Chaos Manor User's Column Archive 2008

January 7, 2008 Mailbag -
A fair amount of mail this week, starting with subscription processing, and finishing with digital rights. The middle bit sees messages about MS Word, the return of the Delayed Write Error, pewter, mercury, and chemistry.
January 14, 2008 Mailbag -
There's a lot of mail this week, including a serious report on converting from the PC to the Mac for all one's work.
Computing at Chaos Manor, January 15, 2008 -
In this first column of 2008, Jerry starts with a look back, then notes some trends to watch. He segues into the Users Choice Awards, and wraps up the week with some Orchids and Onions.
January 28, 2008 Mailbag -
Much dialog and mail on the subject of eBook/cellphone convergence, along with Ethanol, the MacBook Air, and an unexpected Vista Orchid.
Computing at Chaos Manor, January 29, 2008 -
As Jerry learns about the modern practice of medicine, he's also getting ready for his new iMac, reading on his new Kindle, and finding new ways to create Chaos in the Manor.
February 4, 2008 Mailbag -
A hefty mailbag this week, covering such topics as boring Microsoft desktops, Kindle sales models, more on the Lippmann color process, firewall-on-a-chip, and much more.
Computing at Chaos Manor, February 5, 2008 -
Jerry offers his take on the proposed acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft, and bemoans the current "Rage for Growth". After a WGA tale from Alex, the latter half of this week's Chaos is iMac-driven.
February 11, 2008 Mailbag -
Lots of mail about the iMac and relatives trails such topics as LCD monitors, WGA server failures, security concerns, and the marketing of OS X.
Computing at Chaos Manor, February 12, 2008 -
Jerry takes Imogene, his new iMac, out for a spin. Warning, phrases such as "irrational rage" may be found within. The mitigating "happy ending" also makes a late cameo appearance.
February 18, 2008 Mailbag -
Following comments and corrections, the meat of this mailbag contains healthy servings of Mac, Kindle, Operating System updates, and SSL security.
Computing at Chaos Manor, February 19, 2008 -
Jerry's settling in with Imogen, his new iMac. There are a couple of (relatively minor) annoyances, and he puts his new flame on an old pedastal.
February 25, 2008 Mailbag -
The mailbag has much ado about the Mac, plus data recovery from Kaypro disks, a little Vista, a little Kindle, and a short discussion on business method patents.
Computing at Chaos Manor, February 26, 2008 -
Jerry takes note that Blu-ray "wins", sound drivers vs. WoW annoy, backups are good, old (computer) friends still get the job done, and the month winds down.
March 3, 2008 Mailbag -
This week's mail has much on applications and virtualization under OS X, plus items about Blu-ray players, Microsoft pricing, and some good WoW intel.
Computing at Chaos Manor, March 4, 2008 -
Jerry gets some Microsoft bling for Imogene, then starts battling to get Windows activated under both Fusion and Bootcamp. Discussions of WGD and the Iron Law ensue. Text to speech tools make an appearance, and there's an iPhone in the mix, too.
March 10, 2008 Mailbag -
This week's mail starts with a Kindle item, then progresses through Mac software, copyright issues, and wraps up with a message about the newest PS3.
Computing at Chaos Manor, March 11, 2008 -
Jerry continues to write on Imogene, the iMac 20": this week all about Adventures with the iPhone, from activation and hardware woes to battles with WiFi. Jerry prevails, and likes the iPhone.
March 17, 2008 Mailbag -
The mail is a cornucopia of mostly Mac, from iPhone and Air to networking with pre-N and draft-N gear. There's an interesting copyright question, and the recurring request to try Linux, maybe even on a PS3.
Computing at Chaos Manor, March 18, 2008 -
Following short sections on Office 2008, and iPhone useability, Jerry devotes the bulk of this column segment to a report on his new MacBook Air.
Computing at Chaos Manor, March 25, 2008 -
As the month winds down, Jerry continues to live in Mac space, and leads us from the once and future UNIX to an essay on what Microsoft needs to do to turn the tide. After a brief iPhone report and cell-enhancing gadget, there are many books that Jerry recommends.
March 25, 2008 Mailbag -
The slightly delayed mailbag compares Mac hardware models, and has a couple of other topics: The Sony Reader and Linux.
April 1, 2008 Mailbag -
The Mailbag unsurprisingly contains much on assorted Mac topics, a couple of bits on Blackberry, iPhone, and other smartphones, one unfortunate experience with Linux, and wraps up with eBooks and the coming revolution.
Computing at Chaos Manor, April 3, 2008 -
Spring has sprung, but Jerry's battling recalcitrant networks, hard X-rays, and a to-do list as long as a librarian's arm. His Mac experience deepens while a new small speaker and D-Link gear stand out.
Computing at Chaos Manor, April 9, 2008 -
Jerry celebrates the birth of his granddaughter, while using Windows in VMware Fusion on the Mac (Imogene, it's rumored). The iPhone contines to grow on him, and iPhoto turns out to be pleasantly easy to learn and use.
April 21, 2008 Mailbag -
The Maibag returns! And there's plenty to see, from Microsoft and Operating Systems, to mobile computing, to OS X, and Fusion, and Linux, and more.
Computing at Chaos Manor, April 30, 2008 -
While fitting in a fair amount of recuperation, Jerry finds time to sort out some of his Outlook archiving woes that keep his PST files in the red zone. Also, the month's winding down section sees politics and Missing Manuals prominently featured.
Computing at Chaos Manor, May 8, 2008 -
Jerry's first column of May has much about Microsoft vs. Yahoo, and much about the wider implications, both for Microsoft, and in a larger sense, for business in general. There is a gadget review, and several reader reports, as well.
May 15, 2008 Mailbag -
Three weeks worth of email means that messages about Vista, XP, Outlook, OS X, and the much-mourned Bell Labs all vie for Jerry's attention, and yours.
Computing at Chaos Manor, May 26, 2008 -
Jerry's final column for May starts with resolution to the Mac* networking problems - DNS configuration are the magic words. There's an intro to the new Windows system, Bette, and previews of the hardware that's going to be the new blazing fast system. Winding Down wraps up the month.
June 3, 2008 Mailbag -
Jerry's trying to catch up. There's plenty of good mail, from troubles with Office 2008, to cudgels and kudos for Vista, to a polite disagreement on programming languages.
Computing at Chaos Manor, June 9, 2008 -
The column opens with a schedule change announcement, then a dive into the deep end: (pre-Jobs keynote) iPhone 2 speculations, hands-free requirements, the resurrection and reloading of Orlando, and tribulations with HD TV.
Computing at Chaos Manor, June 30, 2008 -
Coming in just under the wire, June's second segment addresses Vista, the retirement of Bill Gates, and hope for the future, both of computing, and Mankind.
Computing at Chaos Manor, July 11, 2008 -
Far better late than never, this month's first column yields continued application of the Macs, ruminations on Internet Whirlwinds, and much on future eBooks. A report from Phillip Pournelle on the Journada, then book and movie reviews round out the piece.
July 14, 2008 Mailbag -
The mail returns, and with it items on the proliferation of Vista versions, Author's rights, and the growing power of computing.
July 24, 2008 Mailbag -
There's plenty more mail, with much of it about programming languages, as well as the growth and promise of multi-core systems.
Computing at Chaos Manor, August 10, 2008 -
Recovery from radiation is a slow process but Jerry works his way through the latest Vista security announcement, then details his conversion to a new main communications machine ... running Vista. Laptop drive replacement and backup strategies, along with Reviews, wraps up this segment.
August 15, 2008 Mailbag -
The mail opens with comments and corrections on the column, followed by items regarding Vista sales figures, backup schemes, and the Asus Eee.
Computing at Chaos Manor, September 8, 2008 -
After announcing good news, Jerry lays plans for Spore, Windows Server 2008 and much more, while tapping the advisors and other friends on a variety of topics.
September 15, 2008 Mailbag -
Trojans and Backups and Pigs, Oh My! The mailbag carries over topics from last month's mailbag, as well as forging new ground with Vista performance and requirements topics. And Macs aren't as safe as we'd like...
Computing at Chaos Manor, September 23, 2008 -
The state of the economy and financial sector, and how that relates to high tech and budgets, takes center stage in the second September column segment. Also, the fastest new machine is called Emily, and after a troubled start, Jerry finds applications to like in the App Store.
September 30, 2008 Mailbag -
Vista and systems — the hardware we use to run the software we need is the main focus of the mailbag this week, along with security commentary and update notifications. And some more on pigs...
Computing at Chaos Manor, October 6, 2008 -
The column opens with a section about the so-called "bailout" bill and its potential effects. Back on the tech side of the ledger, programming languages for beginners are discussed, as well as Wikipedia, disk drive storage, and networking tricks. The review segment wraps it all up.
October 13, 2008 Mailbag -
From film canisters and ftp connection delays, to the merits of quad core systems, with commentary on programming languages, hard drives, Macs, and more in the middle &mdash It's a full bag of Chaos Manor Reviews Mail this week.
Computing at Chaos Manor, November 10, 2008 -
This month's edition is filled with the chaos of PDC and WinHEC, the joy of converting from .MAC to MobileMe, pocket computing, memory sticks, and plenty of required reading.
November 24, 2008 Mailbag -
The mailbag starts in the cloud today, primarily in response to the November 10 column. Following that, the topics range from statistics and USB-based malware to Vista boot times.
November 27: Fall 2008 Catchup Mailbag -
Some of the good mail that for one reason or another didn't make it into a mailbag in the last few months has been rounded up for your examination and delight. Topics range from languages and Vista to HD video and the iPhone 3G.
Computing at Chaos Manor, December 8, 2008 -
The column has some of Jerry's observations on high technology and the economy, and the story of his conversion from an Active Directory domain to a workgroup for his operations at Chaos Manor.
December 23, 2008 Mailbag -
The mailbag stays in the cloud, for starters, then heads into topics about the December column, networking and authentication, and the economy (not necessarily in that order).

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Chaos Manor User's Column Archive 2008