In order to unlock the true potential of 3D Studio, it seems Windows Vista is a necessary evil. Windows XP x64 is just too expensive, and not a plausible candidate for piracy, plus it needs (even more) special drivers. Thus, I have opted to upgrade the Generally Omnipotent Device to Windows Vista 64-bit.

However, a necessary evil is still evil, and I wanted to pay as little as possible for it. Unfortunately, this kind of thing can't easily be pirated - but, I'd say $20 for Vista Home Premium is damn close.

How can such a thing be possible, when even Home Basic Upgrade goes for $45 on eBay? Well, it's quite simple. Computers that come with operating systems already installed are supposed to always have the Certificate of Authenticity on the case. This is especially true of laptops, and, for some reason, Home Basic is not recommended for laptops, leaving you with some higher version. I know what you're thinking; you can't get a Vista computer or laptop for $20, even on eBay. This is true, but you can get a used and/or broken laptop case for that price (though only rarely, I got lucky). For some reason, the people that sell laptop cases with the Vista COA sticker intact opt to sell them for significantly less than the COA alone is worth. Thus, it's quite common to be able to obtain a Vista Home Premium COA for $40 or less.

With the COA covered, what about the CD? Well, you download it. Seriously. As long as you've got a COA, it's legal (and is legal anyways with the 30-day trial mode). Furthermore, a retail Vista disc is only 32-bit, and you have to get the 64-bit disc from Micro$oft (while paying for shipping and handling). With a download, you can just have 64-bit right off the bat. Like I do.

However, I'm not stupid. I kept my Windows XP in a dual-boot configuration. And I'm glad I did, because Vista does not like some programs - and some programs do not like Vista. However, it functions as well as I need it to. I just wish I knew why it feels that a system designed in every way to run the Aero desktop is incapable of such a feat.

In other news... Well, hell, it seems my main page can't keep track of chronological order. It was apparently going clockwise a bit ago... Whatever, I have no idea what order it's going to decide to move things off as new things are submitted. Coincidentally, now all four recent deviations involve 3D glass in some way. I guess that's a trend with me, I'll try to keep that up now that it's been established. However, I have something entirely different lined up as my next project...

I saw part of some program on aging last night. Apparently, embryonic stem cells can replicate an entire functioning organ within days. Amongst other things, that'd be a quick and easy way to cure diabetes. To all the damn christians that are in the way of progress, I give a hearty "fuck you very much!"

And on that subject, the same program suggested that a low-calorie diet is a key to a long life. Well, that's a problem for me. I decided to keep track of my calorie intake, and I discovered that, in an average day, my body burns - as in, actively uses and does not store - over 3,000 Calories. That could also explain why doctors can not figure out my diabetes, and why I can not follow any meal regiment they give me. 75 grams of carbohydrates for breakfast? Surely you jest! I'll have to bring this up to the next competent doctor I see.

You know, there's been a recent rash of people "leaving DA," and it's hard to tell whether it's an April Fools joke or not. I think anyone who's serious about it should pick some other day to do it; waiting 24 hours to submit that journal can't be too hard. However, you can all rest assured, that the DigitalMan is still not leaving DA.

Maybe I'm just too damn lazy to leave. Because I'd have to think of some random reason to leave, and I'd have to put up a journal about it, and I'd have to put my whole gallery into storage, plus I'd have to hide all the comments on my page... we're talking a huge chunk of time here. And oh god, deleting all my old journal entries... I don't know how many there are now, but they make that scroll bar slider really, really tiny. And then I'd have to do it alllll over again in reverse when the lapse of reason wore off and I decided to "come back."

So it's just not worth the effort to leave. And it wouldn't be that different from now. I don't really do anything here, aside from the frequent journals and the extremely rare art upload. My message center is so full that it can no longer calculate the exact number of (allegedly) unread comments and journals I have. Everybody wants me to leave, but oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easily!

Plus, you know, it's pointless to burn a bridge that you could just as easily not walk across. Unless it's a real bridge, with real fire.


And your random thoughts for today:
"If Windows Vista decides your system is not capable of Aero Glass, there is no way to force it on." Watch me.

If I said I got Vista yesterday, no one would have believed it.

The winds of fate decided I should be obsessed with glass - because they were bored and had nothing better to do.

---~---
Now, go forth and visit these people:
My best friend. Visit him. But not more than you visit me.
A wise old man... without the old man part

The Metal Empire is officially allied with the following:


Sometimes, even a Supreme Commander has to salute someone...


WARNING: Making assumptions based on a journal footer has been proven to cause foot-in-mouth disease.