(MCBA — Mick Bahhh! — Mac Book Air)
In the fast task switch ALT-TAB, Firefox was missing from the applications.
I decided to reboot McBa to get it straightened out.
Argh!
Shades of Windoze.
I left Windoze to be free of reboots and corrupt data.
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Leave a Comment » | 
HARDWARE | Tagged: MCBA | 
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Posted by reinkefj
Employee Has No Right of Expectation of Privacy for Text Messages, Says U.S. Supreme Court
*** begin quote ***
The bottom line is that, according to the Supreme Court, Quon had no reason to expect that his text messages on his employer-provided pager would be protected by a shield of privacy, and that the Ontario Police Department’s behavior in looking at the text messages was not an impermissible invasion of Quon’s privacy.
*** end quote ***
When hardware and service was expensive, then using your employer’s stuff MIGHT have made sense. Now with most everything dirt cheap, makes no sense at all.
As a matter of fact, it may even make sense to decline their hardware.
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Tagged: Economics, INTERNET | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Went to WalMart to get a smaller table and cheap printer.
Had some “excitement” with the old lady, but that’s another story.
Got the printer home! It was only 40$. (Yeah, I know they screw you on the ink.)
And, the printer doesn’t work.
It’s been used and repackaged.
I knew it when I opened the box. The plastic around it was not like a factory seal.
The contents aren’t right. Stuff is missing. And the cartridges are either gone or in the machine.
I’m pissed that this is another example of a return sold as new. I didn’t think WalMart did that. I know Officemax, Staples, and Office Depot do.
And it had a very complicated anti-theft device around it. So that means the Store has to have done it!
Back it goes today.
Very disappointing WalMart. I thought you were above that. At least Best Buy has an open box sale area and you know it’s not brand spanking new.
Argh!
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE, Ranting | Tagged: FRAUD | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
APPLE TIME CAPSULE died. Some backup!
According to the Apple website, it’s out of warranty.
I’ll take it into the Apple store and see what they say.
Argh!
I’d have expected it to outlive the MacBookAir that I bought at the same time.
Did I say “Argh!”?
I see a “NOTRECOMMENDED” coming up.
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Tagged: APPLE, Backup | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
No apparent reason other than it detected an unspecified “problem”.
Upon restarting, it dutifully sent a report off to the Apple Corps Headquarters.
So here we start the MTTR, MTBF, and ELAPSED clocks again.
This is unusual behavior that one would expect of WIndoze, or Microstuff’s Autoupdate?
Perhaps Apple has “clay feet” as well.
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
What do iPad’s Wi-Fi problems mean for AT&T?
by Kevin FitchardApril 6th, 2010
*** begin quote ***
When AT&T said it believed the iPad would be mostly a Wi-Fi (rather than a 3G) device, that would have figured to make any of the network concerns that have plagued the iPhone a moot point. Think again. The biggest problem with the newly launched iPad would seem to be with Wi-Fi connectivity, with reports of no connection or weak signals among some early iPad users. The problems would clearly seem to be with the device itself, with some iPads having problems connecting to any Wi-Fi signal, not just AT&T’s Wi-Fi service.
*** end quote ***
The WiFI problems on the iPad make me suspect that my gut feeling about the MacBookAir could be correct.
I’ve always thought I noticed that the MacBookAir was always scanning for a WiFi signal. Periodically, the computer would (as I described in my blog) go on “a mental vacation”. When I’d look at the “airport”, it would be scanning for networks. Could it be dropping the signal? I’m located less than 25 feet from the WiFi base. I have other Windoze computers using the WiFi without any problems at all.
(Sometimes, windoze needs a reboot to clear up its “thinking”. Weekly? But, never drops the WiFi connection. The ISP’s network sometimes seems to go on a “mental vacation” and everything Router, Windoze, and MacBookAir all need a reboot to pass traffic. But that’s not a MacBookAir problem.)
So maybe there is BOTH a hardware and software problem with ALL Apple products that use WiFi. I don’t have a College’s EE lab and a group of hungry CompSci PhD candidates who will work for free to study the problem. BUT, [and there is ALWAYS a big butt), I’m convinced there’s a serious problem with Apple’s wifi. And, I’d steer clear of it until it’s solved.
Consumers Reports, Underwriters Laboratory, or any school’s CompSci dean listening?
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
*** begin quote ***
A growing number of cities and municipalities are testing solar-powered trash compactors as a way to go green and save some green. Communities in 46 states, as well as some state parks and colleges, are replacing regular trash cans, according to Richard Kennelly, vice president of BigBelly Solar marketing, which manufactures the devices.
*** end quote ***
Given how valuable solar panels are, how long until these are stolen? Then we begin the war of escalation. Bolt down; bolt cutters. Motion sensors (for when they are pulled up); Faraday cage over them. Should be amusing!
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Vol. 2, # 12 – Mar 25, 2010 – Issue # 28
Storage Technology: Past, Present and Future
Deb Shinder, Editor
*** begin quote ***
Most SSDs use flash memory and don’t need batteries. DRAM-based SSDs are faster, but need a battery or AC adapter and backup storage because their memory is volatile, so otherwise data will be lost if the electrical power is lost. Flash-based SSDs do use DRAM for a cache. Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs have no moving parts. That makes them quieter and also more durable and less prone to failure. They are also less vulnerable to damage from vibration, shock or extreme temperatures, and they don’t have to be defragmented. They are fast for read operations, but SATA-based SSDs are slow on write operations. PCIe SSDs provide faster write speeds.
*** end quote ***
The MacBookAir is quiet. But the bottom does get hot. From time to time, the box does slow down.
I’m suspecting it gets “cruddy” like windoze. Maybe it too needs a bare metal restore to get it back to its original snappy performance.
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
mac book air has a hinge problem! screen disconnected?
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/14/kindle-owners-start.html
Kindle owners start to lose text-to-speech on purchased books — how do DRM-free Kindle books work?
Posted by Cory Doctorow, May 14, 2009 5:22 AM
*** begin quote ***
I’m specifically interested because Amazon has announced a “DRM-free” version of the Kindle format and I’d love to sell my books on the platform if it’s really DRM-free. To that end, I’ve put three questions to Amazon:
1. Is there anything in the Kindle EULA that prohibits moving your purchased DRM-free Kindle files to a competing device?
2. Is there anything in the Kindle file-format (such as a patent or trade-secret) that would make it illegal to produce a Kindle format-reader or converter for a competing device?
3. What flags are in the DRM-free Kindle format, and can a DRM-free Kindle file have its features revoked after you purchase it?
*** end quote ***
Consistent with my irrational hatred for DRM. I wouldn’t by a Kindle if it was free.
Because sooner or later: DRM will bite you in the A double Q or some type of error (i.e., network, hardware, software, data) will lock you out.
Sorry, been burnt too many times.
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Tagged: Not Recommended | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Review: Verizon MiFi 2200 – We love everything but the bill
by Greg Kumparak on May 13, 2009
*** begin quote ***
Short version: We’ve loved the MiFi mobile router since we first laid eyes on it back at CES. After a few days of playing with the Verizon MiFi 2200, we still love it just as much – but with one hangup: the nasty monthly bill. After a trivial hiccup with the activation, we had 4 computers up and running in minutes. Speeds in our area are about average for the local EVDO Rev-A network, and we’ve had absolutely no connectivity drops in our 2 days of testing.
*** end quote ***
Interesting to anyone who needs wifi!
*** my comment ***
It would seem that Verizon, like the other Baby Bells, has not mastered the ideas of a competitive marketplace. Hi speed, all you can eat, and long lock ins at a cheap price. Just like the cable companies who always think internet and voip are like cable tv (i.e., no big deal when you’re out of service), so to the Bells have that take it or leave it mentality with a cost plus percentage mark up that they had when they were regulated and guaranteed a obscene profit. Argh! Where are the internet innovators who will clear the debris and send these dinos to the dino rest home?
*** end quote ***
Over priced.
Not recommended!
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Tagged: INNOVATION | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS9634061300.html
$100 Linux wall-wart launches
Feb. 24, 2009
*** begin quote ***
Marvell Semiconductor is shipping a hardware/software development kit suitable for always-on home automation devices and service gateways. Resembling a “wall-wart” power adapter, the SheevaPlug draws 5 Watts, comes with Linux, and boasts completely open hardware and software designs, Marvell says.
In typical use, the SheevaPlug draws about as much power as a night-light. Yet, with 512MB each of RAM and Flash, and a 1.2GHz CPU, the unobtrusive device approaches the computing power found in the servers of only a decade ago.
Furthermore, the platform is available in single quantities, and is priced within reach of students, hobbyists, and tinkerers. Its hardware design is completely open — everything from schematics to Gerber files will be available on a website, Marvell said. For those that do wish to build products on the platform, volume pricing could fall to $50, Marvell expects.
On the software side, the company says ARM ports of several popular Linux distributions are already running, and included. More importantly, Marvell has committed to do everything it can to ensure the best Linux support for SheevaPlug going forward. Raja Mukhopadhyay, product marketing manager, commented, “Whatever the community needs to facilitate development, we will provide the critical resources needed to facilitate that.”
Mukhopadhyay calls the SheevaPlug an “ideal platform for in-home service delivery,” and adds that he is looking forward to seeing what kinds of products and services are built on top of the device. He said, “We believe that for the consumer and the service provider in the home, it’s the right time for some disruptive application delivery. We believe that having a completely open hardware platform will be key in letting people productize it however they want.”
*** end quote ***
If it supports “power line networking” or wifi, then you have a server on your wall.
Fantastic!
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Tagged: INNOVATION | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.plaxo.com/events/show/120404522
Lockergnome Blog Network]
Chris Pirillo posted a blog entry
Seagate’s New Warranty Policy – Who Are They Kidding?
*** begin quote ***
Reported this morning on ZDNet, the Seagate company will be changing its warranty policy on many drives, beginning January, 3, 2009. The statement from the company gives a figure of only 5 % of the failures occurring in their drives between years 3 and 5 of service.
This may be so, but if it is, it shows a policy that has been decided by people who know little about perceived value and human psychology.
In many cases today, a choice between a Seagate drive and a drive, of equal size, from Western Digital or Hitachi is possible. I don’t really consider Fujitsu or Samsung drives here, as they are not widely available, or well known to the average consumer. Seagate and Western Digital are the heavy hitters here, and many don’t know the name Hitachi, and are slightly more comfortable when told that Hitachi is really what had been sold for years as IBM-branded product. In a $75 to $175 purchase, the difference of 5 to 10 dollars is hardly worth worrying about, and many times the drives are sold at equal prices.
What then, affects the decision process?
*** end quote ***
Seagate blew this one. They’ve reverted to the competition. Now the only differentiator is price. That means that disk drives are a cheap commodity. Cheapest price.
How stupid!
Sell that stock!
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Tagged: Backup | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
For all the griping about Microsoft and its problems with Operating Systems, Apple is rapidly moving into the same class. There is a very annoying problem that arrived with a required update. Now every so often the Mac Book Air stops working while it rescans and reconnects to the WiFi Access Point.
Browsing the web shows that this has been a problem since the First Quarter of this year.
Argh!
Don’t buy Microsoft or Apple. Bite the bullet and go directly to Linux. At least, when you have a problem, you’ll know you are on your own!
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Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Tagged: Problems | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Re: Excessive Airport Scanning after 10.5.2
Posted: Nov 23, 2008 11:01 AM in response to: Gregory Vonderh…
*** begin quote ***
Glad to know I’m not alone. Slight comfort. I almost bought a new AP thinking that had to be the problem. Of course, this has only happened since the OS update. I never had a problem prior to that. None of the subsequent updates have helped, either. Getting rid of the airport status in the menu bar has only helped in that I don’t constantly see black bars fade to completely ghosted every 30 seconds. I’m hoping that this issue is resolved soon. It’s beyond maddening.
*** end quote ***
I’m also having the problem. Argh!
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Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
The following information has been sent to JVC Customer Service.
*** begin quote ***
First Name: fjohn
Last Name: reinke
E-Mail:
Address:
City: Kendall Park
State: NJ
Zip Code: 08824
Phone Number:
Model Number: GZ-HD3U
Serial Number: 13265472
Purchase Date: 2008-07-06
Product Type: Everio/Camcorder
Inquiry Type: Hookup/Operation
E-Mail Body: Can’t set the clock. Seems dumb.
Your email has been sent! Due to our increasing email volume, our current response time is 5 business days. We apologize for this temporary inconvenience. Thank you for contacting JVC Customer Care.
*** end quote ***
Guess what guys. If I can’t figure out how to set the clock by bed time tonight. Back it goes!!
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Dear Ms. Garcia: Way too late. You didn’t make your promised SLA. I wound up calling in. The clock is set. But, it didn’t work for several hours as I reset the clock over and over again. It just wouldn’t save. It was as if there was a magic button I was missing. When I called in and powered it up talking to the phone rep, magic: the clock was set. I hope whatever gremlin was there has left for other places. But, who knows. fjohn
p.s., Emailing me the reproduced instruction page is really irritating. Did you think I didn’t read it? Or couldn’t find page 17! The phone rep was equally condescending. Argh!
#####
On Jul 11, 2008, at 10:01 AM, Garcia, Nancy wrote:
Dear Mr. / Ms. Reinke,
Thank you for contacting JVC Customer Care. I am Nancy, your email care specialist. We value you as a JVC customer and appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.
I understand that you are inquiring about having trouble setting the clock.
Please follow the steps below on how to set the clock.
<image001.jpg> <image002.jpg>
If we can be of further assistance, please let us know at customerrelations@jvc.com.
Sincerely,
Nancy
JVC Customer Care Center
This e-mail and its attachments may contain JVC proprietary information, which is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, or subject to COPYRIGHT belonging to JVC. This e-mail is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering this e-mail to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, copying, or action taken in relation to the contents of and attachments to this e-mail is STRICTLY PROHIBITED and may be UNLAWFUL. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copy of this e-mail and any printout. Thank you.
[JR: Privileged? Confidential? Copyright? Are they kidding!?!]
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Last night, didn’t notice the plug was out and McBa was sitting in hibernate. Today noticed it. Battery is under a quarter. Wonder what happens when it goes flat? Any way, cant take it with me today to doc office because it’s so low. Maybe that is a design problem. It should shutdown after hibernate for say an hour?
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Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Up to now, McBa has always been close to LUGGABLE. For passwords, for files, for the ‘chuck it moments’. Now we are going to work it away from LUGGABLE, More than a day away. Many mies away. Here’s a real field trial. We’ll see.
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Powered by Bleezer
Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Tagged: MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
It failed so fast. I saw the BSOD, but couldn’t see the codes. Rebooted. Lost 10 minutes on my story. Argh!
Leave a Comment » | failure winxp | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Argh!
All the work on chapter 63 was lost.
I don’t know if it was McBa’s fault or operator error.
I have to print everything I do on this project before I leave a file. Luggable has screwed me once very badly on this project loosing three wee hours of the morning prose. Now McBa screwed me out of an hour of not so beautiful prose.
Argh! Argh!
Maybe I should use a typewriter? This is a productivity enhancement?
Argh! Argh! Argh!
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Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Argh!
Sent a chapter of the novel over to McBa. Worked fine. Did some work no it saved it. And this morning McBa says something to the effect that “you might be surprised at the results”.
Aghhh!
Surprised is NOT the word I’d use.
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Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
couldn’t catch an error code.
what did i lose?
outlook was up. word was up with c63.
not hot. not joggled.
fox 2 yahoo maps.
word? auto recover worked.
Argh!
Why?
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Leave a Comment » | failure winxp | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Now maybe it’s picky. And maybe I’m just dense. But the McBa’s keyboard is mislabeled one key.
It’s <backspace>; not <delete>!!!
It reallly throws me off.
Maybe there’s a way to redefine it? Maybe I just don’t understand. Maybe it’s trivial to you.
It’s annoying to me!
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Update: Yes, I figured out that Fn + Delete is ‘forward delete’. Thanks, Google. Argh!
Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
http://www.apple-touch.com/free-ipod-touch-with-purchase-of-a-mac-for-college-students-02661.php
Free iPod Touch with Purchase of a Mac for College Students?
Posted on June 2nd, 2008 in iPod Touch
*** begin quote ***
Every year Apple has made a special back to school program available for students heading back to school. Last year they made the offers only available to college students and this year rumors are circulating that they might include a free 8GB touch with a Mac purchase.
*** end quote ***
Screwed again. Missed out on one of whatever it is.
Argh!
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Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
This morning luggable was rebooted.
No reason apparent to me.
Did Microsoft push one of their mandatory take fixes? Was it related to Comcast’s problems yesterday? Have I been hacked?
Who knows?
Argh!
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Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
You are currently browsing the archives for the HARDWARE category.
-
-
FJohn Reinke
Consultant at Technology Legacies LLC
Advisor, Computer Governance Committee at Manhattan College
Editor / Publisher at Jasper Jottings
Greater New York City Area
JJ Positraction JJ Endnotes Downsize DC
Philosophy of Liberty
I have NOT received any gagged governmental information requests
Reinke Faces Life 
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