Well today my pc went psycho.
I have been having issues lately with viruses/Trojans. Well, my Computer was in standby - when I tried to access it, I got this page with the FBI logo saying my computer had been locked due to distribution of copyrighted material or porn. To unlock it they wanted me to pay $300 through a pay service I have never heard of.
I think I would remember doing anything illegal. I just tried to remove a Trojan earlier. I have been having issues for weeks with what might have been a browser hijacker.
Window Security Essentials isn't a great security measure, apparently.
To make matters worse, my surface keyboard doesn't want to work now. So I guess I will be online less (stupid Comcast gateway) and at the library more .
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
my Surface RT, One Month Later
Has it really been a month already? One month ago today (October 26th), i bought my Microsoft Surface RT. So how have things been?
Friday, November 9, 2012
My Surface Report: October 2012
Well, i have now had a Microsoft Surface RT tablet for about three weeks (since October 26th). So what have i been doing all of this time with it?
The Story of My Surface
So, here is the question... why did i buy a new Microsoft Surface RT (32GB, no touch cover - yet) over some of the other tablets in the market. Good question.
Basically, i have been thinking about getting a tablet for several years now. My top three choices were: Microsoft Surface RT, Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 (16GB). At one point i was even considering getting a Blackberry Playbook. i was dismayed when i found out that Microsoft would be charging more for the Surface RT than the Asus/Google Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD combined. Yes, i think it was at least $100 more than it should have been (but the price isn't going to drop in the next 3 months or so, probably longer)
Well, one day i was kind of bored and had a little time on my hands (ok Surface/Windows 8 launch day). i had found out a couple of days earlier that they actually had a Microsoft Store in walking distance (not sure if it is a real store or pop-up). So, i walked down there (3 miles) or so to check out the surface and take some notes. Well, i got there and had a little hands-on time with the Surface RT. It was exactly as i expected it. It is a relatively smooth experience with an easy gesture system (though there is a bunch of stuff i don't know how to do).
i actually expected the Surface RT to be sold out (especially the base model - which i got). i went in there and took some notes on the tablet. i was also interested to test drive another Windows RT tablet too, the Asus Vivo (which would have been my fallback RT tablet choice). That was a nice tablet too. However, upon briefly leaving the store some employee asked me if he could help me with anything else. i said something to the effecet of "not unless you accept cash". The question i wanted to ask was about pre-paid cards and apps. It turns out they did. Who knows why i was carrying a relatively large sum of cash with me at the time...
Well, i bought the tablet and then took the long journey back to the place i was staying (if it can't survive a 3.2 mile walk it was never meant to be). Now i am just getting acquainted with the tablet. i still have my share of questions like: how do i tell when it is fully charged and whether or not there were any pre-paid solutions to buy apps (i wish Xbox points).
Basically, i have been thinking about getting a tablet for several years now. My top three choices were: Microsoft Surface RT, Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 (16GB). At one point i was even considering getting a Blackberry Playbook. i was dismayed when i found out that Microsoft would be charging more for the Surface RT than the Asus/Google Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD combined. Yes, i think it was at least $100 more than it should have been (but the price isn't going to drop in the next 3 months or so, probably longer)
Well, one day i was kind of bored and had a little time on my hands (ok Surface/Windows 8 launch day). i had found out a couple of days earlier that they actually had a Microsoft Store in walking distance (not sure if it is a real store or pop-up). So, i walked down there (3 miles) or so to check out the surface and take some notes. Well, i got there and had a little hands-on time with the Surface RT. It was exactly as i expected it. It is a relatively smooth experience with an easy gesture system (though there is a bunch of stuff i don't know how to do).
i actually expected the Surface RT to be sold out (especially the base model - which i got). i went in there and took some notes on the tablet. i was also interested to test drive another Windows RT tablet too, the Asus Vivo (which would have been my fallback RT tablet choice). That was a nice tablet too. However, upon briefly leaving the store some employee asked me if he could help me with anything else. i said something to the effecet of "not unless you accept cash". The question i wanted to ask was about pre-paid cards and apps. It turns out they did. Who knows why i was carrying a relatively large sum of cash with me at the time...
Well, i bought the tablet and then took the long journey back to the place i was staying (if it can't survive a 3.2 mile walk it was never meant to be). Now i am just getting acquainted with the tablet. i still have my share of questions like: how do i tell when it is fully charged and whether or not there were any pre-paid solutions to buy apps (i wish Xbox points).
Monday, November 5, 2012
Surface RT and Comcast/Arris TG862 Do We Have a Problem?
Recently, my Surface RT has had some problems connecting to the internet here. Some days i cannot connect at all (2 or 3 so far) and today the connection just dropped out on me.
i am bringing up the specter of the the piece of garbage Arris TG862 (or at least with the horrible Comcast firmware). Basically, my Xbox 360 S had similar problems connecting to the internet. At first i could connect easily, then things got dicier (until i couldn't connect it to the internet at all). After Binging it (i could have Googled it, but they don't let me "earn" MSFT points), i learned that the gateway (Arris TG862) and my Xbox 360 S were not compatible.
Maybe Microsoft products and the gateway just don't get along. i am not saying there is a definite issue (at least known), i am just ranting against a probabe reason.
If you wanted to get Comcast internet, i would consider telling them to forget it if they offer you the Arris TG862 gateway (used for Triple Play). Well, that is unless you have your own router and have it put in Bridged Mode (but they charge for that). They do have decent speeds, however some of the wireless connection stuff is kind of a nightmare.
Edit: November 9th. Well, as i expected i haven't been able to connect my Surface to the internet for several days now. i guess it is a good thing that the library has free wi-fi. Just say no to the Arris TG862 gateway if you want Comcast Triple Play.
Update 2: I don't know if it was a Surface RT firmware update or what, but I have been able to connect for at least the last week. Great, I just jinxed the connection.
i am bringing up the specter of the the piece of garbage Arris TG862 (or at least with the horrible Comcast firmware). Basically, my Xbox 360 S had similar problems connecting to the internet. At first i could connect easily, then things got dicier (until i couldn't connect it to the internet at all). After Binging it (i could have Googled it, but they don't let me "earn" MSFT points), i learned that the gateway (Arris TG862) and my Xbox 360 S were not compatible.
Maybe Microsoft products and the gateway just don't get along. i am not saying there is a definite issue (at least known), i am just ranting against a probabe reason.
If you wanted to get Comcast internet, i would consider telling them to forget it if they offer you the Arris TG862 gateway (used for Triple Play). Well, that is unless you have your own router and have it put in Bridged Mode (but they charge for that). They do have decent speeds, however some of the wireless connection stuff is kind of a nightmare.
Edit: November 9th. Well, as i expected i haven't been able to connect my Surface to the internet for several days now. i guess it is a good thing that the library has free wi-fi. Just say no to the Arris TG862 gateway if you want Comcast Triple Play.
Update 2: I don't know if it was a Surface RT firmware update or what, but I have been able to connect for at least the last week. Great, I just jinxed the connection.
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