I miss my CRT monitors!

Ok, so I upgraded my bulky old monitor to a shiny new super sexy LCD, but I end up missing quite a few things. You see, now that I have upgraded my CRTs, I don’t know what to do with all the extra space. The main problem I have is now that there is too much open airspace either in front of or behind my new monitors. When I used my 17” CRT monitor, I knew I needed to have a reasonable amount of space on the desk to accommodate the devices. But the majority of computer desks were designed keeping in mind the right face-to-monitor distance ratios so that where exactly at the right distance to view them comfortably.

But now these fancy new LCD monitors don’t take up any space. I sometimes find that the monitor is too far away, because it closer to the back of the desk. And if I push the monitor back, what am I going to do with all the empty space in front of the monitor? I can’t really put anything there because it’s going to block the view. And if I move the monitor closer, I have all the empty space behind the monitor – space that has no real value for shelves or anything else.

What have I gained?

Sure, LCD monitors are sexy to look at, but where am I going to put my cap? At least with CRT monitor, you could keep your unreal tournament figures on the top. But there is no space on the top of a LCD monitor, they are so bloody thin! Now my desktop is a vast sea of unproductive open space, and unless I cut my desk into half, I’m stuck with this awkward setup.

Seriously, what were the engineers thinking when they designed the LCD monitors? Obviously not the end user. And what am I going to do when I will get myself a 48” LCD TV? Yes, I would be able to mount it on the wall, but where the hell will I place my beloved game posters?

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Have you ever seen a keyboard like this?

Okay, so you know about all the outstanding keyboards – right from the Razer Tarantula to the ridiculously expensive Optimus Maximus. But this keyboard will surely knock your senses off. I can guarantee that won’t come across a keyboard like this ever. This Das keyboard (I stumbled across the page) claims to be a “keyboard that clicks”. It’s specialty: it’s BLANK. Yes, you read it right, it’s blank: no labels on the buttons – you don’t have anything to look at the keyboard. The reason they quote for this “Like on a piano, since there are no keys to look at when typing, your brain will quickly adapt and memorize the key positions”. And they claim that within a few short weeks users increase their typing accuracy and find themselves typing up to 100% faster.

It’s priced at $79.95. So if you are a keyboard warrior, go ahead and buy this keyboard. And if the prices seems a bit (or more) steep to you, I have a trick for you. All you need is your trusty old keyboard, a pair of scissors, and sticky tape. Next step: cut pieces of tape as per the size of buttons on your keyboard and cover the buttons. Boom! You own personal hand created Das keyboard (or whatever you want to call it) is ready. Cheers!

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What a gamer should buy?

Nvidia is going to launch a new graphics card – the 9800xt. And as usual Nvidia will proudly show off its “phenomenal pixel processing power” that enables “cinema quality realism” in your games. While this is true in its eternity, wait just four months and Nvidia will launch another graphics card that will offer “never seen before realism. And since all the new games launched after that would be built to the standard of the newest card, you will be left with two options: either upgrade if you want to play the new games or just stick with your current games. And the worst part: if a new DirectX standard comes, your graphics card is “aged”. And then comes a time when to play a new game you have to upgrade your configuration. And unless you have inherited a lot of cash from your ancestors, you are out if luck.

This brings me to happy part of the gaming society: the people who are proud owners of gaming consoles. You buy a console, pop in a disc, and you are ready to smash your foes. It can’t get any easier. And you don’t have to worry about upgrades (and drivers and viruses). Even your 4 year old brother (if you have one) can operate a console. Gamers couldn’t ask for more.

So, if you are an insanely rich gamer, go and upgrade your pc every four months or so. If not (just like me!), then you have the option to sell one of your kidneys. Or you can just buy (or beg or steal) a console and make your way to gaming nirvana.

P.S. – If you want to see a gamer happy, please donate. I am planning to buy a PS3 (:->) but I don’t have enough greenery in my wallet. (:-<)

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