Bill's Blog

[Chris Ross]

I replaced Windows Vista Home premium 32 bit with Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit RC about 2 months ago on my laptop
It is an improvement except for printer drivers (64 bit) I'd recomend the 32 bit version to anyone as an improvement on Vista
My desktop that I use for Flight simming is using XP Pro anf I will leave it that way till I buy a new computer I'd wait till they sort out DX11 graphics cards
Chris

[Bill Von Sennet]

I have my new Windows 7 computer.

One problem is with FS9. It starts in full screen mode, how do I change it to windowed mode so that I can change flight plan etc while enroute?

[Ed Burke]

Alt+V+F should do the trick, that command toggles between window and full screen. However in full screen mode Alt gives you all the choices across the top. eg Alt+F+P and your flight plan is ready to be messed around with.

Have fun, Ed

[flaminghotsauce]

Bill, I'm anxious to hear how much better FS9 looks, runs, and satisfies on you new rig!

[Bill Von Sennet]

Thanks Ed,

Atl+V+F works!

Flaming,

I haven't made any complete flights yet, too busy setting up the computer. But I have noticed the clouds look much better.

[budsbud]

Bill
I have been running Win 7 for a couple of months now with FS9 and I sure see the difference. Win 7 handles dual core processor so much better than XP ever did. All my flights seem better in every respect. Maybe that is because I just want it to be so.
To me it is worth the trouble to migrate onward and upward Just my two cents worth.
Bud

[Chris Ross]

Hmm Bill I use Alt + Enter to change from fullscreen to windowed mode and back
Chris

[Bill Von Sennet]

Well I've had the new computer for a while so here is my report.

I like Windows 7. I added a second 320gb hard drive and moved my web-sites - FS9 - my humongous aircraft hangar and Plan-G over there (Drive E:)

I am running FS9 with frames locked at 50 FPS It would run much higher, I had seen it up as high as 168 fps.

The clouds are spectacular and with my 24" monitor the instrument panels seems to be life-size!

Here is a screenshot from the Twin Bonanza turning final at Coolangatta for the final landing of the GAAR2010:



There are more shots on the GAAR 2010 screenshots page.


We are planning a several week trip out west in May. I am getting a laptop to take along and connect with wifi to make hotel reservations and surf the net.

We will also use it to store our pictures from the digital cameras.

I would also like to do some on-line banking as we will be on the road for most of the month. How do I secure the laptop from wifi snoops?

[flaminghotsauce]

Don't use the wifi. Most hotels will have internet cable connections as well as wifi.

OR, don't do banking. OR, get a Linux Live CD and ONLY do banking while running off the Linux.

If I were doing what you propose, I would take a Ubuntu, Mint, or PCLinuxOS live cd and boot to do banking. When you are using a live CD it isn't using your hard drive. You can actually run a computer with no HD installed with a live CD. Linux is much more difficult to hack, therefore safer.

Even better would be a dual-boot situation. Boot into the linux for banking. Or boot into Windows for normal surfing.

This is probably not exactly what you're hoping to hear. But seriously consider the Linux if you're going to be doing banking.

[Bill Von Sennet]

Thanks Flaming,

I will not do banking over a free hotspot. I'm also looking at Boingo which is supposed to be secure. Boingo plus Linux sounds like a possibilty.

[Ed Burke]

For what it's worth Bill I was advised a long time ago that when entering account details and passwords from a public facility always make a habit of making deliberate mistakes followed by backspacing and then the real stuff. I was told that the software that these fraudsters use cannot handle the discontinuity. So far so good.

Off to Tassie for 6 weeks, keep my seat warm, Ed

[Bill Von Sennet]

Thanks Ed, I will remember that.

Flaming, I burned an ISO ubuntu onto a cd today.

I tried to get my new computer to boot from a CD, but when changing the bios I got scared and exited without saving.

When the laptop comes on Monday (unless it snows too much again) I will try doing it on that.

[flaminghotsauce]

Changing the BIOS to boot from the optical drive first is not a big thing. Have no fear. You can always change it back too.

[Bill Von Sennet]

I got my laptop! I started it with Ubuntu, but I couldn't connect to the internet. My laptop has a button on the keyboard to activate the wireless wifi, but while ubuntu was running it didn't work.

I plan on subscribing to a VPN (virtual private network) which will shield my internet traffic from prying eyes.

Witopia charges $39.99 a year, some are more expensive and some are free but sell your data to advertisers etc.

I downloaded Avast! 5.0 for virus protection.

Yesterday I borrowed the mouse from my desktop, and ordered a wireless mouse from Hong Kong on ebay. (wonder how long that will take!) But today I just used the touch pad.

I'm happy with the laptop. It has 3gb memory, windows 7, 160 gb drive. On sale last week at Best Buy for $329 Only drawback is it only has 2 usb ports.

Currently going thought the battery break in - fully charge, then use the battery until it tells you your battery is low. Repeat three time.

[Bill Von Sennet]

I finished my slide show of our vacation pictures.

www.billvons.com/gallery/2010%20-%20May/index.htm

The images are large (about 700k)

There are links to about 7 videos that are hosted at www.youtube.com or you can go there and search for billvons


All pictures and videos were taken my Mary Ann.