Chris’s IntaWeb Log Blog Dooffa

Been using Vista Ultimate as a dedicated Media Center for some time now. It’s great and so much better than Sky+ and of course costs nothing once it’s in place :). Well it’s been running for about 6 months without any real issues appart from a little slow down everynow and then.

Well it was running to the LCD TV via DVI for months at 1024×768 which was ok. But I decided that I want’ed proper HD through it. So I changed the DVI cable for a standard VGA one and set the res at 1360×768 (max for the TV) and it was lovely if a little more sluggish. Even though the 1Gb of RAM was only in use to about 720Mb I popped another 1Gb in there and replaced the 7300LE with a 8600GTS. WHAT A DIFFERENCE. So smooth and the XBox 360 even connects quicker now

So everyone with a Vista Media Center, make sure you have 2Gb of RAM or more and decent GFX card.

I recently treated myself to a nice new Canon HV20 camcorder from Dealsmashers. Just a quick note to say it’s ace and to show the extended battery that I got to go with it.

Lovely solid feel to it, great quality stills and video footage. I’ve spotted a few people online asking about the extended battery and how much does it stick out etc. So here’s some pics to show you. I’ve put the Hahnel HL-2L14 1400mAh battery in there which is the same as the BP-2L14 which canon say to get.

Standard BP-2L13

Hahnel HL-2L14 (BP-2L14)

As you can see the larger battery fits the camera no probs at all. In fact it’s almost as if the viewfinders lip bit was made to stick out a little just for a bigger battery. Anyway it’s fine and works of course as it should.

Werid the way Vista handles the footage though. As even though the Windows Movie Maker pulls the stuff over in what it says is HD mode. After pulling it from the camcorder it does some form of processing to the clips. Appears it down samples them ! As when you check them in Media Player they’re down to 640×480 … errr that’s not HD. I suppose in time I’ll get some decent software to handle them properly but for now iMovie HD on the macBook is doing a lovely job :).

This is well funny, this morning the wife and I received our ballot cards this morning. (Not even sure what we’re supposed to be voting for.) So I thought for the first time ever we’ll try and vote … but oooo that’s not to be.

The voting place is in a crazy area miles away, so surely in the 21s Century and there are options ? Call them up and there’s no online voting for this thing which is a tad old fasioned but hey we live in the UK, and Wales for that matter. So I ask about voting by post and apparently we have to fill and form in and get it back to them by today ! LOL

Voter apathy I hear ?

My eyes are starting to die on me as I now apparently need glasses. So I blame it on the crapy res on the HP HW6910. I’m bored of using 240×320 or whatever it is. I’ve been at that res in black and white since the Aero days ! I can’t wait till the summer or when ever the Glofish thingy is out, so I bought a Pocket LooX C550.

I can’t believe the screen res :), lovely 480×640, should have done this ages ago. I so don’t miss the keyboard at all and now reading Word docs / emails etc is a joy.

Spotted this Eten GloFiish X800 on a few sites a while ago but I didn’t actually read about it.

With WiFi, Bluetooth, Phone, GPS, camera, WM6 (Windows Mobile 6) and VGA screen res !!! Amazing … everything I’ve been after for ages. Been looking for a decent VGA phone device that wasn’t a brick. Appears this will do the job perfectly. And look how small it is !

I wonder when it’ll be out.