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Gadgets, Technology, Public speaking and IT from an undergraduate's perspective.
What is the difference between Hibernate and Standby in Windows XP?
Standby and hibernate are 2 extremely useful functions that you can use because of the time it saves you from booting up your computer. Once you’re done with your work session, and need to leave your desk, simply choose standby or hibernate. These two sleep modes are fantastic for laptops as well.
But what’s the difference? Hibernate saves an image of your current session with all open applications and files. Then it powers down your computer (exactly as if you had turned it off). When you next switch your computer on, you will see exactly the same applications and files open as you had left them. In this state, your computer is exactly as though it’s turned off — no power is needed in hibernate mode.
Standby is a sleep mode that reduces the power that your computer uses to almost nothing. The keyword is “almost”. When you use standby mode, your computer cuts the power to your screen, hard drive, peripheral devices…in fact, anything except your computer’s memory (RAM) is cut. This is because the RAM will maintain a copy of your working session.
I’ve had people tell me that moving your notebook around while it’s in standby mode will shake up the harddrive when it’s spinning and cause hard disk problems. Utter rubbish. The hard drive is powered down during standby, much less in hibernate mode.
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05 Apr 08 | Cool Stuff, Gadgets, Main, Operating Systems, Technology, The Big Net, Tips, Windows | Comments (0)What Is Ghetto latte or bootleg latte?
Well, I never knew that there could be such a technical discussion on coffee, but apparently there’s a whole new set of terminology that I’ve just discovered about coffee, or in relation to coffee joints like Starbucks, for instance.
Ghetto latte or bootleg latte refers to a latte where the customer has used the complimentary milk and other condiments to convert a less expensive drink into an approximate copy of a more expensive one. This practice can be regarded as a form of arbitrage. Similar forms of arbitrage have existed in the past for other products including hamburgers.
Apparently, sometime in the past, Burger King sold Whopper Jr.’s for around $1.60, and hamburgers for $0.80. Since a Whopper, Jr. is just a hamburger with different toppings, people actually figured that they could order a hamburger without the mustard and ketchup, and ask for the mayo, lettuce, and tomato. The end result was the equivalent of a Whopper, Jr.
Burger King dealt with the arbitrage by charging 15 cents for the tomatoes and 5 cents for the lettuce. Thus, the total came up to a dollar. It wasn’t a pure loss from BK’s perspective because BK does save some because the heavily-modded hamburger was served in cheaper paper wrappers instead of the cardboard box of a Whopper Jr.
Interesting.
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Toastmasters Table Topic Ideas for Impromptu Speaking - A True Amazing Story
As a twist on how things are normally carried out, have each Table Topics speaker come up and tell an amazing story about themselves. The twist, however, is that when it comes to voting, the other members then vote for each speaker by deciding if they told the truth or not with a show of hands. The Table Topics speaker, who fooled the most people either way, wins the Table Topics segment.
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More Cool Inventions! Top USB gadgets and Cool USB Toys
USB has always fascinated me — it’s amazing how you can transfer both data and power through USB. And many companies have leveraged on that to create some really cool inventions! Just check these USB gadgets that I found..some of them are positively zany - like the USB Chameleon, while some can really promise serious fun, like the USB Laser Guided Missile Launcher!
I think they make fantastic gifts too, because anyone can get a kick out of them. Especially since computers are so common too.
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USB BirthDay Decoration Kit
Celebrate birthdays the high-tech way with this USB-powered instant decorating kit - it comes with festive lights and ribbons along with a birthday wish mouse pad and party hat! |
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USB Mini Arcade Basketball
You can take a break from your work day or homework to get in some quality court time with this USB mini arcade basketball set! You don’t have to wait in line at busy arcades - all you need is a computer with a USB port to start the fun. Great for challenging your friends and co-workers to see who can score the highest in a 30 second round! |
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USB Missile Launcher
The USB missile launcher is a simple, fun toy that fires three foam darts from any Windows computer with the handy included software. (Some enterprising hackers have also rigged up open source software for even more compatibility!) |
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USB Pole Dancer
The USB Pole Dancer is the perfect gift for a friend in the office, a bachelor’s party gag or the gadget loving guy. She (it?) will perform to the default dance track, or you can connect your MP3 player / iPod and she will dance to your favorite tunes, all the while moving to the beat of the song. It’s USB powered, so no batteries or software required. |
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USB Airplane Powered Fan
This airplane fan simply plugs up to your computer with a USB cord to set the propellers spinning. Uses a high quality quiet motor, so you don’t have to worry about it making excessive noise. |
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USB Humping Dog
USB Humping Dog is a unique USB toy for computers. Just plug it into an USB port and watch it in action. This spunky mutt will not stop, until you pull him out. |
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USB iMood Clock
Color changing desktop alarm clock (blue, green and red) that runs off USB, or even batteries if you want! Has 8 different melodies for the alarm function. |
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Twistable Notebook Light for Laptop
There are tonnes of notebook lights on the market, but beware because some have off-white (or even blue) lights, aren’t long enough or have inferior bulbs that blow easily or aren’t bright enough. This one is definitely a cut above. Produced by Thermaltake, the two LEDs are bright and are controllable by an on/off switch, and feel well-constructed. |
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USB Laser Guided Missile Launcher
There are USB missile launchers, and then there are USB missile launchers. This is the next generation USB Missile Launcher that features a powerful Class 3 laser. Powered by your computer, you can actually use it to properly aim at your foes in the office. Simply install the accompanying targetting software, then connect the Striker II™ toy to your USB port on your computer. Now defend your space with foam missiles and a real laser! Moves 180 degrees left and right, and tilts up and down 45 degrees. Awesome fun! |
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USB Family Guy Stewie figure
I love Family Guy, and Stewie rocks! So I thought this makes a pretty cool USB toy. Stewie responds to keystrokes with movement and sound! He blinks his evil beady eyes, menacingly waves his arm and his leathel laser lights up too. Ignore him and he will remind you who is boss with random phrases and action |
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USB Circus Cannon
You plug the USB Circus Cannon into your computer and then using your arrow keys and space bar, you can aim and fire at anything within 10 feet of your PC. It has pretty cool sound effects and shoots with authority. |
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USB Chameleon
With its bendable arms, legs and tail, you can place your Chameleon anywhere you want. When it’s connected to a USB port, it will randomly roll its eyes and stick its tongue. |
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USB Tengu
Working on your PC can sometimes be a lonely experience. Well, not anymore, because now you can get yourself a new buddy in the form of Tengu! He’s (though he might be a she…) a USB-powered gadget that lights up and lip-syncs to music, or your voice, or whatever noise happens to be banging around at the time. Tengu has seven different facial expressions, and when there’s no sounds to lip-sync to, he’ll simply nod off. As soon as he detects some noise, he’ll wake up and lip-sync along to it. Tengu is a fun little object that guarantees to raise a smile as he lip-syncs along to your favorite songs. |
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USB Plasma Ball
This is a miniature plasma ball which works in exactly the same way as the full-sized ones found in museums and in the movies! As a kid, I had always wanted one of these…on touching it, blue flashes of lightning will move to greet your fingertips. Just plug this plasma ball into any USB port on your computer, flick the switch to ‘On’ and watch as it comes to life! |
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USB Mini Aquarium
Watch beautiful tropical fish swimming and playing in these desktop aquariums and feel your stress fading away. They won’t starve, they don’t make a mess, and they just swim gently back and forth with playful movements. |
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Homer Simpson USB Desk Light
This is a cool looking USD desk light that’s actually Homer Simpson relaxing as usual in his armchair. Seat him right next to your computer — the lamp lights up when plugged into any USB port. |
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Toastmasters Table Topic Ideas for Impromptu Speaking - Current Affairs
This Table Topics idea is great because as Toastmasters, we have to be able to speak on any topic, and be especially familiar with current affairs. So select a current affair from the news and have each Table Topics speaker discuss the topic.
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About AlvinMy blog covers areas covering mainly IT, technology, and public speaking. My posts are usually about any useful things that I think are worth sharing, and of my research that I do. |
