The Web & The Wire

Technology Column with Joe Granese

Taking time to enjoy those holiday gifts

It was the week after Christmas and I was tired. I had enjoyed a wonderful winter holiday away from the world-famous Granese Institute of Technology and I was pleased to get back to work. Still, I had acquired many happy memories over the past week and I was looking forward to sharing some of them with you.
The big news in my personal computing life was the recent meltdown of my home system and its replacement with a new Core 2 Duo setup running Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate. Like many of you who got Vista-equipped computers over the holidays, I am nothing short of thrilled with its performance.
Aero, the graphical display that brings the user interface to life, is the true high point in my Vista experience. I have a new icon in my Quick Start area that pops an array of 3D folders onto my screen to let me choose in which window I would like to work. It’s both attractive and efficient, except when I find myself playing with it instead of working.

Vista Rules!

I continue to be amazed by some of the reviews that this spectacular new operating system has received so far. Those who called it the tech flop of 2007 obviously hadn’t noticed products like Apple Inc.’s Apple TV and Dada Footwear’s Code M (Google that for a good laugh). They probably just forgot that more than 20 million copies of Vista found their way into users’ hands during the first month it was available.
Numbers aside, I will say it again: in my estimation, there is no reason to avoid upgrading to Microsoft Windows Vista. I dragged my feet at first, but since I took that leap of faith I have been ecstatic. The next operating system adventure on my calendar is an upgrade to OSX 10.5, Apple’s new Leopard system. I’ll be sharing that experience with you in the near future.
I visited family and friends over the holidays, even though I know that the instant I arrive anywhere I will be bombarded with questions about the new gear that just happens to be waiting for me to set up. I tried to conduct my visits prior to Dec. 25 for just that reason.
The bright side of that coin is that I get to play with all the new stuff before the users get a chance to destroy it. This year, that meant that I was jumping from PlayStation 3 to Xbox 360, and, when visiting someone lucky enough to have found one, to Wii.

Buzz Me When You Know The Answer

The PlayStation people on my route were having an insanely good time playing “Buzz! The Mega Quiz” on PS2 and PS3. I was immediately inducted into the panel, handed a buzzer that would do any TV game show proud, and introduced to Buzz, our host.
The living room was utter chaos as all members of the party were drawn into the fun. A seemingly endless stream of clever questions and the unique user interface brought the atmosphere of a game show into the game room for hours, losing speed only when the aroma of turkey overpowered the quest for bragging rights.
“Buzz! The Mega Quiz” accommodates up to eight players and a cheering section limited only by room size. Hook it up to a big TV and you have all the atmosphere and excitement of the real thing, minus the big payday. Sometimes bragging rights are enough, but I would not get to find that out on my own.
Instead, I was regularly vanquished at the contest, tossed under the trivia bus by teenagers more familiar with popular music than I, along with elementary-school kids better versed at the state capitals. Worst of all, I was repeatedly taunted by a mime.
Win or lose, “Buzz! The Mega Quiz” was one of the most popular games to hit the consoles this season, running full-bore until way past bedtime. I want a rematch.

Which Way Did They Go?

I may have had a few problems finding my way around prior to the holidays, but those days are long gone. When I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes on Christmas morning, I discovered that Santa had left me an orange, two pairs of socks, and a fabulous Navigon 7100 GPS Navigator.
I must have been a good boy this year. Drivers whose cars did not come equipped with one of those pricey factory navigation systems now have a relatively affordable solution that outperforms many of the built-in units. From the moment you take it out of the box, the 7100 is ready to show you the way, find someplace to go, and even help you avoid traffic.
While I am still getting accustomed to the remarkable features, I managed to navigate most of my trip with the 7100, having a great time in the process. When I chose to deviate from the suggested route, it quickly caught up with my changes and modified its own course. I found a truck stop that sold diesel fuel with ease, and even dug up a few restaurants using the included Zagat restaurant guide.
Traveling off the beaten path, I did not really get a chance to use the included traffic report features. The Navigon 7100 comes complete with free lifetime traffic information, eliminating the need for subscriptions and expensive installations. I was almost disappointed that I did not run into any traffic jams on the way home.
I found myself making excuses to go for a drive, just to check out the 7100 in local driving. It worked beautifully, displaying all the street names correctly and letting me set waypoints to my favorite stops. The large screen is exceptionally easy to see, even for my LCD-strained peepers. I do advise that you pull out of traffic to make extensive queries, in the interest of safety.
I like my new Navigon 7100 so much that I may take a break from writing this to navigate to my favorite 7-11 for a cup of coffee.

I’m Feeling A Little Flat

LCD flat-screen monitors were a popular gift item this holiday season. I do not recall seeing a single computer using an old CRT display anywhere on my travels. As production and demand drive prices down, just about everyone out there can afford a nice, cheap LCD.
I checked a couple of online vendors before turning in my column and noticed a few name-brand 19-inch LCDs for less than $150. No-names can usually be had for less, but make sure it is a product that you can return if you are dissatisfied. That is not always the case.
Even the larger models are coming down in price, and may even wind up a bit cheaper now that the holiday rush has subsided. I noticed a couple of 22-inch LCD monitors selling for less than $200. Even the vaunted 24-inch LCD monitors, long priced on the north side of $1,000, were moving into reach. I found a nice Acer model for $349 at the site of a popular online retailer. The bargains are out there if you look for them.
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to every one of my readers at the end of another great year. I appreciate your taking the time to read The Wire and Untangled Web, and especially the thoughtful e-mail messages I receive every week. My content is wholly reader-driven, so I am always anxious to hear from you. Have a great year in 2008, and again, thank you.