Computer Ease
Technology News

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | the '90s

Index of Postings

2008
	6 May		-		untethered presenting
	22 Apr		-		2.5/4
	15 Mar		-		nee Outlook Express
	14 Mar		-		added 1 TB
	5 Feb		-		one touch risk
	4 Feb		-		"Robot: backup computer!"
	18 Jan		-		have portal...

back to top

6 May 2008 - untethered presenting

I delivered a presentation at the Ontario Science Centre. The coordinator asked if I wanted to use the wireless presenter device. Looked interesting but I chickened out. Didn't want to try some new tech in the middle of a public presentation.

Still, it was intriguing. So I snooped around the Targus Canada web site and learned that they had a couple of related products. I decided on the same one used at the Science Centre (model AMP03CA); I didn't need (or didn't want to pay for) a voice recorder nor other doodads.

Came with battery and a little protective fabric sack. The receiver plugs into a USB port and does not install any software. Nice. Pull it out when you're done. The red button is for a red laser pointer. The bottom silver button is for the "black screen" toggle when running PowerPoint. Slick. I love this little unit! It is immensely satisfying being able to walk about while presenting.

back to top

22 Apr 2008 - 2.5/4

Best Buy had a blow out on RAM. $40 for 2GB. I bought 4 GB for my John Smallberries machine. Of course, some combination of the motherboard, Intel CPU, BIOS, or Windoze operating system does not recognise all 4 GB.

Still, Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 reports 2.5 GB. And that's over 100% more than what I had...

The best part of this arrangement: free shipping from Best Buy.

-

Perhaps I can move the "old" RAM over to the Linux box...

back to top

15 Mar 2008 - nee Outlook Express

Was helping out a client with their migration from an old HP computer (running Windows 98 and Outlook Express) to their new Acer computer (running Windows Vista and... something else!).

It's clear that there's a new internet e-mail application included with Vista. It might also handle calendaring and tasks and other things. But it has the same look-and-feel as Express.

So, the question is, why did they rename it to Windows Mail?

It really makes me wonder what the hell Microsoft is doing...

Are they trying to confuse absolutely everyone on the planet?

Sheesh!

back to top

14 Mar 2008 - added 1 TB

Connected the new Western Digital My Book (Home Edition) 1 terabyte (1 TB) external drive to a Windows machine in my home office network. It was immediately recognised, as expected. I saw the data I had backed up from Malcolm's machine. I launched the built-in application which allows the installation of the software provided by WD.

I was getting conflicting information as to whether the backup program, Memeo AutoBackup, is available for free or trial. Inside the installer, it does not say that it's trial. Turns out it is.

That's cheap of Western Digital!

To hell with them. I'll back up the data myself.

back to top

5 Feb 2008 - one touch risk

It occurred to me today that purchasers of one-touch external hard drives might be operating under false security.

Sure, these drives making performing regular backups so easy that you have no excuse for not doing them.

Yes, they make backup more convenient then disc-flipping with your DVD burner.

This will help in those situations where we permenantly delete a file by accident or, more importantly, corrupt a file.

But this will not help in fire, theft, or lightning...

Don't forget to make periodic backups and get them off-site.

back to top

4 Feb 2008 - "Robot: backup computer!"

Learned of a hard drive backup robot called drobo. Available at TigerDirect here in Canada for $606.

Expensive unit, for home use. That said, it is much cheaper than business-grade RAID cabinets.

I really like the swapping convenience of the 4 drivers and on-the-fly rebalancing.

On to the wish list!

back to top

18 Jan 2008 - have portal...

I was trying to find a solution for keeping tabs on weather, sky conditions, late-breaking astronomical news, and RSS feeds from Sky & Telescope, when I revisited a web site I had heard about earlier.

I had read a favourable review of PageFlakes from PC Magazine. It's an oddly named web site but I immediately liked the look and feel of the DIY portal site. I enjoyed how you could easily change the layout and colour scheme.

Tonight I gave it a good run with it. Increasingly, I realised it was really good. Really, really good.

And then I realised the big reason why I will continue to use this... You can access you own personal portal page from anywhere on the planet!

back to top