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I was going to write some cheesy commentary about how nVidia should branch into making computer CPUs, and finally be bought by Intel, or die out altogether. Coupled with some analysis into the future of multi-core systems and the many cores it takes to run today’s 3D applications, games, OS, and what not.

But seriously, would most of you care? I guess this is one of the reasons I haven’t been blogging. It felt like nothing is really big enough, important enough, interesting enough, etc.

But, Today is that Day. I am quitting, changing, destroying, rebuilding, rethinking, re-everything. Teen rebellion finally caught up with me? Perhaps, but I think not! Then maybe its the 15 years of marriage that I just celebrated, that hit me like a brick wall. Nah, that’s not what I feel. Mid-life crisis? Too early, really!

I feel that change is overdue. Things need to happen, I need to make things happen. I just have been too lazy and too not-caring to make things happen. And mostly, I’d like to blame it on World of Warcraft. Too often I, granted tired and all, stared at the computer and said too myself – Take the Easy Way Out. Just play a little, do something small. You will feel accomplishment almost right away, 10, 15 minutes later you would have earned some more virtual money, gotten closer to that distant level 70 goal or something else virtual like that.

Yes! I am finally ready to admit it — It’s all been virtual, also known as Not Real. Sure, some of it is real achievement. Something you can boast about, something you can help your friend with (yes, it’s easy to help people who just starting to play, while you arrive with you 100 times more powerful character than the starting zone intended).

But, I am putting a serious stop to this! Yes, I am going into full remission. My own initiatives were the first casualty of WoW, along with many cases where quality family time, or other truly important things suffered.

Yes, I will come back to writing here! It is something I enjoy, and I can’t really deprive myself of all things fun, all at once, now can I? I was going to add some cheesy picture to this post, but I am too emotional at the moment. Today is the day, and Now it happens!

Welcome, Neo, To The Real World.

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Granted, this post is a bit early, I’ve only been using Vista on the my new PC for about a week and a half, but I just had to blog about it!

So far it’s been fantastic! I want to start off with a short list of pointers that may help you with your Vista experience, and end with solid scientific explanation as to why Vista is the Wow! that was promised!

• Search box is your friend! The biggest feature in Vista is the little Search box and you can find it Everywhere! Start with the Start Menu, which makes it easy to launch program or document by just typing a keyword or two. Proceed to use it in Control Panel, which is redesigned, but it doesn’t matter since it has a search box which makes it easy to find what you need if you know it’s name. If you don’t know what it’s called, the newly improved categories are great!
• Create Restore points often! See tip above to easily find this feature in Control Panel. I didn’t need to use any of my Restore Points yet, but it’s nice to know they are there!
• As annoying as User Access Control is, it’s worth it! This is the famous "You clicked on this Button, are you sure you clicked on it?" style prompt. When setting up the computer in the beginning, it will drive you crazy. But, keep at it, because the amount of prompts declines drastically once you "settle in", and the added security is very important!
• Do NOT Upgrade to Vista on an old PC, that is not the intention. Vista by no means "lean", it’s a fully featured OS with high hardware requirements. So, your best bet to get Vista is only with a new PC. If you are worried about Software Compatibility issues, and considering Windows XP downgrade on a new PC, DON’T DO IT! Use Microsoft’s free Virtual PC within Vista should supply full compatibility with the trickiest of software. Plus, most companies should come out with new Vista version of their software soon, if they haven’t already.

For me, the Wow! in Vista is the amazing performance, stability and the security, and of course the new fancy 3D Aero effects (tip: Press Windows-Tab key and scroll mouse wheel).

The WoW in Vista is World of Warcraft, which runs like never before, even with all graphical settings maxed out. Just kidding, of course

Here’s the real Wow! and it is something I haven’t seen covered in almost any press coverage for Vista. It’s the quality feedback agent, which is now built into Operating System Kernel and most Vista applications and components.

Let me explain, this little known secret agent gets activated whenever you encounter any kind of crash/failure and in some similar scenarios. It actually Phones Home to MS HQ and records this trouble, along with supporting "Dump" info, in the central database. And before you start screaming PRIVACY, it can be disabled and it only activates after asking you if you wish to "Help Improve Windows Experience" or some such.

Why is this greatest thing ever? No matter what weird hardware driver, or strange DLL incompatibility, or unintended Windows Update trouble happens, you don’t need to worry. Your computer will literally heal itself! Here’s how it works:

1. You download some patch or new driver, or simply add new hardware that Vista knows about but apparently wasn’t fully tested (or too new).
2. Your system starts misbehaving, things don’t work. You get crashes somewhere, or even the infamous Blue Screen of Death comes to visit you.
3. Vista records this and "phones home" with information developers need to track down why the crash or problem is happening
4. Developers review their giant "troubles" database, notice the new issue which is affecting several people and combine scenarios from multiple PCs and it’s supporting data to figure out what is causing the trouble and fix it
5. Windows Vista downloads a Windows Update Hotfix, or maybe the fix comes as part of Service Pack or updated Drivers from the Manufacturer of your gadget, which Windows Vista also downloads now without you needing to worry

Granted, this is a best case scenario. There are lots of trouble reports daily, and I am sure Microsoft folks using some sort of statistical data mining approach to find most urgent and most mainstream problems, before tackling more obscure ones.

But the bottom line is that this process Will Surely lead to better and more stable OS in the long term, with more features and compatibility.

Show me that in MacOs or Linux, folks? (I know some programs have it, like Firefox, I am talking about Operating System integrated feature)

Wow!

UPDATE: I posted all the "Un-Wow" things on Windows Vista

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So, most of you are wondering where is it I disappeared to, for the last few days. Over the labor day weekend I was learning to fly, of course!

Actually, at first I just decided to make a push as soon as I hit level 67, to reach 68 in record time. You see, level 68 is when Druids get their flying form. That is, magical creature that is Druid, it is able to morph into various animals. But the bird form is something that is achieved only on level 68 with Burning Crusade expansion.

Yes, I got bit by World of Warcraft bug again. But I have to tell you, flying is Amazing! The graphics are beautifully done, and the locales in Outlands are awesome. Mystical outer space kind of areas are just indescribable, so instead I took some screenshots, while flying. But I am sure they don’t do the game justice. So here are some more screenshots, just from the BC expansion: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, lots more.

If you get upset with my geeky fascination with this fairy tale game, don’t despair! I am planning to be back to something which should interest you much more! In the works is extensive post demystifying PodCasts (with and without an iPod) and bringing you some of the best ones in News, Enrichment, Science, and Science Fiction that I enjoy.

Meanwhile, go check out some flying mount video or druid flying form video; the latter video is similar to what my Druid character can morph into.

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