I don't get how Scott says how the reloaded isn't overclocked. Just because the card is warranted under a 3rd party doesn't mean it's not overclocked. Let's say I'm a computer reseller and started overclocking intel CPU's to 4.0ghz and sold them and gave it warranty. Doesn't mean the system isn't overclocked.

Why didn't Scott use higher clocked 4870 in the review when he used higher clocked GTX 260 216?

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=2235...

Here's another 8 page worth of comments about the review.

This podcast is always a pain to download, this is the second one in a row in which my first attempt at downloading it has just stalled.

I decided to try the podcast out again hoping this time it was better than the first one but was curious as to why the podcast is nearly 80MB

Most the other podcasts I listen to are ~4-5MB for 25mins, is there really a need to have the filesize so large? I can't imagine you need a high bitrate when it's just talk..

As far as the iPhone and it's superiority goes... I'll give it this: It was a pretty revolutionary product. The industry was shaken by it, and that was a few years ago. Nowadays, I think it boils down to platform and personal preference, a lot of phone makers HAVE responded with some pretty competent solutions. I recall Scott saying something in a previous podcast that Sprint offered him the Samsung Instinct when he mentioned the iPhone, and how he felt like the iPhone was a really space-age, almost super-alien technology compared to them.

In part, I agree. I think the Samsung Instinct, the LG Envy, the LG Dare, and all of the other stupidly-named "smartphones" are largely undeserving of the term, and they do indeed pale in comparison to the iPhone.

BUT.

I am compelled to mention that none of those phones run a standard smartphone platform, or even feature basic smartphone features -- like desktop sync, etc. When comparing the iPhone to Windows Mobile, Blackberry, or now Android devices... the distinction isn't quite so clear -- and I think that these devices are largely the calm before the storm. The HTC Touch series devices are going to be coming out soon, and those will offer a very nice mix of features and design that, frankly, will strongly challenge the iPhone.

Regarding MS ads:

Since no one else said it, I will: Cyril needs to wakeup. Occam's Razor; the simplest solution is often the correct. In other words, people probably over-estimate what goes on behind closed doors in Microsoft's marketing meetings. The guys planning Microsoft's ads are probably scared talentless professionals who are willing to drop something that didn't work and try something else that doesn't work.

Scott and Jordan--although maybe it's just Jordan's predisposition towards Apple--seem to have properly functioning BS-detector's and I'm glad that someone agrees that the "I'm a PC" ads are total non sequiter to the Gates/Seinfeld ads in which towards the end of each Bill "hints" that something major is coming along. It just doesn't pass the smell test.

Cyril is a smart guy, so I just think it's troubling that his judgment could be so clouded.

Who blows their nose at 27:11 :D I'm the official TR podcast Easter egg hunter.

I really liked the first series of ads, what was interesting was the fact they didn't go straight into Vista feel the wow crap. I've always liked Bill Gates; we wouldn’t have the PC without him and Microsoft’s cutthroat business practices which were downright shameless. But now Microsoft are becoming irrelevant, when Web 3.0 hits they’ll only be one of many players. By that I mean truly portable computing through handheld devices iPhone / android / smartphones are like a phase 1. Then into devices with foldable or rollable plastic screens to help increase display size, still down the road but by no means far future stuff anymore.

It’s true that MS have gotten people talking about them again, as it’s been all Apple & Google for a longtime now and rightly so they’re actually doing the relevant stuff. Yet the topic of the MS conversation is about Advertisement and not why Vista is the Way. For the vast majority (i.e. not overly tech literate) people the most important things are style and social prestige. Where’s this for MS? The OS is not something that’s seen as sexy, but a shiny laptop or slim-line touch screen device are.

Microsoft is becoming anachronism, I can’t even remember the last relevant application they’ve written for the PC, .NET maybe; and what’s up with their Flash clone??? Currently only Video Editing (NLE) software & computer games keep me running on a Windows platform. But now the games industry’s publishers are turning me off Window’s gaming with crazy DRM to the point where using a console is less hassle, as I know I can sell on my games or lend them to a friend. I like conspiracy and believe they have more to gain from a console only gaming world. MMOs are currently the only game genera exclusive to the PC. The Windows PC could become like the old Apple Macintosh, used by businesses because it has some niche applications (Office / Exchange / Sharepoint), while the general public go with something else. Things like MS-Office & Exchange have alternatives but people still aren’t migrating in large numbers, yet. I like Open Office but it’s got some rough edges.

So to sum up that last paragraph, Windows as an OS is becoming irrelevant because the OS is becoming irrelevant, there, I’ve said it. Not sure of the buzz words, something like Service Ordinate Applications. The OS is becoming akin to a giant BIOS, it needs to be augmented with relevant applications and most of these application are cross platform or web based. Microsoft owned ones most relevant are IE/Outlook Exchange, Live Messenger and Hotmail. But take Apple, it’s just as capable as Windows + it’s got a number halo products, iPhone, iTunes (Music + App Store) and iPod. Linux is good to some extent, but doesn’t have iTunes which is important for iPhone & iTouch, but Android seems like a viable alternative in the future.

Microsoft could become irrelevant outside of the business world. That’s doesn’t mean it can’t be very still successfully, just look at IBM.

The file size is supposedly 76.3 MB, but I've just tried downloading it twice (right-click, save-as in FF3) and both times it said, "xxx of 64.2 MB". Is there an error with the download?

Re the 1.8" mobile hard drives: Unlike 3.5" desktop drives or 2.5" mobile hard disks, the 1.8" drives are seek limited (as opposed to limited by rotational latency). Even the 5400 rpm drives in that form factor have high seek times (14 ms [1], and the rotational latency is in addition to this), and these are similar to the 4200 rpm drives' seek times, 15 ms or so [2]. As such, the <2 ms difference in rotational latency won't make nearly enough of a difference to improve the responsiveness substantially when you're talking 8.3 ms (firmware latency) + 14 ms (seek time) + 5.6 ms (rotational latency) = 27.9 ms for the 5400 rpm drive as opposed to 8.3 ms + 15 ms (seek time) + 7.1 ms (rotational latency) = 30.4 ms. You're kind of stuck with that form factor unless you opt for an SSD.

The difference is more significant for 2.5" drives whose seek times are down in the 12 ms range (and firmware latencies are also lower), and even more significant for the 3.5" desktop drives with even lower average seek times (9 ms), with higher rotational speeds (7200 rpm).

[1] http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/productmodel.do?group=72...
[2] http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/productmodel.do?group=72...

And regarding last week's Podcast, today's Ronald Shortbread had this article [3] indicating ultimately Scott was right, and VoodooPC is being integrated into HP . . .

[3] http://gizmodo.com/5058862/voodoopc-will-survive-but-confirms-integ...

Sweet, thanks for answering my question guys! Really helps...Now I just have to find those harddrives in Canada!

Early. w00t.

Edit: the wiki page fits Perfectly on a maxed IE 16.10. Needs more. :)