Tinkering with remote desktops as supported by the eyeos.org project. The current version offers few applications including a simple Office-like suite and chess game. While not yet Citrix on the cheap, platforms like this could mature into an interesting VDI option.
Connectivity will become that much more critical if these tools are to be taken seriously. Connectivity and carriers will move to the center of the enterprise.
(See also: eyeos.org)
(See also: eyeos: eyedocs)
It seems another sociopath has found his way on an airplane. As a result, the rest of us will endure increasingly invasive TSA checkpoints and restrictions while flying. According to a TSA press release:
Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in.”
Interestingly Delta was quick to declare this flight was operated by Northwest Airlines. The official Delta statement sounds as if they are designed to create distance from the NWA subsidiary. Delta should declare their ownership and describe in detail how they will meet the challenges and coordinate with the TSA moving forward. All this posturing doesn’t increase our trust in their organization.
I’ve read the accounts and there is no mention of a sky marshall. Apparently, ultimately, we’re responsible for subduing our own terrorists. Lovely.
I prefer the Israeli Model. People are the threat, not the things they carry.
(See also: NYtimes: For Airline Passengers, Searches and Restroom Monitors )
(See also: WP: Fear and heroism aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 after attempted bombing)
(See also: CNN: New Detroit scare declared ‘non-serious’)
(See also: TSA and DHS Statements on Northwest Airlines Flight 253)
(See also: FC: Full-Body Scanners at Airports: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)
(See also: Lawsuit against the Department of Justice concerning the illegal strip-search nature of whole body scans.)
(See also: NYtimes: The Israeli Model)
The New York Times site traffic, US, June 25, 2009 from Nick Bilton on Vimeo.
Site traffic visualization to nytimes.com from mobile and web users on June 25, 2009. Maps and animated data. I simply could not turn away. Design and programming by Michael Young, Noriaki Okada and Nick Bilton.
(See also: infosthetics.com: A Day in the Life of NYTimes.com – Visualizing Website Traffic Data)
(See also: Vimeo: North America)
(See also: Vimeo: World Traffic)
OSM 2008: A Year of Edits from ItoWorld on Vimeo.
In the beginning of 2009, this global visualization appeared to illustrate the updates made to the OpenStreetMap project. I’m a sucker for maps and charts of all kinds. If you animate charts and data, you cannot pull me away.
As a user of the OpenStreetMap project and their data on my Nokia N810, I look forward to the animation of this year’s data.
This visualization was selected by FlowingData as one of the top 5 visualization projects of the year 2009.
(See also: OpenStreetMap.org)
(See also: FlowingData: Animated Map Shows One Year of Edits to OpenStreetMap)
(See also: FlowingData: top 5 visualization projects of the year 2009)
A good friend of mine called concerning the purchase of a new computer for their home office and business use. Here are the assumptions I gathered from our conversation:
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There is considerable selection in the market. While the budget was open, I presented several options. Most first-tier vendors offer repackaged, older tech as well as newer processors, interconnects, and opportunities for expansion. Older systems will be more likely to have parallel ports for an older printer while newer systems will have converted all these legacy ports to USB and will require a cable to convert USB to Parallel. One of my favorite cables for this is the Belkin F5U002v1.
I favor refurbished units as they often present more value per dollar. All the major vendors offer refurbs of current products, though availability can vary.Here are some current options:
$387.99, Free shipping
+ cheap
- low memory: RAM (2GB RAM, max 4GB) and DISK
- Vista Business / XP Pro downgrade
- unknown video config, likely to work with VGA but unconfirmed
- Parallel connection unknown
- This system is old today.
Comment: you could get this one to work, but you shouldn't expect to get more than 2 years out of this device.
$494.99, Free shipping
+ good memory: both RAM (8GB, but no more) and 640GB DISK
+ VGA graphics
+ Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit, may qualify for Windows 7 upgrade, but a bit of a hassle.
- no Parallel port, means you'll need to find a USB-to-Parallel port adapter (such as a Belkin F5U002v1)
- old technology
Comment: Older tech and Vista. Fine for now, but won't have the power for 5 years of useful life.
$603.99, Free shipping
+ good memory: both RAM (8GB, but no more) and 750GB DISK
+ VGA graphics
- Windows Vista Home Premium x64 with SP1
- no Parallel port, means you'll need to find a USB-to-Parallel port adapter (such as a Belkin F5U002v1)
Comment: Would require a Windows 7 upgrade which is time and money.
$679.99, Free shipping
+ good memory: both RAM (6GB) and 640GB DISK
+ includes 20-inch LCD monitor
- VGA unconfirmed, though likely unneeded with the panel
+ Windows® 7 Home Premium
- no Parallel port, means you'll need to find a USB-to-Parallel port adapter (such as a Belkin F5U002v1)
Comment: Includes monitor, which you may or may not consider a plus. Includes Windows 7.
$648.95 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
+ big memory: both RAM (8GB currently, 16GB max) and 750GB DISK
+ VGA graphics
+ Windows 7 Home Premium, but not professional or ultimate
+ Comments all say this is a very quiet machine.
+ Newer tech and longer viability.
- no Parallel port, means you'll need to find a USB-to-Parallel port adapter (such as a Belkin F5U002v1)
Comment: This is a fairly complete system with plenty of power and opportunities to upgrade both inside and outside the box. Certainly worth the $40 increase over the previous box on this list.
If you don’t own MS/Office for Word and Excel, you may need to buy them separately as they are seldom bundled with refurbished systems. There are some freeware versions of Office compatible tools. OpenOffice is the best available and not only looks and behaves like MS/Office, but reads and writes those files. You can find more information about that software at ‘openoffice.org‘.
You should consider a backup method or mechanism for data on your new device. Eventually, you should consider moving your backups off site. This is getting easier and easier to do with several options over the Internet. There are some services you can try for free (up to 2GB). Another option would require purchasing an HP media server, backing up to that server in the office and letting that server coordinate backing your data to Amazon’s data service, called S3. Devices like this include:
(Note: It turns out Qwest is offering a data archive service over DSL. My friend and his family will subscribe when the new device arrives.)
I also encourage you to consider Apple products, both new and refurbished. In the end computers are tools and you need to choose tools appropriate to the task. Who was it that said, “Nothing says ‘I Love you’ like small electronic devices”?
Merry Christmas!
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