Micro$oft Rant: Inabillity to join domains in Win 7 HP

Hey Everyone, it's Zac

There are many things I like and love about Windows 7 Home Premium, including the capability to control my iPod touch with it over Bluetooth (although I can't change tracks since the Bluetooth communications server doesn't know how to switch tracks on the Apple iPod touch 2nd gen due to the lack of Bluetooth drivers for it), but something I absolutely HATE is the inability to join domains despite there being no reason whatsoever to restrict this otherwise useful feature! What's worse is that Micro$oft wants use to fork out $200 (AUD of course) for a PARTIAL upgrade to Professional (which just enables 3 more features: Windows XP Mode (which allows the user to run apps designed for use in XP, and also requires TWO downloads, so technically this isn't a standared feature), Domain Join, and automatic full-system backup over a network. So judging by the fact that there is only two real feature that would be enabled by purchasing this upgrade, the value totals to around $10-20, and maybe an additional $5 for the partial upgrade licence, so here's my question to Microsoft: Microsoft, why are you charging us Home Premium users $200 when you're doing close to nothing other then giving us rights to certain software and making changes to our Windows install?

So yeah essentially what we're paying for is just rights to some virtualization software which most of us will never use, backup software which just images our entire system then coppies it to a remote server on our network, and the capabillity to join domains! None of this is worth even $50! So Microsoft, next time you price something, consider what it does exactly before pricing it, don't just have a 30 minute meeting playing Flight Simulator X for 25 minutes of those 30 minutes then have a 3 minute break then say "Yeah just price it at $200 for Home Premium" then finish early!

Rant Over!
Zac

Hey Zac, why do you have a webcam when you never use it?

This post is dedicated to 1 thing, answering the question that many people (many people = people who have wanted to have a video chat with me but didn't get to because I said no because my parents don't allow me to use the web cam) have asked me, "Why do you have a web cam when you never use it?" (well, that's the gist of the question).

Well good Sir/Madam, there are several reasons why I don't use the web cam other then the parents one, and here they are:

1. It's a built-in camera, now I know what you're going to say, "Just take it out, it shouldn't be that hard for a whizz kid like you", well, sorry to burst your bubble but that camera is actually screwed in quite tightly to the rotating poles (my camera is an omni-directional camera, which means that it can be rotated in several different directions, even odd and extremely weird ones, up to a 225 degree angle) in the monitor frame (that thing surrounding the monitor), also there is more work then just taking out the camera, I have to remove the wires as well

2. My internet connection is limited to 25GB of data, and if we go beyond that our connection is slowed untill it's reset by Telstra's system, and trust me, when it's slowed it's like, as slow as dial-up, which makes my family upset because we NEED fast internet for school and work, my sister is doing her HSC this year, my other sister goes to University, my Mum is also going to University (online of course), and my Dad needs to pay the bills (we pay online), and if you don't call that stuff important, then boy is there something wrong with you!

3. My laptop runs a lot of different processes (Anti Virus, Anti Spyware, Firewall, Web Browser, etc.) and turning on my web cam would just stack on more preasure on the CPU because there would be more processing going on, and the laptop's Power Supply because another device needs power, and if either overloads the whole computer could come to a complete failure and there is a slight chance my laptop won't boot up or even power up properly next time I need to use it.


So now you know why I don't use my web cam all that often, I might, some day, decide to start using it but for now, we'll just have to stick to plain old text chat

Peace,
Zac

Reasons Why Bluetooth is not secure

Hey Everyone! Zac here!

Now I'm sure most of you know what Bluetooth is, the thing with the funny logo that allows you to send files to other people's computers and connect your phone to your car for hands free calling (but it can do a h*ll of a lot more then that!), now I'm sure we all love it and it's simplicity, but 1 thing we overlook is that it sometimes isn't as secure as we think it is! Now I'm NOT saying Bluetooth isn't secure, I'm just saying it shouldn't be considered completely secure!
Here are the reasons why it shouldn't be considered hack-proof/completely secure:
1. Passkeys are the same as passwords, they can be unencrypted, meaning someone could soon have access to whatever you're sending (so much for not having that guys phone number exposed to that guy sitting right next to me!)
2. Bluetooth operates by opening a stream to the other device's bluetooth rig, then closing it when the operation is complete, but if a hacker finds out where the stream is, they can tap into it and see what it is you're sending, who it is going to, and all sorts of info about the thing you are sending or streaming
3. When you're in discoverable mode, everyone within 10m around you can see your computer or other bluetooth device, this means anyone can connect to you, which could mean something bad for your device's security, but most systems have something that prevents this, like prompting you if someone tries to access your device it'll prompt you for permission to allow it

So that's all the advice I have for you right now, post a comment and tell me if you have any others!

Peace,
Zac

Thank the lord that Science A********t is done and dusted!

Hey Everyone

If you're in Year 9 @ LHCS then i'm sure you remember the Science A********t (You know what I'm saying, it's now a swear word with the word Science in front of it! Weird I know) and how hard it was, well, now it's done which is good for some people, but not for others! And if you're wondering why not for others, it's because that, this being something issued by the BOS (Board of Studies), if you don't hand it ON OR B4 the due date, u get an * Award Warning (That is also a swear with the word Award after it, except if you happen to be refering to another sort of * Award Warning), which some people got, and it diffinatly ISN'T pretty, or good (if it's not good, then why the h*ll, do they put "Award"). Well now that this annoying a********t is over, I can get back to doing cool stuff!

Peace,
Zac M

Lousy Science Assignment!!!!!

Hey All!

If you’re in Year 9 @ LHCS then I’m sure u got the Science Assignment (and probably lost the sheet), and then I’m sure all of u guys are having trouble with it (even those in 9B!). I really think the Science Department should give us an extension, they can’t just expect ANY of us 2 get it in on or b4 the due date, which is Monday Week 5 (2 days from now), so if you’re reading this BOS (Board of Studies), SHAME ON YOU, you guys think this is easy, IT ISN’T, and to tell you the truth, you’re really p***ing me off right now (I censored it because kids under 15 might be reading this, but u guys should know what I’m trying 2 say). You know what, I think I’ll start a group on FB (Facebook) protesting this assignment! Yes I will do that! Who is with me?!

 

OK Peace Out (and good luck with the rest of the assignment),

Zac Moore

My Ever So lovely experience at GiGi’s, San Susi!

Hey Everyone! Now I know that this isn’t really an intro but I don’t need 1! I’m Zac Moore for crying out loud, the man who doesn’t need an intro when he writes a blog! Now, on to what I am writing this blog post for! Last night I was out of the Shire (yes, I know that the smell out there is bad, but it was my Mum’s decision to go there), for dinner, where you may ask, GiGi’s down at San Susi. Now I was kind of annoyed that I had to wait for my Spaghetti Bolognaise to come (those other people just had to come in, didn’t they?!) but when it FINALLY came I realised why I waited so long, it was the best Spaghetti Bolognaise I EVER tasted (kind of like the 1 at Big John’s down at Kogarah, only their Spaghetti Bolognaise is MASSIVE!). Hey, maybe 1 day I should go on a vacation 2 Italy, see what their Spaghetti Bolognaise is like (probably better then ours since they invented it!). Although I couldn’t understand why the other plates taken so long to come out (I hate those other customers, it should’ve been 1st come 1st serve).

OK, now that’s all I have to say about my experience at GiGi’s, what do YOU think of it, leave a comment below to share your experience at GiGi’s. Seriously, do it, do it now!

Peace Out,

Zac M

PS: And if your wondering, yes I did make this post from a desktop publishing program, Windows Live Writer it’s called, and yes I do know that Microsoft Office Word 2007 doubles as a publishing program but I don’t like using something that’s designed for work to make personal blog posts, it’s just too hard to set up, it drove me up the wall once when I was trying to add my WordPress blog (which, BTW, I host on my OWN domain, so it isn’t so easy as using a WordPress.com blog, there are so many configuration settings you have to set! Worst, blog publisher, ever!) Windows Live Writer FTW