Time for yet another Question of the Week. Feel free to answer below or on your own blog if you prefer.

What was the megahertz speed of your first computer? What is the speed of your present computer? Have you ever owned a system with a “performance rating” instead of a MHz rating? Do you check your system speed to see if it really is running at the advertised speed?

I'm not sure, to be honest — I'd have to check to see what the TI 99/4A's specs where. My first PC compatible ran at 33 MHz, though (it was a Intel 486 DX).

My current PC runs at 2.66 GHz (but, to answer the last question, its actual speed is 2657.883). It's a Pentium 4 without Hyperthreading… HT boxen run at .06 less GHz. My Mac runs at 2.0 GHz (yes, that's the actual speed too).

I've never run a “performance rating” processor. Although, if I were building a DIY PC compatible at the moment, I'd be very tempted by the AMD Athlon 64. (Offtopic: Remember when Cyrix was trying to do a non-MHz rating in the mid-90's?)

Read more...

Here's the second question of the week. Feel free to give your answer in the comments, if you'd like.

What type of mouse/trackball/touch pad do you use to control the cursor on your computer? What past mouse devices have you used? Did you like them better?

For the most part, I use a Logitech MX700 wireless optical mouse. It's a really nice mouse that has great battery life and very good precision. I have it hooked up to my KVM, so I can use it to control my Mac as well as my PC's. I also use an Apple Pro Mouse on my Ruby iMac.

I've used a lot of mice. I started off with a “Z-Nix” mouse that came in a bundle with Windows 3.1. It was a simple little square, glossy mouse. I think my next mouse was a brightly colored mouse that I was given (it was a review unit from a company that a family member worked at). After that, I had a three button el cheapo mouse (even cheaper than the others). Then I switched to an Alps touch pad… that was back when touch pads were new and so they were selling a stand alone one for desktops.

From there, I went to a Microsoft IntelliMouse I received with a Dell computer. Then, I bought an IntelliMouse Pro (from Big Lots for only $9.99). After that I switched to the Logitech iFeel mouse (also from Big Lots) — I never installed the software to make it “feel,” I just liked its design (very comfortable). After that mouse — which I still use for various purposes — I was given a “water mouse,” a little mouse that had water and little plastic fish swimming in it. That was amusing for a summer, but I soon switched to the MX 700, which I am still using. I also have a mouse that came with my Wacom tablet, but I rarely use it.

On occasion, I also use an Apple Mouse (which is clear and white and is the current Apple mouse, not to be confused with the clear and black Apple Pro Mouse that no longer available), but for the most part, it just sits here.

The MX 700 is my favorite by far. Logitech makes great mice.

How about you?

Read more...

I decided to restart the Question of the Week on ChristianSource (I posted it each week there during most of 2002), and thought I'd post it here too. Feel free to answer in the comments or post a link to your answer if you find the question worth answering on your blog instead. I'm going to try to post a new QOTW each Monday — although don't hold your breath.

TV Classics
If you think back to TV shows of at least 25-30 years ago, is there one particular show you can pick out as your favorite? Would you prefer it to what's on today? What was on five years ago? Ten years ago? Twenty years ago?

For me, I'd say that I would — without a doubt — pick I Love Lucy. That might sound like an easy out, but it really is a classic to the extent that you can see the same episode multiple times and it is still funny. Really funny. And not the least bit vulgar. If today's sitcoms truly followed the Lucy comedic style, they'd actually be worth watching.

While there is some stuff (like Star Trek: TNG and DS9) that might have provided a little competition during the 90's (for my vote that is), I basically can't think of any (fictional genre) show I'd say I'd prefer to watch over Lucy. Usually, a few times a week, I'll grab an episode off TV Land and watch it that evening (one of the few times I actually watch TV). If there could only be one show on from now on, I can't think of a better choice for it.

What do you think?

Read more...