Hehe... thanks for the identity!
There are two things scammers try to take from users on the internet: identities and money. With money, they get to live good lives. With identities, they get to get money to live good lives. Here are 4 of the most popular ways scammers have gotten rich off of exploiting you on the Internet.
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Oh no! Windows 7 RC, the free version of Windows that was out there for about a month, is expiring! If you’re like me, you have Windows 7 RC installed. If you’re like me, you also can’t find your Vista/XP installation disk! If you’re like me, you “forgot” to partition your hard drive! If you’re like me, you’re freaking out like crazy trying to back up your files etc before doomsday and trying to make your computer usable again! To make it easier on you, here are 7 ways to use your computer after doomsday: March 1, 2010.
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Savingtips101 RT @simplyianm: 7 ways to save your Windows 7 RC installation http://www.simplyian.com/savew7 |
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Just about everything has a name. Whether it be a tip of a shoelace, spat-out food, or ringing in the ears, most things we have or use frequently have names. Here are 10 words you probably never knew but should have.
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When you think of a keyboard, what do you visualize? Do you visualize rows and alternating columns? Do you visualize the familiar QWERTY? Do you visualize the huge spacebar? Or do you see two orbs that you need to move around like an alien? Here’s a list of 10 of the strangest, weirdest, and most unique keyboards.
Buy it on Amazon: Maltron Keyboards (Left Handed Version)
Maltron Left-handed Keyboard
This odd keyboard by Maltron is built for the less fortunate who only have 1 hand. In my honest opinion, it looks like it’s from the 1990s where everyone used white plastic for their computers. On their website, they state that speeds of up to 85 words per minute have been recorded on their keyboards. This is actually not a bad keyboard; it just needs to get a contemporary upgade. For $650, this keyboard is a ripoff unless you really, really need it.
Site: abKey.biz
The creator of this “revolutionary” keyboard discovered the most common letters — the vowels and R, S, and T — by watching the Wheel of Fortune. Apparently, U, the 13th-most-common letter in the English language, gets a huge button for your left thumb. The A, Space, and Enter get similar enormous button treatment, while the letter “E” doesn’t. Not so good now, huh? Get a load of this, though:
abKey® has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Red Herring 100 Asia Award for 2006. The prestigious award recognises the most promising companies in all of Asia, highlighting those who have shaped the future of technology innovation and transformed markets. Nominees were evaluated on financials, management, and overall strategic integration into the marketplace.
Really?!? Well, there are some good things about it. A great thing about it is the ergonomic “V” shape, which is the normal position supposedly. But the layout of the keys is just wack. They claim QWERTY is a curse; do some research on the Dvorak keyboard first!
If you really want it, get it for $108 at their site.
Site: FrogPad.com
FrogPad Keyboard
The FrogPad, according to the site:
FrogPad is a portable one-handed keyboard. It’s practical, simple, and intuitive, 20-key text/numeric data entry design uses patented algorithms and ergonomic optimization providing all of the functionality of a standard keyboard. The full-size keys ensure accuracy, ease of use, and speed for all desktop and mobile computing applications.
You know, it doesn’t sound half-bad. Too bad it’s not that practical unless you want to eat with one hand and type with another. (I know you do too! 
) The maker claims up to 40 wpm after 6-10 hours with this thing. I’m not really sure about that. The thing is, where did frogpad come from, anyways?
Site: NewStandardKeyboards.com
New Standard Rainbow Keyboard
Besides the kiddish look, this keyboard has some major problems. First of all, they said the QWERTY layout was confusing. This, apparently, is arranged in a good order. To counter that, look at the placement of A and I! Anyways, apparently, QWERTY keyboards take up too much desk space and this solves many problems. Here’s a few select testimonials from select sites:
It’s a logical, simplified, more efficient version of the illogical, complicated qwerty
keyboard, a layout that takes less time to learn and less desk space. It’s better in
every way, in fact.”
– Rupert Goodwins, ZDNet UK (Full Review)“When I asked him which keyboard he liked better, he overwhelmingly chose the
New Standard Keyboard.” ….. “This is a HUGE improvement over the QWERTY
keyboard.”
– Rich Smith, Developer Shed, Inc.(Full Review)
4 words. Give me a break. This keyboard isn’t laid out properly! Anyways, order now for ONLY $70!
Site: Can’t find it!
Thanko's USB Cooler Keyboard
“Dangit! I keep slipping off the keyboard again with my sweaty hands, wrist, and arms! Heck, I’m all sweaty all together!”
Never fear, the keyboard with fans is here! Who would have thought of something this ridiculous anyways? I guess they thought of bowling, perhaps, to come up with this ridiculous idea?
“Thank you, Thanko!”
Site: Grippity.com
The Grippity Keyboard eliminates your fingers blocking the view of the keys so that you can actually see where you’re typing! No more huge fingerss in the way!
Just kidding. Here’s what the folks at Grippity have to say:
BackTyping is a brilliant yet simple ergonomic concept that allows full QWERTY typing in handheld devices. Typing as we know it hasn’t changed since the invention of the typewriter machine, in 1867, 32 years before the U.S. patent commissioner declared “Everything that can be invented has been invented.” Typewriter machines made a long way, from the desks of the 19th century to the living room couch of the 21st century, without changing too much. The struggle of a 19th century clerk, leaning forward to his 10kg machine has no place in your living room, pocket or even on your desk.
Also on the website includes the ergonomics of a regular palm. Think about it: what’s more comfortable? A video game controller or a keyboard? This is what this manufacturer intends to solve. It actually doesn’t seem like a bad concept. The hard part is the learning to type part, but other than that, it should be okay. The Grippity isn’t on sale right now, but expect to see it in stores soon.
Site: AlphaGrips.com
iGrip Keyboard
From AlphaGrips.com:
Lean back from your desk
Work and play how you want, where you want
Be comfortable and productive
Type 50+ words per minute from any location
50+ words per minute… that’s a little unbelievable. How long would it to take to learn how to type on this thing, say 10, 20, 50, 100 hours to finally type that fast? It looks like a great way to play WoW or something except that it would be a little hard to get that trackball to your enemies during raids every time. What if you need to shout a quick “need heals” in less than 2 seconds while fighting a boss? You trackball down to your macro or type the number. That easy.
This wouldn’t be half bad if it were easier to control. A lot easier. Who knows? I might be wrong anyways.
Site: Safetype.com
The SafeType Keyboard - Available in Black Only...
The World’s Best-Selling (and probably only) Vertical Keyboard, available in black only hence the picture, claims that a neutral position is with your hands sideways. Today’s keyboards, apparently, are not ergonomic, so what did SafeType do? They made the keyboard go skyscraper! Here’s what they have to say about the SafeType:
- It doesn’t just move the problem to another
area of the body.- It eliminates the 3 most damaging postures:
- Extension
- Deviation
- Pronation
- It solves real problems, not imaginary ones.
Here’s what I have to say about that. First, it moves the problem to your poor tired shoulders which’ll probably die of having to hold them up to the keyboard instead of on a wristpad or desk. It does not eliminate extension– what if you have a high desk? It does eliminate deviation from a normal posture. And I don’t know what pronation is, but that keyboard’s just prone to fall and break! It has side mirrors like a car or bus to help you learn how to type on this in 90 minutes. I don’t really see how mirrors help anyways…
For $189, it’s a steal. A steal of money that could have been spent on some other keyboard from you!
Buy it on Amazon: Keyboard Pro II with Lg Palm Pad Serial
DataHand Professional II
No, it’s not a scale. No, it’s not a superhero costume. No, it’s not one of those fancy hand-scanners they use in Area 51. It’s just a $1,300 data input device. Don’t believe me? If you look a little closer, each one of those fingers have 5 keys on them. Also, the thumbs provide a spacebar. Supposedly, it’s a QWERTY keyboard that doesn’t look like a QWERTY keyboard. Weird, huh? It also can be used as a mouse, if that actually works.
Buy it on Amazon: orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard and Mouse
The OrbiTouch Keyless Keyboard - Yes, it's real.
I know the other keyboards are weird, but this one doesn’t even have KEYS! Or buttons! Or anything to press! Basically, to type, you slide the orbs into positions to create a letter. It looks more like a show-off device since it look so hard to use. It looks like it came from planet Zorg or something… at least it’s ergonomic. Programmers and coders, imagine typing something like “if ($x === $y) {” on that. That’ll end up causing more RSI because of how long it takes! From the website:
The orbiTouch® is a revolutionary keyless ergonomic keyboard solution that removes the barrier posed by the traditional keyboard/mouse combination. Persons who benefit include those with repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome , other hand and finger injuries, limited fine motor skills, reduced finger function and other cognitive and physical challenges. The comfortable design of the orbiTouch® keyless ergonomic keyboard makes it the ideal tool for computing and accessing the Internet.
Cognitive challenges? This is a cognitive challenge! Anyways, this keyboard also doubles as a mouse, which is a bonus. It’s a crapload of money, though, for a keyboard. Try coughing up the $400 to buy a device that won’t even type fast enough.
Buy it from ThinkGeek: Optimus Maximus Keyboard
Optimus Maximus Keyboard - 113 screens total!
The Optimus Maximus Keyboard probably has the most screens out of any other keyboard. Heck, it’s probably the only keyboard with at least 1 48×48 color LCD screen. Coming straight from the Russian designer Art Lebedev, this keyboard surely is one of a kind.
Although it has a QWERTY keyboard by default, all keys can be customized. If you want a Dvorak keyboard layout for example, go for it! When you change applications, you don’t have to stick with your keyboard. All keys can be customized to change graphics in different applications!
The left side can be used for a sort of Quick Launch pad to get to applications faster. It can also be used for choosing Photoshop tools, etc. It’s completely customizable!
But with a great keyboard comes a steep price. The keyboard costs $1,600 on ThinkGeek.com, enough to buy a brand new laptop of spectacular quality.
“Internet Explorer is good enough.”
“If I install another browser, my computer will be really slow.”
“Why do I need to upgrade? It works!”
“It’s easier to do with what we have now.”
I’m not exactly a complete hater of Internet Explorer (actually I am), but here’s the straight-out truth: Internet Explorer stinks. (No, I’m not the only one.) I’m not calling it the worst browser. (Actually, it is.) People still use it because it comes prepackaged with a new Windows computer, it’s hard to remove, and many are just not tech-friendly. Last summer, I went to New Jersey to see my relatives. Guess what? All of them used the crappy Internet Explorer 6 or 7, and when I told them about Firefox, they said it would slow down their computer. This is a myth; Firefox makes your computer faster. I never convinced them to use Firefox, but they had a lot of viruses. (This has been fixed because of IE 8) This is not an “I love Firefox” post, so I will cover seven big reasons, not in any particular order, why exactly not to use Internet Explorer.
1. Cross-browser compatibility – IE is not the most compatible browser. It lacks many things relating to CSS, Javascript, and other things. Many sites also claim they are “optimized for IE only” so not using IE would help protest it. Some major CSS details are not in IE.
You tell me which one's better.
2. Address Bar – The address bar, like all browsers, is the gateway to the Internet. Having a good address bar can dramatically reduce the time it takes to get to websites. Both Firefox and Chrome are great in their searches in history or bookmarks. IE does this, but it is less visually-appealing.
3. Speed - Internet Explorer’s speed is HORRENDOUS. The page-to-page speed is barely slower, but the startup speed is like a snail. The fade effects when opening menus take a small but critical half of a second to load.
4. Nuisance Dialog Boxes - Whenever I use Internet Explorer, I get “Do you want to turn AutoComplete on?” “Do you want to remember this password?” At least put it at the top like in Firefox/Chrome!
5. The Spazzing Cursor – When I go to a page, what do I see? A spazzing cursor. The hourglass (or circle-loader in Vista) flickers when downloading something. Is is just me or is that just plain annoying?
What's the point?
6. Two processes – I don’t have to really explain this, but why in the world are there TWO processes of iexplore.exe?
7. Low extensibility – Internet Explorer is missing one huge thing that other browsers have — a wide range of addons, extensions, themes, etc. The default Internet Explorer theme is dull but it’s as good as you’ll get. Plugins are all by major developers (Bebo, AIM, delicious, etc.) so I don’t see something good like AdblockPlus coming soon. This was the ONLY good thing about IE7, now it’s gone. See: open source really is a necessity.
There are many other great browsers out there. If you’re having trouble picking, I recommend you go to BrowseHappy to find your perfect browser or just keep reading my blog.
So, what are your mishaps with IE?
