Microsoft, that big bully

First, bear in mind this is an opinion article and thus it can’t be objective. I’m not a computer wizard, but I’m not dumb either. This is based solely on my own experience. And now, after the mild warning, if you still want to read, go on, you’re welcome to post if you want, too

Freezing, crashing, blue screens, kernel errors… you have guessed it, I am talking about Windows. No matter what version: Xp, Win2k, ME, 98 or Vista… they all are the same and operate the same way. Erraticaly. The solution? Patches, actualizations, more patches to patch what was supposed to be patched… Come on Microsoft guys, take it seriously!

Again if you’re the average user -no mean to offend anyone here- who only uses the computer to work/chat/navigate the internet you might be happy with what you have been given. Well, I’m not. You might remember what I said at the beginning, that’s right, I know a couple of things or two about computers -not an expert though, remember it well- so I know how annoying it can be to delve into Microsoft’s OS’s innards.  If you are a gamer -and a heavy one like me- you might have reasons to be even angrier, especialy after the recent launch of the new Vista OS. For those who don’t know it yet, Vista “categorises” your computer, assigning it a level -1 to 5- depending on the overall quality of the components of your computer. If a program -be it game or not- needs a certain level of performance and your computer does not meet it, even by the tinniest aspect, you are fried. No matter what, you won’t be able to run it.

Here goes a non-specific example: a game requires 512 RAM memory, a 3GHz processor and “Z” graphic card and I have 1GB ram, a 2GHz processor and luckily the “Z” graphic card. Well bad luck for you, if you are running under windows Vista, supposedly you won’t be able to run it -and I say supposedly since I have not tried anything with that OS from Hell-. Here you might say “Hey! No problem! I run under WinXp/WinME! I can run it!”.  Well, it depends. It really does. There is already Vista-Exclusive software -Halo 2 anyone?- so my guess is that more and more software will be Vista-Exclusive. This shouldn’t be a problem, Microsoft has been doing this since Win98, but never so soon. You’ve heard about compatibility haven’t you Mr.Gates? At least before you left a margin to run software with both OS.

So, with only a quick glance at the panorama and my restricted knowledge in economics, I would say this is not a too subtle strategy to force customers to buy Microsoft’s new OS and consequently forcing them to upgrade their machines if they want to run the new upcoming software. Gamers will have it tough here. Some of you might shout “unfair!” and ask how such situation is possible. Well, its simple. Microsoft’s OS are “the most common”, the one  that most people have on their computers and thus most applications are designed for. I myself use Windows, but that not means I’m satisfied with it.

So, do we have something left? Is there a way to escape from the claws of this monster? Well, there’s a few alternatives, and the best one I can think of involves a penguin…

That’s right, I’m not mad -not too much anyways-, I’m talking about Linux, the open-source development OS. Open-source, that’s the bunny. It means that anyone can modify the source code, enhancing it, correcting errors and a big etc… Pretty much anything can be done with Linux. For free. And better than with Windows. That’s important. Linux is faster, more reliable,  secure and user friendly than Windows. Sure, it may be a bit complicated at the beginning, with all those commands -which are not strictly necessary-, different versions and new features to get acustomed to. Well, changing from Win 3.11 to Win 98 wasn’t easy neither, it’s just a matter of good-will.

I admit I was  a bit reticent to try Linux. Reticent and scared too. It seemed too much to handle at first but in fact it wasn’t that painful. Moreover, it was a beautiful experience. I decided to install Ubuntu Feisty version -the “linux for noobs” as one of my friends likes to say- and everything went smooth. Almost no need for later configuration, every driver installed correctly and as a bonus Open Office installed too. Everything in less than 20 min -I think Microsoft can learn something about that too. 40 min at least to install an OS? With no extra perks like Microsoft Office installed? Come on…-

What’s more, Linux is gaining more and more adepts, especialy companies that needs heavy computing activities -I’m thinking about servers, processing data etc…- since its free -and more reliable- they don’t need to spend a fortune on licenses for multiples computers, which is always a pain in the ass. IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Novell are some of the big corportations that support linux and as far as I’m concerned I support Linux too. Sure, it may be of small comfort for the linux comunity, but if all people support it maybe a difference can be made.

Because, you see, Linux is far from perfect. Every 6 months an actualisation comes out; it’s a double edge thing: it can be good, since there’s a constant evolution and improvement, but it can be bothersome since it means every six months you’ll have to reinstall Linux. But the biggest problem Linux has is the lack of compatibility. There’s simply not enough companies developing tools and programs for linux, or at least linux-compatible. Again, if you use the computer to work/navigate the internet, I believe Linux would be a good alternative since you’ll find pretty much all the tools you need for those everyday activities: picture editing, compressing, emailing, music, writing etc…

That leaves one issue only. Gaming. Well, if Mac OS is not very gaming friendly, Linux is even worse. Some companies such as Id Software -bless their minds- always released their games’ source code, so at least Linux users can enjoy some masterpieces like Doom3 or Quake4; but otherwise porting Windows games to Linux does not seem to be economically viable. Which is a shame, since everything would work smoother. And again, this is due to the fact that windows is the most extended operating system. Hopefully some people have already realized this, and are trying to find a solution, a solution named Cedega. Cedega is a free tool that permits playing Windows games in Linux environment with high compatibility.  Note the “high compatibility”. Not everygame is supported, and not all the games supported are fully supported. It’s a shame, but it’s better than nothing.

Well, after all this I could say “Windows bad, Linux good”, but I believe things are more complicated than that. I now use Linux to work and pretty much everythin else, and Windows when I want to spend some leisure time. And you? Tell me, how is your relationship with Windows?

Cosas que todavía me hacen sonreír

Cosas que todavía me hacen sonreír

 

-         darme cuenta de que todavía hay cosas que me hacen sonreír

-         el olor a tierra y hierba mojada después de la tormenta

-         el sonido del lápiz contra el papel al escribir

-         mis amigos, a pesar de los chistes malos

-         llegar a casa molido después de un día ajetreado

-         ponerme bajo la ducha, echar la cabeza hacia atrás dejando que el agua me caiga por la cara

-         ir andando por la calle y que un perfecto desconocido te brinde una sonrisa

-         estar en el metro leyendo, levantar la vista y sorprender a alguien que te estaba mirando… sobre todo si es una mujer guapa J

-         una copa, un pitillo y una conversación con un buen amigo… aunque ahora ya no pueda fumar xD

-         dormirme con el repiqueteo de la lluvia en la ventana

-         quedarme mirando la luna llena viajar por el cielo en una noche despejada

-         hacer limpieza en casa y encontrar mis viejos poemas

-         darme cuenta de que todavía me queda un poco de encanto

-         estar medio día con un problema con el ordenador y al final solucionarlo

-         la canción de Mr Bo Jingles de Robie Williams en su homenaje a Frank Sinatra

-         los comentarios de House

-         GODZILLA!!!

-         ese momento antes de despertar en el que todo está tranquilo y sabes que nada puede salir mal

-         un buen café, aunque me siente como un tiro

-         un beso a traición… aunque ya no tenga quien me los dé

-         darme un baño como dios manda: espuma, sales de baño, la radio al lado

-         una canción triste, aunque también me haya llorar

 

Espero que haya mas, pero ahora soy incapaz de encontrarlas.

What if…

What if, one morning everything I know changed its shape. What if, for one moment I’d be able to reach the sky and pull one star to light your smile. What if my promises were undone and freedom knocked at my door, would I answer? Or would I sit, motionless, on the dark rooms of my mind?

What if, one day coming back home, I realized I’m not alone any more. What if I found your gaze warming my heart. Will I feel better? Would my body stop aching and my mind stop thinking dark thoughts? I really hope so.

What if life were not twilight but bright dawn… I’ll not have to light a candle any more, or to be fretful of night and its shades. I’ll seek life, unconcerned, and embrace it for the better and the worse. I’d be able to face Fate in all his grandeur and ask him “why” and tell Fortune that I don’t need her any more.

What if for once my tears were neither sour nor driven by pain… but ran free from joy and happiness. What if I made a joke and everyone laughed… What if I broke my verses free from paper, giving my soul to others. Will it be useful? Will my words help them in any way? Or it is only a vain attempt to ease my pain…

What if people were judged by what they are instead of what they look like. What if the masquerade of this world suddenly ended… Would I have some chance against all those hypocrites? Would people open their eyes to all those false smiles and empty words? Or would they chose to remain blindfolded, oblivious to the inherent stupidity of the human race

What if for once, just for once, I’d be able to stop writing this bullshit.

Skadi

Se lo que quiero, pero tengo miedo de admitirlo. Te quiero a ti, y me da miedo, por que se lo que ello significa, temo perderme a mi mismo, pero se que merecería la pena el intento. Es cierto, ya no la quiero, o tal vez la quiera, es tan corto el amor, y tan largo el olvido… olvido como el que no podre darte, por llevarte tan hondo en mi corazón, como diría Neruda. Las cosas no son lo que eran, el tiempo perdido no se volverá a encontrar, pero el que me queda quisiera que estuviésemos juntos, por que te miro y casi pierdo la conciencia, tu piel oscura bruñida me arranca lágrimas, por tenerte tan cerca y no poderte tocar. Y maldigo el dia en el que te vi, por que supe que no te tendría pero que tenia que intentarlo. De otro, será de otro, como antes de mis besos… los que nunca te podre dar, los que me guardo en secreto en mi alma, los que me queman por dentro, lentamente. El gigante de hielo ha caido, Skadi la diosa lo mató, su muerte no fue peor que mi agonía, herido y muerto por tu amor. Y se que me tengo que arrastrar de nuevo dentro de mi si quiero vivir, a ese yo más frío,  pero me pregunto si quiero  volver, por que prefiero la muerte en tu amor que la vida en el hielo. A lo lejos mi mirada la busca, mi corazon la busca y no se contenta con haberla perdido… perdido, como nunca jamás te tuve, como jamás te tendré, y en estas doce horas de la noche la serpiente me sigue, esperando mi renacer, para saber si muero libre con mi amor o vivo preso en el hielo. Te quiero Skadi, mi diosa, mi corazón, mi verdugo, y llegando a las últimas palabras me doy cuenta de que ya he elegido la libertad que me darían tus besos.

Sueño

Eres dulce sueño que acudes a mi en la noche para desaparecer con el alba.

Eres espejismo de amor para el hombre sediento, que te esfumas cuando te intentan alcanzar.

Eres hermosa rosa de cristal entre mis manos, que me hieres con tus espinas de indiferencia.

Eres perla del mediterráneo, encerrada en dura concha de dolor.

Eres lo más hermoso del mundo. Yo te quise querer, pero tu no me dejaste.

Partiste como el rocío al amanecer, dejándome sólo el recuerdo de tus besos.

Ahora el miedo llena tu espacio en el vacío de mi corazón: miedo de que alejes más de mi,

miedo de haber caído en el olvido.

Pero la esperanza de que una chispa de amor siga ardiendo me consuela,

 y a pesar del dolor que todo esto me causa esperaré hasta que, quizás, la llama del amor vuelva a encenderse entre nosotros.

Encrier

J’écris ces mots quand le son de la pluie résonne au rythme des battements de mon cœur. Le pavement dehors, miroir mouillé de ma page, encrée de stupidités que j’oserais jamais te dire… des choses que je murmurerais volontiers à ton oreille, des mots doux que j’étrangle désormais dans ma gorge, car ce sont des vains espoirs que j’héberge dans mon âme, car non seulement tu m’a déjà oublié, mais tu ne t’est jamais rappelé de moi.L’encrier renversé noie mes mots, ma page et mon âme, unis par les chaînes que je me suis imposé. Mes mains, tachées de l’encre noire, l’inspiration dans sa forme plus primitive, des mots dans son état pur, des mots que je n’écrirais jamais, mais peu importe car jamais tu ne les aurais entendu. 

Je t’aime. Tu me manques. Je serais toujours là. Prends ma main. Embrasse moi. Tu est plus belle quand tu souris. Regarde moi. Viens, approche près de moi. Ne me laisse pas seul. Laisse moi te prendre dans mes bras…

 

« si no te conozco no he vivido, y si muero sin conocerte, no muero, por que no he vivido » Luis Cernuda, Si el hombre pudiera decir lo que ama.

 

Ya no quiero que me quieras… no quiero tan siquiera tu perdón.

 Lo único que quiero es que me devuelvas mi vida.

First Post!!!!

This blog is currently under construction. Chek later -much later xD- for updates.

 Adecentando el blog. Volved más tarde -mucho mas tarde para los que me conozcan- para ver algun cambio xD