| Friday, 4 May 2001, 1:29 am Tags: Blogging |
One of the best Screen Savers ever tonight, IMHO. Make sure to see the repeat if you missed it live. I think it had just the right mix of entertainment, tech, and help. It’s what we’ve been aiming for. What do you think? Is this what you want the Screen Savers to be like? If not, what would you change? I need to know!
Meanwhile, thanks to frequent flyer miles, I’m off to Chicago with Abby tomorrow. We’re visiting American Girl Place for a belated birthday present. We’re going with her best friend and her best friend’s dad. (If you know any 10 year olds you know what American Girl Dolls are.) We’re bringing Kit along with us for dinner, too. We’re also planning to see the mummies at the Field Museum, and I’ve got tickets for the Cubs-Dodger at Wrigley on Sunday.
So no show tomorrow, but I’ll be back Monday. Have a great weekend!
Comments
No Responses to “The Butcher Goes to Chi-Town”
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Swag
Yes it was a great show leo you all should be proud!
you deserve it!
hope all is going well on other fronts!
I knew that you had a website but i never knew what the URL was. Well i would just like to say that YOU DA MAN. The Screen Savers is the absolute coolest show on the face of the Earth. Actually it is the geekyest( hope thats the right spelling) one. I have learned so much and I hope that your show never goes away. But there is one thing that i might have missed. When I saw the show that introduced Blogging, I thought that anyone could post a note and I would appear on the main site. I know that this would be a little excessive but really ( not to hurt your feelings ) there just isnt that many hits on this site to worry about it. Well I am on the absolute opposite side of the country so odds are i will never get to be on the Peanut Gallery or the Couch.
Thanks Again Mega-Geek-Guru
well things are back to normal …leo takes friday off! ROFL
I know you work hard and deserve an extra day off every now and then, but why not have a show? Patrick and Martin could do the show on the fridays that you take off. I don’t get it. If there is no Leo, there is no show? I’m not being a jerk, so please don’t take it that way. I like you!
I think the May 3 show was good, but it seems that things are still a bit rushed at times.
With 90 minutes, five days a week (or 4 if you folks head the repeat route again) you’d think there was plenty of time to do things at a slower pace. The pace of the old show was terrific, and it was rare for you and Pat to rush through your responses to questions and apologetically send people to the site. That now happens regularly, and mainly because of unnecessary distractions. It also seems that you are less prepared for the questions than you were before.
I like the interview segments, especially when you give them enough time.
As for other “innovations” –
+the opening news/jokes is tolerable, although a bit silly at times; I guess that is entertainment;
+the side chats with Megan and Jessica are uneven and too frequent; tonight’s name selection bit was funny for a few moments, but went too far too long;
+Marty’s lists are getting better, but they always seem rushed — and while that is a blessing at times, bit would be great to hear more comments;
Bottom line is, pace it better, and pay more attention to the questions segments.
PS: I think the Call For Help show is a disaster, and Leo’s boot camp has not been a good enought replacement.
You wanted opinions — there they are.
Great show. Can you work weekends and have the show on Saturday and Sunday. I’m an addict.
Thanks,
Leo Arroyo
Leo,
All of the TSS episodes are wonderful. This one was the best, though. I loved the segment with Mr. Brown! It was the first time I’ve ever said “Wow!” over and over again to the T.V.
Joseph
BTW: For all you people that don’t live in the Eastern time zone and haven’t seen the end of Survivor, Tina won.
Leo the show is great! We finally got TechTv in Chicago burbs about 1-2 months ago and I watch everyday! I tend to agree with Mel D with some points of the show including Call For Help which is now a train wreak.
I think Leo’s Boot Camp could be more designed along the lines of the old Call For Help and expand it a bit more. I enjoyed the Q&A you did at the end of the show answering emails & Faxes in the old show format but now you barely have any time for those now.
Well there are my 2 cents worth. Enjoy yourself in my hometown Chicago you should consider doing some shows here in Chicago. It is a great town and you have a lot of fans here!! Make sure you see Sue(T-REX) at the Field besides the mummies. I love Wrigley your going to enjoy the game!!
Regards, David Ginsburg
Much ado.
The show great. I loved your shows always…
This is the end for me
Gah! One of the best “Screen Savers’” ever? And I had to miss it. Well, I’ll program my VCR to tape the 1AM repeat.
No more TechTV for me after tomorrow afternoon, so this is the last episode I’ll be seeing for a loooooooong time (until Time Warner in Albany adds TechTV to their lineup, at least). If only the show was simulcast on the web.
Michael
While you are in Chicago, I recommend checking out Navy Pier and the Shed Aquarium. Those are great places! I personally liked the Museum of Science and Industry better then the Field Museum, they have a WWII sub there.
Dustin
I hope my Tivo had a great time watching your best show ever, I’m still at work.
I’m looking forward to watching it later on, as always, the ONLY show I record every day. Have a great week-end, relax and enjoy!
Have fun Leo, we’ll miss you
As far as the show is concerned, I do feel less time should be spent on “entertainment” and more time should be focused on doing what you and Patrick do best: help and teach people about technology. Please don’t feel like I’m picking on you, Leo. I know that you can’t control every aspect of the show and that you’re doing your best to make everyone happy. Personally, I think you’re a wonderful man who does wonderful work, so keep your chin up, everything will work out in the end. See you on Monday.
Rose Emmons
webmistress@vanishingtiger.com
P.S. I just opened my site http://www.vanishingtiger.com I am asking anyone and everyone to please stop by my site and critique it. All feedback is welcomed. Thanks
Thanks for your feedback – keep it coming.
I have said before that I miss Call for Help just as much as everyone. I would love to do that show again. And I miss having the leisure to really cover a subject without rushing through it. The Screen Savers is a variety show – with a taste of a little of everything. That’s its new design. It would be fine if we had another show that covered things in more depth – I’ve pitched the idea to them, by the way – but for the moment we don’t. And I agree, that’s too bad.
Leo, the Tech guy from Xerox park was great. I love geek toys. Keep those guests a-comin! Great show!
I’ve been surfing the web for YEARS and didn’t know about the CTRL-ENTER combo for quick URLs in Explorer. Thanks!!
Leo
Hope you enjoy Chicago — I live in the area — wish I could see you but I hope
you have a relaxing “non-celebrity” trip with your wife.
Enjoy the American Girl. My wife has played there before (she is a harpist). Should be fun!
I’ll look for you on TV on Sunday…
A Chicago Area fan
Chris Keller
Leo,
Why can’t Patrick and Martin do the show together like they used to when you were not there? Heck you could even let Kate come back and guest host in your absence. Can you tell us what he reasoning is in chooseing not to do a new show at all in your absence?
Thanks,
Chuck Shaw
Tonights screen savers was good, I noticed that over the last week or so they have been getting into more of a groove, although I do wish there was more viewer calls accepted. But such is life.
I dont understand why martin and Patrick cant host the show when your off, I suppose the powers that be feel that it needs your energy for the show to “pop”.
Well heck, I really love your energy and knowledge, but they have energy and knowledge as well, its just a bit different, but still informative and entertaining. Especially for one show a month or so… risk a little!
The Field museum, Hooo Ha! Have a great time. And be sure to drop by the Lions or Tsavo exibit, and if you havent seen the film Ghost In The Darkness, put the kids to sleep, pop some popcorn, turn down the lights and crank the home theater up. Man I love that movie.
Hi Leo!
My geeky husband and I are fans of The Screensavers. I know it must be frustrating, but I also agree with the others that the entertainment is taking critical time away from the techie help in TSS. Call for Help makes me cringe. I find Scott to be too distracting and not beneficial at all to Roger’s work. And honestly, I am not attracted to this show because they go to “celebrity” houses. I’d also like to see less time with the geek sites. That eats up a lot of time, methinks. It’s nothing personal against Jessica. I think she could do more useful things, or at least take up less time. Personally, I think you and Patrick do a fine job on the show. The both of you are naturally funny and I think that chemistry between the two of you holds up on its own.
I realize you are rallying for a more in-depth show (HUZZAH!), and if TechTV is smart enough, they’ll listen. What e-mail address should I relay my opinions
to TechTV and most importantly, will they read it? I think if enough of us get together, we can like make TechTV listen an’ stuff. Oh, and heehee… Having
more segments on the Mac wouldn’t hurt either. Heh heh.
I really did enjoy the photoshop lesson (April 3rd) shown on the Mac. I’ve used Photoshop for 11 yrs. and didn’t know how to create realism so easily.
D’OH!I would like to see comparisons between the Adobe, Macromedia, and other software for us digital artist techno geeks. I’m a Mac user (duh) and I’m
dying to see more Photoshop tips. And btw, with Adobe’s Photoshop Essentials being released at $89, do you think Paint Shop Pro will last?
Thanks for your time, Leo. I do appreciate it. Hi to Patrick!
-ALi G.
p.s. Don’t forget about good ol’ NYC, for one of the TSS On the Road shows!!!
Hope you enjoy yourself in Chicago. It’s a great place (I’ve been there). Be sure to check out the Disney Quest amusement park–it has all Virtual Reality rides (really!)! It’s a really neat amusement park–I’d highly reccomend it.
(sorry about the double-post)
Vanishing Tiger is great. Better than anything that I could ever make…………
Just one suggestion: go easy on the JPEG compression. Side-by-side with an uncompressed BMP, you should be able to single out your JPEG, but, alone, you shouldn’t be able to tell that a picture is a JPEG. I noticed that the tiger on your main page has somewhat pixellated fur. I’m assuming that this is a result of the JPEG compression.
Vanishing Tiger is great. Better than anything that I could ever make…………
Just one suggestion: go easy on the JPEG compression. Side-by-side with an uncompressed BMP, you should be able to single out your JPEG, but, alone, you shouldn’t be able to tell that a picture is a JPEG. I noticed that the tiger on your main page has somewhat pixellated fur. I’m assuming that this is a result of the JPEG compression.
Oy, I am so jealous! You and Abby will have a wonderful time in Chicago, for sure. That’s my hometown you’re going to (it’s a toddlin’ town, in case you haven’t heard). The Field is one of the coolest places on Earth, IMHO, but like other bloggers I have spent many great moments at the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd, et al. As a wee chick, going to see that submarine just blew my mind. Again, many Good Dad points for you, Leo!
I agree that last night’s show was highly wonderful, much of it being you, of course. Patrick also did good last night, perhaps he was taking caffeine on the sly? The premature ejection stuff was hysterical. And don’t worry, Leo, it happens to a lot of men.
I really loved the interview with John Seely Brown. By necessity, much computer information is completely reductionist. Tips and tricks, little troubleshooting ideas, all bring the focus down so small, it’s really good to hear from someone who operates at the big picture level. Hey, I’ve got an idea! The channel should have a show with even *more* of those types of interviews. Lessee, we could call it “Big . . . . something”. Hmmmm. Let me think about this.
As for your request for comments, I agree with many of the things said already. I’m very glad that some of the old energy is back, but despite the extra half-hour the show seems just as rushed as before, if not more so. My gripe with the entertainment stuff is not so much the content but the repetition. Is Jessica ever going to do anything else but talk about those websites? Is *every* single Housecall segment going to look exactly the same save for the location? You are, by nature, very interesting to watch and listen to, so the tediousness is not you at all. I just wish that some of these types of segments wouldn’t get run into the ground because of overuse. We’ll always hold you on CFH up as a perfect standard, I guess.
) Actually, I think very highly of Becky, she is genuinely talented at delivering information. I think we’ve all agreed that you leaving CFH was bad: the viewers and fans are all strung-out with grief and you’re having moments of realization that it was an awesome type of gig that you should try to recapture somehow. However, having Becky succeed you would have not been such a blow if they hadn’t also messed up the format so righteously. It seems that she got set up to bear the brunt of a lot of the bad vibes regarding the channel format, and that’s not fair. As always, the question is if management helps foster an environment where people can do their best work, versus an environment where people are trying to be effective in spite of how they’re managed.
I hope you and Abby have a wonderful weekend!
Midwestern-type Smooches,
Jeannette
Hi Leo! I am such a fan of yours. I discovered The Screen Savers about a month a go and have consistently watched and taped almost every episode. I unfortunately missed the show last night that everybody is raving about. Hopefully it will be rerun so that I may see it. I was wondering if you guys could offer Tech Tv to have TSS on for two hours. That would allow, like others have said, better pacing. Also, since you are getting into viewer suggestions for books, DVDs, etc., you could have a deffinite segment near the end for that specifically. You must get hundreds of suggestions for movies and books so it would be no problem picking suggestions for that segment. Also, if you had the extra time you would be able to take more calls and/or spend more time with those callers. I also enjoy the new “Leo’s Boot Camp.” I feel that iif you were to pool those callers with more simple questions together so that you could take more that one or two at that time it would be even better. And with the lengthening of the show, like I taked about, it would make that a great and strong segment. I, myself, have a familiarity with computers but find myself not knowing as much as you guys, of course, so I often identify with those Boot Camp questions and would love to see more of them per show. And Leo, Jessica is a very attractive, well spoken woman. It seems to me that having her talk about geek sites is useful but perhaps she would be able to do and interview from time to time or perhaps you could send her on a remote to some new tech attraction in or out of the area. Like I said, she is extremely well spoken and it wouldn’t surprise me if she had a background in tv or radio. Also, I was thinking what about if you took those faxs and callers you couldn’t get to on the air and posted them in a section on the website. You could also take some interesting email questions then and put them in the same section on your site. Well, just a few thoughts that I had.
Again to reiterate, I love the show and the direction it is going to be more inclusive. Please, get more time for the show. Thank you.
Have fun in Chicago Leo! I used to work at Wrigley Field, back in the days when they didn’t have night games.
Be sure to wave at WGN’s camera during the 7th inning stretch!
The rest of us can follow the game on the web at:
http://cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/gameday/chc_gameday.jsp
Hey, I thought I’d check out Chicago museums on the web:
http://dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Illinois/Localities/C/Chicago/Arts_and_Entertainment/Museums/
and found this one that looks interesting:
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
http://www.mbcnet.org/
I want to go there sometime! A friend of mine bought my birthday gift there.
Navy Pier and the Museum of Science and Industry are both very kewl. We enjoy their Imax movies and other features there too.
Have fun!
In Joy! Diana
I agree that the show was great. Especially the tutorial on Photoshop (which I use). The hardware segments are great, but last nite was a great example that tutorials on popular software is needed also.
You know what I think would be neat, if they could bring a similar format of internet tonite. That particular show accented Scott’s talents..which he does have.
Just an idea..we all have to give new things a chance.
annette
the show has been good but i haven’t felt like i have learned anything since the change.
One think i hate the most is when you come back from commercial and you introduce your guest that you are going to talke to. We find out their name and what they do then its time for another commercial. ?!?!? you just had a commercial 2 mins ago. then after the 2nd commercial you talk abot what ever they came to talk about.
Martins lists have been good.
i like the house call segments but the video should be a little more showing help, not just show roger sit and start working then have scott doing stuff in the house for a 2mins then show them both leaving.
Jessica and Megan are great but they seem to take up a lot of time.
and i really miss the time you used to spend on the e-mails and faxes. when you got to the last commercial you say that when you come back that you will be reading out e-mails and faxes but you have bearly read any since the new format. why don’t you and patrick go sit on the couch to read the e-mails.
Thanks for asking our opinion
brandon clark
on a side note i qualified to win a brand new car yesterday from our local morning news show “Good Morning Arizona”. I will have a 1 in 19 chance to win the new car. i will find out if i win May 23.
Brandon writes:Jessica and Megan are great but they seem to take up a lot of time.
I agree. They take up way to much time with useless items and chit-chat. A quick check at the end of the show would be enough.
Brian
Thanks for the tip on the .jpeg compression. I’ll fix it. Sometimes I get too carried away with Fireworks
Thank you to all who came to my site and took a look (before my hosting company took my site off line to transfer me to another server). If you have any other suggestions on how make my site better, please don’t hesitate to email me.
You know, life is not fair. Leo and Patrick are going to be visiting Austin TX in the middle of May and I’ll be moving to Austin on June 1st. Just my luck. Oh well, there’s always next time.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Rose Emmons
webmistress@vanishingtiger.com
Oh come on now, the best show ever? It was ok in my opinion.
The best show for me was when Chris Breen from MacWorld was co-hosting, and I got to hear some of Chris’s piano playing. There were more Mac related questions answered as you could imagine.
Of course Leo wasn’t on that show, but being the Mac fanatic that I am I’ll put that aside. I really enjoyed that show. Of course I never miss Leo on Call For Help for his Mac tip!
Other than that, the best time for me would be the Kate and Leo days.
Sure Patrick blows Kate away in sheer computer knowledge, but the show had some
firepower! There was nothing more than I loved to do than stay up to 12AM with my laptop watching The Screensavers back in the day.
Now I wait until 1AM cause of the TechLive changes, and really find myself turning TSS off sometimes. The interviews are sometimes cool, but the show seems to get into a rut of the same format. You need to shake it up!
Ok now I’m going to make my last comment about Martin Sargent. This guy is way
too intelligent to be reduced to a TOP 5 list. Honestly, I don’t look forward to it at all. Martin should be answering calls like you are, and so should Roger for that matter. Martin used to break out the blackboard all the time, and explain in depth what is going on in a computer component. Now, I mean he is doing goofy stuff like geek makeover, and TOP 5 lists. I feel bad for him.
Then again this is my own opinion. I have met Leo and Patrick in person in the ZDTV days, and it was cool. I’m still watching TechTV alot, but I have to admit
sometimes it is just plain boring. Before I had ZDTV on 24/7, but now I don’t feel bad turning it off sometimes, because I know how the show is going to go.
-Don
If you go by WGN on Sunday morning, see if you can make a guest appearance on the Grand Prize Game!!! Say hi to Bozo!!!
Ok reading the blog messages at the top, made me want to add one more thing to my post.
Jessica and Megan.
I really don’t care for Jessica for some reason. I agree with what someone said
above about it taking up too much of the show. Last night was really annoying with the bell. It was cute once, but then it got annoying.
Really I don’t see why Jessica is there other than for teenage boys, and dirty
old men to stare at. Do not get me wrong Jessica is a really nice, sweet girl.
I just don’t care for her presence on the show. I’m sure a lot of perverts out there will argue with this!
Now Megan I think is great. She needs to be there to update the site, and plays a good low key position on the show.
I used to hate when Becky Worley hosting Call for Help on
Fridays, because that was Leo’s show. The more and more I see Becky on TV, I have come to love when she is on. She is very knowledgeable just like Leo (Ok Lets face it Leo’s brain is HAL,) and I’m starting to enjoy Call for Help again.
All in all I’m still struggling in my brain with the remembrance of the ZDTV days in my head. Sometimes I wish I could just program my subconscious to get over it!
Hey then again, “It’s not my fault!”
-Don
hope it’s not too late for some Chicago advice!
1) you’ve got to make a visit to the University of Chicago, the nerdiest school in the world bar none and the birthplace of the atomic bomb — where the end of the world began!
2) while you’re there, go to 58th and University to visit the Oriental Institute, home of fabulous antiquities and the fictitious U of C alum Indiana Jones.
plus, the Museum of Science and Industry is in Hyde Park, so it’s right next door to the U of C.
honest, Hyde Park is the geekiest place in Chicago. you should visit the Seminary Co-Op Bookstore, as well. It’s freakin’ huge. It’s at 57th and University, in Hyde Park.
hope you enjoy your visit.
Yep, Leo, definitely good show, but did I hear a hint of a laugh track! Yep, ’bout there, now if we can get them to get Tech Live straightened out!!
American Girls!!! My daughter has been collecting since she was five and she’s now pushing 14 and STILL collecting! Probably when she’s watching her first grandaugher graduate from high school, she’ll still be collecting. They are a fabulous collection!
That’ll be ONE happy little girl!!!
Frances B.
Not much to add.
I agree with almost all that’s been said, Jessica seems to be featured more and more and I really don’t care for it. Her segments should be about 2 or 3 mins tops not half the show!
Also please take more calls! I thought techlive was for interviewing people, why is it all of a sudden 3 or 4 interviews per show? That time could be used to answer calls, help people.
Its odd that the show expanded yet has less useful content then before.
Alas, I miss the good old days, 60 min show, and lots of calls, questions. ahh well.
Now the suits are in charge, the kind of people who call Leo and demand to know why their outlook is not working
I think what they are doing with Jessica and Megan is an experiment of sorts. while I don’t know how it will eventually end up, I think they are both nice and I would hate to axe anyone’s job purely on my opinion. so as long as they are not outright annoying and otherwise pleasant I accept them as part of the show. should they be there? I don’t think that’s for me to say. the geek site has merit, but I think it’s more of an experiment to brink back a woman’s perspective or perhaps presence to the show. I like them both. Not that I wouldn’t mind input from other females on the show. I think Sumi did a great job with her digital camera review and should be brought back from time to time. Kate I’ve never really seen, though I do have a gamers perspective and would appreciate any input along that line as well. Patrick is great. I think he compliments Leo perfectly. The show does seem a little rushed, but I still love it and I think they’ll get any kinks worked out after a while. Martin is also a great addition to the show. I cannot say how to divide the time between everyone. They all are good. I’m sure they will all have a job there for a long time to come and no matter how much we see them they will continue to push themselves forward in one way or another at tech tv. I would have never guessed Leo would give up call for help. Now it’s not even on my cable, so I have no idea how Becky and Scot are doing. Anyway I love the show. No matter what form it takes I will continue to be an avid viewer. Taping shows at one am to watch over the weekend if I have to. Keep up the good work Leo and enjoy your holiday with Abby. There is nothing more precious than family. You are very fortunate to have such a wonderful bond with your wife and children.
As far as the show format — while it seems fun to have everyone on the sidelines, they sometimes seem distracting from the content delivery.
I too am disappointed that at the end of a 90 minute show – I think I have seen 5 questions answered from email or fax. I really had hoped that this part of the show would grow and increase the amount of time relating to individual questions / issues from the fans. Hopefully, this portion will grow. I am sure there is room to make adjustments.
I only got to see part of the show tonight so I am bummed out. However that segment with the Xerox researcher was absolutely one of the best interviews you’ve ever had on the show. Kudos to whoever got that booking. Like to see more guests on the show like that!
-M.Patterson
hey did you know that there is a site that want to get you deported?? its caled http://www.deport-laporte.com. I might have spelled that wrong but just enter your name in google leo and you’ll see it on the first page that comes up. lol this guys funny!
HI Leo!
I love the show! Our Time Warner in Columbus, OH just added it within the past month or so. Sure glad they did! I love the main format of the show. Have never seen the old version of the show so I don’t have the ability to make comparisons. I agree with an earlier comment about using Jessica for interviews or remotes though, the geek site snoors me. I do enjoy the bootcamp. The intro to it is really funny. Here is a suggestion for something to add to the show or perhaps TechTV could give you and Patrick a two hour special for this. The idea is for a “Blast from the Past,” indepth reviews of the computer dinosours of the past that have brought technology to where it stands today. I would love to see how far we have really come over the past 30 years or so. Three years ago I finally made the leap into the 70′s and bought my first PC. Oh yeah! I’m hooked now. I read whatever I can on these darn things. The other day my hubby came home and asked if my PC was broke because I was actually watching TV when he came in the door. (I was watching the Screeen Savers! *grin*)
Anyhow, I would really love to see something done in regard the the “Blast from the Past” idea.
Take care and “Keep on truckin!”
Sincerely,
Andrea Heslin
In regards to the view that the Jessica segments are a test to get more of a female voice on the show….
The Screen Savers used to have a lot of female guests that would teach tweaks on various things. (Linux, Mac etc…) The Jessica segments dont have the techie aspect to them they did, they are the “light” portion of the show. I would much rather see more women on camera that are passionate about tech and able to communicate it to a general audience.
I enjoy Jessica and I enjoy her segment, but her airtime has been growing and growing…
But based on the chat room during the show (which seems to be populated by more hormonaly challenged males than it used to be, or is it just me?) Jessica brings in the viewers, or entertaines the viewers that were there.. i dunno, all i know is, I wish that the phrase “Jessica’s a hottie” was censored from chat room software along with the cursing!
Wow, a chance to share my 2 cents worth of knowledge… how can I resist? i can’t. Ok, I’ve been watching less than a year, so I saw some of the “old” TSS when it was an hour long, and I have Tivo-ed it every night and really love it. I also used to record C4H and Silicon Spin, but since TSS went to 90 min. I only record that. OK, here is a list of what I fast forward, sorry if anyone’s feelings are hurt…. the chat bit, the geek challenge bit (see Tux, press play), the Geek site of the day, anything with Scott Harriot, House calls, Geek makeover, Geek Site of the Day. [People are asking, Do you watch ANY of it?] I love the techie bits where Leo and Pat show Linux, it’s over my head, but I like to learn about it, I love the live interviews, Boot Camp, phone calls/net camera calls, Geek Library, software demos (even on software I don’t own,) hardware demos, I used to love Marty’s chalk board lectures (he did one on cass latency (sp?) that was very informative)…. I love the building of UGM and the installations of other hardware, the “cable rounding” segment, etc. Ok, that’s now about 15 cents worth of my feedback. I love the show, and I realize it takes a lot of different information to attract allkinds of audience members, so do whatever you like, I’ll still be watching (and fast forwarding.) Oh, and please let Marty do more than those lists, he is a great addition to the mix.
Elizabeth Branch
You Are the Greatest!!!
I know this doesn’t really have much to do with d entry but i noticed that there are still a lot of people who subscribe to d “unofficial” newsletter.
Exactly 7,986 do. Not far from d 7,568 subscribers of d laporte-report…
Oh, look…. i found 2 more cents…. ok, this has been bugging me and I forgot to mention it…. Whose idea was it to have you and Patrick come running onto the set? A really important person, right?
Well, maybe it could be *gently* suggested that there is nothing wrong with doing the video effect transition from the show open and then come right to you guys standing at the table, we viewers don’t REALLY think that you just drove up to the studio…. as far as I am concerned you can go ahead and start the show with you and Pat at the table, like on the old version of TSS.
E.B.
You mean they dont drive up just in the nick of time before every show?
8^)
Here’s an idea: I have noticed that on Fridays Silicon Spin goes back to its old format of the in-studio guests (too bad they still interrupt each other – that show needs a tougher director I think); anyway you could call that “Silicon Spin like it used to be” – so why not have Fridays be “Screen Savers like it used to be”
A. A half hour (solid) in which Martin gets to co-host; if someone goes away
he co-hosts the show, no rerun;
B. Give Scott the day off;
C. No Jessica geek site; some of them are as dumb as the stuff that used to be on the late (thankfully) Internet Tonight;
D. Lots of calls and emails and faxes; I have never called in but sympathize with those people; I noticed on the tech support review segment recently that you said people are waiting for hours to get on;
E. More time for Roger and whoever else has real computer insight to offer.
Just a few thoughts; it could be something extra for the end of the week.
Best of luck, Rosemary
I Enjoy The show Leo Keep out The great Work!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m very interested in video capture. but the video card I’m using is fairly recent and not in need of replacement. Today in Costco I noticed there’s a new USB net cam by Intel which can capture video from a vcr or camcorder. I scanned the box quickly but I haven’t a clue if it’s worth fifty bucks after a rebate. Has anyone seen it? Also best buy has a decent laptop for 1099 this week after you decipher the rebates. it’s the cheapest decent one I’ve seen yet. while I’m not jumping on the band wagon I would much rather have apple’s recently released g3 but sadly I’m not a teacher and I can’t see spending twice the price. It’s time to rush out for mom’s day. too bad she’s not into this stuff…
I love your show (TSS), but for the Techlive, i think it needs some inprovements. I know Techlive should be the mix of everything and every hosts but i think it’s too too many reporters on the set could be disrupting. i like the idea of putting every host from each show to Techlive, but each segement seems a little bit rush and needs a little bit organization. Giving enough time for each topic is very important both for the reporter and audiences. the financing news can be repoted every 30 min. or so and show the news on the screen instead of reporting it. Also, i think call for help segement could be a lot longer.
And for friday’s TSS, i think Martin and Pat can host for one day per week although i really want Leo on show.
Hey ted, if that intel cam was the pc pro cam then it is a great camera. i know casue i have it. i used it to make all my videos until i got an all in wonder pro. we paid 120 for it not long after it came out so 50 is a great price.
Article on Microsofts plans for the next few years. Very scarely !
more then the movie hannibal !
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=587172
Did you get hacked Leo? There are two entries above that are what you said, but things were changed. It appears to me that you got hacked, at least the blog part.
Mike:
Those are just blog entries. Anyone can cut and paste what leo says up top into a blog messages No offence to you Mike, but it is a pet pieve of mine when people jump to conclusions claiming someone has been hacked. At the very most it is the work of a lame wanabe.
Chuck Shaw
greetings intrepid bloggers, just wanted to let leo know i’ve solved the big problem everyone’s been talking about (the new “improved” tech tv) try pitching this – we extend tss another half-hour?!? and then eliminate call for help. juggle tss around so the 1st hour is geared towards beginners and hosted primarily by you, and the 2nd hour is more advanced and fast-moving, which is quite in pace with it’s multi-host approach. geez you might even want to air the first hour a few hours before the 2nd hour. you could even rename the 1st hour! what you’d want to call it is beyond me, though.
but 4 real!!!! tss keeps gettin’ better!! i love all the additions (jess, megan, scott, rog) they all deserve more airtime (more martin too!)(and more kate)! maybe if we started a fund to buy all the commercial time on tss and just let leo and crew work straight through them (if they’d be so kind) i love the idea of a show that goes more in depth, especially if it’s respective website is as wonderfully kept up as tss’s webpage(thanx megan). i rarely catch call for help anymore, i like both becky and scott, but i don’t think they have good onscreen chemistry together. hey leo i was wondering if your disturbingly knowledgable side kick patrick is related to the infamous norton who wrote column with the legend mr. dvorak. also does he (dvorak) use the dvorak keyboard layout he invented to speed up typing? oh well i see that it’s 4am and i must flee for higher ground now.
I am not sure on the name, but Pro was in there I know. I have an old logitech net cam too which has never been out of the box. for 99 dollars ATI has a budget Radeon which is another option. I’d just like to know if the video capture on the Intel cam is worth the difference in cost or if it’s not really that great. I’ve never heard Leo and Pat mention this option so I thought it was something new.
the video capture is good on teh intel can but the all in wonder video capture is lots better.
It was a great show. The Screensavers is our favorite! Too bad Tech TV is not carried on cable in Canada….But there is always satelite.
We like the Screensavers the way it is. It’s going the right direction.
YOUR GREAT !!
Thanks for the show!
Leo,
I’m very happy with the new Screen Savers. I enjoy the “entertainment” aspect just as much as the “techie info.” I like the “expanded cast” — they help move the show beyond “a couple of geeks talking about geek stuff.” I definitely enjoy Jessica’s “Geek Site” bits — they add plenty of fun to the show.
My “I’d like to see’s” are pretty small — more “lab rats” with Fresh Gear stuff, and of course Jim and Sumi, too. And, I’d sure rather see a wide shot of everyone doing whatever they do when the show’s over instead of the “webcam” shot you usually show at the end.
Great fun and interesting stuff — so much better than the “drivel” that passes for “network prime time programming!”
Keep up the good work!
Seems to be that they are trying to cram a variety of segements into TSS as well as Tech Live, to try to appeal to a wide, wide variety of viewers. segements of which the basic subject of the segment should be a on-going show in itself.
Jessica and Megan are ok but what they do can be combined into one person, woman. I get the feeling Jessica is there to show ‘attractive women can be a geek’ and ‘the average geek woman’ to pull in male viewers and not to offend the women. Just more of the ‘Hollywood’ style of designing a show. The show does seem to be improving as time goes on (is someone who has a say so actually listening to the viewers?)and it’s almost there, but not quite yet. I actually am enjoying it again instead of being a struggle of frustration to sit through. Can the Leo and Pat running in. Is stupid looks very forced regardless of how hard they try to make it look natural. If this show goes on indefinitely ( I HOPE), how many ideas can they come up with for Leo and Pat to come running in? Just have the stand at the table as they used to. It looked more comfortable and natural for them both and fits the show better.
They do seem to be taking more calls, which is very enjoyable. Have cut back on the ‘a zillion half a second interviews and segments) and have fewer but more in depth interviews, how to’s etc. which is sooooooo much more informative as well as enjoyable.
I’m glad they stopped Martin from doing the stupid stuff. He’s too intelligent to make a clown out of him. True humor is not going for the low road but sure to grab a laugh. Martin can be used intelligently in a humorous manner.
I know that much of the show has to be scripted, especially as it’s been expaned to an hour and a half, but I enjoyed the more natural banner between Leo and Patrick more than the more scripted banner.
Keep working on it, so close to being there, an intelligent, informative show with some legimate humor throw in. As as I’ve said repeatedly, I wished they’d quit trying to “Hollywood-ise” all of Tech TV. It doesn’t work in this genre.