I have been working on this problem for a little while now and I think I have finally figured it out. I am using SQL 2005 Express Edition, and now on 2 seperate occasions, I have had the problem where the SQL Server service will fail to start with the following events in the Windows Application log:More...

Past few weeks have been rather exciting for us folks who own a Mac, yet run Windows on it.

First we see the release of MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5.1, which I'm happy to report resolves the issue in Vista where from boot, Vista doesn't show the appropriate power source being applied. Basically for the non-techie folk out there, if you booted into Vista, had the power adapter plugged in, Vista didn't know it till you unplugged and replugged the power adapter. A minor annoyance to be sure, but an annoyance none the less.

Second we see the release of Boot Camp Update 2.1, for all current versions of Windows, INCLUDING 64bit Vista, which is new if I recall. The previous versions of Boot Camp prior to this release were all targeted at 32bit versions of Windows. Head on over to the Apple Support Downloads page to find and download Boot Camp 2.1 for Vista 32 and 64bit as well as for XP.

The only thing that's been bugging me for a while is the fact I can't find a change log or a list of bugs fixed for these updates. Can anyone help with that?

That just makes my blood boil. If its true, I'm glad I'm not a Comcast customer...

If you take a look over at this post, you can see more details. I was in the Vista SP1 tech beta and downloaded the .iso files that had Vista SP1 slipstreamed into the DVD image, for clean installation. I have a Macbook Pro, and wanted to try out installation of Vista x64 sans bootcamp(which I had done just fine before as the Intel based mac's nowadays include the BIOS compatibility layer in their EFI implementation), but I ran into the issue described in that post above. The last post, from "Jugi"(as of this writing) mentioned:More...

Anyone who has tried playing FFXI on Vista with an Nvidia based video card has shared my pain. Painfully slow frame rates when drawing just a few character models on the screen. Nothing helped, not even lowering resolutions and cutting back on rendering distance etc. Looks like Nvidia has finally fessed up and done something to fix it. Click here for the downloads on Nvidia's FTP site. The files that start with "169.17" are the ones you are interested in.

Now if you have a laptop, these drivers will NOT install straight from Nvidia, but no fear, here comes Laptopvideo2go.com to the rescue:

v169.17 XP 64bit
v169.17 XP 32bit
v169.17 Vista 64bit
v169.17 Vista 32bit

Click here for information on how to install the drivers with Laptopvideo2go's modded INFs. I have personally tested the Vista 32bit driver with their modded INF for Vista 32bit on my Macbook Pro which has a Nvidia 8600M GT, and FFXI is playing beautifully! Still get the typical lag in OVERLY crowded areas, such as around the event moogle in town for the Starlight Celebration, but that happened for me in XP too. Campaign battles from the Wings expansion in Jugner Forest (S) are actually playable now! One tip I do have even with these drivers, turn off shadows for even better frame rates. Still not perfect, but hopefully Nvidia's final release drivers will have this bug squished.

Since almost every single one of my friends works in the tech industry in some shape or form, this will hit fairly close to home. $14 for 100mbit inet in Japan, $20 for 100mbit in Sweden!?! I pay Qwerst $37 for my up to 7mbit line, and that doesn't even include what I pay my ISP, and I rarely see over 1.5mbit! I'd go with cable, but I run my own web/email server and wanted a static IP that wasn't in a dynamic IP block, so that my email server doesn't get flagged as a potential spam source. That and I do get faster upload speeds then I ever had on cable in the past. All in all, I pay about $80 a month for my internet service. I think the main problem is choice. Most households only have 2 choices as to whom they get their broadband from, the local telco, or the local cable company. Wireless technologies are starting to become a reality, but who knows how thats going to pan out.

Want to read more about how the US got into this situation? Click through below to read:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070810_002683.html