Pixelated

Sometimes, I just enjoy harassing sales staff.

I have nothing against them really, I just like to ask those tricky questions that take them off guard that not even sales reps know the answer to. Like my old RJ45 question. Not even sales reps know that kind of information. (In case you're wondering, last paragraph of http://is.gd/1Xp3s).

Today, I figured it'd be an easier one. "What is the major advantage of a widescreen monitor over a standard (4:3) one?"

Yeah. Easier. Right.

First stop: Dick Smith.

I was served instantly by Cameron, an Arts student of some type student dealing with some sort of international studies subject. There is nothing wrong with that degree in the slightest, just so you all know. But the big question, could he make me feel compelled to purchase a widescreen rather than that standard screen?

No. No, he couldn't. Not by a long shot. The moment he said something blatantly incorrect, I was hoping the next store had the answer. His "major difference" between the two: "widescreen has a higher resolution, and hence everything looks better"

Penis joke time, I'm comparing myself to the Arts student.

Let's pitch the 19" widescreen he was trying to sell vs. my 19" standard from home.His 19" thing had a resolution of 1440x900 and my 19" thing has a resolution of 1280x1024. Therefore, his is wider, but not as tall; and mines not as wide, but it has some height to it. Is there a difference between them in terms of picture? You betcha! Multiply them together.

1,440x900=1,296,000 (Whoa, that's a lot of pixels, but wait!)

1,280x1024=1,310,720 (Huge! I can fit a lot on my thing).

Evidently, my thing, exactly the same size, can fit "more" on it. Hence, is more useful. It's not the size that counts, but how you use it. Next!

Side note between stores: As a result of that mathematical finding, I'd expect the cost of standard screens to be greater. However, people seem to be happy to pay through the ass for something that apparently "looks better." (Assuming you're not an idiot and don't stretch the image anyway)

Second store: BCC (That one that you've never been inside)

I was rummaging through the bargain bin when someone came to help. "All I want to know is the major advantage of a widescreen monitor over a standard one."

"We don't sell standard ones. They don't make them anymore." Brilliant. That really answered my question. I explained I wasn't interested in buying one today, I just wanted to know for the future (ie. When I was interested). And for the reference, they DO still make them, and forever will (ie. Ten years, that's forever in tech speak).

"Oh, the widescreen one has a better resolution for DVD's." If I want to watch DVD's, I'll go watch them on a TV. I told him such.

"But they make games for widescreen now too." Ugh! Yes, they make them for widescreen now, but they've been making them for standard screen for a shitload longer... Now it's marketable to do both (and forever will be). Next!

Finally: JB Hi-Fi

I stood there for a while looking at the monitors, there were some ones here I actually liked the look of, even if they were widescreen. While over in external drives, I was asked if I required assistance.

"Well, widescreen better supports the native resolutions of DVD's and camcorders." Aha! Keyword of the day that I should have heard at every store, but didn't: Native! I asked which would be better use for everyday application, none of this video bullshit (Handballs off to Michael for that one).

"Well, then there's really no difference, just wider and shorter." I explained to him I'd want to use two monitors side by side, and asked if there was any benefit in having two widescreen monitors over two standard ones.

"None." Actually, there are only disadvantages: that you chew up more desk space than an accountant at tax time (as the monitors are wider).

So again, I left the store, well and truly amazed that people still buy widescreen monitors even though they have a perfectly good HD-TV in their house to watch DVD's on. Honestly, there's no real difference. If you plan on using multiple or for just everyday use, standard is better. If you plan to edit movies, widescreen is better (though you're likely to need two in this scenario anyway). As such, we still should have both on our shelves for purchase. I didn't see a single 4:3 screen in the stores today, quite depressing...

Nevertheless, there was a lesson learnt today: Putting an Arts student in Dick Smith selling computers is like hiring a convicted paedophile for a kindergarten teacher job. It's probably counter-productive.

Merry May

Last day of uni on the twenty-ninth, glad to have this semester (almost) done.

Work, work, work at the moment.

However, more interestingly, today is the last day of May, the last day of Autumn, and tomorrow the first day of Winter.

Fast run through of May, yeah?

Early May, Dad's birthday, lots of a very filling cake... Mmmm... Cake...

Moreover, Jesus Christ Superstar. Show was fantastic. So hot, it almost caught fire.

Middle of May, Tash's party, with a guest appearance from Jesus.

Also: JD's birthday; Pancake Parlour; Shopping in th

e city; Cancer (boo!); Crepes; Movie night.

Work every Wednesday (I have not been outside during daylight hours on a Wednesday this month).

In addition, I turned twenty. Fun things of note: Suit and associated items; items for my cuffs; subscription to a magazine I was planning to buy a subscription to next month; fan controller (see picture); enough money to fill my car up four times (or enough for two and a bit months); cards; hugs; and well wishes.

Plan for June: Work every Wednesday, and most Friday's. Study hard for exams, especially Math and Electrical Systems. Relax before another hectic semester. Visit friends all over Melbourne. Fiddle. Invent something. Increase my average sentence length...

Hope you've all had an awesome May 2009; now onto Winter!

Desktop

Right, so I think I've got my desktop pretty well set up, including, it seems, the desktop itself...

I know I've blogged this before, but getting something running on a new computer is always worthwhile.

A word of thanks

I probably should have updated this a week or so ago, but I have been that busy. Mostly trying to help people actually, stuff I don't actually have to do, but am because it makes me feel like a better person (and it delays before I actually have to write something.).

What amazes me though are the so very few people that say "thanks" and actually mean it. Sure, we all say it. I bring someone something at work and I have the polite "Thanks, James" but has this person actually realised the time and effort I went to do find the box?

Yesterday, however, I was surprised by the first person who said "thank you" and actually sounded like they cared for the effort I'd gone to to help them. I was a wet, cold, Melbourne evening, and I was on my way home from work. It was the second time in two days I'd been caught in the rain; this time however, was neither fun nor enjoyable. As I squelched my way of the tram with other travellers, a man down the street caught my eye. He was blind, and had clearly lost his way. Not one person stopped as they trundled past him, so I did.

As a result, it took me an extra forty minutes to get home. I become even wetter, and I knew that I now had no chance of not getting sick (at the moment I'm suffering with a sore throat). And when we arrived at his destination, I received the first thanks in weeks that sounded honest. He shook my hands, told me he could never thank me enough, and that he would repay the favour someday, if he ever has the chance. It wasn't what he said, but the way he said it.

And as a result I'd like to expand my list of words that have lost all meaning due to abuse because of today's society: "Love," "Sorry," and now "Thank you." I try always to only ever use these words when I honestly mean them, and I hope you'll do likewise.

There have been plenty of times that I can think of when "Sorry" might have fixed it, or "Love" might have had a laugh, or "Thanks" would have been custom; but I have refrained from saying it, cause it wasn't what I truly meant.

So what I have I done since my last update?

Well, quite obviously, I had exams. Lots of fun there... Not...

Actually, lunch before exams was kinda awesome, much better than a bread roll, though I don't think eating at a fancy restaurant on Southbank is the best way to revise for Enterprise Engineering... I packed in work wherever possible between exams and I'm making some money now. Well, until uni goes back at least. Money's kinda very handy at the moment, especially with the cost of petrol and our trip away to Jervis Bay.

Trip away was much needed, and I really am glad we went. Had a couple of walks along the beach, and got to see someone special graduate from the Navy. Dyed Al's hair... again... Lounged on the couch, the bed, the floor. Watched Al speed at 130km/h, and listened to Ken get angry at him. Photo's are on Facebook if you'd like to see them. Most are of Izzy marching, which was great to watch, but it does all start to look the same after a few minutes. :P

The Sunset Parade wasn't as loud as I was expecting. Yes, I know that it was loud, and I know that we were told it was going to be extremely loud, but I did actually expect more noise. So I didn't jump out of my skin, like some people did. But watching the whole thing is definitely something I'd watch again (which is why we watched it twice).

And the Passing Out Parade lived up to expectations of people passing out. I think it was five in total. Three honourable mentions here:

1. To the person behind the crunching noise at they hit the ground. It carried quite a distance, and although there was no blood, it was great to hear.
   
2. To the person who passed out, but remained standing. Never seen it before, and probably never will, but serious points for that.
   
3. To Izzy, for swaying, turning pale, and wanting to vomit. You looked like you were next to hit the deck the whole parade, but you stuck through.
   

Overall, I knew where I should have parked my car!

The Ball was... Actually... I don't think there's a word for it, and because I'm in the habit of making words at the moment, I think that the Ball was benourable. Which is sort of like endurable, but only if you knew a portion of the people there. I just spent my time following the one person who might know people, and there was people following me accordingly. We all left early, only because the Ball was starting to get a touch benourable, and we'd be having much more fun at home with movies, coke and vodka.

And then since getting back, I've been back working again, and having quite a few late nights. I'm exhausted, why do you people keep me up so late? (Yes, I want to be asleep at 3.30am). So I'm working on more money before uni goes back, I need to save for a trip away to Hawaii in September. And a new desktop. And just save in general. You can never have too much money saved.

And I got my results today. I'm actually quite impressed. My average would be a distinction, if you balance the high distinction and the credit out. I'm a touch disappointed in my score in Math, but to be fair I don't show any working, so maybe it was deserved. Biggest surprise was Enterprise Engineering, which I'm beginning to think that if I'd actually handed in one preliminary assignment (no, I didn't hand in a single one, they counted for a total of 15%) then my score would have been in the late 90's. So the one class I expected to fail I got a High Distinction in, and the one class I expected to do really well in, I didn't do as well as I thought.

And as much as I hate writing, I'll try to update the blog soon, but I need something to write about first...

Take care, talk soon.

What can I get you?

So I finished my Responsible Serving of Alcohol and my Food Hygiene Certificates on Saturday. I can now apply to jobs behind the bar and legally sell people alcohol, assuming that I'm selling it to people with adequate ID and all that jazz... Also part of my course was a basic coffee making lessons and wine appreciation. Turns out Cappuccino's and Latte's are almost exactly the same, just I fold the milk with a Latte (and I've also got to be careful not to destroy the crema).

And while the bar downstairs burst with roars of excitement when a favourite team would kick a goal, our group was pulling beers, foaming milk, sipping wine and breaking glasses. For a lovely change, I didn't see a single minute of the grand final this year due to my thoroughly enjoyable and very worthwhile course. The purpose of this is to lead into part time work for after exams and university, and I've already applied to several places including the place I was training at, the Belgian Beer café; even if it's a little annoying to get to (I hate public transport).

Today, while in the process of trying to backup Izzy's Tablet, I stumbled across something which has distracted me for a couple of hours now. While virtual desktops aren't original, the 3D cube model of them is relatively new, and my notebook now takes on a whole new flippy feel as I whir around the box. A separate background on them all helps me remember which desktop I'm on, handy! Only a few things I need to get used to, one of them is checking conversations in other desktops, because they don't make noise when they aren't on the active desktop. Nevertheless, I can see this as something that will change my productivity process. Have a screenshot of my computer, flipping between the desktops:

Notebook

Purchased a new notebook this week. It was a nice and simple male type shopping trip...
"Watcha got that's really powerful?"
"This one right here..."

Specs:
ASUS F3JR
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 (2.0 Ghz)
2 Gb DDR2 Ram
Mobile Intel 945PM Express Chipset
120Gb SATA HDD
DVD±Rewriter Double Layer
ATI X2300 (384Mb + 512Mb dynamic memory)
15.4" WXGA Colourshine (1280x800)
DVI, VGA, S-Video Output
1.3 Megapixel Webcam
Wireless A/B/G
Bluetooth V2.0 +EDR
7-in-1 card reader
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Microsoft Office 2007

If your confused by all that, it's basically sitting in a place that isn't top-of-the-charts, but is incredibly powerful for a student notebook... 90% of the performance at 50% of the price...

The only thing I wished this had but it doesn't is a fingerprint reader... But I only want that for humour value... Toshiba notebooks have them as standard now, but this ASUS really caught my attention because it was just what I wanted.

I don't plan on using this to replace my current PC for those of you that might have hoped they might get it. I plan on re-formatting this older thing because it's getting very... er... sick at the moment and this new notebook will be a storage space while a do the job... (Granted, I could have stored my minute quantities of data on my brother's computer... but that thing is a bitch!). Also, I'm thinking of dual-booting this thing with Linux... Which will be a new experience for me (I have always run my copy of Ubuntu from a Live CD...).

Hope you're all having fun on your holidays so far!

Ask me how my month was...

March has been a busy month, with lots of changes to my lifestyle...

On the first of March I moved house, leaving Dad back in Sandringham. The new house is much smaller and is nice and cosy.

However at the start of the month there was no gas, hence no hot water. The reason for having no gas was due to a major gas leak under the new house because the shower was not connected to any drainage, and the water would run over the gas pipe, which over time has rusted out.

And up to a couple of days ago, no phone line because Telstra was considerate enough to connect the wrong phone line to the house. Similarly there has been no Internet, so I wasn't able to update my blog, but now I have cable Internet (and a fancy new router) that keeps me sane for when there's nothing to do. I didn't have a computer anyway, cos something was seriously wrong with it; all it would do was to spin fans and that's it... no system ok beep... then it stopped even doing that... it just sat there... It now has a new power supply and runs fine, apart from only loading Windows every second time and being incredibly unstable. I only have to live with it till May though, when I get a new notebook!

In the middle of all this I'm involved with the year 10 play, Hating Alison Ashley, so my spare time created from my inability to be able to do anything at home has been used up there... Very very busy...

Oh and the Honours Society's Games of the World night was heaps of fun too. I have pictures of our School Captain dressed for the weekend!

Then I went to Sophie's 18th a couple of weeks ago (March 17th to be exact) and found myself a nice girl named Izzy (or did she find me?) and we invited each other to our formals (and mine was only two weeks away.. lucky I'm just so organised :p).

Wednesday the next week I got what felt like a stitch on my right side just under my chest, but it got worse and worse throughout the day. The pain spread up my body and into my right shoulder as well and it would hurt to breathe or move. Lucky the guys found it funny as I rolled on the ground in pain cos I didn't find it humorous at all (though I was laughing... which hurt). Panadol did nothing to ease the pain. 9 or 10pm that night (I wasn't really watching the time) I was taken to hospital. They prodded and poked me and at about 1am they decided I was in pain so issued me some Morphine (about bloody time). Couple of conclusion jumping moments later I was being taken into the operating theatre to remove my appendix.

Woke up the next day (about 4am) without any pain... feeling much better... and I didn't even have any Morphine in me yet! I was told that my appendix hadn't ruptured like they had suspected and it was completely normal, yet they removed it anyway. They asked if the pain from yesterday was still there and were confused with the outcome. Clinically, they had done nothing that would have an affect on the pain and its cure yet I was all better (apart from having a 10cm hole that never needed to be created). They told me I would most likely be in hospital for more than a week and I'd miss out on going to my formal, I was pretty sad about missing it. They ended up holding me in hospital for two days til Friday afternoon and I got a good experience of what boredom feels like, as I was unable to do anything in the hospital bed... Soooooo BORING!!! Had some visitors though which made my days really interesting, you have no idea how much more interesting my day would become when there was someone to talk to. No idea at all. Thanks to Martin, Alastair, Nick and Amelia for visits. A double thanks to Izzy for two visits. And another thanks to Simon for an attempted visit and a big bar of chocolate.

After a quick chat with the doctor I was allowed to go home. Dr Dyer told me I would be allowed to go to the formal, but I had to take it easy and no dancing. She suggested not too much drinking because throwing up would put me back in hospital. Also, not allowed to be sitting down for any great periods of time which eliminated me from heading over to South Australia these holidays (I'd be leaving now otherwise). Finally, I had to take it easy for the next three months and I wasn't allowed to do any heavy lifting for one to three months, which means I won't be able to help much for the next school play, Inheritance, and I'd miss out on the first half of the hockey season. I'm annoyed but thankful it ain't worse (like if they had went looking for what the problem was). Missed out on a week and a half of school, now have heaps of homework to catch up on.

Izzy helped me pick out a shirt and tie for the formal (Thanks for that, it turned out perfect). I was late to the before party at Amelia's but it was still fun, mostly photo's and talking which was a comfortable way to start the night. The formal itself was a good night, with lower than average food and quality music that started to head the wrong direction towards the end. Plenty of photos taken, I'll post a link when I finish uploading them to Flickr (There's another email address I've acquired in my travels, starting to get frustrating all these addresses). After party at Alastair's was excellent too; poker night worked well until Jess turned up and got distracting. Heaps of fun being dressed up playing poker and I had a very sexy partner helping me play.

The formal itself wasn't worth $140 but the whole night from start to finish definitely was, I had heaps of fun with everybody, especially Izzy.

Yesterday (Sunday 1st) I went to the Flower and Garden show with Izzy and that was a nice relaxing day out. Oh and flowers don't need water to live... nah...

Thanks all for keeping me alive (almost) during March, just hope next March ain't like it.

EDIT: Formal photo's uploaded - higher resolution pics available, send me a message. Anything with a _1 at the end has been edited and is at a lower quality. Again, just ask for the original if you want it.