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It Is About Time: Microsoft Retires Windows 3.x

<strong>Apr. 6, 1992</strong> Microsoft releases the latest version of Windows, Windows 3.1. With major improvements over the first version, Windows 3.1 sold like hotcakes and provided a huge boost to Microsoft's bottom line. Combined with strong sales from its latest version of Excel and growth in the PC market, Microsoft saw revenues surge 55% in the quarter of its release.  <h2 style=font-size:16px;

Many of you may have missed the news due to some sort of election that was held recently, but on November 1, 2008, Microsoft officially stopped issuing licenses for Windows 3.x. (story via news.bbc.co.uk).  It’s EULA-gy read:

Windows 3.x required an 8086/8088 processor or better that had a clock speed of up to 10MHz. It needed at least 640KB of RAM, seven megabytes of hard drive space, and a graphics card that supported CGA, EGA and VGA graphics. Windows 3.x is survived my it children Windows 95, ME, XP and Vista (who could not be reached for comment due to compatibility issues).

I have seen reports that Windows 3.x customers everywhere are now in a state of sadness and panic. One former Windows 3.x user was detained for questioning after “allegedly” trying to bootleg the OS onto toaster ovens. Microsoft will begin forming support groups (though not technical support) for those who now believe their life is over because of the death of Windows 3.x to help them better cope with new technology.

Yes, it is a sad day indeed. Microsoft is expected to release a statement today encouraging users to make the leap and upgrade to Windows 95 and regrets to inform users looking for a loophole that the downgrade option from Vista to 3.x is out of the question.

There are reports starting to surface through the interweb that Windows 3.1 will be returning to join the rock band KISS on their new tour “Yes, Retirement Still Sucks and We Know There is Still Money to Be Made Despite Current Media Induced Economic Conditions, Part IV”.

Pac Man Arcade Console Awesomeness

Warning: The following post contains vast evidence of my “geekdom.” This post is not for the weak of mind, those who are un-awesome or people who hate old video games. Reader discretion is advised.

pacman defeatSo I have always wanted to buy some arcade games.  And one of my all time favorites is Pac-Man. He did get jealous when he found out the Ms. Pac-Man and I had something going on the side (I may have told my wife that Ms. Pac-Man was my first love). But we have made our peace and now I am happy to announce that Pac-Man has come to live at my house.

Craigslist is quite simply an awesome place. I called originally about a Ms. Pac for $300 Read the rest of this entry »

15 Great Tech Excuses

support1

Anyone working in tech support has had those moment. You know the one’s where your standing (or sitting there) not really knowing how to explain that an issue is fixed…or for that matter at times why it is fixed in the first place. What do you say? What do you do? Will They understand? Will they even believe it? My suggestion, just have fun with it. Fine…But what should I say?

Well worry no more. Just put that person on hold (where you cleverly have Chocolate Rain as your on hold music…which consequently may get you off the hook of giving a reason in the first place) and grab one of these incredibly thoughtful technical excuses. Like they will ever know…

  1. Solar flare activity was very high yesterday and it took until today for the light to reach earth.
  2. Caps lock was on.
  3. It must be a hardware problem.
  4. It must be a software problem.
  5. Your problem is caused by another company’s product or services.
  6. It’s not a bug, it’s a feature.
  7. I’m sorry. No one here speaks English.
  8. The flux capacitor was damaged.
  9. It must be an I-D-10-T error
  10. I never thought anyone would actually use that feature.
  11. Well…it wasn’t plugged in.
  12. I think it needs more fictional memory.
  13. The “mouse server” is down.
  14. We don’t support that.
  15. Problems like that are only caused by looking at porn. I’ll need your name for our records.

and if those aren’t good enough try Jaco Strauss’ Tech Support Excuse Generator, where you will find great random technical excuses such as: Partial, unvalidated retrieval lockout… or just laugh profusely and walk away. Overall…just be good to the people you support. No matter how hard that may be at times…they are the reason you have a job. =P

Enjoy

…btw…Like these or have some to add? Comments are there for that!

Great collection of Star Wars vehicles

As I was driving home yesterday I see this Dodge Dakota (as you will see below). Thhis got me thinking about how many Star Wars themed vehicles there are out there. The answer? I have no earthly (or tatooine-”ly”) idea. However, here are a few that I found very cool. Thanks to roadsquadron.com for a few of these. Definitely check them out for quite a few more. Enough said..here ya go…

Dakota_jawa

falcon
fighter
cooper
fiat
van
blacknred
Solatfox
truck
the Maul Hauler
Cheers.