Some sources for the latest computing news are:
Most of the software that I use comes from:
However, a couple of programmes that do not, that I would recommend, are MindManager, which allows you to use your PC to draw the Mind Maps popularised by Tony Buzan, and Photo Explorer (freeware) from Ulead, which is great for organising your digital photos.
There are a number of open source programmes available for free on the web including:
Blender - 3d graphics
My first PC was a Dick Smith TRS-80 clone, then in 1984 I purchased an Apple Macintosh from the second shipment into New Zealand.
My subsequent computer hardware mostly came from Quay Computers in Wellington. They had Intel CPUs, a Diamond graphics board, Iomega drive, Dynalink modem, and a Leadtek graphics board and DVD drive.
My last desktop PC was from Dell.
I currently use a laptop from MSI with an Intel i7 CPU and NVIDIA GTX1060 graphics card.
I am also using a Seagate portable drive, and a keyboard and mouse from Logitech.
I use an Apple iPhone, an Apple iPad and an Apple Watch. I am therefore interested in the applications (apps) that are available for iOS and have downloaded quite a few. The following web sites provide app reviews:
I previously used a work-supplied RIM Blackberry.
For good sources of information on games software try:
When I was younger I used to play war games with small lead models (1/300th WWII armoured vehicles and 1/3000th WWI warships still manufactured by Navwar and Skytrex).
I have Command: Modern Operations from Matrix Games.
In the past I enjoyed playing:
Battle Academy, a WW2 tactical wargame from Slitherine on my iPad
Age of Rifles 1846-1905, a Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) war game developed by Norm Koger, for which there was a large collection of scenarios available at the Wargamer's Age of Rifles Web Page [CHECK]
The Operational Art of War [CHECK] Volume 1 1939-1955 and Volume 2 1956-2000, a Talonsoft WBM war game developed by Norm Koger, for which there are collections of scenarios available at the Wargamer's The Operational Art of War Section WBM and The Gamers Net WBM The Operational Art of War section
Steel Panthers II: Modern Battles, another SSI war game covering the period from the 1950s
Allied General, a WWII game from SSI
688(I), a Jane's Combat Simulations nuclear submarine game
Fighters Anthology, with modern military aircraft also from Jane's Combat Simulations
Age of Empires, a Microsoft game set in the pre-historic and ancient world
Harpoon, a modern naval warfare game, for which information was available at Harpoon HQ [CHECK]
Railroad Tycoon II - Railroad Tycoon 3 WBM
Microsoft Train Simulator [CHECK] (see also Train Simulator Insider [CHECK]), for which additional information was available from Train-Sim.Com [CHECK]
Spark is our ISP, and also connects to my iPhone and iPad.
The New Zealand White Online and Yellow have replaced telephone books.
Of course the computer will not run without electricity.
Northpower - is now our local electricity line company
Powerswitch by Consumer
The US Naval Observatory and NIST provide the current UTC time.
A comprehensive World Time Zone Map and World Time Buddy are also useful.
When it comes to watches, those from Breitling, which has a close association with aviation, are great albeit expensive.
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Last updated on 15 February 2025