Got Windows 8 Preview running on a Macbook Pro of all things. Could not imagine this happening just a few years ago. To top it up, this is one of the easiest Windows installs I have ever done. Heard a few others having trouble with installing it in VM but no trouble here.
1. Download Windows 8 Preview ISO from here. My download speed averaged 4mg/sec. Microsoft seems prepared for it at least from my node of the Internet.
2. Create a new virtual machine. Set it to load from disk image (point it to the ISO you just downloaded, duh). Press Next. Parallels will complain the installation wants more than the disk space available – it did for me.
3. Allocate resources for the virtual machine. I allocated 2 core, 4g RAM and 16gb for hard disk. This seems to be similar to the Samsung tablet Microsoft was issuing at Microsoft Build. Geez, I really want one of those to play with..
3. Press a series of “Next”s and set specify the 16gb disk partition you just created to install Windows 8 on and let it do its thing. See screenshots below. The questions are pretty standard that a normal user can easily navigate.
4. Head out for dinner.
5. When you come back, the screen has now changed to an unfamiliar GREEN. Answer some more questions on whether you like to share information with Microsoft and Windows update preferences.
6. Key question – would you like to logon using a local account (standard PC) or a Windows Live ID (aka like chromebook)? Windows Live ID is the default and has some sync features that Microsoft didn’t say much about. Local account is meant to be like the traditional approach.
7. Some more “Preparing your PC”.. and then viola! It’s done..! Now go play..!
First thoughts:
- Desktop as an app works, and I like it.
- General Metro GUI – Not bad, I can get used to it. After years with 2 iPhones and an iPad, this looks pleasantly refreshing. Very tempted to get a Windows Mango phone now and even more for a tablet/laptop. This is a solid, SOLID, competitor to iOS and Android. I would be tempted to run Win8 on a Macbook Air or the new ultraportables coming to the market.
- Weather – wow pretty!
- Disk space – Wow. 16gb partition has only 4.79gb free after the installation. Ouch!
- Could not shutdown smoothly. Froze on a black screen. Forced shutdown.
One final note: running Windows8 on Macbook Pro Lion with Parallels is a surprisingly pleasing experience. The 3 finger side swipe to move between OSX and Windows8 is delicious. Bravo to the 3 companies (Microsoft, Apple, and Parallels) involved.
So there you go. That’s the initial thoughts. Next step – let’s what I can do(work) with this little beauty.
Here are some screenshots taken along the way.
Answer standard install questions:
It was nice of Microsoft to include all the international keyboard types. Japanese included. Here you see the drop down box options inside the Parallels window running on OSX Lion.
Selecting disk partition.
Time to head out for dinner.
More questions – very Microsoft.
Windows Live ID vs Local account. Microsoft defaults you to Windows Live ID.
Preparing My PC…
Success..!
I think.. I think I am experiencing culture shock going from the Microsoft blue to .. this green.
Discovered in the archives – an oldie but a goodie. With the tsunami, the earthquakes, and the radiation problems, a little lizard may be growing up faster than we expected.
Got bored with the general types of games, I got interested inthe Assassin’s Creed series because of the many good reviews around the different game sites. Skipping the first game, I jumped right in to Assassin’s Creed 2.
What an amazing game..! I had expected a large mis-connect due to skipping the first game – but a quick read on the web sites caught me up on the story, and shortly, I could not pull myself away from the game. The stories were engaging, the graphics was intensive, the cities were very real.
Minor complaints on the controls in that your toon may at times jump towards the wrong direction, took a wrong step, etc therefore wasting time if you happen to be chasing someone on the rooftops. But generally the game was forgiving enough and a mission replay is usually quick enough to remove the frustration and keep you going to the next phase.
The Xbox360 version did not allow re-play of completed DNA (memory) stages, which was annoying as the design looked like that was exactly what it would let you do. If you had missed an achievement available only in the DNA sequence, the only way to achieve it is to start a new game. Apparently they fixed this in the PS3 version but not the Xbox version.
Overall, this is an amazing game and a must play for anyone who enjoys a good action story. The good and enjoyable about the game greatly outweigh the minor inconveniences and do not take away from the story.
Filled with fear, I turned to watch the new Thundercats – No less than 10 minutes into it, I was pleasantly surprised. This is a winner. It was different but yet retained just the right amount of the original sauce to trigger something deep inside those of us who grew up watching the cats.
Amazed at my own enjoyment of the show, I soon found that the studio behind the new Thundercats is none other than the legendary Studio 4C. These are the peeps whose work produced Halo Legends (a must watch if you’re aware of some of the background story in Halo, an Xbox game. Even if you’re not, just watch it. It’s still good entertainment.):
and also Animatrix (animated stories based on the Matrix world):
I remember seeing a TV special a couple of years back introducing their office in Japan. Nothing special about the office – looked just like another other office in Tokyo – but I absolutely love their work and would dream of a chance to meet or work with them. Now knowing these guys are on the project, no wonder the new Thundercats is simply fantastic.
The old Thundercats was great and I still remember getting excited everytime just watching the intro. In fact, I stayed outside an electronics store on the way home from school just so I could watch an episode that I otherwise would’ve missed.
The style of Studio 4C is top notch and IMO pushed Thundercats up a level or 2 on the legendary scale. There had been so many disappointments with many of the re-make of old cartoons (like the many try-hard 3D variations of Voltron and the like). The fact they did this ‘properly’ almost brought a tear to my eyes. I love you guys.
Trailer of the new Thundercats:
Oh wait, did I mention that Cheetara also took on a slightly different look?
She was amazing before:
And now, she is simply amazing. Don’t tell the wife, but I think I am in love..
Moved the little pig out of the server room “cabinet” a few weeks ago into the study to help its temperature during this hot Tokyo summer.
Discovered yesterday the Shuttle K45 (lovingly nick named The Little Pig) was powered off. Attempts to power it on were in vain. Power would kick in for a second to spin the fans and flash a few LEDs, then nothing – powered itself right off.
Today, changed the PSU but the same result. Unplugged the hard disk, ram, etc but all the same. Dug around the net to see the K45/K48 had been suffering a high death rate at around 18 months of age. Mine was around some over 2 years and looks like the MB gave in.
There is a lot of talk on the bulging or venting capacitors that cause K48 deaths, and one on the board does look somewhat like me after a good feed of curry.
So looks like the only thing left is to salvage the parts. Opted to replace it with a QNAP TS-419P+ instead of another PC. The mini mac will take over some of the home server duties.
Farewell little pig. You are a beautiful machine. Sad to see the manufacturer failed you.. You will be missed.
I was apparently one of the 1 million people who downloaded and installed OSX Lion on launch day. This was, in fact, the only OS I installed on launch day other than OS/2 2.0 back in the day.
After the 10 minutes of download and the 30 odd minutes of installation, I was baffled by the natural scrolling of windows on the touchpad.
Don’t get me wrong – I get it. In fact, I previously pondered about why Apple didn’t reverse it to match the iPad and iPhones scroll direction. After using Lion for an hour running different apps including Parallel to make sure Win7 still works good – it finally clicked.
That’s the key, you see? I still use Windows. For work and private, I am still attached Windows. For work, we are a windows shop. Too many things we rely on at work are Windows only. For home? Yes, I use OSX for browsing and the odd music, but for emails and for serious stuff from home, I still run back to Windows via Parallels. Live Mail remains the only emailer that can access all my gmail and, most importantly, Hotmail. My password holder is in Windows (yes, there is a Mac version but I have to buy again). Office, visual studios, and even some games, are Windows only.
What’s the problem, you say. Lion runs Parallels just fine and bootcamp is still there. But ya see – Windows still scrolls the old fashion way. I have no problems scrolling on iPad and iPod where content is ‘touched’ directly. But in OSX and Windows, we touch the trackpad not the screen. We use mouse and its scroll wheel to scroll. I may get used to the natural way in OSX but it’s reversed as soon as I teleport back into Windows. Bam! Brain gets unwired. With more time spent in Windows than OSX, it just isn’t ‘natural’.
No doubt Lion paves the way for more touch devices for Apple. iPad running OSX in the future, MacBooks running touch screens and so on and it will all make sense then. But until I can move away from Windows, it’s back to the inverted scrolling for me.
Had to run around to do Visa renewal at immigration office and update the alien registration card at the ku office.
It was some 33 degrees Celsius outside and it was much more sweaty than the number implied.
Took the new bike on this run. Took an hour of “people watching” at the immigration office to get my new 3 year visa – the place was packed. Enjoyed a quick lunch at the favourite Taiwanese restaurant and a rest at a park on the usual bike trail. All the kids were at school, most salary men were at office or their lunch place. Just me and some oyaji at the park hanging out.
The water fountain was turned off I guess in an effort to save energy. The park was quiet and peaceful.
Then off to the ku office to update the alien registration card. 30 minutes ride later, I was drenched in sweat. The girl staff smiled friendly at me but I wisely kept my distance so she wouldn’t think all gaijins stink like the salary men on the train. Wouldn’t have mattered either way I guess.
Got outta the ku office in less than 15 minutes, grabbed a fresh bottle of water and back on the bike heading home.
Reached the Starbucks just before the big hill on the final stretch home. Looked at the tempting shades and gave in. Parked the bike and ordered myself a mocha frappuccino. Sat outside (in the shade) enjoying the breeze and sipping on the frappuccino. Life is good.
UPDATE 2011/08/31 – Received a postcard from Trek office. The bolt securing the seat is apparently faulty. Post card said to bring the bike in for the first month maintenance and they will replace it free of charge – and that’s exactly what they did.
My other birthday present. The good wife shared the cost. It’s a real tough decision now – should I take the Marin Muirwoods or the Trek?
This is the 2012 model apparently freshly launched in Japan. Not much info out there on other web sites. No discounts on the 2011 model but the shop is instead offering 10,000 yen (approx US$120) of freebies. Opted to go with the newer model instead. It’s also cheaper than the 2011 model. Go figure.
Both the Muirwoods and the new 7.3FX are good looking bikes that have earned a special place in my heart – but the Trek is actually my size. It’s unbelievably comfy when my knees can stretch when riding. Ride quality wise, Marin feels a smoother ride but the Trek is still being broken in. Only some 30km on the Trek so far so we will see.
Wife has now officially taken over the Muirwoods (it’s actually her size). I think she’ll love it.
