In the early days of computers and computer games, flight simulators were king. The latest versions were waited for with eager anticipation. Realism in gauges, physics and controls left even seasoned pilots impressed.

Whether it was a combat sim in an F4, F16 fighter jet or Red Baron’s bi-plane, or a realistic airplane simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator, I played a lot of these games.

The thrill of flying through the skies, whether evading enemy missiles or executing perfect landings, was unmatched. Every new release brought even more advanced physics, and the attention to detail was astounding. As technology evolved, so did the complexity of the simulations. I remember spending hours mastering the controls, learning the flight dynamics, and soaking in the sense of realism. It wasn’t just about the flight; it was about experiencing what it felt like to be behind the controls of some of the most iconic aircraft in history.

In between the simulated dogfights and navigating through turbulence, I found myself diving into a different kind of world: Pokémon. The concept of collecting and battling unique creatures captivated me, and the nostalgia of growing up with the original games stayed with me. While I was flying high in the digital skies, I’d often take a break and dive into the world of Pokémon, strategizing my next move or hunting for that elusive shiny. It was a seamless escape from one virtual world to another, each offering its own set of challenges and excitement.

This fascination extended beyond just the games. Collecting Pokémon cards became just as thrilling. With each booster pack, I was in search of the rarest finds, that one card that would complete my collection. The excitement was palpable, much like the anticipation before a major game release. The crown zenith pokemon booster bundle was one of those coveted items, adding a fresh layer to the world of trading cards. The joy of cracking open packs, hoping for that perfect pull, felt just as immersive as any virtual simulation.

However, I haven’t played one for years. If this short video is any indication, that is about to change. The graphics are jaw-dropping:

Microsoft Flight announced on Tuesday as part of it’s plans for Games for Windows and Windows Phone 7. Looks like Flight will also have an online component as it will be, “Live-enabled”.

OTL by OldTimer is like HijackThis — on steroids. OTL scans your system for malware, and produces detailed logs. It’s primarily a malware diagnostic tool, but has advanced removal abilities. It is used alone, or with other tools to  remove malware completely.

OTL is a flexible, multipurpose, diagnostic, and malware removal tool. It also has some curative ability.

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I remember a time when you had to go to a specific room in your house if you wanted to use your computer. It was creatively named “THE computer room”. Emphasis on “THE”. This room was the only room in your house where there was a computer, and if you wanted to do something on said computer, you usually had to schedule time or compete in feats of strength. Today, I have a computer in a holster on my hip (it’s a phone, but still), I’ve got a laptop that I can take everywhere, I’ve got a desktop in my “computer room”, and if I’m feeling really squirrelly, I could take home one of the netbooks from work. Not only can I have a computer everywhere I go, but virtually every TV on the market now has connectivity options for hooking up a computer so you can surf your faciespaces and mytubes and tweeterbooks from your sofa during commercial breaks without having to trudge one room over to “THE computer room”. One problem, my laptop is heavy (it’s a little old) and it makes my legs hot if it’s not on a table. Plus I can’t leave it connected all the time (it’s how I do my job). My desktop is way too large to carry into the living room and it’s fans are so loud that i can hear them right now across the house (also, the wife would get angry if I started running cables through the walls). And the netbooks? Well they’re great, but they’re not mine.

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There are some classic questions in tech support. “Where is the “Any” key?”. After being told to “press any key”. “My cupholder broke.” Actually their CD-Rom tray broke from setting cups on it, etc.

Here’s a very recent one from the Microsoft forums that’s destined to join others as a classic:

I have a question,

I recently took delivery of my new Dell, which came with the 32bit version of Windows 7, however the PC is capable of running at 64bit.

If I install Windows 7 32bit twice would that make it 64bit?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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What certifications should I get? We often get this question in our forums. While certifications seems to have become less important related to job experience, in this tight job market the opposite seems true. Courtesy of networkworld.com, here are the top 5 certifications for 2010. Please follow the source link for all the gritty details:

1. VMware Certified Professional
2. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
3. Cisco Certified Architect

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Microsoft this week introduced the beta Fix it Center Online. It features both a software client, and an online component. If you’ve used Windows 7, it may look familiar to you, as it’s quite similar to the action center. or troubleshooters. However it expands on that offering with over 300 fixes, and more on the way. It also brings the experience to Windows XP and Vista users.

(screenshots after the break)

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If you are one of the people – like me – who cannot yet give up your land line, Motorola may just have the answer for you! The new HS1001 cordless Android phone allows you to not only call your parents, but also enables you to check the Web or your email! This sweet little gadget will be available this summer for around $150.00 in the United States.

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Earlier this evening, Google announced on its blog that the new Google Apps Marketplace is finally ready for your creative submissions. However, these Apps aren’t the same type as you would find for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Instead, this will be a store for enterprise apps in the cloud. Using a set of APIs, these third-party apps will be able to integrate their products within Google Apps.

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Ever have the sudden urge to talk technology on the first or third Thursday of the month? Have we got good news for you!  Geeks to Go is continuing its live chat this Thursday!

On February 18th, 2010 at 2 pm EST, Geeks to Go will support its second scheduled live chat for novices and experts to ask questions to tech gurus who will be happy to help and give their insight on what they know best; technology.

Click here to view the chat and set up a reminder for yourself with our automated email (just one email to remind you to come join in and ask your question!)

Curious to know what tech gadget or toy you should give this year?  Wonder why you’re computer is having some trouble using a certain program?  Have a question about some of the new tech products that are coming out on the market?  Get all your questions answered every first and third Thursday of the month at 2 pm EST!  Come prepared.  You know everyone else will be there…

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All Chats or View our First Chat

Windows XP users are not very happy campers this week. Microsoft is busy investigating a multitude of reports that claim MS10-015, which was rolled out on Tuesday, is causing XP installations to blue-screen. Microsoft has acknowledged that this particular patch appears to be at fault, but are still unwilling to state that the issues are related solely to that. Instead, they are looking in to the situation further, trying to determine if this could possibly be the result of interoperability issues with another component, or even third-party software.

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