Zune HD Kicks Ass.

Despite what you have read on the internet, the new Zune HD from Microsoft is an outstanding media player with awesome features. The reviews are "mixed" because of the ridiculous market penetration Apple has over all other products, specifically cellphones and mp3 players. If a new device doesn't support thousands of third party apps, then the ubber dorks of the world feel the device is "set up for failure" or blast it because it's "no ipod killer".

I'm actually surprised at the increased amounts of biased, yellow journalism the blogosphere has to offer, especially in regards to product reviews. Most of the negative reviews from respected PC magazines and supposed technology "experts" have been very sad. Here's the general template these would-be journalists turned blogger have been using:

Insert "Zune Sucks" Headline or equivalent
examples:
Zune: It's No iPod So It Must Suck Fat Ones
Zune Will Fail Again Because It's Not A Phone
Zune Is Cool I Guess But LOL Mac Still PWNZORZ

List specs and comment on how awesome the screen is. Here's a list of details if you really are interested.

Big long discussion of the Zune's lack of app support (after being on the market for 24 hours). Be sure NOT to mention that Microsoft prefers to manage their own applications and whatever they do put out in the coming months will be completely free. Nevermind 90% of iPhone apps are completely worthless. Let's just compare apples to anvils and hope no one notices.

Discuss price comparison to iPods. Don't get too far into it. Just list them and sit quietly, hoping no one reads down this far...

Wrap the article up with saying how the Zune HD is aweome and works great, has a great software that works seamlessly on your Windows computer, has a gorgeous screen and nice features BUT it doesn't have the app support iPod has.

Apple has always prided itself on being the different one, catering to individualistic, creative folks who "think outside the box". They prattle on about taking the road less traveled when it comes to computers, however when it comes to media devices, the Apple lovers (wince) seem to have forgotten their own marketing strategy. Face it. Some of us do not like dicking around in iTunes. We like being a little "different", something a Mac lover should identify with. Afterall, why wouldn't we like things better outside of the iTunes environment? The Zune works great within Windows and doesn't require importing, syncing with alternate libraries that we had to import, etc. or other DRM hijinks. Plus, a lot of people don't buy music from iTunes and some of us who buy or download it elsewhere, don't pay as much as iTunes charges.

Zune HD has a lot of other features too, but my favorite feature is that it's NOT an iPod. I've had 1 iPod that lasted less than a year. I've had 3 Zunes (now 4) from each generation, all of which are still working perfectly with the same battery life they had new out of the box. Call me nuts, but I like products that do what I want them to do, not for what they COULD do with the right app installed.

FINALLY

Farewell to analog!

Futurarama IS back!!!

Well bite my round fleshy ass!

Bender, Fry and the gang are officially back! The BBC has reported that everyones favorite pizza delivery boy will be back with 26 new episodes airing on Comedy Central in 2010.

BAAAZUUUZUUUUU!!!!!

Linkage

Twitterific!

OK, I'll admit it, I'm addicted.

I am now a Twitter FIEND!

I tried to resist for as long as I could, but I was sucked in and now I cannot get out. It all started with new UK basketball coach John Calipari. Yea, John Calipari. As some of you know, I am a huge UK fan and follow all of their sports and some recruiting for their basketball team. When Cal was hired he started doing daily twitter updates and I fell victim to them. I told myself at first I was just gonna follow him and maybe a couple of local sports writers that post some recruiting news.

Well, that was just the tip of the iceburg as I started to find friends of mine that were also "tweeting". Now I can't wait to see what Major Nelson is up to, or what Megan Fox is having for lunch. I like seeing what the NewEgg.com deal of the day is or any breaking news in the sports world from ESPN. I am also embarrassed to admit that I NEED to have some Martin Sargent updates(he had lunch today with Kevin Rose and is currently doing a web show with Sarah Lane). On a side note, pretty much anyone that has ever been on TechTV or G4 has a twitter account, and yes Joe, even Cat Schwartz is on there.

I now have TweetDeck open on my desktop at all times. At work. At home. On my iPhone. I can't escape it!

Any one else been sucked in?

Increase the Size of Outlook PST Files

Anyone who sits and reads and responds to emails all day for living (like myself) may be wondering how to cope with the terrible default setting in Outlook that causes email to seize up once it reaches the 2GB limit. These .pst files can be annoying and seriously disrupt the flow of your day.

Sure you can try some registry hacks, but some users don't feel comfortable messing around in the registry, and rightly so. Screwing up in the registry can be much worse than a full .pst file in the long run. You can archive your .pst files to keep the active one manageable, but after a while you'll have a ton of archived files that take forever to search through.

Why not just increase the maximum size of the .pst file from the 2GB limit to something a little larger. Why not set it to 20 GB?

Why not, indeed...

Futurama Might Be Back

There has been some recent indication that Comedy Central has ordered 13 new episodes of Futurama:

"Though still technically a rumor at this point, word is that 'Futurama' production offices have already opened and that casting is about to move forward. This should be a welcome surprise to fans of the show who have already gone through the series' cancellation and resurrection as direct-to-DVD movies."

This could be the best thing to happen to animation in America since the resurrection of Family Guy.

SteelPad 5L Review

Several months ago, I reviewed the SteelPad QcK from SteelSeries and found it to be a great mouse pad with only one major drawback. In my opinion, the look of the pad just left something to be desired. It got the job done but didn’t have that distinctive flair I’ve come to appreciate in other pads. It should come as no surprise then, that when I was asked if I would like to review the SteelPad 5L, I jumped at the chance.

UPDATE: It’s important to point out that this design is no longer being used for the SteelPad 5L. A new design, similar to what the QcK was using, has been standardized across all their pads. My review covers the original design below, but my guess is that the mechanics of the new pad remain the same.

As you can see, the 5L comes with improved graphics in the form of a colorful abstract design. The primary color is still black, but they’ve added blue and white highlights throughout. In case you didn’t notice, the dimensions in the picture are backwards. The pad is 11”x15”, just not in the directions indicated. It’s a slightly wider pad than the SteelPad QcK and is made from cloth and plastic, which gives it a distinct feel. At 0.15”, the 5L is twice as thick as the QcK but is still thinner than most of the low-end pads you’ll see in the stores. I’ve been using the pad for a while now, and I believe I’m ready to share that experience with others. If reviews be the fruit of blogs, then read on my friends.

The Good
The SteelPad 5L is packaged in such a way as to show off its assets. Protected by cardboard but covered in plastic, one can really get a sense of just how big the pad is and see what it brings to the table in terms of visual flair. Make no mistake about it, this pad was meant to be seen. I like the design, but I’m sure there are people out there who would rather stick with the simple black pad. It really all boils down to personal preference. You can never really predict who will love or hate a certain design. Some people want puppy dogs and babies on their mouse pads. Thankfully, SteelSeries went with something else. I think they really needed at least one pad with some kind of signature design, and they hit the nail on the head with this one.

The next thing I noticed about the pad is its overall construction and how it feels. It’s really hard to conceptualize what a cloth and plastic mouse pad is like without actually having one in your hands. The pad’s surface is soft to the touch but is incredibly smooth. My mice glide right over it with absolutely no snags. The rubber elements on the bottom prevent the pad from sliding around during normal usage, yet there is no adhesion to the desktop making the pad easy to move around as needed. The core of the pad is the plastic which gives it a stiff, rigid shape that bends only slightly when held aloft. I’ve never used a mouse pad like this before.

The Bad
First off, let me start with saying that there isn’t really anything bad about this pad. It has some minor drawbacks, in my opinion, but nothing that’s a real deal-breaker.

If you’re used to a micro-thin pad, the 5L will take some getting used to. The thickness is noticeable but you would be amazed at how quickly your hand and wrist will adapt to it. I don’t even notice it now. The pad is still thinner than most of the cloth pads you’ll see at your local computer store.

As much as I love the pad, there are still some drawbacks with the fact that the top layer is cloth. I brought up some of these issues in my QcK review, so I don’t see a need to rehash all of them here. The pad still looks great after all this time, but there is some noticeable fraying around the edges. It’s not a big deal, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning.

I wouldn’t be a very good reviewer, if I didn’t bring up the issue of cost. This is not a cheap mouse pad. At around $40, there are a lot of people who will probably pass on this one. With that said, I don’t think it’s fair to judge the cost based on what the average computer user is willing to pay. SteelSeries is about making professional gaming gear and their market is guys and gals who spend more on graphics cards than an average family spends on groceries in a month. To that market, a $40 pad is probably an investment. It could be the difference between them getting 1st or 5th in a tournament.

The Bottom Line
Now that we have that out of the way, I can get to the good stuff. I absolutely love this pad. I haven’t been doing any hardcore gaming with it, but I have been using it everyday for months now. Although SteelSeries isn’t really gunning for the casual gamer or user, this pad can fill that niche. If you’re willing to shell out a little money for a great pad, then you can’t go wrong with the SteelPad 5L. I can comfortably say it’s the best mouse pad I’ve ever used, and I have absolutely no desire to use anything else.

Apple iPhone

This could potentially be one of the greatest devices of the new millenium.

Now in case you don't know, when it comes to Apple products, I usually could care less. I have a black iPod that's pretty cool, but I have no particular loyalty to the company. I'm not a big fan of iTunes, and I definitely don't like the fact that Apple made "pearl white" the new "black". I'm still waiting for the day when that fad goes the way of the Dodo.

With all that said, I'm nearly ready to prostrate myself before Steve Jobs after seeing the new iPhone. Despite my concerns over the use of oily appendages as input devices, this thing just has "brilliant" written all over it. I don't know if anyone has noticed, but we live in the freakin' 21st century. When I look at some of the pathetic crap that's being peddled to us, I feel robbed. I see a veritable boatload of communication devices out there that can play music, take pictures, and access the web, but you usually have to sacrifice something with each one. Maybe this phone can play music, but it only has 64 megs of internal memory that can't be upgraded. Another phone will allow you to take 1.2 megapixel pictures, but the carrier only wants you to use their web-based service to get the pictures off and share them. Don't worry, they'll just tack it onto your monthly bill. Oh, would you like some ringtones for your polyphonic phone? They're only $2 and expire in 90 days. With a mighty voice, I proudly declare, "WTF?" This is NOT the Tomorrowland that Walt Disney promised me. It's just another system of control. We have had the technology to make integrated products that free us from the yokes of obsolescence, so it's about damn time someone stepped up to the plate.

I shall now withdraw from my soapbox and regale you with the features of this wonderful device. If you go to the website, you'll see animated demos of how the phone works. Trust me, you will want to see this. For me, this device has it all. It's a widescreen video and music player, a 2 megapixel digital camera and photo album, a web browser, an email client, and a phone all-in-one. It also has the ability to run various widgets, which are small applications like weather trackers and stock tickers. The potential for this device is amazing. It looks like the device will come in 4 and 8 gig models and can be synched with your PC or Mac.

I do have some concerns though like any good consumer should. I'm not really happy about the fact that you're still chained to one carrier. I can't wait for the day when you're able to choose a device and pick your own carrier, much like one does for land-line long distance. With all these great features, I can see Cingular nickeling and diming someone to death with this phone. There's also the issue of the phone's cost. This thing could easily go for $600, which I'm sure could be subsidized by selling your soul to Cingular for two years.

All in all, I'm very impressed with what this phone can do and also what it represents. It means that there are others out there who believe as I do, that the 21st century deserves better stuff. I have signed up for additional information and will pass that along as it becomes available.

Real Life Mjolnir Battle Armor

This guy is awesome. He built a suit of armor for soldiers that was inspired by Halo and Star Wars. There's definitely a Stormtrooper meets Master Chief vibe about the suit. Scroll down to the bottom to see a video of the suit in action. Well, if by "action", you mean standing there and crouching for the camera with dual pistols. The world clock in the crotch is a little out there, but who am I to judge?

The DVD Format War Is Unofficially Over

Looks like the porn industry has decided to go HD DVD. I think that pretty much seals the deal. At least it sure did for Betamax.

Seeing Red...

Well Ive talked about it for a few days now and here it is: The Red Death.

Ill get right to the nitty gritty of what it took to get this thing colored up.

Heres what I used to color the controller:

Xbox 360 Wireless Controller

Precision Screw Driver Set (everyone should own this)

TORX Head T-8 (you need a long narrow one, the head that fits universal screw drivers wont work)

Vinyl Dye (several brands out there, I used Duplicolor)

Painters tape, sponge + soapy water, microfiber cloth

I wont go into too many details on how to take apart the controller or the painting. You can find most of that information explained very good at this site (much props to Alcaron for the inspiration).

Heres a few pointers though that I found very helpful:

-Dont worry about using a security TORX driver. Just use the 5/64th screw driver from the precision kit to snap off the security pins. Just stick it into the middle and twist. The pin pops right out. The use the normal TORX size T-8 to get the screws out.

-Unplugging the rumble motors makes getting the triggers off much easier. However the connector for the rumble motors is very loosly sodered on. Use great care to get the wire out of the connector.

-Getting the triggers off can be VERY tricky. Its a 2 step process. First you must remove the analog sensor arm. The trigger is mounted inside a black "frame" and attached to an arm which is in turn connected to the analog sensor. It takes A LOT of pulling and pushing to get the pin of the arm out of the trigger. Push the trigger as hard as you dare in one direction and pull the arm in the other direction. The pin from the arm should pop out with a fair amount of force.

-Second is actually getting the triggers off. Hold the circuit board as if you were using the controller. You will see two "stop pins" on the controller that restrict its movement. You have to get these past the "stop guards" of the black frame. I used my pointer fingers to pull the black guards apart while using my thumbs to push up on the trigger. Once you figure this technique out this part is VERY easy. The trigger should pop right out be sure not to lose the spring which is under the trigger.

-When spraying the controller be sure to spray the bigger, flatter surfaces first. This allows the overspray to hit the sides and greatly reduces overspray defects. I did 2 coats on the faces, then 2 coats on the sides and alternated. Be sure to try and get dye into the creases along the side and into the screw holes. Allow a part you just sprayed about 2 minutes between coats (seems short but its not).

-Allow at least 4 hours of drying time before reassembling. Then allow 24 hours for the reassembled controller to cure.

-Before screwing down the controller make sure you D-pad is centered. The d-pad slides around before the controller is tightened down and you can adjust the position. Make sure its in the middle so it doesnt hit the ring.

Well if you want any more tips hit me up because Im tired of typing. Heres some more pictures of the final product. In the picture of the top of the controller you can see above the left and right bumper where I didnt spray enough and some white is still showing through. Note that all the impressions in the controller are still perfectly visible.

http://www.picvault.info/images/537025953_IMGP4324comp.JPG

http://www.picvault.info/images/537025952_IMGP4323comp.JPG

http://www.picvault.info/images/537025951_IMGP4322comp.JPG

http://www.picvault.info/images/537025950_IMGP4321comp.JPG

http://www.picvault.info/images/537025949_IMGP4320comp.JPG

http://www.picvault.info/images/537025948_IMGP4319comp.JPG

http://www.picvault.info/images/537025947_IMGP4317comp.JPG

Ellis On Second Life

Warren Ellis, one of the greatest comic book writers to grace the world with words, is now writing news for Second Life, that crazy virtual world where the players create the world as they go along. I played this game for about 3 months and can testify to it's unique nature. Anyway, the article is great. Check it out here.

More Stuff About My Job

Here's another article showcasing one of my training sites. My job consists of managing a virtual reality training program used by the US Army. It's kinda like an indoor shooting range with real weapons. Camp Buehring, Kuwait is one of about 200 sites across the world that utilize these training centers and I am the subject matter expert for the entire program. My official title is Systems Management Technologist and I actually dig my job. What could be better than video games that save people's lives?

Movies and Music and Books…Oh My!

When Im not whoring my Xbox I spend my time doing other only slightly less wasteful things. Heres a quick run through of what Ive been watching, listening to and reading:

Movie: Casino Royale – Ive been a big time Bond fan for a long time (yeah I even liked Timothy Dalton) and this movie blew me away. It did so much to reinvigorate the Bond franchise that I hope the next one is in the works soon to continue to expand what was done in this movie. Every actor brings a certain style to Bond and Daniel Craig is no different. In many ways he channels the spirit of Sean Connery’s original Bond. Tough, hardnosed and out to kick ass. He is as M calls him “a blunt instrument”. He is something the government uses to beat its enemies without much fanfare when required. The history of who James Bond is fleshed out more in this movie then in all the others put together. You get glimpses into the life of M also. Casino Royale is a must see for anyone who is even remotely interested in Bond movies. Two Thumbs Up!

Music: Jonah Smith – A couple months ago my wife presented me with a CD of a guy I had never heard of. Well that CD has yet to leave my CD player and Im probably one of 6 people on the planet who call themselves Jonah Smith fans. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing him live at Headliners a couple weeks ago opening for Mofro. I didn’t really know what to expect but I was very excited. Sure enough Jonah delivered. He opened with an amazing rendition of “When We Say Goodnight” which really pumped up the crowd. My only complaint is that he didn’t have a sax player which really fills out the sound of the song. The band then worked through several songs off their latest album and some older songs which I had not heard before (which freaking rocked). The set was fairly short and I was really disappointed that he didn’t play “Killing Time” which is easily my favorite song from the new album. His voice was spot on and perfectly fits the style of music. A great performance all around.

Books: Star Wars: Dark Nest Trilogy: The Joiner King (Book 1) – I was very hesitant to pick up this book at first. Its been over 2 years since the completion of what is in my opinion the finest Star Wars book series (yes New Jedi Order was better then the Thrawn Trilogy). The New Jedi Order series was wrapped up very nicely and the Dark Nest Trilogy was supposed to tie up the one loose end which has been dangling since that fateful mission to Myrkr: what happened to Raynar Thul, Welk and Lomi Plo? Well it turns out they crash landed on a world inhabited by sentient insects. All three were nursed back to health by the insects where the unknowingly used the power of the force to get the insects to see them as their queens (or kings). The dark jedi then used their new insect army to start a war with the neighboring Chiss. Raynar Thul however uses his force ability to summon his fellow Jedi Knights to aid his hive. Overall I found the book rather dry and am not all that excited to finish the trilogy. However the next book in the series sounds really good so Ill probably plow through the next two books just to get to the good stuff.

Some Avatars For Msg Board

Need to park these somewhere. Nothing to see here...move along.

Virtual Me

I'm playing Rainbow 6 Vegas for 360 and using the in-game facial mapping feature in conjunction with the webcam to put my face on my in-game avatar. The pictures are a little fuzzy and bright (hard to take pictures of a TV) - and I'm bald because I don't have my SWAT helmet on yet, but this is the virtual me:

Getting Connected

As an owner of 2 Xbox 360 controllers and the new wireless mic, I'm glad to see that MS is going to be selling this nice little gadget. Basically it will allow me to use the controllers and the mic with my PC. I never liked any of the controllers that I could use on my PC and I love the 360 version - it's just plain solid and comfortable.

Now all I need to do is find a good enough game to play on my PC that uses a controller!

Price is right as well - going for around $20 USD.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/05/xbox-360-wireless-receiver-for-pc-it-works/

Christmas ROCKS!!!

I have always been a big fan of Christmas. I love everything from the mall crowds, to the cold weather and the huge meal with the family. Now I know what your probably thinking; "Gordon, as an agnostic Secular Humanist how can you believe in Christmas?" Well Im here to tell you why. So strap in tight geeks and leave your bibles at the door because not a single one of these has anything to do with a screaming, crying, diaper messing (yeah Im pretty sure Jesus shit himself as a newborn), pseudo-mesiah which has this whole planet twisted like a pretzel.

Christmas is an economic machine: So your at the mall when you decide to buy your skank girlfriend of yours that fancy gift she always wanted. Did you just display a great piece of holiday cheer? Well maybe, but I dont really care. Why? Because to me what you did is help drive up the profit of that company which in turn drives up the economy which then inflates my rather well invested 401(K). Every dollar you spend during Christmas is money in MY pocket when its time for me to retire. So spend away you tools of my financial salvation; spend, spend, spend!!!!

Christmas brings down crime rates: Yup, around the holidays violent crimes go down. Murders, rapes and assualts go straight down. Of course crimes against business's go up but that doesnt really bother me because Im not the guy behind the counter. If I have to worry less about some dope fiend cramming a .45 in my face and trying to grab my wallet, well that alright by me.

I love ph4t l3wtZ: Yeah not all my motives are altruistic. I love getting new stuff. New toys, electronics, money, gift cards, clothes, socks (yes I love getting socks), naked pictures of your mom; its all good for me! One thing my parents always got me for Christmas growing up was a magazine subscription. I loved that gift because it kept giving all year round.

Christmas = paid time to NOT work: Let me say the person who thought up PAID days off is perhaps one of my greatest heroes. I get to spend Christmas sitting around, drinking beer, watching football and cramming my face full of food AND I get paid for it. Its almost enough to bring a tear to my eye.

Its a great time to people watch: I love people watching and nothing is better then Christmas time. That fat lady whos kid keeps eating his boogers; priceless. The bratty little girl whos kicking and screaming because Santa isnt coming fast enough; just plain funny. Your aunt who spiked the eggnog and is now passed out in the front yard; doesnt get any better then that.

Remember boys and girls, Christmas is a great time to hang out with friends and family and have a good time. Unless of course your homeless, in which case life probably sucks right now because its cold outside.

SteelPad QcK Review

While searching for mousepads one day, I came across a company called SteelSeries that specializes in professional gaming gear. As I have said before, there are people out there playing video games for a living, so it’s really no surprise that there would be companies dedicated to these folks. Now, except for some occasional daydreaming, I’m pretty much your run-of-the-mill casual gamer. I do love me some peripherals though and can appreciate an excellent mousepad. SteelSeries just happens to be in the business of making excellent mousepads and was kind enough to send me a Steelpad QcK to review.

For the longest time, I used a Microthin WowPad! as my primary mousepad. If you look back through previous posts, you will see where I have praised that pad for its measurements. It’s big enough to comfortably use two mice on and is truly “microthin”. I bring this up simply for comparison purposes and to let you know where I’ve been. For the past few months, I’ve been using the Steelpad QcK exclusively, and I think I’ve road-tested it enough. Here’s my two cents.

The Good
The first thing I noticed about the QcK is how closely it matches the size of my previous pad. At 11.2” by 12.6”, there’s plenty of room on this pad for two mice, which is the major draw for me. For someone who likes to be able to use their desktop and laptop simultaneously, regular mousepads just don’t cut it. What I love is the fact that this pad is pretty much the SteelPad standard. Their “medium” is what most companies would consider a “large”. One of my major complaints with my WowPad! is the fact that it’s as big as it gets. Trust me, I’ve actually inquired about it. On the other hand, if the QcK isn’t big enough for you, then “super-size” it. SteelSeries has got you covered! With the way my desk is setup, it’s also extremely important that I use a thin mousepad. Although the QcK is slightly thicker than my other pad, it’s definitely the thinnest cloth pad I’ve ever seen. At 0.07”, I’m able to open a drawer right over top of it and you hardly notice it’s there. This is the perfect pad for LAN cafes and cluttered desks where space is at a premium.

The next thing I noticed is just how comfortable the pad is. The slim profile and use of cloth really makes this a pleasant pad to use. It’s hard to describe, but my other pad just felt really harsh sometimes. I don’t feel any of that with the QcK. The pad is smooth to the touch but it’s important to point out that this pad is really intended for low-sensitivity users. I almost never set my mouse above 800dpi, so it works perfect for me. The pad is also very stable and isn’t prone to sliding around.

All in all, I think the QcK is a premium, high-quality mousepad. If you’re like me, when you think of cloth mousepads, you think back to the god-awful things you used in the college computer labs or at work as an operator. That is simply not the case here. This is a very durable pad, and I’m willing to bet it can hang in there for the long haul.

The Bad
This is the part where I talk about some of the problems that one experiences with cloth mousepads. Unlike my other pad, the QcK has a tendency to get dirty and pick up stray crumbs. That’s not a knock against the QcK so much, as it’s a knock against cloth pads in general. You would get the same results if you laid a black T-shirt out on your desk and used it as your mousepad. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to shake out the QcK from time to time, much like a rug. It’s a minor annoyance but definitely not a deal breaker.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a high-quality mousepad and quality comes at a price. At $15 US, the pad may be a little expensive for the casual user. This is a very subjective point to hinge on though, because it’s all about what people are willing to spend. I’ll gladly pay $15 for a really nice mousepad, but I’m not so sure if the majority of gamers would agree. You also have to take into consideration the fact that this stuff is really geared towards the professional gamers and not someone working in Excel. For a pro gamer, it’s an investment.

My biggest complaint with the QcK would probably get laughed at by pro gamers. It’s not very pretty to look at. I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think a lot of people would agree that the mousepad just doesn’t offer much in terms of aesthetics. The pad is simply black with the SteelSeries logo in the bottom left corner. When you compare it to something like the SteelPad 5L, it just can’t compete. If you order enough of them, I’m sure you can get whatever you want on the pad, but it would be nice for the average Joe to have some variety. I realize that this is simply a matter of personal taste, but it’s the closest thing to a deal breaker for me.

The Bottom Line
The SteelPad QcK has a lot to offer someone who’s looking for a really nice, cloth mousepad. It’s thin, comfortable, and durable. It comes in several sizes and has a non-skid base. If you’re a high-roller and have your mouse set to 1600dpi, then you might be better off with something like the SteelPad 5L. At $15, it’s hard for me to justify the price when it only comes in one style. That may sound really superficial, but I think some different designs and colors would really help sell the product. A black, cloth mousepad just doesn’t look as good six months down the road, as it did when you first opened the box. Ultimately, I think the SteelPad QcK is a great product that could be fantastic with a few cosmetic upgrades.

8.0 out of 10 (Great)

*** Update ***

A representative for SteelSeries informed me that the design for the SteelPad QcK was ultimately chosen with cooperation from top gamers, who decided to go for a more timeless design. So, maybe I’m in a class all by myself. It wouldn’t be the first time.

The Finest Of Last Gen!

Recently my xbox 360 started doing its impression of The Matrix, complete with flashy, green text scrolling vertically down the screen. I had to send the unit off for repair and therefore have been inclined to play some older xbox titles. Here's 3 brief reviews for original xbox games that no one is playing:

Thrillville: Great game! It's like the old Roller Coaster Tycoon, only with 3D graphics. Kudos to Lucas Arts for this one! Rather than looking down on your theme part from a god's eye view, you're actually running around in it like a third-person action game. Each attraction you build in your park is actually its own mini-game that you're free to walk up to and play. You can also ride all of your rides and talk to each guest to see what they like and hate about your park. The graphics are really good for original Xbox and the sounds and gameplay are surprisingly fun.

Spy Hunter: Nowhere To Run: I'm not ashamed to say I like The Rock. Although I'm NOT a fan of wrestling, he's still a great action star and he works really well in this game. I've only played the first few levels but so far, I really like it. The driving and shooting controls work really well together and the graphics are impressive (althought the explosions could use a little more work). I haven't gotten to the levels where the Rock is out of the car and beating people up, but I've seen developer reviews describe the motion capture used with The Rock as he pummels bad guys a thousand different ways and it sounds like a blast. It all looks really good. It may not be the graphical blockbuster of the year, but its fun to play and has the overall feeling of the old Spy Hunter. The wheel spikes are a nice touch too!

Family Guy: Just plain funny. The graphics, sounds and music are spot on to the TV show and if you think the jokes are dirty on TV, then these will blow you away with laughter because they're actually worse in the game. One level involves helping Stewie escape a hospital. You have to leap from one pregnant woman's belly to the next and each time you land, babies rocket out of the ladies wombs right onto the floor. It's one of the funniest moments you'll ever have in a video game.

Viral gaming is here...

Small Arms was released last week over Xbox Live Arcade and rapidly jumped up into the top 5 of the most downloaded arcade games. Its a great game in the same vein as Super Smash Brothers Melee only more violent and with guns. One thing it does which is fairly new is it introduces a virulant achievement. The day the game launched several of the developers went online to play the game. Everytime they played with someone they "infected" those people with an achievement called "Six Degrees of Small Arms". Then those people would infect the next group they played with and so on.

Its a cool concept and it must have spread like wildfire because I got infected the first game I played online. No gamer points for it though. Check out Small Arms, its the second best $10 you will spend on the Arcade this year.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/smallarmslivearcadexbox360/default.htm

Another Teen Smarter Than Me

This one created nuclear fusion in his parent's basement.

I don't' know about you guys, but anytime a teen somewhere in the world does something great (and creating nuclear fusion in your parent's basement is pretty damned great) - I'm always left wondering if he's a typical teen or some type of prodigy. Does he have a myspace page? Is he hyped up on ecstasy and does he think listening to 80s music makes him seem cool and quirky? Does he wear his ballcap slightly sideways and walk around school quoting Dave Chapelle while contemplating how he's going to score his next supply of deuterium gas? Probably.

Well good job Kid. Now here's a nickel. Go buy yourself a used mamogram x-ray machine off ebay for your next big scientific breakthrough.

All your hazardous materials are belong to me....

In a twist which surely spells doom for the majority of the planet, guess who is the newest certified hazardous waste worker? Thats right someone saw fit to give me some actual responsibility and stuck me in a training course so I could have a little piece of paper which proves I know not to eat yellow snow (or green mud, or drink orange water).

Dont know your Methyl Ethyl Ketone from your Trichloroethylene (both will kill you) well Im the man to call. Do you constantly confuse 29 CFR 1910.120 and 29 CFR 1910.133??? Well we've all made THAT mistake a time or two. Do you think PPM is a weapon used on Babylon 5 (thats PPC) or mg/kg is your bosses brain/body mass ratio (well it probably is)? Ohh the interesting things you learn in HAZMAT Training.

One thing I did learn is that the guys walking around in those spacesuits are probably not paid enough. Those things completely suck. Its hot, its heavy and its hard as hell to move. The worst part of it all was the cut down time I had to play Gears of War all week.

Remember boys and girls the next time you have a hazardous material spill call me at 1-888-U-ALL-DIE.

etienne de rocher

Etienne de Rocher is another fresh sound from Fog City Records - the label that puts out some of the best music you've never heard of before.

Recorded in studios, basements, and ostrich farms with some of the best musicians in the Bay Area - including Todd Roper (Cake) and Todd Sickafoose (Ani DiFranco) - this is, at long last, the album that Etienne turned down a major label deal for, to make it his way and in his own good time. The story starts in Tuscaloosa, pitstops at the Physics lab at UC Berkeley, and now continues with the release of his debut on Fog City
(from fogworld.com)

Give this one a free listen here if you feel like trying something new. I really like it. It's half mellow and half soul/funk. I dig the snare popping, accoustic guitar grooves and his voice is spot on. Some songs are mellower than others and some take a listen or 2 to really fall in love with, but they're all well-crafted tunes. Can't wait to find out more about this guy ... most of all how to pronounce his name.