A couple of days ago I (and in total about 50.000 others) got an invitation from Microsoft to take part in the Beta test of Windows Home Server CTP. (Community Tech Preview).
This is the first time I take part in such a program, but I'm looking forward to try it.
First thing: get the PC I want to use ready, so a new ethernet card and an external Hard Disk are now on the shopping list.
This product is scheduled to be released in the second half of 2007, so it's nice to have a head start.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
Windows Home Server
Microsoft recently announced Windows Home Server to be released in the second half of 2007.
More information about it can be found here.
I haven't been able to try it yet. It's only available from Microsoft Connect on invitation. I subscribed a couple of weeks ago, but no reaction yet.
I guess I'll have to wait for it to become available on MSDN.
I hate waiting. ;-)
More information about it can be found here.
I haven't been able to try it yet. It's only available from Microsoft Connect on invitation. I subscribed a couple of weeks ago, but no reaction yet.
I guess I'll have to wait for it to become available on MSDN.
I hate waiting. ;-)
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Slow booting PC? (XP)
Remember when you first booted your new PC for the very first time? Remember how long it took to start up?
I don't know about you but my PC gets slower and slower each week. It now takes several minutes to fully start.
Googling around I stumbled on a small tool from Microsoft, called BootVis. (BoatFish, if you read it in Dutch) Apparently Microsoft removed it from XP, but you can still find it from other sources.
Install this and have it analyse the boot procedure. It also has a function to optimise the boot sequence.
Does it work? Haven't had enough time to try. (propably because my PC takes so long to boot in the morning ;-) ) So please let me know.
I don't know about you but my PC gets slower and slower each week. It now takes several minutes to fully start.
Googling around I stumbled on a small tool from Microsoft, called BootVis. (BoatFish, if you read it in Dutch) Apparently Microsoft removed it from XP, but you can still find it from other sources.
Install this and have it analyse the boot procedure. It also has a function to optimise the boot sequence.
Does it work? Haven't had enough time to try. (propably because my PC takes so long to boot in the morning ;-) ) So please let me know.
Internet Everywhere.
I bought yet another new toy a couple of days ago. And I'm using it now to write this blog entry.
It's a UMTS/GPRS USB modem (from Option, a Belgian company if I'm not mistaking), that enables a G3 connection at up to 1.8 Mbps. Upload speed is just 128K.
Not very much, but I'll use it for support only.
So, when I'm on call, I don't have to stay at home.
If it was a bit faster, and a bit cheaper, I would throw out my current cable connection at home and just use this.
It's a UMTS/GPRS USB modem (from Option, a Belgian company if I'm not mistaking), that enables a G3 connection at up to 1.8 Mbps. Upload speed is just 128K.
Not very much, but I'll use it for support only.
So, when I'm on call, I don't have to stay at home.
If it was a bit faster, and a bit cheaper, I would throw out my current cable connection at home and just use this.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
the Secret Life Of Machines
Who remembers the "Secret Life Of Machines" series?
This was first shown in the late 80's, early 90's by Tim Hunkin and Rex Garrot (if that's the correct spelling).
Also available for download from Google Video (not YouTube).
They should bring those out on DVD.
This was first shown in the late 80's, early 90's by Tim Hunkin and Rex Garrot (if that's the correct spelling).
Also available for download from Google Video (not YouTube).
They should bring those out on DVD.
On The Edge
It's not often that I find a book that I just can't seem to put aside.
But "On The Edge; The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore" just kept me reading.
It must be because it was my first computer back in the early 80's. We had Apple II+'s in high school, and I used the CBM 64 at home, that I later replaced with the Commodore 128. (I still have that one)
(Computer)life was very simple back then.
But "On The Edge; The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore" just kept me reading.
It must be because it was my first computer back in the early 80's. We had Apple II+'s in high school, and I used the CBM 64 at home, that I later replaced with the Commodore 128. (I still have that one)
(Computer)life was very simple back then.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Free software (as in beer)
A nice tip I recently got was Giveaway Of The Day. A different software tool every day. And it's free.
What more do you want?
What more do you want?
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Another Media Center PC
Or so it started out.
I've tried to build a media center PC before (see one of my previous posts) with mixed succes.
This time I decided to go all the way and build a new, dedicated PC just for that.
So I got an HTPC case, motherboard with HDTV outputs, AMD CPU, 1Gb of memory and two 320 Gb hard drives, configured in JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks). That gives me approx. 600 Gb of disk space for all my media files.
Built the entire thing and installed XP Media Center Edition. Guess what....
- No Internet Explorer
- No network devices
- No.. (lots of other stuff that should REALLY be there!)
It's working now... with Vista Ultimate Edition.
Installed it, started it, working!
And it's as quiet as a whisper...
I've tried to build a media center PC before (see one of my previous posts) with mixed succes.
This time I decided to go all the way and build a new, dedicated PC just for that.
So I got an HTPC case, motherboard with HDTV outputs, AMD CPU, 1Gb of memory and two 320 Gb hard drives, configured in JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks). That gives me approx. 600 Gb of disk space for all my media files.
Built the entire thing and installed XP Media Center Edition. Guess what....
- No Internet Explorer
- No network devices
- No.. (lots of other stuff that should REALLY be there!)
It's working now... with Vista Ultimate Edition.
Installed it, started it, working!
And it's as quiet as a whisper...
Get Windows Vista a bit cheaper
Vista has just been released for the larger public.
If you are interested in buying Vista, you will find that, not only are there a number of different versions to choose from (6 to be exact), but there is also a big price difference between the "Upgrade" version and a "Clean Install".
Normally, Microsoft requires you to have a previous version of Windows (XP in this case) before you can use the cheaper Upgrade version.
But if time is not an option, and you dont mind installing Vista twice, then look here for a workaround.
Could save you a few bucks.
If you are interested in buying Vista, you will find that, not only are there a number of different versions to choose from (6 to be exact), but there is also a big price difference between the "Upgrade" version and a "Clean Install".
Normally, Microsoft requires you to have a previous version of Windows (XP in this case) before you can use the cheaper Upgrade version.
But if time is not an option, and you dont mind installing Vista twice, then look here for a workaround.
Could save you a few bucks.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
First exam passed!
Yesterday I passed my first exam to get certified for Visual Studio 2005.
It's exam 70-536, '.NET Framework 2.0, Application Development Foundation'.
I was a bit worried because of all the material to go through, but it turned out allright.
Next is Web development. I planned a course for this in a couple of months. Once I have passed the exam for that, I can call myself an MCTS. (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist)
It's exam 70-536, '.NET Framework 2.0, Application Development Foundation'.
I was a bit worried because of all the material to go through, but it turned out allright.
Next is Web development. I planned a course for this in a couple of months. Once I have passed the exam for that, I can call myself an MCTS. (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist)
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