I just installed the beta from google.com and it installed an entry in /etc/crond.daily. The comments say it only reactivates the repository after dist-upgrades disable it. I.E. intrepid->jaunty From a quick read of the script that is what it does.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

Windows 7 also starts out slow but as you use your computer it gets noticeably faster, much the same way as Vista and is honestly why Vista generated so much negative PR.

I really wish this were the case. Windows 7 has not increased in speed on her machine. I know Windows has some sort of disk access optimization, but with only 1GB of RAM (minus whatever is used by onboard video) it is simply constrained. Maybe the home versions are a little better with memory use. I plan on putting another 2GB in her computer as soon as I get a chance.

I am running 32 bit Windows 7 because I got it for free. If I had to pay for it the machine would continue to run Windows XP. Windows 7 for basic home use is no better than XP.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

No. He maintains a repository at avenard.org with Ubuntu packages. Just visit his site and follow the instructions. He may also have a PPA, but I do not know.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

Despite that, I wager Windows 7 on your 1 GB machine would run as well as XP.

If I was the original poster I would take that wager.

On my wife's computer Windows 7 does not run as well as Windows XP in 1GB of RAM. Her system is a little old. AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (2.4GHz I think) with onboard GeForce 6150 and 1GB of RAM. It had Windows XP Professional on it and it ran ok. Her computer does not run as well as my laptop with 2GB and a Core 2 Duo, but ok. She uses Firefox and can have 20-40 tabs open at once. I installed Windows 7 Business on it and while the basic OS runs ok, things slow down considerably as soon as any apps are open. Windows 7 Business is not as efficient as Windows XP Professional on her machine. Both versions of Windows are 32 bit.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

You could also try using the packages from www.avenard.org Jean-Yves is very active in the MythTV realm and has been packaging up mplayer with vdpau support for quite some time.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

I have had a BB Storm for a few months I like a few features and loathe a few others.

Likes:
- Easy web page viewing most anywhere
- BB Messenger is good and beats SMS/MMS anyday (plus its cost is included in my plan unlike SMS)

Hates:
- Speed of the device (it feels slower now than when I first got the device and can take a few seconds now to come from locked screen to usable mode)
- Battery life ( I don't know how any of the Androids stack up here)

I have briefly used a G1 and I thought it was a nice device. The touchscreen keyboard on the Storm is ok, but when typing quickly it lags several keys behind. I did not experience that on the G1, plus with a physical keyboard you can type without looking at the phone.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

In my state (South Carolina, haven't we been in the news a lot lately) a legally licensed driver can pay a fee ($550/year) to drive as an uninsured motorist. Driving without insurance is not illegal here. Of course most people who drive without insurance have not paid the fee and are illegal.

http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/default.aspx?n=titleandreg#RegisteringasanUninsuredMotorist

Cheers,
the_crowbar

Low power FM transmitters are very common in the US. Many people use them to connect their MP3 player to their car's radio system. I'm guessing that is what this one is for. With 32GB (or 48GB) of storage you could use this instead of an iPod or other MP3 player.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

The Honda cars are tuned for lower emissions first, better fuel economy second. Replacing the factory exhaust and also modifying the ECU (engine computer) can lead to more power. Most people who install one of those resonator exhaust tips have no idea what any of this means. They just like the sound. And don't forget that stickers add lots of horsepower as well.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

Check out the newest MacMinis. If they have an Nvidia 9xxx integrated video they would make great MythTV systems. I currently run Mythbuntu with the avenard.org repo. Jean-Yves has backported the VDPAU acceleration into the stable Myth series. Using a supported Nvidia card and VDPAU lets you offload video decode to the video card. It takes almost no CPU to decode Blu-Ray rips with this setup. High bitrate 1080p barely touches the CPU. On the MythTv users list there has been discussion of upcoming Nvidia ION platforms (Nvidia 9xxx integrated GPU with Intel Atom CPU). They should compare favorably to the Mac Mini in form and be better priced. The Mini has Core2Duo CPUs so it has better CPU, but with VDPAU you don't need the extra CPU power. Cheers, the_crowbar

I looked a little deeper into the SC laws regarding traffic. According to SECTION 56-5-730

It is unlawful and, unless otherwise declared in this chapter with respect to particular offenses, it is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or to fail to perform any act required in this chapter.

Most traffic tickets then would be misdemeanors. I looked at the section for seat belt tickets and it specifically states that they are not to be placed on DMV driver records or on SLED criminal history. So they are not criminal, but most other traffic violations are.

Title 38 of the SC Code deals with insurance and it has a similar provision in that any infraction of it unless otherwise noted is a misdemeanor.

I think it may vary from state to state, but in SC it would appear to be a criminal matter.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

Do you have any links for further information? I once received a speeding ticket in Virgina for doing 82 in a 65 or 70 zone. Upon speaking with a lawyer I was informed that in that state speeding more than 80 MPH is a class C misdemeanor. i.e. Speeding is definitely a criminal matter.

Insurance regulations could be different, but because they are state laws I would think them to be criminal matters as well.

I currently live in South Carolina and know that is allowed by law to pay a yearly $550 fine and legally drive without insurance. If you cause an accident then you are personally liable, but if you choose not to have insurance then you probably aren't worth suing for damages. I have uninsured/under-insured riders on my auto insurance. This protects me from just such a case.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

Is maintaining state required minimum insurance not a law? I think having and maintaining insurance is required to legally operate a vehicle on the road. The fact that a police officer can give you a ticket for not possessing valid insurance would indicate that it is not a civil matter.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

Some BluRay use VC-1. The VDPAU stuff from Nvidia allows for GPU offload of both h.264 and VC-1. The amount of VC-1 offload depends on the specific video chip, but at least they support it.

Cheers,
the_crowbar

I am actually using Jean-Yves Avenard's Ubuntu repo where he maintains a Myth 0.21 (the current stable version) build with the VDPAU patches. He also has mplayer and the required nvidia drivers. If you're on Ubuntu it is easy to try out the patched mplayer without building your own. http://www.avenard.org/