Its very irritating to be working on your laptop/computer and you try to install something or download a file and a message pops up "Missing XYZ driver, please install and try again"
Times like these, I could almost through the latop out the window in frustration. Where on Earth am I supposed to go searching for a driver? The hardware company whose brand laptop you use, then the software guys websites or googling it normally is the route to go.
Then today, I discovered Driver Access which claims to have over a million drivers in their database. While this is not a claim that is easily verifiable, they do seem to have a rather large collection.
Whether you are looking for Computer Drivers, Webcam Drivers, Motherboard Drivers or USB Drivers, Driver Access has a solution.
They even offer a free driver scan for your machine, so you can check which drivers need updating and premptively get the newer versions, before you have to confront that error message again.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Math and Tutoring
As a Math Major in College, I am sometimes asked to provide Math Help to my friends children. If the kids are younger, then its a pretty easy proposition, but if they are in the senior grades, then I seem to have forgotten some of my old mathematical concepts in the race with Management Concepts.
Hence I am then forced to relearn and re read mathematical concepts that I don't use on a daily basis in my current job, to teach someone else's kid. How poetic is that!
Fortunately with the advent of Online Math Tutoring, my time is now not being encroached upon. Sites have become more sophisticated and offer 24*7 Online Math Help.
So, advise to parents trying to get their kids to understand math, is to spare yourself, your friends and your kids the torture of trying to tutor them and rely on help from Online math tutors, who are more current in their knowledge and hence better able to help your child.
Hence I am then forced to relearn and re read mathematical concepts that I don't use on a daily basis in my current job, to teach someone else's kid. How poetic is that!
Fortunately with the advent of Online Math Tutoring, my time is now not being encroached upon. Sites have become more sophisticated and offer 24*7 Online Math Help.
So, advise to parents trying to get their kids to understand math, is to spare yourself, your friends and your kids the torture of trying to tutor them and rely on help from Online math tutors, who are more current in their knowledge and hence better able to help your child.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Telling Time
Recent movies, like Land of The Lost have refreshed public interest in the concept of time travel. I for one, would be happy if people I make appointments with, here in Egypt would at least be on time for meetings in this dimension and space.
Many years ago, when I worked in the manufacturing sector, we often gifted watches and alarm clocks to factory workers. While workers appreciated the gift, it also implied that they now had no reason to turn up late. (Given that the most common reason for arriving late was that they had overslept as they did not know what the time was)
I was gifted my first watch, by my parent when I was 8 years old. I used that same watch until I graduated high school. At this time an aunt gifted me another one. Yes, there was a generation, not so long ago, where watches were used for 10-20 years and more.
Now, there are kids watches like these:
which are available so cheap, that I know many kids aged 6 and below who already have a collection of watches in various stages of disrepair.
There was a time when watches were like Jewellery. Carefully considered before buying, a long term investment and carefuly cared for.Sometimes watches had to be taken to jewellers for repair or for a battery to be replaced. So precious and delicate were its internal mechanisms. The trend still continues with diamond studded watches
introduced by premium designers. Most big fashion labels, even lend their names to a watch line or two.
The watch is no longer a mechanism just to tell time. It has become an important fashion accessory.
Many years ago, when I worked in the manufacturing sector, we often gifted watches and alarm clocks to factory workers. While workers appreciated the gift, it also implied that they now had no reason to turn up late. (Given that the most common reason for arriving late was that they had overslept as they did not know what the time was)
I was gifted my first watch, by my parent when I was 8 years old. I used that same watch until I graduated high school. At this time an aunt gifted me another one. Yes, there was a generation, not so long ago, where watches were used for 10-20 years and more.
Now, there are kids watches like these:
which are available so cheap, that I know many kids aged 6 and below who already have a collection of watches in various stages of disrepair.There was a time when watches were like Jewellery. Carefully considered before buying, a long term investment and carefuly cared for.Sometimes watches had to be taken to jewellers for repair or for a battery to be replaced. So precious and delicate were its internal mechanisms. The trend still continues with diamond studded watches
introduced by premium designers. Most big fashion labels, even lend their names to a watch line or two.The watch is no longer a mechanism just to tell time. It has become an important fashion accessory.
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Indian Fascination for fans
As an Indian who grew up in a simple Middle Class family, Air Conditioning was a luxury that no one that I knew could afford. Even if someone had an AC installed, they would barely run it once a year because of the high electricity costs associated with it.
We all survived with Ceiling Fans to keep us cool. Some lucky classmates had Tablefans
on their study tables to keep them cool during the sweltering heat. This too was a luxury in the hot and humid South.
In the dry heat of the North of India, an Air Cooler
was de rigueur. Unless movable, it would be installed in the central hall, so everyone could sleep in the same room and save on electricity bills (completely different concept from saving electricity) It operated on the concept of a huge fan blowing fine mists of water over the humans crowding around it. Sometimes the wtaer added to the cooler, was given a touch of fragrance like Khus or Rose with a little essence added to the water. But this was an indulgence reserved for occasions when there were "guests" visiting and the like.
Having grown up with these fans, they have become a necessity in our lives. I have friends who have moved to the US (pioneer in central heating/cooling systems) at least a decade ago and they have bought mini portable fans to lull themselves to sleep. It is something to do with the motion of the breeze or the hum of the fan, that helps us sleep more peacefully. Familiar sounds and sensations from childhood perhaps.
Personally, while we were in Egypt, we used a tall floor fan in front of the Air conditioning during summer, to disperse the cool air further and during winter to disperse the hot air around the room and provide some air circulation in an otherwise still room.
In Dubai, even with the central airconditioning, fans were among the first of our electronic purchases and I use them more regularly and constantly, than the airconditioners even in the peak of Summer right now.
A common complaint about fans is that they do not fit or match or belnd into the decor. But with the modern ranges and designs available, this is no longer a valid complaint.
Consider, craftmade ceiling fans like
or 
You can even go Futuristic with brands like Fanimation, which produce such gems as:
, 
and 
.
If you are looking for exclusivity, then brands like Hunter Fans produce Limited editions like the
1886 Series Limited Edition Model 18865 Ceiling Fan
Fans are a sensible choice. They can be decorative and add so much more character to your room, than just a drab white airconditioning unit or concealed central airconditioning. Its low electricity usage is good for both your wallet and the environment. So do give the fan a chance.
We all survived with Ceiling Fans to keep us cool. Some lucky classmates had Tablefans
on their study tables to keep them cool during the sweltering heat. This too was a luxury in the hot and humid South.In the dry heat of the North of India, an Air Cooler
was de rigueur. Unless movable, it would be installed in the central hall, so everyone could sleep in the same room and save on electricity bills (completely different concept from saving electricity) It operated on the concept of a huge fan blowing fine mists of water over the humans crowding around it. Sometimes the wtaer added to the cooler, was given a touch of fragrance like Khus or Rose with a little essence added to the water. But this was an indulgence reserved for occasions when there were "guests" visiting and the like.Having grown up with these fans, they have become a necessity in our lives. I have friends who have moved to the US (pioneer in central heating/cooling systems) at least a decade ago and they have bought mini portable fans to lull themselves to sleep. It is something to do with the motion of the breeze or the hum of the fan, that helps us sleep more peacefully. Familiar sounds and sensations from childhood perhaps.
Personally, while we were in Egypt, we used a tall floor fan in front of the Air conditioning during summer, to disperse the cool air further and during winter to disperse the hot air around the room and provide some air circulation in an otherwise still room.
In Dubai, even with the central airconditioning, fans were among the first of our electronic purchases and I use them more regularly and constantly, than the airconditioners even in the peak of Summer right now.
A common complaint about fans is that they do not fit or match or belnd into the decor. But with the modern ranges and designs available, this is no longer a valid complaint.
Consider, craftmade ceiling fans like
or You can even go Futuristic with brands like Fanimation, which produce such gems as:
, and .If you are looking for exclusivity, then brands like Hunter Fans produce Limited editions like the
1886 Series Limited Edition Model 18865 Ceiling Fan Fans are a sensible choice. They can be decorative and add so much more character to your room, than just a drab white airconditioning unit or concealed central airconditioning. Its low electricity usage is good for both your wallet and the environment. So do give the fan a chance.
Buying tickets online
A lot of us have been using online sites to buy airline tickets. I remember reading recently that more than 40% of airline tickets in India are now being bought online avoiding the need for a travel agent.
While airline ticketing has taken off in a big way and railway ticketing to some extent, what about other kinds of tickets?
Tickets for shows like say for example: David Copperfield Tickets for a Magic/Illusionist show.
Music Shows like a Beyonce show or A Steady Rain Tickets
Or even something offbeat like Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets
Tickets for Cricket matches being sold online. Wouldn't it completely beat having to stand in line, braving inclement weather and worse, wasting hours of precious time that could be better utilised elsewhere?
The internet can make life a lot easier and help save a valuable resource of time. This is why sites that offer services like online ticket booking will always be a great alternative.
While airline ticketing has taken off in a big way and railway ticketing to some extent, what about other kinds of tickets?
Tickets for shows like say for example: David Copperfield Tickets for a Magic/Illusionist show.
Music Shows like a Beyonce show or A Steady Rain Tickets
Or even something offbeat like Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets
Tickets for Cricket matches being sold online. Wouldn't it completely beat having to stand in line, braving inclement weather and worse, wasting hours of precious time that could be better utilised elsewhere?
The internet can make life a lot easier and help save a valuable resource of time. This is why sites that offer services like online ticket booking will always be a great alternative.
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