Wii Fit: Will it last?

I got the opportunity to try out the Wii Fit last night for the first time (and so did the rest of my family) and have to admit that it is intriguing so far. It'll be interesting as time goes on to see if the thing has staying power.

True to video game conventions, you have to wait to unlock a lot of the games and exercises until after you've built up your play time so I've only been able to play the short list of games that are unlocked to start with. I've not tried any of the "real" exercises yet so I can't comment on them but if I can't lose 50 pounds in 5 weeks, I'm taking it back! I mean, this thing does perform miracles right?

A lot of the games are appealing and fun if not a bit too short. One thing is for sure, your calves get a pretty good workout in many of the games. Hopefully, the other exercises that are out there work the other parts of the body just as hard.

One of the complaints about Wii Fit is that it has an odd way of judging your Wii Fit Age and it typically seems to be quite high. I can see peoples point after playing with it a bit. When you setup your profile for the first time, other than calculating BMI, it checks your balance and then based solely on those few things, it says you are fit or unfit. I really don't see the correlation much. I also don't know if it differentiates between male or female but my assumption is that they assume your Mii represents your gender correctly.

Stay tuned as I mess around with this thing a bit more over the next few weeks. Of course, that assumes I can get near it at all.

Lost: Better late than never

As they say, "Better late than never."

Now who "they" might be I have no idea but hopefully the didn't live on some island in the Pacific.

"Better late" certainly holds true to the show LOST. I started watching this the past few months via Netflix after having avoided the show for a long time. I'm glad I decided to give it a try and I'm very glad I waited to watch it via DVD. Being able to watch 2 or 3 episodes in a row is a great way to see this show. I found the same to be true of 24.

What makes Lost so much better than 24 is the number of characters they have to work with and the length of time they can take to tell their stories. I only hope the writing stays as good as it has been. But then, some of you know how the writing turns out as I'm only on Season 3 right now.

That being said, I just had to write to say that Episode 55, "Flashes Before Your Eyes" was easily the best episode so far and an example of some spectacular writing and editing. I just watched it over the weekend and it was easily the best WOW moment I've had in quite some time with a TV show. The only thing that might have made this show better was if I had been watching it on a big screen TV instead of a temporary 22" replacement for my dead TV. However, it wasn't the videography or picture that made this so great but the amazing way they've managed to build up to this point in the story and to keep you guessing. All of this with a character (Desmond) that technically hasn't really been seen that much. It just shows how great the writing is when you can care about the outcome of a minor character like this. Of course, in Lost, you never know when the minor turns into the major which is what makes this show so fantastic.

I've not tracked the general commentary on the show or really cared about what was said too much other than some friends saying that it was good and worth watching. An observation I made last night (which I'm sure has been made before) while watching a favorite episode of The Twilight Zone was how much Lost is like that show in many ways. Now granted, Twilight Zone was a bunch of self-contained stories unlike Lost. But Lost has some Twilight Zone like moments with twists and turns and mysterious things that I think get to the heart of why people liked to watch Twilight Zone so much. The big difference is of course the budget and production values have been cranked up. None of that matters though without the writing. Twilight Zone has some horrible (by today's standards) lighting, editing and sets but no one cared and I doubt anyone even cares today.

The only thing that matters is the story. Unfortunately, a lot of movie makers and TV producers have forgotten this. Lost should be a wake call.

Macbook Air - Almost Great?

Well, the MacBook Air I mentioned in an earlier post has gotten blessed off as being adequate to the task. The shameful part is it is barely being used as a Mac. Windows is loaded on it and it boots to Windows. I don't even think the person using this has even booted it once under OS X. She will eventually I'm sure and the pressures of work have made it impossible to experiment too much. I had it essentially ripped from my hands several days early so didn't get to play with it as long as I would have liked. Either way, it passed the test and is a keeper! That is great news for me.

Before I forget, it is worth mentioning that multitouch is absolutely amazing. I realize the MacBook Pro's have some of this capability but the super size touch pad with multitouch is the best thing ever. I HATE touchpads but I came to like the Air's which is saying a lot. Also, the screen on this thing is fantastic. Perhaps the new MacBook Pro 15" screens are the same but this is hands down the best screen on a laptop I've ever used.

The only gripes about the platform are pretty nit picky but are worth mentioning and most focus on using it with Windows which may not be fair:

• Lack of a DVD drive - Of course, it would have added weight. On top of that, if you see this thing, there is absolutely no way they could have put one in the system without making it thicker. It would be a lot like complaining the iPod doesn't play LP's or some non-sense like that. The medium is totally outmoded at this size. Now, for $1799, including one WITH the system would have been really nice.
• Trackpad - No adjustments for it within Windows. Why not? In particular the two finger scroll is WAY WAY too fast and can't be adjusted.
• Unforgivable lack of tap click - This is too bizarre to comprehend. You can't tap to click. I have no idea what is so difficult with making this work but it seems it has been lacking for quite some time on most of the laptop line.
• Too light - OK, this isn't really serious BUT it is almost too light. It tends to move and shift around almost too easily as if there is nothing to hold it in place. It is even a bigger pain trying to plug and unplug stuff from the door that has the one USB port on it. The door tends to close when you don't want it too either which is when you are trying to plug something into it.
• Power - The magnetic power cord is very cool but wants to fall off a bit too easily. I wish there was a lock in case you don't want the easy on/easy off function of the magnetic plug.
• Windows drivers - If Apple is going to advertise the boot camp feature they really need to spend more time developing basic driver functionality. A lot of the power management and other tuning features that are available on other Windows laptops are not available in Windows on the Air. It is probably the biggest weakness since it really spoils the experience a bit. To be fair, this wasn't meant to be a Windows laptop and running Windows in Fusion or Parallels is probably the best way to go but I seriously doubt it would take much to go just a bit further with the driver functions under native Windows.
• No PC Card slot - Again, form is probably too small but it is a pain when you can't plug in the Wireless Cell card everyone is using. To use a USB type really spoils the portability too.
  

With all that said, the MacBook Air is a brilliant if not pricey laptop. I'd say it was worth the money however if you want portability. Having seen it and used it, I think they probably made the right choices with the possible exception of a non-replaceable (or should I say user replaceable) battery. Seeing and hearing what these things are like to take apart, the experience of trying to replace it might be too much for most people and too expensive if outside warranty. Plus, I'm sure there are a fair number of people out there that might need it while on the road.

Hopefully the Mac at work is the start of a trend. Only time will tell.

Netflix - Who comes up with this stuff??

I just saw this regarding Netflix and their new movie streaming box. For me, this is wonderful news because I can get a way to stream movies down to my TV now which is frustratingly tedious using a laptop. This box is a no brainer for me since I already have a subscription to Netflix.

However, it amazes me what some people try to get away with. Read this:

"The key breakthroughs of the Netflix Player are simplicity and cost," said Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings. "[It] allows consumers to use the full power of the Netflix Web site to choose movies for their instant Queue, and then automatically displays only those choices on the TV screen. That's a major improvement versus the clutter of trying to choose from 10,000 films on the TV."

Is this a joke?? I mean, how can selecting a show to watch using your TV HARDER than selecting a show on your PC and then looking for it on your TV in your list. I understand the economics of this. They don't need a full blown pointing device and don't need a real interface to browse titles. But please don't try and spin it. Just be honest. You'll gain a lot more respect from me than trying to make the limitations of the box sound like pluses.

For the record, now having 802.11n is a big mistake but since I can wire myself to my network where my TV is located, I'm not concerned. Doing streaming video over 802.11g is frustrating. I've tried it.

Now if only Netflix can secure more current material, we'll be all set! I'll still probably want an Apple TV though.

Dell - At least they are predictable

When Dell bought EqualLogic, they swore they wouldn't cannibalize sales in the channel and wouldn't compete with EqualLogic resellers. Of course, everyone knew that was a lie and a great deal of resellers stopped selling EqualLogic because of it. Well, now there is more proof they are doing exactly what everyone said they would and went back on their word. I just received a letter from my Dell rep and guess what, they want to sell us EqualLogic and want to do it directly with me. So much for going through the channel and respecting their resellers territory. I already work with a reseller who sells EqualLogic so I guess Dell doesn't give a rip about that. At least Dell is predictable. (below is the letter I received)

I'm pleased to announce that I now have the ability to request an onsite visit from one of our Dell account executive that specialize in storage and disaster recovery. The onsite visit is free and consists of a consultation regarding your companies storage pain points, implementation within your network, and disaster recovery plan. They also have the ability to setup and Demo any of our Equallogic units. This is not limited to just Equallogic but spans our whole line of storage from our Power Vault line - including tape machines, autoloaders, and tape libraries. We also carry all of EMC's storage line along with Equallogic.

As some of you may or may not know Dell Inc. acquired Equallogic back in November. Previously till now there was no way to send a Dell account executive onsite, now that we can do this, give me a call if you would like to setup a demo or onsite consultation. Equallogic works especially well if you have or plan on running VMware on your network. To setup or inquire about an onsite visit contact my inside storage specialist (name removed) at 123-456-7890, you can also contact myself as well at the number listed below.

Boom Blox is Good!

I picked up Boom Blox yesterday. I had some gift cards so it seemed like a worthwhile purchase. I'll agree with most of the reviews that are out and say that it is a worth while purchase for the Wii. The limited time I played it last night, I thoroughly enjoyed it. My daughter absolutely loves it.

If you like the quick to pick up and play type of game, this is it. You can't get much simpler and it would seem there are a lot of levels to get through. I don't like the "must complete tutorial" approach to setting up user profiles but at least there are 6 slots available to save for users since there are 6 of us in my family.

I personally think the multiplayer on this is probably where most of the longevity and fun of the game will be. If you want a good two and up multiplayer game, this seems like a good way to go and will be a whole lot of fun if you have a bunch of people over. I can't say I'm a big fan of the target shooting parts of the game though.

I won't repeat what all the reviews say but I think the ones at 1up.com and ign.com summed it up pretty good. For a good list of the reviews, go here. I'll also agree with one of the reviews in that the limits of the Wii processing power do tend to rear their ugly head here perhaps lending a little credence that some games, particular ones with realistic physics engines under the hood, could benefit from some extra muscle. I'd love to see this game on a multicore PC with a high end graphics card.

Bottom line, if you have a Wii, this is a game you probably need to own no matter who you are. Every age will enjoy this immensely.

Game Publishers are their own worst enemy

I'm sure some of you have seen this or some form of it in the news media. Apparently Mass Effect and Spore for the PC (two biggies I've been waiting for) with help from EA have gone a ruined my enthusiasm for the two products. It appears EA, in their infinite stupidity, have decided to use a version of SecuROM copy protection that REQUIRES an internet connection to play the single player parts of the game. It not only requires it for activation but it wants to "phone home" every 5-10 days to make sure you have a legit copy of a program.

Four things bug me a great deal:

1. What happens in 10 years when I want to play this game again? Will the company still be around to "activate" my game and allow me to play it. Maybe the company will be around but they'll care less.
   
   
2. What if someone steals or cracks the CD key and invalidates my key? Do they de-authorize my game which I've purchase? Trust me, this is going to happen.
   
   
3. Why should I need internet access to play a game? Sometimes I play a game on my laptop and if I do, I may not have internet access in a hotel room or somewhere else. Plus, I might not have played it for 15-30 days or longer. Under this system, I won't be able to play it.
   
   
4. This game will be cracked!! Trust me. It'll be cracked and posted as a torrent somewhere. The only people this thwarts and screws is the legit buyer of the program.

Why can't every company be like Stardock and use Brad Wardell's philosophy about copy protection. Even Chris Taylor from Gas Powered Games agrees with them. It works for them. I don't see why it can't work for everyone. Incidentally, if you haven't played Galactic Civilizations 2 or Sins of a Solar Empire, do so and support Stardock. They deserve our dollars and these two games are absolutely fantastic.

Until this copy protection scheme is removed from Mass Effect and Spore, I won't be touching them. Too bad.

When available today isn't

I'm a bit pissed about the fact that, while GTA IV and Halo 3, and any number of other "hits" can be available the day they are released, Boom Blox which was "Available May 6" just wasn't. I went to a couple of places to pick it up yesterday and no one had it. So what gives? The game was available supposedly yesterday but no one had it. At least not around where I live that is. Do they mean, "Available to UPS trucks everywhere on May 6th"?

Maybe that is what they meant.

MacBook Air - Don't let me down

Believe it or not, I have my manager talked into buying a MacBook Air. She's found that she really really wants an ultraportable notebook PC and the MacBook Air looks to be just right for her. I'm still terribly disappointed there is no replaceable battery or built-in CD-ROM but I guess we can deal with that. My big concern is that the reviews have all mentioned that it gets terribly hot. Hopefully this won't be a problem.

We're getting the MacBook Air on a 30 day evaluation so I've got 30 days to prove to her that this thing does what she wants. I'm hoping we can pop Fusion on the thing and do everything she needs Windows-wise while giving her a tasteof the Mac OS that she's never had. It'll do a lot to champion my argument for a MacBook Pro at the end of the year. Fortunately, we have people we can send our rather new Thinkpads down to in the company that need replacements this year but timing is everything.

My big concern is that somehow this thing isn't going to work the way I want it to or she's going to have some issue to deal with that gets her frustrated and wanting to return the thing. If the MacBook Air blows this opportunity, I'll probably have to write off the Mac forever here at the company. Worse yet (I guess this is worse), it'll blow our chances to get iPhones here instead of Blackberry phones too. I realize they are two different beasts but some people tend to lump all these things together. She does like her iPod so that helps.

Any suggestions from those out in the field? I've not used Mac's in a very long time and normally I'd have a Mac first since I'm the one that usually noodles through all the experimental or trial stuff. I'll have no reference point. The plan is to load up Fusion and Windows XP under OS X, load Office/Outlook, VPN client, Citrix/Terminal Services client, and run with it. The killer for me will be the VPN client, if it doesn't work for some reason under Fusion, I'm dead meat.

Wish me luck!

Boom-Blox out today! Please be good...

I'm hoping Boom-Blox for the Wii lives up to some of the hype. It looks like it could be very addicting. It is available for purchase today and I'm seriously toying with the idea of picking it up. Typically, I'd wait for a price reduction since I still think $49.95 for a game is ridiculous however exceptions can be made just like I may need to temporarily cancel my boycott of theaters to see Iron Man.

With that said, why can't developers realize that $29.95 is much easier for mom & pop to digest the $49.95. For some reason, for me, I can psychologically deal with sub-$30 prices much easier than anything higher than that. I suppose the way the market works it is better for them to sell half as many at $50 than $30 but I can still hope for reduced pricing in the future. Thank goodness I don't have to deal with the ridiculous $59.95 pricing of the PS3 and 360.