4Mbit flash memory
Power Management
Supports ACPI STR (Suspend to RAM) function
Wake-On-Events include:
- Wake-On-PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse
- Wake-On-USB Keyboard/Mouse
- Wake-On-LAN
- RTC timer to power-on the system
AC power failure recovery
Hardware Monitor
Monitors CPU/system/chipset temperature
Monitors 12V/5V/3.3V/Vcore/Vbat/5Vsb/Vchipset/Vdram voltages
Monitors the speed of the CPU fan, Fan 2 and Fan 3 fan
CPU Overheat Protection function monitors CPU temperature during system boot-up
Audio
Karajan audio module
- Realtek ALC850 8-channel AC’97 audio CODEC
- 6 audio jacks
- 1 CD-in connector
- 1 front audio connector
True stereo line level outputs
S/PDIF-in/out interface
LAN
Dual Gigabit LAN - Vitesse VSC8201 Gigabit Phy and Marvell 88E8001 Gigabit PCI
Fully compliant to IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T), 802.3u (100BASE-TX) and 802.3ab (1000BASE-T) standards
IDE
Supports two IDE connectors that allows connecting up to four Ultra DMA 133Mbps hard drives
nVIDIA RAID allows RAID arrays spanning across Serial ATA and Parallel ATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and JBOD
Serial ATA with RAID
Four Serial ATA ports supported by the nForce4 SLI chip
- SATA speed up to 3Gb/s
- RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and JBOD
- NVIDIA RAID allows RAID arrays spanning across Serial ATA and Parallel ATA
Four Serial ATA ports supported by the Silicon Image Sil 3114 chip
- SATA speed up to 1.5Gb/s
- RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and RAID 5
IEEE 1394
VIA VT6307
Supports two 100/200/400 Mb/sec ports
Rear Panel I/O Ports
1 mini-DIN-6 PS/2 mouse port
1 mini-DIN-6 PS/2 keyboard port
2 S/PDIF RCA jacks (S/PDIF-in and S/PDIF-out)
Karajan audio module (6 audio jacks)
1 IEEE 1394 port
2 RJ-45 LAN ports
6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports
I/O Connectors
2 connectors for 4 additional external USB 2.0/1.1 ports
1 connector for 1 external IEEE 1394 port
1 connector for 1 external serial port
1 connector for the Karajan audio module
1 front audio connector for external line-out and mic-in jacks (on the Karajan audio module)
1 CD-in internal audio connector (on the Karajan audio module)
1 S/PDIF connector for optical cable connection
1 IrDA connector
8 Serial ATA connectors
2 IDE connectors
1 floppy connector
1 24-pin ATX power connector
1 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 4-pin 5V/12V power connector (FDD type)
1 front panel connector
5 fan connectors
4 diagnostic LEDs
EZ touch switches (power switch and reset switch)
PCB
ATX form factor
24cm (9.45″) x 30.5cm (12″)
I recently purchased a Buffalo Terastation HS.
I bought the 1GB model, which contains four 250MB ATA drives. I configured them as a RAID 5 array, which gave me a total of 750MB of disk space.
I’ve downloaded replacement firmware for the device from the dedicated fans at Terastation.org. This firmware adds the ability to telnet to the device. Once you do that, you can access the embedded Linux upon which the device operates.
Theoretically, I could replace the 4 250GB disks with larger drives, but 750GB fits my storage needs — today.
The real downside to the device is performance. The unit is CPU bound and that limits the speed at which you can copy data to and from the device.
Performance of a NAS device will never quite equal performance of DASD. I chose to go with a NAS solution because I wanted RAID 5 and I wanted a central storage device which would not be reliant on any of our computers.
The best feature of this NAS solution is the price. This is an awesome price for a home of SMB NAS solution.
If you don’t need high-performance file copies, this device is highly recommended.
Product Features
- Four operational modes: Standard, Spanning, Mirroring and RAID 5
- Removable hard drive rack allows quick swapping of hard drives should a drive fail
- 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet port and Jumbo Frame capability for higher transfer speeds
- Four USB 2.0 ports, allowing 4 simultaneous USB connections
- Built-in print server for sharing and managing a USB printer on the network.
Technical Details
- Model: HS-D1.0TGL/R5
- Item Package Quantity: 1
- Hardware Platform: PC
- Device Type: NAS server
- Form Factor: External
- Interface: USB 2.0
- Number of Ports: 4
- Data Transmission Speed: 480 Mbps (HS Mode), 12 Mbps (FS Mode)
- Storage Capacity Maximum: 1 TB
- Raid Level: RAID 1, RAID 5
- Number of Hard Drives: 4
- Hard Disk Size: 250 GB
- Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
- LAN Standards Compliance: IEEE802.3u (100 Base-TX), IEEE802.3 (10 Base-T)
- Transmission Speed: 10/100/1000 Mbps
- Transmission Encoding Method: 1000 BASE-T: 8B1Q4, PAM5
- Access Method: CSMA/CD
- WAN/LAN Port Connector: RJ-45
- Transmission Distance: 328 feet
- Operating Temperature: 32 to 95 degrees F
- Height: 9.5 inches
- Width: 6.6
- Depth: 8.7 inches
- Weight: 15.9 pounds
- System Requirements: Windows XP/2000/Me/NT 4.0/98 SE, Linux (SMB)
