Wow! Yeah, right.

Amazing.

That's the only word that can describe the feeling that I had more than a decade ago when I realized that people were lining up in front of Best Buy to purchase the newly released Windows 95.

Twelve years later I find myself wondering if these same people are standing outside once again anxiously awaiting the latest operating system release from Redmond.

If they are, then they are probably not going to feel the same crush of excitement as midnight approaches because the lines will be much shorter this time around. Despite much fanfare from the folks at Microsoft, the vast majority of people that I know are quite ambivalent about tomorrow's release.

Certainly none of them are going to wait in line at midnight just to be the first uber-geek to take the new OS for a spin. In fact, most of my friends have already been beta testing Vista for several months.

Without a doubt, society has evolved from novice computer users to savvy technofiends who are so technically advanced that a new operating system has become as exciting as turning on a light switch.

I think that there are several reasons for this change in attitude. First of all, our society has more important things to worry about. The world was a much simpler place back in 1995. The Internet era was still in its infancy and Google wasn't even a gleam in the eyes of Sergey Brin or Larry Page. In those days, a high speed Internet connection was a 56k modem.

Now, you can purchase Vista on-line and download the operating system directly to your computer. There simply isn't any reason for uber-geeks to stand outside in the frigid Wisconsin winter.

I think that the primary reason for this change, however, is that society has become so overloaded with technology that a new operating system is not really all that exciting. Granted, Windows Vista appears to contain a wonderful user interface and some fairly solid functionality, but on the whole it doesn't really do that much more for the average computer user than Windows XP.

Almost everyone I know is more excited with advances in cool technology such as the iPhone, the Blackjack, the Wii, and the iPod. In fact, many of my friends have recently gone to the dark side and jumped on the Apple bandwagon.

A new Microsoft operating system just doesn't have the excietment that it used to have. The changes that accompany Vist are revolutionary in some respects, but they just aren't as jaw dropping as when we moved from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95.

As I've just seen on the news, there is a small group of stalwarts standing outside waiting for midnight. I commend those hearty souls for braving the frigid Wisconsin winter, but this time around I'm even more amazed that anyone would stand in line at midnight just to buy a new operating system.

Sorry Microsoft. There just isn't a Wow factor this time around.

Amazing.

A Novel Idea

Move over Stephen King, technology has made your legendary writing skills obsolete.

Finnish author Hannu Luntiala recently published a 332 page novel that consists of nothing but text messages. At first glance, I was appalled that someone would publish a novel of text messages. Call me old fashioned, but writing, storytelling and grammar matter to me.

However, upon reflection, I believe that there is definitely a place for this type of book in the literary world. Instead of thinking of the traditional novel, this edgy and fresh type of story is basically a technology based diary.

While I would never want to see the breathtaking skills of someone like Stephen King or John Grisham replaced by a text message novel, I do believe that there is a place for both on my bookshelf.

Sports Mirror Technology

Watching the NFL playoffs this weekend, I was struck by the similarity between sports and technology.

All sports fans have favorite teams, and very rarely do those allegiances ever change. Packer fans are usually Packer fans for life, and as such they generally despise rivals such as the Vikings and the Bears.

The same rivalries can be seen in technology. For example, Linux fanatics often eschew Windows with the same vigor as Packer fans lamenting the Bears’ recent Super Bowl berth. Fans of Windows, however, view Linux as an operating system aberration in much the same manner as the Bears getting to the Super Bowl.

The impending release of Windows Vista will present another similarity between sports and technology. Windows XP, currently the most widely used personal computer operating system, will soon be derided as legacy technology and be relegated to clearance shelves and the history books.

As the New England Patriots recently found out, today’s darling can quickly become tomorrow’s goat. With new technology being developed on an almost daily basis, the world of technology is full of gadgets and gear whose gotta-have-it lifespan lasted mere weeks.

In sports and technology, dynasties are rarely built. The Packers suffered through 30 years of misery before resurrecting themselves for a ten year run of success. It’s nearly impossible for teams at the top to stay there permanently. It just doesn’t happen.

While the business world does have it’s perennial winners such as Microsoft and Intel, one only has to look as far as IBM to see that the technology world is chock full of organizations that were put out of business or gobbled up by their competitors.

If sports can be considered ultra-competitive, the cut-throat business world of technology run by uber-geeks and highly paid CEOs could make even a frightening linebacker like Brian Urlacher run for the hills with his tail between his legs.

As we watch the Super Bowl and cheer for our favorite team while jeering their opponent, just remember that before long both teams may be as popular as a Pentium 3 or an iPod-mini.

Fractals Show Math is Beautiful

Math is art, or so some people say. Personally, I'd rather put pen to paper than solve for the elusive x.

However, even algebraphobics like myself can appreciate the breathtaking beauty of the images that can be created using the mathematical functions provided by a free fractal generator such as Apophysis.

Fractals are images that are created using various mathematical coordinates and formulas. Although it takes quite a bit of practice to design gorgeous fractals such as those found in this TechRepublic gallery, just about anyone can learn how to create their own beautiful fractal images.

Artists looking to expand their repertoire and uber-geeks with no artistic ability will all appreciate the relative ease with which you can create amazing images that can be used in a variety of ways.

I use fractals on my computer desktop, but have been tempted to print and frame some of the ones that I've seen or created. They are that good, in my humble opinion.

Atari Flashback Family Time

Happy New Year!!!

Those of us who grew up in the 1980s have fond memories of first generation video game consoles such as the classic Atari 2600.

These gaming consoles lacked the slick graphics and adrennaline pumping game scenarios as modern video games, but they were fun to play and provided our families with hours of fun.

And therein lies the big difference between today's modern video games and those classics such as Asteroids or Breakout. The Atari 2600 console games were easy enough to play that virtually anyone could pick up a controller and share in the fun.

Hours of practice and exceptional coordination were not prerequisites for the Atari 2600.

Since most households at that time had only one or two TVs, playing the video game was a family activity. The days of the gaming pro were still a generation away. At that time, games were simply a fun activity for everyone.

Proof of this is shown in the continued popularity of those old Atari games. This morning my eight year old daughter found my wife's Atari Flashback console. We hooked it up and in less than ten minutes we were having a serious Breakout battle.

A little while later her teenage sister and cousin showed up, and within a few minutes they began trying to beat the eight year old at Breakout and Air-Sea Battle. They eventually eclipsed her in Breakout, but two hours later she is still the undisputed Air-Sea Battle champion.

With a modern gaming console, this type of family interraction would be rare. The games require too much practice and knowledge to become proficient. Young children have no hope of mastering these games, and adults just don't have enough time.

Since classic consoles such as the Atari Flashback cost less than a single game for a modern console, buying a classic gaming console will provide hours of fun without putting much of a dent in your pocketbook.

While I would never argue that the Atari 2600 is a better console than an Xbox or PlayStation 3, I believe that the older games are a better family activity than any modern game.

Give one a try. Your family will be glad that you did.