Tablet Computer

For few years, I always like to have a Tablet PC. If you don’t know what it looks like, let me display of a general Tablet PC:

Some Tablet PCs have keyboard, as you can convert to a laptop or back to a Tablet. It is convenient for traveling. Even you can do it in the classroom taking notes. It is nice to have it. It is a bigger version of PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

Apple along with their manufacturing partner Axiotron will unveil the new Mac Tablet dubbed ModBook at Macworld Expo with full details on January 9th, 2007! Now I am curious what they can offer for the ModBook. I am sure it is very expensive. But hell, I would like to have one. Actually I am planning to get a MacBook in the spring, but perhaps it will change my mind and buy ModBook, if it comes out in the spring, instead. Mmm. I will check that out once the information and images are released at the Expo. I am looking forward to it. Too bad, I won’t make it to the Macworld Expo. If any one can make it, you can stop by Booth: S2218 for a hands-on trial!

Update: I quote, “Apple along with their manufacturing partner Axiotron will unveil the new Mac Tablet dubbed ModBook at Macworld Expo with full details on January 9th, 2007!” Well, I read just now on Gizmodo that it is not by Apple. But I was right that it is by Axiotron; the “German and American engineers created the MobBook. [the link]

So I have to strike this all out -Apple is right. The 30 years were only the beginning…;-) Apple is full of Surprises. I am sure that Apple has more surprises for us, especially Mac users. I am looking forward to having more surprises ahead…

Update 2: I found another Modbook picture, that would be revealing a bit … You can go to Axiotron’s site and get to know that company better here.

via [Tuaw]

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They were only the beginning…

Mmmm… a nice start off for Apple. I believe Apple! Apple is ready to empower the Mac world for years to come. Apple’s Mac OS X: Leopard will come out this year. iTV and iPhone has been rumored, but I believe Apple will do something with them. iPod is doing very well. I have seen people with it everywhere. They are doing very well in the share market on it. It is still the top on the market for music playing. Apple will get better and get more share in market.

Last year, Mac had been through a few changes. For years, the Mac computers had PPC (Power PC) chips, but just a few months before the end of the year, they changed to Intel. That is a start. I have a Mac-Intel computer myself, it is pretty good. I got the first Intel chip for Mac Mini. I expect teensy bugs in Intel and OS in running. Nothing major. Apple is trying to understand how to work with the Intel chip. Moreover, I got several updates on Intel/firmware updates for my Mac mini. It seems to be doing very well. I am very pleasant with it.

Since 2007 is here, I am converting myself religiously from Windows to Mac. I have said a few times in my blog that I am very tired of Windows problems over the years. Not only problems, but it costs me money for yearly subscriptions on Firewall/Anti-virus/Spyware protection. Let’s say Windows is very sensitive in many areas. Windows is not a very stable OS yet, but, yes, unfortunately, Windows is everywhere over the world. Windows is still dominating in the PC world. Perhaps, with a new Windows called Vista, it would get better with security and stability, but not much that I would like to see it. I can sense it would make it worse. I did try Vista myself. Let’s be honest: Vista is a beautiful OS. A new look! Different. Modern. However, I can see that Microsoft still fail to manage the stability itself; well, it was a beta when i try. Maybe it is why.

Vista is highly demanded to have high-tech equipment to run its OS alone. Millions and millions people still have computers that are probably up to 2 to 5 years old. With a Vista upgrade, you would have to upgrade everything on your CPU system or buy a Vista-compatible computer. That costs a lot of money. Maybe, upgrading CPU system is cheaper, but most don’t know how to install new hardware, if I am mistaken, forgive me, but I know some people don’t.

I said that I am converting to Mac religiously. Well, I still do use Windows at work. I do have Windows on my second computer for a few things. But I don’t use Windows often at home. I use Mac more. Let’s say that I use Windows on the side. You cannot be freed from Windows completely yet. You still have to use Windows sometimes. That kinda sucks. But that is life.

Microsoft updates their OS every 3 to 5 years. I don’t think they should do that. They should update 2 years at least to improve the OS stability and security better rather than a big BULK of upgrades with new features (that you may never know it will work well). Look at Mac OS. They update their OS X every 1 to 2 years. The current OS is Tiger. Next OS is Leopard, but they are still at 10 version. The Tiger version is 10.4; the Leopard version is 10.5. Both versions are like 2 years apart in upgrading. Mac OS still have not got the viruses or spywares. Maybe, a very few, nothing major serious. I like what Mac says: 114,000 viruses? No. That is very simple. It is a fact. I know, I know. Mac has a very small percent of share on the market. Windows has around 95 percent share on the market. But Apple is very protective with their OS. Unlike Mac OS, Windows lets people to write a very popular language, which is Visual Basic. It is likely an universal language in the computer world. Mac OS is writen in Unix, one of the oldest language in the world. That is why Windows is easily targeted for viruses, hacking, and spywares. Yes, one day, Mac probably would be hit big time with them. You never know. I hope it will not happen.

So when I see that image above, again, I believe Apple. They were only the beginning. And 2007 and beyond will be getting better. I have seen Apple has been working so hard to improve their hardware and software every day. Even though, Apple only has 2 to 3 percent of computing in the market, comparing to Windows with around 95 percent. I think Apple will go up eventually and slowly. Apple is very patient, and I say, very smart. Keep up the work, Apple.

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What is Greasemonkey?

It is a new word for you today: Greasemonkey

According to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greasemonkey:

Greasemonkey is a software implementation of a conceptcalled “Active Browsing”. It allows users of the Mozilla Firefox web browser to install user scripts which modify specific web pages. This web scripting was hither to reserved only for the authors of web sites. As the Greasemonkey scripts are persistent, the changes made to the webpages are permanent.

I am telling you Greasemonkey is a great extension, used only in Firefox and Flock. You can use Creammonkey for Safari. I have used Greasemonkey scripts for some sites. You would have to install Greasemonkey extension before you can install any scripts you find in the Internet. The installation can be found here. For Safari, it can be found here. No IE greasemonkey. It used to have one, but someone quits on that project, called GreasemonkIE.

You know, Google search engine looks plain and boring. White background. No style. Well, with Greasemonkey, you can change anything you want. However, you have to be good at writing scripts. I am not. I use scripts I found over the Internet.

Before Google without Greasemonkey:

After Google with Greasemonkey:

Is it cool? Something different! Nice… I have been using that Google new look. So refreshing. It is easy to install the script. You can install that script. It supports Firefox and Opera.I have a few greasemonkey scripts, most for Google… ie: Gmail. You know you don’t have to open the mail. You can click right button toward to the new or old mail messagel, and it will pop up the preview conversation, that is what Gmail likes to call. It is nice. The image of the preview conversation below:

I like this, why ? So I can search the email quickly without opening the mail. I don’t always want to read the whole e-mail. Just want to check it quickly. It is nice… you can install that script.

I am not sure if you know about the Lightbox javascript. It apparently is very popular in these days. It is good for building websites on your own and you can add those javascripts in your HTML. A few sites have used the Lightbox method. I cannot think of one yet… but I know Ridor of the Observe but Do Not Interfere used to have that script on his blog. I am not sure if he still uses it. There is a new Lightbox javascript 2.0, improved one; u can find it here.

When you click the image, and it will be shown in the front of the site you are on. First, it will show a loading icon, which means it is loading the image… then there will be aimage with a nice border and the rest is transparent black, like you can see the site through the transparent black. When you are done with viewing, you just click anywhere, and it will close and back to the site again.It is a very nice script. I plan to use on my webpage, when I build one. It also has Greasemonkey script, called Greased Lightbox. For a quick viewing of images before and after using Greasemonkey on my blog below:

before

after

Nice, huh? Yeah, it is… you can go to the site. Also, it has a mini video for you to watch in action.

I will add more greasemonkey scripts in the near future. There are many, many scripts that you can use to block ads, to pop up the photos, or to add new features that they should have. Greasemonkey will make your life easier. You can find scripts here.

Oh, you have to remember not all scripts will work… some will have bugs or errors, so don’t get too frustrated and thought maybe something is wrong with your Firefox or Greasemonkey script extension. It is not. It is the script itself. I have tried one or two that does not work right. If it does not work right, you can either remove it, or try to fix the script itself, if you know how to write one.

Enjoy it.

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Leopard is coming…

What the hell am I talking about? Leopard is coming? Yes that is right. Leopard is coming.

Oh, pardon me! I should have known some of you are not a computer geek like me! DUH! The Leopard is a new Mac OS X 10.5. Right now, it is Tiger (10.4). Leopard has really cool features. It blew me away! It makes me want to buy Leopard now! I will tell you about Leopard in a bit…

Apple has named each version of OS X of all big cats: Apple’s OS X has five versions, the first version is Cheetah (10.0). The second version is Puma (10.1). The third version is Jaguar (10.2). The fourth is Panther. The latest version is Tiger. I believe Panther version was widely popular because of the new many features such as:

• Finder
• iChat AV
• Exposé
• FileVault
• Fast User Switching

Of course, Tiger continues grow with better features: Dashboard, Safari, better iChat and other things. But now Leopard has even better features… I hardly can wait. Yeah I use Mac now. But I still use Windows and Linux though.

Let me explain a bit about myself and how I got into Mac. Back in late 1990′s, I used to think Mac OS sucked. Honestly, I did. I thought Mac OS was too simple and dull! It was like eww! I loved Windows. I thought Windows has given me so much more choices than Mac OS did. But after many years of being Windows user, I got weary with it. It gives me problems. Crashing, after crashing. Almost every installation requires restarting. Viruses got into my computer few times but nothing major. Just small silly viruses. Sometimes Windows slows down. Needless to say, it is simply too many problems for just Windows! I am a heavy computer user. I need something stable. Windows never really that stable.

In recent years, I have tried Mac on my friend’s. I start to like it. Of course, it is much better than 10 years ago! I start to appreciate Mac more and more. Last summer (not this summer), my computer got worse, possibly some hardware in the CPU went bad, thanks to Windows. Maybe Windows did not that, but I still blame it. Honestly, in my lifetime, I had to reinstall Windows probably more than 5 times. I get tired of it. I got fed up. I did try Linux. It’s not bad. But I want something more. Linux is fairly new and very stable. Like I said my computer got bad, I need to get a new computer. I decide to buy Mac Mini, for a starter to see if I like it. For about 8 months now, I love it! I am using Mac more than Windows at home. I have Windows on my laptop, but I abandon it. I only use when I have to. But most of the time, I don’t.

Mac works easily, unlike Windows. When I need to use webcam for AIM on Windows, it is difficult to set up a webcam on AIM. On Mac, I set up the webcam with iChat, and it works greatly! I say Viola! I wonder why WIndows is being difficult to set up things like that. Also, I try to set up a wireless card on Windows, and it wont let me hook up to the internet. I don’t understand what I have done wrong. I have tried everything! Nothing works! I gave up. With Mac, I got hookup to Internet via Air Port (wirelessly) with no problem! Well my laptop does not have a wireless built-in, but it does access to wireless by using a wireless card. Unfortunately it wont cooperate with me to make it work on Windows/and laptop.

In the future, I will buy new Mac computer, not PC. I will be willing to use Windows, since Mac can do Windows now. But I will be using more Mac OS than Windows.

Anyway, like I said, Leopard blew me away because there are few great feature that I dream of on a Mac. They make it happen!

• Time machine
• Spaces
• iChat cool features, including cool backgrounds and art.
• Dashboard cool features, including creating your own dash widgets called Dashcode

I only listed 4 out of ten features that has been raving around for some time. You can check it out here. There also are more features that Steve Jobs has not told us. We will know soon when it comes out. It won’t not be ready until Spring 2007. Microsoft Vista will come out sometimes in 2007 as well, but it may be delay longer. We will see how they go. I know Microsoft owns a large number of share market while Apple only has like around 4 to 7 percent. But we will see how the future holds since Apple’s Mac computers are on Intel chip just like PC’s. The new Mac Pro comes out in Duo-Core Intel Xeon processor. I guess Apple is getting ready to get more customers on Mac. Oh, yeah, I heard that Leopard may come with Microsoft Vista on the side, called a Dual Boot using a Parallell program.

I also read an article somewhere saying that many businesses wouldn’t want to upgrade to Microsoft Vista. I don’t know how bad it will look …. but it will hurt a bit for Microsoft because it is likely good for home use. It has cool and sleek look with new features that businesses does not need.

We will see what happen when they come out… but I still want Leopard. I am not sure about the Vista… it seems sleazy to me…

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iTalk by Apple

When I saw the iTalk ad by Apple, I was in awe and thought I wanted this iTalk right now! As soon as I read more about iTalk on Interest, it crushed me badly to know this is a fake ad. I knew that Apple is working on a cellphone with iPod. So I thought I would want to see what it looks like. I know that Apple has a way of making things very cool and different. Apple always has great creativity. I admired Apple for that.

Before you see the ad, you will get a first glimpse of iTalk below:

Now you can watch its fake ad (too bad) but it is really awesome!

Ohh, digg.com says that this one only last two minutes of battery… that sucks.

Remember the First Powerbook?

This one is Powerbook 100, first introduced in 1991. It had 2 mb memory ram, 16 MHz processor, 20 MB hard drive, and external 3 1/2 floppy disk drive. All for $2,500.00.

I remember using my friend’s a long time ago.I thought it was so cool… Now I look back, it is not so cool, comparing to today’s technology! LOL. But it was great to remember…it was a big thing back then.

Now today, the new, sleek, and slim Macbook (formerly Powerbook) come out in 13 inch monitor. And widescreen. It used to come out in white, but now you can choose white or black. It has 512 mb memory ram, Intel Duo Core 2.0 GHz processor, 60/80 gig hard drive, and Super Drive (DVD-RW/CD-RW), Bluetooth built-in, and iSight webcam built-in. All for $1,299.00 (in white), or $1,499.00 (in black).

What an amazing evolution (in only 15 years apart)

You can look the evolution of Mac computers over 30 years. Some are good. Some are not good or ugly. It can be found at engadget.com.

I want that bag! I am drooling over it. But why do I want this bag? Mmm, what is special about it?

It can carry iMac computer on go! I think it is very cool! It makes me want to buy iMac right now, so I can take it on go! You can check it out at timbag.net.

Mac News!

I am kinda of Mac Freak right now. I am trying to follow up the Mac news regarding Intel-based Mac Mini. It has yet annouced exactly when it will come out, but it keep saying that all Mac computer will be converted to Intel by mid-summer. Also, I mentioned a while ago that it will set the sales of new Mac Mini on Jan 22nd, and I hope they keep the promise to it. Anyway, I am beginning to wonder if the Mac Mini won’t has Intel until later in the summer. You know, I was going to buy one very soon. But 6 months seems so long! I will keep an eye on the news of it constantly until the end the month. Then I will make a decision if I should just go ahead and buy Mac Mini with Power PC processor or I wait until new Mac Mini comes out in the mid summer. Bear with me with talking about Mac so much on my blog for few weeks now… I am learning so much how Mac will turn out after the Intel chips installed in them.

Right now, two Mac computers are running on Intel starting yesterday: MacBook Pro laptop and iMac desktop. Duo-Intel processors. Mmm, two processors in the computer. Pretty much, it will be faster. Duo processors indicate in some PC computers. The future is actually HERE!

To my surprise that Apple will not prevent from Windows-lovers to booting its own operating system (OS) on Mac computers with Intel. Windows? Bad idea! I hate Windows already! It is only the rumor because I excerpt from http://www.macrumors.com. I knew that Mac users use Windows OS on their computers, using the emulator, but it is very slow because it is running Windows on Mac OS. It is like two operating systems running on one computer. But it is doable. We can use Mac OS on Windows but older versions like 8.0 or 9.0. Not the Mac OS X yet.

Phil Schiller maintains that Apple will not prevent users from booting Windows on the new machines, though no first hand reports whether or not this is easily accomplishable.

Also, it mentioned about that in MSNBC, you can read the article….

New Mac Mini

Hat tip to Jason W.

He wrote a comment in ‘Windows to Mac OS X’ entry stating the macrumors.com said there will be new Mac Mini with Intel comes out tomorrow or whenever. Right now, they have Power PC chips in Mac computers. I knew about that, but I heard that iBooks would be released with Intel first. I guess they changed their mind.

Anyway, I decided to google to see if it is true because it was a rumor. However, it apparently is true because Steve, the CEO of Apple, said the Intel-based Mac Mini will be shown at the Expo in San Francisco sometimes this month.

Moreover, I found out that they will sell the new Mac Mini on Jan 22nd. I plan to buy one at the end of the month, or the first week of Feburary. I am buying a new Mac Mini at the right time. Currently Mac Mini has the G4-processor while most Mac computers has G5-processor. I was hesitated to buy G4-processor Mac Mini. However, since the Intel based Mac Mini will be out sometimes this month, I am happy. I like Intel. Intel is the trustworthy computer chip. Intel chips are currently in most computers. I am looking forward to that.

Jason W., I said in the comment that once it is Intel-based, the computer will cost more, but I apparently was wrong. It will start at 499.99 and up to 599.99. Mmm, not bad for an Intel based mini computer.

Oh, also, it said that the new Mac Mini will be included with TiVo-like DVR functionality. DVR generally means that you can record a TV show, or movie from TV on DVD disc (DVD-RW, DVD-R). How cool is that?

Anyway, I will keep an eye on it to see if they will sell the Intel-based Mac Mini after January 30; that is when I am ready to buy it one. Actually, I cannot wait, really. I hope they keep their promise that they will sell them on January 22. If not so soon, how long do I have to wait?!?! Another source said that they may sell them in the mid 2006, that is like 6 months from now. Mmmm, I have to decide if I should wait or go ahead and buy what they have now. Tough decision, huh?

Windows to Mac OS X

I am going to convert to Macintosh in the end of the month. I have been a user of Window/DOS since 1989. I am getting tired of it. It never gets any better. It just gets worse and worse! I have my shares of problems with the Windows for more than a decade. I have reformated and reinstall Windows several times. I fix the problems, tiny or big all the time. Programs sometimes crash. I have been caught up with the viruses and worms, and I had to scan them and quantine or remove them. Virus scan takes forever! Several programs have been installed without my knowledge. I am tired! I am tired! (I know I am complaining… it is a good place where I can vent here. Appreciate that you listen to my bitching. LOL)

Anyway, I feel it is it is time for me to change to Mac. I hope at the end of month, I will able to buy Mac Mini — Why Mac mini? Why not a Mac desktop? With Mac Mini, I don’t have to buy a new monitor, keyboard, mouse, and many more. The Mac Mini will be capable with everything what I have right now. Mac Mini is cheap, only 499.99 dollars. However, I will buy at the top price, with more features and speed for only 699.99. If I buy a Mac desktop, I would have to pay anywhere between 1,200 to 3,000, plus a new monitor, keyobard, and mouse.

I ask cnet.com if Mac OSX needs an anti-virus program:

Most response is: No, Mac OS X does not need it. I copied and pasted some comments from people on cnet.com’s Mac Forum why it does not need the anti-virus program:

• Consider Consider yourself Mac-using friends a police officers in Binghamton, and your Windows-using friends are cops in Baghdad.
• Unlike Windoze, any version, OS X is a secure and stable operating system that requires Administrator input before ANYTHING is installed on the machine. Windoze, on the other hand, allows programs, virus’s, worms, malware, adware, etc. to be installed without the users permission and even knowledge.
• Apples do have only 4% of the computer Operating System market.
• Also viruses for Windows can be written in Visual Basic which is easy to learn. Most virus writters don’t want to learn to a new language just for Apple.
• Apple ships with all the ports closed except for those needed as shipped. Windows shipps iwth all the ports OPEN!
• 99% if not more of the security threats are designed for Windows Systems, as thats what the majority of the world use, so the chances of being attacked are very small.
• THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO WORMS OR VIRUS’S FOR OS X

That is the good news, however, I will still get an anti-virus program for Mac. You can get Virex 7.2, at no cost. Just in case. They said Norton gives Mac problems, so I would avoid having more problems!

The bottom line: I will be doing more web designing and hopefully to get my photography work started in the near future. You know Mac is very good with designing work and photography. That is why I decide to buy one.