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Privacy concerns? Check out www.zabasearch.com and be afraid. And if you’re a realtor you might really be worried about www.Zillow.com.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on a Power PC G4 Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless card is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (including my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP enthusiast that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when it is released.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on a Power PC G4 Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless card is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP enthusiast that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when it is released.

Privacy concerns? Check out www.zabasearch.com and be afraid. And if you’re a realtor you might really be worried about www.Zillow.com.de

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on a Power PC G4 Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP enthusiast that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when it is released.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on a Power PC G4 Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP enthusiast that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when it is released.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP enthusiast that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when it is released.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP enthusiast that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP fanboy that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released.

Using zabasearch and zillow combined with online records from the Sonoma County Clerks it looks like Leo G. Laporte and Jennifer T. Laporte bought 901 Melanie Ct., Petaluma, CA from Douglass Cutting and Anne Cottrell for $989,000 in July of 2005.

Using zabasearch and zillow combined with online records from the Sonoma County Clerks it looks like Leo G. Laporte and Jennifer T. Laporte bought 901 Melanie Ct., Petaluma, CA from Douglass Cutting and Anne Cottrell for $989,000 in July of 2005.

Using zabasearch and zillow combined with online records from the Sonoma County Clerks it looks like Leo G. Laporte and Jennifer T. Laporte bought 901 Melanie Ct., Petaluma, CA from Douglass Cutting and Anne Cottrell for $989,000 in July of 2005.

Using zabasearch and zillow combined with online records from the Sonoma County Clerks it looks like Leo G. Laporte and Jennifer T. Laporte bought 901 Melanie Ct., Petaluma, CA from Douglass Cutting and Anne Cottrell for $989,000 in July of 2005.

Using zabasearch and zillow combined with online records from the Sonoma County Clerks it looks like Leo G. Laporte and Jennifer T. Laporte bought 901 Melanie Ct., Petaluma, CA from Douglass Cutting and Anne Cottrell for $989,000 in July of 2005.

Using zabasearch and zillow combined with online records from the Sonoma County Clerks it looks like Leo G. Laporte and Jennifer T. Laporte bought 901 Melanie Ct., Petaluma, CA from Douglass Cutting and Anne Cottrell for $989,000 in July of 2005.

Using zabasearch and zillow combined with online records from the Sonoma County Clerks it looks like Leo G. Laporte and Jennifer T. Laporte bought 901 Melanie Ct., Petaluma, CA from Douglass Cutting and Anne Cottrell for $989,000 in July of 2005.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP fanboy that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released. Oh, and Dan’s momma raised a fool!

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP fanboy that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released. Oh, and Dan’s mamma raised a fool!

He can’t boot his emachine and hears beeps. Those are the POST codes and they’re trying to tell you what is wrong. Your emachine has an Award BIOS and the codes you’re hearing mean there’s a problem with memory. I’d check your memory stick - clean the contacts. You might also check the power supply.

Balin? says: I remember Jacob Nielson on The Screen Savers, where he named MSN.com as the WORST design on the web: links were not blue & underlined, design was too busy, menus hard to navigate, etc.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP fanboy that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released.

  Sounds like snake oil. Can you point to any independent reviews?

Try the HBB! Broadband Booster from Hawking Technolgies

QTerry in Seal Beach — LCD monitors

QChad in Anaheim — GeForce 6600 GT

QMark in Diamond Bar — recording Mac audio

QJustin in Cape Breton, NS — MacBook Pro good for a first Mac

QDavid in Burbank — broken Powerbook LCD

QJesse in San Diego — dual booting Linux and XP

QBrett in Ontario — create a web site

QJerry in Lancaster — long beep, short beep

QTim in Laporte, Indiana — what’s the best codec for video?

QWalter in Long Beach — can’t print web pages or HTML email

QWalter in Long Beach — can’t print web pages or HTML email

QWalter in Long Beach - can’t print web pages or HTML email

Sounds like the HTML rendering engine is broken. You should start by running the system file checker (you’ll need your Windows install disc for this). Click Start→Run, enter cmd then type:

 sfc /scannow

If that doesn’t help. You might want to try the suggestions in this article from Microsoft on reinstalling IE6.

Or upgrade to IE7 beta 2 - it’s prerelease but I find it very reliable.

QMelinda in Norco — creating a group web site

You can use one of the free group sites:

Yahoo
MSN
AOL
Google

or design your own with Macromedia’s Contribute

QMaureen in San Diego — optimizing for Counter Strike

Here’s a complete guide.

then do a google search for free web templates — and your done
microsoft visual web developer is also free and has a free starter kit and on is a club site for soccer

QWalter in Long Beach - can’t print web pages or HTML email

Sounds like the HTML rendering engine is broken. You should start by running the system file checker (you’ll need your Windows install disc for this). Click Start→Run, enter cmd then type:

 sfc /scannow

If that doesn’t help. You might want to try the suggestions in this article from Microsoft on reinstalling IE6.

Or upgrade to IE7 beta 2 - it’s prerelease but I find it very reliable.

My preference is MPEG-4 and H.264 - because they’re open standards. On Windows, XViD seems to be a good choice; it’s open source but not an approved standard. I avoid standards that are proprietary, that is owned by any company, like WMV, DiVX, etc.

FUN sites but i find Zillow is not that true on the price. I guess it is OK for a ref and Zaba tells me the persons phone # but It seems if I want anymore info I need to pay. Also it helps if you know the persons middle name and the State they live in. I want my pizza for free and eat it too.

Bulletproof Web Design

QTim in Laporte, Indiana - what’s the best codec for video?

My preference is MPEG-4 and H.264 - because they’re open standards. On Windows XViD seems to be a good choice, it’s open source but not an approved standard. I avoid standards that are proprietary, that is owned by any company, like WMV, DiVX, etc.

  Yup. Top hit for “zestimate”:
  That Zillow “zestimate” isn’t worth losing any zzz’s over
  L.A.Times  March 5, 2006 (Page 2 requires sign-up.)

If you want to project a professional image, hire a designer. I do all my own design (can you tell?) but now that I have a business online and am trying to sell advertising on it I needed to redesign TWiT. Phase one was hiring a company to do the information architecture and graphical design. I hired Amber MacArthur’s company arktyp to do that and you can see their design here.

QDavid in Burbank - broken Powerbook LCD

Apple charges $1000 or more for LCD replacement. Tech Restore charges about half and gives very good service. I replaced an iBook screen with them and was very happy with the price and service.

QJesse in San Diego - dual booting Linux and XP

Use GAG.

QBrett in Ontario - create a web site

If you want to project a professional image, hire a designer. I do all my own design (can you tell) but now that I have a business online and am trying to sell advertising on it I needed to redesign www.TWiT.tv. Phase one was hiring a company to do the information architecture and graphical design. I hired Amber MacArthur’s company arktyp to do that and you can see their design here.

Next step is to wire up the design to Drupal the content management software I use (that makes it easier to update the site and provides such backend services as ecommerce, forums, commenting, polls, and so on). I hired a company called Lullabot to do that - they specialize in Drupal sites. Total cost? Probably as much as $20,000, but it’s worth it to get a functional design that projects professionalism and works well for both the content creators and the readers.

Some design books I recommend:

Jacob Neilsen’s Designing Web Usability and Homepage Usability: 50 Websites Deconstructed
ISBN:0321346939 Bulletproof Web Design
The Zen of CSS Design

Design Sites:

Webmonkey
CSS Zen Garden

QJerry in Lancaster - long beep, short beep

He can’t boot his emachine and hears beeps. Those are the post codes and they’re trying to tell you what is wrong. Your emachine has an Award BIOS and the codes you’re hearing mean there’s a problem with memory. I’d check your memory stick - clean the contacts. You might also check the power supply.

QWebdesign Tips

Dr DivX is open source now.

DivX is open source now.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP fanboy that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released.

12:42 by Spokavriel.

3 years the computer needs all the heat sensetive parts dusted and replace the thermal compound.

Vacuming isn’t the end of the world.

12:23 by Lougle?.

I know a few company’s that have used Digital Vision Multimedia (http://www.digitalvisionmultimedia.com) to design there web page. The prices are affordable and they offer many different packages.

12:26 by Pizza_Freak?.

Zillow and Zaba

FUN sites but i find Zillow is not that true on the price. I guess it is OK for a ref and Zaba tells me the persons phone # but It seems if I want anymore info I need to pay. Also it helps if you know the persons middle name and the State they live in

QWebdesign Tips

Balin says: I remember Jacob Nielson on The Screen Savers, where he named MSN.com as the WORST design on the web: links were not blue & underlined, design was too busy, menus hard to navigate, etc.

A few weeks later, another webdesign expert was on the show, and he named MSN.com as the BEST example on the web of new and innovative design!

It just goes to show: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But the “unwritten rules” Leo mentioned are spot on (it should be legible, employ easy-to-use & unchanging navigation, have a logo at top left that takes you Home, never make the reader click BACK, etc). With a little care and attention, these can fit into almost ANY design.

  Backwards compatibility is Apple’s weak suit.
  OTOH, Windoze is a terribly insecure OS.
  IF M$ started making changes which improved THAT,
  everyone would cheer loudly.
  The problem is, M$ is not going to rip out ActiveX
  or (ironically) otherwise do anything
  that will break their wonderful backwards compatibility
  — which means that when they add new features,
  it will always be additions to a broken kernal.

12:13 by John?.

Found my X wife, hiding in Maine, address, phone number. — Scary - http://www.zabbasearch.com/

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz CPU/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP fanboy that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro (2GHz/1GB RAM/100GB hard drive). Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini). I give it 4½ out of 5 stars. That being said, being the XP fanboy that I am, I plan on getting a Vista compatible computer when Vista is released.

Mike_B says—I am very happy with my MacBook Pro. Its by far the fastest computer I ever used. An Automator script that takes 3–4 minutes on the Mac Mini, takes under a minute on my MacBook Pro. Video editing takes about 1/3 the time as it does on my XP computers and boot time is 25 seconds faster than my Dell 3.34GHz Dell XPS laptop. My only issue with the MacBook Pro is that the wireless is a little flakey in which it drops for no particular reason. None of my other 4 computers ever exhibited this problem (inclufing my G4 Mac Mini).

QJustin in Cape Breton, NS - MacBook Pro good for a first Mac

You bet, especially now that we know it will run Windows XP.

But don’t ask me — ask Mike_B, our chat mod, and longtime Windows enthusiast who just bought a MacBook Pro. Mike?

He’s got an Intel iMac. I recommended Wire Tap Pro, but it’s not yet Intel compatible. For a little more you can get Audio Hijack Pro - it’s a universal binary and is very powerful. I use it to record Skype calls for my podcasts.

QChad in Anaheim - GeForce 6600 GT

Good card - no longer the top of the pack but sufficient for the current crop of games.

QMark in Diamond Bar - recording Mac audio

He’s got an Inte iMac. I recommended Wire Tap Pro, but it’s not yet Intel compatible. For a little more you can get Audio Hijack Pro - it has dual binaries and is very powerful. I use it to record Skype calls for my podcasts.

For remote access on the Mac I use VNC. Chicken of the VNC also offers an Intel Macintosh version.

19 March 2006

11:12 by Justin in FortMyers, FL?.

Keep in mind Zillow is not perfect, it thinks we only have one bathrom when we have 2…

11:14 by Charlie in La Canada, CA?.

Zillow doesn’t support Safari! How rude!

11:22 by josh?.

zillow was pretty outdated for my neighbors and I. The zaba thing was also pretty vague.

11:42 by joe?.

Zillow looked to be accurate in my neighborhood(Diamond Bar, Ca.)

11:49 by Arizona Steve?.

So when is Macbreak going to finally have some shows available? Everytime I check their website there’s nothing there but a goofy picture of that guy!

Privacy concerns? Check out www.zabasearch.com and be afraid. And if you’re a realtor you might really be worried about www.Zillow.com.

QTerry in Seal Beach - LCD monitors

I love the Dell UltraSharp 24-inch. It’s probably the best, and most reasonably priced LCD out there right now.

19 March 2006

18 March 2006

Chat logs available shortly after the show ends

Hour 1 Chat

Hour 2 Chat

Hour 3 Chat

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Saturday, March 24, 2006

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