What's up Microsoft? Only 2 versions of Windows 8?

Typically Microsoft likes to top off at around 6 to 7 versions of operating systems.  Funny thing this time around, only 2 for Windows 8.  Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro.  A third version, Windows 8 RT is for tablets and only sold on new tablets.  Windows 8 is for home users.  Windows 8 Pro is for gamers and geeks.  Although it should be mentioned that there is actually a fourth version, Enterprise, but that is for business only.  Check out this article on how to pick the right version for you.

My obsession over my FIOS remote

For some reason, I hate the Verizon FIOS remote, seems a bit too busy for my taste.  I have tried alternatives to not much happiness.   The Belkin Beacon is alright, but you can't have bluetooth on all the time on your iPad or iPhone, it just kills battery.  I tried the Logitech Harmony, it's alright, but is also a bit buggy at times.  Seems like my best option is the iPad FIOS app from Verizon.  It gives you control of the remote and the TV guide on the same screen.  Since I always have the iPad around the TV anyway, I actually like it.  Wish I discovered it before I spent all this money on the alternatives.  The Verizon FIOS app is free on the App store.

Please avoid HP and Lexmark printers

It's becoming alarming how many Lexmark and HP inkjet printers I have gotten calls about over the past couple of months.  In the case of HP, the typical problem has been that it's just a crappy printer.  Lexmark's are a different story, they have always been crappy printers.  HP has gone in the toilet the past 5 years.  Seems their method of operation is simple,  sell them cheap, rip you on the cost of cartridges, printer craps out....repeat.  To be fair, they seem to be able to make decent laser printers, so if there is a glimmer of light at the end of that septic tank tunnel, that's it. 

I highly recommend a DROBO..

I have had one for a couple of years now, but after today, I feel the need to actually recommend one.  If you do not know, DROBO is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device.  Think of it as an external hard drive, except it's not just one, it's several, tied together working to not only backup your data, but secure it against hard drive failure.  It offers redundancy protection.  Today my four year old went exploring to see what that little yellow light was, so he turned it off.  Turns out he turned off my master UPS.  Generally not a big problem, except that I was in the middle of a 738GB data transfer to my DROBO.  Yes, it took a couple of hours and I thought I would have to start all over again.  Nope, my DROBO picked up where Christian left off.  A bit pricey, but worth it, today I found out why.

Your car will now have a black box recorder...

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill requiring all new cars manufactured in the United States be fitted with black box data recorders. Senate Bill 1813 [PDF] was passed by the Senate and is just waiting for approval from the U.S. House of Representatives.  According to the text of the bill, the data on the recording device may not be retrieved by anyone other than the owner or the lessee…unless, of course, the government asks for it.  We can thank the Patriot Act for that one....geez.

The data may be retrieved by someone other than the owner/lessee if it is requested, and backed, by a court authorization, or if there is a medical emergency. It may also be retrieved if the owner/lessee consents, or if it's relevant in an investigation or inspection conducted by the Secretary of Transportation.

Now to make you feel better, Event Data Recorders (EDRs) have been voluntarily installed in cars for several years. In fact, VentureBeat reports, at least 64 percent of cars in surveyed in 2005 had an EDR installed, including 100 percent of cars made by General Motors, Ford, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Suzuki.  Is there anything left that is truly private?

Walmart and Vudu team up to stream your own DVD's

Not quite sure the service makes any sense.  Here's how it works: You bring your physical DVDs or Blu-ray discs to a participating Walmart store, then pay $2 per disc to access the streaming equivalent through Vudu on supported devices, including computers, tablets, smartphones and game consoles--basically anything that supports Vudu.  

First you'll need to create both a Vudu.com and UltraViolet account (the latter is the movie industry-led digital rights management process for converting discs to digital versions).

Once those two accounts have been linked, Walmart says you can bring your DVD or Blu-ray in for conversion, at which point a Walmart rep--typically located in each store's photo section--will ask for the email address associated with your Vudu account.

Next, you select whether you're after the $2 SD or $5 HD version--the Walmart rep confirms you can't have both, which is unfortunate for HD buyers who want an SD alternative on devices with low bandwidth or data-caps.  Your disc gets a stamp afterwards so that you can not use it for conversion anymore.

After all of these hoops to jump through, it seems simpler to just buy a Pogoplug or buy Pogoplug software, which allows you to access anything on your home computer the same way.  A one time initial fee and you avoid the Walmart-Vudu mess.  Maybe I am missing something with this new service.  It's too much work and too complicated for the casual/novice user.  Experienced users already know 5 other ways to accomplish the same thing without the cost.