OS X vs Vista : Now That's Geeky

http://digitalliving.cnet.co.uk/specials/0,39030785,49289872-1,00.htm

Talk about pinging high on ye olde Shakespeare Geek meter!  Over on CNet UK we have a comparison of OS X (the Mac operating system, for those who are more Shakespeare and less geek :)) versus Vista, the latest offering from Microsoft.  The catch is that they've done it up as an "Elizabethan duel", and by that they mean literally with actors and everything.  Their task is to "win the hand of the fair Maiden Mainstream, played as in olden times by the hairy bloke in the dress."

The comparison between the two is fairly light, focusing on security, performance and usability.  Who wins?  It doesn't really matter, does it?  If you're a fan of either operating system and your champion loses, you'll cry foul.  But it's still a fun, different way to do the review.  Especially for this crowd.

 

Technorati tags: Vista, OS X, Shakespeare

'Speare : Shakespeare Meets the Aliens

When I heard about a Shakespeare video game, naturally my ears went up.  It seems that the fine folks at University of Guelph have created 'Speare, a video game designed to teach Shakespeare's work.  Here's the hook, though - it's a Space Invaders game, with a Shakespeare storyline.  The game itself is a 2D vertical scrolling shooter, and you get to blast things and collect things.  (Remember the rules:  If it moves, shoot it.  If it doesn't move, shoot it anyway.  If it's still there when the dust clears, pick it up, it's treasure.)  The storyline is all about how the "Prosperean" universe is all about peace, love and poetry until the bad guys come around and, having something to do with the Montagues and Capulets, steal Romeo and Juliet?  I got lost somewhere laong the line because I'm at work and I was trying to get through as much as I could before I got caught.

I'm actually quite intrigued.  It sounds like a dumb idea at first, but if you look at it the other way -- "videogame with Shakespeare in it", instead of "Shakespeare via videogame", then why not?  All good shooters need a story.  If this story happens to teach you something about Shakespeare, all the better.

You can play the demo online at the link above (you do have to register), and I'm anxious to get through it.  They want $20 for the full version, which I might do (they take PayPal, and I always keep a few bucks online for just such an occasion) to help support such projects.

 

Technorati tags: Shakespeare, video game

Shakespeare Pen

No, not Shakespeare's pen.  A Shakespeare Pen.  Fancy pen created by someone I'm presuming is an artist named Conway Stewart.  It is hand painted with a scene of Romeo and Juliet on the barrel, and Shakespeare himself on the cap.

It's $2450, though.  Looks like I won't be putting that on my Amazon Wishlist for my birthday :).

 

Technorati tags: Shakespeare, pen