Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

[godsshoeshine]

hey smack, i think its available on ppv from dtv

[sweetcell]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  Are there any boardies currently over in England?  I thought there was one.
 
 I need a copy of Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten on DVD and will pay hansomely (and I'm not just talking about the exchange rate).

have you tried purchasing it  through the intrenets?  
 
 you're welcome!

[6949]

hey sweetcell
 
 "fyi, the page you quoted and linked is the same as the one i posted."
 
   

[vansmack]

Originally posted by 6949:
  I ordered mine off of amazon.co.uk.

Originally posted by sweetcell:
  have you tried purchasing it  through the intrenets?  
 
 you're welcome!

They're out: Note: orders placed now for this item will not be dispatched in time for Christmas.
 
 I was also trying to avoid a customs duty and possible customs hangup (in getting it before Xmas), the excahnge rate makes it expensive enough.  But it does look like I'll have to order it through Amazon.co.uk.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
  hey smack, i think its available on ppv from dtv

It will be soon, but this was a gift.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by sweetcell:
  makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used    :p  

Why anybody would use a Microsoft product that is no longer being updated for security patches is beyond me...

[nkotb]

My company does browser testing for IE6 & IE7, Firefox, and Safari nowadays (and whatever versions are current for the Mac...I'm out of touch on that one).  Of course, that didn't stop someone from griping that their site was broken in Netscape 4.06.  Awesome.
 
 

Originally posted by pdx pollard:
 I would never be caught dead using IE7 for anything other than testing, actually more people still use IE6 than IE7, it may be a rolleyes for you but in my field it is a big deal

[vansmack]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  #1 - 2008 will be the year that internet access at your seat will finally be available on airplanes, starting with longer flights and working its way to the commuter flights (which is backwards, but at least its coming).

BetaBlue doesn't count, but it's a start:
 
 BetaBlue: It's one small step for in-flight Wi-Fi

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by sweetcell:
  i wasn't rolling my eyes at IE6 or 7 at all, it was for the smug know-it-alls on this board.  i was supposedly pwned by smakie  who pointed out  that i was using IE6, as if that was something abhorent.  in fact, IE6 is still the  most common browser.
 
 makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used    :p  

I would kindly demand that you update to ie7, while there may not be a lot of benefits you see there are actually a whole bunch of benefits behind the scenes.  IE 6 is a piece of shit.  I really hope that Microsoft gives corporate IT people and home users a real reason to upgrade to IE8 so we can leave IE6 behind finally.  Make it a mandatory update, tell them IE6 is storing their credit card numbers, anything.

[sweetcell]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  Is it just a coincidence that CompUSA and Tower Records shared building space in the mall next to my work?
 
 I think not.  I'm looking forward to the after Christmas free for all...

many are saying the pickins won't be so good, and be sure to go easy on the folks (temporarily) working there: pink slip

[vansmack]

I was little nicer about it then Pollard, but the man speaks the truth.
 
 OK, on to my last tech prediction for 2008, and before you jump on me for making such an obvious one (and popular, I might add), hear me out because it's a lot more than "the price of laptops have finally reached a point where they're as cheap as desktop" - that's short sighted.
 
 Tech Prediction #5:  
 
 2008 will really be the year of the Death of the Desktop
 
 I know, everybody's been saying this since the advent of the laptop, but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home.  Here's why:
 
 (1) Home Servers will take off.  The desktop at home, if you still have one, has really been relegated to a place of storage.  Your photos, your music, maybe even a document or two.  But as the documents and photos move online, that leaves the one main purpose of a desktop - media files.  That's where the new servers come in to replace the desktop, and shore up the deficiencies of a laptop as the primary storage location (the problem being that the laptop is not always in the house).  All that's been needed is storage solution that interfaces with other devices, and this is the year it makes dents into the market.
 
 (2) Wireless streaming to entertainment devices.  New media devices that stream content to your home theater system will both get cheaper and become more user friendly.  When my dad finally started using the Tivo Desktop, I realized we've reached a place where anybody can do it.  When the N routers make a big dent in the market and HD content can be streaming from a web site or a media server to an HD TV, the desktop is goner.  I say by June on this one.
 
 (3) And this last one is the most important -  with the massive advance in the market of Mobile Internet Devices (or ultra mobile PCs) with WiFi capability, like the iPhone, the iTouch, Samsungs Q1, mini-tablets and the "smaller than laptops but much better battery life" devices coming between $400 and $700 - very few people are going to fork out the cash for a oversized desktop at that price when they can have something sleek and portable that does 95% of what most folks use their desktop for today.

[godsshoeshine]

how anyone can live without tabbed browsing be beyond me

[beetsnotbeats]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  Tech Prediction #5:  
 
 2008 will really be the year of the Death of the Desktop

I like the idea of user replaceable parts and building my own machine. Laptops are way behind in this department.

[sweetcell]

home servers won't become widespread IMO, as few people are able or want to become IT admins at home.  
 
 i suspect that Mobile Internet Devices won't have the impact you predict, since few want to browse all night and do their online shopping on something that small and ergonomically awkward.
 
 while getting cheaper, you still don't get the same performance for your dollar.  a $700 laptop will perform as well as a $500 desktop (for this reason alone, businesses - and many a household - will continue to buy desktops by the boatload).  
 
 

Originally posted by vansmack:
 When the N routers make a big dent in the market and HD content can be streaming from a web site or a media server to an HD TV, the desktop is goner.  I say by June on this one.

define what you mean by "by june", and you might have a bet on your hands.  "available to early adopters"?  "a possibility"?  sure.  measurable market impact?  i'd be willing to bet no.
 
 the recent market trend of laptop sales growing at the expense of desktops will continue, but declaring the tower's death in the next 12 months is unfounded, IMO.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by sweetcell:
  home servers won't become widespread IMO, as few people are able or want to become IT admins at home.  

Who's going to pay $600 for a desktop next year when this awaits you at the same price?
 
 It's not going to get much easier than that.  And I have a few idea on how I'm going to use mine with this board - but that I'll hold off until 2008.