Strategy Gaming on a PC

There are some things that are best left untouched. And one of them is having the PC as platform of choice for Strategy Gaming. Age of Empires III, Civilization IV, and World of Warcraft are some fine examples. These games require a level of precision not offered by consoles, even the next-gen ones with HD. PC gaming is not on life support, as many console fans would like to think. And the Strategy Gaming experience on the PC will keep it that way.

Microsoft Expression Web

Microsoft has launched a limited release of their Microsoft Expression Web this month. The final version is now available through Amazon.com (however Canadian residents are out of luck). Microsoft's web site says that the software will be available online in the second quarter of 2007. It sort of makes me wonder why they can't offer the online version now, since apparently the software is complete. Anyways, Expression Web is supposed to be a good Professsional tool for the Web Designer/Developer crowd. I have been testing the beta version for a couple months now, and look forward to getting my hands on a final copy when it is released to Canada in 2007.

Death of a Desktop OS

For many, the impending release of Vista is a time for contemplation on where the world of OS's are heading. Given that Microsoft, one of the world's largest companies in terms of market cap took more than 5 years to develop their next generation operating system, one would expect things to be more than a little stirred up. (Anyone remember Windows 95?). Instead, there will be no lineups, no anticipation, and perhaps only a handful of pre-orders. I speak from experience. I have been a Vista beta tester since it was first released to the uber-tech community. Vista is not groundbreaking, nor innovative - but the face of a dying giant. So should we be saddened by this? In a way, yes. Microsoft Windows helped launch the PC into the homes and workplaces of many. It's early years were an exciting time. Things seemed so energized. Windows was king. And then one day the US D.O.J. came knocking on Microsoft's door. From that moment on, things were never the same. The life was slowly sucked out of the company. People left the company. No one wanted to work for Microsoft. And today, not much has changed. With the imminent death of Microsoft as a viable, profitable public company, there must be a ray of light for those of us in the tech community. And that ray of light is open source OS's. Linux/Unix fans unite, for that light at the end of the tunnel is bright, very bright.

Remembering James Kim

A member of the tech community is no longer with us today. James Kim, senior editor at CNET was found dead yesterday near Grants Pass, Oregon. I have been following this story on digg.com every since it broke over a week ago. It is a harrowing tale of a family's will for survival. James will be missed by the tech community.