Each new version of the Mac OS/X or Windows creates a frenzy in Nerdistan. Microsoft finally released it’s newest shiny toy to eager consumers this week – and boy it’s all over the place.

I also did my little "Installfest". Windows 7 is great, it simply works … but I downgraded to XP a couple of hours later.

Why? Simple – there is nothing I really new or better I need. So why change working setup? The Operating System is not doing my work – I am. And Photoshop or Word or Firefox are almost the same – no mater which OS I am using – even running them on a Mac or PC makes hardly a difference. This also applies to my Mac which came with Leopard – and I won’t update to Snow Leopard either …

I am only switching to a new system or version when …

1. The old version breaks or is unusable (security risk), because it’s totally outdated.
2. Offers new and better functions I ACTUALLY NEED and will use for work.
3. There is no third reason.

I always happily trailing several versions behind the Glamour Nerd Flock. I still would be using Office 2000, but too many good add-ons are working with it, so I only switched to Office 2002 – not any newer version. Photoshop CS3 is good enough for me. Apple forces me to constantly update iTunes, otherwise I can’t access my music properly. Also Firefox is a tool I keep updated for security reasons.

Hysteria back then, hysteria today.

Software companies love upgrades, because it makes them money. But I don’t need the newest toy in town to get my work done.

And it’s often smarter to wait and let the In crowd do all the testing and develop work-arounds …

I have to test and explore so many new apps and sites for my job anyway, so I am more than happy to keep my setup simply working.

Someday I’ll join the party and update my Operating System … maybe when Windows 8 is coming.

Ah, the Wonders of digital consumerism! The figure will react to your voice or simply act randomly. I need one asap – get yours here.

Warning: This video might be unsuitable for people who still believe in the good of human nature.

Actually I am doing this all the time in my cellar with my "Hello Kitty" collectables, but please don’t tell anyone …

PS: You can’t "unsee" this video, it will be stuck in your mind forever.

You know your country is fucked, when the tough Special Forces turn into a bunch of Segway riding nerds.

I love this video – it’s so “casual” how it mixes reality with fantasy …

Remember: You don’t your mail on GMail – you are only allowed to access it for free when Google wants you to.

So always keep local copies of your email (by using Outlook or any other normal eMail program to access your Gmail account) – AND get an additional eMail account somewhere else as a backup too.

Never trust just ONE provider.

All our computers waste huge amounts of energy by waiting for us humans to do something. Most so called CPU cycles are wasted for waiting for you to press a mouse button or open a new webpage.

LocalCooling is a gadget for WindowsXP users to reduce their energy usage – or at least configure their computers to shut down unused parts or completely. Hey, you can even calculate how many trees you have saved – and there is even a top ten list for your and your buddies to participate in a global energy saving contest.

Let’s all say it: awesome!

Or is it? Overall there is nothing new in here: all energy settings can be found in the aptly named Energy control panel. So it’s only a good remix of already existing.

So if you really want to save some energy, than open your Energy control panel and tell your machine to shutdown the monitor and hard drive after a few minutes idle time … and don’t download that LocalCooling application and don’t waste any more energy thinking about it.

What we REALLY need are computer components that act more energy conscious and use a lot less electricity. Intels newest mobile Core2 processors only know two speed settings: half and full speed. There should be more settings.

And another one of my Heroes dies.

Joseph Weizenbaum was a computer god and culture critic. I read many of his ideas – and his critical think really inspired me. His work on artificial intelligence and natural language processing were important as well. I think we all encountered a version of ELIZA on the web? If not – talk with “her” here …

*Thanks Thomas for sending me this sad news*

(I know this is old stuff)

And another great Internet geek moment was born! ‘Fear of Girls‘ is a video about thirtysomething D&D players – and it is perfect. Way too perfect – it hurts! And the crowd at Slashdot went bananas!

I have been an early adopter of D&D here in Germany in the early 1980’s – so I know the crowd well. Yes, I did play D&D like mad (and many other pen and paper RPGs), I went to conventions, once again dressed up in fancy costumes, wrote my own adventures and campaigns, even published a role playing fanzine called ‘Maud Magazin‘ (fan magazin) and lived through the beginnings of the LARP madness.

The video is hosted by Google – so normally the link won’t work outside the US. Use this link if you live outside the Google Videosphere. Enjoy!

Thinkgeek.com is my favorite Nerd Shop on da intranets. They always have the coolest and weirdest gadgets. So these rubber weapons really made my day. Just make sure to watch the painful nerd fight video on the product page.

Don’t forget to buy also a proper Chainmail shirt while you at it.