Thursday, October 27, 2011

new system


ok, I've got this figured out.

gonna snag the lower-spec'd Asus from my local Best Buy for $399 total, along with 8GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive from amazon for $86 total.. as of right now, the Phenom II x4 is only $112 and the USB 3.0 PCIe cards aren't that expensive (like $30).
      so I spend $485 to get started off quite nicely, and a mere $140 or so to upgrade later on. still cheaper than buying the better spec'd system plus RAM and hard drive.

with initial purchases and tinkering:
dual boot Win7 and Ubuntu
main drive = 160GB
secondary drive = 1TB
12GB RAM
AMD Athlon II X2 220
ATI Radeon 3000
8ct USB 2.0
card reader
DVD-RW

I can't wait for a faster machine.. this poor HP has had it. Taryn might still get it- Orb through the Wii didn't work out so well.. movies encoded to iTunes need iTunes to play. but then I'd have to get her an LCD TV with all the correct connections.
       I need to win the damn lottery.

Wii Homebrew

the Wii mainly stays in Taryn's room. her DVD player is shitting out.

I used LetterBomb to install HomeBrew.

I open the HomeBrew Channel, and nothing is there- oh, hey, you need to load stuff on an SD card. ok then.

I almost threw my computer in the dumpster yesterday. the HP is once again a POS incapable of doing what I want it to do. for fuck's sake. seriously. but to it's credit, the netbook running Ubuntu was almost as frustrating.. it just wasn't as painfully slow about it. and I didn't have to restart it several times before it acted normally.
      it's them damn boot.(whatever) files. try to copy them over to the SD and everything freezes. tried renaming it first, transfer went well, but as soon as I renamed it boot.(whatever) the system starts acting all wacky.
      going to try the rename using the netbook. I just want her to be able to watch DVDs through the Wii.

anyway, I finally get the HomeBrew Browser installed. I wait until the WiFi icon in the lower right corner goes solid, and I load the Browser to look for WiiMC and it's Channel Installer (I had given up on getting on them on the SD card). Unable to Initialise .. for 5 fucking minutes I waited.. had to shut the Wii down by holding the power button.
      when I restarted, I did a Network test.. new router so I checked from the netbook to make sure the Wii was on the client list- and there it was, connected. so I try again.. and same G D thing.

so I don't fuckin know.. I gave up yesterday.. there were other things to do. will try one more time to get WiiMC and it's Channel Installer on the SD card.

-
managed to rename in Ubuntu and actually get it onto the SD card in Windows. but of course, when I go to test in the Wii, the batteries in the wireless sensor bar were out. so now they are charging. and I'm going to bring up the wired sensor bar.

-
WiiMC and it's Channel are installed. newer DVDs, like Pirates of the Caribbean 3, great. semi-dated, like Mulan II, played ok- the ratio was off. old ones, like from my Indiana Jones box set, do not want to play. code dumps and whatnot.

at least it works!

Monday, October 17, 2011

CM7.1.0 upgrade

-Titanium Backup for all apps

-screenshots of each panel

-export global Agenda settings

-using ROM manager, download CM7.1.0, yes on Google Apps, no on GTalk video chat
      (I don't have a FFC- no point)

-Backup Existing ROM, Wipe Data and Cache, Wipe Dalvik Cache

-sit and wait

-GD it! this means I have to start all over again with Jewels.

-restart, 4-corner skip

-add home WiFi, go to Market, sign into Google, download Titanium, restore all apps

-fix screen panels and background image

we have CM7.1.0

-

edit: went back to 7.0.3. for some reason, my calendar wouldn't load and all text messages were from May.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Asus - Essentio Desktop

the HP cannot be upgraded.. new processors are less expensive than tracking down a faster Socket 939.

the only reason I need a new computer is cuz the HP is old and can't run Virtual Box and sucks at running Visual Studio- for just normal docs and stuff and web surfing, it's still a champ. the HP will still be in use- I'm thinking of replacing Taryn's TV with an LCD- have all her DVDs and digital versions accessible over the network. she is smart enough to know how to use it. unless I can get the Wii picking up media from a Windows network like the PS3 does... hmm..
      check this shit out- Orb Media Player. ok then.. the HP is getting gutted or sold. or donated to my school.

granted, I need to have money to do all this.. if that job actually happens, this will be happening. and no matter what, in the next few weeks, I'm getting down on some serious cable management. I see it out of the corner of my eye all damn day and it's driving me nutz.

this is what I'm looking at as a replacement:
Asus - Essentio Desktop / AMD Athlon™ II X2 Processor / 4GB Memory / 1TB Hard Drive - CM1730-03
(only 1MB of L2 cache- but it's superbly upgrade friendly)

I have my eye on this one too.. though it's above my budget... but I'm sure I can justify it. I wouldn't need to upgrade it at all.. for a long while at least.
Asus - Essentio Desktop / AMD A-Series Processor / 8GB Memory / 1TB Hard Drive

there will probably be better ones by the time I'm actually out picking one, but I don't want to spend more than $500 total. multi-TB externals will be inexpensive to get as needed in the future, in 3.0 even- ooh, another justification..
      the 1TB attached to the Mac mini will remain where it is for music storage, as Andy continues to build his collection and is comfortable with iTunes. that reminds me- I need to find him an iPod Classic 160GB for not a lot.

-
here is my plan of action:
-make a back-up DVD of the OS, make restore image

-using my handy-dandy Ubuntu SD card, reformat the 1TB drive and the HP's 200GB drive (or I can snag a 160GB for about $40)

-install the smaller drive as primary, set 1TB drive as slave

-install Windows 7 and then Ubuntu as dual-boot

-use Ubuntu K9copy or one of the many other programs to copy all of our DVDs into a digital format comprehended in Windows, iPhone and Android. if I own it, I have every right to copy it for our own personal use.

-can't be wireless anymore, so another Ethernet cable running over this way (still working on the Mac connecting to the Windows machines using wireless via the router, but it just doesn't want to)


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Audacity

I have the last cassette tape my dad ever made.. and I want it in mp3 form so I can actually listen to it.

I have an idea to take the PC-to-TV audio cord from the headphones jack on the huge stereo (not hooked up, sitting in our bedroom collecting dust) to the mic jack on the netbook, play the tape and record with Audacity.

I have been told this will work. I hope so!

Monday, September 5, 2011

netbook plus 42in LCD HDTV

awesome.. between Ubuntu making things easy and the tv having a PC VGA and sound connection, we were easily able to hook up the netbook to the tv yesterday and watch an episode of Breaking Bad on AMC.com that we had missed during Irene.

-
a project I want to work on.. I have a 1TB Iomega drive attached to the Mac mini- it even looks like the mini, it's cute.. but.. the PS3 can't access it, so none of our content is view-able on the 42inch, and it's shoddy as far as the Mac connecting to the PC's (or if I'm not logged into the Mac on my account, the PC's have a hard time connecting to the Mac), so it's a crapshoot if anything can talk to each other.

we only have a Mac because that is what the girls use in school, and Taryn has gotten quite great at using it on her own. personally, I frikin LOATHE iTunes. Andy likes the Mac I guess, and I like it for some stuff, but not much.

so.. I want to get a new router and attach the Iomega as NAS. the other option would be to attach to the HP, but.. then the Mac, where the good speakers are for downstairs, might not connect to all the songs for iTunes, which again, sucks out loud as far as I'm concerned.

-
I need at least two of these: Belkin 11-Outlet Conceal Surge Protector to clean up around the TV and desks. probably grab one of the 7-outlet version too. need to get this stuff neat and tidy- bugs the crap outta me as is.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

exactly..

there is a reason I refused to spend more than $200 on a netbook.

cuz it just sits here.. if I need it, or want it, it is there.. if someone else needs/wants it, it is here..

but it hardly gets used. and I'm not too worried about it.

Monday, August 15, 2011

netbook memory upgrade

easy as pie.

I followed these directions:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26855544/Gateway%20LT28%20Series%20Netbook%20Repair.pdf

took me seriously 10 minutes total, and most of that was being careful not to bust anything.

unrelated:
the memory card reader on this netbook is not yet supported by Ubuntu. not a big deal right now, but would be nice if it worked.. still searching for a work-around. still looking for a way to allocate more memory to video as well. BIOS says 8MB only, and I want it to have more than that.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

welcome, new friend!

I sold the laptop for $450, and I only wanted to pay $200 for a netbook. and running something other than Windows, I didn't need anything super duper.

I found what I wanted/needed at Best Buy for $199.99 plus tax, and picked her up this morning.
Gateway LT2802 Netbook
Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz- 667MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache
1GB RAM (for now)
Intel® GMA 3150
250GB hard drive
6-cell (6-8-hour) battery
WiFi, Ethernet, 3xUSB 2.0, VGA, card reader, headphones, mic, webcam



the screen is crisp and clear, and not too annoying regarding size, love the trackpad, and I will easily get used to the keyboard (the enter key is smaller than I would prefer- I keep hitting the ' key). the size and weight is perfect. tethering with the G2 was very smooth. install of Ubuntu 10.04.3 was surprisingly easy- in comparison to the Dell, that is. it runs snappy in Windows and Ubuntu- you seriously can't tell it's a 1.66 single-core processor with only 1GB of RAM. no graphics issues as of yet, and I don't really see any in the future.

very pleased with my purchase, so far... exactly what I was looking for and runs like a champ. the trackpad disable button even works in Ubuntu. score.

one complaint: entering BIOS/CMOS is a pain.. you need to start pumping the F2 key as soon as the screen goes black on a reboot, or as soon as you hit the power to turn it on. need to change the timing.

leaving Win7S alone, aside from removing some shortcuts off the desktop. installed Chrome, of course.

after I get some homework done, going to see about triple-booting with Chrome OS Linux. the RAM will be upgraded after the semester ends.

-
interesting.. there's a Vista bootloader installed on one of the partitions.

-
f that.. the dual-boot install split the 250GB hard drive between Win7 and Ubuntu.. and I don't care for that. I tried to erase the Vista partition (12GB) and install Ubuntu there, while making another partition for all files to be stored, but it didn't work the way I wanted. so buh-bye Win7Starter. all Ubuntu now.

-
2GB stick ordered. not that I've noticed I need it, but just because it was under $20 shipped from Kingston.

and this is great- when the lid is closed, it goes into Suspend mode- turns off the wifi, etc.. practically ZERO battery drain.. for hours and hours and hours.. this really is an all-day netbook. very happy with my purchase.

-
poop. the memory card reader is not yet supported. not a big deal right now, but may be at some point- them things are damn handy.

Monday, August 1, 2011

how to fall back in love with the G2

..take the screen protector and shell cover off.

feel that rubbery coating.. admire the brushed and engraved battery door.. let the snap of the natural, uninhibited movement of the z-hinge make you giggle.. just like it did when you first opened the box.

someone on craigslist is looking for a G2, and I started up the conversation. I thought about it.. asked TMo for the SIM unlock code.. called Best buy to make sure I could walk out with the MyTouch 4G Slide for the same price as upgrading online..

and in cleaning him up, I realized how handsome and well-built he is.. and how plasticky the MT4GS probably is.. sure, it would be an even exchange, money wise.. but even with the FF camera and better camera.. I hate Sense.. might be a downgrade in reality. and I don't need another distraction..

I just needed to take the case off. get him all nekked.

but we have some issues to overcome. notifications are not what they should be. sometimes homescreen folders won't open. I've stayed out of the forums- probably time to revisit.

-
uh-oh.. I went into Best Buy killing some time today.. and the MT4GS is not a piece of plasticky junk. then I played with the new Sense on an HTC Flyer.. I'll be getting back into the forums.. but perhaps not for the G2.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

stupid Dell.

I'm never buying a Dell laptop again. this f'n thing won't connect with the Ubuntu drive again.. and I don't feel like messing with it anymore. the drive works with a frikin USB wireless dongle.. works with other computers with internal wireless. but not the internal wired or wireless with WiMax and all the other stupid connections this internal wireless card wants to have.

I shut down the laptop last night, and there was my mistake. wlan0 is now wlan1 for some reason.. it is active, the interfaces file I modified allows it to pick up the IP address and netmask that it's supposed to have.. but the wireless connection icon is gone, ya know, from up at the top next to the date and time.. completely gone. no clue wtf is happening.

tried setting boot order to Network first.. nope. this is really pissing me off.
gonna make the SD over again. back to using the live USB- nevermind.. that can't connect either.
     and now it does.. wtf is going on..

can't wait to sell this thing.

-
and good-bye Dell! replacement shall be ordered soon.

Monday, July 25, 2011

portable Ubuntu- part 2

my guess is this would work for Ubuntu and Chrome OS Linux, or almost anything with a big enough SD card and an OS that doesn't attach to specific hardware.

for testing purposes, I'm in Win7, using an 8GB micro sdhc class 6 card and VirtualBox. if this works right, this should be a fully functional Ubuntu (OS+settings+storage) that I can boot on any computer (able to boot from USB) and have my "system" with me where ever I go!
      if this is the case, I'll be getting a 16GB micro class 10 to use (I have a teenie adapter).

SUCCESS!! logged in with my username and pw, installed updates.. we are good to go! now that I know this method works, I'm going to try with the bigger card and partition it so my docs and stuff are accessible from any OS.
      until then, let's see if I can get this to work right on the laptop so it's not just sittin there lookin pretty.
            -nope. still can't get the damn internet going- loopback issue it seems. the search continues..
            -YEAY! I had changed the router from "auto" channel to a set channel when I was having
                    problems with that damn wireless mouse. as soon as I added this to the
                    /etc/network/interfaces and changed it back to auto, everything is fine (might change these
                    for when not using the laptop). posting from the laptop using Ubuntu SD!
                          /etc/network/interfaces
                                  auto lo
                                  iface lo inet loopback

                                  auto wlan0
                                  iface wlan0 inet static
                                  address 192.168.2.20
                                  netmask 255.255.255.0
                                  gateway 192.168.2.1

            -why can't I see the hard drives on the system? oh! now I can..
                        Code:
                              sudo mkdir /media/windows
                              sudo mount /dev/sda1 /media/windows -o force
                        - gonna see about adding a line to the shutdown script to unmount any media mounted
                                during that session- not able to normally unmount, and I would forget- I don't know
                                what would happen..

-
after an extended session, this runs pretty well. run on the laptop, shut down, boot up on the HP, works as it should! I'm starting to think it may just be fine as it is on this card- I'll just resize and make a new partition.
      a class 10 would be nice though- the red light on the big adapter is running at least once a minute and for writing, a class 6 is no match to a class 10.
      can't say how long this drive would last for as my regular system with all the writing and whatnot... and I never shut down.. but it is pretty cool to have, and more than likely will come in handy. time consuming, but not difficult to produce. keeping the 4GB Live SD too.
      next time I get around to it, gonna make a Chrome OS Linux on SD. I'll have a pocket full of OS's.
have to say, I love almost all Google products- Chrome is awesome. whatever I do in one place, I have at another.. what a concept!


instructions
modified from:
Install Live Ubuntu CD directly onto an SD card

Installation (by using a virtual machine)
1. Create a new virtual machine.

2. Don't add any virtual hard disk. (uncheck the Boot option and click Continue when it gives the warning)

3. Go into the machine Settings and activate USB support (USB menu), so you can install Ubuntu to your SD card by using an SD to USB adapter.

4. Boot up the virtual machine, navigate to the ISO- while Ubuntu boots up in the virtual machine, make sure your SD card is mounted from the Devices menu up top. When Ubuntu is ready (normal Live CD screen) choose Install.

5. Follow the installation instructions. (find something else to do- this takes a LONG TIME)

6. When the installation is complete, shutdown your virtual machine, insert the Ubuntu SD card into [a USB adapter and USB port] and power up. When the [computer's] splash screen comes up [enter boot order menu], and select the SD card as the boot drive. You will have to do this step at every boot up now if you want to start Ubuntu, but it allows you to keep [any other os] on the internal HD which can be booted with or without an SD card inserted.

ggrrrrr.....

piss.me.off.

something in windows tells the wireless and ethernet adapters not to work within Ubuntu- whether a live usb, live cd or actual install. it has always been a massive pain in my ass to get the settings right, and this time, I just don't even want to deal with it.

I cleaned out the laptop, reloaded Win7Pro, did all the updates and drivers and all that happy horseshit. I planned on running the Live USB so I could at least use it while I wait for it to be sold. I even packed up the HP and moved it aside until that happens...

stupid wireless and stupid ethernet.. I set the adapters back to how they were before the reinstall... and nada. I give up on messing with it any more.

a perfectly great laptop is just sitting here, not being used..

Sunday, July 24, 2011

HP fixed.

so I ran the Live CD and retrieved my files.. found an old, old XP Pro (no service pack) disk and key and through that re-partitioned and formatted the drive, and installed, ran all updates and installed imperative software.

I had remade the Live USB with 10.04LTS (wasn't really diggin 11.x), and installed that.. having issues with accessing all of my hard drive space.

gotta love Chrome sync. I heart Google products and services.

I think I know what I did wrong- using the XP install disc, I made three partitions- one for XP, one for Ubuntu and the rest of the drive for shared stuff (movies, music, pics, etc). I couldn't figure out how to fix in in gparted.. so I guess I'll start over.

before I do that though, I'm going to break her down and do a thorough cleaning. the RW drive needs replacing, and all USB ports on back are 1.1, so perhaps get a PCI card as well.

edit: and even better, as a student of tech stuff, Microsoft loves me give me software to use for school. since the desktop is for school.. burned a Win7Pro 32-bit ISO and running now as a fresh install, with all partitions removed.

I don't need to get an actual Chromebook- I can just install Chrome OS Linux on a netbook.

portable Ubuntu

just for giggles, I took a 4GB class 6 microSD card, freshly formatted, and using a SD adapter and USB stick reader, followed instructions on the Ubuntu download page to make my very own "live" USB drive. Ubuntu itself only needs 2GB, so the rest of the space is for files and settings.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download

as long as I can boot from USB, I have a fully functional Ubuntu system on any computer- hanging from my keychain. how cool is that..


edit: duh.. and I am now using this card to use Ubuntu on the HP to retrieve all my files and go through with the reformatting. taking a wicked long time to boot though. this thing is so old, I may have to try different USB ports to find the fastest one.. I remember this problem before.
-nope.. had to pull out the live CD I made last year. oh well, I know the live stick works for more current systems.
-aahh.. the problem was the USB adapter stick thingy.. one of them wouldn't read anything, while the other one does. stupid old HP..

Friday, July 22, 2011

netbook dreams

Acer Aspire One AO722-BZ454 11.6-Inch HD Netbook
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004UR16ES
the size of a spiral bound notebook.. 2 lbs lighter than my laptop.. almost full size keyboard, less annoying screen size, and Win7HP preinstalled w/2GB. makes sense.

and as to why I'm getting a new one- can't find an older model or used/refurb for much less than a new, better model.

I loved my little Dell 300x.. or x300.. whatever it was.. I loved it.

I've been wanting a netbook for a while. and though I have a *very* decent 14" laptop, it is too big, heavy and hot to lug around, take to the dog park, use on the couch or in bed without a lap desk thingy.. toting this thing around on campus is a wicked pain in the ass. I'm pretty much stuck at the desk with it, and that's not where I feel like being stuck. I want to be UN-stuck, as a matter of fact.

almost everything I do is online or on a thumb drive.

after I get done with this week's homework, I'm gonna begin working on the HP. start her up and make sure I have all my files.. complete tear down, clean and back together.. and then follow my previously posted handy guide to a dual-boot set up.

if I'm going to have a desk set-up, I might as well be using the desktop. if I need to be ultra-portable, I might as well sell the laptop and get a netbook and any minor upgrades the HP needs. (and gain some desk space!)
      I love, love, love my laptop. don't get me wrong.. I would much rather turn the HP into a file server or give it away or whatever and keep the laptop *and* get a netbook and of course still have the mini.. but I can't justify a laptop and a netbook...

I bought this thing for $899 only a year ago- they are now a mere $579.. frik!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Ubuntu woes

this is seriously pissing me off.

a wired or wireless mouse does not work well- clicks I didn't make, selections I didn't make, not clicking, clicking too much, selections not sticking and then the whole text disappears, like I erased it, freaking me the f out.. wanna paste, better do it on a new line and merge, or else anything to the left of where I want to paste is selected and pasted over.

this just doesn't make sense.

the wired keyboard acts much of the same way. skipping keystrokes, adding in keystrokes, delay in keystrokes appearing.

the thing that gets me the most is it is worse in a web setting, you know.. where I *always* am.. like BlackBoard where I write and submit homework.. writing blog posts (like this one.. grrr).. facebook.. google docs.. windows live..
      if I want to do any large amounts of copy and paste, I have to reach up on the desk and use the trackpad and keyboard on the laptop.

don't make me go work in windows.. cuz I will, dammit.


edit: it did get worse with the last kernel update a few days ago. gonna roll back and see if that makes a difference.
-nope. maybe it's firefox. installing Chrome.
-nope. not firefox. same thing in Chrome. my lawd, this is frustrating.

so Win7 downloaded and installed the drivers for the hub, keyboard and mouse.
omg.. I'm gonna scream soon.  anything web based is f'd, even in windows. even Word sucks- lag of input.

I just wanted to be more comfortable and productive..

this is a powered hub.. unplugged AC adapter and running from USB power. I don't care for that, as the hub is also a charging station for stuff and is constantly in use. I'll run with it for a little while and see how it goes. next test will involve moving to other USB ports on the hub, or trying a small, unpowered 2-port hub and leave the powered hub out of it.


resolution:
having the hub AC unplugged made a difference in Win, and so far it is a lot better in Ubuntu as well.
-it's the AC power. ordering small hub and extension cable on amazon. no matter the configuration, pasting is still a bitch.
(life saver, delivered next day! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q8UAWY -no selection issues, no pasting issues, everything working as it should! yeay!)


back with the wired mouse with the hub non-AC'd and nothing charging.. other than some minor selection issues, seems to be going well. Chrome is f'n fast! why wasn't I using this?

hhhrrrmmmm... seems the issue isn't that the hub is powered. AC plugged back in with only mouse and keyboard, nothing charging, works wonderfully. wheatevs.. mini hub and extension cable on the way.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Google+

I'm in!!

seems pretty cool so far. liking the instant integration on my G2, and instant upload will be awesome.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

aaahhh...

new keyboard arrived.. awesome.

powered USB hub arrived.. awesome.

all wires and chargers cleaned up and out of the way... awesome.

laptop screen farther away, lessening eye strain.. awesome.

I love it when shit works out the way I wanted.

now to find a way to slightly elevate the laptop to assist in cooling- unless anyone can help me adjust the fan settings in Ubuntu.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

the HP POS (ongoing)

POS stands for Piece of Shite, by the way.. this name was given after BSOD was remedied only by an improptu wipe-n-reload. couldn't get into Windows to back anything up. I lost *all* of Taryn's baby pics. pissed.

right now, it is not allowed to be connected the the internet. Time Warner shuts down our access due to spam or virus sending, and it only happens when this thing is connected. the last time it may have been the PS3, during all that Sony hack BS, it hasn't been reconnected either.

anyhoo.. this is what I'm working with. obviously, a compete internal cleaning and hard drive wipe needs to take place above all else.

HP Pavilion a1245c
AMD Athlon64 3700+ (2.19GHz)
ATI Graphics
Windows XP Media Center Edition
3GB RAM
250GB hard drive
Litescribe DVD+- Writer (hasn't worked for two years)
DVD-ROM drive
Multi-card reader
3x USB 2.0, 4x USB 1.1
Firewire 1394


Mumma got her command central.. I have space for homework and the laptop now (and feel like I'm in the same room as everyone else), the desk with the Mac stays untouched. the HP sits on the bottom shelf of the Mac desk, and when I'm ready to play, I'll be able to easily drag the keyboard, mouse and monitor up onto my laptop area.



Ubuntu is happening... but will it be a dual boot? probably.. it can handle Win7. wouldn't it be great if we could run Windows from a Live CD?

also thinking about moving the 1TB drive to the HP via firewire to make it a true network drive- the other Windows machines have a hard time connecting- Ubuntu of course is fine, and the Mini can connect to any of them, and if it is connected to a Win box instead of the Mac, the PS3 will be able to access it without me fiddling, which Andy prefers I don't.
      just can't remember which way the format can go.. either format Win first for Mac and Win compat, or the other way around.. we will see. and we will see if I get ambitious to fix it..

edit: cool.. I ordered a 10-port USB hub for charging reasons, and where it is mounted will be perfect for switching from the laptop to HP for the keyboard and mouse. the monitor will be the only thing to haul up to the desk.
      I have a few old USB keyboards kicking around, but need something smaller to fit on the keyboard tray with the mouse.. problem solved with this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YGVDDU
      I was looking for a wireless keyboard, but with the issues I have with just a wireless mouse.. didn't want any more interference than I already had. *and* this keyboard has a number lock key- solves the problem with my numeric keypad that goes with the mouse. I'd hardly use it, but at least now I can!

edit: the number lock key on the keyboard does *not* allow the numberpad to work. but it is also a calculator.. still has a useful function.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Logitech v250 mouse and number pad

need drivers that don't lock up IRQ #16 after a while.

I'm stationed at the desk, I have arthritis.. using the touchpad on the laptop hurts after a while, and I remembered I had a wireless mouse stashed away. I plugged it in while I was in Win7, the drivers downloaded and the mouse worked great. without removing the dongle, I rebooted into Ubuntu. worked right away, even at the initial log-in screen.

I use TouchFreeze to disable the trackpad.. which only works for a little while, btw. the first time all this happened, I thought the problem was that I had the trackpad disabled and the mouse couldn't connect while in sleep mode- being an external device, of course it couldn't wake the laptop.

so I stopped using TouchFreeze- the mouse seems to work very well, until the screen saver comes on.. and if it gets to the point of screen blackness, I have to hard reboot, as the screen will not come back by either the trackpad or the mouse. same issue when I close the screen.. any sleep causes issues.

tried reconnecting the mouse, turned it off and on again.. no go.

the one and only time the screen did come back, disable IRQ #16 or something as an error, I was offered options for rebooting regarding X, and was rebooted into a command prompt. sudo reboot brought me back to normal.

I check the batteries in the mouse. from 2005. replaced, though the mouse worked fine, other than this issue. all Logitech drivers are for Windows.

this next test will involve changing the sleep settings.
      System- Preferences- Screen Saver- Power Management


a thread in Ubuntu Forums states that the numberpad will not work, as it acts as if the number lock is off, and since the laptop nor the numberpad have a number lock key...

I don't want to have to buy a new mouse and numberpad.. but I will if it really gets to that.


edit: closed the laptop while I dropped the girls off.. no issues!

edit: power went out a few times early this morning. thankfully the laptop was shut down for the night. power outages alway cause issues with the modem and router.. I couldn't snag a full wireless internet connection, and found it was the mouse causing the issue.
      if I want to use the mouse *and* have internet upon restart, I have to unplug the mouse, turn it off, restart, let the internet connect for a bit and then plug in the USB dongle, turn on the mouse and hit the connect buttons.
      might go out looking for a bluetooth mouse if this turns into a massive pain.

edit: reading some more, some people have changed the channel of their wireless router. the two sets of wireless HIDs are now working better, and the internet is faster.

now to figure out the fucking LAG in Ubuntu while typing on the laptop keyboard.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

it is time...

I have no, I repeat NO tech classes this semester. I have a lot of writing to do. I have other small projects starting, but....

what shall I play with this summer?

do the homebrew thing to game consoles? finally get rid of the recliner, make myself the work area I want and revamp the HP as a file server? dig deeper into the Visual Basic text? well, that will make me work in Windows.. and I don't particularly care for that.

convince Andy his phone would be much better "customized"? start working on that app idea?

there will be something (ongoing) over the Summer semester. I'm itching to play.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

oh, HP...

Rylie's birthday laptop has been ordered.. both of her towers have shit out- I had bought her a custom tower second, or third, hand a few years ago that has been at her dad's. the HP Piece of Shite was moved to her room when the Mac mini arrived, and as I've mentioned, is not allowed on the internet anymore. she has the Mac laptop from school, but her drawing tablet won't work with it (she's not allowed to install anything) and she can't use the wireless printer either, and she won't have it over summer vacation... she's been asking for a Win7 laptop for a while, and Jamey and I finally gave in and ordered one from Dell.

I do wish I had a bigger work area.. I'd wipe out the HP, install Ubuntu and make a file server for movies, music, etc.. thinking about donating it to my school instead. will be a summer project.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

G2 gets an update, finally.

I'm still on a version of CM6, with ClockworkMod reminding me that there's an update to CM 7.03 almost daily..

last time I tried this, he locked up and I had to restore the CM6 back-up from Recovery- thank gawd recovery starts when connected to power. almost thought I had a paperweight after a battery pull. (I just noticed in new Recovery, there's a Power Off option. hooray!)

- reboot into Recovery from ROM manager, wipe cache
- long time to reboot, ROM Manager -> back-up current ROM
- make a Titanium back-up of all user  apps (not data)
- export Agenda Widget settings
- return phone calls, reply to texts
- ROM Manager -> update ROM -> download ROM + Google apps
- OK to wipe Data and Cache + Dalvik Cache, OK to reboot, let CW do its thing
- long time to reboot, htc Vision set-up screen, 4 corner skip
- need to edit build.prop with better lcd density setting
- go to Market, sign in, install gapps, wait a few minutes to sync accounts, reboot
- gapps finish download and install, force quit stuck Market, install Titanium, install apps from back-up, reboot
- update apps from Market, config screens, change wallpaper

we have CM7

Monday, May 2, 2011

slacker!

ongoing personal adjustments and issues have prevented (for lack of a better word) my geek from coming out to play.

I have faith that she will return.. and soon.

I use Ubuntu over Win7- hardly ever reboot into Win7, unless I need a program or familiarity. in Linux, we've been working on setting up a file server... to do this and not screw up my system (or sift through fake users to log in), I'm running Ubuntu by VirtualBox within Ubuntu.

have a project due tomorrow on rooting and bootloaders.

four more days of classes, and the semester is over! Spring 2011 semester was a weird one for me, and certainly not my best work.

as excited as I was to get the Nook, I have found that a tablet really doesn't fit into my life all that much, and I want/need/can use a netbook more. haven't even turned the darn thing on in over a month. over break, I'll do all the updates and see if I can get my thumb keyboard to work, and test Google Docs again- if I'm satisfied, that might change my mind for a little while... if not, I'm selling it on XDA or craigslist.

I've had it with the HP in Rylie's room. it is not allowed to be connected to the internet anymore- Time Warner shuts us down due to spam-sending or viruses.. or it could have been the PS3 a few days ago.. anyhoo.. I'll make sure all our stuff is backed up and I'm wiping her out and loading Ubuntu. I wish I had a bigger work area.

5/13/11
Nook is back to stock and updated, all cleaned up and my Hardware instructor is sending me a check for it- I'm getting a netbook soon, the ASUS Eee 1015PEM-MU17

5/15/11
I'm not getting a netbook quite yet. too many things up in the air money-wise. maybe in a few months.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

ATT and TMo merger from an Android user's perspective-- ongoing

no sir, I don't like it.

first and foremost, ATT blows as far as customer service is concerned. horrible, terrible, absolute worst in regards to the treatment of their customers.. you know, the people that pay them every month for services provided.. (but that seems to be a trend in the great ol' USA)

secondly, ATT would then become the only nationwide GSM cellular carrier for the US. That alone should disallow this travesty from taking place- there's been long-standing knowledge of "no monopolies allowed!" but following along with comments made in the above paragraph, those who have money can buy pretty much whatever they want, regardless of rules or whatever.. latest rumors involve both Tmo and ATT greasing up persons involved in the ultimate decision-making process.

it sucks to learn that the bestest in CS cell carrier in the US isn't doing so well. it almost hurts my feelings that Mommy and Daddy in Germany aren't pleased. TMo started the Android movement by having the G1 on their roster. from last I checked, they carry more Android phones than anything else. ATT loves their iPhone too much, and BB, but I won't diss the BBs, to give much real attention to Android devices, and they lock out certain features that us Android users appreciate.

{insert "understandable" points here. devil's advocate may come out to play}

I don't want to look at my G2 one day and be disappointed cuz I can't tether the Nook anymore. I like the ability to sideload apps, especially on a custom ROM'd device. I enjoy being able to unlock the bootloader and gain perm root access and use different ROMs and made my device truly mine and use it as I wish (within reason.. you know what I mean). There's already issue with manufacturers "blocking" us out, and more can happen (and does) at the request of carriers. Did I mention ATT isn't very nice to their customers?

if I didn't prefer GSM devices so much, going to Sprint or Verizon wouldn't be that bad (other than our previous experience with Sprint- the bill was *never* right). I went to Ireland with my Moto i560 and had no instant communication with my kids. If one of us got separated, woulda been screwed kinda. I want to be able to use my cell phone or wifi almost anywhere I go.. and yes, we plan to travel abroad again. unless I pay exorbitantly for a "global" device with Sprint or Verizon, I'm not gonna have that. if I pay for something, I want it to be be what I expect. with TMo, they're nice about it, treat me well and fix it as soon as possible. and they have rockin Android phones. we get good voice service where we live and we utilize the $10 data cuz we use wifi most of the time.


more on this later...

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Saturday project- dual boot stock+CM7 - ongoing

one of the best things about the NC- boots from sd card first. virtually non-brickable. I like rooted stock, and official Froyo with Flash is coming later this month, they say. I like CM7, I like Honeycomb. and I like the idea of being able to boot into one or the other from sd when I want to.

I'll keep on the lookout for CM7 bootable from sd, but I'm gonna give it a go on my own too. this is going to take a while- semester projects are coming due soon, but my allotted "geek-out" time will be spent working on this.

edit: totally changed my mind on bootable CM7 sd once I looked over the dual boot instructions again.

first step: 
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=914690
not sure if I'll reflash a recovery of rooted stock or start from scratch and use titanium backup.
(the only way to use Titanium Backup with rooted stock is to move the apk's to /system/app and reboot. fix permissions in CWR first and mount in root explorer R/W (toggle button at the top). root explorer is certainly worth the ~$4.19)

I could have saved myself some panic by going back to mounts and storage and unmounting the sd card before rebooting. rebooted into CWR to see ahead of time what needed to be done and how to get there. tried to reboot to put the .zip on the card and go through the actual process. I took the card out during the reboot so it wouldn't keep rebooting into CWR and had a "dead" NC for a few minutes after putting the card back in. now I'm going through the stuck on n screen reboots. 8 failed boots gets me to the install, but it gets stuck on n afterwards.. need a recovery sd and start over.

well frikin duh.. wish it didn't take me all day to come across this... (I spent far too much time trying to make the Froyo sd and get all that to work)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11374824&postcount=29
copied 1.01 full install (my original version) to the sd, used CWR to install from .zip on sd and hooray! back to stock NookColor. back to recovery sd on hand.

auto-nooter next:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=872490
a word on auto-nooter: the instructions say that the NC will boot when plugged into the computer and will reboot when it is done. when I plug in my NC, nothing happens.. for a while.. after about 5 minutes, then it rebooted and all was well. have patience, or a repeat will be necessary.

I miss CM7 and widgets. but it's fast again, everything works again, internal and sd storage are available. I'll see how dual boot goes. that could be better. at least now I have a recovery sd ready and the auto-nooter sd, and know to hold onto them.

dual boot is where it's at. left stock where it was and CM7 is on secondary (power+n to boot in)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=959461

got gapps installed.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11455117&postcount=11
(I don't suggest flashing the gapps.zip from CRW- made Market go away in stock and I had to re-nooter.. and the Market still didn't work in CM7, so it was a waste of time altogether)

fix the framework.jar file for CM7.. I assume through the OP's instructions that I needed to mount and push to correct partition, 1o9 in my case, which worked. (though another post for pushing something else says 0p9)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=965301
is it possible to find the AndroidID on the stock side and mirror for other ROMs?

all set up, most apps work (to be expected), tethering from the G2 works on both sides. dual boot is better than running from sd, but still no "mountable" access to internal storage from CM7, and now to figure out how to make a CM7 ROM into a version that can be flashed to the correct boot partition. (I like phiremod, and there's bound to be newer ROMs that come out, and I'd rather have actual versions than nightlies)

can I just make a new zip with phiremod's ramdisk and other files with the same u-boot files from the verified dual boot file? gonna try this after confirmation:
make a .zip file with these files from the OP for CM7 dual-boot file:
        u-boot.altimg
        u-boot.altram
        u-boot.bin
and add from phiremod's ROM:
        ramdisk.img
        kernel
        system folder
        META-INF folder

and I assume I need to remove dual and go through the process again to get this going, as from what I understand, phiremod v4 uses ext3 instead of ext4.

hhmm... this is going to take some more fiddling.. removed dual-boot, did the prep again, loaded my zip, boot loop on stock rooted no matter if just power or power+n. doing a complete restore again. the kernel from phiremod is OC, and I did not include the ext4.sh, as the post says it is ext3. so we'll try a zip with the CM7 kernel and if that doesn't work, include the ext4.sh as well. no reply on the dual-boot thread yet. learning process!

someone was kind enough to post this response:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11892456&postcount=306
maybe take a look at that next Saturday.

HA! CM7 nightly12 has access to internal storage. dual boot zip made. throwing this on now. phiremod is now unnecessary. (but I'll still tinker with building the dual boot ROM)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11836160&postcount=255
not so much... perhaps due to being dual-boot? I was also under the impress that the framework patch/hack was included. the research continues.. I need to get some homework done.

for reference:   http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11905694&postcount=314

awesome: completely powered down, NC turns on by itself randomly, even before I started messing with it, known comment. since dual-boot, stays off as it should. no more random start ups.

NC's been getting all the attention lately. next Saturday: G2 gets an update (too).

Thursday, March 3, 2011

wireless printer that doesn't

or, if I forget to cancel the job, will print two hours later and scare the shit out of me.

Canon Pixma MP495- fixed IP

connects to the Mac just fine. USB, wireless, great.

Win7 shared by the Mac spits out blank pages. Win7 and Ubuntu work perfectly through USB, but no matter the configuration on the printer's side for wireless, both OS see it, can get the status and whatnot, but errors when I go to print.

there was a time when it worked as it should.. but no matter how many times I uninstall and reset, I'm still left wanting to chuck it across the room, so I gave up trying to mess with it and kept with thinking about it.

I've come to the conclusion that this is one more reason to kick the Intel WiFi/WiMAX 6250 AGN in the face. seriously, it's not the printer. it has to be the wireless card if neither freshly-installed OS on this machine can print wirelessly.

other issues with this card:
-it has to be set to the lower encryption to talk to the Mac, which has to be wired directly to the router for them to play nice.
-the power management feature needs to be disabled for Ubuntu to use the card.
-the band has to be set to G only for it to get through the firewall on the router.
-it's also in a Dell machine, and it's been my ongoing experience that Dells and wireless don't always jive- I have too many things trying to claim the wireless card.

if I disable some stuff (all those wifi connection things, really, wtf), then I can expect sporadic connections. I'm in Maine for f's sake- no need for integrated WiMAX. that was a "bonus"- I gained WiMAX and forwent blu-ray on my laptop wish list in this purchase.

I'm gonna boot back into Win7 eventually, and when I do, I'm going to try the 128 encryption and see if makes an actual printed page. it used to work as an TCP/IP connection, sometimes..

why can't this be easy? this was supposed to be easy..

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

trying to figure this out

installing downloaded "programs"
Ubuntu Software Center reminds me of the repos on a jailbroken iDevice. you can install stuff, hooray. BUT when you download and extract, then what? the lack of setup.exe is throwin me.

modifying settings
-changing display brightness - keyboard buttons are wonky and don't work



Commentary:
I searched through the Ubuntu Software Center and finally found "Device Manager". what baffles me is through all the "noob" posts I've read through, learned users would say to open the Device Manager and the popular response was "I don't have Device manager, where is it?" not one person responded on where to go to download and install through Software Center. on the threads I read, anyway. I think that's just rude.

Nook Goodness- ongoing

2/22/11 @ 5:06pm -- working on CM7 port.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11452450&postcount=22
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=954902

loving Gingerbread on a tablet.  still waiting for Honeycomb stability, though I know it will be a few weeks. I wanted to keep the B&N NC stock Eclair on the internal memory, but rooted. it is proven stable, and I wanted something to go back to if/when things went wonky.. and eventually they will. but I trust CM builds, I love CM builds, and so far so good. this is my first taste of Gingerbread, too. if experience goes well, the G2 will be getting a ROM upgrade soon.

one question I want a true answer to: WTF happened to all my internal memory? the NC is 8GB on it's own.. Settings is only showing 0.92GB total space and 881MB free. also says I can erase the SD card that isn't in it.
update: well duh.. the Nook's internal storage is /media, and untouched from the work I did from the threads above. perhaps I can mount /media through ADB or Ubuntu terminal and copy files over? won't ever show under an Android build, but it will be there.
update again: can use File Manager on the NC to see the contents of the /media/My Files/ but can't get the photos folder to show up in the Gallery app. I marked the folder "include in media scan" but ...
update 2/23/11: terminal app will not let me change permissions of the /media folder. says even sudo is denied. want my rooted stock back and run this from SD.I don't know if it even is a command, but I tried $ sudo mount /media and I was told "denied"... actually any sudo cmd I run on /media is denied. I tried to enter the bootlaoder/recovery to see if I could mount from there, as there were other folder that were mountable on a list, but I think I have to have the ext4 sd card in when I do that, or it will just boot normally, like it did.

8:59pm: xda app force closes every time I click to read a thread. I swear I saw an AndroidID in Settings, but now I can't find it. applying this fix shortly:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=965301
update: fix worked.

2/23/11 @ 6:26pm: finding a way to revert ext4 back to run rooted stock, and run CM7 from the SD. I'm searching for the thread on how to go back..
and there's this:  http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11472094&postcount=3 but I've never "built from source" before, and I'm not sure if now is the time.. that seems like a 2-week-school-break project, seeing as I should be doing homework for the rest of the week.

2/24/11 @ 10:16am: here's an idea.. when you make the EXT4 sd card to boot from with CWR, you have a choice of what size sd card you're using. I used the 1GB image on a 2GB card, and I was left with about 1GB of "internal storage". if I use an 8GB card and the 8GB image, will I regain the NC's 8GB of internal storage?
7:32pm: verified that this is not the issue. then why the different sizes?

Monday, February 21, 2011

why my G2 must be a guy.

before some get all huffy puffy and "that's sexist!" first off, I don't care.. don't even try to tell me you haven't personified an electronic device (or whatever) before. and besides, it's true. there is a difference between boys and guys and men. and my G2.. well, he's a guy. as opposed to my Jeep, who is an outright GRRL, cuz once again there's a difference.. girls, ladies, GRRLs and women. since neither the Jeep or myself are ladies, and not old enough to want to be referred to as women, we are most certainly grrls.

Anyhoo... why my G2 must be a guy:
as our time together has gone on, I've noticed some changes in his behavior.
-memory loss
-lack of notifications
-significant battery drain
-answers call even though I decline them



more on this later..

thankfully, when you get stuck on the splash screen, pull the battery, put it back in and plug into the charger. auto boot into recovery and restore the last working backup. waiting for a stable release of CM7. jeezus that scared me.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

omg Ubuntu- adventures with installation and wireless

this one is gonna get edited a lot.. I'm planning on going through the madness as it happened, and how I came to the epiphany that Win7 was enforcing a "feature", and how stupid I was for not thinking of it well ahead of time. more than likely this is going to take some time to get organized for the way this should have been done, with the other commentary after.

What I Should Have Done:
I started here: http://lifehacker.com/#!5403100/dual+boot-windows-7-and-ubuntu-in-perfect-harmony 
which was perfect for everything I wanted to do- resize partitions, correct formats, etc. I followed the directions for fresh installs, went grocery shopping while Win7Pro did its thing, and installed Ubuntu from a live cd to the prepared partition.

filed needed:
compat-wireless-2.6.tar.bz2
iwlwifi-6050-ucode-41.28.5.1.tgz
ndiswrapper-1.56.tar.gz

I knew from previous experience that I needed the compat-wireless installed to get eth0 working. from what I've read, this fix works for both newer Broadcom and Atheros Ethernet adapters.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9446984&postcount=6

one thing I did notice: when you install and run the compat-wireless to get your eth0 going and you're finally online and Ubuntu updates, you have to run compat-wireless again upon reboot to get eth0 working again, especially if the kernel changed.

my laptop has the pesky Intel 6250 AGN WiMAX/WiFi adapter
http://www1.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1508183
I had the same issue as the OP, followed everything, still disabled. Is Windows being a jerk, I finally asked myself... and low and behold, the wireless adapter had certain power management features that allowed Win to power it off. I changed the setting to NOT do that, rebooted into Ubuntu, and wireless worked.

The Ridiculousness and Rambling:
right now I'm in Win7 transferring all my stuff back from the 1TB drive attached to the Mac mini. for some reason, the mini has to be connected through Ethernet for it to talk to the laptop and tower (both wireless), the laptop has to have its wireless adapter set to g only to get through the firewall on the router, and I'm hoping to GAWD the "wireless" Canon printer sets up easily tomorrow. last time, it made me cry.. I've been dropping files on the Mac and printing from there since, and not only should I not have to do this, I don't f'n want to.

when I first got this laptop, I wanted a triple-boot system- Win7Pro, Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, OS X. never got to the mac part of it... technically, my onboard graphics shouldn't be able to handle it, but fer f's sake, if someone got OS X going on an HP mini thingo, then I should be able to get somewhat decent results on my laptop.

the last time I tried the bootable partitions, Ubuntu pissed me off to no end with the difficulty of getting online. I searched, joined and posted in the Ubuntu forums, and I have found that in some instances, Linux people are douche-bags in the sense that they come across, to me, sometimes, that they think they are better than the rest of us cuz they know Linux, and they expect those of us who are asking beginner questions to not have our eyes cross when we try to comprehend the suggestions they respond with. the folks over at XDA, on the other hand, will actually take the time to help out a newbie; perhaps I was expecting too much from that particular forum site. BUT I can say with only 4 weeks of a Linux course, I am understanding, and modifying on my own, more than I ever was before. super awesome. (seriously, the more I get into it, the more I want to stay in it)

I should have started at installing compat-wireless, going through the updates, and grinding my teeth from there, but I gave it the chance that perhaps, just perhaps, on this method of install, it would do it on it's own. and it did not, and I still didn't do what I knew I should have. I like to make my life difficult sometimes, apparently.
forward through the hours of google searches and reading forum posts.. it's really all so ridiculous what I did and the amount of time I spent doing it.. and I couldn't even tell you at this point wtf it was, other than changing shit on the Win7 side, that actually made the wireless card work. I'm using my notes and textbook and the wireless existed, it was simply disabled. this was the *same* issue I had before, I couldn't find an answer, no linux drivers for the card yet, blah blah ppffttt... but there are drivers now, and they were installed, and I ran through all the instructions and commands and omg..
so then I thought, "if Windows was cock-blocking internet access only through wireless, how would it be doing it?" I'm not always that smart... or it can take me a while to get there. power management on the adapter lets Windows shut it off. when Windows isn't running, of course it's there and unable to be used, aka disabled.

I knew what I should have done, I could have saved myself a lot of time.. but I had fun doing it, I learned some schtuff, I put to practical use what I have learned in class. I think this is another instance where procrastination is my friend.

now that I'm through this, I'm working on my official-ongoing-Nook-Color-awesomeness post. short version for now:  stock rooted, Clockwork Mod Recovery, google-syncing doesn't quite work, but Market is decent. HoneyComb from SD is AWESOME but buggy- want stable so bad, it seriously rocks. hated nookie froyo without CM. on the lookout for CM7. rooted stock is what I want, HC on SD is what I want. access to internal storage and SD is what I want. so far, I get it without HC on SD, and that's ok. this thing is sweet. glad I got it for soo many reasons.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

me, the gadget geek

I get enamored over my devices. and before I make a purchase, I research until I'm blue in the face.

I loved my BlackBerries, and I'm actually thinking of getting one again- I really liked making themes, people liked them, and I need something to test apps on when I start getting more into it. probably pick up something with BB OS 6 second-hand off contract to have around when I need it- would be great if I could find a cheap 9800, but I doubt it.

though I wasn't as impressed with the iPhone 3G as others are, it was fun to play with, easy to use and I can understand why people love them. when Andy switched to the Vibrant and Rylie switched to the Optimus T in December, Eric bought Andy's iPhone and Taryn replaced her Gravity with Rylie's. Everyone is happy, and I still have an iPhone in house to mess with when I get the urge. I've also gotten quite good at jailbreaking and unlocking- so easy to do with the Mac mini.

until last year, I've always had Windows machines. after I screwed up my $4k+ Gateway laptop cuz I'm dumb sometimes, I went to Sam's and picked up an HP XP Media Center tower. Didn't quite care for MC, or the fact that it was an HP, but it did the job, most of the time. something happened and I wasn't even able to get in, or retrieve from an outside source, to back up my files before having to wipe and reload, and I lost ALL of Taryn's baby pictures.piss.me.off.

I needed to be portable sometimes, so I also grabbed the cutest little Dell x300 with dock that ran XP Pro for $300 or so. that little laptop gave me some good use for just shy of 3 years. I had decided to switch to Macs last January and picked out a low-end mini and low-end MacBook Pro. my sister needed a laptop for school, so I did a wipe and reinstall of XP on the little laptop with the intention of giving it to her. somehow in doing this, the network adapters, both wired and wireless, totally shit out. luckily, I had bought a SquareTrade warranty, I filed a claim, sent it to them, they sent me back what I had originally paid. frikin sweet! but Dana didn't get a free laptop and had to get one on her own.

how did I f-up my very expensive Gateway laptop, you ask? I had been thinking of upgrading the RAM and possibly the processor. It was one of the first P4's with HyperThreading, but not the M version- it ran HOT and got to the point of shutting itself down. one of those laptops you don't put on your lap, not only because of the heat, but it was also heavy as hell. but I loved her dearly. I did research on what to replace with what and how to do it... and then I felt I had enough knowledge to open her up and see first-hand what I needed to do. taking apart was easy, putting back together is where I went wrong. don't freakin ask me how (I know how I did it, and it's SO stupid of me that I care not say it aloud), but I bent the processor pins, didn't snap it in all the way and then of course, no booting. I cried, and cried. I have replaced processors and put together systems from scratch, but those were towers. it wasn't figured out until much later, when finally replacing the CPU, that all I had to do was snap it in. even with pins bent back into place, the old CPU still fired up, once properly seated. poor thing sat in a case for well over a year before I decided to attempt to fix it and sell it off. only got $700 for her, but by then, that P4 wasn't too snazzy and thinner and lighter varieties were emerging, so that was a fair price, I suppose.

so the HP sat in a corner of the dining room after the mini arrived- used it now and again to get files from or do something on Windows that I couldn't do on a Mac. Taryn and Andy love the Mac. I love the Mac too, but not as much as they do... like the iPhone, I feel it's a little dumbed-down, too easy to use. I enjoyed the MBP while I had it- went on our road trip, used it for work, and a second computer is necessary in our house. Taryn knows how to log into her account, play her games, open her iPhoto and PhotoBooth and the text editor and painting programs, and how to close them all out, quit them from the taskbar and log herself out. not bad for a 5-year-old! she loves her iPhone and shows me stuff she figures out. it's very cute and very cool.

I lost my job on a Wednesday, and the MBP was sold by that Friday. when I started school, whenever I would get on the mini to do homework, if Mumma is doing homework on the computer, then Taryn wants to do her homework on the computer.. as soon as my school refund arrived, I was buying a laptop again. I spent over a month researching- I wanted one of the Toshiba netbooks at first- cheap, easy to transport, would certainly fulfill its purpose, I liked the trackpad and keyboard, I like Toshiba. but then the new Toshibas were announced, and I started thinking of long-term functionality, I wanted to have a triple boot system for the fuck of it, and though I'm happy with what I ended up with, now that I'm lugging it around at school, I'm wishing I had gone with a netbook. wth do I need an i5 for? once I raised my budget, I was set on a Toshiba that I would have to have shipped. but I hastily walked into Best Buy, picked up an Asus and exchanged it for a Dell 15inch. I loved the Dell, but it was too big for my school bag, so I returned that one.. and as I was wandering around the laptop section, I saw a 14in Dell just put out on display, hand-written product tag and all, and said "I'll take it." the only thing it's missing from my ultimate wishlist is a bluray player. but all the blurays we buy, we get the digital copy if available, so no.big.deal. the video card probably won't support OS X, and my network cards are having issue with Ubuntu, so that part of my wishlist was also forgone. VirtualBox works well enough for now- I'll give the bootable partitions another go at some point.

the MyTouch 3G was my first Android phone. I also had the BB 8900 at the time (my fav BB so far) and trying to use an on-screen keyboard proved frustrating. I did root it and loved almost everything about it, and discovered some of my still favorite websites. AndroidCentral and XDA is where I spend the majority of my time online, aside from facebook of course.

and this is what happens when I get going.. I ramble. and I'm supposed to be doing homework. this will be continued...