Archive for May, 2007
Just Say Ozzy… Black Rain
Posted by Wanderlust in Music Wednesday, 23 May 2007 06:02 No Comments
I’m hooked on this CD. It’s definitely the best disc since No More Tears and really has the 80′s Ozzy feel to it. I’ll try to get a track by track review up this week. The first track, Not Going Away reminds me a little of No More Tears, even has the “interlude” in the song (and again in The Almighty Dollar). You’ve probably already heard Never Gonna Stop, which is a decent track but I think I would have started off radio play with Not Going Away. Following those two songs is Black Rain, which appears to be a protest song on the current Iraq war complete with marching feet and a middle eastern sound, not a bad song but it opens into Lay Your World on Me.
Lay Your World on Me sounds as tho it’s a plea to Ozzy’s family or kids to um, well lay their world on him. Very good track, has a very good feel to it. I’ve listened to the rest but I’ll stop here for now. 
I do have to say Zakk is on mark with this disc and I hope that he borrows from this disc a bit in his future work and gets away from the sound he’s had on the past few discs, not that Zakk can do any wrong but I want more of his melodic sound that he’s not shown in the past few discs (overall). I really like his work on this disc.
I’ll finish the tracks as well as get the Megadeth and Chris Cornell reviews up soon.
Norton 360
Posted by Wanderlust in Software Wednesday, 23 May 2007 03:10 No Comments
Symantec has some serious issues with e-mails. I had attempted the download link several times from the Yahoo offer and never got an e-mail (that is until today). So weeks later they decided to send me the details of the offer, even after sending an e-mail to support as well that was never responded to.
I was able to get the software from another link to do the trial that I’ve posted about.
After the trial was over, I decided to go ahead and purchase it for the $49.99. If you’re interested in it, do a few searches and you should find a 10% off that apparently applies to already discounted software.
So now after using it even more and purchasing it, I’m not happy with it. It’s a nice package and would work great if I installed it on my mom’s PC or someone who doesn’t mind giving up all control of how it works. Yes, there’s settings you can change at an “overview” or “high level” but no detailed changes. I loved the old defrag program that allowed me to keep highly used items, such as specific games, at the front of the drive. Won’t find that here.
I also found that certain files that it may detect as viruses that are false have no options to set them as exclude. It moved a file, I found where to restore/undo it and it immediately quarantined it again. There’s a nice option for “exclude” but it won’t allow me to do that. You also can’t get any details on the file when you view the virus it reported. If you click on the virus it has a message about “restricted access” and needing rights to view the file.
So if you want something that monitors your system so you can brainlessly stay safe, it’s a nice program and there’s nothing wrong with that… exactly the type of protection most users need. However if you’re a techie type it’s not for you. It’s too bad because it really is nice on resources but Symantec thinks everyone needs their hand held and doesn’t seem to care if you want more detailed or higher level interaction.
Woot Item
Posted by Wanderlust in Woot Tuesday, 22 May 2007 02:45 No Comments
Figure I’d start listing my Woots too here. 
I picked up the Razer m100 Pro earbuds for $29.99… Not a bad deal based on reviews, should work well with the Nano or my upcoming Halo Zune!
Intel RMA Process
Posted by Wanderlust in Hardware Thursday, 17 May 2007 04:13 No Comments
I have fought with my system upgrade for almost 2 months. I ordered my system pieces from NewEgg on 3/16 and finally on 5/16 it’s running stable.
The point of this entry is to say that I’m really impressed with the Intel RMA process.
I called Intel, told them that I had attempted a new motherboard (NewEgg RMA that took forever), tried completely different memory with different timing and swapping out the power supply. They took my information, asked me to provide the information on my CPU, both the heat spreader and the PCB, gave me an RMA and said that they would ship me a new processor as soon as they received mine with 2 day UPS.
I sent it out via USPS 3 Day Express for about $12 including insurance and had my new processor in about a week.
I’ve been a big AMD fan since the Athlons came along and my main system hasn’t had an Intel since a 500MHz but I wanted to try the E6600 out because of the overclocking abilities so that’s why I went back to Intel, and at the time it was a very good price. If I could get close to what I was able to do with my Celeron 300 I would be sold. That’s yet to be seen but the point of this entry is how painlessly and quickly Intel handled my RMA.
They were professional, didn’t talk to me as if I were an idiot and got me a sealed processor in about a week from me sending it. I have new respect for Intel after this experience.
Also…this solved my reboot issues that I was having. So it’s a happy ending… everyone say awwww.
Day 6 With Norton 360
OK, I’ve not posted much on this but it seems to work well other than the annoying freakin’ messages that you’ve not bought it. Give me 15 days to try it, on day 12 start telling me ONCE per day. Instead it tells you multiple times per day that you’ve not purchased it… Wow, I didn’t???? Stop telling me that it’s not purchased, i know it. When I’m ready, I’ll buy it and until then, leave me the hell alone!
It seems to be doing OK but the training on the mail is poor…seemed that the older version caught a lot more spam than this thing does. Even something coming in that says [SPAM] in the subject it still allows it through.
Also the backup piece works fine unless you have your mail prog open and it errors out saying that all files were not copied, so you have to make sure you have mail (Outlook/Outlook Express) closed.
That’s all for today on Norton 360 for day 6 (I think it’s day 6…hehe)