Firefox browser

In our how to make surfing the Internet fun, safe and exciting again department, we have the following: If your still using the forever boring, ugly, tabless and outdated Microsoft Internet Explorer browser, please do yourself and your family a favor... upgrade to Firefox. Cory-apn was a Netscape user for 10 years. Netscape of course, invented the browser (did you know that?). I still like Netscape. It's constructed around the Mozilla source code and that code is now (thanks to Netscape and AOL) open source. Firefox is derived from the Mozilla source code and because it's open source that means (among other things) that it's FREE. You can download it here: Firefox 1.5 download

Sail across the Internet faster and safer than ever before. The hapless folks still using Internet Explorer don't even know what tabbed browsing is yet. That's unfortunate because it's a radical departure from the limited single tab experience your stuck with in IE. It opens up an entirely new world of not only fun, but workability. This blog for example, is published using the Firefox browser. Without tabbed browsing, that effort would be multiplied exponentially.

Firefox is easy to install. It's well supported, can be customized to accommodate your preferences and there are a myriad of themes, extensions and add-ons available. It will import your IE "Favorites" and you can set up profiles (right click on your Firefox desktop shortcut to bring up the "properties" dialog box, in the "target" window add the following text to the end of the executable program path line: -profilemanager). The Profile Manager provides the capability for different users to open their own personalized Firefox browser. It is yet another feature not available in Internet Explorer.

Margaritaville

Okay then, it's springtime in the Shenandoah Valley and that's the time that all middle aged geeks start thinking about... what? Margaritaville of course! The very computer this blog entry is being authored on is named Margarita. She's a fine ship and cory-apn sails her across the high seas of the internet, living a life of adventure and daring. The life of a pirate, forever sailing into endless sunsets and exotic ports of call among the islands and tropical lands of the Caribbean. Come join us. We begin our adventure by waying anchor at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville website:

Ckick here ---> Margaritaville

Our next port is the Nissan Pavilion because that's were we can check on Jimmy's next concert only a half days ride on the trade winds from the Shenandoah Valley. Then we sail to Parrot Heads in Paradise. And on to Janeyzee's Tropical Travel. From there we put our backs to the wind and follow the setting sun to the Washington Area Parrot Head Club. Our last stop is the Parrot Head Webring.

Cory-apn on the web

On eBay: cory-apn
On Yahoo: cory-apn
On PoemHunter: cory-apn
On Google search: cory-apn

Vista - CPU

Getting ready for Windows Vista: So far we have picked the case we want for our new Vista system, now we need to decide which CPU we are going for. Our criteria includes a 64-bit processor with Dual Core technology. The first decision to make is... Intel or AMD? That's easy; while Intel still dominates the very conservative business workstation market, AMD has been kicking Intel's butt in the high performance, home computer market for the last couple of years. They were the first to introduce 64-bit processors and Dual Core chips. Cory-apn has been using AMD CPUs for more than a decade. At first because they were the less expensive alternative to Intel. These days, AMD is on a par with Intel when it comes to cost, but in virtually all side by side performance reviews, AMD wins. There is also of course, that other problem that Intel has... HEAT. Intel chips have a notorious reputation for running too hot. I can vouch for this problem personally because I have an Intel chip on my Dell computer at work (not my choice mind you). Under the slightest of loads, the case fans start revving up to Category 3 hurricane level (and by the way, don't get me started on Dell computers, they are the worse junk on the market).

Cory-apn says: AMD

Next decision is, what socket type should we use? Stay with the well traveled and enormously popular Socket 939 or wait until the new Socket AM2 940 chips with DDR2 memory support start arriving on the market later this year? Tough decision but if economics is going to be a factor (and it is), then lets stay with Socket 939 for now because when those new chips come out they are going to be very expensive. Socket 939 will continue to serve us well for years to come and once the new Socket AM2 chips do come on the marketplace, our 939 based CPUs will drop in price. That's a good thing because they are currently big bucks.

Cory-apn says: Socket 939

Final decision, what model AMD CPU should we get? To answer that question we ask another question: What is the least expensive 64-bit, Dual Core processor model with 1 MB of L2 Cache per core? The answer is the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor; L2 Cache = 2 X 1MB.

Cory-apn says: Athlon 64 X2 4400+

To keep an eye on current Athlon 64 X2 4400+ prices, click here ---> Price Watch

Best PC Game #1

Pirates. If you have ever wanted to escape from the corporate rat race and become a pirate, here is your chance. Sail the Caribbean living a life of adventure and daring. Visit exotic ports of call and battle Spanish Galleons on the high seas. Be warned, once you have lived the life of a pirate, you may never come back. Be sure to have a look at Cory-apn's flagship ---> Margarita

Web sites:

http://www.addictedtopirates.com/

http://www.2kgames.com/pirates/pirates/home.php

Best PC Game #2

Sim City. There is nothing that compares to building your own city and being the Mayor. When you do your job well, the Sims will hold parades in your honor. If you make them unhappy, they'll send protestors into the streets. There is perhaps a little megalomania in all of us, maybe that's why this game has been so popular for more than a decade.

Web sites:

http://simcity3000unlimited.ea.com/us/guide/

http://www.sc3000.com/

Best PC Game #3

Close Combat. An older game but with no equal if you love military strategy. Deploy your units across a multitude of optional European theaters of operation. All based on actual battles. Be prepared to spend hours at your computer out maneuvering your foes.

Web sites:

http://www.closecombat.com/about_cc/about.html

http://www.closecombat.org/

Best PC Game #4

Medal of Honor. Experience WWII combat in a virtual environment so real it will send chills up your spine. The History Channel has nothing on this game, because here you can live history as if you were there. Start with Basic Training and end up attacking the beaches on D-Day.

Web sites:

http://www.planetmedalofhonor.com/

http://www.ea.com/official/moh/alliedassault/us/home.jsp

Best PC Game #5

Halo. Emerse yourself in a rich landscape of alien worlds and advanced technologies. Watch your back because because every sort of bizarre life form imaginable is out to kill you.


Web sites:

http://www.bungie.net/Games/Halo2/

http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/default.asp

Reader - More pictures

More pictures of Cory-apn says blog reader and middle aged geek, Dan's custom build. Note the front ventilation on the Thermaltake case, the blue LED readout, the watercooled AMD 64 3700 CPU, the well managed sleeved cables and the lighted blue case interior. Dan has his CPU overclocked to 2.4 Ghz. To see detailed specifications of his machine, click here -----> Dan's custom build







Click on the pictures for a better view.