Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Flashing Question Mark

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  • Rich of Observationz,

    The first few pages were full with relentless Mac vs. PC stories

    The same thing was played out in the pages of "BBC User" and "ZX Spectrum User" in about 1983.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Simon, it's not odd. The extra price of the Mac does need constant justification. I'm sure there's plenty of truth in such testimonials too, PCs are a pain in the ... date ... to deal with.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • JohnS,

    I don't know its current status, but for many years Alsoft's "DiskWarrior" was highly regarded and well recommended on Apple sites.

    Does more things, and better, than Apple's own disk utility.

    Use the CD to start up using Diskwarrior's own OS, then you can start to set about seeing whether you have a usable and findable HD.

    Agree entirely with other helpful people that your HD should be professionally checked.

    Thanks also for the recommendations about Time Machine. Will explore.

    Greenlane, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 26 posts Report

  • Tony Siu,

    @Tom Semmens: Why not try OpenDNS.com? It's free and easy to setup. Just plug 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 into your DNS server settings. In additional to content filtering, you get phishing protection as well as setting up a blacklist for sites.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 82 posts Report

  • Madeleine,

    Russell someone told me you had Aspergers Syndrome or you had some passion for those with it - is that true?

    My son has Aspergers and I just wrote a blog on it and the bullying he has faced as a result of it and someone said that you knew something of the support agencies out there.

    Since my son's diagnosis 5 years ago we tried many times to get in touch with support groups (we were in dunedin) but my many emails and phone calls to the numbers I was given were never answered. I gave up.

    Now we are in Auckland I wondered if I should try again but where do I start?

    Auckland • Since Oct 2008 • 8 posts Report

  • Peter Darlington,

    <quote>Simon, it's not odd. The extra price of the Mac does need constant justification. I'm sure there's plenty of truth in such testimonials too, PCs are a pain in the ... date ... to deal with.<quote>

    S'weird, we run PC's and servers at work running Windows and Linux. PC's are properly manageable if you know what you're doing. The great thing about Windows PC's is the amount of incredible software that will run on them. Generally, if you minimise the M$ flavour you have fewer problems. It seems very democratic that, even though M$ guard their kernel with a Gordon Gecko like quality, it hasn't stopped a load of very clever people doing neat stuff to make Windows folks lives better. And for all those of us who have kids who feed off PC Games it's a bit of an essential.

    Linux on the PC in 2008/9 is a great solution. Easy, loads of choice, stability and functionality.

    And I must say I did my usual drool over the 24" iMac in the Mac shop off Trafalgar St last Saturday. If you had to own just one media machine in your life then that would possibly be the one. They are terrific pieces of technology.

    I think we're kind of blessed TBH nowadays, many of the headaches have dropped away across all flavours of computer, I'm interested in all of them between work and play and if all goes to plan I'll have all running at our gaff within the next year or so.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    Madeleine:
    Not speaking for Russ, but you could do worse than look at http://humans.org.nz/

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Hello Madeleine

    What sort of support are you after? I can put you in touch with some of my contacts in Auckland. There are various groups and activities.

    I'm sorry you didn't get the support you needed in Dunedin. There is a branch of Autism NZ there now and an information service provided by a group called Altogether Autism and both are in the phone book and have phones that get answered (although as the support is mostly provided by volunteers it might not be answered straight away).

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And for all those of us who have kids who feed off PC Games it's a bit of an essential.

    This feels like a comment that predates macs using intel chips. It's come out of a timewarp or something.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    I think "ass" is appropriate

    Plus that Paul Henry chap has ruined "arse" for many of us..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Peter Darlington,

    This feels like a comment that predates macs using intel chips. It's come out of a timewarp or something.

    How's the iMac go with those Directx9/10 PC games? I've no experience of it and seeing as we're talking the last 12 months or so it's still fairly bleeding age, no? I suspect that Windows still owns that market with your mum and dad shoppers but I'll still feel a wee bit decrepit with the timewarp comment anyway.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Had to post this somewhere, with the reference to Humans.og this seemed appropriate as anywhere. WTF?!!

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    Even their schools have prisons in them...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    I suspect that Windows still owns that market with your mum and dad shoppers but I'll still feel a wee bit decrepit with the timewarp comment anyway.

    Don't take it personally, Mac fans are notoriously a bit sensitive.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Peter Ashby,

    Russell, repair permissions is something you should do, from the startup DVD, every couple of months and after major software installs, including system updates (note to self: do above soon).

    I am not suprised that the machine is faster and that fact should stimulate you to do this regularly as the slowdown can be insidiously slow so you don't notice it.

    Hell running repair perms is hardly the most onerous maintenance procedure. Compared to having a PC running windoze it's an absolute breeze.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    __Don't take it personally, Mac fans are notoriously a bit sensitive.__

    That really hurt.

    You brute, Tiso.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    Isn't he, though?

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    @Graeme
    I agree wholeheartedly with your WTF. I suspect I would have spent many hours in such a room in my younger years. What runs through these people's brains?

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Peter Darlington,

    Don't take it personally, Mac fans are notoriously a bit sensitive.

    Heh, well I'm a bit of a Mac fan as well but of all the flavours it's the one I know least about and I am quite keen to get my hands on some iMac goodness. I am genuinely interested in the game playing situation for the newest generation of Mac's though. If the Vista/Directx10 thang is no longer an issue then they really would be the family machine of choice. Especially with the 21" iMacs sitting at around $1900. Compared with a $1300-1400 PC there's really no comparison in terms of build quality but maybe that price difference would still be a clincher for most folks.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Graeme and Mark
    Unfortunately, that story is only one of many that Ari Ne'eman regularly posts on his Austistic Self Advocacy website in the US. The upside is that this shocking behaviour is being exposed and condemned. However,it is probably the norm for many people with autism and related conditions - who are mostly undiagnosed and misunderstood - around the world. And you could say that at least these kids got to school in the first place. This is also not a reality for most.

    If it was only as easy as threatening to fine parents to ensure their special needs kids attend school...

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Peter, I agree. I'm also a PC user for a ton of reasons. Inertia and price are not the only things. But I can see that Apple make very nice machines nonetheless.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Had to post this somewhere, with the reference to Humans.og this seemed appropriate as anywhere. WTF?!!

    Fuck. We really fail sometimes don't we?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    But I can see that Apple make very nice machines nonetheless.

    Old Mac do look rather lame once they're truly obsolete. Even St. Vinnies weren't too wild about taking my 90s Quadra. That said, any Mac made in the last decade is too good to toss out. A young female relative is using the iMac I bought back in 2000 every day. Apparently it's just fine for Facebook.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I am genuinely interested in the game playing situation for the newest generation of Mac's though.

    I have a mac at work, so don't have any experience with that. But a quick google search indicate that people seem to be getting directx games working in windows on a mac.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Weta Workshops should get in on that whole steampunk stylee and build PCs. An iMac really wouldn't suit this office...
    http://www.wired.com/culture/design/multimedia/2007/06/gallery_nemo_office

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

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