Tivo continues to toy with our hearts:

However, it now seems that you can no longer place advance orders for this new TiVo 2-and-a-half unit, as Amazon's pre-order listing for them has now vanished.

That's because the Series 3 has been approved by Cable Labs, and could be making its way on to the market much quicker than we've given TiVo credit for.

That makes me think-- is there such a think as "virtual mac", allowing me to run mac only programs on a PC? I really like ical!

I believe there are legal reasons this cannot be done. Apple keeps pretty tight control over everything.

If you run Windows on your mac, does that mean your Mac is vulnerable to Windows viruses?

Absolutely, the viruses attack the software. Really there isn't much difference between a PC and a Mac in terms of hardware anymore. I think the BIOS on the Mac is different and more advanced since there isn't a legacy issue, but I think that's about it. Both use x86 processors, PCI bus, USB, same graphics chipsets, same hard drives, same optical drives, pretty much everything. Apple has fantasically designed systems though.

I think dual-booting will be useful for a handful of people, but I have a dual boot machine with Linux and Windows and have had have dual boot machines in the past and having to reboot to use a specific application is a real pain.

Back when OSX was new, I had a few programs that only ran in Classic. I basically quit using them because it was a pain to reboot. The person I think it woul dbe most useful for is someone like my SIL - she does CAD stuff that is Windows only, but she prefers using Macs.

I dunno, I perceive potential users as seeing Windows on a Mac as a gateway drug. Hey, I can use an interface that I'm already comfortable with (probably from my workplace or cheaply bought home computer) and all my friends say how much better Macs are, but I fear change, so I can be happy using this. And if I am, then down the road I may be happy to use a Mac in its own glory. Just like the ubiquity of iPods means that more people are generally comfortable with the Apple brand and are more willing to move that direction when it comes time to make a new consumer decision about a computer.

I think that is true for some people, but I don't think it will be a significant number. It will be great for people who want a Mac but have to use a Windows application or game every once and a while. You kinda have to a bit technical to set up a dual boot computer and if you are you probably won't be afraid to switch to Mac.

game

We have a winnah! The fact that most games are windows-only is a huge hangup for a lot of people against deciding to switch, even if they otherwise see the appeal of the Mac (and it's also the reason that almost none of the linux geeks I know has dumped Windows altogether). Things like very specialized CAD work are a tiny market by comparison.

Maybe, but if you play a lot of games you'll want a PC for hardware reasons. I mean I think it will help some people switch to a Mac, but I don't think it's going to change the computing landscape the way articles I have read are talking about.

This is a really cool idea:

New Human-Test: KittenAuth

Say goodbye to annoying "are you a human being?" human-checkers that make you decipher cryptic fonts on cryptic backgrounds. And say hello to kittens! Its a win-win situation. Out with the annoying and in with the cute!

Actual article: [link]

Scroll down to see kittens. To prove you're a human, you have to select the three kittens in a 3 x 3 grid.

So, we got rid of digital cable. I know! I know! Crazy tv addicts like us, giving up cable! It's insane. Funny what being poor, unemployed college students will do to you and your values.

Anyway, I'm on the lookout for a good, cheap universal remote, 'cause we'd been using the one from the cable company...and evil people took it back! Something I can order online would be preferred, since there aren't really any easy access electronic stores around.

It just needs to run the tv, DVD player and VCR. We're pretty easy.