Where pop culture meets geek culture and they make out a little.
Tengu
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Homepage: http://www.normalityrestored.com
Posts by Tengu
Review of the MSI Wind U120
Sep 6th
The month of September typically hails the return of students back to school campuses. With this return, comes a bevy of new computers to “help” students with their academic endeavors. I use the term “help” loosely, since my PC in college was mostly used to teach me how to fly X-wings and write the occasional last minute term paper. The back to school season is a geeks dream come true with tech being priced to move off the shelves. This back to school season has seen a newer family of computer hit consumers, known as the “netbook“. For today’s mobile student, a netbook is a great option that won’t break the bank. That is if you’re willing to have some limitations versus the traditional desktop or laptop. Such as forgoing a CD/DVD drive built into the computer.
Right now I’m writing this review on my netbook, the MSI Wind U120. During my research, I looked at the Dell Mini 10/10v, Acer Aspire One and the HP Mini 1137NR. Each of the three “big name” companies were lacking in one area or another versus the MSI netbook. Some of them only had a 3-cell Li-ion battery. Others had smaller hard drives or lacked a couple of USB ports. All three of the large company netbooks also came in at a higher retail price.
So, what comes in the MSI Wind U120? Like most netbooks, it’s powered by Intel’s Atom N270 1.6 GHz processor. (Newer netbooks are now using the N280, but with a higher price.) A 10″ LCD screen capable of 1024×600 resolution. 1 GB of RAM (not upgradeable as the RAM is mounted to the motherboard). 160 GB hard drive, 3x USB 2.0 ports, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, built-in 802.11 b/g wireless card and ethernet port and a 4-in-1 card reader. All for the lightweight of 2.6 lbs and initial retail of $329. Other than the price I really enjoy the portability aspect versus a traditional laptop. It doesn’t take up as much space on a coffee table at Starbucks and has a decent sized screen that won’t institute eye fatigue. The keyboard is of an adequate size and I don’t run into many instances of key mashing. Video streaming from Hulu on my home wireless network is great. In fact, it plays video better than my Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop.
Now, this wouldn’t be a review, if I didn’t go over some of the cons. My first one is that this bad boy gets hot. Kinda like a Macbook. I typically use my netbook when I’m sitting on the couch and want to surf the web during commercials or when I’m half invested in an episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8. But the amount of heat this thing generates is definitely uncomfortable. I highly suggest you invest in a lap desk.
My wifes gripe with the Wind is the built in touchpad. She thinks it’s too sensitive and the buttons aren’t as responsive as they could be. I feel that you just have to have some finesse and/or practice to get used to the touchpad sensitivity.
Sound is another small problem with any netbook. The speakers for the Wind seemed to be a tertiary consideration in the design. There is a distinct lack of bass and it can be hard to hear some Hulu shows unless it’s cranked up to 75% volume. I would just recommend a set of headphones as an acceptable workaround.
Battery power is pretty much middle of the road. I’m able to squeeze about 4.5 hours before I need to get it charged up.
Overall, I would recommend any of the MSI series netbooks since they provide a large amount of options for a reasonable price compared to most of the major manufacturers.
4/5 - Nearly classic!
Verhoeven’s Double Feature of Violence
Aug 29th
As a male adult in my early-30’s who was born and raised in the United States, I have seen/been subjected to (take your pick) a large array of movies that, according to the MPAA “…may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously.” For me, the master of this type of film is none other than director, Paul Verhoeven who is not even a US native, but a son of the Netherlands! With this weeks NR theme being, “Bring the Pain” I thought it appropriate to highlight two of Verhoeven’s “best” (and I use the term loosely and more in reference to box office dollars versus actual content) films.
In 1987, Verhoeven hit the cinema with the over the top, ultra-violent “Robocop” Part man. Part machine. All cop. I recall with clarity seeing the commercials and posters at the local theatre for this film and was determined to figure out how to watch it. It wasn’t until a year later, however, when it came out on video that I was able to take a gander without my parent’s interference. My 10 year old mind was (upon reflection) not ready to watch Alex Murphy get brutally shot up and dismembered by a bunch of crazed hooligans. It left quite the impression and the thought that “Wow, they can do some crazy make-up effects these days.” You might think that Murphy’s horrific death was the most violent part of the movie, but from that scene forward, Verhoeven just ratches up the violence meter. Who can forget the scene where Robocop takes down the would-be rapist by putting a round in the assailants breadbasket?! Or when one of Alex Murphy’s original killers gets tossed into some toxic waste and starts to melt? As violent and bloody as Robocop was, Verhoeven was just priming the pump for his next Hollywood endeavor that would feature our very own “Governator.”
1990 brought with it not only “Hammer Pants” but also Verhoeven’s sci-fi life on Mar’s epic “Total Recall” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger which taught us, if nothing else, that that trying to live on Mars sucks…unless you’re looking for an irradiated, martian hooker. Why does life suck on the red planet? Because the government will go with the lowest bidding contractor when making your atmosphere bubbles, thus allowing radiation to disfigure you. Also, the government will cover up the existence of an alien artifact that will actually allow the planet to have a breathable atmosphere. But like a porn movie, we’re not here to talk about the plot. We’re here to talk about the body count, and boy does Verhoeven deliver! Immeasurable amounts of Mars cops get taken out. A rat, sentient cab and various sundry scientist get to meet the reaper. Plus a random goon gets used as a handy meat shield. Don’t believe me?
Despite all of Verhoeven’s hard work during this time, in the end, it is Charlie Sheen who ends starring in “the bloodiest movie of all time.”
Robocop gets an NR rating of:
3/5 - Might be worth a try...
Whereas Total Recall gets an NR rating of:
1/5 - Basic shite.
Reliving your childhood games for $5.99
Jul 31st
I have a strong nostalgia for older PC games. Some of it comes from wanting to relive my gaming glory days from high school through college. The rest stems from the fact that I don’t own an uber PC (like Exsulis) that allows me to play all the latest whiz-bang games out on the current market. Alas, because of moving so much, and older games not playing well with more modern computers, I thought I was destined to be content with memories. Thus, enter the company known as “Good Old Games” or GOG.com.
GOG.com is a team of people that weren’t just content to be nostalgic. No! They did some wheeling and dealing with developers and game publishers and brought back to life some very classic and enjoyable PC games for today’s systems. They’ve taken great effort to make their games compatible for today’s Windows XP and Vista systems. The best part, however, is that all of their games are DRM free! Their philosophy “…at GOG.com you don’t just buy the game, you actually own it. Once you download a game, you can install it on any PC and re-download it whenever you want, as many times as you need, and you can play it without an internet connection.”
My first purchase from GOG was the RTS “Stronghold” which I installed on my MSI Wind U120 netbook. This way, I could enjoy some gaming on my low power machine during lunch breaks. Being a game that was published back in 2001, I felt pretty confident my little netbook could handle the game. After downloading and installing, it ran smoothly and allowed me to begin my campaign to lay waste to rogue barons and arch-dukes. All while listening to appropriate music being piped in from my travel speakers.
In terms of pricing, I can’t really argue too much. Most titles are $5.99 with some of the more robust or popular games hitting $9.99. But again, being DRM free, with unlimited downloads, it is quite a steal. GOG has also been able to secure exclusive content with most of the games ranging from free wallpapers, copies of the soundtracks, hint guides/walkthroughs or behind the scenes videos. Things that would not normally come with the games or you would have to wait until some form of “Collectors Edition” hit the market.
At this point I have been very satisfied with how easy it is to navigate their site and purchase a product. Their forum community is very well-behaved and does it’s best to help members with technical issues relating to their games. They’ve also implemented a “wishlist” system when you create an account, so that as you’re browsing, all you need is a quick click to help you remember why you’re saving that spare change in the center console of the car. I currently have both Freespace/Freespace 2 on my wishlist as well as Fallout/Fallout 2. I give GOG a NR unicorn rating of:
4/5 - Nearly classic!
The Right Stuff-Bill Conti
Keeping cool while carrying all your nerd gear.
Jul 10th
Like many nerds or geeks, I usually carry a lot of stuff in pockets scattered all over my body. I’ve required from my wife that, if she buys me jeans, they need to have the “painter” pocket on the leg. When the jeans are in the wash, I’m usually wearing my standard issue cargo pants or cargo shorts. This puts me in a small dilemma in that all my gear is stashed below the waist line and can be bothersome to always access. Here, in Southern California, I only have a limited weather window when I can wear my gear jacket and not overheat. Also, being a frequent airline traveler has been a pain since I have to empty out my pants pockets to scramble through security and then grab my belongings from the conveyor belt before someone tries to make a grab for my gear.
In my search of the dark and black magic filled interwebz, I found a bright shining light in the form of Scott Jordan and his SCOTTEVEST/SeV company. Scott makes a travel vest that looks good and provides enough pockets to equip a small team of hackers.
The travel vest has 22 pockets of various shapes, sizes and locations all tailored for a variety of gadgets and sundry goods. Most of the inside pockets have small, out of the way tags, sewn to the pocket with a little universal symbol on them, to help suggest what would best fit inside. An example would be the camera pocket on the interior, right side or the sunglass pocket that comes equipped with a eyeglass chamois and clip. The vest also features SeV’s patented “Personal Area Network” or “PAN” that allows wires to run along the inside of the vest between the outer shell and inner shell layers.
For those that don’t like having water bottles bulge out of their pockets, there’s a very handy elastic band in the right side pocket to keep your bottle upright. Due to the design of the vest itself, there is little “imprinting” when viewed from the outside, thus reducing unsightly bulges. There’s even two interior pockets with a clear material that you can keep your Ipod or cell phone in and still be able to see and manipulate the controls. Along the interior collar, you are able to run your earbud cabling and even tuck it under the collar so you don’t get tangled in the cords as you put on/take off the vest.
Going through airport security is a breeze. All you do is take off the vest, lay it flat and send it through x-ray and then throw it back on after you go through the metal detector. No more rush or hassle to grab loose items and shove them back into your pockets.
The vest comes in three colors currently. Black Lava (which I own), Red Rock and Desert Sand. The vest is very form fitting. Going by their sizing guide, I purchased a small. When fully loaded, there is minimal bulging and it carries the weight well. If you’re not into snug fitting clothing, I recommend you purchase one size larger. It retails for $100, but if you listen to one of the Leo Laporte Youtube videos here, you’ll find out about a 20% off coupon code you can use during check-out. For me, it’s worth the price due to build quality and it makes my life easier by keeping my gear organized.
I give it a unicorn rating of:
5/5 - Punched in the face by AWESOME!
writer
You Shook Me All Night Long-AC/DC
Free game of “Peggle” from PopCap Games!
Jul 10th
I just wanted to let all the faithful followers of NR know that PopCap Games is currently giving a free download of their classic “Peggle” game with a World of Warcraft theme. It can be found right here. “Peggle” is a game where you have a pinball and bounce it from peg to peg trying to hit all the orange colored pegs to clear the level. Think of it as a high-tech version of “Plinko” from the Price Is Right. If a free game isn’t enough to entice you, one of the main characters is a unicorn. Enjoy!
“Howling Commandos only retire when they’re good and damned ready.”
Jul 3rd
Summertime has long been known as a season to lounge, enjoy barbecues, hang out with friends and blow stuff up. This summer is going to be especially enjoyable with not only loud explosions on the big screen but in the world of comics. For the past couple of months, I’ve been reading Marvel Comics “Secret Warriors” starring the living legend, Nick Fury and it has not disappointed me in this regard.
Co-written by Brian Bendis and Jonathan Hickman, this duo are spinning an intricate and engrossing story that brings you back to when men were full of grit, iron guts and balls of steel. Villians who are a true threat and a world that doesn’t know it needs saving. As part of Marvel’s “Dark Reign” this writing team looks to upend the status quo and put everything you (as the reader) know to the test.
After Earth survives a secret invasion by shape-shifting aliens, known as Skrulls, Norman Osborn, aka The Green Goblin, is placed in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. and quickly dismantles it and renames it H.A.M.M.E.R. Prior to all of this, Nick Fury went MIA and resurfaces with a new team of heroes but without a sanctioned government organization to back him up. As a result, Fury decides that having a mad man in power is not going to settle well in his gut and he begins to remind the world why he is “the worlds greatest spy.”
The art is top notch and the characters are given a real life appearance by Stefano Caselli. Caselli draws Fury as a man that, despite being battered by forces larger than him, will not break and bow down to the despot that is Norman Osborn. Characters are drawn with a fairly believable physique for being super-heroes and super-villains.
By issue #4 of the series, old Nick Fury fans will be pleased because the “Howling Commandos” finally make an appearance, with old favorites like Dum Dum Dugan taking center stage. At this point, old foes in the form of HYDRA have once again come to the forefront as well to renew their own bid for world dominance.
I’m looking forward to keeping this on my summer reading list as it keeps the pulse pounding and me wishing that I was as cool as Nick Fury.
I give it a unicorn rating of:
4/5 - Nearly classic!
The Ballad of the Green Berets-Sgt. Barry Sadler
Because every battle needs a soundtrack
Jun 30th
When playing pen and paper RPG’s or tabletop wargames, I’ve always run into the dilemma of finding a suitable delivery system for background music. Most of the areas I’ve gamed at (back patios, garages, side rooms) do not have either the space or equipment to provide the proper “ambiance.” Let’s face it, I would have been more excited when my trollslayers were taking down Unknown Suavo’s bone giant with this soundtrack playing in the background.
Thus, began my quest for a portable speaker system for my IPod. After looking at this, this and this one, I finally discovered these from Pacific Rim
Technologies. Initially I was put off by the low, low price of $9.99. I thought, “Really, can I get quality construction, sound and portability for just over $10 (after shipping)?” For all of you Normalinauts reading this, the answer is a resounding, “YES!” Now, please understand, you aren’t going to be bumping
these at a party or a wedding in lieu of a full stereo system. But if you want some music at your gaming table with a minimal footprint on the gaming surface (always in short supply) or you want to share your favorite speedmetal band with your cubicle mate then these bad boys fit the bill.
For the portability aspect, they fit nicely in a coat pocket or in the confines of your favorite messenger bag. They are powered by 4 AAA batteries, but also co
me with an AC adaptor. For battery run time, I’ve been able to squeeze about 16 hours out of them. Now, my 2nd Gen Nano won’t fit in the docking station that is provided with the speakers. I have mine using the onboard jack built into the rear of the unit. It’s not as aesthetically pleasing like the full size IPod on the website, but that doesn’t bug me.
The construction material is a white plastic that has a gloss finish and it blends well with IPods/MP3 players of various colors. The speakers are on a very durable spring hinge that survived a couple encounters with my 2 year old. Battery installation is a breeze with a latch system that is easily manipulated.
I highly recommend these for those that are budget minded and need portability for their musical needs.
Na Na Na-Theresa Andersson
Plants vs. Zombies
May 26th
Have I ever told you how much zombies scare the crap out of me? Like any healthy fear, I’ve learned to embrace it and begin my preparations. Though, until the day of Zompacalypse™ arrives, I have found a way to take out my zombie hate courtesy of Felicia Day. Pop Cap Games has wrought unto this world, the highly addictive tower defense game, “Plants vs. Zombies.”
Life may be cheap but my Battletech addiction is expensive!
May 25th
I love giant robots. Ever since I saw Robotech as a young child I dreamed of piloting a behemoth of walking metal and devastation. Then somewhere around the early 1990’s I walked into a place called “Virtual World” located in Old Town Pasadena and my life was changed forever. It was here that, for the princely sum of $10, I could strap myself into a VR pod a.k.a. “Tesla Pod” for 6 minutes and duke it out with those that had the same dreams as me. In between games, they had a “pilots lounge” that sold the board game “Battletech” and its long line of novels.