Technology

New Used Blackberry

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About 2 weeks ago I got a new Blackberry 7520. Well it is new to me. Someone else at work had it, and never used it. They finally gave it up saying give it to someone who will use it. My group was having a new guy start so we were going to give him the Blackberry. Instead of giving him a new one, I decided to “upgrade” mine and give the older hardware to the new guy. Hey he is the new guy.

Well the musical Blackberry’s don’t end there. Someone else’s Blackberry broke this week. Instead of waiting for the replacement we configured my old one up for her to use, and we can wait for the refurbed unit for the new guy.

The new Blackberry is very similar to the old one. The major enhancements are the screen, and screen brightness of the backlight. It is a night and day improvement. Also the new unit has bluetooth so I can use my wireless headset on it, if I wanted to.

I also went out and bought Pocket Mac for the Blackberry. Now I can sync the Blackberry address book with my Mac!

One Of Those AIM People

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Are you one of those people who leave themselves logged into AIM (if you don’t know what AIM is just stop reading this now)? I used barely use AIM. I have a cycle. Sometimes I won’t turn it on for days, and I get people asking me if I am logged in every. Then there is the other side where you log in once (lets say at work) and never log off. I have lots of friends who do both. I am sort of in the middle. I use iChat (that is how I get onto AIM) on my Powerbook. When I turn on the powerbook I launch AIM. Never auto-start it but almost always I start the program when I start doing anything. I then leave it logged in as long as my computer is on. That means that friday night I turn on my computer at home and usually leave it on all weekend. However that does not mean I am sitting there waiting to take anyone’s IM’s at any moment. So if it says I am idle for 16 hours, or if it says I am unavailable or away I am most likely maybe away or unavailable. Why then do people feel like they have to IM anyway?

Backup’s

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I am well above average when it comes to backing my files up on the computer. Of course there is always something you forget to backup. I have been burned more than once by loosing important information. Last month I started using rsycn a bit to backup my files. I am trying to get a bit more advanced in how I use the tool.

I also decided instead of backing up my data to a firewire drive attached to my Powerbook that I would backup the data to another firewire drive connected to my desktop. In order to do that I am moving files around on my desktop to allow me to use the firewire drive as a backup only drive.

ISO’s and virtual machines sure do take up allot of space.

Cool Custom Ring Tones

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I like talking about technology. I work with it all day, and yet I am still amazed at how some things work, and others that don’t. I have been going back and forth with wanting to keep my Treo and wanting a smaller phone. That is why I switch back and forth between the Treo and the Razr. One program that will keep me coming back to the Treo is mRing, by Motionapps. I love the ability to have distinctive rings for a type of call, a person, or a group of people. I keep coming up with cool ring tones for groups of people.

For over a year and a half I have had the carnival circus music play if anyone from work called. I always get funny looks at the office when it rings. Recently I was bored late one night during an upgrade and I programed the phone to ring with the A-Team theme song when everyone from my group calls. It is really funny. I am also programing the imperial march in for when my boss calls. That is funny for the simple fact that his character does not fit that song, but typically when you think “boss” you think something like Darth Vader!

I am trying to come up with other good tones for others.

Visa, MasterCard or OTHER!

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I am an American Express Card holder. I am happy about that. Amex treats you right. I don’t remember any major problem (nock on wood) with them as a credit card company. I do remember all the good things they have done when I have had problems. Sometimes without me even asking. That is good service. Yes I pay allot for that service, but isn’t that the point?

Because I am so happy with my Amex I have decided long ago that I don’t need any other card. I mean I have a charge and credit card with Amex. Well since my bank has given me a Debit card allong with my ATM card I figure I can use that if I ever come accross a place that does not take Amex. I must say that I have been known to leave stores when they don’t take Amex. If you want my business you should take a credit card that huge portions of he popuation have, and the vast majority of stores take. Being cheap about the percentage point or two that Amex charges over Visa/Mastercard is just petty and looses my business. I got that attitude from my dad. He had a Visa card that he never used. I remember on a few occasions where we would leave stores if they didn’t take amex, even though he could use the visa card. I am the customer, I want to pay in a legitimate way using this card. If you won’t accomodate me, I am leaving. And leave we would. I am like my dad (even though sometimes I don’t like to admit it). We can both be stuborn. he a bit more than me, but as a customer I am right. Aren’t i?

I am here in Maine. More on that later. The inn I am staying at has WIFI. I was like cool. I have 2 hours to kill so let me get online and check my mail. Yeah, that didn’t work. Why you ask? Well the wifi company doesn’t take Amex. I was a bit miffed but then said ok, this is why I have my debit card anyway. So I broke out the debit card and punched in my digits only to get rejected. The credit card authorization company does not recognize my debit card as a valid MasterCard. So I am stuck with no WIFI. I am actually cool with that, but I am really pissed at a company that makes it so difficult for me to use there service. OK, I know everyone DOESN’T take amex, so I use my debit card, and you STILL won’t take the dam card. Come on. I am still not going to run out and get a Visa or Master Card. I will spend my money at a place that is willing to take it!!!

Fishing For Treo’s

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Today started out very very bad. How bad you may ask? Or you may be thinking come on Scott, everything is dreary to you… Well today was not good. It started out normal enough. That was until I was swiping my metro card to get on the subway. I heard the subway pulling in, so like any normal New Yorker I rushed down to try and get on the train. I actually get caught in the closing doors. Normally this is good because that means I have a good chance of making it on the train. In this case I did in fact make it on the train. But just as I was in the train I realized I wanted out. Why? My Treo that was on my belt was no longer attached to the belt clip. I had felt it and heard it come off as the doors slammed into me. I thought I saw it go down the crack between the train and the platform but I couldn’t tell. My fingers almost got caught in the door as I tried to get out.

My reaction surprised me. At first I was like, screw it. it is just a phone. I wasn’t even going to go back and look for it. Then I realized I have allot of information on it that I don’t want others to get. So I got off at the next stop, and went back uptown to try and find the phone. When I returned to my home station I was happy to find the Treo lying face down in the dirt next to the tracks. I was actually glad it was there. If it was in the middle of the tracks it would be soaked in water. If it was on the platform someone could have stolen it.

I went to the token booth and asked for help. The really nice lady there was like “honey don’t worry, you are the second person today with that problem” she assured me she already called for a special crew to come out to retrieve it. Sure enough about 45 minutes later 2 guys from the MTA show up with this cripping device and pull my Treo and battery cover out of the dirt. Turns out the cover came off when it crashed.

The good news is that the Treo actaully works. Besides some minor (i am a perfectionist with gear so to me it feels like major) cosmetic defects aside the phone was fine. No damage to the screen at all. I was actually plesantly surprised. Why? I don’t think of palms as rugged. My Nextel Blackberry I carry for work is rugged. I have dropped it at least twice on the subway platform or stairs and it has been fine except for some scratches. The Treo seems like a device that wouldn’t wear well. I am glad I was wrong.

The first thing I did when I got to work was password protect the device when you power it on. This was to calm my stolen data fears. next I need an encryptiion program, and something to encrypt the data on my SD card. Overkill? Maybe, but I want to protect myself, especially since this deviec is with me almost all the time and it is small enough that it can “go missing” quickly. Case in point today.

Rebuilding The Mini

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I rebuilt my Mini today. I wanted a fresh install so I can try using some linux/unix server programs on it. I am using my Powerbook as my main computer now, so I don’t really “need” the mini as a desktop anymore. But I like it and want to use it.

I am planning on trying to use it as a web server, and maybe a MySQL server, and more. We shall see if I get around to doing that in my spare time.

Jayson also got a mini. Turns out Bob needed a high end desktop for someone quick and Jay volunteered his for use. We tend to trick out our computers in our department so they may not be bought as high end box’s but they end up as them. Bob said to order a replacement box for Jayson so jay suggested the mini. He got a computer he wanted and we saved the company $400 compared to buying a new dev desktop box. Made sense to me! I hope he likes it. I am such a convert now:) It is really scary.

Phone Switch

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I switched back to the Razr today. I like the smaller phone when I am in and around the office. I don’t need the big Treo for going back and forth to the computer room or a meeting. When I am traveling or not the office I like the Treo so I can use email, and use the PIM, etc. I really don’t see getting rid of one of them. Both fit a purpose. And no a small phone like the Razr and a regular PDA wont work for me either. Tried that. I like the Treo keyboard and when I use it I want it to be a phone also. I just don’t need it all the time.

Technology Certifications

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I loved this post on slashdot. The poster asks why IT certifications are good. Some very interesting points of view. I am in the industry, and I have no certifications. I am not saying that is good or bad. I have just seen tons of people with no experience and a certification (or little experience) think they know everything. As I said when I did contracting, some MCSE’s wouldn’t know a domain controller if it fell on their head. And other guys I know with no certification but years of experience would be (and often are) the first people I call for help.

I guess what I read from this is a certification is nice, but nothing beats experience. Having both is really great also.

Virtual PC For The Mac

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I have tried Virtual PC for the Mac before. I think it was version 5.x or 6.x. I don’t remember. It is hard to imagine that I have been using a Mac long enough to have lived through 3 revisions of software but you never know.

I was on MSDN today to download Beta 1 of Windows Vista for a developer (all 2.4gig or so of it that will take 2+ hours on a 4+ megabit link) when I saw MSDN had Virtual PC for the Mac 7.01 online. I decided to try it again. I am still a skeptic, but I figured I would look at it and see if it was of value. Right now I am installing Windows XP into a new Virtual PC 7.02 install. The concept of XP on a Mac is nice, but the slow speed may not be worth it. I may just have to wait for x86 Macs.

Man this install is taking forever…