Part Two....

So Saturday came and went. Comcast arrived, two cablecards in hand, and they were activated within 15 minutes. I know... surprising.

HOWEVER... Once things were setup and ready to go, I found myself in a battle with Dell. HEre's the deal:

HDTV Recording is only available on OEM machines that are "certified" for use by CableLabs (douchbags). The XPS 420 is one of those machines. What Dell doesn't tell anyone, and what apparently nobody inside Dell really knoes, is that the OCUR capability ((or on/off switch) Google it) is disabled on machines that are ordered through a partner channel, or business account. Consumer machines have it enabled.

Yes.. the same exact hardware configuration gets two different BIOS images based on how the machine is ordered. The second part is the Vista Ultimate COA is also different for Digital Cable machines. So I basically needed a new bios, and a little sticker with a number on it. What does Dell do? The set up a full system return, reprocess the order, and now the new machine is again in the queue to be delivered in about a week.

Can you just email me the correct BIOS image, and mail me the additional COA key? No. Apparently not. That would be too easy.

Idiots. This seems to be a clear cut case of wasting money and resources... maybe someone should point this out to the guys who created ITIL, Six Sigma, or some other BS set of processes... I think Dell needs to Ideate on this one a bit longer.

Comca$t and my adventure...

So my XPS 420 arrived complete with the dual ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable adapters. vista Media Center recognized the right away. Basic cable channels all came in right away as well. So far so good. All I need to do now is call Comcast and find out when I can pick up the two cablecards, right? Wrong.

"Hi.. I just want to know what time the office closes... I need to swing buy and pick up two cable cards."

"Cable Cards? For what?"

"For my windows Media Center PC... I need two cable cards for the digital tuners."

"Oh... you need to buy those cards from your PC supplier.. we don't sell tv cards. We only supply the cards for a TV that can accept them..."

"Stop... Listen to me. I need two CableCards.. the credit card things that you are talking about... they work in the PC as well."

"Sir... you need to buy them from a computer store. We don't...."

"Shut your pie hole and listen to me... I don't need TV Tuner cards. I need the CableCards... the same ones you are talking about for TV's also work in PC's with the appropriate equipment. Just assume I already have the tuner in the PC and all I need is the card... the little credit card thing that you are telling me about."

"I"m going to transfer you to my supervisor. He worked in that department and knows that you need to buy them from a computer store."

"Hello Sir.. this is xxxx... 'dumbphuck's' supervisor. You need to buy the tuner card from a computer store...."

"Sir... I don't think you understand me. The TV cards that you give out are the same ones I need...."

"Sir, they won't work in a PC... you need a TV tuner..."

"Dumbass STFU and listen to me. I already have the tuners. These tuners accept CableCards. Do you understand that?"

"You don't need to swear at me Sir.... You say you have tuners cards and they take cablecards? Really? I didn't know that existed. Are you sure?"

"If you have access to a computer... look up this URL...."

I pointed him to ATI's site for the TV Wonder Digital Cable tuner...

"Oh I get it now... You need to schedule a tech to come out to install it for you."

"Are you fucking kidding me? You're send a truck out to my house to deliver two credit card sized devices, and call in the numbers on them?"

"Yes... at a $20 dollar charge for the trip."

So I set up the appointment... Saturday between 11 and 1. We'll see what genius has to come out for this one. More to come, I"m sure....

Let 'em Fall

Seriously... why are my tax dollars going to help bail out the idiots? They took a risk, they failed, let the little guy come and mop up the mess... Capitalism!

The latest load of crap we're being fed is that the govt. is now basically buying the pools of risky loans (most of which have not defaulted yet - they are just risky) and manage/hold them until their vaules increase - thereby making money on the deal.

-Tax payers' money used to buy the pool of risky loans.
-Risky loans eventually make money.
-Tax payers' get a check for the profit made?

OR...

-Tax payers' money used to buy the pool of risky loans.
-Risky loans eventually make money.
-Government spends "profit" on more government programs, increasing the size of government, cost of government, etc, etc... Socialism grows.

I wish our government had a RESET button... all of these clowns need to walk. ALL of them. Douchbags.

Tech Monopolies

Ok.. I get it.. I think. M$ has such problems with releasing new software (or even new features of existing software) that bugs are a way of life - almost expected. So they want to be careful... right? Case in point is this new TV Pack for Windows Media Center. They're being so cautious that they're only making it available to OEM's. What?

Part two... ATI FINALLY comes out with the TV Wonder CableCard device allowing you to get high def programming using a cablecard on your Media Center PC. Sweet! Only problem? It's only available through OEM's... on "certified hardware." What???

Yes folks, this is DRM for your TV programming. Microsoft software, and the long-awaited ATI hardware, is only availble if you purchase a new machine from one of the big OEM's that have a bundled (or certified) set of hardware and software on it. It's kid of BS because anyone who builds their own PC - using the same 0r even better hardware, can not get this ATI device. Monopoly anyone?

I think I found a loophole though... I ordered a sweet new rig - XPS 420 with Dual ATI tuners a few days ago... but I called them back and said "If I want to order a third tuner, can I do that?" They said "No, that device is only available with a new machine"

Oh yeah?

"I was messing around a broke my tuner... I dont think it's covered under warranty since I hit it with a hammer. Can I buy a replacement one?"

"Oh, well then Yes!"

Ebay here I come...

This Week In Sports....

So this week we have PSU taking on a Temple football squad that looks less like the high school team of years past, and actually resemble a div 1AAA team. Go Owls! But, we'll still have to beat the living snot out of you one national television. Check out the Quezreport for the skinny on the Lions...

http://www.quezreport.com

the Phightin' Phils remain up a half game on the douchbags from NY... Gotta love that.

The Birds... Who knows... what a great f'n game on Monday night against the douchbags from Texas... this week it's the douchbags from Steel town... Shitty beer and all. Definitely a tough game this week. Birds by 6.

Other than that, it's just SSDD... just less sleep than I would like. but hey, their little miracles, right? I"ll just keep telling myself that as these little miracles continue to piss on me just as the diaper comes off.... Thanks kids, thanks...

New Tech Toy

So it's been awhile since I posted about tech... mostly because I haven't had time to play. But this past weekend I picked up a new rig - Dell Precision M4400, 4GB, 512MB Video, big battery, Vista Business x64. What a fantastic machine.

The software... my first Vista experience was a quick purchase when it first came out - installed it on my home gaming rig. It was a pig to boot, but eventually (after SP1, etc) ran like a well-hung racehorse. I ran Vista on a Dell D620 and 630 for awhile... sucked. I had 2GB on both machines and they were a dog. Both were downgraded back to XP. Now this new rig is FINALLY showing me what Vista was supposed to be when it was released. The extra memory, faster hard drive, and no doubt extremely capable video card let me crank out the emails, diagrams, documentation, and Call of Duty 4 frags all on the same portable box. Finally...

It's no mac-book, but then again, I'm not gay. It's black, it runs hot, and needs a 130 watt power supply - Definitely a right wing nutjob machine. Props to Dell for finally putting out a (relatively) affordable desktop-replacement laptop with great multimedia capability. Props to Microsoft for finally getting it right on the OS (2 years late... dicks...)

Sports...

Well a great weekend for SE PA sports fans... PSU wins big. The BIRDS win big. The Phils split the series... which basically means nothing - it's a wash. I won both of my fantasy games this week (Nope, I didnt have Brady in either).

So a few things... Sleep isyet to be found. the twins eat - constantly - every 2 to 2.5 hours. So that sucks. I should look like a racoon by now given all of the sleep I am missing, but I don't - yet.

Upcoming: F U Marlins! F U Big D!

Also a good chat with CB - my southern, turned northern, turned southern again techno friend. Too bad he doesn't get it politically! :-)

Two quick things...

Who is "PINKELEPHANT" - I have that repost article you wanted, but I dont know who you are... my bad.

Second...

http://www.waziristantouristsfortruth.com