Apple = ****

Not the fruit, the hardware manufacturer. So many time I hear the cries about how wonderful Apple are, but let’s face it – their stuff is design over function. All their stuff is the height of cool. It looks fantastic. The user interface on the iPod is genuinely a dream to use. But they’re fragile and unreliable. The first thing any sensible person buys for an iPod is a protective sleeve and a screen-scratch protector. Surely for an item designed to be portable, this kind of protection should be built-in, not an optional extra?

And now Apple have joined Sony’s policy of preventing people making full use of a product they’ve paid for as the recent iPhone updates can shaft an unlocked product. Sont have been doing this with the PSP for a couple of years now, but at least it only stops you using the homebrew and cracked software you’ve downloaded. The Apple update actually renders unlocked phones permanently useless and has also been causing problems with unaltered handsets. Well done, Apple.

I hear so many pro-Apple arguments. Their stuff looks nice. Well, whoopee. I want something that works, is upgradeable and for which I can get all the software I want. My PC is to be used, not to be looked at. PC’s are targets for viruses, whereas Apples aren’t. Horseshit. There are antivirus scanners for Apples as well – if they don’t get virii, then why do they have scanners? PCs are a more common target as there are more PCs. If the world ditched MS and moved to MacOS or whatever it’s called this year, in three years time they would be the major target.

As I said, I admire the design of Apples. If I wanted something to put on a desk and look shiny to show off how much money I have, I’d get a Mac. But for useability, upgradeability and sheer “tinker” factor, the PC rules hands down.

Windows Vista

Well, what an anti-climax it is. OK, I’ve not been as exposed to the hype as I was before the release of XP, but overall Vista’s just so much *yawn*.

I haven’t used it much. Finding someone who’s got it on a machine is quite hard. Everyone I’ve stayed with is still on XP (or Linux in Jörn’s case), as are all the cybercafes. I read that one of the UK PC sales companies even returned a huge number of their install licenses to Microsoft as customers still want XP. I have also heard that the home edition is somewhat unstable while the business or whatever version isn’t bad.

The over-riding impression I get, though, is that it’s just a big fancy graphic-heavy front end that achieves absolutely nothing over XP. It looks pretty, yes. It’s slick, yes. It needs a stupidly powerful PC, yes. But it doesn’t increase productivity, it offers nothing new that you couldn’t download as freeware for XP and… it needs a dog’s bollocks PC to run it.

I’m sure if I played for longer or read up on it, there’s a lot going on under the bonnet in Vista I don’t know about yet. But I don’t care. I’ve slipped from “geek” to “user” over the last 18 months, and looking at it from this perspective I just don’t see the point in “upgrading”.

I can see myself sticking to XP for some time to come. I was still overcoming compatibility problems with older software on that. Shifting to Vista would be a nightmare.

Vodafone fixed? I don’t know!

I just got a mail from Vodafone saying they’ve unlocked my account (but no explanation as to why it was locked in the first place). I logged in and… they’ve changed the site again. This time it gives me useful information and simple links to updating. An improvement.

It even lets me get tot he bit where I can add credit to my phone. Even better.

Then when I key in the details I get:

Unfortunately, your request cannot be processed.

We are currently unable to process your request as we are experiencing technical difficulties – please try again later or contact either by email, or by dialling 191 from your Vodafone phone.

AAAAARRRRGGGGGGGH.

UPDATE

I used another method of going through the site and it seems to have gone through. Mind, I’m checking my phone and the credit’s still not on there after 5 minutes…

UPDATED UPDATE

Finally, a year after their site last worked I can add credit via the interwebnet! How’s that for (******* abysmal) service?

Help save music… and lives

This is an utterly bizarre one, but I can vouch for it’s truthfulness. There’s no point in rewording the original posting so I’m copying and pasting it. Please, if you have a few bob spare and a heart as black a Satan’s own bollocks, you know it makes sense to make a donation.

On October 10th, 2007, the visas of the members of Iraqi metal band Acrassicauda will start to expire. The Syrian government has made it clear that they will not renew them, meaning the band will be forced to return to Iraq. We don’t need to stress just how dangerous this will be for them. It could very likely be a death sentence, and the time in which we can help them is quickly running out.

We are asking for donations to assist Acrassicauda in leaving Syria for a safer haven. The band has no bank accounts, and Paypal doesn’t function in Syria, so we’ve setup a Paypal account on their behalf. No donation is too small. By giving as little as ten dollars, you can be a part of keeping the heavy metal dreams of four young Iraqi men alive.

Our goal is to raise $20,000 USD for the band. These monies will allow the band to purchase flights and to have survival funds when they arrive to their new country. In an effort to protect them, we cannot divulge where they are going until they arrive there safely.

Born out of a basement rehearsal space in Baghdad, Acrassicauda (Latin for “black scorpion”) is Iraq’s only heavy metal band. Inspired by western bands like Metallica, Slayer and Slipknot, they began writing and playing metal in 2001. Their dream of performing live in Iraq soon became the struggle of their lives.

Original members Firas (bass), Tony (lead guitar), Marwan (drums), Faisal (rhythm guitar), and Waleed (lead vocals) were only able to play three shows before the war started in 2003. Soon after, Waleed retired from the band and fled the country, leaving Faisal to take over as lead singer. Due to increased security precautions throughout Iraq, it became difficult to practice–much less get through a show–without literally risking their lives. As the situation worsened in Baghdad they began receiving death threats from insurgents and religious fundamentalists accusing them of Satanism.

The war has now all but destroyed their dream of living in peace, growing their hair long, banging their heads, and shredding as loud as they want. The members of Acrassicauda are currently refugees in Damascus, Syria. All of their visa applications to foreign countries have been denied.

Thank you for your support and your concern.

Comedy

If revenge is a dish best served cold, what temperature should you serve funny at? Is it room temperature or does it depend on the type of funny?

I’d recommend satire as a dish best served lightly chilled, while ascerbic wit is much more suited to a mild grilling over an open flame before being served on a bed of steaming hot sarcasm.