Engadget for the iPhone: download the app now
AOL Tech

Paul

Member since: Jul 7th, 2009

Paul's Latest Comments

Blog Activity
Blog# of Comments
Download Squad10 Comments

Recent Comments:

U.S. Air Force begins migrating 600,000 systems to Windows 7 (Download Squad)

Nov 5th 2010 12:59PM Well, strictly speaking, the F-14 is now an Iranian air-superiority fighter. Talk about sending a mixed message there.

U.S. Air Force begins migrating 600,000 systems to Windows 7 (Download Squad)

Nov 5th 2010 12:58PM Yeah, that was the first thing that came to mind. I mean, I'm Canadian and I know the difference.

Russia to develop Linux-based Windows alternative to reduce its US tech dependence (Download Squad)

Oct 28th 2010 10:54AM And the books are often cooked to hide the usage of pirated software. Not so much in Europe as in Russia and China (and Eastern Europe). While they do use Linux, in practice it will often be that while a machine is officially running it, it also either dual-boots into or is primarily a Windows machine, for which the source of the license is, at best, nebulous.

It's mostly because copyright is something that has not gotten much penetration in the societies/cultures, particularly as the communist systems acknowledged neither copyrights or patents.

Russia to develop Linux-based Windows alternative to reduce its US tech dependence (Download Squad)

Oct 28th 2010 9:45AM I'm guessing that this is, right now, solely a negotiating tactic, trying to keep MS from being too finicky about ensuring only legitimately licensed copies of Windows are used in schools, offices and institutions (for now, the Russian home user isn't worth the hassle of going after). I bet, that should MS come back to the table with a deal for a much lower price per license for the above, the Russian government would suddenly find the need of a new Linux-based OS as less pressing than other Matters of State.

For the record, it's my understanding that Russia, Eastern Europe and China right now have more pirated copies of Windows (including in universities and other government run institutions) than they have licensed copies.

More experimental features (and DANGER!) on the way to Chrome's about:labs page (Download Squad)

Oct 13th 2010 5:24PM Depends. If you're dealing with sarcastic, cynical, jaded techies: about:safeasWindows
about:notatrap
about:dontforgetyourtowel
about:mcafee

Although that last one might be over doing it a little, as no one who actually knows what he's doing would open that page.

Microsoft Security Essentials now officially offers free antivirus protection for small businesses (Download Squad)

Oct 8th 2010 11:32AM Ah McAfee...the $#!^ anti-virus software that's also known by computer support personal as Make A Fee. As in, this is part of the reason why I was brought in.

This is great news. It also means lots of conversions, as people who run home offices flock to it.

Adobe's Plenoptic technology can refocus your photos after you shoot them (Download Squad)

Sep 25th 2010 2:59AM I'm glad you guys linked this. My full reaction is on my blog (http://scribblingit.com/2010/09/25/a-revolution-in-photography-is-coming/), but the short of it is that this will truly change the way we deal with images.

Gain a superpower by learning to touch-type - Back to School (Download Squad)

Aug 31st 2010 1:19PM I've been touch-typing for a long time now. Usually keep my fingers near the home-keys, but don't actually keep my fingers on them, it's just a place to reset to before continuing on. Especially because my current keyboard has these 2 really well defined index finger bumps (or whatever they're called).

What I find really frustrating, however, is when I move to a different keyboard, or worse yet, laptop. Suddenly I have to look down at the keys, when I realize I've just moved the cursor up or down the entire page, and other fun things like that.

McAfee shoots itself in the enterprise foot (Download Squad)

Apr 21st 2010 9:11PM I realized McAfee's corporate product was less than up to snuff when I had a client who picked up something nasty off a network share running it - where both Avast and Security Essentials picked it up. Client of course, not knowing any better, got scared. Spent more time talking him down from red alert than I did finding out what went on.

Symantec's Hall says free antivirus is for chumps (Download Squad)

Jul 7th 2009 9:12AM I've been working in computers for a long time now, and I have to say that the only anti-virus software which I'll trust is Avast. The only time a client with Avast got a virus is when they failed to register (after I explained to them about registration -- I don't think they'll fail to register again). I did end up registering them, and charging them for the trouble.

Haven't used AVG much. If it turns out not to cover as much as Avast, I wouldn't know.

With regards to Norton and McAfee -- I always tell everyone to get rid of it. Not only because you don't pay for alternatives like Avast, but also because the coverage and memory/cpu cost is way too high for the level of protection involved. I still kick myself over recommending McAfee years ago to clients. What a waist of money.

As for the comment of never using AV software at all: been there, done that. Only reason I use AV software now is because if I screw up and get some nasty virus, I'm not the only person that'll pay for it. Client data, passwords, and all sorts of backups are right there for the taking if someone gets through my security. When I was a student with a low-powered machine, I never bothered.