Let Me Google That For You

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Google | Posted on 19-11-2008

http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/ – try it, then remember it next time someone asks a question that Google could find an answer for.

Failing Hard Drive Sounds

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Computers | Posted on 16-11-2008

Not all hard drives fail the same way. DataCent, a data recovery service, has an impressive archive of failing hard drive sounds. If you’re ever in doubt about whether your hard drive needs help, this is your guide.

Google Releases Speech-to-Search iPhone app

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in iPhone | Posted on 15-11-2008

iPhone users can download a free app that allows them to speak a destination or question and within seconds, receive an answer. The app works by recording your voice, uploading it to a Google Server via the data connection, crunching the data, and then returning the results. It doesn’t deliver perfect results just yet, but as the app matures and learns everyones searching techniques, eventually it will creep closer to perfection.

American Airlines Mobile Boarding Pass

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Tech News | Posted on 15-11-2008

American Airlines has joined its peers at Continental in offering boarding pass barcodes that you can download to and display on your BlackBerry, iPhone, G1, or whatever mobile you have. [Via Mobilitysite]

USB 3.0 to Transfer 25GB in 70 Seconds

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Tech News | Posted on 14-11-2008

USB 3.0 will be unveiled next Monday, and so far the new specs for the protocol look incredible, promising 25GB transfers in a mere 70 seconds. To put that in perspective, the same transfer would take 13.9 minutes with the current USB 2.0 protocol. Looks like the future of wired syncs and backups is bright and blazing.

Simple Explanation of RAID

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in IT | Posted on 13-11-2008

Ever want to explain RAID to someone? These images should make it easy.

Standalone

Cluster

Hot Swappable

RAID-0

RAID-1

RAID-5

RAID-0+1

Prison vs. Work

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Humor | Posted on 10-11-2008

IN PRISON: You spend the majority of your time in a 10X10 cell.

AT WORK: You spend the majority of your time in an 8X8 cubicle.


IN PRISON: You get three meals a day.

AT WORK: You get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it.


IN PRISON: You get time off for good behavior.

AT WORK: You get more work for good behavior.


IN PRISON: The guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.

AT WORK: You must often carry a security card and open all the doors for yourself.


IN PRISON: You can watch TV and play games.

AT WORK: You could get fired for watching TV and playing games.


IN PRISON: You get your own toilet.

AT WORK: You have to share the toilet with some people who pee on the seat.


IN PRISON: They allow your family and friends to visit.

AT WORK: You aren’t even supposed to speak to your family.


IN PRISON: All expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required.

AT WORK: you get to pay all your expenses to go to work, and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.


IN PRISON: You spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.

AT WORK: You spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.


IN PRISON: You must deal with sadistic wardens.

AT WORK: They are called managers.

Squirrels With Lightsabers

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Humor | Posted on 10-11-2008

What started as a great tool for opening walnuts, turned into a bloody battle for supremacy of the oak tree!

20 Things I Learned From Tech Support

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Humor | Posted on 10-11-2008

1. As long as the world turns, users will still have problems

2. Substance abusers and computer operators are the only folks called users. This isn’t by chance

3. When in doubt. Reboot

4. Sooner or later you will meet a person who types out the words “backslash” or forgets to plug in the power cord. If you haven’t yet, just wait, you will

5. Fear the phone. No one just calls tech support to wish you good morning

6. No user will tell you the whole truth at the beginning of a call

7. “I didn’t do anything” or “It just happened” Are the users mantra

8. As a support tech, it is your job to break down resistance and get the truth

9. This is so you can rub the lie in their face, fixing the issue is just a perk

10. Some people will never learn

11. This means you will always have a job

12. Maintain a calm voice, even if you’re screaming on the inside

13. The hold button is your friend

14. Whatever you do, don’t panic

15. The answer to all users questions should be “Trust me, I know what I’m doing” even if this is a bald-faced lie

16. Users can smell fear. Once you’ve lost control, all is lost

17. A user who is not listening to you anymore, but rather is trying “their own thing” is not worth your time. Simulate a telephone disconnect and hang up. Trust me, you’re better off.

18. Sometimes fixing a computer is easier than figuring out why it was broken

19. Users always want a reason things are fixed. If you’re not sure just lie. They won’t know anyway. “A stray electron passed through the processor and caused…”

20. If possible ask to speak to the youngest person present

Gears of War 2

Posted by Tony Brizuela | Posted in Video Games | Posted on 08-11-2008

Picked up my copy of Gears of War 2 today, awesome.