i thunk so

This is a question that plagues many web designers and developers who’ve had automatic Windows updates forced on them, either by scary network admins or by simply forgetting to disable automatic updates.

If you have IE7 installed, you DON’T have IE6 installed natively (because Microsoft won’t let you have both at the same time). That makes cross-browser testing a really annoying prospect. Now there’s a way to have both without having to use one of the buggy, hacked IE6 stand-alone versions out there.

I came across a Microsoft-distributed VHD (virtual hard disk for use with VirtualPC) with IE6 and some developer tools already pre-loaded. Follow this simple walk-through to get it working:

1. Go to the VirtualPC website and get the latest distribution of the free VirtualPC and install it.
2. Download the IE6-loaded Virtual Hard Disk for VirtualPC here.
3. Run the IE6_VPC executable and expand it to somewhere on your PC. You will point to it in the next step, so remember where you put it.
4. When you start up VirtualPC, just use the wizard to point to the VHD you just decompressed. Select Windows XP from the OS list. Name your instance of VirtualPC something (I named mine IE6 TestBox).
5. Once it boots up, adjust your VirtualPC Networking settings and point Adapter 1 to “Shared Networking.” This tells the VirtualPC to piggyback off your existing connecting rather than try to grab its own IP address from DHCP.

This has made my life a lot easier. Let me know if it helps you. If you think screen shots would be beneficial, let me know and I’ll take some extra time to make this tutoral worthwhile.

NOTE: Keep in mind that VirtualPC licensing may be time-limited. It’s possible you will need to download a new distribution in the future. Also, be sure not to set the RAM for your VirtualPC instance too high.

UPDATE: Arcane Code has a great walk-through for installing VirtualPC.

Filed by JP at 2:10 pm under Technology, Tutorial, Web Design, Development
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Some things are just hard to fathom. Others you can wrap your mind around without any trouble. Still others fall into the category of easy to imagine, yet full of holes. Anti-gravity falls into the latter of those categories for me, and is my new obsession.
(more…)

Filed by JP at 2:21 pm under Ideas, Technology
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I mentioned Commodore’s new foray into high-performance gaming rigs in the PC market, but it also bears mentioning that you can experience all the joy of classic C64 gaming at Commodore’s website.

Commodore Gaming: Play classic C64 games

Filed by JP at 3:35 pm under Technology
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In a new teaser, Microsoft is touting its new, revolutionary GUI, Surface.

It looks cool, but how far away is Surface, realistically? This interface does not lend itself to everyday interaction. Who wants a computer in their coffee table? Well, the answer is “I do!” but is it really practical?

I’ve seen many demos for interfaces like this — some from MIT student project videos, and I definitely remember seeing other videos on YouTube showing interfaces like it. I’m guessing Microsoft won the bidding war and this is the end result.

YouTube: Microsoft Surface Teaser

Filed by JP at 10:45 am under Design, Technology, Business
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Like millions of others who grew up with Commodore in their living rooms, I was introduced to the amazing world of computer gaming by the Commodore64 personal computer. Some of the best times of my childhood were spent typing “Look West” while playing Planetfall — and all of the other Infocom titles. The text adventures were great, but I don’t think anyone can argue that Commodore defined a generation of computer graphics, culminating with their high-end Amiga desktop series.

Now, Commodore is set to throw their hat in the ring once again. In an article from Pro-G News in the UK, the word is that they are set to introduce “a new breed of gaming PCs that will see the return of the legendary Commodore brand.”

Filed by JP at 10:02 am under Technology
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Apparently. it’s encoded into our DNA not to hang all over one another when we converse. I’m glad someone took the time to write this gem of an article. It’s been a long time coming; and I, for one, have been losing sleep.

Filed by JP at 9:28 am under Technology, Idiots
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Worry no more. Now there is a new service called Jangl (www.jangl.com) that will let you stay in touch with transient acquaintances without having to disclose your real contact information.

Maybe you just met a hot girl in the club, but you want to be able to ditch her before next weekend. If I had a dollar for every time I wished I had a service like that…I’d have at least two dollars. But that’s not the point.

This service is cool, and if you’re some kind of social animal you will definitely want to set aside a few bucks a month for this service.

Filed by JP at 11:47 am under Worthwhile Websites, Technology
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Probably not the most portable storage media, but these memory stick sticks (not a typo) will bring you back down to earth.

[Via Uncrate]

Filed by JP at 12:30 pm under Miscellaneous, Odd Lot, Technology
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A new software title called Riya was the subject of a write-up on Wired News today. The new software features face-recognition technology that users can train to eventually sort images automatically.

Filed by JP at 12:30 pm under Worthwhile Websites, Technology
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They’re called mp3s. And no, you didn’t invent them.

I, for one, am sick of whatever implied podcast controversy there may be over who started what, and who should get credit for this or that. Podcasting is not a new idea. Sure, someone started saying “podcast,” but that is where the controversy should stop. Now it’s turned into this whole subculture of infighting, and over what? It’s NOT your idea. Ever heard of a webcast? They’ve been around since…well, since Adam Curry was cool.

By the way, the fact that it’s called podcasting explains a lot about the whole attitude around this made up controversy / publicity stunt. All you Mac snobs out there…you always have to pretend you’re so different. But now being different or “unique” just isn’t enough anymore. Now you have to be the mostest different or the uniquest ever. “Hey, I know…let’s add ‘pod-’ to the beginning of this random word for something that’s existed for millions of years, and then we’ll be the coolest Mac dudes ever!’ Better yet, let’s just put an “i” in front of a word, and then slap a trademark on it. I’m getting iShivers™ just thinking about it.

For all of you lackeys out there with no lives and no real jobs who think you have a shot at making it big just because you banter on for a half hour once a week about things nobody else cares about (yes, I know nobody cares about my blog either, but at least I have no delusions of grandeur) , and then somehow manage to figure out how to make an mp3 file; I hope you find something else to do before I–along with millions of other taxpayers funding your future food stamps–am forced to sustain your pathetic existence.

Filed by JP at 10:30 pm under Rants, Technology
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