Tag Archives: Computers

The Comparison

Posted on by Brad Heap

New Laptop (Jan 09):

Component Details Subscore Base score
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5800 @ 2.00GHz

4.9

3.5

Determined by lowest subscore
Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

4.4
Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470

3.5
Gaming graphics 1790 MB Total available graphics memory

3.9
Primary hard disk 77GB Free (116GB Total)

5.5
Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium

Desktop (Jun 08):

Component Details Subscore Base score
Processor AMD Phenom(tm) 9600 Quad-Core Processor

5.9

3.5

Determined by lowest subscore
Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

5.9
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series

3.5
Gaming graphics 1535 MB Total available graphics memory

3.9
Primary hard disk 119GB Free (226GB Total)

5.9
Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium

Laptop:

System
Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Model F5SR
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2
64-bit capable Yes

Desktop:

System
Manufacturer Acer
Model Aspire M3200
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 4
64-bit capable Yes

Laptop:

Graphics
Display adapter type ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470
Total available graphics memory 1790 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 512 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 1278 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.473.0.0
Primary monitor resolution 1280×800
DirectX version DirectX 10

Desktop:

Graphics
Display adapter type ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series
Total available graphics memory 1535 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 256 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 1279 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.541.0.0
Primary monitor resolution 1440×900
Secondary monitor resolution 1440×900
DirectX version DirectX 10

In summary both systems are quite similar. On a performance race the Desktop would win hands down, but for a laptop it is fairly powerful.

Does the NZTA even know what HTTPS is?

Posted on by Brad Heap

I have been laughing over the last few days as the New Zealand Transport Authority has become more red faced over the massive security hole in their toll road payment system.

On January 25 the Silverdale to Puhoi motorway extension will open, however to drive on it you will need to pay tolls, and for the last two months or so the NZTA have been advertising the www.tollroad.govt.nz website heavily so regulary uses of the new road can set up accounts.

On Monday a computer user realised that the website was not encrypting credit card information which means that anyone who knows anything about packet snifting or the like could intercept peoples credit card details as they used the website.

Now first and foremost this should never happen. Not on any ecommerce site, let alone a government website. Ecommerce programing 101 would surely teach you that first you must always encrypt data through using SSL and HTTPS not plain HTTP.

But what was more funny is that the red faced NZTA denied that there was anything wrong with the site! Refusing to take it offline or stop processing accounts.

That was until today when with egg on their face they took down the site for maintenance and admitted they stuffed up. Time to get new programmers one thinks.

Read more here:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/connect/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501833&objectid=10550614

and

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10550744

The Control Centre

Posted on by Brad Heap

I have been planning this post for a while now… I just had to clean my room to make it happen. Here is my “Control Centre” in 2008. The last time I took one of these pictures was in 2006 and you can see the comparison between the two years. (they are also two different flats)

The Control Centre as it appears today. And below as it appeared in 2006

Also for those who don’t know how small my room is here is a good shot.

Finally my love for books. This is my bookcase which sits at the end of my bed. It is missing about 10 books because they are on loan to various people but the bottom shelf is dedicated to maths. The middle shelf computers. And the top shelf is my general books.

World Internet Project: New Zealand

Posted on by Brad Heap

From Kiwiblog: http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2008/07/world_internet_project.html

Those who like facts and figures will have no end of them in the NZ report as part of the World Internet Project. It is probably the most comprehensive study of NZer’s use of the Internet. Some interesting stats:

  • 79% of NZers use the Internet
  • 15% of users are online for over 20 hours a week (half a fulltime job)
  • 66% of users have broadband
  • 71% of users say the Internet is an important source of information, compared to 52% for newspapers and television
  • 10% of NZ Internet users have a blog (this is a very high figure internationally)
  • 28% of users use Facebook or other social networking sites
  • 25% of users have made friends with someone online and half of those have gone on to meet them in person
  • 15% seek info about political parties or MPs online
  • 43% support Government funding to enable wider Internet access while 34% oppose it
  • Almost 80% of teenagers visit social networking sites, and 40% of those in their 30s do so.
  • Over 30% of Asian users have a blog, compared to under 10% for Pakeha and around 3% for Maori
  • Around 20% of those in their teen or 20s have a blog, and slightly more females than males
  • The more you earn the less likely you are to blog

New Year, New Website

Posted on by Brad Heap

I have just rolled out a complete overhaul of my website.

The changes in summary:

New:

  • Blog comments are back – provided I don’t get too much spam they will stay.
  • Java Web Start for software section
  • Text versions of many articles

Updated:

  • About me page
  • Articles portfolio
  • Website portfolio
  • Software portfolio
  • Photos

Deleted:

  • Homepage – Replaced with blog
  • Outdoor Activities
  • Links – Blogroll will be its replacement
  • Other stuff I can’t remember

Ironic Spam

Posted on by Brad Heap

Okay so I get this email from Zone Labs this morning.

Subject: Virus Alert: Trojan Storm (Trojan.Peacomm)

There has been a recent surge in email spam containing the threat known as Storm Trojan Worm (Trojan.Peacomm) which is quickly becoming the largest threat of 2007.

Severity: High Risk

When the Trojan Storm executable file is downloaded, the code installs a rootkit that disguises the malicious program. From there, the machine is remotely hijacked by a type of botnet, peer-to-peer network, only to be exploited later to steal personal data or to use the computer to post spam.

Your free ZoneAlarm Firewall will not protect you from the Trojan Storm. The only ZoneAlarm products that will protect against this worm are ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite and ZoneAlarm Antivirus.

If you upgrade to ZoneAlarm Security Suite, you will be completely protected from this harmful threat as well as other future infections. Since we are concerned about your security, we are offering our complete ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite for $39.95, a 20% savings.

Upgrade to ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite for only $39.95

ZoneAlarm Steps & Tips
- Keep antivirus & anti-spam protection updated
- Do not open any unknown emails
- Do not click on any unknown email attachments or links

This line got my attention: “…or to use the computer to post spam.”

Hold on one second, did you just spam me to warn me of a virus that sends me spam? How do I know you are not using that very virus to send this email. Hmm, conspiracy theory anyone?