Paul Thurrott Was Hospitalized After Watching New Apple Ads

Dedham, Masschusetts

On the evening of October 19th, 2008 Paul Thurrott was reportedly rushed to the local hospital. According to neighbors, loud strings of profanities were heard over 15 mile radius that Sunday evening. That prompted them to call 911. Paramedic, Firefighter and the Police arrived within a few minutes on the Thurrotts residence .

Upon arrival, Police found Thurrott screaming and yelling “I’m a P.C.!” repeatedly. It took 13 personnel to subdue violent Paul Thurrott.

In his padded cell, Thurrott mentioned that he will announce the “ultimate declaration of war against Apple” on Microsoft behalf on TWiT‘s Microsoft P.R. Weekly Windows Weekly podcast which he co-hosts with Leo Laporte.

Paul Thurrott, the original Microsoft Defender, apparently was watching the new Apple “Get A Mac” ads which were released on that fateful Sunday. According to doctors, Thurrott is lacking sense of humor as well as some common sense. Doctors also found that Thurrot is suffering from some sort of blindness, that causes him to be unconditionally loyal to Microsoft.

According to Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott insisted that he would be available to record the next install ment of Viva La Microsoft Wekly Windows Weekly episode 80 this Thursday. Thurrott is expected to make a full recovery by then, and he will be cursing Apple for those new “Get A Mac” ads. Thurrott swears that he will bring Apple down for “all the lies” they have been spreading about Microsoft and Windows Vista. Thurrott also adds that he is the only tech journalist in the world who knows the truth about the great Microsoft.

Software Updates: Perian 1.1.2 and Camino 2.0 Alpha 1

Perian 1.1.2 is released today.

  • Fixed update checker never running – this version requires a manual install
  • Enabled frame-dropping on AppleTV
  • Fixed some frames being lost in AVCHD/.mp4 with newer versions of QuickTime
  • Fixed another ffmpeg crash on G3s

Perian QuickTime Component is handy for decoding different video format on Mac OS X (1.4.7 and above). Perian QuickTime Component adds support for some AVCHD camcorder like Panasonic HDC-SD9.

Download Perian 1.1.2

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Camino 2.0 Alpha 1

Yahoo! web-hosting is having problems.

UPDATE:
Yahoo! web-services are back up now.

Apparently there is something going on with Yahoo! Web-servers right now. A lot of sites hosted by Yahoo! Are currently unreachable, including 37prime.com (our main site).

Stay tuned for more reports
2008.10.20

South Park: Season 12 Episode 10 – “Pandemic”

South Park: Season 12 Episode 10 – “Pandemic”
While the world struggles to contain an epidemic of epic proportions, the boys find a way to make money off of it.
Original Air Date: 2008-10-22

NOTE:
Please check back on Saturday or Sunday night for more South Park Episode News!

You WILL Watch “Pandemic” on Wednesday October 22nd, 2008 HERE!

“Pandemic” Uncensored Version will be available for streaming on Friday October 24th, 2008 11:59PM Pacific Time. You will watch it here (Flash Player required) instead of downloading the episode from site like MrTwig.net.

Preview “Pandemic” here (“Craig, We Need You” – Craig has what it takes to make the boys dream a reality).

From the Comedy Central Press Release:

THE WORLD FACES AN EPIDEMIC OF EPIC PROPORTIONS IN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF “SOUTH PARK” ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 AT 10:00 P.M.* ON COMEDY CENTRAL

NEW YORK, October 20, 2008 – While the world struggles to contain the latest global epidemic, the boys find a way to make money off of it in an all-new episode of “South Park” titled, “Pandemic” premiering on Wednesday, October 22 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on COMEDY CENTRAL.

The boys find a way to make money off an international crisis that requires no talent and very little effort. Cartman convinces the other boys to invite Craig to get in on their latest plan. He knows Craig has just what it takes to make their dream a reality.
Read the complete Press Release @ South Park Studios

Note:

Public Service Announcement:

This episode will be available for streaming after the premiere on Wednesday October 22nd, 2008 at South Park Studios. Flash Player Required. Unfortunately the stream will not be available in the following countries:

Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, U.K.

Comedy Central strongly urges you not to download the episode from any site such as MrTwig.net or any other South Park related sites. Remember that unauthorized download of South Park episodes hurts Comedy Central and South Park team. It is very very wrong to download South Park Episodes from sites like MrTwig.net, because Comedy Central would have to wait for another 2 months to get gold plated shark tank installed in their lobby. Instead, Comedy Central would like you to purchase the episode from vendors like Amazon.com or iTunes Store.

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Now Available

South Park: The Complete Eleventh Season (Uncensored) DVD Set

The Cult of Eric Cartman – Revelations

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Disclaimer

If you bought anything through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.

“If you buy these DVD’s, I can buy a MacBook Pro” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.

Family Guy Volume 6 DVD – Target Exclusive

Family Guy Volume 6 DVD is scheduled for release on October 21st, 2008. This time Target has an exclusive for the DVD set. It comes with signed script and collectible poster. The box artwork is slightly different than the regular edition. It is only available in Target Stores.

The DVD set will include some episodes from season 5 and season 6.

Disc 1:

  • “No Meals On Wheels”
  • “Boys Do Cry”
  • “No Chris Left Behind”
  • “It Takes A Village Idiot, And I Married One”
  • “Meet The Quagmires”

Disc 2:

  • “Movin’ Out (Brian’s Song)”
  • “Believe It Or Not, Joe’s Walking On Air”
  • “Family Guy 100th Episode Special”
  • “Stewie Kills Lois”
  • “Lois Kills Stewie”
  • “Padre de Familia”
  • “Peter’s Daughter”

Disc 3:

  • “McStroke”

Family Guy “Blue Harvest” is not included in this volume because it is released as a stand-alone movie.

Family Guy Season 5 on Amazon Unbox – Delicious DRM is included for your protections.

Family Guy Season 6 on Amazon Unbox – Tasty DRM is included for free!

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Disclaimer

If you bought anything through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.

“If you buy this DVD, I can buy a MacBook Pro” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.

So, You Want To Buy A MacBook Or A MacBook Pro.

A lot of the questions I’ve been getting since August 2008 from friends and clients are about buying a MacBook or a Macbook Pro. Now that Apple has refreshed their notebooks line, I can now give them better answers.

All prices are in U.S. dollars and for U.S. stores. More disclaimers at the bottom of this post.

Buying MacBook

If you are new to the Macintosh, and wants to get a MacBook, the new Unibody Aluminum MacBook is a no brainer. The downside is that base prices for MacBook are $1,299 and $1,599. The $1,599 model has one thing that any other MacBooks don’t have, and that is the backlit-keyboard. The first complaint about the Unibody MacBook is the lack of FireWire port.

MacBook @ Apple Store (Retail and Online)
MacBook 2.0GHz $1,299 | with Educational Discount $1,249
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,599 | with Educational Discount $1,499

Macbook 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – plastic White $999

MacBook @ Amazon.com (as of 2008.10.18)
MacBook 2.0GHz $1,294
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,594

Macbook 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – plastic White $944 and $75 rebate

Usually Amazon adds $75-$100 rebates on each MacBook. Since the Unibody MacBook is just released, there is no rebates added yet as of October 18th, 2008.

Buying MacBook Pro

The Unibody MacBook Pro comes in two 15-inch models. One for $1,999 and the other is for $2,4999. The first one comes with Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz with 3MB L2Cache, 2GB of RAM, 250GB 5400RPM hard drive and 256MB video RAM. The second model comes with Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz with 6MB L2 Cache, 4GB RAM, 320GB 5400RPM hard drive and 512MB video RAM.

If you see the need for better performance, the $2,499 model does have double the L2 Cache and video RAM.

MacBook Pro @ Apple Store (Retail and Online)
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,999 | with Educational Discount $1,899
MacBook 2.53GHz $2,499 | with Educational Discount $2,299

MacBook Pro @ Amazon.com (as of 2008.10.18)
MacBook 2.4GHz $1,994
MacBook 2.53GHz $2,494

Usually Amazon adds $150 rebates on each MacBook Pro. Since the Unibody MacBook Pro is just released, there is no rebates added yet as of October 18th, 2008.

Previous MacBook and MacBook Pro

If you still want to buy Apple notebook but don’t want to spend as much, consider buying the previous MacBook and MacBook Pro models.

@ Apple Store
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – White $1,249
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – Black $1,299

MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,599
MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,799

@ Amazon.com
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – White $1,234.23 and $75 rebate
MacBook 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – Black $1,294 with $100 rebate

MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,594 and $150 rebate
MacBook Pro 15-inch 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo $1,779

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NEXT: Upgrading the MacBook and MacBook Pro

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Disclaimer

If you bought anything through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.

“If you buy Apple notebooks, I can buy a MacBook Pro” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.

The Upcoming Unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro

Let’s recap what went on Apple’s “The spotlight turns to notebooks” event. Steve Jobs unveiled new 15-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook, dubbed as “Late 2008” model. They are also described as Aluminum and Glass MacBook and MacBook Pro. Some would call em as “the brick” MacBook Pro; well that sounds stupid, but this whole “brick” thing went out of control. Apple never once mention anything about “brick” or implying anything. The new MacBook and MacBook Pro can now have “unibody” designation, as Apple uses the word over and over.

MacBook is significantly updated , but missing one important feature: FireWire Port. The 15-inch MacBook Pro is also missing one FireWire 400 port, while retaining the FireWire 800 port. Both MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro gains new glass screen with LED-backlit display, and large multi-touch glass trackpad.

Overall, it is a significant upgrade for the MacBook and a nice incremental upgrade for the MacBook Pro. The inclusions of nVidia chipset is one of the biggest upgrade for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. The nVidia 9400M chipset adds h.264 support on the hardware level.

Now, whatever happened to the 17-inch MacBook Pro? For those who are complaining about the lack of 17-inch MacBook Pro update needs to take a big cup of “shut the hell up.” Apple is working on it, and it will be announced when it is ready for release. Apple engineers have been exploring different avenues in redesigning the MacBook Pro, and more often they stumbled upon some road blocks. The new unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro feature a reduced size logic-board similar to the one in MacBook Air. Apple engineers are working to find the balance between features and form factor in the notebook line. No coubt that Apple would like to include Intel QX9300 processor (or higher model) in the MacBook Pro. It is likely that the upcoming unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro would have this CPU in the BTO options. Even though the current MacBook and MacBook Pro seem to be running cooler compared to the previous models, there will be some thermal challenges with Intel QX9300 in the MacBook Pro form factor.

It is possible to have the Intel QX9300 in the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but it would make more sense to have it in the 17-in model. The 17-inch MacBook Pro would have some extra surface area to dissipate heat compared to the 15-inch model. Eventually Intel QX9300 or its successors would make their way to the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but we would see it on the 17-inch Model first.

Logically, January 2009 would be the next window for Apple to introduce the unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro. We all have to wait until then.

To quote Ice-T, “Shut up, be happy

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Ice-T: The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech…Just Watch What You Say

If you bought it through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.

“If you buy the CD, I can buy a MacBook Pro” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.