jump to navigation

Windows Home Server turns RC1 today. June 13, 2007

Posted by nitestrike in : Review, Tech , add a comment

Microsoft released Windows Home Server (WHS) RC1 (Release Candidate 1) today, well actually yesterday for those of you on normal time. They are opening up the testing for those of you who did not have a chance to try it out in Beta. I have been fortunate enough to have been using it sense Beta 2.

To be quite honest I have been wondering for a couple years now why Microsoft had not produced a product such as this, but there is a time and place for everything. So when they did announced it earlier this year I was quite surprised. From first impressions I would have to say that this is an extremely solid product. It does what it needs to and does it simply and well. Which is what they need for the average, non-technical type that they are and should be targeting Windows Home Server to.

The basic features are this:

This allows you the freedom and security of accessing computers and files where you need, when you need them. Each of the workstations have a small client installed on them that allows you to monitor you Home Server. The Windows Home Server Consol, as it is called, allows you to maintain user accounts, monitor backups, maintain data shares, and watch over the general health of the WHS.

From my personal experience I can say that the backup and restore functionality works really well. I had my Windows Media Center PC’s OS drive crash, and with the supplied recovery CD was able to-do a complete restore of it and have the computer up and running with little effort. It even detected which computer that I trying to restore, and when asking what restore I wanted set the Media Center computer as the default.

I am certainly going to be buying Windows Home Server once it comes out, and I would highly suggest it for those of you that have several Windows PCs at home, share data across those computers, and are looking for an easily managed solution.

 

Site - Forum - Blog - Announcement - Sign-up

SATS, a NASA rethink of today’s air travel model November 19, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Aerospace, Tech , add a comment

I was watching an episode of The Histories Channel’s Modern Marvels apply named “Private Jets”. The episode is a rundown of the private jet usage today from corporate converted jets to personally owned small kits. The episode begins with a short interview with Michael Dorn about personal jet ownership and buying a private jet. I highly recommend the episode if you can catch it.

During the last segment of the episode they mentioned a little know project being conducted by NASA called SATS (Small Aircraft Transportation System), an evolution of the current spoke and hub system we have today.

SATS: A bold vision

NASA has proposed a travel alternative to relieve congested interstate highways and hub-and-spoke airports, with the potential to revolutionize transportation accessibility and mobility.

As envisioned, the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) will free people and products from existing delays, by allowing more access to more communities in less time.  

To prove the SATS concept will work, NASA has initiated a five-year $69 million research plan. NASA will conduct ground and flight research at several airports around the country, culminating in technology flight demonstrations by mid-2005.

SATS offers an on-demand, point-to-point, widely distributed transportation system. It relies on advanced 4- to 10-passenger aircraft using new operating capabilities. Such a system promises improved safety, efficiency, reliability and affordability for small aircraft operating within the nation’s 5,400 public-use-landing facilities. About 98% of the US population lives within 20 miles of at least one of these airports.

This more flexible on-demand system of air travel will allow us the freedom of picking where we want to go and when we want to go there. A mash-up of our current highway system and the convenience and comfort of air travel. Who knows, we may finally see that dream of the flying car come to fruition.

Other groups involved in this project include both private and public entities. These groups are The National Consortium for Aviation Mobility (NCAM), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Resource(s):
SATS Fact Sheet - NASA
SATS 2005 Technology Demonstration - NASA

Reference(s):
“Personal Jets” - Modern Marvels - History Channel

Beta be gone… October 28, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Tech , add a comment

Microsoft has been busy as of late. They have several products, well actually two, that have shed the Beta moniker. Those two products are Defender, their Anti-Spyware utility that has been quite good to me. They have made some changes to the GUI (Graphical User Interface), and have also included two free support calls. The other product to be released is Internet Explorer 7, this new version updating a languishing product, includes features such as Tabbed browsing, anti fishing detection, RSS support, a redesign of the interface. Both of these products are released for the Windows XP platforms.

In other product release news Microsoft has started its Christmas Windows Campaign. The program is being called Express Upgrade, it allows those that buy a computer cable of running Windows Vista to upgrade from Windows XP. The list of companies participating thus far are Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway/eMachine, HP, Lenovo, Medion, NEC, Sony, and Toshiba.

If you’re in the market for a new computer this holiday season, be sure to ask your retailer about the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista, being offered by participating PC manufacturers. When you buy a qualifying Windows Vista Capable PC between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007, you may be eligible for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista.

Products:
Microsoft Defender (Download)
Internet Explorer 7 (Download)

Can Vista cause some one to go MIA? September 12, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Personal, Tech , add a comment

Well I can say I am liking what I have seen so far with Windows Vista, RC1. I had been running Beta 2 in VM since it became available via the CPP (Customer Preview Program). For those of you who signed up for Vista Beta 2 in June for the CPP you should have received an e-mail allowing to download Vista RC1. For those who did not sign-up or get to sign-up they will be opening up to new participants in the next couple of weeks.

Now for for the rest of the story. I down loaded Vista RC1 last Thursday and have rebuilt my laptop with it as the my main OS. The last couple of days I have finally been able to get my laptop to some semblance of order and to a point of being able to use it as my primary machine. So between work, family, and computer building my time has been totally consumed, sleep being a bit lacking initially. So that is where I had disappeared off to, and contrary to popular belief I had not taken holiday to Pluto.

TiVo Series 3 Unboxing September 1, 2006

Posted by nitestrike in : Entertainment, Tech , add a comment

I had TiVo for several years and would not even take a second thought when suggesting it to anyone. It is simple to use and very intuitive, along with many features current and future that make it a great device to have in the home. PVR Wired has been able to get there hands on the, impending released, TiVo 3.  They have been gracious enough to grace us with some photos of the unpacking. TiVo has finally added the ports those ports that will bring into the Twenty-First Century entertainment experience, the most important being Ethernet, HDMI, and CableCard slots.

Here’s everything we know to date about the TiVo Series 3 DVR. Click the link for even more pictures.

Source: TiVo Series 3 Unboxing - PVR Wired
Reference: TiVo Series 3 Unboxing - Boy It’s Got A Lot Of Ports - Gizmodo