Due to the advent of Bootcamp and Parellels, it seems that switching over has never been easier for the business minded professional. NetworkWorld explored the surge of Macs in the corporate world, with some interesting insights into the recent phenomena that seems to be gaining momentum.

Personally, I have bootcamp on my Macbook Pro. I actually purchased it because I could dual-boot, which I thought would be very helpful. Over a year later into my conversion, I’m probably going to uninstall bootcamp. I really don’t need it.

Now, understand that I work in marketing and design. The software I use most is design-oriented, as well as some coding software, and handy blogging tool Ecto.  Everything I need is for Mac, with more software being released daily.

Furthermore, with the Mac becoming more and more gamer friendly, it means that it is becoming more and more consumer friendly. More software companies are realizing that people are making the switch, and will start to make both Mac and PC versions (or, if you like, boot them in Parallels). Honestly, there are more apps for the Mac that aren’t available on the PC (Quicksilver for one) and will never be, and I couldn’t live without.

I’ve really come to realize that I can live without Microsoft Windows, and without Bootcamp, and that the reign of PC-only applications is quickly coming to an end.

What software could you not live without that you think is only on one or the other? The only freeware for PC that I can’t seem to find an equal for on the Mac without paying out the nose for is DVDShrink.

Technorati Tags: mac, windows

I don’t know how I missed this, but some programmer at Google must have a giggle every time they check their Spam box - adsense is putting out spam recipes for the spam folder. Furthermore, if you don’t like the recipe that they have you can click through the recipes to find yourself that perfect dish.

After a quick web search, a few people have been on to this - but I never noticed it before. The site must have bought the advertising (I’m sure for not much, because people usually don’t spend too much time in their spam box.

If you’re fan of spam, the mystery meat that is, then look no further than your Gmail spam box!

I’d offer here to give anyone a Gmail invite since I have so many but its out for the public now (and I believe has been for a while) so if you don’t have a Gmail account, you should get one. Its awesome.

Technorati Tags: adsense, Gmail

For those of you who don’t have Showtime (including myself), you probably haven’t gotten wind of what nearly made me pee my pants today. Probably my favorite radio show of all time, This American Life, is getting a television show. If its even 1/4 as good as the radio show, it’ll quite possibly be the best hour of television ever. Thats how damn good the radio show is.

Friggin awesome. I can’t wait… I’ll have to make more friends with Showtime.

Technorati Tags: this american life, video

Planned Parenthood is one of the most controversial organizations in America. Little do the demonstrators know, over 90% of their work is in prevention of STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

Their campaign, Real Life, Real Talk, focuses on having a dialogue about the issues rather than just avoiding them (because there’s so many people out there that for some reason can’t say the above word without blushing). Because people have issues saying it, they came up with a genius plan to get people to actually say it. Rebuses!

Hopefully people will actually be intelligent to figure them out.

Check out more of their puzzles and videos here, or head over to their website here. 

Found on Neatorama 

Its not often I truly consider adding things to the mess. We’re debating whether to order these or not.

At $124 a piece, I might just buy another Sumo ($129 on sale including shipping) since they’re more versatile, but you just have to love the idea of having command keys for your friends to sit on when they come over.

Furthermore, if you want to customize your keys, for an extra $16 you can have them read “Ass” or something equally rude or cheeky.

Get em while they’re hot over at Greatbigstuff
Seen via Gizmodo

Technorati Tags: furniture, geek

I first heard of the Buddha Machine over at 43 Folders a couple weeks ago. I was intrigued by its simplicity and function. The little box loops tracks of ambient music to create a relaxing atmosphere. Since it is being used as a religious device  by some, I was very interested to get my hands on one and see it for myself (I find using a technology like this in Buddhist meditation both interesting and ironic at the same time). So I ponied up the $27.50 ($23 plus shipping)  and ordered one from Forced Exposure. It came last night, to much delight.

It came in a pretty small box. From the looks of it I could already tell it was going to be smaller than I expected.

The packaging reminds me of the boxes of stuff at the Chinese dollar store downtown, unbelievably cheap looking and usually incorporating some sort of flower and pastel colors.

Although they didn’t give you a choice of color when ordering, from the side of the box you can tell what color you’re going to get.

Here it is in all its celophaned glory. It was shipped in bubble wrap, celophane around the box, and celophane around the buddha machine itself - its almost as the packaging cost as much as the machine.

Definitely chinese.

Pretty simple operation of the Buddha Machine. It has two ports - one for DC power (adapter not included) and one for earphones in case you don’t want to use the cruddy speaker (it sounds fine but lets be honest its pretty cruddy). It has one button on the side for changing tracks, as well as a volume/power knob and a red LED to tell you it is on.

I listened to it for a while - its really quite soothing. This is really more a piece of art or a meditation tool than a high-tech gadget. Then again its not intended to be. Low tech is really cool in this instance. Imagine a pre-loaded iPod just for soothing loops.

However, the exploded diagram that they use as their logo is what drew me to it. I really wanted to know… is there a Buddha in the Buddha machine? Is there a little plastic figurine in the Buddha Machine just like in the diagram?

So I opened it up.

As you can see, no. The Buddha Machine has no little Buddha inside it - at least not in a physical form. I guess you’re just supposed to “feel” the Buddha inside the machine.

I currently have it on my desk at work and turn it on whenever people are going crazy. I’m sure I’ll be replacing the batteries soon.

If you want a virtual one while you’re waiting for yours, head over to here for Sergey from Cool Tool’s  son’s Flash-Based Virtual Buddha Machine.

If you don’t want to throw down the cash for a little plastic box, FM3 has all the tracks to download for free - but its just not quite as cool as the real thing.

Get yours here 

Technorati Tags: gadgets, interesting, buddha machine

Ever since detective and forensic shows started using UV rays to check for fluids I’ve been pretty grossed out by what could be everywhere. This is why I don’t own one of these. However, if you just gotta know, this handy little pocket contraption could illuminate a few things left unseen.

Not a bad price for piece of mind.

You know that guy down the hall who is hacking up a lung? That guy who picked up your limited-edition Greedo action figure, spreading his diseases all over it? Come on, you can’t be sick - you’ve got too much work to do! Why didn’t he stay home, and keep his germs to himself? The last thing you need is to pick up some SARS or other kind of mange, and spending a joyous evening on the toilet. Meanwhile, your work would wait - piling up, not caring one bit that you got sick.

You like to take care of yourself - popping vitamin-c and zinc powerups, and rocking the ecchinacia, but there’s only so much you can do to shore up your own defenses. These microscopic nasties keep getting more and more vicious. Thankfully, technology keeps pace, and let you go on the offense, and kill some germs.

Pull out this sleek pearl clamshell - is it a cell-phone? No! Intense ultra-violet radiation emanates from a lens on the face, killing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on your mouse, keyboard, phone, action-figures, what have you! Pass it over your contaminated objects for 10 seconds, and you’re virtually germ-free.

Please remember - this is ultra-violet radiation, and care must be taken when using it. Don’t use it on any part of your body. Be safe and be healthy!

Sounds like it could also give you a tan… not that I’m recommending that though.

Get one at Thinkgeek 

Technorati Tags: gadgets

(by the way, to buy this toilet paper - go here)

Wired Magazine  has an excellent article explaining why DRM is the nasty little SOB that it is and how the RIAA has its head up its ass. If you’ve ever got a glazed-over look from someone when you tried to illustrate the evils of DRM, refer them to this article. It includes some fantastic little examples talking points. This is just simple marketing - know your audience. Most of my friends are fairly
non-technical, and don’t really understand how a lot of these technologies work. Furthermore, if you want to explain it to your parents - good luck.

Microsoft sells a Zune. The Zune shares music, but you can only play that shared music for 3 days because when it’s shared, it’s wrapped up in a DRM scheme. If I’m in a band, and I release my songs for free under creative commons, and you download it and put it on a Zune — you are breaking that creative commons licenses. There is no way to tell the Zune “don’t protect this one”. I don’t want to sue my fans for locking up the music in DRM, and
I don’t have the resources to sue Microsoft for breaking the CC license. But the RIAA can sue 10 year olds

(I especially like the “but the RIAA can sue 10 year olds at the end)

Read on - Wired Magazine 

Technorati Tags: DRM, RIAA

I just had to post this. Well done.

Technorati Tags: politics, blair, video

If anyone knows me, they know I love food. And free stuff. Free food is on my all-time favorite list. Especially for charity. 

Considering it was about lunch time, I headed over to IHOP (which happens to be across the street from me) for some delicious free food. 

It wasn’t that packed in there (then again, it was 1120am, so breakfast had left and lunch was just starting), and I got a table for one right away. Although I heard other waiters and waitresses schlepping the free pancakes, my waiter didn’t and I had to ask (twice!) for free pancakes.  

When I finally got them I was damn hungry and started buttering them up before I remembered I had my cameraphone on me: 

Since I’m not a regular at IHOP, I really didn’t know much about the whole extravaganza other than what I’d read on their site. They had this sign on the table which was pretty clear about the greatness of the event: 

The pancakes were huge! I ordered an English muffin and some eggs to accompany my coffee - barely finished them all. Seriously, thats a lot of free pancake.  

They recommend you donate $1 to the Children’s Miracle Network. I gave them my change from a $10, so if you don’t have a buck just pretend I put it in there for ya and enjoy some pancakes! 

Technorati Tags: free, pancakes