Well gang... I'm not picking back up the rental agreement out here when it expires, so I'll be moving again here pretty quick (then I'll be doing ANOTHER move after that, as the first move is temporary until affairs are settled in the second location... ain't life grand?). Don't worry, it's a few months away and it'll only be a couple of weeks and I'll be back up and hackin' out more articles for PR! Give me some much-needed time to be able to produce some quality shiznit as well!

Now then.. that's not the topic of the day... (those folks who know me are probably just shaking their heads and saying "PICK SOMEWHERE ALREADY!", this ain't new news).

Today's topic is a series of experiments I'm trying since I'm packing all my worldly possessions anyway. I will be posting the results of my findings... using myself as my own lab rat.

I'm packing up various items and droppin' them in storage to see how much of my crap my PC can fill the void!

WEEK ONE'S FINDINGS:

BOOKS:

I left out a couple of novels... it's a good thing. My PC doesn't travel with me to the tub (or the bathroom period). I also read a few pages at night to get tired, and having to sit in my computer chair isn't really comfortable... also, I tend to think "I could be playing GTA3... I'll only play a few minutes and then I'll turn in..." then 4 in the morning rolls around.

VERDICT: Real books ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon. Even a laptop is a bit heavy (and not as waterproof as I'd like) to travel into the bathroom, or to flake out on the couch and just read for awhile.

Wish I'd left a couple more out...

COMPUTER BOOKS:

So far, I've been able to find the answers to a lot of my technical problems or curiosities on the internet. Still, a lot of sites don't go into the detail of a book... good thing I have a lot of my books as E-books as they came with it on a CD in the front cover!

VERDICT: Aside from the problems with standard books... it's going well! There is a TON of really good tips, tweaks, and guides to usin' all kinds of software!

TV:

Aside from the fact I miss my paddle when playing certain emulated video games, I've learned that my video card has a TV tuner. Still... as I don't really watch much TV, it hasn't been an issue. Still, I watched my DVD of "The Crow"... DAMN! That is some CLEAR stuff! Looks a 100% better than on TV!

Verdict: VIVA PC!

MUSIC:

So far, so good... I converted every CD I have over to MP3... I'm planning on burnin' off a couple of mixes for my car, but so far, PC has been great! Of course... I spent more for my PC speakers than I did for my stereo speakers... so I guess that only stands to reason that is kicks a helluva lot of ass.

VERDICT: It's All About the Pentium!

GAMING:

I like being able to dump my character's image into Photoshop and tweak the crap out of it for games like GTA3... then make fun of those PS2 gamers... Also, I'm a big fan of using my arrows to walk and my mouse to look around. I'm really starting to prefer PC over console games...

SO FAR: GENERAL OVERVIEW:

I upgraded my motherboard today. I almost blew up my 80 gig Seagate when one of the pins got pushed off to the side when I reattached my IDE cable. Held my breath while digging with a screwdriver and a pair of needlenose pliers.

This would have spelled disaster, and would have rendered my experiments with a VERY negative turn of mind. Serial ATA will solve this issue in the future, but realize hardware failure in your PC will take down EVERYTHING you love to do!

Also, I talked with Microsoft about reactivating Windows XP, and it REALLY pissed me off to have to do it... I think the fact "This call may be recorded for training and quality purposes" repeating over and over made me keep thinking of their anti-trust lawsuits... and they're buggerin' ME over a stupid copy of Win XP home edition! Also... my confirmation code was 45 characters long. How necessary is this? Why the hell don't they just E-mail you a friggin' key or something? That you could at least copy-paste in.

I did find out that if you have to reinstall your O/S anyway (I tried to repair just to get some files pulled off)... you DON'T HAVE TO TYPE ALL THAT CRAP OUT. I wrote it down when she rattled it off, and when I reloaded my O/S, the activation went right in when I hit "submit by internet".... no fuss, no muss.

I felt a whole new empathy for Digital World (he's one upgradin'-all-the-time pimp!). Still... I managed to drop in several upgrades to the machine without having to call in (RAM upgrades, video card upgrade, drive upgrades, etc...).

My test-bed at my PC repair job was Windows XP and I never had to register THAT, even swapping out the processor a few times... so I suppose it's not horrible... but it seem a trifle annoying to have to speak to a real person to get a code for my machine... I'm not sure why.

Further ramblings as I pack down more and more, and my PC sees a few more tweaks (a tweaker's work is never done)!

"On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again..."

"Lord, I was born a Ramblin' Man"

"It's time for me to fly."

Don't pick a place, pick a theme song.

LOL good 1

Akita.. I got one...

Metallica: Where-ever I may roam...

"...and the road becomes my bride
I have stripped of all but pride
so in her I do confide
and she keeps me satisfied
gives me all I need

...and with dust in throat I crave
only knowledge will I save
to the game you stay a slave
rover wanderer
nomad vagabond
call me what you will

but I'll take my time anywhere
free to speak my mind anywhere
and I'll redefine anywhere
anywhere I may roam
where I lay my head is home

...and the earth becomes my throne
I adapt to the unknown
under wandering stars I've grown
by myself but not alone
I ask no one

...and my ties are severed clean
the less I have the more I gain
off the beaten path I reign
rover wanderer
nomad vagabond
call me what you will

but I'll take my time anywhere
I'm free to speak my mind anywhere
and I'll never mind anywhere
anywhere I may roam
where I lay my head is home

but i'll take my time anywhere
free to speak my mind
and I'll take my find anywhere
anywhere I may roam
where I lay my head is home

carved upon my stone
my body lie, but still I roam..."

That's a good one; I couldn't come up with any good roaming songs while I was still on my first cup of coffee.

Akita.... you forgot

America: Ventura Highway

Led Zepplin: Ramble On

Emmy Lou Harris: I'm Movin' On

Animals: We Gotta Get Out of This Place

Robert Plant: Big Log (odd title for a cool song about long-distance driving)

Journey: Wheel in the Sky (mostly for "Don't know where I'll be Tomorrow")

Foghat: Slow Ride

Golden Earring: Radar Love

The Cars: Drive

I'd do more... but I gotta get my butt in gear!

I dunno I think "lord, I was born ramblin' man" was pretty good for you ds