Getting this computer fulfilled some of the satisfaction of the Mac Minis, I think, since I got it for a steal!

This box has a really small footprint at about 10″ x 10″ x 3″. It has an Intel 3.2 Ghz processor and usb ports for keyboard and mouse. The video is DVI so it’s ready for digital and multi monitors. It came with 1 GB Ram, a DVD/CDRW combo drive and even a 64MB thumb drive. I got the whole thing (no tax and free shipping) for $374! Okay – so it’s refurbished from the Dell Outlet but it has a 3yr warranty. This was the best geek buy I think I have gotten away with in a long time!!

http://www.AcehAid.org

Last week I bought a new machine for my Whidbey testing. It was a total steal. It arrived by UPS while I was gone today but had to be signed for. But the driver was enormously kind to leave his cell phone # and luckily he was still in my neck of the boonies so I was able to hook up with him and get my new computer. Luckily it will be raining a lot this weekend and I will replace my old tired box that is still chugging away with Beta2 with this speedy little guy.

http://www.AcehAid.org

I have been struggling with a printer jamming problem for months. I even spent $400 on getting it repaired (it’s one of those big honkin’ LaserJet network printers) and still the paper was jamming.

I have had the printer for 10 years and have *always* used plain copy paper. For the past 6 or so it has generally been Staples brand copy paper.

I finally gave in and bought some multi-use paper. It costs more than twice as much and the legal size, which I have to use a lot of, seems to have no options except for one brand ($$ Hammermill) that we found at Staples. (I will do some further searches for that on the web) The jamming problem seems to be much relieved.

However, I was on the phone with a client who had been having the same problem and after many many visits from their repair guy, they finally started questioning the Staples copy paper that they have had no problems with for years. They ended up on the phone with Staples who apparently admitted that (this is just second hand and I could be incorrect on that statement) the paper had degraded and gave my client credit for their recent purchases.

That is annoying. I wasted hours and hours and hours dealing with the jamming problems and $400 too!

http://www.AcehAid.org

I just gave in and bought a new machine JUST for testing. It is faster than my regular development machine at 3.2 ghz, is a P4 and comes with 1 gig of ram already. They just kept slapping all of these discounts on ($50 off on any Optiplex between $400-$500 and $50 any GX270 or SX280) and the whole thing was under $400, no tax, free shipping. Not too shabby. It is going to replace my current left over test box that is 700mhz and has 512 mb ram (and runs Whidbey Beta2 and SQL Server 2005 Developer perfectly fine thank you very much!!) It was definitely a satisfying purchase!

http://www.AcehAid.org

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=SDMHS95P%2fS&Dept=computers&CategoryName=cpu_Displays_FlatPanelLCDs_18%22

http://www.AcehAid.org

According to this article based on research commissioned by Hewlett Packard, emails do more damage to our IQ’s than weed!

“The constant interruptions reduce productivity and leave people feeling tired and lethargic, according to a survey carried out by TNS Research and commissioned by Hewlett Packard.”

Watch for new legislation to outlaw email!

http://www.AcehAid.org

I totally repaved my Whidbey test box with the intention of using Norton Ghost to create an image of a completely fresh machine before I install the beta 2 bits on it. The last step of the process is to install Ghost and it gives me the message:

“To run Norton Ghost, you must first install Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1”

There goes my pure and clean machine! I’ll have to install .NET 1.1 and then uninstall it after I make my backup. Darn!

http://www.AcehAid.org

I gave up on this problem many many months ago and my one touch is sitting in a corner of my office detached from anything. There is hope for me yet to solve my backup problems. I am sure that when I plug it back in, I will discover that it is formatted as FAT. THANK YOU KIRK!

http://www.AcehAid.org

I have had a problem for a few years that when I vpn into a client’s network, Windows Messenger automatically starts up and signs me in. Without even showing me anything in the systray. It’s a little frustrating only because if I am VPNing in, that means I’m working and don’t have time to chat.

I finally googled the problem today and discovered that there is a somewhat hidden setting in Windows XP which allows you to stop Windows Messenger from starting up on it’s own. Here is the MSDN Support article on it.

http://www.AcehAid.org

It’s starting to become a pattern

I “lost” my Pocket PC at DevTeach in Montreal. I think I accidentally left it behind in the hotel room and it was never to be seen again – or something like that.

After spending 45 minutes showing the very nice young waitress at the New York Sports Grill who is attending art school my TabletPC and letting her play with it, I managed to leave the stylus behind. Someone probably just picked it up thinking it was a cheapo pen. By the time I was getting ready to board the plane and realized I didn’t have my stylus, the restaurant was all closed up. That’s the $32 stylus that handily fits right into my tablet. Darn! Luckily I have a beautiful Wacom Executive pen.

I left my handy little retractable ethernet cable behind while at Code Camp. That was one my MVP Lead gave to me last year and it is a great thing to have.

I “lost” my laptop mouse at DevConnections. I’m 98% sure I left it in my room on the desk when I went downstairs.

Lucky for me I had some MVP bucks left so I just went ahead and replaced the last two items. I try try try to look behind me whenever I leave a room where I have stuff. Really I do. I have another pocketpc but I don’t even use it.