Surprised?  Well you shouldn’t be.  Everyone got out of the Linux Netbook game, mostly because of a lack of support for clients as well as a complete lack of sales guys who understand technology.  This leaves Windows 7 Starter version as the only netbook game in town.  Oh sure, I could scrounge around and find some store that _might_ be willing to order one that might take 2 weeks to come in (and probably in the wrong colour and/or wrong model…) but I was not interested in waiting.  I here is what I picked up from The Source.

SAMSUNG N220 NETBOOK-RED

Original Price: $429.99
Clearance:
Save off Original: $419.96
$110.00
You Pay: $319.99
Sale ends September 30, 2010.

Loaded with innovative and advanced features, your computer demands while you’re on the go are easier than ever before with the Samsung N220 Netbook. If you’re someone who needs a mini laptop that you can conveniently take with you no matter how far you have to go, the Samsung N220 Netbook is light and compact, making it the perfect travel companion. Capitalize on long lasting charge life with this Samsung netbook that provides you with up to 12 hours of battery power. Hook up to the Internet at hotspots, libraries or coffee shops with the Samsung N220 Netbook’s equipped 802.11bgn wireless connectivity capabilities.

1GB of RAM lets you transition from one program to the next with smoothness and no lag-time. See what you’re working on clearly with the 10.1″ LCD screen that is big enough for good visuals but small enough to easily transport.

* Up to 12 hours of battery life Windows 7 Starter Edition
* 250GB hard drive
* Intel Atom N450 processor
* 1GB RAM
* 10.1″ LCD screen

UPC: 36725731905
Manufacturer’s Part Number: NP-N220-JA02CA
WEB ID: 2510675

Processor

* Processor Brand: Intel
* Processor Type: Atom N450
* Processor Chipset: Intel NM10
* Processor Speed: 1.66GHz
* Bus Speed: 667MHz
* Level 2 cache: 512KB

Memory

* RAM: 1GB
* RAM expandable to: 1GB
*Memory Type (RAM): DDR2

Storage/Drives
* Hard drive size: 250GB
* Hard drive speed: 5400RPM
* DVD Drive: None
* Blu-ray Disc Drive: None
* Burns DVDs: No
* LightScribe: No

Screen Features
* Display Type: LCD
* Display Size: 10.1″
* Screen resolution: 1024 x 600
* Backlit display: Yes

Expansion
* HDMI: No
* USB 2.0: Yes, 3
* DVI (digital video interface): No

Internet/Networking
* Ethernet: Yes
* Wireless/Wi-Fi: Yes, 802.1bgn
* Dial-up Modem: No
* Bluetooth Capabilities: Yes

Graphics/Video
* Video Card: Intel GMA3150
* Dedicated Video Memory: No
* Shared Video Memory: Yes, amount unknown

Software
* Operating System: Windows 7 Starter Edition
* Preloaded Software: Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student (60 day trial), Adobe Reader, and Microsoft Works

Battery Features
* Battery Type: Li-ion
* Battery Size: 6-cell
* Battery Voltage: N/A
* Battery Life: up to 12 hours
* Battery Charge Time: N/A
* Rechargeable Battery: Yes

Accessories
* Mouse: Yes, touchpad
* Speakers: Yes, built-in
* Built-in Microphone: Yes
* Cables: N/A
* Webcam: Yes

Dimensions
* Height: N/A
* Width: N/A
* Length: N/A
* Weight: N/A

General Features
* UPC: 36725731905
* Manufacturer’s Part Number: NP-N220-JA02CA
* Product Warranty: 1-year

So, this will be my new toy for awhile in Korea.

Still, A lot of these networks will easily take a Linux install.  So we shall see how long before this too gets hacked.

Woo-Hoo!  Did I pick the right country to move to or what?!

A project between Intel and Korea Telecom is aiming to turn South Korea into the first country with nationwide WiMax coverage.

The two companies announced today the expansion of their effort to roll out WiMax-based high-speed Internet service throughout South Korea.

Currently available in Seoul, Inchon, and Suwon, the expanded service will reach five new cities as of tomorrow–Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Ulsan–and also cover the expressways of Gyeongbu, Jungbu, Honam, and Yeongdong.

The expanded service, dubbed a “mobile wonderland” by Korea Telecom, will offer a “3W” network, so named because it will consist of WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) 3G mobile communications, wireless LAN, and Wibro (wireless broadband) high-speed Internet.

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Holy crap. All I wanted to do is find movie listings. They are simply impossible to just click and find. The absolutely worst layout I have ever had to deal with ever.

Seriously fucking retarded.

I had heard that Avatar 3D was coming back to theaters. I saw the non-3D version and would like to see it in 3D. A friend also expressed an interest. So I do the simple thing, search Google for “avatar 3d hamilton burlington”.  A most logical search.  The first link was for IMAX 3D.  No use as I just wanted a local theater.  Second and second sub-link were for the Hamilton Spec “myvirtualpaper.com” but for way past dates (sep 17th and aug 31st).  Still useless.   Ooook, how do I get to the _current_ date for movie listings???

Here’s a test, go to thespec.com site and tell me how many clicks and how long it takes you to find movie listings. Shit, I tried ‘movie show times’ in their SEARCH ‘this site’ and it came up with NOTHING related to movie show times.

I mean, how hard is it for someone to design a site that is simply usable??

You want to know how I found it?  I had to use the ‘unique wording for their show listings’ to find the page that listed the ‘unique wording for show listings’.  It was the 5th link down on Google and was titled “TheSpec – AT THE MOVIES”.  Why the hell do I have to search the spec site for “at the movies”????  Why can’t I simply find it under the ‘entertainment’ section where it has always been for years?????

Sad thing is that not even the physical newspaper that I get (thank GOD it’s free for me!!!) doesn’t even list it at all.  Geezus, you’d think that with such skimpy-sized offerings, they’d want to add more to their 1/8″ thick pulp.

It’s no wonder the movie industry is slowly, but surely, tanking and that downloading is rampant.  There is no support from local communities and newspapers.  It really should not be hard at all to find out such simple information.

The aggregate movie listing sites are missing out on these key words, and out of all those websites (like tribute.ca), you’d think they’d be more popular.

Long Live TBP!

SCHOOL — 1959 vs. 2009

Scenario 1:
Joe goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack.
1959 – Vice Principal comes over, looks at Joe’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Joe.
2009 – School goes into lock down, FBI called, Joe hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers..

Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1959 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins.. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2009 – Police called and SWAT team arrives — they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1959 – Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again..
2009 – Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1959 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2009 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse.. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1959 – Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2009 – The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.
1959 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2009 – Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro’sEnglish teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7:
Johnny takes ap art leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1959 – Ants die.
2009 – ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents — and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1959 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing…
2009 – Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

Is society really any better in these respects? How do you feel about your freedom now?