Comparison: Six Models of Sonoma Notebooks

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yangcy412 : 六款Sonoma NB试用报告
published on Tue, 14 Jun 2005 09:40:17 PDT
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六款Sonoma NB试用报告
第二代Centrino笔记型电脑的架构说明     ■迈向第二代，Centrino技术更快速

　 英特尔（Intel）于2003年3月12日正式发表了第一代Centrino（迅驰）行动运算技术，以三大重要关键零组件：CPU（Banias）＋晶片组（Odem／Montara）＋无线网路模组（Calexico）所构成的笔记型电脑架构，配合著全球砸下3亿美金的行销费用，成功塑造了新一代具备超省电、高效能、且无线上网的全新笔记型电脑产品，配备Centrino技术的NB很快地 在市场形成一股选购与升级的热潮！

▲Intel CENTRINO迅驰行动运算技术商标。

　由于起初Centrino NB的核心之一：Pentium M处理器（代号Banias）仍以130奈米制程打造，最高时脉停留在1.7GHz左右，L2快取记忆体 也只到1MB；随著2003年第三季Intel开始全面切换到更先进的90奈米制程技术，并几经波折之后，终于在2004年5月10日，推出代号为Dothan的Pentium M处理器，同时以全新的处 理器编号（Processor Number），以7X5序列命名，推出了Pentium M 755／745／735／725（2.0／1.8／1.7／1.6GHz），同时将L2快取增加到2MB，成为后来被俗称奈米级的NB；同时，在无线上网模组部份，Intel也推出Pro／Wireless 2200BG（802.11b/g，单频双模）新产品，并随后被陆续应用到新一代的Centrino NB产品，让无线上网速度再度往上飙升！

　2005年1月19日，Intel终于发表了第二代Centrino技术（代号Sonoma），彻底将第一代AGP架构全面翻新到PCI Express架构，以全新CPU（Dothan）＋晶片组（Alviso-M）＋无线网路模组（Calexico 2）所构成。在CPU部份同样是90奈米的Dothan，但外频已提升到533MHz，以7X0序列命名，且时脉也跟著提高，一共推出了Pentium M 770／760／750／740／730（2.13／2.0／1.86／1.73／1.6GHz）；在晶片组则采用Mobile Intel 915PM／915GM／915GMS／910GML Express（独立型、整合型、整合简易型、整合入门型）等晶片 组；在无线网路模组部份，则推出Calexico 2代的Pro／Wireless 2915ABG（802.11a/b/g，双频三模）的PCI-Express模组，提供更缜密的无线上网能力！

　就在Intel从2003～2005年主导的两代Centrino NB技术，挟其效能与DT拉近，再搭配所有合作夥伴厂商的配合之下，NB销售量持续攀高。如今许多应用Sonoma平台的NB已全面尽出，接下来我们 就从架构为出发点，来分析现今Sonoma NB的设计哲学！

　■检视市面上第二代迅驰NB的架构

　目前NB厂商们都已经推出了所谓的Sonoma平台NB，并以强调拥有更高的效能，来刺激市场的需求！这些CPU时脉 提高、记忆体也从DDR升级到DDR2、甚至搭配全新的GPU，让整体电脑架构更先进！不过想要在效能上真正提升、电池寿命能够再增长，却是考验著NB设计者的功力。因为要搭配不 好，不仅整体性能未提升，且可能更耗电，所以从架构来分析一部NB设计的好坏，将成为选购Sonoma NB时的重点。

　先从效能来看，目前中高阶Sonoma平台的NB，大都选用915PM（独立型）或915GM（整合型），搭配全新FSB 533MHz的Pentium M处理器，这样的架构绝对比以前855PM／GM时搭配FSB 400MHz的CPU还快！而在记忆体部份，目前许多厂商大多以DDR2-400或DDR2-533来设计，有些出厂时只放一条记忆体，以单通道运作，因此要发挥其双通道运作的效益，建议一次装好两条，才能发挥应有的效能！

　至于储 存装置部份，由于从i9x5系列晶片组开始，改成提供四个SATA插槽，一组PATA（IDE）插槽（可插两个IDE装置），可惜目前在小□SATA硬碟／光碟还没流行之前，许多厂商在设计2Spindle的NB时，就把IDE硬碟与IDE光碟机都接在同一条PATA插槽上（硬碟接Master，光碟机接Slave），这样会造成硬碟存取速度拖慢！尤其从光碟复制档案至硬碟，或硬碟重组 时，最能感受到其奇慢无比！因此，厂商也纷纷想出妙计，例如光碟机设计成可热插拔，而1Spindle的NB则问题较少，因为可透过外接的USB或1394光碟机，来避免这样的问题！其实这样的问题，只要厂商肯直接采用SATA硬碟，或反过来光碟改用SATA介面就能解决了。

▲许多Sonoma NB将硬碟与光碟机接在同一个IDE介面上，会造成硬碟速度被光碟拉垮的问题。

　至于相容性方面，Sonoma平台跟以前855平台因为CPU和记忆体架构不同，这样看来只剩硬碟可以拿来互相共用。不过也有厂商看准915PM／GM可支援DDR或DDR2规格的记忆体，在Sonoma NB上直接采用DDR-333来设计 ，效能不见得会输DDR2太多，且好处是可以拿以前的DDR记忆体来使用，但缺点就是会降低电池的续航力！

　从上述分析，似乎很难有一部既可省电、又可强化效能的全能Sonoma NB，因为从耗电量来看，Sonoma平台的CPU、FSB时脉都比较高，所以相对会比以前855PM／GM时搭配FSB 400MHz的CPU还耗电些。也因此，越来越多厂商为了让自己的产品更有卖点，便开始从硬体（用容量较大的电池，或随附长效型电池）和软体（内建更详尽的节电管理，甚至连USB、1394、CardBus等周边都能控制其开闭）下手，透过这样双管齐下 的方式，达到延长电池寿命的目的！

　■六款Sonoma NB测试

　这次笔者测试所选定的机种，都是采用90奈米的Pentium M 7x0的处理器，搭配915PM或915GM的晶片组，笔者这次锁定以轻薄型（12□）、商用型（14□）、视听型（15□）等机种，来为读者做分析与介绍！

 

 

轻薄时尚型NB：冰晶雪白的时尚轻薄机
具2spindle、轻盈身形的―微星MEGABOOK S260

http://www.digitimes.com.tw/n/article.asp?id=6B88279EE38CFCE2482570060046D972

2005/05/20   ■白色时尚□轻薄再现

　微星（MSI）自2003年投入笔记型电脑的研发，并于2004年第一季推出第一部以MEGABOOK自有品牌NB―M510C之后，就以雪白的时尚造型、不俗的效能，令消费者眼光为之一亮。在打响知名度之后，微星随后加码推出可换面板的M510A，并在第三季推出第一部S（Slim）系列的超薄型NB―S250，是针对时尚 仕女所打造的轻薄宽萤幕笔记型电脑，以欧系简朴的设计思维（据悉该NB的确是欧洲分公司所主导），并结合日系要求轻薄且实用的需求，打造出来的一款具备16：10宽萤幕、2 Spindles的全新机种，在机身低于2公斤的轻盈身形下，确实为国内轻薄迷你笔记型电脑市场，投入一强力的震撼弹。

　这次随著Sonoma平台的流行，微星再度推出全新的S260，可说是S250的升级版。两者外型相同，只差在规格不同而已。S260同样是以全机珍珠白的时尚造型，在轻盈的身躯下又兼顾高效能表现，可说是众迷你时尚笔记型电脑中的一颗闪耀之星！

　微星MEGABOOK S260采用12.1□WXGA（1280x800）的TFT镜面萤幕，搭配坚固且轻量化的铝镁合金外壳，将重量可以控制在1.8公斤左右，让都会上班族可以轻松地穿梭工作场所与家中，以展现出不同的自我风格。

　■外在内装好犀利□镜面萤幕更亮丽

　继承S250的简洁素净设计，S260同样以「简朴」为主：将机身翻开时，上机身的萤幕区底下配置立体声喇叭，而下机身同样是配置白色系的全尺寸键盘，搭配上面有四组快捷钮与白色灯的电源开关钮，以及下面的触控板与白色点选钮 ，表现出谐和的视觉色系，让长时间使用上也不会有拘束感。

　在周边扩充槽与输出入孔的设计上，S260同样以简朴为主。机身前侧仅有1394埠、红色麦克风／黑色耳机 孔，以及七组萤光色的指示灯号。机身左侧则是DVD Combo烧录机、PCMCIA槽、USB插槽、三合一读卡机槽（SD／MMC／MS）。机身右侧则有2组USB、RJ11数据埠、RJ45网路埠、散热孔、VGA-out、DC-in孔。

　至于机身后侧，S260上下盖采取类似日系SONY VAIO迷你笔记电脑的长形铰链轴设计，在铰链轴后方空间则设计了一个容纳4芯的圆柱状锂电池 ，实测重量约220g，可提供2～2.5小时的电池续航力，此外微星也有推出较大的8芯长效型电池（已优先于欧洲出货），重量为310g，电池续航力预估可以再多撑个4～5小时。搭配先进的散热系统（ACS）设计，让长时间使用也能保持稳定运作。

　在硬体规格部份，S260采用Intel 915GM整合型晶片组、搭配Pentium M 730（1.6GHz，2MB L2快取，FSB 533） CPU，与DDR-333记忆体256MB（可扩充至2GB），配置了40GB（4200转）的硬碟与DVD Combo烧录机。在显示部份，S260则是使用915GM内建的GMA 900绘图加速器，与系统记忆体共享1MB～8MB的空间作为视讯记忆体，可提供DirectX 9的绘图能力！同时可支援双萤幕输出！成为行动简报的利器。

　至于通讯功能部份，S260内建100Mb乙太网路 埠、以及802.11g（54Mbps）无线上网模组（并有WLAN专属切换钮），没有内建蓝芽1.2模组，但可以透过选购蓝芽USB Dongle来扩充。

　在机种方面，除了白色机，S260 也有黑色机，依不同规格有不同的售价。以最高旗舰版W26S为例，其使用Pentium M 740 CPU（1.73GHz，2MB L2快取，FSB 533MHz），搭配60GB的硬碟，建议售价为47,900元；入 门级则使用Celeron M 350（1.3GHz，1MB L2快取，FSB 400MHz），搭配40GB硬碟，建议售价为42,900元，随货还赠送Targus的雪白与浅灰相间的笔记型电脑两用背包。此外微星已在五月初也启动了线上购物机制（微星电子商城，http://emall.msi.com.tw），让消费者可以直接线上选购！

▲微星S260正视图。


▲微星S260前侧图，有1394埠、麦克风／耳机孔、七组萤光指示灯。


▲微星S260后侧图，仅有电池、保护锁孔。


▲S260右侧有2组USB、RJ11数据埠、RJ45网路埠、散热孔、VGA-Out孔、DC-in孔。


▲S260左侧有PCMCIA插槽、SD／MMC／MS三合一读卡机、1组USB、以及Combo光碟烧录机。


▲微星S260俯视图。


▲微星S260底部图，非常简洁。


▲微星S260键盘配置区，同样以白色系为主。采用86键全尺寸键盘，上面有4组额外功能键，以及白色指示灯的电源开关钮。


▲微星S260随附的Targus白色时尚包包。

　■试用与效能分析

　这款送测的MEGABOOK S260为珍珠白色，配置的CPU虽然只有1.6GHz，连记忆体也只有256MB，不过在基本的2D办公环境下，还是可以胜任。不过在多开几个视窗之后，Windows XP可调度的记忆体不足，就会发生硬碟存取频繁的状况，使得流畅 度大打折扣。若扩充到512MB以上，则S260的效能将会有所提升！

　至于在多媒体与网路的应用上，S260的立体声喇叭表现不俗。但因没内建隐藏式麦克风，所以使用Skype这类网路电话时，就得装自行一只。至于在影片播放部份，S260的16：10宽萤幕设计，适合用来观赏DVD影片。在单纯电池供电状态下，CPU降至800MHz时，可以看完整部2小时长 的影片。只是光碟机高速运转的噪音总是会干扰看电影的情绪，这似乎是每家NB不可避免的课题，笔者建议可以使用光碟机降速软体来减少噪音！

　再看3D应用部份，由 于S260使用整合型晶片设计，虽然915GM内建的GMA 900绘图核心可以支援到DirectX 9等级的画质，但它的半软半硬架构，必须搭配够强CPU与够大的记忆体，才能稍稍表现出跟现 今入门级显示卡接近的标准，因此S260是一部不太适合用来玩3D游戏的NB。

▲透过微星的System Control Manager（SCM），可用来调整各种节电需求！

　整体而言，S260的轻薄造型，已为微星将来在开发新一代迷你型NB时，奠定了稳固基础。从其S270（配置AMD Turion64 CPU机种）也同样采用相同外壳来看，相信未来有新款机种时，也将根据这样的架构来开发，不过笔者建议若能再内建红外线功能，相信对行动资讯族，甚至进军数位家庭市场更有帮助！

 

 

 

轻薄效能型NB之1：A4大小的超迷你笔记型电脑
创新FOLIO设计、效能优异的―宏□TravelMate 3000

http://www.digitimes.com.tw/n/article.asp?id=0C12A8A30BDF1099482570060046DBBC

2005/05/20   ■超轻超薄□如影随形

　在迷你笔记型电脑市场中，各厂商皆竭尽所能地推出体积更小、重量更轻的轻薄型NB，让使用者在携带时，能够感受到它轻盈身段所带来的便利性。这次，宏□（Acer）在轻薄型产品线中，就规划了一部仅有A4大小的NB，名叫TravelMate 3000，俗称「A4机」。

　TM3000的体积为297.5x210x25mm（一般电池）／32.5mm（接长效电池时），长和宽恰好就是A4纸张的大小。而其采用1Spindle的设计，加电池的重 量仅有1.4kg，可说是目前12.1□超薄型NB中最轻盈的机种，而且TM3000已通过宏□超过13项的严格测试（例如温度和湿度、坠落、震动、转轴寿命、防泼水...等等），保证产品 的可靠度与耐用性，以满足各式各样在外奔波的行动资讯族、商务人士的需求！

　在规格上，轻薄的TM3000内装也很实在。采用Sonoma平台，以Intel 915GM整合型晶片组为核心，搭载Pentium M 740处理器（1.73GHz，2MB L2快取，FSB 533MHz），搭配512MB DDR2-400记忆体（两条256MB以双通道运作），并配置60GB（4200转）硬碟。显示晶片则采用915GM内建的GMA 900绘图加速器，透过与系统共享64MB或128MB做为视讯记忆体。此外在无线网路部份，TM3000同时支援802.11g WLAN与蓝芽1.2，配合自家SignalUp技术以提供 更宽广的接收的能力，再加上配置有红外埠，让使用者随时都可以透过不同的方式来无线传输，不受「线」制。

▲宏□TravelMate 3000正视图。


▲宏□TM3000前侧图，有两组立体声喇叭、蓝芽与WLAN切换开关兼指示灯、耳机孔／麦克风孔、红外埠。


▲宏□TM3000后侧图，仅有DC-in插孔、电池、Dock埠。


▲宏□TM3000右侧图，有PCMCIA、四合一读卡机、1组USB埠、1组大孔1394埠、散热孔、防盗锁孔。


▲宏□TM3000左侧图，有2组USB埠、RJ11数据埠、RJ45网路埠、VGA-out连接 孔。


▲宏□TM3000俯视图。


▲宏□TM3000底部图。


▲宏□TM3000键盘配置：键距宽、有4组额外功能键，触控板有四向卷页钮。


▲宏□TM3000底部拆解元件：中右为记忆体模组与WLAN模组，右下为硬碟机，上为标准电池与长效型电池（一次只能择一使用） 。


▲安插长效型电池，NB后侧突出的样子。


▲随附的1394外接烧录机，与主机连接的样子。

　■对折式掀盖设计□周边 多扩充便利

　一般笔记型电脑的上盖与下盖皆有卡榫设计，使用时必须将卡榫扳开才能翻开上盖时。而TM3000则采用全新的FOLIO式设计，没有卡榫。使用时就像翻开A4大小的书本一样，而阖盖时也会有「喀喀」的声音（类似Sony Ericsson Z600的设计），让使用NB也能像使用手机那样一翻即开的便利性！

　在外型部份，TM3000采用 银色与黑色的双色系造型，在萤幕转轴处与电池处有条状的防滑处理，萤幕采用12.1□CrystalBrite镜面宽萤幕，解析度为特殊的1280x768（5：3）。键盘区采全尺寸设计，搭配 左上方有四组快捷键（Email、上网、eManager、节电管理），触控板部份也有四向翻页钮，并有隐藏式麦克风，加上机身前侧的立体声喇叭，支援HD Audio与SPDIF输出，让使用 者工作或娱乐时皆有最佳体验！

　TM3000周边扩充槽的设计上，在机身前侧配置了蓝芽与WLAN切换钮兼指示灯、麦克风／耳机孔，红外埠。左侧有2组USB、RJ11／RJ45数 据与网路埠，以及VGA-Out。右侧则有PCMCIA插槽、四合一读卡机（SD／MMC／MS／MSPro）、1组USB、1组1394（采大孔设计，就是让你接随附的外接1394介面Combo烧录机）。机身后面还有一组124pin的Dock槽，可连接选购的Acer ezDock以扩充到高达24种DT PC周边与各式数位设备的连接能力。

　在软体部份，TM3000内建的eManager提供eSetting （包含显示装置、安全性、开机选项、系统资讯）、ePresentation（简报解析度）、ePowerManagement（节电管理）、eRecovery（系统备份与还原），提供使用者各种使用上的 协助。此外GridVista（多视窗同工作业介面）软体，可以自动调整应用程式的视窗大小，在多萤幕或单萤幕环境下可以将桌面切割成2～4个作业视窗，并可协助800x600的网页调 整成整页宽度，以减少卷动页面的次数。

▲ 宏□的eManager，提供四大功能以协助使用者发挥各种应用。


▲eSetting提供显示装置、安全性、开机选项、系统资讯等设定与谘询功能。


▲ePresentation可以快速设定投影机的解析度。


▲ePowerManagement提供各种电源配置模式下的节电设定，可自由开闭各种装置，以及速度、亮度、运作时间等设定！


▲eRecovery提供系统备份与还原的功能。

　■试用与效能分析

　NB是一种又要马儿好（规格要够强）、 又要马儿不吃草（体积重量要轻）的矛盾产品，想要兼得的确是不容易的事。不过TM3000的出现，果然令笔者改观！它的A4大小与轻巧程度，再加上规格上的出众，让NB在效能与 重量的天平上并重，不会顾此失彼！先说TM3000在一般2D办公环境（文书、上网等）的效能，由于记忆体插两条打开双通道技术，再加上光碟机采1394设计，不会与既有的IDE硬碟抢频宽，因此在资料的存取上，可说是非常流畅！不会有已经下了两道指令、但电脑第一道指令都还没执行完的迟钝反应！

　再看3D效能部份，TM3000也发挥了GMA 900这个半软半硬的绘图加速器之潜力，在这次测试的所有轻薄整合型晶片组的NB里面，只有TM3000在各DirectX软体下有最优异的表现，看来这得归功于其系统资源调度得宜！

　至于电池续航力部份，TM3000可说是业界率先采用两组电池（标准与长效电池）为标准配备的NB，搭配Acer ePowerManagement电源管理程式，可调整各种电源配置模式来达到节电效果。笔者测试使用长效电池时，在最佳电池环境下可使用高达4小时41分钟。此外，电池电力恢复速度也够快，快速充电只需2.5小时，使用中充电则需3.5小时，这对马拉松式的用户来说可是非常有帮助的！

　在试用过程中，TM3000的散热风扇转速慢，噪音量低，还算可以接受。只是在键盘的配置上，TM3000将Home与End钮设计成需要搭配Fn钮来按，这对像笔者这样的文字编辑者来说，在移动页面时稍有不便！至于在蓝芽部份，原厂使用的是微软的蓝芽驱动程式（仅支援耳机与手持协定，无法传送档案，让蓝芽应用使 不上力），还好宏□网站有提供Widcomm版蓝芽驱动软体下载，让其蓝芽功能能得以发挥！

 

 

轻薄效能型NB之2：绝对长「眼」的超薄笔记型电脑
内建Webcam、可180度旋转的―华硕W5A

http://www.digitimes.com.tw/n/article.asp?id=845A7B00B218D063482570060046DB1F

2005/05/20   ■轻巧时尚□日系风格

　在Notebook电脑市场耕耘已久的国内3C大厂―华硕（ASUS）电脑，在Intel发表全新Sonoma平台期间，也一口气发表了三款全新时尚NB，将轻薄型、效能型以及大视野型全部一网打尽！这次所要介绍的是已于日前铺货上市的W5A，为一款轻薄造型、有内建WebCam的机种！

　华硕W5A的颜色有黑与白两款。这次笔者借测到的为白色机种（子型号为W5G750DD），是一款采用2-spindle的设计。配备12.1□WXGA TFT LCD（1280x800），其Color-Shine镜面面板，使萤幕显示的效果更加清晰、亮丽，让使用者在上网、编修照片、观赏DVD、甚至玩游戏，都有更佳的视觉享受！

　在规格方面，W5A采用Intel 915GM晶片组为平台，搭载Pentium M 750（1.86GHz，2MB Cache、FSB 533MHz） CPU，并搭配两条256MB的DDR2-400共512MB的记忆体，以双通道运作。显示方面则采用915GM内建的GMA 900 GPU，透过与系统共享16～128MB来当视讯记忆体。重量为305 x 220 x 29.8mm，搭配标准电池（3cell电池组）的重量为1.6公斤，而送测版本仅提供长效电池，实际测量后大约是1.88公斤！

▲华硕W5A正视图，旁边的RF无线滑鼠可直接与NB内建的RF接收器连线。


▲就是这个可翻转180 度的130万画素Webcam，让华硕W5A可玩的花样变更多！


▲镜头可以翻到前方来拍摄别人。其下面则是接长效型电池时，后侧突出来样子。


▲华硕W5A前侧图，同样采用FOLIO无栓式设计。只要翻开即可使用。


▲华硕W5A后侧图，有DC-in插孔、TV-Out、电池、1组USB埠、防盗锁孔。


▲华硕W5A右侧图，有PCMCIA、Jog-Dial式音量调节钮、麦克风／耳机孔、1组USB埠、散热孔、VGA-Out孔。


▲华硕W5A左侧图，有四合一读卡机（SD／MMC／MS／MSPro）、DVD Dual烧录机、1组USB埠、1组小孔的1394埠、RJ45 网路埠、RJ11数据埠。


▲华硕W5A俯视图。


▲华硕W5A底部图，长效型电池的颜色与机底颜色不一样。


▲华硕W5A底部拆解元件：右上为记忆体模组、左与中为CPU与晶片组的散热器，也可看到WLAN的天线，中下为硬碟机。


▲华硕W5A键盘配置：白色的键盘， 白色的触控板，搭配金属外围的滑鼠钮，颇具美感！左上方有WiFi开关与速度（节电）切换钮。


▲随附的轻便型包包，不太容易放的下已装上长效型电池的W5A。

　■自拍拍人、MSN聊天、视讯会议、视讯保全...样样行！

　W5A在萤幕上方处内建一只130万画素的CMOS相机镜头，并具备180度的翻转能力，可以自拍或拍人，搭配MSN Messenger可以启用其Webcam（网路摄影机）功能，若使用网路电话 ，就可以进行视讯会议！一镜多用途。

　除此之外，华硕也内建了许多好用的应用软体，让你可以彻底发挥该Webcam的功能，例如LifeFrame就是一款照片写真程式，可以透过它来拍照、录影，搭配萤幕右方的快捷钮：内建麦克风切换钮（可录音）、5段镜头数位变焦钮、拍照／摄影钮（直接按此钮也会进入LifeFrame程式）。除此之外，LifeFrame还提供各种拍照设定，也具备影像特效等功能，可以拍出加框、黑白、复古、浮雕、鱼眼、雪花...等特效的照片，可以自娱娱人，并将照片Email分享给友人，或用照片来写有声 日记！

▲华硕LifeFrame提供各种拍照特效，与有声录影等功能，就像在玩大萤幕的照相手机一样！

　为了发挥Webcam的更深层应用，华硕还提供了Video Security视讯保全程式，可以将W5A的Webcam当成监视录影机使用，你可以设定镜头的感测范围，并透过网路Live转播，用应用来监视孩童或贵重物品。当有异物经过该范围内或有人入侵时，程式就会记录时间并拍照存证，并发出警报铃声（亦 可关闭以免惊动嫌犯）。此外还可以设定有入侵状况时，将警告讯息透过Email或拨打Modem的方式连络到您！总之，当笔记型电脑未带出时，就可以充当成保全监视器来使用。

　■试用与效能分析

　W5A同样采用无栓式萤幕盖设计，只要翻开萤幕就能使用。其180度可旋转式Webcam，一般情况下是对著自己的，若需要拍摄他人或景 色，只要向外翻一下就可以了。而透过内建的多种软体，可以发挥Webcam应用至极致，拍完了还可以马上透过影像软体来修图，对于喜欢用手机玩自拍的美眉来说，W5A绝对比照相手机还有趣！

　在输入方面，W5A的键盘区同样采用白色为主，按起来弹性很好，适合长时间输入；而触控板的设计颇具巧思，白色的触控区加上金色外围组成的滑鼠左右钮，再加上随附的白色RF滑鼠可以直接与W5A内建的RF接收器来连接（透过罗技的LogiConnect软体），不需要再加装额外的USB RF Dongle，彻底呈现出NB周边无线连线的整体美感！

　在测试部份，W5A在一般办公环境下效能皆不错！3D效能则跟其他使用915GM整合型晶片组的表现差不多，仅能用来执行一些较古早的3D游戏。在资料保全方面，BIOS 里面提供了硬碟密码锁（开机时会问密码），以及硬碟保全锁（让你无法修改硬碟密码与资料）。让你就算不慎遗失NB，也不怕别人将硬碟拔到其他电脑来连接读取，以窥视到您 的私密档案！

　在节电设计上，W5A内附的Power4Gear，可以设定不同的节电情境，只要按下键盘区左上方的人跑步图示钮，就可以切换各种适合的情境！此外，BIOS也提供了各I／O装置的开闭设定状态，包括HD Audio／Modem、网路、无线网路、Cardbus／1394、USB等控制晶片等元件，都能不用时把它关闭掉，以节省电力！

▲华硕Power4Gear节电管理程式，可设定各种情境下的各元件效能 或关闭时间！

　整体测试下来，笔者认为W5A在效能上不输一般采用整合型晶片组的NB，在萤幕画质的表现上也可圈可点。唯一美中不足的就是没有红外线而已。其他的表现都还不俗！

　华硕目前主打两款机型：W5G740DR（黑色）机种，搭配P-M 740（1.73G），60GB硬碟，DVD Combo烧录机，建议售价为58,800元。另一款W5G750DD（白色），也就是这里介绍的机种，搭配P-M 750（1.86G），80GB硬碟，DVD Dual烧录机，建议售价66,800元。

 

 

商用效能型NB之1：效能、稳定、保全兼顾的行动利器
适合专业人士的高规格商务NB―Toshiba Tecra M3

http://www.digitimes.com.tw/n/article.asp?id=28893403D21B8442482570060046DC79

2005/05/20   ■行动精兵卫□资料不外泄

　Toshiba（东芝）的Tecra系列笔记型电脑，向来针对企业与商业用户的需求来设计，以高度稳定性、优势的效能、与绝佳的行动便利性，来塑造出符合企业用户使用的理想NB。在Sonoma平台发表后，Toshiba也于日前推出最新的Tecra M3「行动精兵卫」，便是以上上的理念，再加上以强调资讯安全为特点，以锁定中、大型、跨国企业单位中的专业顾问以及专业工程师族群。

　由于无线上网的 普及，让身处在外的行动上网族于商务人士感受到其便利性，然网路上病毒与骇客的威胁，也引发出资讯安全的课题，尤其后者所造成的损失更加严重。因此IT业者无不针对加强 资安需求，来开发出一系列相关的技术与产品。而这款Tecra M3也是根据资安的需求而设计，搭载Toshiba最新的EasyGuard全方位安全防护设计之下，为专业人士提供加强的数据 安全性、进阶的系统保护、简易的连接性与灵活的可扩展性，以填补企业所面临到的资安课题。

　这些防护技术，包括CPU内建XD-bit搭配WinXP SP2的「资料执行防止」 、BIOS提供硬碟安全密码、资料备份防毁设计、以及特殊的TPM（可信赖运算平台模组）晶片...等等，将自身操作不慎或遗失NB以及外在病毒与骇客可能导致资料毁损或资讯外泄 等因素加以排除，以确保大型与跨国企业可能面临的资安风险危害率降至最低。

　■时尚设计□效能优异

　Tecra M3的外型不同于其他以科技诉求的全黑色造型，改采用银＋黑的双色设计，以融入出科技与时尚感，一改商用机呆板的外观刻板印象！M3以14.1□SXGA TFT萤幕，搭配镁合金外壳设计，体积薄，重量轻（仅2.2公斤）！然Tecra M3外在求时尚、求轻薄之下，内装部份也以「高规格」来款待，以旗舰机种PTM30T-020005为例，就配置Pentium M 760 CPU（2GHz，2MB快取，533MHz FSB）、100GB（5400转）的硬碟、512MB DDR2-533记忆体、以及DVD Super Multi烧录机（可烧录DVD+/-R与DVD-RAM）。其他像是GbE LAN、802.11g WLAN等也是必要配备，以提供绝佳的高效能商用电脑运算环境！

　此外，工作之余不忘娱乐，Tecra M3搭载了NVIDIA GeForce 6600 Go绘图晶片（支援DirectX 9与OpenGL 1.5），搭配128MB独立GDDR3视讯记忆体，记忆体时脉跟桌上型版本一样设定在300／500MHz，因此在3D游戏的表现上更可与DT媲美！就算不为玩Game，其GPU仍支援简单的OpenGL程式，例如可以用来执行3D模型、CAD／CAM或室内 设计图等等，以秀给客户看，还有Keystone功能更可在简报时，将投影机投射出来歪曲画面修正。

　至于在周边扩充部份，Tecra M3提供2组USB 2.0、1组1394埠、外接VGA、TV-Out（S端子）、SD读卡机、RJ11数据机、RJ45网路埠、印表埠等，另有底座连接埠。此外还有耳机、麦克风孔、PCMCIA插槽，以及一组特殊PC Express Card插槽，可安插最新高速频宽的Express Card周边！详细规格请参考附表！

　在机种方面，M3有分两种版本：此PTM30T-020005为旗舰版（建议售价99,800元）；另一款PTM30T-01Z005则是 较低阶的版本，配备Pentium M 740（1.73GHz）、GeForce 6200 Go（64MB记忆体）、60GB硬碟与DVD Combo烧录机与XGA显示幕，售价为79,800元。

▲东芝Tecra M3正视图。


▲东芝Tecra M3的全功能键盘配置，键距大，有2组额外功能键，并提供轨迹球与触控板两种指标输入装置。


▲东芝Tecra M3前侧图，左至右起有各指示灯、WiFi切换钮、红外埠， 以及右边的音量旋钮。


▲东芝Tecra M3后侧图，有TV-Out孔、RJ11埠、电池、RJ45埠、DC-in插孔。


▲东芝Tecra M3右侧图，有耳 机、麦克风孔，两组USB、DVD Super Multi、VGA输出孔。


▲东芝Tecra M3左侧图，有一组PCMCIA槽、一组PC Express Card插槽、SD读卡机、1394、锁孔、散热孔、印表机埠。


▲东芝Tecra M3俯视图。


▲东芝Tecra M3底部图，电池旁有一个Dock埠。


▲东芝Tecra M3键盘拆下后，可看见记忆体插槽。

　■试用与效能分析

　刚开机时，Tecra M3的BIOS Post速度异常快，再加上硬体规格够猛，因此很快就可以进入Windows XP作业环境。由于以商务人士为主，Tecra M3内建许多实用且容易上手的工具与辅助软体，让使用者可以快速有线或无线上网（ConfigFree）、做简报（Zooming、萤幕切换工具）、硬碟资料加密／备份／还原（Management Control）... 等等。此外TouchPad＋TrackPoint的双重输入装置，与光碟机降速以降低噪音等贴心工具，让使用电脑也是一种 享受。总之，Tecra M3随附的贴心软体，让分秒必争的商务人士，不需要专业知识，可以马上使用也能快速掌握使用此笔记型电脑的诀窍！

　在效能部份，一般2D环境（ 办公、上网、文书...）时，Tecra M3的高规格配备，绝对可以让用户不受拘束的操作电脑。在多媒体播放也很流畅。至于3D应用部份，Tecra M3就算玩DOOM3、Far Cry、Half-Life 2这类颇操硬体的游戏，也能有不错的画质表现！若再插一条DDR2-533记忆体扩充到1024MB双通道的话，执行效果将会更加顺畅！

　整体而言，Tecra M3完整的提供资安、效能、稳定、安静等舒适的使用环境，提供最佳的使用体验。笔者认为已经如此高价的Tecra M3，若能再内建蓝芽的话，将会更有加分效果！

 

商用效能型NB之2：稳重、科技、智慧的行动好帮手
适合机动派人士的商务NB―HP Compaq nc6230

http://www.digitimes.com.tw/n/article.asp?id=F214495A28DDA2D7482570060046DD12

2005/05/20   ■黑色路线□科技再现

　HP（惠普）的各项产品，一直是企业用户爱用的品牌之一。其Compaq笔记型电脑系列，向来以最新技术、并具备高稳定性为行动商务人士所打造，同时亦提供完善的服务，使得Compaq的NB深受企业与商务人士的青睐！

　这次顺应Sonoma平台的上市，HP也一口气推出了数款相对应的NB产品。其中Compaq nc62x0系列，主要走的就是大萤幕商用系列。这次介绍的nc6230可说是nc6220的升级版 ：nc6230采用的是独立显示晶片，让绘图效能再度往上提升！在萤幕部份，nc62x0都是走14.1□的路线，采SXGA+ TFT（1400x1050，16M色），并附有环境光源感应器，可以侦测周围光源来调整萤幕适当的亮度。

　nc6230整个机身为清一色的黑色造型，跟IBM的T系列NB类似，表面有经磨砂处理，看起来颇具质感，此外，机身在四周围也采用圆弧式 处理，比起以往的四角尖锐的硬派设计，更显得流线许多。在键盘区部份，周围线条也采弧线设计。在84键的全尺寸4键盘规划上，特意将文字输入与浏览最常用到的Ins、Del、Home、End、PgUp、PgDn编辑钮放在右上方，四向方向钮则放在右下方，与桌上型键盘的配置方式一样，让游走于DT与NB的文字工作者不须要再重新适应键盘位址的变动，以加速处理文件！

　而双指标装置也是其特色之一，nc6230同样配置触控板与轨迹杆，不同于IBM的中原一点红，HP则是中原一点「蓝」，与其Fn钮的蓝色相呼应！而橡胶材质的滑鼠左右钮，让操作上更加舒适。

▲HP Compaq nc6230正视图。


▲HP nc6230的全功能键盘配置，键距大，Ins／Del等编辑六钮与四组方向钮独立于右处，并同时提供轨迹球与触控板。


▲HP nc6230前侧图，左至右起有各指示灯、红外埠，与立体声喇叭！


▲HP nc6230后侧图，有电池、VGA-Out孔、DC-in插孔、TV-Out孔等。


▲HP nc6230右侧图，有耳机、麦克风孔，两组USB、DVD Super Multi、序列埠。


▲HP nc6230左侧图，有一组PCMCIA槽、SmartCard读卡机、SD／MMC读卡机、1组USB、散热孔、RJ11、RJ45、防盗锁孔。


▲HP nc6230俯视图。


▲HP nc6230底部图，电池底下有一个Dock埠与外接电池接触孔。


▲HP nc6230底部接上第二颗电池的样子（外接电池上有测电钮）。


▲HP nc6230底部拆解图，左下为硬碟区、中间有一组记忆体插槽、上方则是标准电池与外接电池。


▲HP nc6230键盘拆下后，可看见记忆体插槽，左旁为南北桥晶片散热片，左为CPU散热器 。


▲HP nc6230左侧的SmartCard读卡机，SmartCard大小跟一般 信用卡相同！

　■资安保全晶片＋智慧卡读卡机＝双重保障

　这部nc6230的硬体规格颇高档，采用Intel 915PM晶片组，搭载Pentium M 760（2GHz，2MB快取 ，FSB 533MHz） CPU，搭配512MB DDR2-400记忆体单条以单通道运作（可再插一条打开双通道功能），使用ATI M22（MobilityRADEON X300）加上64MB视讯记忆体，可执行简易的3D软体与游戏。在储存方面，nc6230采用Toshiba 5400转的80GB硬碟，并于机身右侧配置了Multi Bay模组化磁碟匣（此机器装上的是DVD Dual烧录机），具备热抽换能力，可接FDD／HDD／DVD等装置，只要用力按一下该面板右方的退出区就可退出，不用时也可以换上空挡板，以减轻到官方所称的2.1Kg重量。

　在无线通讯部份，nc6230内建了Intel 802.11g无线网路与Broadcomm的蓝芽1.2模组，可透过键盘上的快捷钮来切换，或透过HP Wireless Assistant软体来切换开关。此外红外线埠（位于机身前侧）也不缺，适合搭配 早期的PDA或手机来使用。至于有线通讯部份，nc6230内建Broadcom的Gigabit Ethernet网路晶片，而56K数据埠当然也不缺。

　在资讯安全部份，此nc6230已内建了Infineon的TPM 1.1（可信赖运算平台模组）的保全晶片，并内建SmartCard Reader（智慧卡读卡机）。只要透过HP ProtectTools Security Manager，就可以用来启动TPM功能，并设定智慧卡的密码。使系统本身不怕入侵，也不怕别人盗取您的资料，因为没有智慧卡，就无法使用电脑，此外再配合BIOS的密码设定，搭配HP Credential Manager「使用身分证管理员」软体（一套更先进的使用者管理工具，能记录使用者密码、指纹、智慧卡、TPM认证、Virtual Token等），让您的电脑与资料能拥有多重把关的安全保障！

　其他方 便使用的工具部份，像是HP自己的Mobile Printing、Local Recovery，以及协力厂商的WinDVD、Norton AntiVirus、Sonic RecordNow!等等，nc6230都有内建，提供多层的保障！

　■试用与效能分析

　先说nc6230的电池续航力，由于这部nc6230采用先进的Sonoma平台，再加上其硬体配备都非常高档（2GHz的CPU，采用独立显示晶 片，内建读卡机、TPM模组、双网路，转速较高的硬碟...等等），因此为了让商务人士能够使用更久，除了标准电池外，HP还有推出nc6230专用的外接电池，采用ㄇ字形设计，并 有测电钮，可以加装在机身底下，以延续NB的持久战力！笔者测试在双电池的加持之下，nc6230可以表现出高达6小时以上的水准！不过主机＋光碟＋双电池高达2.9公斤的重量， 背起来确实有点累。

　在使用体验上，nc6230键盘上面的三颗专属音量调整钮、简报钮、无线网路切换开关，让商务人士在做简报或展示时更加方便，而置于机身前侧的 立体声喇叭，音质上也不错，让工作之余也能听音乐轻松一下！此外，由于加装第二颗电池后，机身也跟著被抬高，使得这样的键盘角度在资料输入时更符合人体工学，是值得嘉 奖的地方！

　至于nc6230较美中不足的地方，就是没有1394埠与印表埠，这对有DV或传统印表机的用户来说，还得额外增加购买转换装置或Dock的预算。此外，机身左侧 的SD插槽是设计在SmartCard插槽底下，由于在插上SmartCard之后会突出一点点，这使得其下方的SD或MMC卡在安插或取出时稍有不便！尤其是NB放在桌上且只接标准电池时，要取出SD卡可能得把NB抬起来才行！相信这些若能改善，产品会更加完美！

▲HP nc6230加装第二电池后，整个机身被抬高，使得键盘角度更符合人体工学。


▲HP nc6230的SmartCard插入后会突出一点点，其下的SD卡比较不好插拔！

　最后来看看效能测试部份，一般2D办公环境下，nc6230的效能皆在水准之上，且使用起来非常安静。至于3D环境下，X300属于入门级的GPU，是可以用来执行最新的DirectX 9游戏，但解析度不能调太高（建议用800x600来跑），不然 还是会有延迟的问题！至于要执行一些商用3D软体，X300还算可以胜任。

　整体来说，HP Compaq nc6230提供不错的商用环境，且建议售价也很公道，尤其是其完善的售 后服务（3年全球保固＋1年台湾区到府收送服务，以及30分钟快速完修），让分秒必争的商务人士能无后顾之忧地带著它上山下海！是一部值得推荐的商用NB！

 

 

视听娱乐型NB：结合娱乐与影音的行动电脑
10秒Instant-On、有遥控器的―技嘉W511A

http://www.digitimes.com.tw/n/article.asp?id=DDB0D4CE6A2F1AF9482570060046DDCE

2005/05/20   ■镜面宽萤幕□高规格机种

　随著数位家庭时代来临，许多厂商开始推出以强调影音播放为主的宽萤幕笔记型电脑。这次技嘉也不例外，这款2005年全新Sonoma机种―W511A，就是一款结合了影音播放、3D娱乐为主的高效能NB。

　先从它的外型来看，W511A采用银灰色面板与黑色底板的双色造型，打造出科技的时尚感。采用15.4□、16：10的WXGA超显亮镜面宽萤幕，并内建立体声喇叭与麦克风，提供提供视听上的舒适享受。在输入上，有键距够宽的全尺寸键盘、右上方便利的快捷键、以及够大的触控板与四向翻页钮，让工作、娱乐、视讯上皆能随心所欲。

　在规格 上，W511A采用Intel Pentium M 750 CPU，搭配915PM晶片组，在视讯晶片上采用ATI Mobility RADEON X700搭配独立128MB记忆体，运作时脉设定在357.8／688.6MHz，约等于桌上型X700的九成功力，实际进行游戏时的3D效能仍有不错的表现，其PowerPlay 5.0节电技术，具备3段节电设定，让你在电池寿命与效能间取得平衡。可设定到平常2D办公上网环境 下时脉降到1／3以下，以大幅节省电力。

　在无线连结部份，W511A内建802.11g（54Mbps）无线上网模组以及蓝芽1.2模组，前侧并有专属独立开关钮与指示灯。至于其旁边的红外线接收埠，仅适合其遥控器使用，无法作为资料传输上应用。

　在周边连接埠方面，W511A提供3组USB 2.0、1组1394埠、外接VGA、TV-Out（S或AV端子）、四合 一读卡机（SD／MMC／MS／MSPro）、RJ11数据机、RJ45网路埠等，另有一组底座连接埠。此外还有耳机、麦克风、音源输入孔。详细规格请参考附表！

▲技嘉W511A正视图。


▲随附的遥控器，可开启PowerCinema Linux，10秒钟内开机完成进入主画面。


▲技嘉W511A前侧图，有两组立体声喇叭、红外线接收器、蓝芽与WLAN切换开关兼指示灯、音讯输入／麦克风／耳机孔、USB 2.0埠。


▲技嘉W511A后侧图，仅有DC-in插孔、VGA-Out、Dock埠扩充孔、电池、保护锁孔。


▲技嘉W511A右侧图，有1394、四合一读卡机、PCMCIA槽、2组USB、TV-Out孔、RJ45网路埠、RJ11数据埠，以及散热孔。


▲技嘉W511A左侧图，单纯仅有光碟烧录机（可热插拔）。


▲技嘉W511A俯 视图。


▲技嘉W511A底部图。


▲技嘉W511A底部拆解元件：左为CPU区、上为电池、中为WLAN模组、下为记忆体插槽、右为光碟机 模组、右下为硬碟机。


▲技嘉W511A键盘配置，键距大、有4组额外功能键、以及红色专属多媒体键。触控板有四向卷页钮。



▲随附PCMCIA大小的遥控器，不用时，可塞入PCMCIA插槽内。

　■影 音播放大视野□遥控开机真神奇

　除了高规格、宽萤幕、内建3D绘图晶片之外，W511A主打的就是影音播放功能。其最大的特色就是内建讯连（Cyberlink）的威力剧 院（PowerCinema） Linux版，可以透过键盘上的红色多媒体影音钮，与随附的仅PCMCIA大小的遥控器来操控。要进入Linux版的威力剧院，只要按遥控器的开机钮，或键盘右上方3组红色的快捷钮，即可在10秒内开机完成，并进入主选单。免除进入Windows XP时得先等约1分钟的，可说是符合进军数位家庭必备的Instant-On要件！

　值得说明W511A 搭载的PowerCinema Linux 3.5（以下简称PCM Linux）功能，它可安装成Windows的应用程式，透过开机时NB BIOS给予的特定码以进入该Linux Boot Image。PCM Linux提供电影（播放DVD）、影片（可播放MPEG 1／2、WMA）、图片（支援.JPG、.GIF）、音乐（支援.MP3、.WMA、.WAV）、音讯CD（播放音乐CD）等五大视听上的需求，此外可支援立体声或5.1 声道杜比环场音效，并提供9国语言介面！此外可支援电视输出与SPDIF数位音讯、可用遥控器、键盘、滑鼠来操作、可支援硬碟、光碟、USB等装置，且NTFS、FAT、CDFS等档案系 统通吃。功能上几乎已不输Windows版的PowerCinema！

　在机种方面，除旗舰级W511A（建议售价54,900元）外，另有较低阶的Pentium M 1.73GHz，配256MB记忆体的版本，售价46,900元。此外技嘉另有推出W511U（采Celeron 1.3GHz）机种，无内建蓝芽、无遥控器，采用整合型晶片组，建议售价34,900元。

▲讯连威力剧院Linux版（PCM Linux）专用贴纸。


▲开机10秒即可进入PCM Linux版主选单画面，使用介面跟Windows版相近，可用键盘、滑鼠、遥控 器来操作。


▲PCM Linux可支援高达9国语言，并可支援立体声或5.1杜比音效。


▲PCM Linux的音乐功能，可播放音乐CD，以及MP3、WMA、WAV等格式。


▲PCM Linux的图片功能，可支援.JPG、.GIF等格式。

　■试用与效能分析

　基本上，在一般2D环境（办公、上网、文书...），W511A可以游刃有余的胜任！至于在多媒体与3D应用上，W511A透过1.86GHz的CPU与X700 GPU，在游戏的表现上还算流畅！不过送测的W511A仅采用DDR1的记忆体插槽设计，受限于915PM仅能支援单通道DDR记忆体的特性，记忆体频宽仅能达到2.7GB/S（DDR333）～3.2GB/s（DDR400），若能搭配双通道DDR2-400/533的记忆体模组来设计，在频宽流量上的表现会更加倍。

　此外，受限于915PM晶片组仅单组IDE/PATA介面的 设计，IDE/PATA硬碟与IDE/PATA光碟机时必须皆在同一组介面，以Master／Slave或Cable Select方式去指派，当同时在做硬碟以及光碟机存取时，原本较为高速的硬碟传输速度，会因为较低速的光碟机而被拉慢，对于资料流量频宽极大的即时影像烧录作业上，容易有烧录作业延滞的问题。笔者会建议，这部机器的下一个改进重点，可以推进到双通道DDR2 记忆体，搭配独立读写埠的SATA笔记型硬碟，或者笔记型硬碟接主IDE/PATA介面，另外使用其他附加IDE介面晶片或1394介面来衔接光碟机，可以避免相互制肘，使即时影音烧录作业更流畅。

　至于讯连的PCM Linux部份，也有许多值得改进的地方。像是硬碟资料来源，只支援C:的第一个分区，仅能读到Documents and Settings底下的目录！最严重的是无法支援中文档名，但光碟片（CDFS）上的中文档名却可以（建议各硬碟分区的各个目录与各种档名都能读取，此外最好能支援读卡机）！另外像是DVD播放程式无对应的方向返回钮，在反覆的高速快转、反转时可能会有迟滞现象，严重时还会当机！还有就是在播放一阵子之后，因为CPU温度上升使得风扇也跟著高速运转而使噪音升高，以无法符合低噪音的需求！建议双方应可为找到CPU、光碟机降速的方法做努力，以减少风扇、光碟高速运转所带来的噪音。

　整体来说，W511A在Windows XP环境下表现不俗，在其主打 的PCM Linux功能上则还有待加强！虽然说Pre-OS（这里的OS指的是微软的Windows）的应用仍方兴未艾，但为进军数位家庭而言，这类的应用则是值得讯连、技嘉，以及其他厂商 所努力的。笔者建议技嘉倒是可以再随附PowerCinema Windows版，同时提供双作业平台，以达到加分的效果！让要求最高的影音玩家也能享有W511A所带来的高规格、效能优、宽 萤幕的优势！

[SoftwareRec] Online Bookmark

Do you have the bad experience of losing all your bookmarks when you upgrade, reinstall ur browser or sthelse?
Maybe the online bookmark services can help u. :-)
The problem is how to use these bookmarks stored in Web servers conveniently.
Yahoo! toolbar provides a web-email-alike interface to access online bookmarks, but obviously it is not as convenient as the Clipmark plugin for Firefox/IE. It add an extra bookmark menu and this menu is synchronised with the data on Web server.
Now, I am enjoy the clipmark. Good luck.

Out ROM Wedding

一个月以前，YI FENG和TANG JING（Y＆T）在新加坡登记结婚（ROM：Register of Marriage）， 如果问我对Y＆T婚礼的第一回忆是什么， 我的答案就是：“我对新加坡天气的判断太准了”。

Y＆T婚礼那天早上很早就醒来。 当然，早起的原因不是因为我比Y＆T这对新人还要兴奋， 实在是因为雨太大了。那天， CHANG‘AN就担心地跟我说：“Y＆T今天拍结婚纪念照好像很麻烦嘞”。

我哈哈一乐说：“不用担心，只有大雨过后的新加坡室外，才是适合人类拍照的室外，Y＆T赶上好日子了”

真牛，这话应验了， 那天天很凉，有蓝天，空气透澈，宾主尽欢。

特牛的是，我接下来说的一句话竟然也应验了： “希望我们结婚那天也一大早就下一大雨”。

遗憾的是，当时说完这上半句愿望，忘记许下另一半愿望：
“大雨以后再天晴吧”。

今天， 2005年7月12日。 在接下来的几十年里，这一天会是我们（LI ZHAO＆CHANG‘AN： L＆C）的结婚周年纪念日暨相识纪念日。
今天，如我所愿，我们醒在大雨里。然后大雨过后是小雨，小雨过后是大雨。我们在平日里日头贼毒?毒的新加坡度过了一个追日躲雨的新婚日。

如果你是我们的朋友，同事，老师，学生，家长，亲戚，那么也许你有兴趣听下去，听我下面流水吧啦吧啦的新婚日记：

上至林雨堂，降至当代愤怒青年莫不对俺们伟大主国（哦，也是祖国）的公仆们头疼不已，不过说句公道话，新加坡的中国大使馆的公仆们还是蛮不错的。
（下面的他们的结婚登记服务时间表和需要材料，后来者切记:）
周一至周五
上午9：00－11：30
护照＋PASS
复印件
4‘’合照4张（1张用于结婚公证，3张用于结婚登记文件）
如果要拍签字照片，请自带派克笔一只（大使馆是提供丑陋圆珠笔一支）。


跑题了，回到主题，知道大使馆9：00－11：30开放给我等，我们把闹钟定在了6：30。定在6：30的理由就是我们下面这张时间表：
6：30－7：00 洗漱
7：30－8：00 等我们的WEDDING CAR和两个摄影者朋友（展示他们作品前，先拜谢一下GONG RUIBIN＆YIN MING，是他们的工作让我的日记还有点颜色）
8：30－8：30 前往化妆师工作室
8：30－10：30 化妆
10：30－10：45前往大使馆
10：45－ 登记


等等等等， 你可能发现这个时间表漏了7：00－7：30。 嘘～～，我偷偷告诉你，这半个小时是留给CHANG‘AN戴眼镜的:-D（期间过程种种不堪复述，留白）。

6：30准时起床，推窗，WOW， 新婚好大雨！！！！我心里那个美，今天我可以穿西服也不怕蔫，CHANG’AN躲婚纱里也不会热了。俺们美滋滋地准时在7：30准备完毕，准备下楼迎接我们的WEDDING CAR：

该接车了。别急，请慢慢陪我们等一个小时，因为8：30我们才真正见到她。车主从东海岸送车过来（这个送车路线基本很难，如果想知道，在新加坡地图上画一个最长的直径就差不太多了）。老天爷很体贴的继续下着雨，让大家都小心驾驶，不要太快。这直接导致车主游车河时间超过一个小时。在这一个小时内，我们又把礼服（3GOWNS＋1SUIT）给拆开，包上若干次，把摄影师朋友从地铁站接到家里一次，把礼服搬下楼一次，买饮料12盒，打催车电话若干，讨论摄影器材若干。

终于，8：30， LOOK， OUR WEDDING CAR ARRIVE FINALLY：



呵呵，什么？ 你要告我无照驾驶？ 嘿嘿，告不到我的。 这照片我就是摆摆样子。DRIVER在旁边躲着呢。

上帝保佑你，ZHANG，虽然我是很感谢你把车借给我们用，可是当9：10还没有看到化妆室的影子的时候，不知道你有没有听到我磨牙的声音？ 9：10， 在绕了无数弯之后，ZHANG说，快了，5分钟就到了，前面一转弯就到了，果然，9：20到达化妆室。



期间开始化妆种种，按下不表（如上图示），调试摄影器材种种，按下不表，在漫长的化妆过程中，CHANG‘AN大人特批我们几位去旁边街角旮旯的幸福饮茶酒楼吃早茶。 我们欣然前往，找寻15分钟后悠哉悠哉落座下单买点心，刚准备开始享用茶水，CHANG’AN领导急电，化妆以近尾声，立即回朝，我们三口两口吃掉花生米，点心还没看到影子就又回到了化妆室。 此时已经日快中午10：50。

ZHANG开车又开始晕绕，终于在11：10， ZHANG又说(为什么说‘又’？），快了，5分钟就到了，前面一转弯就到了，话音刚落，只听“嘭”的一声，好像车子方了一个P，跳了一下屁股。我还以为车子也不满意这么拿她溜弯想罢工， 旁边GONG说，“被车撞了”。回头一看， 果不其然，我看见后面车的司机贴着我们车窗对我们乐。

雨一直下。

有一点点黑线从我脑门开始往下，旁白：“见过斑马跑，还真没吃过斑马肉”， 电视上见多了，没见过现实版的， 你是不是问问现实版的啥？

那就是， 我拉着盛装的CHANG‘AN和YIN MING，开始冒雨狂奔，冲过马路，拦TAXI。GONG＆ZHANG留下来处理事故。

还好11：20，我们终于在大使馆门关到一半的时候，雄赳赳气昂昂地跨进了这一小块位于新加坡的中国领土。

Breaking News: European Software Patent Law Rejected

In the past year, many open source Web sites use the 'anti-patent-law' page as their homepage. Now they win.
In a 648-14 vote (with 18 abstentions), the European Parliament has voted against the controversial 'Computer-implemented Inventions Directive' on its second reading.
EU lawmakers stated that software patents could limit innovation, cause difficulties for businesses and that human knowledge cannot be patented.
Read More...

[SoftwareRec] testingfaqs.org - an information resource for software testers

• Test Tools List: Test Design Tools, GUI Test Drivers, Load and Performance, Test Management, Unit Test Tools, Test Implementation, Test Coverage, Static Analysis, Defect Tracking, Bundled Tool Suites, Miscellaneous, Other Sources of Tool Information
• Testing Contractors and Consultants List
• Testing Courses List

Add or update a listing: Tools, Contractors and Consultants, Courses.

C++ portability guide

What follows is a set of rules, guidelines, and tips that we have found to be useful in making C++ code portable across many machines and compilers. This information is the result of porting large amounts of code across about 25 different machines, and at least a dozen different C++ compilers. Some of these things will frustrate you and make you want to throw your hands up and say, ``well, that's just a stupid compiler if it doesn't do .'' But this is the reality of portable code. If you play by the rules, your code will seamlessly work on all of the Mozilla platforms and will be easy to port to newer machines. We will endeavor to keep the information up to date (for example, sometimes a new compiler revision will lift a restriction). If you have updates on any of these tips, more information, more ideas, please forward them to Christopher Blizzard, Scott Collins, or David Baron. Read More ...

Tips to make ur pdf more clear

Sometimes, you may find fonts in your pdf files are too ugly to read. High probably it is bcz you included type 3 font (bitmap font) into your pdf documents. To check whether there r type 3 fonts in ur documents, you can see the list fonts embedded using acrobat reader (file -> document properties -> fonts), or use pdffonts tools from xpdf package. When there r type3 fonts, and the documents is very large, you may wonder how to get the exact places type3 fonts appear. No worry, you can use -f option in pdffonts: pdffonts xxx.pdf -f pagenumber For more info, plz refer to here

Apple's move to Intel

Steve Jobs' announcement Monday will be analyzed to death by the likes of me and every technology watcher and blogger out there.
Most of the analysis will focus on the future of Apple and whether this Intel decision is a benefit or a disaster.
I'm on the side of benefit as Apple can now champion its design and aesthetic strategies in the world of Intel and allow people who prefer the Windows OS to actually buy a Macintosh for its design and run Windows on it. Nobody in the Mac community would suspect this, of course, but it is one of many foreseeable but unintended consequences of this announcement.
Read More...

How much power you can save (debian +mac mini/peplink manga/...?

Do you believe you can get a 3watts debian box? Those power saving 'geeks' show how amazing you can do with equipments on hand, as drawn in following lines:
Peplink Manga (integrated) 3.1 2.3 kWh /month
x86 laptop plus Linksys switch 24.3 ~ 17.8 kWh /month
Debian Mac Mini plus Manga switch 15.2 11.1 kWh /month
For more detailed info, refer to here

[UtilRec]: Metric Conversion Tables

I always forgot the how to convert from metric to imperial measurement, as I seldom use imperial or US measurement. The tables below may help when you forget it.

US/Metric Conversion Tables
Area Conversions
Multiply	By This Number	To Convert to:
hectares	2.47	acres
square kilometers	0.3861	squaremiles
square meters	1.196	square yards
acres	0.4047	hectares
square feet	0.09290394	square meters
square inches	0.00064516	square meters
square miles	2.59	square kilometers
square yards	0.83612736	square meters
Length Conversions
Multiply	By This Number	To Convert to:
centimeters	0.03281	feet
centimeters	0.393700787401575	inches
cubic meters	35.3145	cubic feet
kilometers	0.62	miles
meters	3.2808	feet
meters	39.3700787401575	inches
meters	0.0006214	miles
meters	1.0936	yards
millimeters	0.0393700787401575	inches
feet	0.3048	meters
inches	2.54	centimeters
inches	25.4	millimeters
miles	1.609347	kilometers
yards	0.9144	meters
Mass (weight) Conversions
Multiply	By This Number	To Convert to:
grains	0.0648	grams
grams	0.002205	pounds
metric tons	0.9842	tons (long 2240lb)
metric tons	1.1023	tons (short 2000lb)
grains	0.0000648	kilograms
grams	15.4324	grains
pounds	0.4535925	kilograms
tons (long 2240lb)	1.016	metric tons
tons (short 2000lb)	907.1848	kilograms
tons (short 2000lb)	0.9072	metric tons
Temperature Conversions
To Convert	Do This	Results in:
Fahrenheit	(ºF - 32)/1.8	Celsius
Celsius	( ºC * 1.8) + 32	Fahrenheit
Celsius	Add 273.15	Kelvin
Kelvin	Subtract 273.15	Celsius
Power(Energy) Conversions
Multiply	By This Number	To Convert to:
British thermal units	1055.056	joules
calories	4.1868	joules
kilowatt-hours	3600000	joules
Volume Conversions
Multiply	By This Number	To Convert to:
Canadian Gallons	4.5461	liters
hectoliters	2.8378	U.S. bushels
liters	0.2642	gallons
liters	0.1135	pecks
liters	1.8162	pints (dry)
liters	2.1134	pints (liquid)
liters	0.908	quarts
liters	0.9081	quarts (dry)
liters	1.0567	quarts (liquid)
cubic feet	0.02831685	cubic meters
cubic inches	0.00001639	cubic meters
cubic yards	0.7645549	cubic meters
fluid ounces	0.00002957	cubic meters
fluid ounces	29.57353	milliliters
gallons	0.00378541	cubic meters
gallons	3.7853	liters
pecks	8.8096	liters
pints (dry)	0.5506	liters
pints (liquid)	0.4732	liters
quarts (dry)	1.1012	liters
quarts (liquid)	0.9463	liters
U.S. bushels	0.3524	hectoliters

Another interesting metric conversion table for cooking is below:

Conversion Table for Cooking

---

U.S. to Metric

Capacity

1/5 teaspoon = 1 ml

1 teaspoon = 5 ml

1 tablespoon = 15 ml
1 fluid oz. = 30 ml

1/5 cup = 50 ml

1 cup = 240 ml

2 cups (1 pint) = 470 ml

4 cups (1 quart) = .95 liter

4 quarts (1 gal.) = 3.8 liters

Weight

1 oz. = 28 grams

1 pound = 454 grams

---

Metric to U.S.

Capacity

1 militers = 1/5 teaspoon

5 ml = 1 teaspoon

15 ml = 1 tablespoon

30 ml = 1 fluid oz.

100 ml = 3.4 fluid oz.

240 ml = 1 cup

1 liter = 34 fluid oz.

1 liter = 4.2 cups

1 liter = 2.1 pints

1 liter = 1.06 quarts

1 liter = .26 gallon

Weight

1 gram = .035 ounce

100 grams = 3.5 ounces

500 grams = 1.10 pounds

1 kilogram = 2.205 pounds

1 kilogram = 35 oz.

---

Cooking Measurement Equivalents

16 tablespoons = 1 cup

12 tablespoons = 3/4 cup

10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons = 2/3 cup

8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup

6 tablespoons = 3/8 cup

5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup

4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup

2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup

2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons = 1/6 cup

1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup

2 cups = 1 pint

2 pints = 1 quart

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

48 teaspoons = 1 cup

stardict on debian (voice problem)

My stardict on debian has never output any voice util 10 mins ago. You can see the problem here > > >
> > >
> > > On Fri, 2004-10-22 at 11:31 +0800, Zhao Li wrote:
> > > > hello,
> > > > i'm a newone of debian. moved from fedora just now.
> > > > and now i met a problem about audio.
> > > > i installed kernel 2.6 and enabled alsa modules.
> > > > seems everything is ok before i try stardict, i.e., i can use aplay,
> > > > alsaplayer, active arts based on alsa, etc.

(gnome-sound-recorder does > > > > not work, i think it is normal, as i start arts, right?)
> > > > i installed voice files for stardict, however, i cannot hear any
> > > > voice from it, while i can use artsplay to play these .wav files. ( i
> > > > can hear voice from stardict under fedora core 1-2 with alsa+arts)
> > > >
> > > > who can help me, highly appreciate.
.................
I ask the author of stardict-ed () why?
Thank him so much, the reason is quite simple.

stardict use two methods for playing wav files:
on Windows it use PlaySound (WIN32 API)
on Linux gnome_sound_play (Gnome API).
So if you not use Gnome and use Window Manager/Desktop Environment which
have its own API for work with sound, may be some problems with sound
output. For example, if you use KDE it blocks /dev/dsp, so
gnome_sound_play didn't work.

stardict-ed use three methods for playing wav files:
all that use stardict +
if it compiled without gnome support for play wav files
((./configure --disable-gnome-support))
it execute "play" utility ("play" utility is part of sox package).
You can change play command for whatever you want,
just change in preference dialog appropriate value,
but before doing make certain that it play wav file,
if you call it with wav file as argument.
For example in KDE "play" command didn't work:

$play /usr/share/stardict/sounds/buttonactive.wav
sox: Can't open output file '/dev/dsp': Device or resource busy

Self-replicating Robots

From http://abc.net.au/science/news/tech/InnovationRepublish_1365242.htm
Engineers in the US have created a machine out of intelligent cubes that can make copies of itself.

They say it is a small step towards developing robots that can repair and replicate themselves in space or hazardous environments where it is difficult for humans to venture.

Assistant Professor Hod Lipson of Cornell University led a team that reports the research in today's issue of the journal Nature.

"Self-reproduction is central to biological life for long-term sustainability and evolutionary adaptation," say the researchers.

"Although these traits would also be desirable in many engineered systems, the principles of self-reproduction have not been exploited in machine design."

The machine Lipson's team developed is made up of a set of modular cubes, called molecubes, which each contain the machinery and a computer program necessary for self-replication.

The 10-centimetre cubes use electromagnets on their faces to selectively connect and disconnect from each other and they draw power through contacts on the surface of the table they sit on.

Each cube is divided in half along its diagonal and this enables a robot made of a number of the cubes to bend and move its own, and other, cubes around.

The researchers have shown how a robot made of a stack of cubes can replicate itself.

camera For a video of the replication process, click here (requires Windows Media Player).

"A three-module robot is able to self-reproduce in just over 1 minute," say the researchers.

The robot bends around, moving its own cubes and new cubes 'fed' to it by the researchers. Because it is not possible for the original robot to reach across another robot of the same height, the new robot must assist in completing its own construction.

"Although the machines we have created are still simple compared with biological systems, they demonstrate that mechanical self-reproduction is possible and not unique to biology," the researchers say.

"The design concept could be useful for long-term, self-sustaining robotic systems in emerging areas such as space exploration and operation in hazardous environments, where conventional approaches to maintenance are impractical."

Imitating life Australian robotics expert, Associate Professor Richard Willgoss of the University of New South Wales, says mechanical replication provides building blocks towards doing a lot of other things that biological systems do, albeit at a much larger scale.

"If biology does it so well, why can't we do it too."

Willgoss, who is working on a modular robotic arm, says intelligent modules can communicate with each other, as cells in the immune system do.

He says such developments could lead to robotic systems that provide "tool kits" capable of, for example, making a vehicle one day and a bridge the next.

The idea is that if a module breaks down the robot can repair it, or perhaps a whole entire new robot can be built.

"If we can make robots that have distributed intelligence, we can perhaps give them a global request and they'll do the rest for us. It's very fanciful but you have to start somewhere," says Willgoss.

Grey goo from nano-robots While these self-replicating robots are 10 centimetres across, some scientists have discussed the idea of self-replicating robots the size of molecules.

This has led to the nightmare scenario of self-replicating nano-robots, or nanobots, reducing the Earth to a mass of seething "grey goo".

So do the new developments make this more likely?

"The intelligence behind making that assembly could easily be taken down to the nano scale but the practicality of making the unit is a different matter," he says.

"We've gone to the micro scale where we're making tiny little cogs in wheels on a substrate with integrated circuits but nanotech involves the atomic scale and that requires very specialised equipment to do that."

Running u Pickup truck

Tips: Categorize Blogger Posts (version2)

In a previous post, a tip to build blogger category list is given. It is a trick based on a site search engine --- pico. The idea is simple: for a post belonging to a category, insert a keyword that appears only in this category, and provide a list, where each entry links to a search result of 'pico'.
The reseaon to use pico is for it can rebuild index when u want, and it can index words in very detail.
The shortcoming of pico is that it can only rebuild index on demand, it will never index automatically. Now, I shift from pico to blogdigger, a very nice blog search engine. You can see the effect of blogdigger in the right panel's category list. Most parts are the same as the previous post.

Changing of site search

I want to change my site search engine to blogdigger. Seems it only index the rss/atom, and does not crawl history posts, so, I ask blogger to list all posts I made, hope blogdigger can work properly.

Blogdigger + Ping-o-Matic

To increase visibility of your blog, to send a XML-RPC ping to those blog search engine is a good idea. Ping-o-Matic thus is a super idea that let u ping multiple engines in one click. Even you can just bookmark pingomatic and ping engines by access this bookmark only.
Maybe u think to ping those engines is not important at all, as they will crawl ur site soon or later. I also think so until today.
Now, I found blogdigger is another super sevice i love so much. It provides search features like those of PICO, i.e.; it can index all details in ur blog, unlike google search that only do very rough indexing. After each time u post on blog, and ping blogdigger, it will reindex ur blog, thus, research results of ur blog will be updated automatically.
What a goodie.
However, blogger cannot ping blogdigger itself, i doubt. So, after u post on blogger, just by one click on ur ping-o-matic bookmark, then u can get up-on-date index provided blogdigger. Is that attractive?
Good luck

Running Microsoft Windows inside Debian: qemu

There are many legitimate reasons for a Debian GNU/Linux user to wish to run Microsoft Windows applications. One approach involves using the wine program to run a single Windows executable in a fake Windows environment. An alternative is to run an entire Windows operating system within a Debian host. Qemu is a procesor emulator and virtualization program which allows you to do just that.
Qemu is (read more...)
Qemu is a really cool project developed by several ppls, imagine how big vmware co. is. Of cz, qemu cannot match VMWare in term of performance, as VMWare spent lots of money and time to improve speed. We cannot expect the several qemu geniuses produce the same in a short time. Anyway, they are on the promise road, i think. Screenshots...

NDISWRAPPER struggles to support WUSB54G V4

just now found ndiswrapper 1.2rc1 is struggling to support WUSB54Gv4, it's a good news for me, as I have a linksys wusb54gv4. too busy right now to try compiling and installing it. anyway, glad to hear this. I will installed after ndiswrapper 1.2 debian pkg is available, if wusb54gv4 is finally supported. Here is some info for native driver support, seems no usb support yet.

APM Or ACPI

ACTUALLY, i dun what are APM and ACPI. but misconfig will make my debian of laptop dun how many power left in battery. so, record the tip here.
after u update ur kernel, donnot forget to append "acpi=off apm=on" to ur kernel parameter line in /boot/grub/menu.list
this tip is for debian with kernel 2.6+

Photo Album Software

Just now, found albumshaper from kde-apps.org, which can generate HTML album and then share ur photos. Seems there is lack of enough template for album generated, compared with those commercial counterparts, e.g., mosaic.
Anyway, it is not too bad, worth trying.
there is a list of similar softs, haven't tried them, if u know, u can put ur review here. :-D
ImgSeek - http://imgseek.sourceforge.net/
AlbumShaper - http://albumshaper.sourceforge.net/
gthumb - http://gthumb.sourceforge.net/
kphotobook - http://kphotobook.berlios.de/

DV encoder for linux or windows?

As i know so far, non-free tmpgenc on windows performs much better than ffmpeg and mpeg2enc on linux, especially with low bitrate. Achurch gives a rough comparison among them.
Anyway, if u stick on linux to encode DV, seems mpeg2enc has not too bad quality and ttmpeg is definitely much faster.
As i am a beginner (actually, have been a beginner for years, maybe forever. :-) ), i donnot care more, To edit video on linux, here is a more complete reference, and a very long discussion is here. there is a list of great softwares on linux for movie production.

How to record screen movie under linux

ok, camstudio, lotus office, or sth. else in windows can do the work very well. Today i try to record under linux, as boss asks a demo. Ok, vnc2swf is a good choice i met firstly: http://www.unixuser.org/~euske/vnc2swf/
it can record screen movie to flash on a remote client, or with help from x11vnc, it can record current desktop. $ x11vnc -localhost -viewonly -deferupdate 10 -wait 10 -defer 10 &
$ vnc2swf -nowindow out.swf :0
for debian users, one line need to be inserted to writeswf.c (#define SWFDBLBitmap SWFBitmap), before compilation.
More is here

Firefox Extension Development

Firefox is a much opener platform to build Web intelligent agents than IE is. I will collect some materials about firefox extension development in this post for reference:

1. A good place to start and here

2. For my final class at RIT I had to create a Firefox extension using XUL, CSS, and Javascript. Just to shake things up around here, I decided to post the tutorial about its development here instead of on a standalone website. I know that extension development may not be your cup of tea, but maybe you'll find some of it interesting. Here we go! More...

3. I've been playing around with Firefox extension development lately and am finding the experience a little mixed. On the plus side it seems like a powerful interface that allows for many cool extensions. On the other hand, the documentation is somewhat lacking in real world examples and the development can be tedious because of silent runtime errors. More Tips

4. Extensions allow programmers to add new features to Mozilla applications or allow existing features to be modified. Typically, extensions modify the “chrome” of their target application?the user interface and the scripts that add functionalty to that interface. However, it is also possible for extensions to include compiled code in the form of XPCOM components. More comprehensive reference...

Before start to program firefox/mozilla, get the following tools:

• Mozilla 1.6 + jslib + XULMaker 0.51 (the current version, by 23-Mar-2005): very good visual xul editor
• Component View (cview extension): easy to query all interfaces provided by Mozilla
• DOM Inspector
• Reference: mozilla_book and xul-planet

To use native codes in extensions, see how to Creating a C++ XPCOM component

Pineapple rice

IMG_5801
Originally uploaded by li-zhao.

I love the taste of thai pineapple rice, tried to cook it myself today. em, many space to improve

figures Latex & pdflatex

latex command generates dvi files, while pdflatex generates pdf. as pdflatex does not recognize eps format used by ps&dvi format, \includingraphics(xx.eps} will failed in pdflatex.
the tip to solve this problem is prepare two versioni of the figure, xx.eps and xx.pdf, and replace \includingraphics(xx.eps} with \includingraphics(xx}. then both pdflatex and latex can pass. if there are many eps in ur legacy latex sources. the following shell scripts can convert all those eps to pdf in one time.
for FILE in *.eps;
do
NEWFILE=$(echo "$FILE" | sed -e "s/eps\$/pdf/");
convert $FILE $NEWFILE ;
done

Wine is a more serious role now

After i moved to debian half a year ago, seems CXoffice stop working on my box. ok, nobody care and i won't pay any fee to let windows software run on my linux.
heihei, however, i agree if it is free, i'll try, as some word documents is ugly without word and some 'bluhbluh' website builder optimized their pages for IE only.
today, i found with help from winetool (maybe Sidenet can also, not sure), install IE is quite easy, (wine20050111 says it can install IE without any help, but i failed), even office is supported by them.

Where to download Adobe Reader 7 for Linux

The new pre-release version of adobe reader 7 is now available for Linux. But maybe u cannot find where to grab it. at least i cannot find it in adobe's website. Here is a link to apply to join Pre-Release Program of adobe reader 7 for linux
just applied, no reply from adobe yet, hope it works
What's the next adobe will open to linux? photoshop or premiere? :-D

Do u want to replace an alkaline battery with rechargable one?

When u goto buy a rechargable battery, there is a lable of capacity on it (like 1000mah), while an alkaline battery has not. Really confused about what it is?
Here is the answer from http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=20
I do not mean what they said are all true, but it can be a reference.
Q4. What does battery “mAh” capacity mean?
Answer The mAh capacity rating refers to the storage capacity available for a particular battery. A battery with a capacity rating of 1800 mAh could deliver a current of 1800mA for one hour. Higher mAh ratings for the same battery type will generally mean longer run times. This does not apply when comparing different types of batteries. This means that you may not be able to predict how long your electronic device will run just by looking at the capacity rating of a battery. When powering high drain electronic devices like digital cameras, computer peripherals, or portable music players, an alkaline battery will only deliver a small fraction of its rated capacity. For example AA alkaline batteries typically have a capacity rating of over 2,500 mAh and AA NiMH batteries have rated capacities of only 1,200 to 2,000 mAh. But when it comes to actually powering an electronic device like a digital camera, the NiMH batteries will often run the device for three or four times a long. Even comparing the capacity ratings of similar types of batteries won't often work since different manufacturers can measure battery capacity in slightly different ways. A NiMH or NiCd battery is likely to deliver much closer to its rated capacity when it's powering high drain devices. Alkaline batteries have a high rated capacity, but they can only deliver their full capacity if the power is used slowly. This means that a NiMH battery with a rated capacity of 1200 mAh can take many more photos than an alkaline battery with a rated capacity of 2,800.
PS: AAA alkaline have capacity about 1200mah

How to setup WebCam server on debian?

Here is good place to start. Actually, i am still in the place and have not started yet. :-D
Blog this for a interesting tip. Many vendors produce devices using other company's chips or sth. else, however, they donnot tell u whom they used. How to get these hidden info?
at least for linux, it's easy. firstly lsusb, (similarly, lspci list all pci device) it will return sth. like:
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 0ac8:301b Z-Star ..
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 062a:0000 Creative ..
The numbers after 'ID' are the Vendor and Product numbers, respectively. They can then be looked up in the Linux USB ID catalog. good luck

1394 problem on debian

debian default kernel (at least 2.6+) support 1394 already. no need to recompile it. however, before use any 1394 device, apt-get source libraw1394 and make dev is needed to created /dev/raw1394. otherwise, it does not work (maybe need to chmod 666 /dev/raw1394).
for complete info about 1394 on linux, refer to http://www.linux1394.org

[LifeRec]: 昨天看完constantine， 谈点天使基本知识(Angelology)

关于天使的复杂设置和天使等级的排列，是不是已经使得很多的人相当的头疼了呢？到底撒旦和路西华是不是一样的意思呢？六翼天使指的是有六对翅膀呢还是有六只翅膀？天使的羽翼和恶魔的肉翅到底有没有联系呢？天使是有性别的吗？所有的所有和一切的一切，都将在这里得到??是答案吗？不！只是解释哦。
　　西方呢可以说有个学说,叫“天使学”,作为“非专业人士”的话呢，并不需要确切的知道复杂的天使进阶制度，但是，有一些基本的事件和名词还是应该知道的哦。首先，让我们从天使的等级看起。不用吃惊天堂里也有等级制度，事实上天上的规矩是很大的哦。
　　如果粗略的分呢，天使分为三阶九种，也就是上级的炽天使(seraphim),智天使(cherubim),座天使(thrones)；中级的主天使 (dominations),能天使(virtues),力天使(powers)，以及下级的权天使(principalities),大天使 (archangels),一般天使(angels)。恩，是不是有人看出毛病来了啊？不错哦，这么说来的话，所谓的“大天使”，其实只是天使的第八阶哦，也就是说是一个相当烂的等级呢。可是，可是，我们平常听说的一些非常“著名”的天使，包括那个在荒野向玛利亚宣告万福的加百列，只是一个“大天使”而已哦。还有那个在所有的天使漫画中几乎都会出现的“大名鼎鼎”的迷迦勒(Michael)，也就是被称做“天使长”的那位，难道级别也这么低吗？那么有名的重要角色都只是大天使而已吗？真的是有一种好失落的感觉哪~~也许是因为天使学的兴起是比圣经晚一些吧？
　　再来详细的看一下，上位三阶的 Seraphines（Serafim），也就是说炽天使啦，是传说中有六翼的天使哦。那么这六翼是六对呢还是六只呢？从《新世纪少年EVA》来看的话，一片光明中展开炽天之翼的应该是12只羽翼的天使哦，但是，但是，想象一下背上长着12只翅膀，虽然每只都是象天鹅那样的“洁白美丽”，可是这种重量也有点过分吧？而且，12只翅膀一起动起来岂非要打架的？那么这个炽天使恐怕同步值最多也只能10%，连启动也很难吧？？
　　拥有六翼的天使，一直以来能够确定的有两位，一位是光辉的晨星 Lucifer，不错，就是那位但凡涉及到天使恶魔必然闪亮登场的堕落的原天使长路西菲尔哦！另一位就是原七大天使之一，因率天军与撒旦作战而升为炽天使的 Michael 米迦勒了哦。那么，那么，堕落之魔王 Satan （撒旦）呢，他到哪里去了？撒旦是路西菲尔堕落以后的名称呢还是和那位陨落的晨星完全不同的另外一种象征？没错! 撒旦的确是天使, 但是有人说，圣经上记载撒旦原先为天使中最高位的大天使长，后来率领天界三分之一的天使叛变，不幸战败并被打入永劫的深渊中……这种说法就不一定正确了哦。圣经中可是从来就没有明显的指称 satan 就是 Lucifer 哦，启示录第十二章 (THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER 12)中叙述了天界的战争时并没有提及 SATAN 这个名字耶，至于后来的种种纷争，也许多半是受到了文学创作的影响哦。说起来但丁的“神曲“里曾经提到的称号就已经非常的混乱，用了 Lucifer， Satan ， Beelzebob 和 Dis 等等名称。但是撒旦第一次以“光辉晨星，荣耀之子”的形象出场的，恐怕是在那位米尔顿的《失乐园》之中吧？因为不肯臣服的骄傲之罪而反抗的路西菲尔，纵然是和反抗的同伴一起被投入了深渊中，消失了天使的荣耀光辉，仍然具有坚定不移的反抗决心和排山倒海的英雄气概呢，“宁在地狱称王，不在天堂为仆”的伟言，实在是令人感动的篇章呢。圣经中撒旦的形象，首先就是那条引诱了夏娃的聪明的蛇了吧？其次就是在荒野中指点给耶稣世间的万国和万国的荣华，并且说到，“只要你肯拜我，这一切都是你的”的魔鬼了吧？几乎都是负面的形象，可是不知怎么会给我留下很美好的印象呢。总体感觉是一个冷静聪明的小恶魔呢。好象近年来留传一种说法，说撒旦的行为全出自神的授意，也许这是有人想要证明，撒旦的作为，无非是要试验夏娃跟耶稣，因此从这个角度来说，将撒旦列为天使之流是可行的。而且，如此安排的话，号称“我是阿尔法，我是欧米咖，我是昔在，今在，无所不在的上帝”的那位至高天就真的是“无所不知，无所不能”了。可是这种说法，不知为何与那种号称犹大是真正的使徒，他的背叛是耶苏授意的说法一样，使得我有后心发冷的感觉。毕竟如果连最后享有的“选择”的权利都被剥夺的话，人生势必成为一种无意义的存在……不过这就说远了，回到撒旦的身上，据说撒旦还有个外号是“黑翅膀的神”，本来只是一个地位底下的小恶魔，自从有人将他跟路西菲尔 混为一谈后，才一跃成为魔界之王的。如果这么说的话，那么撒旦也算是升官迅速的一个幸运儿呢。
　　继续回到天使的话题。上阶天使的第二级也就是智天使 Cherubines（Cherubim）啦。看过圣经的人不会忘记人类被逐出乐园以后，被派往看守伊甸的“基路泊”吧？传说中手执风火之刃的这个战斗天使，是很多用外星生物来解释圣经的故事中必然提到的哦。属于智天使阶级的著名人物就应该是原七大天使之一，职务为警卫长 Gabriel（加百列）和 Uriel：乌里叶，以及原为能天使阶 Raffaele （Raphael）拉法叶（拉斐尔）啦。有没有注意这些天使的名字最后两个字母多是 el 呢？不错哦，不止如此哦，其他的名字，如：Ithurie（神的发现），Abdiel（神之仆）和 Zophiel（神之斥候）都是这样了。现在明白由贵香知里小姐那部完全改写了天使定义和传统形象的《天使禁猎区》中设置了全新有机和无机天使的名字，都以 el(爱尔)结束了吗？因为纵然是由贵小姐，也会依照一些约定俗成的习惯哦。
　　天使的名字中一般都有其他的意思哦。比如座天使的 Trones（Thron）是王座的意思，主天使的 Dominations（Dominion）意味着神权，力天使的 Virtues 当然也就是神德啦。其他如能天使 Podesta（Powers、Puissances）象征着神力等等，就不赘述了。天使的职责，虽然总体来说都是“执行神的旨意”，但是也是有区别的哦。基本上作为火焰象征的炽天使是最强的，并且管理所有的天使；作为智慧真理象征的智天使，负责看守伊甸园；力天使是“专门展现奇迹”的天使，也是耶稣升天时在身边出现的哦。能天使是天使军团的主力攻击部队，大天使则负责神跟人之间的传达……不错哦，迷迦勒他们四人本来就是在这里的呢。说起来如果追究的话，会发现不但不同的书之间，而且在同一本书之中，对于天使的描述很可能都是互相矛盾的哟。毕竟现今流传的旧约圣经本来就是经过修改的伪本，而且神话故事传久了出现不同版本也是难免的吧？说起来不管是误译的问题呢还是后世作者“高超想像力”的创作都会带来很严重的冲突哦。毕竟所谓“必有一处女怀孕生子”的预言，也只是因为不小心把希伯来文中的“年轻女子”翻成希腊文的“处女”啊。至于后代的人因此讨论的圣灵受孕、人工受精、自体繁殖理论，只能一笑置之了吧？不管是真的相信至福千年的到来还是认为反基督已经来到人世，毕竟我们所要决定的并不是未来的任何事情哦。现在是唯一在手中掌握的东西呢，所以，唯一珍视和重要的也应该是现在吧。说不定人的本身也是天使哦，不设防的天使是不是可以作为人类最深层的一种潜意识的解释呢？
More...

Images for my Google Apps

[LifeRec]: 没事看看休息休息还不错的一本书

亵渎， 作者：烟雨江南 如果是乱码，请手动选择GB2312浏览， 或者在注册用户时，选择GB2312为缺省语言。

Mac Mini Fever

Do u catch fever of Apple's Mac Mini? It's really cute and duty cheap, compared with those bareone PC. Barebone PC is much more expensive than regular PC with the same specs, so, surprise about Mac Mini's price.
Before make a decsion to get one, read some more... For me, maybe, if compatible with Linux. Love it so much.

Mammon

Mammon
Originally uploaded by li-zhao.

Chinese new year is coming, a mammon is preparing for wish all ppls.

A story on the road from handmade toy to today's propower

Five years ago, Linus Torvalds faced a mutiny. The reclusive Finn had taken the lead in creating the Linux computer operating system, with help from thousands of volunteer programmers, and the open-source software had become wildly popular for running Web sites during the dot-com boom. But just as Linux was taking off, some programmers rebelled. Torvalds' insistence on manually reviewing everything that went into the software was creating a logjam, they warned. Unless he changed his ways, they might concoct a rival software package -- a threat that could have crippled Linux. "Everybody knew things were falling apart," recalls Larry McVoy, a programmer who played peacemaker. "Something had to be done."
The crisis came to a head during a tense meeting at McVoy's house, on San Francisco's Twin Peaks. A handful of Linux' top contributors took turns urging Torvalds to change. After an awkward dinner of quiche and croissants, they sat on the living room floor and hashed things out. Four hours later, Torvalds relented. He agreed to delegate more and use a software program for automating the handling of code. When the program was ready in 2002, Torvalds was able to process contributions five times as fast as he had in the past. The Twin Peaks truce is just one of the dramatic changes during the past few years in the way Linux is made and distributed. The phenomenon that Torvalds kicked off as a student at the University of Helsinki in 1991 had long been a loosey-goosey effort, with little structure or organization. Young students and caffeine-jazzed iconoclasts wrote much of the code in their spare time, while the overtaxed Torvalds stitched in improvements almost singlehandedly. More...

More wallop invitation available

Sorry, my wallop account expired!! Please do NOT ask invitation from me again" Get one when it's hot. Plz leave ur email in wallop exchange forum if u want
From M$:

Your Request for Additional Wallop Invites has been Processed

You recently requested more invitations for your wallop account. This request has now been processed. Please feel free to use these to invite new friends to wallop. However, please be aware that after 7 days any of your unused invitations will be recycled back into the system.

Set default application tips for debian

In debian, sensible-browser and sensible-editor point to default Web browser and editor. You can invoke differenct default browsers by set the BROWSER environement var. The problem is how to set.
The following method is due to Osamu Aoki. It works OK with xfce, and maybe with other desktop environments. The commands are, unfortunately, run before the window manager starts. This makes this method somewhat unsuitable if you have icewm.

Three steps:

1. As root, create a file /etc/X11/Xsession.d/40xfree86-common_user-xsession with the following contents:

   if [ -d $HOME/.xsession.d ]; then
    UXFILES=$(run_parts $HOME/.xsession.d) 
   #or run-parts --list $HOME/.xsession.d
   #read man page of run-parts or run_parts*/
    if [ -n "$UXFILES" ]; then
    for UX in $UXFILES; do
    . $UX
    done
    fi
   fi
   

2. As user, create a directory called .xsession.d in your home directory.

3. Put any commands you want to run when X starts (including commands for setting environment variables) in a file. Put this file inside ~/.xsession.d . Commands in any files (they do not need to be executable files) inside .xsession.d will be run on each X startup, provided the filename consists of aphanumeric characters, underscores, and hyphens only. So in particular backup files (filename ending in ~), and files with a dot in the filename will not be run.

Example: you want to run scim, which needs the following commands to be run when X starts:

export GDK_USE_XFT=1
scim -d
export GTK_IM_MODULE="scim"
export XMODIFIERS="@im=SCIM"

You can put these commands in a file called ~/.xsession.d/scim. The commands will be run when X starts. If you don't want these commands to be run anymore, you can re-name the file to e.g. ~/.xsession.d/scim.old. Because the filename now has a dot in it, its commands will not be run.

Another example: to run skype (the Internet telephony program) each time X starts, you put a file (called, e.g., skype) inside ~/.xsession.d, just containing the command skype&.

More to read ...

Customize ur debian?

Since the arrival of the very first versions of Gentoo, some people have announced that "Debian is good, but that's not optimized for [distribution in which you run make all the time]". And this is wrong, you are free to recompile software you use on Debian, using the apt system. Downloading a tarball, uncompressing it, running configure scripts and make install, is an easy task for every Linux user, but this is not adapted for the Debian package management system. Stow was a way which worked without too much effort, but compiled programs were not really integrated in the apt dependancies. The ultimate solution is to use apt-build to recompile a software already packaged for Debian. Read the article from Julien Reveret

Potential of Blogger

As the easy of maintenence of blogger, I immigrated my research homepage to blogger yesterday. From now on, when i want to add some pages to it, i only need to create a new post via blogger.

C++ implementation of Ukkonen's Suffix Tree Construction Algorithm

A very fast linear time suffix tree construction algorithm is elaborately presented by Ukkonen. I like it so much. :-) I give my source codes of a C++ implementation here, under GPL license. Actually, many parts are borrowed from ANSI C Implementation.
What's interesting is the comparison between the C implementation and mine. I compiled both on my debian linux box using gcc 3.3. Without optimization, mine is about half slower than C. With -O3 for both, surprisely enough to me, mine is a bit faster than the C implementation. I like it. :-)

prerequisite software

libpopt
To compile
g++ treekits.cpp spattern.cpp -lpopt
enjoy it.

2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake.

remember this day -- 26-Dec.-2004. tsunamis flooded coastlines between 15 minutes and 10 hours after the 2004 indian ocean earthquake, and killed 80,000 ppls (til 30-Dec-2004).

Another social network for sharing photos

Again, there r so many social networks that make u boring. After months of life in the cyber-social world, many ppls may wonder what practical benefits can they bring. Here, at least, I suggest Flickr to u for photo sharing. I like so much that it is integrated with blogger seamlessly.
Ludicorp's Flickr, which could become a hot site, also has a function: sharing photos. It started with the basic idea: "What if we put live chat together with social networks and enabled people to share media with one another in real time?" Although this is already possible using instant messaging software and groupware sites such as Google Groups and Yahoo Groups, Flickr makes it far easier: the photos you want to share are in a "shoebox" along the bottom of the screen, and you send one by dropping the picture on a buddy's name.
Sharing photos online is likely to become more popular as more people buy digital cameras, and as cameras are built in to most mobile phones. Ludicorp's Eric Costello says the plan is to have photos uploaded automatically: We hope to have "watched folders", so if you drop a photo into a folder it will just show up in your shoebox. Also, we hope to integrate it with other photo sites, such as Ofoto, so you could pull in photos from there, or push photos there so you can have prints made of them."
A system that can be used to share photos can ultimately be adapted to share all sorts of things, and Flickr could obviously go much further. Ludicorp's Vancouver-based founder and president, Stewart Butterfield, says they're trying to build a system that supports relationships that transcend particular applications - instant messaging, email, Orkut etc.
For more information, check out flickr.com or the article introducing the above info.

"KOI" - Japanese Ornamental Carp

"KOI" - Japanese Ornamental Carp
Originally uploaded by li-zhao.

koi (锦鲤; shortened from Japanese nishikigoi) are ornamental domesticated varieties of the common carp Cyprinus carpio.

s'pore develop its own farm model and s'porean visit farm just like visiting park.
last week, we visited singapore farmart. the pic is KOI in the mart, does it beautiful?

如何给BLOGGER加日历功能， a chinese version of how to add calendar in blogger

petersky说华人还有不鸟英文的， 那么用华文说也许可以帮多一些人， 这就是这个华文版的BLOGGER小帖士在这里的原因了.
我们知道BLOGGER不象LIVEJOURNAL什么的限制那么多， 基本可以配置一切可以想到的东西， 可是一个大问题是， BLOGGER竟然没有提供别家都有的日历功能， 其实给BLOGGER加一个日历（BLOGLENDAR)也很简单，我们只要做以下几步（当然首先要感谢一下MING HONG NG还有phil ringnalda， 他们基本把要做的都做了）：
1、下载这个.tar.gz档， 解开共3个文件， 上载到你自己的主页上去。 我们假设你主页URL是http://zzz.com/, 这个三个文件的URL是http://zzz.com/bloglendar.js, http://zzz.com/bloglendar.css, http://zzz.com/bloglendar-main.js
2、 BLOGGER TEMPLATE大家应该都知道了咯，不多介绍，如果不了解， 推荐看一下这里。 好了， 第二步就是在你的TEMPLATE的head里面加入下面几行:
      <script type='text/javascript' charset='<$BlogEncoding$>' src='http://zzz.com/bloglendar.js'>
      </script> <script type='text/javascript' charset='<$BlogEncoding$>' src='http://zzz.com/bloglendar-main.js'>
      </script> <link rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' href='http://zzz.com/bloglendar.css' />
3、第三步也许是最重要的一步了， 先解释一下BLOGGER TEMPLATE的一个小东西
a、 在TEMPLATE里面，大家应该可以找到这个一段（可能有点不同，慢慢找吧）：
      <BlogDateHeader>
       <h2 class="date-header"><$BlogDateHeaderDate$></h2>
      </BlogDateHeader>"
b、好了， 如果你的TEMPLATE有这几句，那么你如果你12月25日有一个POST，在HTML SOURCES里面，这个POST的日期就应该是这个样子：
<h2 class="date-header">december 25, 2004</h2><br/>
BLOGLENDAR所做的呢，就是把BLOGGER页面里上面这句找出来， 然后画一个日历， 然后把12.25给加亮显示出来。 问题是BLOGLENDAR的最早版本作者大概使用的template大概我们的不太一样（其实不是了，呵呵，不过这么比较好理解）， 所以， 我们要做的第三步就是改改自己的TEMPLATE了, 把
<h2 class="date-header"><$BlogDateHeaderDate$></h2>改成<div class='blogDate' title='<$BlogDateHeaderDate$>'></div>就OK了。
4、在你想方日历的地方加入下面这句话：

<span id="bloglendar"><!-- Bloglendar here --></span>

How to read them?

Always forget how to read them (the alphabet of greek letters, math symbols, etc), record here as reference:

α α Α β β Β γ γ Γ δ δ Δ ε ε Ε ζ ζ Ζ η η Η θ θ Θ ι ι Ι κ κ Κ λ λ Λ μ μ Μ ν ν Ν ο ο Ο ξ ξ Ξ π π Π ρ ρ Ρ σ σ Σ ς ς τ τ Τ υ υ Υ χ χ Χ ψ ψ Ψ φ φ Φ ω ω Ω ϑ ϑ ϒ ϒ ϖ ϖ

´ ´ ¸ ¸ ˆ ˆ ¯ ¯ ˜ ˜ ¨ ¨ ∧ ∧ ∠ ∠ ≈ ≈ „ „ • • ∩ ∩ ♣ ♣ ∪ ∪ † † ‡ ‡ ↓ ↓ ♦ ♦ ≡ ≡ € € ∃ ∃ ƒ ƒ ∀ ∀ ⁄ ⁄ ≥ ≥ > > ↔ ↔

&harr; ↔ &hArr; ⇔ &hearts; ♥ &hellip; … &infin; ∞ &int; ∫ &isin; ∈ &larr; ← &le; ≤ &loz; ◊ &laquo; « &ldquo; “ &lsaquo; ‹ &lsquo; ‘ &lt; < &mdash; — &micro; µ &middot; · &minus; − &nabla; ∇ &ndash; – &ne; ≠ &ni; ∋ &oline; ‾ &oplus; ⊕ &or; ∨ &part; ∂ &permil; ‰

KDE will talk to u!!

We know M$ has provided voice synthesis API for years. Many applications are built based on it. Although there r also many such kind of APIs on linux, they r relative difficult to install and config. Now, the good news is KDE will integrate Text-to-Speech (ktts) in its next important version -- KDE 4.
Another good news for linux is openoffice seems will announce its 2.0 soon, with access-like DBMS and better M$ compatible capability.

Tips about shutdowning debian

It's easy to active shutdown option is kde logout menu, just use kdm as login manager and allow shutdown by normal users. Of cz, firstly, normal users must be capable to shutdown. unfortunately, it isn't default setting for debian.
I understand it's stupid for a server administrator to allow normal users to shutdown. But for desktop users, only be allowed to return to gdm or sudo everytime to shutdown is a stupid idea. To allow a normal user to shutdown, follow the following instruction:
Q: How do you give permission to shutdown(8) the machine to regular users?
Without patching the shutdown code to either link it to libpam or check your UID/GID, there are 2 simple ways.
Option 1: SUID ROOT
On debian, a distro which hates setuid root anything, /sbin/shutdown's default permissions are -rwxr-xr-x. If we make it setuid root
$ chmod u+s /sbin/shutdown (giving -rwsr-xr-x)
anyone and everyone can run /sbin/shutdown, and it will run as root. So everyone can shutdown the machine (ouch).
If we only want users from a special group to be able to execute it, we can just make it only executable by the owner and group
$ chmod g-wrx /sbin/shutdown (giving -rwsr-x---)
and then change the group owner to our special group. Debian has an adm group, which seems appropriate. (but we could just create a new shutdown, or wheel group of course).
$ chown root.adm /sbin/shutdown
-rwsr-x--- 1 root adm 16632 2002-05-28 12:27 /sbin/shutdown
So anyone we want to let shutdown the machine, we can just add to the adm group.
$ adduser fred adm
Options 2: sudo
If you use sudo, then
fred ALL=(root) /sbin/shutdown
in your sudoers file would let the user fred run shutdown as root. Without setuid root'ing anything! You can change "fred" for "%adm" or "%shutdown" to indicate a member of that %group.
sudo logs everything and doesn't need you to change any file permissions.
I guess the distro's that do allow anyone to shutdown the machine use setuid root binaries. Not as elegant as sudo, but they both work.
Gav
(ps, based on a conversation with Al)