任務失敗:
對於影畢業相這個目標，雖然數量上算是不少了，但是不算不上成功。最致命的缺憾，是連科大也沒有走遍，宿舍和所有體育設施也沒有留影。其次，也錯失了和一些朋友拍照的機會。不過，也有令人欣慰的 -- 就是在中學拍了一些照片，尤其是和不少數學補習班的學生也有合照，總算有點感動，因為原本以為成功的機會不高。如果以分數來表示，大概有七十分左右吧。
第二種人:
早前的一篇文章提及過約會的難處，近期又有新的理解。這世上有一種人，他雖然把你視作好友，可是，他卻不會為你作出任何犧牲，包括金錢、時間、精神，等等。間中，他可能會「大發慈悲」，多花一點心思在你身上，但是，你心底也知道，有很大機會是因為他需要你的幫助、或者是已經沒事可幹。或者，他心裡真的當你是親朋密友，只是，你只能「久旱逢甘露」地感覺到；而在大部份的時間，你會覺得你比他的敵人在他心目中的地位更低。
聆聽唱片:
近來心情也好不到哪裡，需要「充電」的次數頻密了。對我而言，比較簡單的充電方法便是完整地聆聽一張唱片。其實，只要你有一台千元以上的迷你音響組合 (絕對不可以是電腦)，這個方法已經適用於你了。選一張優質的唱片 (不要是精選碟)，順序播放一次，你可以坐著或是躺下，但是除了間中轉換一下姿勢外，不應有任何動作，而且，思想也請盡量和歌詞發生聯想，而嚴禁思考生活中的苦惱，也請避免停止思考而進入睡眠狀態。然後，在整整一張唱片播放完後，你會發覺你的能量已經得到很好的補充。
這裡，唱片的質素非常重要，尤其是漸漸被人忽略的歌曲排序。比較近期的推介有何韻詩的《What Really Matters》和張敬軒的《酷愛》
2007年11月25日
2007年11月22日
AMD's "Agena" or Intel's "Kentsfield"?
AMD has just released its new Phenom processors. Honestly, I am disappointed that the performance of the new design cannot beat Intel's "Core" architecture.
The new Phenom perform slower than Intel's quad core offerings. AMD knows about the benchmark and it is proportionally priced under Core 2 Quad. They are of the same performance over price ratio. People may in general choose Intel's product as it is "considered" brighter. However, if I am asked to name a processor brand for a new computer, AMD will be my only choice. This is because, you may not believe it right away, AMD architecture is technological much more superior than Intel's Kentsfield.
AMD's "Agena" is a native quad core design while "Kentsfield" is a dual die chip in which two Conroes (Conroe is the codename for the first Core 2 Duo die) combined to form the quad core CPU. In fact, the dual-die configuration will not degrade the performance apparently. That's also the main reason why Intel can deliver the first quad core processor much sooner then AMD can. However, without further elaboration, you should see which one is more advanced idea.
In fact, it is not fair to compare "Agena" with "Kentsfield", because the real competitor is named "Penryn" which is a native quad core product from Intel. It is worth to make the idea clear that if we put it strict, AMD is the first vendor to release a native quad core processor for personal computing. Penryn in turns take advantage from Agena as a 45nm processor, while Agena is a 65nm product. The 45nm technology ensure a smaller die and less power consumption (if power leakage is well controlled)
While Intel has been leading the "nm" war for years, AMD made much revolutionary design ages ago. The Hyper Transport technology was developed by AMD years ago. It was quite an controversy technology that the effect on performance is hard to measure and existing benchmarking tools don't show a significant differentiation. However, in the latest Intel roadmap, QPI (QuickPath Interconnect) was introduced and basically it is an Intel's version of Hyper Transport. The Front Side Bus used by Intel will be fading out in a foreseeable time frame.
On the other hand, the "Nehalem" (in which QPI will be used) also features an integrated DRAM controller, which starts to become a tradition of AMD's processors. Integrated DRAM controller improve the latency of main memory, despite the lost in flexibility of migrating to new DRAM technologies (Redesign of processor core may be required to support new DRAM).
"Kentsfield" has higher performance then "Agena", but the successor of its successor ("Nehalem" is at least two generation after "Kentsfield") has two major changes that AMD's "Agena" is currently employing. If you view from this angle, AMD may be a better choice.
The new Phenom perform slower than Intel's quad core offerings. AMD knows about the benchmark and it is proportionally priced under Core 2 Quad. They are of the same performance over price ratio. People may in general choose Intel's product as it is "considered" brighter. However, if I am asked to name a processor brand for a new computer, AMD will be my only choice. This is because, you may not believe it right away, AMD architecture is technological much more superior than Intel's Kentsfield.
AMD's "Agena" is a native quad core design while "Kentsfield" is a dual die chip in which two Conroes (Conroe is the codename for the first Core 2 Duo die) combined to form the quad core CPU. In fact, the dual-die configuration will not degrade the performance apparently. That's also the main reason why Intel can deliver the first quad core processor much sooner then AMD can. However, without further elaboration, you should see which one is more advanced idea.
In fact, it is not fair to compare "Agena" with "Kentsfield", because the real competitor is named "Penryn" which is a native quad core product from Intel. It is worth to make the idea clear that if we put it strict, AMD is the first vendor to release a native quad core processor for personal computing. Penryn in turns take advantage from Agena as a 45nm processor, while Agena is a 65nm product. The 45nm technology ensure a smaller die and less power consumption (if power leakage is well controlled)
While Intel has been leading the "nm" war for years, AMD made much revolutionary design ages ago. The Hyper Transport technology was developed by AMD years ago. It was quite an controversy technology that the effect on performance is hard to measure and existing benchmarking tools don't show a significant differentiation. However, in the latest Intel roadmap, QPI (QuickPath Interconnect) was introduced and basically it is an Intel's version of Hyper Transport. The Front Side Bus used by Intel will be fading out in a foreseeable time frame.
On the other hand, the "Nehalem" (in which QPI will be used) also features an integrated DRAM controller, which starts to become a tradition of AMD's processors. Integrated DRAM controller improve the latency of main memory, despite the lost in flexibility of migrating to new DRAM technologies (Redesign of processor core may be required to support new DRAM).
"Kentsfield" has higher performance then "Agena", but the successor of its successor ("Nehalem" is at least two generation after "Kentsfield") has two major changes that AMD's "Agena" is currently employing. If you view from this angle, AMD may be a better choice.
2007年11月19日
風山水起
上星期五，聽著電台，祖母突然說了一句:「這首歌不錯呀，音樂很輕鬆」，就這樣，我決定買下農夫的最新大碟《風山水起》。事實是，祖母只是在手術後慢慢開始回復一點點聽覺，難得她可以聽得出「輕鬆的音樂」，也總算和農夫有點緣份。
和朋友說起，她不知道「買了農夫」是甚麼意思，是本地樂隊的悲哀，在知道了之後，她再驚訝地說:「現在還有人購買唱片嗎?」，是本地樂壇的絕望。我同意， MP3 其實來得比唱片方便，但是，以一個有正當職業的大學畢業生來說，買唱片是「讀書人」的表現。不過，話說回來，如果不是之前「投資」了硬件 (擴音機和喇叭等)，我也不會有這麼大買唱片的動力。可能，CD 這個軟體也要靠硬件市場才能推動。
小時候，根本沒有留意這類稍稍地下的音樂，聽的清一色是流行曲。長大後接觸多了，實在很難在藝術上對地下樂隊和古典樂器分出高下。
如果以時代曲而言，我卻更欣賞這類型歌曲的歌詞對現今文化的保存，《風山水起》內不少歌曲的填詞頗有意思，有趣抵死。如果當年林子祥的《吖嗚婆》和《愛到發燒》不會被視為地下，又為何現在 PixelToy 的《喔噢》或是 My Little Airport 的《畢業變成失業》得不到熱播。
我相信，這張專輯，在《學海無涯》和《日出而作》之間，你總會產生共鳴!
和朋友說起，她不知道「買了農夫」是甚麼意思，是本地樂隊的悲哀，在知道了之後，她再驚訝地說:「現在還有人購買唱片嗎?」，是本地樂壇的絕望。我同意， MP3 其實來得比唱片方便，但是，以一個有正當職業的大學畢業生來說，買唱片是「讀書人」的表現。不過，話說回來，如果不是之前「投資」了硬件 (擴音機和喇叭等)，我也不會有這麼大買唱片的動力。可能，CD 這個軟體也要靠硬件市場才能推動。
小時候，根本沒有留意這類稍稍地下的音樂，聽的清一色是流行曲。長大後接觸多了，實在很難在藝術上對地下樂隊和古典樂器分出高下。
如果以時代曲而言，我卻更欣賞這類型歌曲的歌詞對現今文化的保存，《風山水起》內不少歌曲的填詞頗有意思，有趣抵死。如果當年林子祥的《吖嗚婆》和《愛到發燒》不會被視為地下，又為何現在 PixelToy 的《喔噢》或是 My Little Airport 的《畢業變成失業》得不到熱播。
我相信，這張專輯，在《學海無涯》和《日出而作》之間，你總會產生共鳴!
2007年11月17日
Team Building
第一次參與 team building 這一類玩意，感覺也不錯。唯獨是整個上午都在參與策略性的會議，有點沉悶。
下午和晚飯都由公司支助，吃得特別暢快。下午的時候到了太古城的一所中式餐廳，然後到了將軍澳的一個會所進行 team building。世事往往令人意想不到，自中三後都沒有接觸籃球的我，竟然成為了 3 on 3 比賽裡入球最多的球員! 我在這一天的藍球得分應該比之前廿三年的總和更多，當然，我也是全場中新陳代謝最快的一個 -- 即是最快汗流浹背、呼吸失調的那一個。
射定點球的比賽中，倚靠平日傳奇隊友霖的教導，讓我成功使出了絕技，就是在對手投籃時大叫: 「你鞋帶鬆了。」，讓我成功換取同事的怒目而視! 並在隨後乒乓球室遭受連番掃射......
晚飯到了鯉魚門吃海鮮，味道也不錯，只是同桌中偏吃的人比較多，令我也不自覺吃多了。拍了一些照片，算是第一次和同事之間的聯誼活動的首批照片吧。
下午和晚飯都由公司支助，吃得特別暢快。下午的時候到了太古城的一所中式餐廳，然後到了將軍澳的一個會所進行 team building。世事往往令人意想不到，自中三後都沒有接觸籃球的我，竟然成為了 3 on 3 比賽裡入球最多的球員! 我在這一天的藍球得分應該比之前廿三年的總和更多，當然，我也是全場中新陳代謝最快的一個 -- 即是最快汗流浹背、呼吸失調的那一個。
射定點球的比賽中，倚靠平日傳奇隊友霖的教導，讓我成功使出了絕技，就是在對手投籃時大叫: 「你鞋帶鬆了。」，讓我成功換取同事的怒目而視! 並在隨後乒乓球室遭受連番掃射......
晚飯到了鯉魚門吃海鮮，味道也不錯，只是同桌中偏吃的人比較多，令我也不自覺吃多了。拍了一些照片，算是第一次和同事之間的聯誼活動的首批照片吧。
2007年11月13日
約會有感
雖然一直以來都會主動舉行朋友間的聚會，但像這一之畢業相般大規模的卻是第一次。其中有一些細節，被約者如果多做一點，效率便會好很多了。
其中最明顯的例子，便是在使用即時通信軟件或手機短訊的時候，收到訊息的人，即使出席與否，也應該回覆，好讓發起人能夠預備。可惜的是，我發了十多個 MSN 的訊息給 7B 班的同學，只有 1 號同學有回覆。從這個角度看，「溝通」這一個課題可能要成為通識科的一環了，因為事實上，任何有效的溝通模式都是雙向的 (從古代的鼓聲、的士 Call 台，以至警方通訊等)，反而在科技發達的今天，人們都好像忘記了回覆的重要性。在朋友間的聚會上，我認為我們應該採取 TCP 的溝通模式，然而，現代社會都流行 UDP 了......
我覺得，UDP (即發訊者不會得到接收者的確認) 的模式在社會日漸廣泛，並不是這個溝通方法更有效率，而是現代人生活太煩瑣了，使得溝通質素也下降了。尤其是在工作上，「問長問短」可以是缺點。比較明顯的例子是客戶服務，當你致電投訴的時候，最理想的情況當然是有客戶服務員向你主動聯絡，以跟進事件。可是，往往因為人手不足 (或者投訴太多)，投訴人往往像把石子扔向無底深潭一樣。
在上班，這種情況我可以忍受，因為工作上沒有太多感情投放在內。但是，朋友間如果也是採取這種方式我便很不同意了。有時，我在暫定了一個活動之後卻取消了 (我通常在約人時都會指明活動是暫定還是肯定的)，這時候，如果我不主動告訴其他人活動最後搞不成的話的話，大部份人都不會在活動前主動找我，而是:
1. 直接假設活動取消了
2. 在預定的時間地點出現，然後發現活動已經取消，向發起人埋怨為何沒有收到通知 (即使不埋怨，但事實上也是白走了一趟)
每次有這種情況發生，我也不太高興。因為不論以上那一個情形，都可是引申為: 「和我聯絡是很痛苦的事，迫不得已不要主動找我」，如果不是這樣，那便應該是「這個活動我根本沒有興趣，只是迫不得已才會出現」了，除此之外我想不到有任何原因不在事前找我確認一下。
所以，每當有人來電向我詢問活動細節，我都會有一絲的感動，當然啦，物以罕為貴麻。
其中最明顯的例子，便是在使用即時通信軟件或手機短訊的時候，收到訊息的人，即使出席與否，也應該回覆，好讓發起人能夠預備。可惜的是，我發了十多個 MSN 的訊息給 7B 班的同學，只有 1 號同學有回覆。從這個角度看，「溝通」這一個課題可能要成為通識科的一環了，因為事實上，任何有效的溝通模式都是雙向的 (從古代的鼓聲、的士 Call 台，以至警方通訊等)，反而在科技發達的今天，人們都好像忘記了回覆的重要性。在朋友間的聚會上，我認為我們應該採取 TCP 的溝通模式，然而，現代社會都流行 UDP 了......
我覺得，UDP (即發訊者不會得到接收者的確認) 的模式在社會日漸廣泛，並不是這個溝通方法更有效率，而是現代人生活太煩瑣了，使得溝通質素也下降了。尤其是在工作上，「問長問短」可以是缺點。比較明顯的例子是客戶服務，當你致電投訴的時候，最理想的情況當然是有客戶服務員向你主動聯絡，以跟進事件。可是，往往因為人手不足 (或者投訴太多)，投訴人往往像把石子扔向無底深潭一樣。
在上班，這種情況我可以忍受，因為工作上沒有太多感情投放在內。但是，朋友間如果也是採取這種方式我便很不同意了。有時，我在暫定了一個活動之後卻取消了 (我通常在約人時都會指明活動是暫定還是肯定的)，這時候，如果我不主動告訴其他人活動最後搞不成的話的話，大部份人都不會在活動前主動找我，而是:
1. 直接假設活動取消了
2. 在預定的時間地點出現，然後發現活動已經取消，向發起人埋怨為何沒有收到通知 (即使不埋怨，但事實上也是白走了一趟)
每次有這種情況發生，我也不太高興。因為不論以上那一個情形，都可是引申為: 「和我聯絡是很痛苦的事，迫不得已不要主動找我」，如果不是這樣，那便應該是「這個活動我根本沒有興趣，只是迫不得已才會出現」了，除此之外我想不到有任何原因不在事前找我確認一下。
所以，每當有人來電向我詢問活動細節，我都會有一絲的感動，當然啦，物以罕為貴麻。
2007年11月10日
2007年11月6日
StarCraft 2 has too much to fill, or none?
Doubtlessly, StarCraft 2 is the longest-awaited computer game in history. Despite the 9 year-old age and its chipped resolution of 640x480 pixels, the game has been in the checklist of World Cyber Game for 7 continuous years, not to mention Starleague which was derived solely from the game's success.
An interesting study suggests that the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 may account for the enormous popularity of the well-balanced game in Asia, especially Korea. I partly agree with this claim. I believe Blizzard's continuous support (the latest fifteenth patch was released in August 2007) and the game's well-balanced nature deserve such respect from gamers.
However, I think the game's successor is facing a situation never been discussed before. The original game (original here includes the StarCraft: BroodWar expansion) has become a legend that players are emotionally sticked with major units in the original game. “Tempest didn’t feel right and that there was too much of an emotional connection with the original unit“, quoted from a developer of Starcraft 2, about the replacement of a new Protoss unit Tempest with the "original unit" Carrier. The key point here is that the Tempest makes no difference from the Carrier's idea of the real military unit, aircraft carrier. Even so, StarCraft players (like me) feel uncomfortable with the new name assigned to it, and emotionally want the original name back.
In fact, it is confirmed that the simplest attacking units of the three races in StarCraft 2 share similar appearances with those in the original game, they are Zealots (Protoss), Marines (Terran) and Zerglings (Zerg). The same situation is found in the highest tier units, Carriers from the Protoss, Battlecruisers from the Terran and Ultralisks from the Zerg.
To measure the successfulness of StarCraft 2 might be difficult, as the original game is general considered as perfect in game balance and so for playability. Personally, if Blizzard simply improves the resolution and the user interface of original StarCraft, the "new" product is definitely my cup of tea. Unfortunately, the real world is not that simple, overwhelming noise is expected for an imitative game like this.
Until now, I think Blizzard has found the best way to achieve this goal. While keeping many of the popular units in the game, it focuses on UI improvement and the storyboard. In order to comfort old-minded StarCraft players (like myself), Blizzard reassures gamers in unofficial channels that most (if not all) original StarCraft units will be editable in the map editor of StarCraft 2.
StarCraft 2 actually has just a none to little concerning the game play, provided that it will be released in 2008.
An interesting study suggests that the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 may account for the enormous popularity of the well-balanced game in Asia, especially Korea. I partly agree with this claim. I believe Blizzard's continuous support (the latest fifteenth patch was released in August 2007) and the game's well-balanced nature deserve such respect from gamers.
However, I think the game's successor is facing a situation never been discussed before. The original game (original here includes the StarCraft: BroodWar expansion) has become a legend that players are emotionally sticked with major units in the original game. “Tempest didn’t feel right and that there was too much of an emotional connection with the original unit“, quoted from a developer of Starcraft 2, about the replacement of a new Protoss unit Tempest with the "original unit" Carrier. The key point here is that the Tempest makes no difference from the Carrier's idea of the real military unit, aircraft carrier. Even so, StarCraft players (like me) feel uncomfortable with the new name assigned to it, and emotionally want the original name back.
In fact, it is confirmed that the simplest attacking units of the three races in StarCraft 2 share similar appearances with those in the original game, they are Zealots (Protoss), Marines (Terran) and Zerglings (Zerg). The same situation is found in the highest tier units, Carriers from the Protoss, Battlecruisers from the Terran and Ultralisks from the Zerg.
To measure the successfulness of StarCraft 2 might be difficult, as the original game is general considered as perfect in game balance and so for playability. Personally, if Blizzard simply improves the resolution and the user interface of original StarCraft, the "new" product is definitely my cup of tea. Unfortunately, the real world is not that simple, overwhelming noise is expected for an imitative game like this.
Until now, I think Blizzard has found the best way to achieve this goal. While keeping many of the popular units in the game, it focuses on UI improvement and the storyboard. In order to comfort old-minded StarCraft players (like myself), Blizzard reassures gamers in unofficial channels that most (if not all) original StarCraft units will be editable in the map editor of StarCraft 2.
StarCraft 2 actually has just a none to little concerning the game play, provided that it will be released in 2008.
2007年11月1日
畢業禮物
妹妹四出尋找適合的畢業洋娃娃，令本來對於畢業禮物不以為然的我也很感動，與此同時，也引發了我想自己購買一份禮物送給自己。
誰不知在上班的時候，爸爸突然來電問我是否真的很想替 D40X 加上一個閃光燈 SB-800，我當然說「想」啦，就這樣，我又多了一份畢業禮物。
其實，覺得體積較小的 SB-400 更加能配合 D40X 的小巧身型，可是無疑 SB-800 在效果上能有更多變化。在畢業的日子，當然要留住最美的一刻，這個配搭相信能夠大派用場呢!
11月4日 後記: 在派上用場之前，要多花點時間掌握使用的技巧 -- 在這一天到了城市大學和朋友拍照，得到的是半數錯誤對焦和過度曝光的相片......
用 DSLR 可以拍到這樣 out-focus 的相片，我也可以算是第一人了 (因為設定了手動對焦後忘記了重置)。
誰不知在上班的時候，爸爸突然來電問我是否真的很想替 D40X 加上一個閃光燈 SB-800，我當然說「想」啦，就這樣，我又多了一份畢業禮物。
其實，覺得體積較小的 SB-400 更加能配合 D40X 的小巧身型，可是無疑 SB-800 在效果上能有更多變化。在畢業的日子，當然要留住最美的一刻，這個配搭相信能夠大派用場呢!
11月4日 後記: 在派上用場之前，要多花點時間掌握使用的技巧 -- 在這一天到了城市大學和朋友拍照，得到的是半數錯誤對焦和過度曝光的相片......
用 DSLR 可以拍到這樣 out-focus 的相片，我也可以算是第一人了 (因為設定了手動對焦後忘記了重置)。
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