DISQUS

Krewell · 1 year ago

Wow. A blast from the past! Back then it was all about the Pentiums.
I know you set the start date for June 6th, but keep a sharp eye out for new anouncements coming out of Computex.
My suggestions (as of today):
NVIDIA SLI (2-way or 3-way) 9800GTX or 9800 GX2 graphics (of course)
Vista 64-bit version with 4-8GB of DDR2 or DDR3
Core 2 Duo E8500 (3.16GHz) Yes I say Duo, not Quad, for most machines. If you want to get insane, then it's the QX9770
Bluray R/W drive
Setup up boot from one 10,000 RPM drive and then set up a RAID drive with 2-4 drives for content and applications (easier O/S installation and upgrades)
1KW power supply (I just like saying one kilowatt)

Test with Crysis - the most demanding game on PC systems.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Kevin you're on our list to talk about CPUs (I'm going to recuse you on the video card section though)!

I thought it would be fun to have you and Michael Slater help us choose the right CPU. You can do it via Skype. Friday, June 6 work for you? Say 3p Pacific?

Krewell · 1 year ago

Should be good for me, count me in. Slater's website is: http://www.mslater.com/.

Laforge129 · 1 year ago

Vista 32 Bit is better you don't have to worry about getting verified drivers. Also If you have to think about how hard it is to find all the drivers for the system. I'd go go with a quad core being water cooled.

just to help with speed

Just some thoughts!!

Krewell · 1 year ago

The reason I suggest Vista 64-bit is that 32-bit x86 operating systems (including Vista) limit any application to 2GB of memory, so there are limitations when you want to install 4GB and get maximum advanatge of the extra memory.
I, myself used Vista 32 with 2GB of memory in my game box when I built it last year for the same concerns you have on drivers. But I understand that drivers are getting better for 64-bit. Also, a good rule of thumb is provide a GB for each core for maximum performance - quad core = 4GB.

BlahRox · 1 year ago

Eight gigabytes of RAM is extremely small for the UGM. You would need something like 32GB for it to be considered elite.

Also 10K RPM is crap compared to the 15K drives that are out on the market.

itsross · 1 year ago

Hey Leo,
Is this competition open to non-US residents? There are lots of us overseas, and so many of these twitter giveaways refuse to send stuff overseas because of the shippings costs. Just think you should make it clear one way or the other.

cheers,

itsross

Chemicalspill · 1 year ago

Good point, i'm from ireland, whats the chances of us out of the USA getting a chance in the booty?

leolaporte · 1 year ago

As long as I can legally do it I have no problem paying for the shipping. I think most of the time people make it US only because there are so many legal jurisdictions it's impossible to make sure it's legal everywhere. I guess we could just say "contest void where not legal" or something. Any lawyers out there who can help?

Chemicalspill · 1 year ago

thanks for making the effort, the fact your trying means alot more than getting it.. sorta haha

Dave Mora · 1 year ago

Looking back I cant believe my HTC packs the same power with a fraction of the cost and it fits in my pocket.

marcome · 1 year ago

I did a search for classic TSS episodes on YouTube and came across the 1st UGM...man how I miss those days....I watched TechTV more than any other channel...good luck with new UGM and figuring everything out.

Roy Issa · 1 year ago

Hello Leo, just finished listening to Net@night, this episode was a godsend for me, because I blog lightly on Tumblr, but I was looking for a way to have comments on there, and you guys talked about it.

By the way it's a great service thank you.

PS: I'm french living in Paris and I wonder how many of your TwiT listeners are from France?

travisccook · 1 year ago

Something nifty like the "What the Heck is It?" contest tied in with TWiT live would be fun. Probably not "important" enough of a contest to give away a UGM, but cool nontheless.

As far as the PC itself, I would think a backlit TWiT logo on the side (maybe in window form, with lights inside?) would be fun. I'm sure Colleen has the ability to cut out the logo on the side of the case :). IMHO, a case mod would really set this apart. Any good nerd can put together the best parts(if they win the lottery :P), but something to make it truly unique makes this a real prize.

xgdfalcon · 1 year ago

How about a way to watch TWIT Live via mobile phone? Windows Mobile 6? iPhone? I'm usually not near a computer during the core TWIT Live hours, and of course Flash Video doesn't work on mobile phones.

DruulinZzz · 1 year ago

Intel BOXD5400XS Dual LGA 771 Skulltrail D5400XS Extended ATX Motherboard - Retail $659
ePOWER EP-2000P10-T3 2000W ATX12V Ver.2.2 Power Supply - OEM $649
Intel Core2 Extreme QX9775 3.2GHz LGA 771 150W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80574QX9775 - Retail $1548
Intel Core2 Extreme QX9775 3.2GHz LGA 771 150W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80574QX9775 - Retail $1548
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1800C8DF - Retail $549
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1800C8DF - Retail $549
EVGA 01G-P3-N897-A3 GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $619
EVGA 01G-P3-N897-A3 GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $619
BFG Tech BFGRPHYSX128P PhysX Processing Unit 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Physics Card - Retail $139
COOLER MASTER cosmos S RC-1100-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail $249
ZALMAN Reserator XT BK Black Reserator (Reservoir+Radiator+Water Pump) Water Cooling System - Retail $419
HP 411089-B22 300GB 15000 RPM Ultra320 SCSI Hard Drive - Retail $999
HP 411089-B22 300GB 15000 RPM Ultra320 SCSI Hard Drive - Retail $999
ePOWER EP-2000P10-T3 2000W ATX12V Ver.2.2 Power Supply - OEM $649
SONY Black and Gray SATA Blu-ray DVD-ROM Drive Model BDUX10S - Retail $21
ASUS Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E818A/A6/QT_B+W - Retail $189
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM $189
Logitech MX Revolution Black 7 Buttons 2 x Wheels USB RF Wireless Laser Mouse - Retail $79
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card (Black/Silver) (Eng) - Retail $254
Creative GigaWorks G550W 310 W 5.1 Speaker - Retail $334
SAMSUNG XL30 Black 30" 6ms(GTG) Widescreen LED backlight LCD Monitor - Retail $4599


$15,859 Total

Seem like you can trim a lot of fat but, then it wouldn't be an ULTIMATE GAMING PC!

Am I missing anything?

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Yeah. My checkbook. OUCH!

jerichobp · 1 year ago

only 1 30" monitor? i thought this was supposed to be ultimate :)

Reid · 1 year ago

Ya, you have to have either 3 30" monitors (OLED if/when they're out) or else that freaky Alienware curved monitor http://gizmodo.com/341413/alienware-curved-moni... (but its resolution isn't so good -- only 900 vertical, but 2,880 horizontal!).

Ultimate should have a FAST hard disk. RAID is demanded. RAID 5 for safety or.. Drobo? Is that fast? Or just big?

jerichobp · 1 year ago

my thoughts exactly. here's my idea for ugm if you didnt see it

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/P...

Reid · 1 year ago

Holy crap, that Samsung XL30 monitor is really pricey! $4,600!

You could build an entire 95% killer gamer machine for that much!

I like the $175 Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s.

jerichobp · 1 year ago

yeah i figured 4 of them in a Raid 5 would be fast enough

caid · 1 year ago

Cool idea.! Is there any way that non-us residents could participate?

dj paine · 1 year ago

i was about to ask the same question... come on leo, you know you'd like to hand deliver the prize to me in australia!

the4thnobleman · 1 year ago

I dunno Mr. Laporte. I thought the idea of following you and doing it via twitter was quite interesting. The unfollowing others idea was the part that sort of lost me.

Kevin, Alex, and the Rev3 crew are pretty much all giving respective items away, and I understand the way they will do it is by making a twitter comment and having everyone reply to it within a certain time frame. THEN, at random, they would select one name from that list of replies. It seemed rather fair and a good way to garner followers while at the same time being easily accessible and most of all "free" to the participants.

I can't wait to see what the UGM 10 will end up being like!

leolaporte · 1 year ago

I can only say that it was at the end of the week, I was tired, and I was a little too focused on the TWiT Twitter derby. In the cool light of day it's apparent that it's totally irrelevant. No matter what I do Kevin's going to win in the long run!

Also, I don't really see why Twitter should be the beneficiary of all this. Making people join Twitter to win UGM makes no sense at all! I'll figure out a better way that's more equitable.

As for International viewers, I have no idea what the legality of all this is. If it's possible to give it away internationally without getting put out of business I'll do it!

the4thnobleman · 1 year ago

See, I don't see it as so much a benefit to Twitter, the service, as much as it is helping people find a unique service that they genuinely enjoy. If not for your show, I'd have never discovered Twitter, and now I use it daily and love it.

But I understand and respect the desire to make it genuinely accessible by more people. In the end it equates to more activity towards your IP, so limiting things to Twitter would indeed be counter-productive to push your network.

Glad to see you have seen the light as it were, in regards to the twitter derby. As you mentioned in twitlive yesterday, competing with the diggnation is a moot point since you are both obviously aiming for different target audiences. Quality over quantity is the high road and you get all of my praise for sticking to that.

Carolyn S. · 1 year ago

I agree re: making people join Twitter.

I would be quite disappointed if this turned into a "Twitter only" event. I'm over at Pownce almost exclusively and is how I found out about this post. I signed up for Twitter years ago just to secure my username and have never used it since.

Don't do it, Leo!

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Exactly, Carolyn. One problem with all these live hours on the air is I often say things I don't think through and later regret. I have a problem with speaking before I think anyway.

We'll find a way that includes everyone and makes it fun.

Carolyn S. · 1 year ago

I'm guilty of "foot in mouth" disease as well! :-D

Tales · 1 year ago

You could ask Calacanis to sponsor you, he has the cash for international rates etc.. :-)

Zarster · 1 year ago

Lucky me.. My PC JUST broke down this yesterday/sunday/May 19th. and wont even boot to bios screen.. tryed everything I could think of to fix it o.0... now i just need to be REAL lucky...

Paul · 1 year ago

Kick ass idea

Chris Hanel · 1 year ago

Oh good, I need a new machine.

atab · 1 year ago

Hey Leo you didnt clear up in TWIT if the give away is for US listeners only or world wide

Chemicalspill · 1 year ago

Ahh.. i remmber gaming back then.. i cried when quake 2 ran like a dog on my Cyrix 133mhz. Looking forward to winning this bad boy.. and laughing in another 10 years when its a dust collector =p

Frankie · 1 year ago

While I didn't get to witness the first UGM, I do remember the 2nd one!! UGM FTW

bengrubb · 1 year ago

Love the idea.

Alan Tennant · 1 year ago

lol, not much use today then. Not just an old PC.

Ticau · 1 year ago

Excellent, excellent idea! This is going to be great, commence the fanboi army , j/k! Ask them diggnation boys to drop in and give us some advice, maybe darktipper can tell us something we don't know yet.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Excellent way to kiss and make up. I'll ask 'em!

Mark · 1 year ago

I really like this idea. Thanks Leo!

Rob Clark · 1 year ago

If I might offer a suggestion as to how to do the giveaway:
Ask people to write a blog post about their favourite TWiT/Screen Savers/ ZDTV moments from the past 10 years. Link the post to TWiT live and tag it UGM10. Then, either pick the one that you like best or just randomly choose one.

Benefit of this approach is that you limit it to folks who are actual fans as opposed to those that just want 'free stuff' and you generate a lot of link love for yourself whilst introducing new folks to the show the best way possible, through word of mouth.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

I really like that idea, but it limits it to folks who have a blog. Hmmm.

FLetcher Warren · 1 year ago

...and it limits it to people who were around to watch ZDTV. I'm only 16, but have been listening to TWiT for well over a year now.

jtdennis · 1 year ago

It could be comments to a blog post you make about the UGM. I like the idea of someone writing a brief memory of ZDTV, TechTV, or TWiT as an entry. If the entry is via a comment here or on the twit.tv site, it wouldn't require the entrant to have anything special.

Andrew Lim · 1 year ago

Hi Leo, what about the May 24th event?? Of who's winning the TWiT derby?

leolaporte · 1 year ago

I give up. Even if I won the Derby Kevin would ultimately win the race. The TWiT Army is mighty, but it's no match for the Digg Nation!

Techzen · 1 year ago

LOL this is great. I can't wait for the hardware discussion to begin for the new system. I thought you were taking today off and going to go get a massage. You deserve a break today.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

I'm probably crazy to attempt this - it's going to be a lot of work (and money) but it's just too exciting to pass up.

Techzen · 1 year ago

Well since I am a Deal Hound I will be happy to sniff out the lowest prices on the hardware for you once the hardware is picked. You'd be amazed how much $ you can save on even the best stuff out there if you put a little time into it. And I have the time, if you got the money (as the saying goes). :-)

Michael Midnight · 1 year ago

Good times Leo, good times.

conedude13 · 1 year ago

You don't dance enough on your shows any more Mr. Laporte! Shake what yo mamma gave ya! :P

Bryan · 1 year ago

Leo -- The UGM has been done to death. Take a new spin on it!

You just said on Twitter that you want to get XBMC working on your Mac Mini. How about building the Ultimate Media Computer instead?

Zoyx · 1 year ago

This is a good idea and will be a lot of fun.

But I think for your next computer project after this, you should go for a green and quiet computer, that can play every game, with the possible exception of Crysis. This is the direction that most computer buyers are going.

Pleasence · 1 year ago

Good decision leo. I thought you'd gone a little too far yesterday when you added the need to unfriend kevin and alex. I understand your sense of competition with Rev3, but that was very out of character.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Yeah I was way out of line - and I immediately regretted it! Stupid stupid stupid. It was meant in good fun in the spirit of competition, but it definitely came off as rude.

Please don't unfollow anyone!

KevinDoyle · 1 year ago

I think anyone who knows you (if only in the watching or listening of your shows kind of way) knows that it was not meant in a malicious manor and was all in good fun.

Chemicalspill · 1 year ago

Ah leo it was your wind down mode, sure those who know you know this, besides i took it all with a pinch of salt anway

Bruce · 1 year ago

I agree, your general sense of care and honesty overrides your comment.

Erlend Sakshaug · 1 year ago

Isn't this getting a little childish?

Travis · 1 year ago

Please record this. I will be at work so I won't be able to watch live

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Oh we definitely will. This will probably be the inaugural series on the Best of TWiT Live podcast. I'll post details when they're available, but it will be on iTunes like any podcast.

Mostly I just have to find bandwidth!

Greg Fischer · 1 year ago

will this be a video podcast I can watch on my AppleTV?

Dustin Sherrill · 1 year ago

Type your comment here.I'll be watching :)

Kranky · 1 year ago

Sounds like a great idea. hypothermia.us did raffles for charity a few years ago through paypal, but I do not remember how he handled international patrons.

LaporteFan · 1 year ago

Awesome awesome. Leo, you mentioned that you would not move to h.264 for about 6 months, presumably to give people chance to upgrade flash and give those with slower computers and Internet chance to catch up. But you turned the 264 switch on already and it seems to be causing problems.

I have a 20mbit connection and a quad core PC and yet the streaming yesterday was chugging along. I scrolled up the chat in IRC and stickam and there were hundreds of similar complaints, with people often saying they had fast connection etc.

Do you think it was a bad idea to flick the 264 switch?

leolaporte · 1 year ago

I am testing various settings. So far it looks like the best compromise between quality and accessibility is 500kpbs VP6 for video and 64kbps mono MP3 for audio. We'll probably stick with that unless a lot of people complain.

But down the road we'll turn up the quality as most people can receive it.

Wayne_In_Akron · 1 year ago

Since this contest is tied to TWIT, I think the lucky UGM 2008 winner should travel to Petaluma and pick up their prize "live and in person" at a taping of TWIT.

bobbyphillipps · 1 year ago

If anything, get the winner either on Skype, or Stickam video, and chat with him/her for a while, let them know they've won.

In fact, Leo, there's a thought. Have everyone who enters register a skype account, and have them tune in at a certain time, and you'll call the winner. That'd be a fun way to surprise everyone, the the anticipation that would build is awesome.

"We're going to now call our winner of the UGM 2008." *skype noises* "OMG OMG OMG! I WON!!!"

Good fun. Food for thought, though. It's obviously your contest. Love the TWiT shows, Leo. Keep 'em coming!

Robertv · 1 year ago

Great Idea Leo, but it's an expensive one!
If I win, can I swap it for one on your XL-2s? :-)

Also in the UK, should be no problem with getting it into the country as a gift, which means we don't end up with a TAX bill of 20-30% in import. Ouch. I so hate the UK sometimes.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

It's going to be expensive, but with any luck I can find a sponsor for it. (Crossing fingers.) This whole TWiT Live thing is a bit of a gamble, frankly.

eyedocmark · 1 year ago

Who's the YOUNG guy, already showing a bit of grey? Handsome couple. Can't wait until you finish my gaming machine. Sure, I'd be glad to go to Pet-a-luma to pet a llama and pick up my gamer.
Eyedocmark.com
eyedocmark@gmail.com

ChrisGilmore · 1 year ago

Are you going to post this kind of stuff on the TWiT Calendar - this is also some of the stuff I would like to see on there rather than only just the recording of the shows.

Can't wait, I'm under 16 so wasn't really a big geek when I was 5 or 6 ;) so it'll be nice to see this reincarnation of tech video this time round.

Loving TWiT Live so far and it can only get better, wish all the best for you Leo.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

It's already there!

ChrisGilmore · 1 year ago

Nice... just refreshed my subscription in iCal ;)

Gary · 1 year ago

Wow, I remember the first UGM like it was yesterday. 400mhz...whoda thunk it? What will the next 10 years bring...scary thought, actually...

EricSusch · 1 year ago

Hey, I have a machine I built with the BX chipset that's still working in my studio! Well, I don't use it for anything anymore but it still turns on. I guess I should get off my butt and retire it.

Mike · 1 year ago

I vote for this machine:
http://tinyurl.com/5yvgb8

;-)

bobbyphillipps · 1 year ago

I vote not. Those aren't gaming video cards. If you're going for ultimate gaming, either Nvidia 8800's or 9800's.

mager · 1 year ago

The best line is, "64 meg of RAM. That's all you're ever gonna need".

Awesome video Leo. I have never seen The Screen Savers before. I wish there was a website that had an archive of every episode.

Sutherland Boswell · 1 year ago

it doesn't have every episode, but it has alot

http://www.youtube.com/user/TTVRewind

hans · 1 year ago

you mean last year sunday may 19th ;)

Staryx · 1 year ago

Loved the idea when I heard it on TWiT last night. And don't worry too much about the whole Twitter debacle. Anyone who's a fan should know you weren't being meanspirited, just caught up in the competition. :)

Look foreward to helping pick the hardware. I love building PCs. :D

Chemicalspill · 1 year ago

Hey leo, i supose it isn't possible to offer 2 feeds is it? one for low bandwith users and one for high bandwith? oh and to everybody nagging leo about his comments last night, http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2124/leavele...

zmama · 1 year ago

Ah! Sweet memories :D Glad the UGM hasn't died!

Couch Pundit · 1 year ago

Dude. We'll be laughing at our current machines 10 years from now like we're laughing now.

muzzymate · 1 year ago

I miss Kate. Any chance she could cameo on TWIT?

packfanlv · 1 year ago

This brings back the days of Prime Cable in Las Vegas when I tuned into channel 63 (I think) and found an interesting show with two interesting personalities talking tech. That just happened to be the very first episode of The Screen Savers. I was so jealous of that kid from Vegas (Jeremy I think) who was always in chat and on the netcam with you and Kate. I was the same age as him at the time. Thanks for all of the memories from the past ten years Leo. I have grown up with you on radio, television and now the internet. Keep it up!

DruulinZzz · 1 year ago

Leo, I am tickled pink that you reply to me. The fact that you are going to have the UGM on Twit Live I am sure myself and fan base will gain from it. Please tell me honestly. Was the UGM, in the works? or was it truly my idea? I have the to brag to the miss's that twitter is awesome. BTW love the background reminds me of a photo I did while in holland, http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg188/mar10x...

Justin · 1 year ago

Will there be anyway I can download the video segment? my streaming isn't that great.

catsarecool · 1 year ago

Leo, you mean comments like "I like the ladies--a lot". You'd better hope the wife doesn't know how to watch the live stream

chasemedown · 1 year ago

Hey Leo, since this is a TWiT Live Giveaway, why not make people join Stickam and friend you on there. It would make a lot more sense to have the contest for Stickam friends as it may actually benefit TWiT Live. Just a thought.

ausimik · 1 year ago

Sounds fun. BTW. Are there plans for recording and releasing TWIT Live stuff for download later. As I'm in Australia, you're on during the wee small hours, and I can't afford to miss my beauty sleep.....I really can't!

leolaporte · 1 year ago

You bet. Watch for a Best of TWiT Live video podcast.

Schwegler · 1 year ago

That's amazing to hear. I try to watch live as much as possible but, I'm sure I still miss alot.

Jaswinder · 1 year ago

You should do a contest on how many pownce followers you get

Yeeter · 1 year ago

Y'know, the way they do giveaways on engadget is to have the readers comment on the pertinent blog post, then choose out of those folks...I think that's pretty simple and effective.

Keep up the good work!

darkwing duck · 1 year ago

I learned more leo laporte books and call for help than tech school.

Remember kids sleep in class and you will pass with the help of leo laporte (books and Call for help and other tv shows)

pass this test with the help of leo laporte

Microsoft Certified IT Professional
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer
A+ Certification

thanks Leo for the help

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Wow - but I don't take any credit for it. You're obviously a smart cookie! Thanks for the very kind words!

bellasera · 1 year ago

This will be fun to see the results of. I saw the first UGM created back then and can't wait to see how this one turns out. Best of luck with it Leo. It'll make the summer interesting to watch and listen to while I'm working. :)

jerichobp · 1 year ago

leo, don't know if you saw, but you made valleywag over all this kevin rose twitter dealings
http://valleywag.com/391808/leo-laporte-drunk-a...

leolaporte · 1 year ago

It's kind of sad what passes for gossip these days.

jerichobp · 1 year ago

I guess when you base your site on tech gossip, you've pretty much started at the bottom of the barrel.

diazamet · 1 year ago

Wow, that 1998 UGM is probably out performed by a lot of mobile phones today!

jerichobp · 1 year ago

Here's my specs for the UGM
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/P...

its a $21 000 machine, but if you only want one monitor (but who doesn't want 3 30" monitors), you can get it down to around $12 000

also not counting cables and accessories

leolaporte · 1 year ago

I've contacted Newegg to see if they'd like to sponsor this. If they do - hey why not 3 x 30" !

sockmonkeyfun · 1 year ago

I was wondering if a free room air conditioner will come with this thing too? ;)

MarkH · 1 year ago

Leo, great idea! Really looking forward to the speccing and assembly of this box. Is there a way to record a stickam stream so I can view it on my schedule? I'm not usually home on Friday afternoons. I'd like a Tivo for web streams. Also, what can we do to ensure the success of Twitlive?

guess1235 · 1 year ago

I'm looking forward see the show but unfortunately I live in Australia have to work and sleep wee hours,not able to watch live.

ijohn · 1 year ago

Leo! Man I loved The Screensavers! It was one of my favorite shows of all time! Bring it back!

jarydf · 1 year ago

You mean I joined the twitter lunacy for nothing?

Matt · 1 year ago

Listening to NAN - figured i'd test out your comment

TyGuy · 1 year ago

you should also build a cheap gaming PC, maybe a sub $500 machine.

Larry · 1 year ago

Great idea, Leo. I think it would be a great celebration of the decade since TechTV was launched.

Good luck for your project, and your checkbook!

W. Branscom · 1 year ago

Leo,

I am glad that you decided to change your UGM giveaway plan. Suffice it to say that I am a lawyer and familiar with sweepstakes laws.

I thought of an alternative for you to use to boost your twitter numbers. How about offering to randomly select a certain number of twitter followers (1,3, 10, whatever) to join you on one of your shows? My guess is that most people who listen to TWiT or GizWiz, etc would like nothing more than a chance to be part of the banter. You could screen winners to see which show would be best for them or do something entirely separate.

Anyway, I think that would get you clear of most sweepstakes laws and give a real incentive for folks to follow you on twitter.

William Branscom

leolaporte · 1 year ago

I need to find an attorney to advise me on sweepstakes laws - I still want to give UGM away and I want to do it legally. Can you help?

W. Branscom · 1 year ago

If I can't then I can put you in touch with someone who can. Its more annoying than it is difficult because its regulated by in each of the states rather than by the feds. Send me an e-mail and I'll send you my contact info.

nicephorus at yahoo.com

W. Branscom · 1 year ago

Hmm... I am not sure my last post got through. Anyway, Either I can help or I can put you in touch with someone who can. The problem with sweepstakes law is that it is generally enforced by the states, not the feds. So, you have to deal with 50 different rules. Fortunately, they are similar enough that you should be able to devise a way to keep everyone happy.

Send me an e-mail and I'll get my contact info to you.

nicephorus at yahoo.com

Rab Bakari · 1 year ago

Gerry Todd? Who is this guy? You keep referencing him. I didn't get it until I watched your YOUTUBe embed. Why can't I find a Wiki on him? Seems pioneering in the 70s. Like Benny Hill was with his TV humor. I was a child in the 70s. Did I miss this boat in NYC? Can you write/start a wiki on him Leo?

tcldizz · 1 year ago

Geez... If I didn't know better I'd think this was a Home Shopping Network program from a year ago.

williamlarsen · 1 year ago

I miss those towers that actually looked like a tower.

brent · 1 year ago

Haha! "32MB RAM, not an unreasonable amount. 128 MB RAM, a very unreasonable amount! A LOT!" :) That made me smile.

steveballmer · 1 year ago

Did you say Dvorak? He is my favorite! So much so that many think we are the same person, what a guy!

Reid · 1 year ago

What's the biggest OLED display out there? Are they still teeny tiny?

Brady · 1 year ago

Boy Leo, I forgot how thin and young you looked back then. I must have looked like a newborn!
(I'm 24 now)

Denis Wiseman · 1 year ago

Too bad the Twitter contest giveaway didn't pan out. I was already a follower of you and Dvorak and not Kevin and no one asked me to do it. How about just doing a XBox 360 with some cool add-ons? You would get off alot cheaper!

Schwegler · 1 year ago

Leo, you should definitely bring back the old Patrick Norton segment about creating an aweseome PC for under 500 bucks.

AndyR · 1 year ago

I remember watching that show, it was before I got into IT. I still have my signed Kate Botello/ Leo Laporte ZDTV cube

Blipfish · 1 year ago

Doh... YouTube removed the video. :(

stevemac · 1 year ago

Awww leo.. I was looking to the fun bitch fight between you and Kevin when we all had to unfollow him to win the pc

TimELiebe · 1 year ago

LOLOL on the first UGM! I had for the time an even MORE smokin' system - a PII/450 w/192 MB RAM, a 540 MB Ultra ATA 100 7200 RPM hard drive, 10/100 Ethernet, a CD-RW drive running Win98SE, with a FireWire I/O card...and USB ports that really worked! I used that system to capture and edit video, and review Windows-based video software back when I wrote for VIDEO Magazine. It was the first time consumer nonlinear editing seemed even POSSIBLE to the 95% of people who used Windoze.... Good times, eh? :) :) :)

fool · 1 year ago

LOL that was awesome

Igor · 1 year ago

Very nice Mr. Laporte

alex · 1 year ago

Leo, you look so fresh!!

alexdude · 1 year ago

Leo, you look so fresh :-)

alexdude · 1 year ago

Hi Leo,

you look so fresh in that video. :-)

aac74 · 1 year ago

loving disqus comments :)

lauren · 1 year ago

You know what's funny is, just yesterday I came upon an ollllld blog post of mine (I am gathering old archives to create a "life stream") where I referenced this very same video. Funny to see it twice in two days. :)

Gulfie · 1 year ago

Leo, re TWiT 145 and your recommending the Pratchett books - as a British listener to TWiT I felt you could do with a little education on the subject of Nigel Planer. es, he has a great British accent on the audio books but he is also famous as 'Neil' from the 1980's BBC TV series "The Young Ones". Catch this YouTube snippet - Neil is the long-haired hippy character: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1NOWHd00nA

BJ Wanlund · 1 year ago

I miss Kate Botello so much. When will you ever do a gaming podcast with Kate Botello, Leo? Hey, maybe even do the UGM contest through that! I think it'd be awesome!

BJ

Shoutoo · 1 year ago

Leo, more videos like that would be great, I personally was not able to watch TechTV until around 2000 -2005 or something like that and a week later well it went off the air on Foxtel... :( it was a sad day

I now own shoutoo.com and would like to sponsor Net@nite please email me or shoutoo.com me....
We will also hopefully be touring the US by early 09.

Thanks
Russell Harrower

The Man from R · 1 year ago

Man !!!!!

Just sitting back and Googlinglingling for all my old Friends from ZD-TV, then TechTV, but most of all the Screensavers.

I miss you guys and that show ..... and YES it was a sad sad day when G-what ever bought TechTV and Raped it.

I could name an old Ex-Microsoft Multi-Millionaires name as being greedy and perhaps throwing away the most innovative and fun Tech Shows that has or will ever be televised - - not to mention that he gave the Entire Station to a bunch of Technical Idiots who knew nothing about Prime Tech Television ..... just for the money ...... sad sad sad.

I guess when you are Filthy Rich and don’t have to care about anything or anyone, you would rather go down in history as being a total A-Hole, than be hailed as one of the Greatest Technical Television Geniuses the world has ever known. What a real chip off the old Microsoft Shoulder boy ……

But it is good to see all of you TechTV guys still hammering away in the Technical World.

And I will say it again ..... I MISS YOU GUYS !!!!!!!!!!!

"R is short for Star"

aminorjourney · 1 year ago

Oh how young!

Still, I looked pretty young in 1998 too... ;)

amazingaaron · 1 year ago

Wow this is before my time watching ZDTV. I think I started watching about 3 months before it became TechTV. I did watch The Site on MSNBC, and loved it. I remember on one episode for the first time seeing someone play Super Mario 64 on the N64, and it looked great LOL. I was however horrible confused for about a week when it went off air, because there was no last show or notice that it was over, so I kept trying to catch it on but it wasn't! :(

Husker · 1 year ago

I miss Tech TV. I was a viewer from the very beginning. Twit and Rev 3 gives me my fix. Ok, how do I sign up to win the UGM?

mikewwill · 1 year ago

hi are you going to put the video on the net i have looked for it and can not find it

Thanks
Mike W W

Drewzer© · 1 year ago

I miss the screen savers, my FAVORITE show EVER!!! Can you buy them on DVD??

lurkrbot · 1 year ago

I'm seeing lots of back-and-forth about ddr2 vs ddr3. This is the wrong argument. No one is arguing that ddr3 is needed for performance - what is needed is 790i. There is some evidence that significant performance gains will be seen with triple-sli on 790i. Since no one seems interested in producing a 790i mobo with support for DDR2, and no one cares about how much more expensive DDR3 is (it's the ULTIMATE gaming machine), clearly we should be looking at a 790i w/DDR3 mobo - given that we want triple-sli, which no one seems to be arguing against :)

James Mowery · 1 year ago

I was more in admiration of your dancing skills than anything, Leo!

It just astounds me how far we have come since then. Perhaps, within the next ten or so years, we will be looking back at the UGM you are putting together now and thinkng that the difference is just beyond outrageous.

128 MB of RAM today is, well, pretty bad, but it can still power some Linux distros. I believe that system had 10 - 20 GB, and I managed to run my Windows computer for a few months with that much a few years ago. (Nowadays, I have about 140 GB of data—minimum—that I bring onto each new system I build.)

The technical achievements are astounding, but I think it is even more impressive how so many people nowadays can geek out with this technology. I love the fact that my friends (and not just me) are beginning to be real tech savvy. (I was always the technology geek back in school.)

It was really cool to see that video though. Brought back great memories. I only began watching TSS when Megan and Patrick were on.

Matthew · 1 year ago

Woah! I was a lot younger back then. I was 12 years old i think?

aamana55 · 1 year ago

Now I know why she left the show, what a load.

Martin Waterhouse · 1 year ago

*sigh* The NKVD branch of You-Tube has purged Leo's tech-TV UGM video link above :(

Davina · 1 year ago

Leo, been listening since the 80's; I think it is the voice. :) Did you already give away the PC? PC specs link? Putting a system together for someone and wanted to compare choices and components. Thanks! Huggies, Davina

Test · 1 year ago

This is a test comment

Breetai · 1 year ago

WOW I remember thinking I was the big thing when I got the PII 400Mhz. Now My Cell Phone is equvilant to 400Mhz LOL

Z4i0n · 1 year ago

Hello,
I hope that concerte the shortcomings of the sites hosted on its server ... =)
If you need only to contact!
Z4i0n - Zer0Day Group

leolaporte · 1 year ago

Translation:

This is the hacker who zapped the TWiT Forums and Munchcast.com. He's not a native speaker (I think he's Brazilian) but he's saying:

"I hope you've hardened your sites. If you need help email me."

I found the code he'd used to access files on the server (a little PHP script he uploaded to an open directory - c9.php - stupid me I left it open for file uploads but it was also surfable.) He used that to gain access to the MySQL databases for those two sites. I have learned my lesson.

Z4i0n · 1 year ago

Hello,
I am not Brazilian but I speak English ...
If the script is called C99 ... Me makes up half impressed with a person who has knowledge may say a little higher than those on other computers have failed as a beast on the server but mistakes happen all servers are vulnerable to some method only enough time to explore the vulnerability of them ...
Until!
Z4i0n - Zer0Day Group

Daniel K · 1 year ago

Cool idea... Oh, and you might wanna take a look at the new Acer Predator - thier top of the line gaming rig... It's got some good specs (triple gfx cards for example), and a "nifty" looking case. More here: http://www.acer.com/predator/

JKSoftware · 1 year ago

For the CPU I would go Intel. QX9770 Quad Core Extreme with a ASUS P5N-T Deluxe motherboard. DDR3 has no real advantage at this point in time. There is no real speed increase over DDR2 in cases its slower then DDR2. 4x2GB 1066Mhz DDR2 memory. 2x 300GB WD Raptors RAID 0 + 4 1TB Seagate 7200.11 RAID 5. Windows Vista Ult x64. With 64-bit Vista more ram can be available to games that need it There are more and more games that take advantage of 64-bit Windows. Everything I run from iTunes to games work fine under 64-bit Vista. 2x XFX PVT98UZHEU GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 for QUAD SLI Video.

I

jbmcb · 1 year ago

DDR3 is nice for overclock-ability. Alienware is selling a quad core gaming machine overclocked to 4GHz using 1600MHz RAM.

I'd also go for a RAID-0 of solid-state hard drives for the system/apps drives on a dedicated LSI controller (we're going all the way here, right?) That would be quite a bit faster for app and system loading which are random-read intensive, which SSDs excel at.

For the big storage, 4 1TB drives are hard to beat, but I'd do a RAID6 that works a lot better with fewer, larger drives than RAID5, which tends to work well with several lower-capacity drives. You'll probably need another LSI controller to do it, though. If you're really going nuts just do a fiber-channel host adapter connected to a SAN.

I'd tack on water cooling for the video cards, chipset, memory and CPU. Probably some cable extenders so you can put this beast in another room or in the basement, it's going to be LOUD. A USB2 DVD+RW drive would be good, too. A nice, big fast-response monitor, I don't think the 30" models are up to par with the smaller units, I think Samsung makes a 27" LCD with a 4ms response time which is pretty good.

For sound (usually overlooked, but very important) I'd stick with a SoundBlaster X-Fi platinum, the drivers are crap but almost every new game takes some advantage of the newer EAX features. I'd wire it straight into a dedicated 7-channel surround amp, driving THX-Select certified Altec Lansing home theater speakers.

For the whole experience, add user input (Logitech G-mouse/keyboard, Microsoft sidewinder mouse, whatever floats your boat.) Custom anthrocart designed to hold all your gaming peripherals. A nice chair, how about an Herman Miller Areon customized to your height and weight?

Jaiharu · 1 year ago

Yeah, I remember when

Zoyx · 1 year ago

So skinny.

leolaporte · 1 year ago

-sigh-

LaporteFan · 1 year ago

go away troll.

Zoyx · 1 year ago

??