Michael Sherlock » top 5

5 Reasons People Keep AOL Dial-Up

Michael Sherlock — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:00:58 +0000

I was recently at my grandparents condo and was asked to spend a few minuets to evaluate their computer situation. They actually have two homes, and therefore two different desktop set-ups, and the one in Florida is really struggling. Simply put, that machine is a dinosaur from 1998 and is in desperate need of of replacement.

But the one thing that puzzled me the most was their AOL dial-up service. Personally, it would be impossible for me to function without high-speed internet as school, work, and this online endeavor are bandwidth hogs and speed is critical to success. Regardless, this situation got me thinking about why individuals continue to use dial-up service even though they know it’s a terrible internet option. Without further ado, let’s see why AOL dial-up is still in existence.

Tradition:
There are traditionalists in all fields, groups, and categories that are hesitant to change and try something new. From old video games to politics, old collections to daily routines, some people like the structure of what they have always had or done. I know from experience it can be hard to give up these habits. For some, the internet isn’t a big deal and they don’t feel its necessary to change what they’ve used for ten years.
Lost Contacts:
It’s inevitable. Anytime you change your email address or phone number, you are bound to loose contact with someone. Even if you update all your contacts with your new information, you are bound to forget someone. By canceling AOL, you loose both your long time email address and your screen-name with your well built buddy list. Sometimes, a less competitive service is worth keeping your friends.
Virus Protection:
An actual advantage of the slow speed comes in the form of a less conducive virus environment. Even though you can still infect your machine, malware needs to be downloaded too and if you catch the issue early enough, you can quickly disconnect and your machine should still be fine because the damage couldn’t be downloaded in time.
Portability
One thing I didn’t consider until speaking with my Grandma is ease of use. All you need is a modem and any phone line to connect to AOL. Whether you are at a neighbors house or halfway around the world, you can connect to the internet with your AOL credentials just as if you were home.
Cost:
One of the biggest reasons to remain with dial-up, cost. Speaking to users, they pay around $19 total for all the dial-up they can use. Not a bad deal with competent broadband prices starting in the mid $40/month range.

What is your internet connection speed and could you live with dial-up service in 2010?

Why Apple Computer’s are Worth the Price

Michael Sherlock — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:35:04 +0000

A big topic around the web regarding macintosh computers is why pay more? I have been told so many times “I can buy or build my own machine for less then a mac” and sometimes that is true. In other instances, the hardware cost is the same as a PC from another vendor. But why not just buy the machine with the lowest cost for the hardware? Well, among other things, an Apple computer has the advantage because of the additional benefits you get with every Mac.

The Software. Mac OS X is the most complete operating system I have used in many years. It has the eye candy everyone wants but is also responsive. Apple doesn’t preinstall junk-ware from third-party manufacturers on your machine either. They simply install the functional media suite iLife, free of charge, to get you on your way.
Applecare. Let’s say you are a new user and for some reason your machine is not working correctly. Nothing is perfect all of the time but apple doesn’t put you through the annoying hoops other companies call customer service. All you have to do is call Apple and a representative will do their best to help you. Do you live by an apple store though? If so, just go to the store and a ‘genius’ will help you fix the problem. If they can’t, they will replace the faulty component and in some cases give you a completely new machine. Even on the apple website you can find hundreds of tutorials to help you with any issues you are having.
Security. With new viruses, trojans, and spyware hitting the web every day it’s imperative to keep yourself protected. Apple made this a priority and uses an operating system designed more securely from the ground up than windows could ever be. Besides that, there are only a handful of viruses for the mac platform so the chance of getting infected is extremely low. With apple releasing security patches frequently, you can rest easy at night knowing your data is protected.
Quality. Apple has been leaps and bounds above the competition when it comes to making reliable products. The new unibody design for their laptop line is extremely durable and it’s single piece of aluminum is bound to keep your laptop running for years to come. From the past though, apple machines are still chugging along today. A friend of mine uses a three year old powerbook G4 as his primary machine and it can still do everything he needs it to do. From school to work to play, you can expect your mac to keep up with your needs.
Design. Apple machines are known for their sleek look and have been trend setters for years. Companies have tried over and over again to capture the sleek look of an Apple PC but few have matched what Apple has done. Functionally, Apple first brought firewire to their notebooks many years ago and now firewire is the gold standard for connecting high-speed devices to a computer. When apple began installing iSight cameras on all of their notebooks, the competition noticed. It’s almost common now to see webcams installed on mobile computers. When apple does it, you can expect other companies to follow suit.

It’s not an issue of being biased when making a choice to buy a mac. You can run windows or linux on your apple machine but you also get the benefits that no other company besides apple can supply.

Top Games -Nintendo Wii-

Michael Sherlock — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:40:18 +0000

I wrote a post a while back about the top games of 2007 for the Xbox 360. I planned to write a similar article for the Nintendo Wii but decided to hold off for a while and just write about the current top games. Sure Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, Rock Band, and WiiWare games are coming soon but as of April 17th, here are my top 5 games for the Nintendo Wii. When newer games are released, I’ll be sure to right about them.

Super Smash Bros Brawl
I really love this game and right now it has to be one of the best on all platforms. Coming from SSB 64 I have to say this game is great. It manages to keep the fun and simple gameplay the original game had but it also introduces great graphics (for the system), new characters, and really cool worlds to play on. If you own a Wii, you must play this game.
Super Mario Galaxy
This game looks fantastic and with a great level design Super Mario Galaxy has won several awards including game of the year. It’s clear that this is one of the best Mario games to date. The replay value is great because this game has lots of stages and tons of stars to find and collect. This is one you should play.
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
This is the first 3rd party game on my list and I have to say it’s a great value. You get an amazing shooter with intense story line for the good price of $29.99 which I’m sure you can find for less.
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock
It’s clear the Guitar Hero Series is one what is great on all platforms and the Wii is no exception. The game plays just as well as any other system but is $10 cheaper and is wireless. This is the best game for parties.
Trauma Center: New Blood
Rounding out my list is Trauma Center: New Blood which is a surgery simulator. Using the Wii Controls you can operate similarly to the way actual doctors operate. This is the first game of it’s kind and offers a way to really use the Wii the way it was designed: using the new control scheme. The game can get very hard towards the end but I still recommend this title.