Before & After & Inbetween

computer shenanigans reloaded

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 20:28:33 GMT

After the update issue with my computer was resolved I had a total of two (2) days until the machine developed hardware issues, usually after it ran for a couple of hours, but given that most vid confs are in my afternoon that's a problem.

The advantage of all-in-one pcs is that they run "out of the box" and allow for an exceptionally clean environment (read not dust bunnies between cables behind the monitor, under the table next to the tower, etc. pp. - for somebody with my level of allergies that's a BIG PLUS - because I lived years with daily cleaning my desk environment - and the resulting frequent cable and connector issues) - so for someone like me an AIO is a gift. With the downside that you can do truly little if the hardware starts failing. I did what was possible...

...and admitted defeat last Thursday.

Turns out, February 2021 is an inconvenient time to need a new AIO with camera, microphone, and a decent screen in size and resolution (I'm used to 4K since 2015, I am so not going back to those grainy, greyish blobs making decent graphics work impossible; I did that once with a laptop and I oh so regretted it until I had a chance to replace that machine with a better one), because after one year of home office for everyone, all that's left on the market with a delivery time within March this year is scrap or luxury.
The latter will -hopefully- be delivered next week (they say Tuesday, but I have no firm confirmation yet), and washing machine, laundry dryer, microwave, fridge, freezer, and tv better all make it to 2022, because the "household appliances emergency fund" for this year is already empty.

So, another three weeks lost to computer shenanigans - because if it gets delivered in time, then next weekend will be spend setting up and getting to know all the possibilities of the new machine (and given its price tag, I expect it to serve coffee and donuts in bed. At least.)!

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FM-PMS (state of the edit)

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:14:09 GMT

Just a brief "heads up" (since I've been so awfully quiet these last two weeks).

First week was "back at work week" with all the time it took to shovel stuff off my desk that had been raising puppies there since I've fled to vacation way before Christmas.

Second week was actually productive with respect to Business As Usual, but the power surge protection at my home computer system made weird sounds and had to be replaced, so my non-work online life was confined to my smartphone - doable for reading, not really doable for blogging & stuff.

Now, I'm back online and solo returned Family Matters to me with lots of comments, but luckily no major issues. I'm doing my best to get those sorted out. However, given that it likely requires online discussions between us, it will take a week at least (and that's calculated without the very significant distraction of that brilliant, shiny 10" Nexus tab lurking beside my elbow to leap back into my hands... (Really, if you are an avid lover of art and ebooks, that is *the* tab to get! *squee*)).

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ereader woes & abysmal slow working brain cells

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:01:23 GMT

My old Sony PRS-505 ereader is dying. For over three weeks I contemplated the available options to replace it:

Sony PRS-T1 or T2? In the 2nd generation users still report crashes and the reader "forgetting" which page you were reading? Something their old brother never did and I'm supposed to pay 180 and some € for that? Out of the question! Besides, I'd like to synch my reading with both - my home computer *and* my Galaxy Note phone.

A Kindle? I have a gazillion epubs (and Calibre, yes!) and the new paperwhite model with the best resolution screen won't be shipped until right before Christmas when ordered now. Besides... 130 € (without 3G)? My Sony is dying now...

...and I still want to synch with my phone. I read phone on my daily commute, I want something bigger for reading in bed. Something bigger...

I ordered myself a Galaxy Tab 2 (7", 16 GB, 1 GHz processor - slow, but more than efficient to serve as home ereader, WLAN only) for 200 €. The Sony option wouldn't have been (much) cheaper (and doesn't allow direct read'n'tweet as I love to do with books I love) and in terms of reading, it can be considered the big brother of my beloved phone, meaning all four installed reading apps (including Amazon's and the one that synchs directly with Calibre) will work there, giving me the same options and screen quality I enjoy on the commute at the size of a paperback (and less weight, at least compared to my usual paperbacks).

Why didn't I think of this four weeks ago?!

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New Hardware Squee - Samsung Galaxy Note

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:43:56 GMT

Normally, I use my tech devices until they cease to function or are so outdated that they fail to perform acceptably in the contemporary world (exception: computers, but then, they are always too old, too slow, too-- *g*), when I got my Samsung Wave smartphone in early Autumn 2010, I pretty much expected the standard procedure there.
The Wave did virtually everything of a whole bunch of devices I used to carry around - MP3 player, calendar, and so on... plus a lot of things handy when doing most of your creative work while commuting: HD video playback, scanlations & other images, etc. pp. And thus I didn't look at new smartphones coming out most of the time.
Last week, I got hit over the head with an information that made me instantly hurry to find confirmation (and hardware specs):

The Samsung Galaxy Note comes with a Wacom pen for drawing and writing (when screen keyboard is not sufficient), plus it has a screen size almost on the way towards a small tablet (5.3"), enough real estate for full websites and therefore ebooks! I couldn't stop myself and plundered my savings...
...the two things I always wished my Wave could do: writing & epubs? I had to try that!

Well, I did and here's the

( new hardware squee - Galaxy Note: )

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The Go Bet: results

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:19:57 GMT

At the end of 2010, it was MAN AGAINST MACHINE (in Go)...

[add "Terminator" theme here]

...and machine lost! (4:0)

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The Go Bet: man against machine!

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:58:28 GMT

I can't help it, the Shodan Go Bet has me at the edge of my seat!
The science geek for the computer,
the scifi geek for the human being.
Whoever wins, it's going to be a fascinating!

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New Hardware Squee - Phone

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:55:45 GMT

After over three years, I replaced my trusty Nokia 6131 flip phone (you know, the model that opens with like a ST:TOS communicator at the press of a button) with a shiny new Samsung Wave smartphone. ( Squee! )

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unexpected Hardware Squee - Sony e-book reader

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:12:07 GMT

Since this Wednesday, I'm the proud owner of a Sony PRS-505 e-book reader (in silver). I've been wary about e-book reading devices for a long time - expensive, incompatible proprietary formats, horribly overpriced e-books in Germany, DRM, intrusive companies (Amazon deleted bought books on the fly!) - but recently, Sony dropped the price for the key-operated device by a hundred euros, adopted the open standard epub along with its proprietary formats and - let's face it - the lack of inbuilt WiFi (in comparison to the Amazon devices) comes as a large plus with respect to my books & privacy, so...

( Squee! )

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FM-PMS

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:37:50 GMT

current chapter word count: 5254
less again because I decided against the shower (and the fan service) and for the Seishiro-Makoto talk and some Subaru contemplation time
resulting in better characterization and more focus on the plot than the butt.
continuing with Subaru-Michiko (one scene given, since working speed is closer to normal now)
character in for a tough talk: Makoto
character clearing the premises: Subaru
character actually drawing an ofuda: Ameru
character more professionally savvy now: Michiko
quote of the day: His pulse. Not Sado's.

totally unrelated side-note: ( cut over drool tech )

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