Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Meanderings during a Short Week
It would seem that the Christmase/New Year holidays continue up until Australia Day this year. Has been a very quiet time for me at my place of work.
The quiet period has given me time to read up on new products and tech stuff that is appearing this year.
One of the areas I monitor is the world of PC upgrades.
At this time I am looking at what components could be put together as an upgrade that will not cost a limb or two.
This does entail some compromise such as cheaper CPU in upgradeable motherboard (socket 939) and better graphics hardware, noteably ATI X1xxx series.
The last couple of days has seen the tech drool levels increase somewhat with the arrival of the ATI X1900xt product as reviewed here and here.
The better news is that as a result of the new product launch, the older product X1800xt will reduce in price to nearly affordable levels (one hopes).
Given that my current "key application" is Battlefield 2, there is sufficient performance in the older card to justify moving to it rather than the newest model.
Pairing this card with AMD's Athlon 64 4000+ CPU will result in a cost effective, performance boosting upgrade while allowing future faster CPU's to be added at much later dates. Now for that next step.........
The quiet period has given me time to read up on new products and tech stuff that is appearing this year.
One of the areas I monitor is the world of PC upgrades.
At this time I am looking at what components could be put together as an upgrade that will not cost a limb or two.
This does entail some compromise such as cheaper CPU in upgradeable motherboard (socket 939) and better graphics hardware, noteably ATI X1xxx series.
The last couple of days has seen the tech drool levels increase somewhat with the arrival of the ATI X1900xt product as reviewed here and here.
The better news is that as a result of the new product launch, the older product X1800xt will reduce in price to nearly affordable levels (one hopes).
Given that my current "key application" is Battlefield 2, there is sufficient performance in the older card to justify moving to it rather than the newest model.
Pairing this card with AMD's Athlon 64 4000+ CPU will result in a cost effective, performance boosting upgrade while allowing future faster CPU's to be added at much later dates. Now for that next step.........
Monday, January 16, 2006
We start off Year 13 together.............
Yesterday (Sunday) my wife of 12 years and I went out into the city, minus kids (feels very different), to spend the day together for our Anniversary.
Went to the Imax cinema for the first time, for me anyway, to watch Landing on the Moon 3D.
Not a bad show, though it only went for 40minutes. Some very inspiring bits with young kids answering questions about who landed on the moon and what they thought about it.
Munched on some M&Ms and went wondering around the shops in Darling Harbour, caught a bit of the street theatre and generally just hung out.
Had a very nice steak dinner at the Hotel Ibis and a very rare game of pool which Meddwyn won!
The highlight of the journey was next. Walked on down to Tumbalong Park to catch part of the Sydney Festival called, "Concert of Fire".
This is a truly outstanding concert filled with electronic drum-beats and the best fireworks I have ever witnessed.
The picture does not do the event justice, but as I have no video footage, nor does google, I am unable to fully describe the entertainment.
Five guys from a French group called "Les Commandos Percu", each with an electronic drum kit attached, beating away in perfect sync or rhythm while packing flares and rockets underneath.
Behind the stage were three launch platforms for the array of fireworks launched into the sky. The launch and detonations were computer controlled in perfect time with the changes in music - much better than other attempts seen on television.
The heavy bass was interspersed with other tones like empty water cooler bottles.
The finale was devastating in its volume and thunder of explosions and drum beats.
So if huge detonations and beating of drums is your thing, then go check it out next time the group is in town. Highly recommended.
Our two girls spent the day with our friends, P&V and their two boys. They had a thoroughly good time, as usual.
Went to the Imax cinema for the first time, for me anyway, to watch Landing on the Moon 3D.
Not a bad show, though it only went for 40minutes. Some very inspiring bits with young kids answering questions about who landed on the moon and what they thought about it.
Munched on some M&Ms and went wondering around the shops in Darling Harbour, caught a bit of the street theatre and generally just hung out.
Had a very nice steak dinner at the Hotel Ibis and a very rare game of pool which Meddwyn won!
The highlight of the journey was next. Walked on down to Tumbalong Park to catch part of the Sydney Festival called, "Concert of Fire".
This is a truly outstanding concert filled with electronic drum-beats and the best fireworks I have ever witnessed.
The picture does not do the event justice, but as I have no video footage, nor does google, I am unable to fully describe the entertainment.
Five guys from a French group called "Les Commandos Percu", each with an electronic drum kit attached, beating away in perfect sync or rhythm while packing flares and rockets underneath.
Behind the stage were three launch platforms for the array of fireworks launched into the sky. The launch and detonations were computer controlled in perfect time with the changes in music - much better than other attempts seen on television.
The heavy bass was interspersed with other tones like empty water cooler bottles.
The finale was devastating in its volume and thunder of explosions and drum beats.
So if huge detonations and beating of drums is your thing, then go check it out next time the group is in town. Highly recommended.
Our two girls spent the day with our friends, P&V and their two boys. They had a thoroughly good time, as usual.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Girls in Big Shoes
Zielle and Meddwyn - Christmas Carols Gymea 2005
Zielle and Aunty Mel - Christmas in Canberra 2005
Kiera with Antlers Christmas 2005
A New Year upon me - someone tell it to get off !!
Welcome all to 2006.
Yes it has been another month and a bit since I last put something up on my blog, but I have been really, really busy.........or not so much.
A fair bit has happened even though I did not officially take any leave this Christmas break.
I started a new job with Frontline Systems beginning of December. A very quiet month which gave me the opportunity to work from home most days! Very enjoyable.
Christmas was in Canberra this year and the girls really enjoyed spending time with Aunty Mel and Uncle Randall.
We came back Boxing Day and had a Birthday for Kiera (now 4 years old) on the 27th.
Both girls really enjoyed Christmas this year and not just because the presents kept coming for over a week.
They have a tricycle each now (mum & dad) which they are keen to ride around our unit! Not the best area for riding bikes.
My desk finally arrived from the shop, was installed and was entirely not what we had ordered! Much discussion later saw the desk picked up again for a rebuild. It should be delivered again this week. Hopefully as we ordered!!
New Years was rather quiet for us. We travelled up to Ettalong Beach (Central Coast) and spent a couple of days with Meddwyn's parents (holidaying from Dubbo) and friends. The girls enjoyed it a lot, except for the 44 degree day Jan 1. Thankfully we were very close to a decent beach and spent quite a bit of time in the water.
Back at work in the city this week. Not too much happening so taking the opportunity to catch up on some online training from Sun Microsystems. Also trying to reinvigorate my quest for Cisco certification - CCNA.
Meddwyn has started to read a fabulous book that I have by Matthew Reilly "Ice Station". She is enjoying it and finding it difficult to put down.
I have been tinkering with a new device called a media gateway. This is the Zensonic Z500.
It is now playing all the video/TV files I download from the US keeping us up to date with our favourite shows, or those that have not started here yet, like Invasion.
Hope you too had a good New Year.........
Yes it has been another month and a bit since I last put something up on my blog, but I have been really, really busy.........or not so much.
A fair bit has happened even though I did not officially take any leave this Christmas break.
I started a new job with Frontline Systems beginning of December. A very quiet month which gave me the opportunity to work from home most days! Very enjoyable.
Christmas was in Canberra this year and the girls really enjoyed spending time with Aunty Mel and Uncle Randall.
We came back Boxing Day and had a Birthday for Kiera (now 4 years old) on the 27th.
Both girls really enjoyed Christmas this year and not just because the presents kept coming for over a week.
They have a tricycle each now (mum & dad) which they are keen to ride around our unit! Not the best area for riding bikes.
My desk finally arrived from the shop, was installed and was entirely not what we had ordered! Much discussion later saw the desk picked up again for a rebuild. It should be delivered again this week. Hopefully as we ordered!!
New Years was rather quiet for us. We travelled up to Ettalong Beach (Central Coast) and spent a couple of days with Meddwyn's parents (holidaying from Dubbo) and friends. The girls enjoyed it a lot, except for the 44 degree day Jan 1. Thankfully we were very close to a decent beach and spent quite a bit of time in the water.
Back at work in the city this week. Not too much happening so taking the opportunity to catch up on some online training from Sun Microsystems. Also trying to reinvigorate my quest for Cisco certification - CCNA.
Meddwyn has started to read a fabulous book that I have by Matthew Reilly "Ice Station". She is enjoying it and finding it difficult to put down.
I have been tinkering with a new device called a media gateway. This is the Zensonic Z500.
It is now playing all the video/TV files I download from the US keeping us up to date with our favourite shows, or those that have not started here yet, like Invasion.
Hope you too had a good New Year.........
