The future...

I saw the future such a long time ago that I have already forgotten how it is.

Latest Service Packs and OS versions

Aside from the other departments, on mine I have constant access to 7 different computers. A couple of them have dual-boot capabilities. All in all, and due to the fact that for the last 2 weeks major software manufacturers have released latest patches and versions; I have
Ubuntu 9.04 version on 32b machine
Ubuntu 9.04 amd64 (w Open Office 3.0)
Windows 7 Ultimate Release Candidate 64b
Windows Vista Business Service Pack 2 32b
MS Office 2007 Service Pack 2 on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 64b
MS Office 2007 Service Pack 2 on Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (x2)
…and a barebones 32b Linux install for a UTM-like computer

All works. Some computers are extremely fast (64b.) Others look real nice thanks to the new graphic capabilities and so on.
So, for the last couple of weeks, as time allows at breaks and evenings I have been playing with most of the new features.
So what? What’s new under the sun?

I do not know what I have been looking for being so prompt to download and install the latest and greatest. I think it was a hidden desire to find something, anything positive in such latest news turmoil …

Did not find anything that would satisfy me.

I think the really important things in life are too distant from the latest bleeding edge technology. I just do not know where to look.

Oh! Well…

Will keep searching.

Good Society around me

I am fortunate enough to live in a city that not only encourages all peoples to migrate here, but actually welcomes them.
My coworkers, partners, clients, neighbours and everyone around me comes from diverse and unique parts of the world. The best? Despite and amidst all the negative news –exaggerated or not- about corruption, wars, hunger, illnesses and such; we all live in peace here.

I just realized how privileged I am to raise a family in such a multicultural mosaic. There are days in which I hear more than 12 different languages being spoken by simply passing by a plaza or just dropping off or picking up kids at school.

This song is a beautiful thought about what’s important in terms of tolerance and acceptance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJxstoRocHc
Lyrics here:
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858715833/

Have a great day!

Burning desires

One of my subs came to me asking me to please copy a CD-ROM for him. Nobody in his department knows how to do it and even he having access to two computers he does not dare trying.

The fact is that he knows I am the most senior IT-related person around, and also that my computer is the most powerful in the building.
It has been a while since I copied a CD-ROM; a few years ago I would do that constantly, and for that purpose I had a DVD drive as Origin and a DVD/CD burner as the main copier.

Now I only have one unit. I have not had the need to do anything similar in a while, and the fact that both CDs and DVDs are being quickly replaced by flash drives, USB devices, Internet High Speed connections, etc. Keeps me wondering whether Blu-Ray Disks will be the last type of rotating device we will ever touch.

I can’t wait to see what the new technologies will bring in terms of audio and video. How many HD movies and pre-recorded events will a device connected to the TV set contain, say 5 years from now?
Neither I know.

As I extract the quickly and newly burned CD from the tray, scribble the title with a permanent marker on its surface, and put it in and old empty sleeve; I can’t help but wonder how far we have come on this field within just a couple of decades.

Here’s to more and amazing surprises in the near and far future.

Cheers!