Using the browser will feel a bit like using vim, with both buffer commands and a full command mode.  To fill out forms on a webpage one must enter insert mode.  It is extremely keyboard centric.  Because of this and how light weight the browser is, it has become the default browser on my netbook.  Opera has been my default browser since version 8.5 released ad-free in 2005.  I am even using it right now on my desktop along side Opera.

It does have a few problems: Downloading files is a little wonky because it simply executes wget.  It may be that I've messed with some of the configs, but I don't get any download notifications.  The files do download to the directory defined in my globals.lua, but the browser does not indicate this.  The javascript engine is also really slow.  Sites like netflix will crawl to a halt in luakit.  Other webkit browsers like Arora and Chromium/Chrome behave just fine on this and other sites with lots of javascript.  Of course I am spoiled when it comes to Javascript experience, using Opera as my main browser and all.  This issue has been brought up and is hopefully being looked into.

Redshift
Redshift is a great little tool that will change the color temperature of your monitor based on time of day.  The reason for this is that daylight tends to be blue and monitors generally display at a very blue color.  But at night, when you're using lights, the color temperature of these lights tend to be more in the red range.  Another tool called f.lux exists, and I would recommend this one for OSX and Windows users (Redshift's Windows version is "highly experimental").  The Linux version of f.lux, however, lacks a GUI and seems to eat a ton of CPU (at least for me) when it's actually transitioning from day to night.  Redshift does not chew through cycles during the transition (it is, in fact, very smooth and pretty) and does have a fairly competent graphical interface (it just wraps around the CLI version, in usual Unix/Linux style).  I used to use f.lux and it worked wonders for my eyes at night.  Redshift provides the same benefits for reducing eyestrain, I just feel it is a nicer program to work with for Linux users.

NX
Here's a nice program for everyone who needs a remote desktop connection.  NX is a relatively new method of remote access.  What sets it apart from VNC or X over SSH is that it is far, far faster.  In various spots around campus, the wireless network is incredibly slow due to the volume of users.  In these locations, xpra, VNC, and X over SSH performed quite poorly.  NX, on the other hand, was quite usable.  When I am at work on an ethernet connection, the responsiveness of the NX server nears local speeds.  It is quite an impressive tool.  It allows for desktop virtualization, akin to VNC as well as blending the applications in with your current display ala X over SSH or xpra.  Either style of session can be disconnected and reconnected anywhere.  The Free server exists for Linux and Solaris with clients for Windows, Linux, OSX, and Solaris.  One can even install the "Web Companion" that provides a java applet that behaves as a client.

xchainkeys
Xchainkeys replicates behavior found in various window managers.  It basically provides keyboard shortcuts to launch programs and run commands.  It also allows for one to set up a chain of commands.  For example, if I press Windows+Q, I enter a chain I set up for browsers.  If I press Q again, Opera launches.  A launches luakit, W chromium, and S firefox.  All of this can be done in, for example, Openbox.  It has native support for these key chains.  On my desktop, however, I run Compiz as a window manager, and it provides only 11 commands, one of which had to be used for the desktop menu (compiz-deskmenu).  It also has no support for key chains.  This means I am very limited in the number of commands I can bind to keyboard shortcuts.  I now have 15 different commands being executed via keyboard shortcuts, with twelve of them being under various chains.  An incredibly useful program for those that desire a little more flexibility out of their keyboard shortcuts and are limited by their current window manager.  My config.

a) I'M OUT OF SCHOOOOOLLLOL!!!  Everyone else (save for the Sophomores who go to MST, those who took Japanese 3, and probably a few select others) still has one more day left.  Mwahahaha!

b) Dad got a new computer.  It's freaking awesome.  I'm typing this up on his machine right now.  The case is a VERY sleek, glossy, dark gray.  It was made by Antec, which is a very good case manufacturer.  The only problem with the case is that it has one of those door things that covers the drive bays.  Personally, I don't like that, but it looks damn nice when it's closed.  AND IT'S DAMN QUIET TOO!  I turned it on, it kind of buzzed at me (must be the new beep?), and I swear I couldn't hear a thing at first.  Freaking awesome.

It boots in NO TIME.  I didn't clock it, but it was amazing how quickly it booted!  It's an Athlon 64 3800+, socket 939.  1GB of RAM (2 512 sticks, dual channel).  Nvidia GeForce 6600GT 128mb PCI-X.  It's awesome.  It has TWO onboard ethernet adapters (the in use is 100Mbps, the one not in use is 1Gbps; I should seriously switch them), and WinXP apparently recognizes the onboard firewire as ANOTHER network adapter!  For that connection, it says it has a speed of 400Mbps.  :shock: He has onboard 8.1 channel surround sound AND SPDIF and optical out!  Damn!  He can both output and INPUT video through the 6600GT.  Composite, svideo, component (!), dvi, and vga.  It's got this nifty dongle thing.  Of course, there's SLI support incase he should ever want to buy another 6600GT for to play some games. :wink: He also has a DVD-Rom that supports not only DVD+R Dual Layer, but DVD+RW.  NICE!

Two 80GB SATA harddrives set up in a RAID 0 config make for a FAST, 160GB harddrive!  He's also got another firewire port via an addon card as well as four USB ports on the back of the motherboard, two on an addon card (along with a gameport, what for though?  Most joysticks and such are USB today), and two on the front of the tower.  All chugging along nicely with a 350W power supply...  350W, exactly what mine is.  If I had ordered this system, I probably would have gone up to a 500W power supply, but it's not my system.  The grand total was roughly $1,500.  NOT BAD!  When I got my machine in August, it cost me ~$1000 WITH a monitor ('twas around $900 without the monitor).  He already had a monitor.  All in all, VERY nice machine!

The graphics card came with a bunch of games.  I opened up the motherboard box and it was almost bursting with CDs!  Here's all the CDs that came with the machine:

• MSI 3D Desktop
• WinDVD Creator Plus
• Photoshop Album 1.0 + some 3D-Album thing
• InterVideo WinDVD 5.1 Channel
• VirtualDrive Professional + RestoreIT! Professional
• Ability PC System Restore CD Disc 1
• Ability PC System Restore CD Disc 2
• NVIDIA nForce 4 Motherboard Drivers
• MSI Multimedia Beyond 3D
• NERO OEM Suite ("For DVD-ReWriters only" Odd.  Plus it comes with DOS drivers ^_^)
• Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2
• PowerDVD 5
• WinDVD Suite featuring WinDVD, WinDVD Creator, DVD Copy 2, Disc Master 2
• MSI Games Collection DVD (the only real notable title was Splinter Cell, which I got with the GeForce FX 5200 in Brian's machine)
• URU: Ages Beyond Myst
• XIII (yes!) CD 1
• XIII CD 2
• XIII CD 3
• XIII CD 4
• Prince of Persia The Sands of Time (already have it on Gamecube) CD 1
• Prince of Persia The Sands of Time CD 2

I took the games CDs <_<

Speaking of games...  I downloaded Nexuiz and unzipped it (no install required, there's also a linux client included and a Mac client in the works; it also runs on 64-bit Linux out of the box).  Despite the fact that my machine exceeds the minimum requirements, the game doesn't run too well on the default settings.  I had to bump the resolution down and turn of the Dynamic Real World Lighting (not to be confused with the Dynamic Lighting :ugh:) and the Realtime Shadows (My experience with Doom3 has showed me that Realtime Shadows can be a bitch).  I launch it up on Dad's machine, it ran very well with the default settings.  I turn off the Dynamic Real World Lighting, and it's butter smooth.  Awe-freaking-some.  I also copied over PSOBB from Brian's computer and played a bit on here :cool: Keep quiet though..  This isn't a gaming machine <_<

I'm still amazed at how quiet this thing runs.  Mine's a freaking lawn mower compared to this thing.  (can't forget about that dude in Andrew and Paul's WoW guild who's machine sounds like an airport :lol:)

Note: Nexuiz is a free game licensed under the GPL.  It runs on the Darkplaces engine, which is a heavily modified Quake1 engine.  It is a fast and furious multiplayer game that harks back to the oldschool deathmatch style of Doom and Quake.  None of this objective, vehicle-based, stealthy bullshit; FRAG FRAG FRAG!!!  It's freaking awesome.  It can be bit a heavy on the graphics though, so one is advised to turn them down, especially if you know your machine can't handle things like blooming, dynamic shadows, dynamic real world lighting, dynamic lighting, etc.  I'd recommend everyone check this game out.  Hopefully it can be added to the repertoire of games that we have available to us during the LAN Parties. 

How much will Guild Wars cost?

Guild Wars will be priced at a comparable cost to other first tier PC games.

Will there be a monthly fee for Guild Wars?

No, there will not be a monthly subscription fee of any kind, anywhere in the world.

w00t!!  Guild Wars sounds good already =P It should be coming out early February.  Sounds cool, can't wait. 

images/screenies/WoW/jump.jpg - Sure is a long way down...
images/screenies/WoW/jump2.jpg - Looking out into the distance.
images/screenies/WoW/sleep.jpg - Warriors need their sleep too!
images/screenies/WoW/lake.jpg - Satoshi pondering his next move.
images/screenies/WoW/dock.jpg - Absolutely beautiful water!
images/screenies/WoW/greg.jpg - When I met up with Greg!

I'm a Male Night Elf Druid, on the USEast Test 19 server.  If any of you are in the beta, hope to see ya there!

I installed the game today around 5ish, it took forever to install, and then I had to go to work.  Dan was training the newbies today!  Finally, I have seniority over someone! :grin: Actually, it was pretty cool to see them all there, especially when they helped with some theaters.  But they were off the floor by 8PM.  And at 9PM, Rob left, so it was just me and Nick.  He stayed on ticket drop the whole time, while I ran around and cleaned all the theaters.  Yea, ALL of them!  Well, all the ones that broke in the 9 hour and the 10 hour.  It actually wasn't that bad, worse than normal 'cause it was opening day for [i]Polar Express[/i], but still not that bad.  I'm just glad I don't have to do that on the weekends.  So, we closed the theater and all, and finally got out of the building closer to 11 instead of my 10:45 punch out time, w00t.  n00bs, heh

I just finished the vocab, I started it after school, did some other homework, went to work, got home around 11:10, watched some news about the channel 4 (?) team busting this "psychic" lady on Van Dyke (near my house!), and finished up this.  I gotta take a shower now, and I'm out.  I wish I could boot up WoW just once, but if I did, I'd be on it for 3 hours straight before finally getting yelled at by Mom.  Hm...  Oh well.  I'll get some time to play tomorrow.  I [i]will[/i] get some time...  I have yet to decide what class I'm gonna be, I know I'm gonna be a Night Elf though, 'cause they plain rock.

Well...  Good night!

In the mean time, I've found an interesting game called MapleStory.  It's a side-scrolling MMORPG.  [i]What??[/i] Yea, you heard me right.

Double ewe tee eff!?  Eleven maps in Tribes Vengeance?  Do you know how many maps Tribes 2 shipped with?  No, seriously, do you?  I don't know the exact count at the moment, but it was a shit load more than eleven!  It had to have been more than twenty-five maps.  Most of which were NOT remakes of Tribes 1 maps!  Vivendi Universal and Irrational Games have turned Tribes into... into something that's not Tribes!  Bah!  Long live Tribes 2!  ::uninstalls Tribes Vengeance from AndrAIa::

Oh, I'm working on Friday and Saturday, so it looks like Sunday = good zoo day.