In the past year I've bought three new computers for either work or home. In all cases I specified Windows XP Pro, avoiding Windows Vista. IMO Vista offers few added features, and adds bloat and incompatibility with a lot of hardware.
All is not perfect in Windows XP land though. On the first system I tried to install SP3 on I ended up with the BSOD during two attempts. The SP3 install process will back out any changes after a failed install, so I didn't lose anything other than my time. So I've decide to block the SP3 install on the five Windows computers that I take care of. (See Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit.)
More and more I'm thinking of moving to Linux as my desktop/notebook OS of choice. I already know Linux well, I just need to find alternatives to some programs, or run Windows versions in Wine on in a VM. At this point it look promising.
Update: In the end Windows 7 came out, and it just worked. I never bought or used a computer with Windows Vista on it.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Verizon and GPS
Well, it has been about six months now and the BlackBerry 8830WE is working fine. No significant problems, though I wish there were a viable alternative to syncing it to Outlook. (I also had problems during a firmware update, but that is probably due to my impatience.)
However, there is one BIG annoyance. Verizon has chosen to hold the built-in GPS receiver hostage. They will only let you use it is you pay $9.95/month, and even then only with VZ Navigator. VZ Navigator 4.0 looks promising, but only version 2.9.9 is currently available for the BlackBerry, and it is only OK. The main issue is that is is slow.
There are other programs (Google Maps, Beyond411, Nav4All, etc.) for the BlackBerry that could use the built-in GPS receiver, but can't. Verizon is the ONLY carrier that chooses to disable the built-in GPS receiver, simply because they want more revenue. They should not be disabling it. At the very least unlock it for other programs when I subscribe to VZ Navigator! Otherwise I may take a look at AT&T when my contract is up.
Yes, I could buy a Bluetooth GPS receiver to use with the 8830, but that would not be very convenient, and a waste given the phone already has a built-in GPS receiver!
However, there is one BIG annoyance. Verizon has chosen to hold the built-in GPS receiver hostage. They will only let you use it is you pay $9.95/month, and even then only with VZ Navigator. VZ Navigator 4.0 looks promising, but only version 2.9.9 is currently available for the BlackBerry, and it is only OK. The main issue is that is is slow.
There are other programs (Google Maps, Beyond411, Nav4All, etc.) for the BlackBerry that could use the built-in GPS receiver, but can't. Verizon is the ONLY carrier that chooses to disable the built-in GPS receiver, simply because they want more revenue. They should not be disabling it. At the very least unlock it for other programs when I subscribe to VZ Navigator! Otherwise I may take a look at AT&T when my contract is up.
Yes, I could buy a Bluetooth GPS receiver to use with the 8830, but that would not be very convenient, and a waste given the phone already has a built-in GPS receiver!
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