Windows 8.1 (release version)

Well kiddies, MS has given you back the start button they callously took from you in the last round of Windows. I can honestly say that I could  tolerate Win 8, were it not for the grievous  Crime Against Humanity Microsoft committed by effectively eliminating the System Image Backup utility.

I am not saying that cloud backup systems don't have their uses. They do, but they do not work for every situation. I am a gamer and computer hobbyist. I rely upon having a good image backup to cover my mistakes or when I choose to upgrade hardware. the clod er cloud isn't going to get my system up and running. I can restore the OS and and a my most critical apps in 20 mins with no harm done, or I can install the OS, call MS to get permission to activate again, install system drivers, run Windows Update several times and hope I haven't lost anything. Of course some asshat is going to tell me I have to buy a new copy of something I have already paid for, all of this because I wanted to fix a minor problem.

Windows 7 had a nice although primitive image backup utility that came in handy when I swapped out my OS HD for a SSD drive. Win 8 has one but you need to go to a certain backalley place, knock on a certain door and say "Bill Sent Me" to use it. Windows 8.1 has a backup too but I think it involves mystic arcane rites, bartering ones immortal soul, or was it selling your firstborn.

Well, you have  a backup, but can you restore your system with it? All you need is that recovery media you didn't get. Yes if you had installed 8.1 from a DVD you're ok, but not if you took the download upgrade path like I did. For some stupid reason there is no universal restore utility.

I have a fantasy. In it someone creates an OS that is more powerful than windows, less expensive, and easier to use than MS windows. I will of course recommend the developers of windows for a place in the fast food industry.

Windows 8, Users ?

Recently, Microsoft released Windows 8.1 Preview Release. There are some improvements. Our old friend the Start button is back. A right-click gives us the familiar menu accessing the control panel, shutdown controls and other features. You no longer have to pat your head, rub your tummy, and stand on your toes to access familiar functions.You also have the option to boot to the desktop or the app interface.

Another thing I like about Windows 8 is that it does an even better job than windows 7 of installing system drivers. Even on my laptop,  networking both wired and wireless is up and ready to go by the time Win 8 is fully installed, along with sound and video. If you are using an SSD, you should appreciate the optimizations for solid state hard drives.

I should point out though that 8.1, at least in its current state, seems to require that Win 8 / Win 8 Pro already be installed. At least the upgrade won't cost anything.

Still, I am wondering why I should give up Win 7. Even in beta, win 7 was so obviously superior to XP or the Vista. At least I can now live with 8 and maybe there are new features worth looking at.

Man of Steel Suk rating =3

We don't need another (super) hero. We seem to live in a rather vulgar time when movies seems to be rated on the decibel scale rather than whether they are any good. Superman, as originally envisioned in 1938 was a hero of the classic type, who fought for truth, justice, and the American way.

Unfortunately, Man of Steel puts to death any sense of being heroic and replaces it with an angst-driven loner. Why Kal-El decides to save (a relative term considering the level of destruction that occurs in the movie)  the people of Earth is beyond me.

Richard Roeper decried the lack on any real fun in the movie, an opinion was heavily criticized. Maybe some people enjoy movies that are nothing but bombastic assaults on their senses. Maybe these same people enjoy zapping themselves with a cattle prod too. In either case I think the Christopher Reeve  movies are far superior to this torture fest.

Sometime a cigar ....

I recently dropped over Michael Medved's page to catch his review of the recent Star Trek movie. Seems a guest reviewer did the actual review, but the comments quickly turned into a fracas over whether or not the movie was intended as an attack on George Bush and his War on Terror. My opinion of  course is that Into Darkness is a shameless attack on the policies of Millard Philmore. (Just in case your mind is hopelessly mired in political thinking, This is Intended as a Joke. I voted for Thomas Jefferson only because George wasn't on the ballot)

Some movies are intended as political commentary and sometimes it is just entertainment. More often, what you see depends upon what you bring in the theater. Maybe it is just me, but I would rather enjoy a good movie than indulge in political argument. I always thought anyway the Star Trek expressed the hope that Mankind would someday grow out of its childish aggressive nature. Your mileage may vary however.

Star Trek: Into Darkness (comment only, no spoilers)

It is hard to know how to review a movie like this. Technically, the movie is close to flawless, except for a little cannibalism of a previous (and far superior) movie. (I am assuming to please the fanboys) . Yet I am wondering why they didn't get Bruce Willis for the lead and call it Die Hard: Warp Six, or maybe The Bourne Federation. Oh I know: Kill Roddenberry Pt 2. Its not Star Trek.

If what you are looking for is dark themes and gritty action, this movie has it. If what you are looking for are things that made Trek a phenomenon, even Nemesis would be a better choice.

SUK-O-LUX Review: Oblivion SUK LVL = 2.5

You don't know Jack

Oblivion. borrows from so many other sci-fi movies (plus a reference to An Affair to Remember as well) that the "surprise twist" at the end is a surprise for no more than 5 to 10 minutes into the movie.

60 years ago, Earth was invaded by aliens intent upon stripping Earth of its resources. Earth fights back , but not without rendering Earth largely uninhabitable. With the survivors moving to Titan, Jack's job is to maintain the machines collecting Earth's resources (Hey wait. Wasn't that what the bad guys were doing?) and the defense drones. Jack's memory has been wiped (a very strange job requirement ) , but he keeps remembering a woman he was with on top of the Empire State Building. (In the movies, some recognizable landmark will always survive an apocalypse). The collectors and the mothership look like a giant V, no doubt a reference to the 1983 TV movie about alien invaders.

There is one profound mystery. Why did Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman star in this turkey. Jack's partner was glad she had her memory wiped. I know why.

SUK-O_LUX Review: Star Trek Game 2013 (XBOX 360) SUK LVL = 1.5

This is actually a likable game and not one that should not  have found its way to my domain. The voice acting by the cast of the J.J. Abrams reboot is quite good and adds to the character of the game. 

What is wrong with it is the repetitious series of battles and minigames as well as the technical glitches. You get to play as either Spock or Kirk with the other character assigned to A.I. control. Trouble is your AI buddy isn't always that smart. He has an annoying ability to stand in the wrong place blocking your movement or keeping you from using an elevator. Sometimes it is very hard to find the exact . spot you need to click on. The controls can be wonky too, and you will definitely need a HD TV or monitor to see what you need to see.

I should mention that Star Trek does have coop and online play. Playing with a friend helps a great deal. I will be using a slightly different rating system since this a game and not a movie

Lvl 1: Worth a look at, maybe

Lvl 2: A rental first to be sure.

Lvl 3: Wouldn't you rather jab yourself with pain sticks?

Lvl 4: This game should be hauled away AS garbage. (See the old Atari game E.T. which actually was trashed by its developer)

SOL REVIEW: Roger Ebert Suk Lvl: 4

No, Roger Ebert doesn't suck. His death does. Siskel and Ebert were the two most popular critics I know of. If anyone loved movies, it was Mr. Ebert.

SUK-O-LUX Review: OZ, The great and powerful.

(Suk level= 0.9)

No, this movie is neither great nor powerful, and probably wouldn't even have rated a place in this Hall of Shame had it not presented itself as a sequel to a beloved classic. Two basic problems here. One is tha Warner owns the rights to the 1939 classic Wizard of Oz. So this movie winds up being less than it could have been, .

Then there is the casting. While Evadora (aka the WW of the East) was very perfectly cast, her sister is just not that convincing. Neither is Oz or Glenda. This movie just doesn't have the edge that is needed here

SUK-O_LUX Review: Stranded

I rented this movie from Netflix and watched it with a friend last Friday evening. It was about a group of astronauts who went to Mars and were

(Warning: Spoiler Alert)

stranded.


It wouldn't have been so bad if this was the first or middle part of the movie, but this was the end. Mission to Mars gave us a cool ET just waiting for us to knock on his door, and Red Planet gave us a rescue courtesy of a Russian mining rocket.  Here we are just

(Warning: Spoiler Alert)

stranded

Rating: 1 (because there wasn't that much to criticize) 

Suc-O-Lux Review: Windows 8

If you could take the excellent Windows 7 and add the Metro interface as an optional add-on, you would have the functionality of Windows 8 without the problems. I don't mind the app interface. I use apps everyday. Sure, there is no "Start" button, but that's not the problem with Win8.

The good news is that run your Win7 compliant games and applications on Win 8. Games that work with DirectX 11 may have problems with Win8's 11.1. Somethings are just weird. There is a backup utility just like Win7, but you need Sherlock Holmes to find it. Many familiar tasks suddenly become confusing. When I am playing a game and use the Windows button to drop to desktop I can't always get back to the game.

There is no Windows Media player, unless you want to buy the optional Windows Media Center. Oh yes, tell me why the mail app will not access standard POP accounts. Windows 8 will access all your Facebook, Twitter and other social sites.

Unless you are using Metro with a touchscreen, there is just no reason to use Win8, or pay for the upgrade

Suk Rating= 3

SUK-O-LUX MOVIE REVIEW: Total Recall (2012)

Lets see, detonate 1000 lbs of TNT and you get roughly the same effect in a mercifully shorter period of time, minus the actors. Oh wait, did that qualify as acting? I have an idea. Hook me up to the memory machine and implant the Schwartzengger original.

Rating= 3