Mark Morford, a SF Gate columnist, asks “why isn’t everyone on a Mac?” Further, he asks “why does Windows still suck?” Moford is highly critical of Microsoft’s user interface, and also points to the ongoing struggle with viruses, spyware, and worms. “Why is there not some massive revolt, some huge insurrection against Microsoft? Why is there not a huge contingent of furious users stomping up to Seattle with torches and scythes and crowbars, demanding the Windows Frankenstein monster be sacrificed at the altar of decent functionality and an elegant user interface?”
Why Does Windows Still Suck?
Why do PC users put up with so many viruses and worms?
Why isn’t everyone on a Mac?
Read the rest of Mark’s column at SFGate.com.

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TechRestore, Inc has begun offering a worldwide PowerBook G4 LCD hinge replacement service using stainless steel hardware. The replacement stainless steel hinge assembly is over 50% stronger than the standard hinge and offers the ultimate in protection against future failures according to Tech Restore.

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ThinkPad fanatics love the clickity-clack of their laptops so much, IBM made a similar stand-alone USB keyboard to satiate me, uh, them on the desktop. Like most laptop QWERTYs, it’s missing the 10-key number pad, but it in no way feels cramped. The gap between the top edges of adjacent keys is larger than even my standard Mac and Dell keyboards, which made for fewer typos. And even though the keys don’t depress as far as those on a normal board, it was still a satisfying experience. The USB cable is short, at a little more than 3 feet. But there’s a two-port USB hub built in. And with an included touchpad and eraser-shaped pointer, I can not only ditch my old keyboards, but my mouses, too. — B.L.
[RATING: 8/10] [RETAIL: $99] [ ibm.com ]
Source: WIRED Gadget Lab [Feb 8, 2005]

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City-run wireless broadband networks, which appear to be gaining popularity in a number of major metropolitan areas, haven’t been fully studied and are being touted with dubious claims about their benefits, according to the New Millennium Research Council. Read more at ComputerWorld.com.

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I slept through last weeks announcement of Apple’s predicted PowerBook G4 speed-bumps and have instead been laser focused on Apple’s “Mother of all Thermal Challenges,” the PowerBook G5. While I doubt that I would purchase a first generation FurnaceBook, I am curious as hell to see how they plan to cool it.
I don’t know about you, but my PBG4 1.5 GHz becomes too hot to use on my lap for after less than 30 minutes. How the hell are they going to keep a processor cool that requires seven (count ‘em) fans in a desktop enclosure? Anyway, I hope that it’s cool and that Apple offers more than just a G5 and a new enclosure for the beast. Don’t let us down Apple, PC notebook vendors continue to innovate while we’re still stuck with your creaky-hinge rejects.

• Hewlett-Packard Co. announced plans to become the leading vendor in notebook shipments by the end of 2005.
• Dell Improves Notebook Lineup aims for a quick turnaround on laptop replacements, offers software to track missing units.
• Gateway Revamps Retail Notebook Lineup from full-featured desktop-replacement models to lighter units designed for portability.

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So, what do you do when you and some friends are all getting iPod Shuffles? You make a RAID array out of them, of course! Follow along as we explore new depths of geekery…
So, here we have our iPod Shuffles, all the top of the line 1Gb models. I’m sure that normal folks would probably take these home, install iTunes 4.7.1 from the CD in the box, and happily start putting music on the little things, but I had other plans for them…
Read More at Wright This Way… (Thanks SlashDot)

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Computer Tyme is now offering free front end spam filtering services to progressive nonprofit organizations.

The way it works is that your email comes from the internet into my servers. I process it – and send the good email onto your existing email server. So – nothing on your end has to change. Once this is set up – everything is the same – except the spam and viruses are gone.
The setup is simple. Once you decide to do it all I do is make an entry in a table on my servers telling the system what domains get forwarded to what servers. Then – you change your MX record from pointing to your email server to pointing to my server network. The email comes to me – I clean it – and then you get it. It really is that easy.

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