Dump/Clean/Reboot
Read the Wired article on the upcoming James Cameron epic, Avatar, and it looks like a major winner combining elements of all your favorite sci fi action movies. James Cameron basically wanted to out Lucas George Lucas of Star Wars infamy. Avatar even has it's own language that was developed with a linguistics expert from scratch. Very few details left unturned as James Cameron attempts to recreate his own version of the Star Wars legacy. For some advanced clips, please view here.
posted 12/13/2009
PC Builds
Checking out the Black Friday specials and am running Return On Investment (ROI) calculations as to whether it's cheaper for me to build my own PC from raw components or if I should just go with a big-box retailer of PCs. Ran across an excellent mid-range PC build article that gave a good rundown of what a nice mid-range PC would run as of 10.29.09:: $1640 for the raw hardware. Add in shipping, taxes, and Windows 7 preloaded and you figure you're running about close to $2k.
As a ballpark baseline, I ran comparisons against the new iMac all in one, a customized Falcon North West Talon gaming rig, Dell, HP, and Gateway's mid-range product lines.
Initial indications appear to be that so long as you don't mind the elbow grease and the sweat equity involved with PC set up and configuration, this may not be a bad way to go. Just be sure to arm yourself with plenty of information in advance.
I am smitten with the Thermaltake line of PC cases that allow for infinite expandability - especially with their newest case known as the Level 10 designed in conjunction with BMW Design Group, North America. This is one of the most gorgeous and functional pc cases I've ever laid my eyes upon. As a Mechanical Engineer by education, it's design is fantastic in terms of heat transfer properties away from critical components and the only reason no one's designed anything like it yet is due to its staggering price, $700 as of 9/28/09.
The unit weighs almost 44 pounds and is a behemoth. Units are manufactured in Taiwan.
posted 11/23/2009
Deciding Whether to Refinance
With mortgage rates dropping to some record lows given the current credit environment, we've seen some jaw dropping rates on mortgages. But the real question is, how do you know if it's worth doing?
General rule of thumb is that if you're rate is lower by at least 2 points, then it's worth doing. What I've found however, is that this is along the lines of advice for stock trading, buy low and sell high... technically accurate but too general to be really useful.
Step 1: Check Bankrate.com for current interest rates across the land to get a sense of where current interest rates are so that you can immediately disqualify any lenders.
Step 2: If you're ready to really get a more detailed estimate and you already know which mortgage product you want (i.e. 20 year fixed, 5/1 ARM, 15 year fixed, etc. etc.) and the amount down, go to lendingtree.com who aggregates lowest price vendors for you.
Step 3: Request a Truth In Lending document as well as the amortization payoff tables for your requested loan type and compare the fees with the savings that you'll have over your current situation.
The hardest part about this calculation is the fact that you generally don't know when you'll move - and that is the one key piece of the calculation that determines how much the financial transaction costs and whether the ROI is worth it. .
posted 11/20/2009
What is Life Insurance?
Spoke to a gentleman from Northwestern Mutual life regarding life insurance policies. Took me almost 5 years to full understand the nuances and differences between term and life insurance and now it all makes sense.
So you're basically betting on A.) the likelihood that you'll die, B.) when you'll die, and C.) Do you want there to be money that can be cashed in on in the event that you don't die until a ripe old age.
posted 11/17/2009