FOR THE RECORD:
The DELL LUGGABLE is aka an Inspiron 9100
DELL 130 w ac adapter
model pa – 1131 – 02d dp/n 9y819
input 100-240v 50-60 hz 2.5 A
output 19.5 v 6.7A
A big power brick imho.
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TECH HARDWARE: DELL Insipron power converter (The missing black brick)
Monday, September 24, 2007
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Posted by reinkefj
TECH HARDWARE: Carry a second laptop
Monday, September 24, 2007Under the heading of “lessons learned” recently, one really has to test one’s personal dr plan. In this case, I COULD have just carried a second laptop. That was probably the easiest solution. I COULD have completed my “uninstalled life” project where everything would have been backed up on the inet. I COULD have printed my fob’s password list. And, there are probably other things that I could have done. I’ll be working on all of those couldas in the coming weeks. It’s not that I travel much, but one should be prepared.
Upon reflection, the cheapest, easiest, no brainer solution would be to carry the second laptop.
Note Bene: For all those who say use the hotel’s business center, all the one’s that I checked only offered you a common screen – mouse – keyboard – inet connection at fifty cents a half-minute. Argh! That could run into real money very quickly. In the Golden Nugget, their “business center was two units side by side in the lobby. Not private. Not comfortable. Not conducive to work. As someone who “clocks” hours on my computer, that’s $60/hour. If I wanted to do 40 hours, then that’s $2400!! Buying a new laptop was on 500$. (It was a Gateway.) After further review, I should have pulled the trigger on Sunday night and been done with it. But, now I know.
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TECH SERVICE: Microsoft updates Windows without users’ consent
Monday, September 24, 2007FROM A WINDOWS SECRETS EMAIL
Microsoft updates Windows without users’ consent
By Scott Dunn
***Begin Quote***
Microsoft has begun patching files on Windows XP and Vista without users’ knowledge, even when the users have turned off auto-updates.
Many companies require testing of patches before they are widely installed, and businesses in this situation are objecting to the stealth patching.
Files changed with no notice to users
In recent days, Windows Update (WU) started altering files on users’ systems without displaying any dialog box to request permission. The only files that have been reportedly altered to date are nine small executables on XP and nine on Vista that are used by WU itself. Microsoft is patching these files silently, even if auto-updates have been disabled on a particular PC.
It’s surprising that these files can be changed without the user’s knowledge. The Automatic Updates dialog box in the Control Panel can be set to prevent updates from being installed automatically. However, with Microsoft’s latest stealth move, updates to the WU executables seem to be installed regardless of the settings — without notifying users.
When users launch Windows Update, Microsoft’s online service can check the version of its executables on the PC and update them if necessary. What’s unusual is that people are reporting changes in these files although WU wasn’t authorized to install anything.
***End Quote***
Yup, just like Darth Vader. And you wonder why I’m departing the Microsoft fold?
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TECHNOLOGY: but how does it fit in a Hummer’s grill?
Monday, September 24, 2007http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=481263&in_page_id=1770
World’s smallest four-seater car takes centre stage
By RAY MASSEY
Last updated at 20:29pm on 11th September 2007
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The world’s smallest four-seater micro-car was unveiled by Toyota at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The ‘IQ’ prototype is just 9ft 9 inches long – about three inches shorter than the original Mini – and is expected in showrooms within two years priced between £9,000 and £10,000.
It has enough room for three adults and a small child, but a sliding seat arrangement means it can be driven as a two seater with added boot space.
***End Quote***
Now call me an “injineer” but since I see that most times, people commute alone, perhaps there’s a market for a single seat “car”. My only criteria is that is has to survive a crash with a Hummer.
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TECHNOLOGY: Linux, portable apps, and local data with remote backup
Friday, September 21, 2007http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/microsoft_10_reasons_against_google_apps.php
Microsoft Issues 10 Reasons Why Enterprises Shouldn’t Use Google Apps
Written by Richard MacManus / September 10, 2007
***Begin Quote***
Up till now, Microsoft has been very quiet about the nascent Web Office threat from Google. But today, in response to the news that IT systems consultancy CapGemini has partnered with Google to sell Google Apps Premier Edition (GAPE) to enterprises, Microsoft issued an email listing 10 “top questions that enterprises should ask when considering the switch to GAPE.” The questions read more like reasons why enterprises shouldn’t choose Google Apps. This list was first published by Mary Jo Foley, who says it was an unsolicited email from a Microsoft “corporate spokesperson”.
*** and ***
“2. Google has a history of releasing incomplete products, calling them beta software, and issuing updates on a “known only to Google” schedule – this flies in the face of what enterprises want and need in their technology partners – what is Google doing that indicates they are in lock step with customer needs?
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“7. Enterprise companies have to constantly think about government regulations and standards – while Google can store a lot of data for enterprises on Google servers, there is no easy to use, automated way for enterprises to regularly delete data, issue a legal hold for specific docs or bring copies into the corp. What happens if a company needs to respond to government regulations bodies? Google touts 99.9% uptime for their apps but what few people realize that promise is for Gmail only. Equally alarming is the definition Google has for “downtime” – ten consecutive minutes of downtime. What happens if throughout the day Google is down 7 minutes each hour? What does 7 minutes each hour for a full work day that cost an enterprise?
*** and ***
What do you make of Microsoft’s response? It certainly brings up some valid criticisms of Google Apps and Web Office, but then Google isn’t claiming their product is a replacement of MS Office. Their stance is that it’s a complement – and so in that respect this list by a Microsoft spokesperson is probably an over-reaction. It looks like someone in Redmond hit the panic button a bit too early.
***End Quote***
I think Microsoft is right to be afraid.
What Google Apps does do is to bring to the fore the whole discussion of where does the computing load and data store properly reside. Microsoft is the champion of fat client (some would say obese) and local data store. Google is the champion of thin client and remote data store.
To Microsoft, I say “you’re too expensive in several dimensions”. To Google, I say “and what do I do when I am off network or you decide to do something different”. I think the right answer is a blend.
Linux, portable apps, and local data with remote backup.
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LUGGABLE: Power block omission
Friday, September 21, 2007I went on vacation and left the power block at home. Argh! I’ll be filling in the details next week. But, DELL screwed me. Long story. Like a fish with a hook in the gill, I wriggled, wrangled, and tried all sorts of ideas. Bottom line: I’ve been off the air since Saturday and will continue to be off the air until Sunday after noon. Long story. So if you are looking for me, or emailed me, I’ll catch up with you asap.
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Posted by reinkefj
TECH SERVICE: WORDPRESSDOTCOM has a tiny flaw
Friday, September 14, 2007I love the free, and unequaled, wordpressdotcom, but I found a small flaw.
In building a site on GOOGLEPAGES, it just so happened that the page urls all routinely end in a period. However, when I put that url into the free, and unequaled, wordpressdotcom, it barfs building that link with the last period. Interesting. For the time being, my workaround is to use TUNYURL.
But I have to wait for Monday to report it to wordpress hq. They turn off the problem reporting mechanism to prevent Monday morning overload. I’m blogging it here because I always forget by Monday.
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TECH SOFTWARE: MICROSOFT is a steal all right!
Friday, September 14, 2007FROM A PRODUCTIVITY PORTFOLIO EMAIL
http://www.timeatlas.com/mos/The_News/General/Students_Benefit_from_Microsoft_Office_Promo/
***Begin Quote***
I just noticed in the latest Microsoft Press Pass that they are starting a campaign today called “The Ultimate Steal”. The deal is only for students, but the savings are substantial. For less than $60, you get Office Ultimate 2007. As with all deals, there are a few conditions.
Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:10:28 -0700
***End Quote***
Why buy Microsoft when you can get open source stuff for free?
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TECHNOLOGY: Not recommended for airline travel CVS glucose syrup
Saturday, September 8, 2007NOT RECOMMENDED
For those of you who are a diabetic or travel with one, CVS produces a small 2 ounce glucose syrup for low blood sugar reactions. (A liquid that can be drizzled into the mouth carefully to avoid choking is ideal. There is a paste, a little like tooth paste, that you administer similarly. It’s a little harder to work with than the syrup. Clearly, a glycogen injection syringe is the gold standard, but the TSA might take a dim view of it.)
Anyway, this is not recommended for airline travel. The change in cabin pressure causes seepage. (It was in a plastic bag. But everything in the bag with it was sticky.)
Imagine if you had it in your pocket? Yuck!
By extension, I would suggest that all liquids, even those sealed might be subject to the same effect.
Forewarned is “four armed”!
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TECH SERVICE: FACEBOOK suggestion
Tuesday, September 4, 2007One of the charities associated with my alma mater has annual golf tourney for scholarships. I have no affiliation with it. BUT, it might be nice to allow the folks that run it to set up an “identity” for that charity? Is such possible? Considering that you allow fakey politicians, why not a fakey charity?
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