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• Microsoft Update... very nice!

  I'm not one to browse the “regular” pages of the Microsoft site, but I happened to go to the Windows XP home page just to see if there's anything new I'm not aware of yet. Luckily I did! I see that Microsoft has launched “Microsoft Update”... which was talked about at DevDays, for those who didn't attend. This is basically the replacement to “Windows Update” and “Office Update”. It provides a full software update service for all Microsoft products installed... Posted Jun 12 2005, 03:14 PM by stuartg with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Windows Messenger... oops!

  I've just tried to uninstall Windows Messenger from my Windows XP computer, but it seems it's impossible to remove it! What the hell?!?! It's a selectable component of Windows XP when you go to add or remove Windows components, but it doesn't actually make a difference! The only real difference is that now I can't control it! Since “uninstalling” it, I've received a number of IM messages through Windows Messenger when I'm clearly signed out of MSN Messenger. That sounds correct, right... Posted Jun 11 2005, 11:25 PM by stuartg with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• More on Customer Service and General Incompetence

  I've absolutely had it with South African telecommunications companies! I can't stand how incompetent they are! Yes, I'm generalising... there are a few individuals (which I'm sure can be counted on one hand) who are very good at what they do. But it seems that everyone who has to deal with the customers (i.e. US) is blatantly incompetent! Lately I've been wondering why I'm allowing myself to be ripped off by Autopage & Vodacom. So I decided to end the pain and suffering - or at least curb it... Posted Jun 10 2005, 06:55 PM by stuartg with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Who is to blame for shoddy customer service???

  Beware... ranting ahead: I've recently been looking at buying a new cellphone, because my current phone is driving me insane. I bought a phone (no brands mentioned), which has since inspired me to never waste my money on another phone by that manufacturer ever again. From now on I will only ever buy Nokia phones, because Nokia are the only ones that seem to understand the concept of usability. Anyway... enough of that tangent, and back onto the topic. So I've been going to nearly every cellphone... Posted Apr 17 2005, 11:50 AM by stuartg with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Microsoft Updates

  I'm busy downloading updates for Windows and Office, and realised that this is actually now a monthly routine (despite me checking once a week out of habit). Now, considering all the issues we South Africans have with Internet access, I was wondering whether the thought had been entertained somewhere at Microsoft SA to host a Windows Update Server within South Africa? The way I see it is this... Most South Africans cannot afford Telkoms ridiculously overpriced ADSL, or just can't justify spending... Posted Apr 16 2005, 10:19 AM by stuartg with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Cruise Photos

  Ok... I got back a while ago, but I've only just had a chance now to upload some photos from the cruise . I've also made the difficult decision of changing jobs. I'm leaving GFC in mid-January and will be working at Derivco from 17th. It wasn't the easiest decision to make, because I really enjoy working with the team at GFC... but I think it's the right time to make a change. I'm really looking forward to it! Until then, plenty of stuff to keep me occupied... Christmas, New Year, and all that rubbish... Posted Dec 20 2004, 10:46 AM by stuartg with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Jus' Cruisin'

  I'm off on a bit of a break for the next few days. If anyone needs me, this is where I'll be: So for those of you that'll be at work on Monday & Tuesday... just think of me sailing into the sunset (hopefully not in the middle of a cyclone)! Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it! Posted Dec 10 2004, 09:19 AM by stuartg with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Another one lost to Firefox

  I'm generally not one to follow the crowds. I prefer to have a good reason for doing something, which is why I hadn't yet moved across to Firefox. I didn't really see any major issue with using IE, and I don't think it's a bad browser. I still like the browser, and haven't really had any clear problems with it... but I just heard of another security flaw in Internet Explorer 6. So I've just installed Firefox, and will only use IE for the rare case where Firefox isn't so grand (i.e. blogging). Until... Posted Dec 07 2004, 04:02 PM by stuartg with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Awesome little tool: Desktop Sidebar

  For those of you that like this sort of thing... I just found a little utility called Desktop Sidebar that looks very similar to the sidebar available in Longhorn. It's about 9MB to download but from what I've seen so far, it's really really nice! It does all your RSS aggregation and has links for other cool goodies! Check it out! Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it! Posted Dec 06 2004, 11:59 AM by stuartg with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Microsoft Partner Pack for Windows (demonstrating the power behind .NET)

  Microsoft has just released the Partner Pack for Windows , which is a bunch of applications, all ported to managed code in various languages (C#, C++, J#, etc.). Some of them are really useful and it's definitely worth taking a look. I'm sure I'll be a fan of the Post-It app (just a digital version of those little yellow Post-It notes from 3M). Take a look... I'm sure you'll see something you like! Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it! Posted Nov 28 2004, 10:13 PM by stuartg with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Lookout search for Outlook - FAST!!!

  Ok, I know I've been a little slow on the uptake here... but I've just downloaded and installed Lookout v1.2 . This has got to be the fastest search tool I've ever seen! Every search has sub-second response times!!! Unbelievable! I often need to search old emails and this is really the tool I've been looking for! Do yourself a favour, and get this thing installed! You will not be disappointed! Just can't wait for them to make the next version available as a stable release. Share this post: email... Posted Nov 26 2004, 09:57 AM by stuartg with | with 11 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Ethics... and the truth about SQL Reporting Services

  I recently had the displeasure of reading a reporting solution proposal made by what is very likely the most unethical, non-technical, uneducated business I’ve ever had to deal with. They were obviously punting their favoured solution, and thus played down the other options in an attempt to win the business. Having dealt a lot with SQL Reporting Services, I was quite angered to read what they had to say about it. Some of the points they made were as follows: 1. The solution envisages a pure... Posted Nov 25 2004, 12:25 PM by stuartg with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: Development, Stuff

• Windows 3.1 in Windows XP registry???

  Ok... don't even ask how bored I was to have found this! But I was “browsing” around the registry in Windows XP and came across this little number that really confused me. Where does Windows 3.1 fit into Windows XP??? And why is there a registry entry called “ Windows 3.1 Migration Status ” within the registry? What gives? Seriously? To find it: go to the registry editor, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER, and look at the last child key in the list. Huh?!?! Please, if anyone has a... Posted Nov 19 2004, 03:10 PM by stuartg with | with 11 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• Comment Spam Filter Working!

  I'm sure some of you may have seen the recent spate of “comment spam” floating around lately. It's been a real pain for almost all bloggers, and now it seems Armand has solved the problem! I checked out the Admin Feedback section and found a number of spam entries that didn't get through to my blog, so he's obviously done a good job of weeding out the trash before allowing it to pollute dotnet.org.za! Thanks Armand ! It works great! Hopefully these bastards don't find a new way to piss... Posted Nov 09 2004, 09:14 AM by stuartg with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff

• New Sony Camera!!!

  I finally got tired of dealing with bad night-time shots, so I decided to invest in a new camera. My old 3.2 megapixel HP 735 was really good and served me well without complaint. Unfortunately it didn't perform well for night-time photos, but otherwise it was a really good camera. Yesterday I went to the Pavilion and bought myself a new toy... the 4.2 megapixel Sony DSC-P73. Really happy now! Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it! Posted Nov 01 2004, 08:11 AM by stuartg with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Stuff