scribbles of the perennial debugger…
Operating Systems
Restored and chrome
Feb 15th
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users beware. I have installed an NDAS driver from Ximeta to enable my network drive over my home LAN. Though it used to work perfectly on my old WinXP machines, the driver screws the newer Windozes big time. By big time, i mean BSOD. O yeah, BSOD occurs in Win7 too. And since it was in a messed up state, there’s no way to uninstall the offending driver, manually or automatically. Luckily, there’s system restore. Just clicked my way into a pre-install state bliss.
On a side note: Chrome browser is not for me. It just doesn’t meet my need. This browser just keeps on timing me out of any secure site. It’s fast alright, even its timers. 
My Christmas Gift to myself
Dec 27th
Here it is, brand me evil or stupid, but I got myself a Windows 7 Ultimate on my ThinkPad X200. Replacing the old and annoying Vista.
My new desktop. My wallpaper being RSS Steadfast, one of Singapore Navy’s stealth frigate.
Windows XP mode.
Of course, I couldn’t complete my desktop without Eclipse. This one’s Galileo.
Useless piece of M$ software – part 2
Sep 27th
For a very simple reason and procedure for me to enable sharing file sharing between my machines at home, Vista just simply refuses to enable me to access. Maybe, I am not techie enough (which I doubt) or… Microsoft hear this, VISTA SUCKS!
Windows 7 shows promise
Aug 16th
Installed Windows 7 today on my spare laptop. For an original hardware specs which was not meant (or advised) to run Windows Vista, it is amusing to know that it runs Windows 7 smoothly, with a good performance (ie comparable to the old XP that it had). Installation was a breeze compared to what I usually experience with Windows XP or Linux distros. The look and feel is great. Sleek and simple. Looks like M$ got the clue this time. Even for an RC, it’s far superior to Vista. Just hoping that I’ll get a free upgrade from Lenovo (my ThinkPad) and Acer (my desktop).
great technology
Oct 25th
imho, IT forms part of the success of an enterprise. what makes a good technology then. well, good technology is scalable, future-proof, manageable set of applications that meet the business requirements.
what makes a great technology then. the developer in me says, good technology coupled with test-driven development, continues integration, repeatable tests and automated deploy process.
…
my work machine, firefox and IE
Mar 30th
Yeah. This is how my machine looks like. No more laptops when traveling. No more disks and OSs to maintain. No more cramped desktop space. My (new) employer provides SunRays as the desktop of choice. I am here in Sydney and my desktop is exactly the same as the one I left back in Singapore. Whatever I configure or work upon in any of our global offices, it will still be the same when I go to others. This saves a lot of money I guess. The initial whopping investment in infrastructure will translate to gains of productivity, maintainability and security. And look, we’ve got two monitors as well. It is by policy that everyone gets 2 by default. Nice huh! I can have my IDE on the left and a bunch of Command Line consoles on right. I can have Inbox on left, I can have calendar on right. Really saves much effort by minimizing alt-tabs and clicks on the task bar. The only drawback (and I think it is not a drawback at all) is that employees are not allowed to access streaming media. This will gobble up bandwidth. Well that’s good in keeping employee’s focus, don’t you agree?
There is a lot of intranet websites that we use as a tool or as a source of information. Unfortunately, some them are IE-only sites. I hate IE (for goodness knows why), but it has a seamless integration with many XP applications such as Office, and Outlook. However, what I hate from IE the most is the lack of tabs (don’t get me started in upgrading to IE7 or using Microsoft Desktop Search). Enter IE Tab, an add-on to Firefox that renders IE-only sites in a Firefox tab using the IE rendering engine. How cool can that be!? I no longer have to open IE multiple times. I entrust all my internal and external browsing to Firefox.
Piggy on the loose
Nov 24th
Somebody has piggybacked into my WiFi network. I removed security for a while to do some maintenance/admin works. Unfortunately, I forgot to reset it back to its old secure form. And look what I’ve got, a network pilferer. People don’t learn. In Singapore, only publicly advertised accessible WiFi network are available for public use. Not, unsecure private ones. Or, on second thought perhaps this guy doesn’t know.
So Neil (you’re using Windows with a default-named domain name), you should learn, whoever you are. 
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Ubuntu 7.10
Oct 12th
7 days to go (6 days as of this writing) and I can’t resist the itch. I have downloaded and installed Ubuntu 7.10. Though Gutsy Gibbon is still in beta, the installation is stable enough and went on without a glitch. Just accept all the updates as they come along.
The new GNOME and the out-of-the-box Compiz rocks. Far cry from the days of manual download and compilation of Compiz/Berryl. The Flash download-integration with Firefox comes handy. Next stop for me will be Java. Then Avant. Then…
I have pre-ordered 2 CDs from Canonical. One for me for keeping (ala-souvenir) and on for my friends to copy and enjoy.
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Well what do you know? Reactivated XP
Oct 4th
Thanks to a tip-off from my friend, I was able to reuse my former laptop’s Windows serial number. I have installed XP into a VM (Microsoft Virtual PC 2007) out of curiosity. Tried to register, and voila, it got registered. Then in this regard, I will not “kill” this vm and plan to reuse it in whatever purpose that I may think necessary.
Come to think of it, does it mean, Micro$oft is already dropping XP OEMs or the general XP line. Wrong move Bill. Vista sucks, you know that.
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Thoughts on next laptop
Oct 3rd
I’ve been salivating with the latest MacBook (I wish there’s a black MacBook Pro) and of ThinkPad T61. Both appeal to my senses. However, do I need a Mac I must ask myself again. The answer’s no. And besides, I feel very akward without the familiar right-mouse button click for context menus. Again, do I need a new ThinkPad? Again no. The T61′s “advantage” only a widescreen and some gamut of things whose difference would be negligible. And besides, it is on Vista.
O yeah, Vista, the eye-candy wannabe OS which doesn’t really give additional value than what XP did for 95. And besides, the OS is 32bit. Heck, the price is also not justified. But I’ll be damned, XP sucks as well.
My current T60, having XP and Ubuntu is good enough. When can ThinkPad go preloaded with a linux Distro, perhaps SuSe or Ubuntu.