My last post was related to ultraportable notebooks, but now i would like to focus on different type of portable computers. This group is called ultra resistant.
World moves forward. In the journey, even in the most remote nooks of the world, far far away from the civilization... we need not only a knife, lighter, flashlight, clothes and canister of petrol, but also possibility of communication by the computer.
One of the most popular manufacturer of resistant notebooks is Panasonic. anasonic is also very well known of it's incredibly tough, well made and really expensive series of notebooks called ToughBooks. Let's take a closer look on specification of model cf-t8: weight 1.3 kg, screen size 12", made of steel and magnesium. As you can see it is really interesting combination of components. This feature in a special way protects against damage LCD display and hard drive. Cf-t8 can survive fall 75 cm of height and 100 kg of pressure. The specially designed splash resistant keyboard drain off the liquid and don't allow to reach in the electronic components. It's also equipped with GPRS modem and touch screen, so we can confortable connect to the network everywhere we are. Allow to work in all conditions for 8 hours on a single charge at the super fast processor and powerful graphics.
I am lucky because I had a chance to work on it. My first impression was: hmmm looks like cheap made of plastic toy for people who has to much money. I was wrong. New series characterize not only small weight, but also well overthink reliable construction. It allows to eliminate one of most frequent reason of damage, that happen in daily work. Integrated handle ensures comfortable to wear, as well as safe, convenient transport.
There are several companies producing armored laptops, for example: Itronix or GETAC, but there are not as popular.
So have you ever been in a situation where your computer fall from desktop, or fall out of your hands, and you thought that one day you will have the device that is more toughter?
The quality of 3D graphics has changed enormously over the years. Digital 3D image has came a long way since Atari released Battlezone in 1980. The reason for that is the fact that computer processing power has increased exponentially. The 3D technologies, which were avalible only in large grid 3D stations, now adapt in normal PC computers in our homes.
But the first 3D graphics system was developed much much earlier. In 1953 U.S. Air Force with support from MIT constructed SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment), which was a connection between radar and computers. SAGE took informations from radar and created, using computer power, simple 3D images.
The next big step in the development of 3D graphics was, mentioned before, Atari's Battlezone. From a futuristic-looking tank, players fought in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Later, Atari modified the game for the Pentagon for U.S. Army training procedures.
In 1988 Autodesk introduced AutoCAD, the earliest computer-aided design software packages for personal computers. Autodesk created something amazing, because from appearance of Autodesk, people has started modelling 3D scenes, not on the paper, but using CAD software.
Then the Pixar took the floor. Pixar's Toy Story was a courageous 3D project. Many movies used a digital enhancement, but none of them was made fully digitally, using only computer 3D graphics, but Toy Story was. Wired magazine called it "arguably the most ambitious computer-generated undertaking yet."
These days 3D graphics has walked to the highest level. 3D scenes are so realistic that human cannot see the difference between 3D image and photography. 3D movies has so advanced features like hair and clothes waving. The calculations taken for the rendering, are 1 000 000 000 more complex than 10 years ago. Virtual reality has become true.
I am sure that each of you have heard about some small or light laptops, but for sure few have ever had one. For several months I was looking for some small, light and really slim computer, but user friendly and not so expensive. I'm sure you know, that carring to school a computer weighting about three pounds cant't be called comfortable. I focused on founding some compromise between useful but heavy device and extremely light expensive one. It's obvious that you can't have everything... But I found a few models which are extremely tiny, light and not so expensive. I'd like to focus on a few models.
the first thought came to me when I hear about "small laptop" is asus eee, looks very small, but a bit thick. Fits easily into women's handbag. Eee seems to be perfect for long boring lecture in school. Producer says that Asus is designed for the internet but working on it, for more than several hours is impossible. So I started to digging andlooking for something that fits better to my needs.
Second notebook I have found was macbook air. Probably the most popular laptop produced by Apple. The first impression was: WOW!!! I was impressed and interested how is it possible to hide all components in such tiny computer case. Incredibly thin. Everything is great, but it has one fundamental flaw, it's insanely expensive. So I was still looking for something different.
I wonder how many of you are aware that Sony have produced even smaller and thinner toy than macbook air.
I have red about ultraportable Sony vaio x505 few days ago on one of the foreign web pages. It has made huge impression on me. Currently x505 is one true competitor to the macbook air. It isn't built of the strongest components, but this is the thinnest laptop I have ever seen. Only 9,7 mm of thickness and approximately 800 grams of weight makes difference.
So what is your smallest, thinnest, lightest and coolest notebook you have ever had chance to work on? So now after few moments of thinking, what is your opinion about that?
Today I would like to introduce to You maybe a rare topic - an extreme sport which is called freeskiing. Freeskinng grew in the mid 1990 from a skiing branch wich was then called "Big Mountain". BM refers to mainly to skiingoutside of specialy prepared ski areas, often from extremely steep slopes that can be accessed only by hiking or a helicopter. Today freeskinng is mostly associated with doing tricks in specificaly designed area which is called snowpark. Snowparks include a variaty of jumps, boxes, rails and can have a well known half-pipe. Snowpark's original users were snowboarders, but today the number of freeskiers is rapidly growing, so there are even parks design specificaly for them.
Freeskiing is not much more expensive sport then ordinary skiing, all You need to have is a pair skis which are called twintips, these are skiis which have tips on their both ends to allow the skier to switch (which means to ski backwards), takeoff or land back words when performing airborne manouvers. A pair of binding used with twintips is usualy not much different for ordinary ones, the only difference is that their tend to more robust. Boots have also a specific design, usualy their are softer than normal ones. What makes an extreme breakout of populatiry of this discipline is the fact that it is much more safer than other extreme sports. Crashing on snow won't hurt You much especially if You ware safety gear. There are even professional freeskiers which haven't got a single lim broken.
Everybody knows Renault Twingo, the French small town car, presented in 1993, but not everybody knows that it was based on a polish car called Beskid 106. Renault develops Twingo after expiration of Beskid patent applied by FSM. Beskid 106 was presented in 1983. The development of the construction has taken about 2 years. The effect on the work was pretty car with aerodynamic profile what makes consumption of the fuel really amazing, about 3,9 litre per 100km. The engine for the Beskid 106 was taken from Fiat 106p and Fiat 126 BIS, but there was really big difference between car from Turin. The gearbox got another 5 gear. That increases maximal speed to 120km/h. The boot has an enormous capacity: 800 litres after folding rear seats. Next advantage of Beskid was cost of production. Because the amount of steel taken for production one car, was a half less than in Fiat 126p, the car could become good competition for Fiat. The mass production has never started, because Fiat introduces in 1987 plans of Cinquecento, and FMS finds, that buying a license for production for the Cinquecento from Fiat will be the better solution, that improving own construction.
Today I’d like to write a few words about “Gardzienice Theatre”. I’ am not an expert on a subject (far from that), but I had a wonderful experience in participating in one of Gardzienice Theatre events and it was incredible. Gardzienice were founded in 1977 by Włodzimierz Staniewski, who is one of the most important polish theatre directors. He worked out a new actor training method, which is considered as one of most significant methods of XX century.
The idea was to create theatre in a natural environment, with a huge of attention to detail and originality of ethnic expression. Staniewski made impressive research on ancient culture, especially Greek. With his team he reconstructed the original songs that were being performed in ancient theatres of Greece. They did that by reconstructing original instruments and working on original pieces of text. There are some samples on Gardzienice web page. http://gardzienice.art.pl/en/posluchaj2.html In one of their performances they sang a song, which they had reconstructed and which wasn’t performed for 3000 years. Of course they had just few pieces of the original so, they sang just parts which survived and the rest they filled with silence (they paused singing leaving just reconstructed music). Whole performance was incredible and those silent moments just made it more impressive.
Another important element in this natural-eko theatre method is authenticity. Actors performing in Gardzienice live together in a commune, they are modest, and they are focused on training (moving and singing), meditation and self development. Effects are incredible. Every gesture of every actor is meaningful, carefully planned and so expressive! What’s very nice, before performance, Staniewski made a short briefing about the meaning of symbols and play, so such a layman like me could understand what’s going on? I’d like to encourage you to visit Gardzienice and their performances. All info is on their www page. www.gardzienice.art.pl . Do you enjoy theatre? What performances could you recommend?
Today It’s my turn to post some new exiting stuff on our blog. Perhaps It’s not very entertaining but I hope You’ll forgive me. ;) I decided to share my shocking experience from 3 weeks ago with You. I am aware that the Polish health service is not a favorite subject for almost all of us, but I think that there is a good reason for that. And here it is:
I spent 5 days in the/a hospital on Banacha street, where I had my septum operated. Septum is a part of the nose which separates two holes in the nose and its being operated when you have problems with breathing. I discovered that the hospital is a magic place, where absurd meets horror. It’s a place where 5 hour waiting time for registration isn’t anything abnormal. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised to discover that there is no place to wash, because there is no hot water on the 7th floor and showers are full of broken wheelchairs. Would You agree that guilt for such situation lays on poor management and many years of underinvestment? But I guarantee that there is money in the system. I spent 2 totally unnecessary days waiting for examinations, which finally took 15 minutes. Money spent on me doing absolutely nothing could have been invested better. I have heard rumors that NFZ gives hospital more money, when patient’s are kept longer. There are things though which have little in common with money and more to do with people. Things like food. It is possible to prepare something eatable with the same ingredients.
The worst part of my hospital complain is the history of my roommate, who almost died there. He thought he was perfectly healthy when he arrived. Test confirmed that he has Hepatitis, and a heart problem. Another thing was total lack of professionalism of one nurse, who told him about his illness in such a rude and impolite way, that he panicked. He cried whole night. Day after that he had his operation planned and he was so stressed, that he almost died there. Of course no operation was performed and doctors had to rescue him. I think that problem of our health service is far more complicated and difficult than funding problems. What’s Your opinion? What are Your experiences with our health service?
