HARDWARE: Verizon and the IPHONE4 — NOTRECOMMENDED!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

http://support.vzw.com/faqs/iphone/iphone_faq.html

*** begin quote ***

Pricing

Are there minimum service and data pricing requirements?

Yes, iPhone customers will need to choose from any of the current Nationwide plans. Customers will also be required to activate a data package, pricing will be announced at a later date.

Back to top

*** end quote ***

Argh!

Pig in a poke.

“We have to pass it to learn what’s in it.”

Sorry, but you have no idea what they are going to charge you!

What happened to “unlimited”?

NOTRECOMMENDED!

# # # # #

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/011111-verizon-iphone-facts.html

Sounds like the real tech writers are putting up “red” flags.

# # # # # posted 2011-01-11 16:44

Leave a Comment » | HARDWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SOFTWARE: My personal version of the “Browser Wars”

Monday, January 10, 2011

If the BROWSER is the “eyes” into the Web, then I’m having worries about being “blind”.

Safari 5.0.3 (6533.19.4) — too Apple centric; object to “Yet Another” Microsoft!

Chrome 8.0.552.231 — don’t understand / object to the WEBAPPSTORE

FIREFOX 3.6.13 — broken (LASTPASS not active; toolbars broken)

Opera 11.0.1156 — leader (LASTPASS barfs)

INTERNETEXPLORER whatever — not even installed; object to the “Evil Empire”

Any others I can audition?

# # # # # posted 2011-01-09 15:27

Leave a Comment » | SOFTWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SOFTWARE: App Stores are multiplying like rabbits

Sunday, January 9, 2011

https://chrome.google.com/webstore

Interesting, now I see, we have a “CHROME app store”.

Argh!

I’m not sure I like that either.

Where’s the Opera, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer ones?

(Does any one still use IE after all it’s security problems?)

So we’re in the midst of a “software” revolution?

Time will tell if this is a paradigm shift or a meme shift? Or, is it just yet another way for vendors to extract money from the User’s pocketbook quicker and easier?

Sorry, but I don’t see how this is better.

… but then I’m just a fat old white guy injineer!

# # # # #

http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/more/webstore.html

*** begin quote ***

The Chrome Web Store is an online marketplace where you can discover thousands of apps, extensions and themes for Google Chrome. To start exploring the store, visit chrome.google.com/webstore or click the store icon in Chrome’s New Tab page.

Web apps are advanced interactive websites. They may provide a wide-ranging set of features or focus on a single task like photo-editing or shopping. You can easily access the web apps you install from the Chrome Web Store through shortcuts in Chrome’s New Tab page. Learn more about installing apps in Chrome.

* Apps are currently not available in all countries. We are working hard on launching apps everywhere in the world. Stay tuned!

*** end quote ***

Note! That they are now “WEB APPS” not just “apps” that you buy form any old “app store”.

Why do I feel like I’m the victim in a slasher movie before the villain strikes?

# # # # #

Soon after watching their propaganda piece, I received the ultimate wake up call. The distillation of what my nagging doubt was:

201101090954.jpg

Yes kiddies, after hearing that WEBAPPS mean never having to update, (which to this old COBOL programmer means “you never have change control!” and “you can never go home again!!” and “what about malware?”) and after hearing that CHROME is designed to work disconnected from the inet, BANG! Reality strikes home. “Try later!”

At least with the Apple APPSTORES (I “whatever” and the MAC APPSTORE), I have a unit of code (a traditional application) that I can run without further permission and without automatic update. Or, is that just for now?

I’ve had a belly full of “Windoze Genuine Advantage” always accusing me of piracy, failing to run “MY” software, and making my life miserable.

And, does the “APP STORE” concept mean that I am “buying” and no more of this fiction of “licensing”?

So if I buy and APP from an APPSTORE, how do I sell it at my garage sale?

And, before you answer that, how do I return it when it doesn’t work or otherwise disappoints me?

Finally, how the heck to clean up after all these installed apps? Reinstall from scratch? Sounds like the famous WINDOZE “bare metal restore” all over again.

Argh!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SOFTWARE | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SOFTWARE: Mac App Store; any “app store”, the implications are scary!

Friday, January 7, 2011

201101061227.jpg

The MacAppStore opened Thursday. I, of course, checked in. And, downloaded some free applications.

After the experience, I’m not so sure I like this.

Maybe my tin foil hat is on too tight, but it seems that the whole concept puts the App Store “vendor” in complete control of what you can get.

In playing with it, I experienced slow downs.

We’ll see what other issues arise.

(1) If I had the source file, that I had downloaded (i.e., DMG, Zip, or make file), then I could always install or reinstall. If there’s no installation file (i.e., it comes by “magic” from the App Store), then I have to go back to the App Store and buy it again. Does that mean I have to pay again? Does the App Store give “receipts”?

(2) During play, the App Store became “unavailable”. Demonstrating that it is itself a single point of failure in the infrastructure.

(3) It’s very “easy” to load your hard drive with apps. (A few dollars or free makes one willing to “try it”. Toss if NG.) BUTT (there’s always a big but) (3a) How do you get rid of all the vestiges of applications? (3b) How much money, time, attention, and effort will be wasted in “applications”? (When you have to go to the store or wait for Amazon, FedEx, or UPS to deliver the disk, you evaluate the “purchase decision” more carefully.)

What else am I missing?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SOFTWARE | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: 1AND1, a service provider, is on the RBL

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Thank you for contacting us.

We would like to inform you that our IP address is being blocked by Trend Micro. At the moment, we do not have an estimated time frame for the fix however rest assured that we are currently working on a resolution. Once we have the fix, it will be implemented to all affected customers. To ensure that your case will be taken cared of, I will be adding the details of your case to the list of affected customers. We understand that you might be anxious to have this resolved as soon as possible so thank you so much for your patience while we work on the resolution.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

—

Sincerely,
Benito Enopia
Technical Support
1&1 Internet

# – # – #

Argh! The “cure” is worse that the disease. If everyone would deploy IPv6, then everyone would have an “real” ipaddress. Argh!

# # # # # posted 2011-01-06 12:19

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Anti Spam RBL is … … worthless!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I send an email. And, it’s blocked by the receiver’s email server because of RBL.

*** begin quote ***

Thank you for writing to the MAPS Realtime Blackhole List (RBL) Team.

This email address is used to submit RBL nominations, for RBL removal requests, and for other communication regarding the MAPS RBL.

Many providers do use MAPS lists but also employ more restrictive lists which they maintain themselves. If you have been blocked by those, you’ll need to contact them directly.

Your message has been assigned the ticket number shown in the Subject: header above. Please include that string in the Subject: header of any future correspondance with RBL staff about this issue.

*** end quote ***

So I get:

*** begin quote ***

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us about this IP address on RBL. 74.208.4.194 was listed because we received spam from this address and because no action was taken when we reported this to your ISP.

We first started to see spam from 74.208.4.194 in March 2007.

We continue to see spam attempts from this address recently. We need to hear from your ISP prior to removing any part of this listing.

Please secure your network and contact your ISP, and have your ISP contact us for removal.

Kind regards,
John Abello
Spam Investigations Team
Trend Micro Inc.

*** end quote ***

So I very nicely point out that it’s NOY my problem. Nor that of my ISP.

*** begin quote ***

John,

Not to quibble, but my ISP is Verizon. And, my email provider for my domain “reinke.cc” is 1AND1. The IP address that you’re citing is 1AND1. So, why would you tell me to contact my ISP? And, have you ever called any service provider? 1AND1 is probably one of the largest web, email, and domain service providers. So, you, via RBL, are penalizing me for the “sins” of someone else. You’re acting like I have ANY control over everyone who uses 1and1 or Verizon.

Further, with NAT, and IP address leasing, the whole concept that a spammer can be “pinpointed” by IP address is passe.

Am I misunderstanding something?

fjohn

*** end quote ***

And, I get this back.

*** begin quote ***

Hello,

Your IP address 74.208.4.194 owner is 1and1, please contact them regarding this issue and let them communicate us on your behalf regarding this issue,

Kind regards,
John Abello

Spam Investigations Team
Trend Micro Inc.

*** end quote ***

I don’t think very highly of RBL, Trend Micro, or “John Abello” (if there is such a person)

Argh!

# # # # #

4 Comments | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Diesel is a better answer than gas – electric hybrids

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig11/peters-e8.1.1.html

New Year’s Wish List
by Eric Peters
EricPetersAutos.com

*** begin quote ***

More diesels

And fewer $40,000 hybrids that barely outdo the mileage of an ’80s-era Plymouth Champ. Diesels, unlike hybrids, work – if “working” means they deliver very high gas mileage without a very high price tag. Gas-electric hybrids and electric cars are impressive as technology but crap as consumer products – if the point of the exercise is to produce economical transportation. If you have to pay $30,000 or $40,000 (or even $25,000) to get 35 or 40 MPGs then MPGs don’t really matter since whatever you “save” in fuel costs is negated by the cost of the car itself. But diesel engines can deliver 60 MPG in a subcompact car that costs less than $15,000. Just not here. They have such cars in Europe. Santa needs to bring a few of them to us. But first, he’ll need to put some coal in the stockings of the government bureaucrats who have made the American car market unfriendly for diesel vehicles by imposing one regulatory obstacle and expense after the next. It’s not that diesels are “dirty” – the Europeans are just as obsessed with saving the planet as we are. It’s simply that our bureaucrats and politicians aren’t as smart as those in Europe.

*** end quote ***

I loved the three diesels I’ve had in my life.

Once upon a time, diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline.

Don’t understand why that is? It’s easier to refine.

We know that the taxes on petrol of all flavors is a significant cost component. And, a good way for the Gooferment to bury taxes. With the illusion that it’s all going to “roads”, which is “barbara streisand”!

So why don’t we exploit technology that works?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SERVICE: bye, bye some hotmail accounts and their data

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/01/02/0233231/Some-Hotmail-Accounts-Wiped

Technology: Some Hotmail Accounts Wiped
Posted by Soulskill on Sunday January 02, @08:21AM
from the you-didn’t-need-that,-right? dept.

*** begin quote ***

“PC Magazine reports that many Hotmail accounts have lost all their emails. Users’ entire email histories have apparently been lost. ‘Users can still log in sans issue. However, they arrive at empty inboxes: No custom folders, no messages in “Sent” or “Deleted,” nothing. As one might expect, the abruptness (and unexpectedness) of the purge has left some of Hotmail’s long-time users a bit in the dark.'”

*** end quote ***

You can’t trust vendors!

Have your own domain. Keep your own email archives. And, plan a backup strategy.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: Email frustration

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Intermittent Problem Sending Email on Verizon FIOS?

PLATFORM = Mac Book Air v1.1
OS = OSX 10.6.5ISP = Verizon FIOS
CLIENT = Thunderbird 3.1.7
FREQUENCY = Intermittent

SCOPE:

All 1and1 accounts are impacted.

Yahoo, GMail, and BlueHost accounts are unaffected.

SYMPTOMS:

THUNDERBIRD attempts to send email.

It either works relatively quickly or eventually fails.

When it fails, the status is EITHER “looking up smtp.1and1.com” OR “sending message”.

Then it never completes.

COMMENT:

It feels like 1and1’s not working correctly.

I can switch network and DNS settings and have the same problem.

# # # # # posted 2010-12-26 21:43

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SOFTWARE: Created a list of anti-malware site for an e-friend

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Here’s a list of FREE anti-malware sites. You may need them all.

Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.aspx

Spybot-S&D http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Avira AntiVir http://www.avira.com/en/free-download-avira-antivir-personal

avast! http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?part=dl-85737&subj=dl&tag=button

Panda Cloud Antivirus http://acs.pandasoftware.com/cloud/PandaCloudAntivirus.exe

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SOFTWARE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Questions about hardware / software engineering

Thursday, December 23, 2010

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/241265,techies-revenge-lands-her-in-jail.aspx

Techie’s revenge lands her in jail
By Liam Tung on Dec 10, 2010 9:25 AM

*** begin quote ***

Four days after being fired from the Suncoast Community Health Centers’ for insubordination, Patricia Marie Fowler exacter her revenge by hacking the centre’s systems, deleting files, changing passwords, removing access to infrastructure systems, and tampering with pay and accrued leave rates of staff.

*** end quote ***

This story begs a number of questions about hardware / software engineering.

(1) Firewalls, hardware, and software are NOT designed to avoid the “King” effect. One example. The SWIFT funds transfer network in the 80’s had the concept of split authentication. The contract with SWIFT and the institution REQUIRED two separate “supervisors of an administrator” and “technology administrators”. There had to be collusion between FOUR people to subvert the security system. Bosses were NOT permitted to access the system but did receive the couriered envelop with their half of the institution’s code. They gave it to their administrator. Once the two haves were used, a new pair was generated and sent to the bosses. Either “administrator” could lock the “kingdom”. (I forget how long the “keys” were, but I remember typing it in was a giant pain.) Surprisingly, even honchos, who were openly hostile to “security”, meekly went along with this kabuki.

(2) It seems like there was very little separation of duties. The IT administrator apparently has access to the firewalls, other platforms, and data tables in applications. Seems like the place was an accident set up to happen. Where were the internal and external auditors? At the very least, with suitable automation, rebuilding components of the infrastructure should be near trivial. You wonder where was their disaster recovery plan; probably locked up in the head of the rogue administrator.

(3) “Passwords” in and around a serious “security” situation. Guess they never heard of two factor authentication?

Nice to know we don’t need no stinkin’ security!

Seasonal Greetings,
fjohn

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

IPAD: LASTPASS works differently on IPAD

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Unfortunately, LASTPASS is installed that appears to be a front end to SAFARI. On the NETBOOK and MACBOOKAIR1, it integrates with all browsers. Not sure I like the result.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | IPAD | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

LUGGABLE: Ready to put Linux on LUGGABLE

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Backed up and away we go.

UBUNTU10

# # # # # posted 2010-12-21 20:13

Leave a Comment » | LUGGABLE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

ISP: Verizon / Yahoo email is insecure

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

verizon.net
incoming.yahoo.verizon.net (No SSL, port: 110)
outgoing.yahoo.verizon.net (No SSL, port: 25 or 587, use authentication)
Your Verizon Yahoo! Mail ID (your email address without the “@verizon.net”)
Email Address: Your Verizon Yahoo! Mail address (e.g., user@verizon.net)
Your Verizon Yahoo! Mail password

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | ISP | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

ASUSNETBOOK: The saga continues; why I hate WINDOZE

Saturday, December 18, 2010

FROM A WINDOWS7 SUPPORT FORUM

>reinkefj; Hello and welcome to the forums.

thanks

>type ping 192.168.2.102 (that’s you)

times out (?)

>ping 192.168.2.1 (that’s your default gateway / inside edge of your router)

first ping works and the rest time out (?)

>ping 64.233.169.99 (that’s google’s ip)

time out

Additional facts:

(1) Thru up another wifi with some spare hardware to the same fios gateway. With a different wifi “name”, works fine.

(2) ASUS support says to “recover” (i.e., wipe the machine and start over). Seems like burning the bard to get rid of the mouse.

(3) Have a MACBOOKAIR that just came back from being fixed. It works fine on both wifis.

So I’m “working”, but befuddled?

Perhaps the “security fixes” that came down automagically from Microsoft, triggered a “Home Networking” setting, that then WINDOWS7STARTER could not fix.

I guess the smartest thing is to “burn the barn” and start over.

Luckily there’s NOTHING valuable on the machine.

Your thoughts?

And, thanks for the response. You beat the ASUS support person’s canned reply.

fjohn

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | ASUSNETBOOK | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: OSX10.6.3 UPGRADE wiped VZACCESSMANAGER

Friday, December 17, 2010

Last night’s upgrade to OSX 10.6.3 took about an hour, give or take. And, everything looks OK. Sort of.

(The only thing I noticed at the time was that (a) the application icon and huge NBD and that (b) IPHOTO is still broken. (Argh!)

But today, I noticed that VZAccess Manager v7.0.5 (2424j) for the Verizon Wireless USB720 is GONE!

Argh!

Another download!

Sigh!

But, now I wonder what else was nuked?

Sure “Quality is Job#1”!

# – # – #

Not without difficulty, VZACCESSMANAGER downloaded, installed, and a required reboot … (Why?) …

VZAccess Manager v7.0.5 (2424j) for your Verizon Wireless USB720

And, it’s different.

Argh!

Change control and version control and the vendors do what they want!

# # # # # posted 2010-12-17 09:07

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

ASUSNETBOOK: Still broken

Friday, December 17, 2010

• Found a site that told me how to edit the “<space>2” out of the Home Network name. (You know, that thing you can’t create without a more expensive version of WINDOZE7!)

• ASUSNETBOOK connected just fine to the SPUHIL wireless guest wifi. (Argh! So it’s only the definition of my main home wifi network, that is screwed up.)

• NO reply to the post I left on http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-networking/

• NO reply on the ASUS support board http://vip.asus.com/eservice/techmailstatus.aspx?ID=WTM20101217034352241&SID=

Argh!

# # # # # posted 2010-12-17 08:20

Leave a Comment » | ASUSNETBOOK | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SERVICE: Google Bookmarks and Google Toolbar

Friday, December 17, 2010

In my new burst of “religion” … … I always “worshiped” at the “Church of Murphy” … as in “Murphy’s Law” … … (no disrespect intended; I let you know when I intend to be disrespectful. I usually “slouch”. That’s an inside joke with my fellow Prepsters.) … anyway, after the recent failure of my (NOTRECOMMENDED) Mac Book Air Version 1.1, I have been improving upon my paradigms, memes, as well as procedures and practices.

• Backing up bookmarks. Used to use XMARKS, but they went broke. Came back to life under LASTPASS, but the old free data was nuked. (Argh!) So, I pick GMARKS add in to FIREFOX3 which uses the GOOGLE_BOOKMARKS service, (no need to have too many moving parts and Google will always be my free friend. Won’t they?) But, I’m moving to CHROME from Firefox (It “swallowed the pig” too many times. Hogged memory. And THUNDERBIRD is on probation.) And I can figure out how to move my CHROME bookmarks into GOOGLE_BOOKMARKS. I’ve got the html export file but where’s the insert button. Help says to use the GOOGLE_TOOLBAR button. But that’s not on CHROME?

• GOOGLE_TOOLBAR is only for FIREFOX and INTERNETEXPLORER?

Ahh, such is life on the “bleeding edge”. Unfortunately, I did not think I was on that edge but six months back.

Argh!

# – # – #

Update: So being the smart fat old white guy injineer, I figured I’d just bring up FIREFOX, install the GOOGLE_TOOLBAR, and import the the file. Problem solved. And, I’d call it a “work around”. You know the joke about Omar the fat man’s tailor! “Just walk this way”. So, quick like a bunny, up goes FIREFOX, download the GOOGLE_TOOLBAR, install, restart. And SHAZAAM! No toolbar? Argh!

So I’m off to find another solution. Argh! I hate technology.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: Still trying to come back to where I was

Thursday, December 16, 2010

• IPHOTO still broken.

• Pages, Keynote, and Numbers still down; looking for the <synonym for procreation> disks.

• Migrated off APPLEMAIL onto THUNDERBIRD.

• Migrated off FIREFOX onto CHROME.

# # # # # posted 2010-12-16 23:39

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Different strokes for different folks; passwords too

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/213392/gawker_media_hacked_warns_users_to_change_passwords.html

Dec 13, 2010 6:50 am

Gawker Media Hacked, Warns Users to Change Passwords

By Jeremy Kirk, IDG News

*** begin quote ***

E-mail addresses and password details for 200,000 registered users of Gawker Media websites are now circulating on peer-to-peer networks after a weekend hack attack. The company warned users to change their passwords — including on other sites, if they use the same passwords elsewhere.

*** end quote ***

Since I never use the same passwords for different sites, not my problem!

Clearly, most people don’t keep that discipline.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

WINDOZE: Cobbling together a solution

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

On the NETBOOK (Asus Eepc), I have DROPBOX to echo my data directory around where needed. After the fiasco with MACBOOKAIR and the deletion of significant protions of the data directory, I decided to make a local copy of the data directory on each platform. This protects against the data loss again.

On the WINDOZE systems to do this I dragged two free utilities out of retirement. ((I expected to abandon WINDOZE but the NETBOOK was needed and it brought WINDOZE with it. Argh!)

So on each platform, I’ve created an ‘OLDBOX’ folder to backup ‘DROPBOX’. The initial copy was easy.

BUT, how do you keep it updated on a regular basis?

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptoad.asp#Download

http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp

KARENWARE has two FREE utilites that make this easy.

PTREPLICATOR allows you sync directories with all sorts of options. (If you leave it running.)

PTOAD is a once a day utility; it ensure that ‘stuff’ you defined gets run once per day. (If you leave it running.) So if you put it in the ‘STARTUP’ folder, it kicks off. If you reboot several times, it only runs once per day. Neat!

So problem solved that to some old friends.

######

Leave a Comment » | WINDOZE | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: “Jeopardy!” pits man versus machine

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20101214/D9K3LU500.html

‘Jeopardy!’ to pit humans against IBM machine
Dec 14, 7:12 AM (ET)
By DAVID BAUDER

*** begin quote ***

NEW YORK (AP) – The game show “Jeopardy!” will pit man versus machine this winter in a competition that will show how successful scientists are in creating a computer that can mimic human intelligence.

Two of the venerable game show’s most successful champions – Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter – will play two games against “Watson,” a computer program developed by IBM’s artificial intelligence team. The matches will be spread over three days that will air Feb. 14-16, the game show said on Tuesday.

The competition is reminiscent of when IBM developed a chess-playing computer to compete against chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.

*** end quote ***

Now this will demonstrate something interesting to me. I doubt it will make great TV.

What’s next?

I know a robot playing Wheel of Fortune.

A pair of robot playing the Newlywed Game is just sick. Reminds me of the Will Smith movie “I, Robot”.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACOSX: Where’s the date?

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

I think that Apple’s ‘reputation’ is unwarranted. Here’s where I start to pull at some threads in the King’s ‘garment’.

OK, I wanted to know what today’s date was.

201012121621.jpg

The screen tells me that it’s Sunday at 1620. But what’s the date? So I go to the ‘System Preferences’ screen and sure enough I’ve checked ‘Show date and time’.

201012121619.jpg

I see day and time, but no date.

An obvious oversight.

But, if this is obviously flubbed, makes you wonder what else is screwed up?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | MAC OSX | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: The factory wipe nuked OSX 10.6 and the package

Sunday, December 12, 2010

… and they want me to rebuy it!

(You have to be kidding.)

Argh!

They will replace Snow Leopard because the machine went in with it and came out without it.

But they want me to rebuy the iWorks and iLife!

Same logic should apply.

Argh!

I hate computers. And, their enablers.

It’s either a product and it’s all my responsibilities. Or, it’s licensed, and my serial number is all that I should need.

Argh!

Now, I gotta find those disks.

# # # # # posted 2010-12-12 16:04

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: Coming back slowly

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The adventure continues.

My DROPBOX strategy has a flaw. For some reason, a significant portion of my PDF files were deleted. (No idea why?) Clearly, sharing among machines is a winner. BUTT (there’s always a big but) I need a ‘vaulting strategy’. The deletion could have been disastrous. But, it took four hours to recover the files. And, I immediately made a copy. So, I need a synchronization strategy for each platform. Basically a synchronization utility that copies the latest files to the sharing directory and updates back in. Have to think about that.

“Manifests” for each machine are obviously needed. I have to start that now on the other platforms. Need to have the link to the source and possibly the last distribution.

Need a data review and archiving strategy.

In next year’s storage plan, I need to have it monthly archive.

No need to save all the ‘stuff’ I am saving. Argh!

# # # # # posted 2010-12-12 13:15

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MACBOOKAIR: Online, but not back to where I was

Saturday, December 11, 2010

OK, it came back from Apple wiped.

❶ Lost the Snow Lepord OSX, Iworks, and Ilife upgrade. Have to find the distribution disks. (That was last year. Know how much stuff has flowed under the proverbial bridge?)

❷ CARBONITE did its job. All my data is back. (Not software. Ouch!)

❸ DROPBOX put an extra data backup in its folder. (Data back up redundancy. Love it.)

❹ GOFLEX drive did NOT back up the applications directory. (ARGH! Not recommending that any time soon.)

❺ What ever clipboard manager I was happily using B.A. (before Apple mucked it) is lost in the mists of memory. (Note to self: keep your own manifest of what’s on the machine! Argh!)

❻ Dumped Apple’s lame MAIL Client. Deployed THUNDERBIRD3. (PIA to redefine all those accounts. Would have had to do it for APPLEMAIL. So bite the bullet.)

❼ Blogs have been neglected and irregular during this adventure.

❽ Old APPLEMAIL archives are “lost”. Argh!

❾ Oh, and thanks Apple for the “Thanks for purchasing your Mac.” message. Argh!

❿ Old system of accounts on the MACBOOKAIR is wiped. Guess I’ll just forget about “separation” of USER and ADMINISTRATOR roles. Argh!

The adventure continues.

p.s., I dumped APPLE’s software for Open Office.

p.p.s., Started a “manifest” of stuff I put on like NVU.

Argh!

# # # # # posted 2010-12-11 09:05

Leave a Comment » | MACBOOKAIR | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »