Technology

Work Computers

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I have several computers at my desk at work. Scary as it may seem, I need them all. Ever few weeks I try to get rid of one or more, but only end up cleaning up wires.

Currently I have a computer for running VMWare sessions. It needs to have allot of ram and hard drive space, and I like to keep very little on the OS besides the VMWare.

I then have a machine that has 2 CD-ROM’s in it so I can burn disks. That machine also doubles as a box on a special V-LAN so I can test our softphone and other voice applications. That network is the only one where I can do that.

Then I have an old desktop that I run Linux on. Currently I have Suse 9.0 on that machine.

I have a spot for my powerbook. I have a 4 port KVM and all 3 other machines are on it, so I put the powerbook on the last port. I am finding recently that I am using it as my primary machine for email and office application work. Go Apple.

On another monitor setup I have my company Thinkpad T-40. This is my primary machine. It has all the day to day programs I use, and all my files on it.

At last count that was 5 machines. I have also been known to put a server or other desktops by my desk and hook them up to a kvn so I can build them or work on them. It gets really load in my office when I do that. Add to that Keith’s 2-3 machines and we have allot of heat also during the summer.

The crazy thing is we probably need space for more computers, not less. We are always tinkering with something new. And that is why I like what I do!!!

The New Treo 600

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I finally got my new Treo 600 Tuesday night. It is really cool. I installed most of my programs onto it. My first complaints are as follows: Polyphonic ring tones, can’t they make a regular phone ringer sound also? I have 20 ring tones, and they all suck. I want a normal ring. You can’t find that on the internet, but you can find anything on the top 40. What is going on? Until I find a normal ringer sound, I am going to use really annoying rings as a statement of my dissatisfaction. Hey, I suffer through everyone else’s crappy ring tones.

The second and I think last problem with the phone is the lack of a good case. Palmone doesn’t have one, and no third party company has one either. I have a $400 phone with a crappy case. Give me a belt clip or something!!!

On the plus side, I think the internet connects faster on this Treo vs my 270 using T-Mobile. The screen is much nicer. The speakerphone is great, and of course it is SMALLER than my 270.

I just bought The Missing Sync 2.0 for the Mac. It allows me to use the internet connection on my mac to sync avantgo. It also allows me to mount my SD card on my mac and move files. It is a nice piece of software.

Now I await the IMAP version of snapper mail. Other software wish lists is the distinctive ring tone software that I had on my 270. They don’t make a 600 version of it yet.

The screen protector for the Treo is on order and I have to find a docking cradle. I am buying accessories. This device is a keeper. Until something better comes along anyway!

The Treo 600 Shipped

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I got an email a few hours ago saying my long awaited Treo 600 finally shipped out today. Fedex says that it will arrive tomorrow (Tuesday). Hopefully they are right. I hope I actually get good use of it. From what I saw when I had the AT&T Treo 600 for two days in november I think I will be happy. I will know tomorrow.

Gadget Update

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My PalmOne Treo 600 is on preorder. I hope to get it by mid march. Right around my birthday. Sooner would be nice, but I don’t have any faith in PalmOne since I have been waiting since October for this device.

Palm also announced they will not support OS X in the new version of the Palm OS. That pisses me off since they are compeeting with microsoft but only make software that works on Windows. Me having 2 Mac’s now doesn’t help matters either. I finally started using iCal & Address book. They are not so bad. I like that I can change the font and color of notes in outlook, but that is the only difference between the software that I don’t like. Thankfully a third party company says they will make sync software that will work with isync. I am going to try them out when I get the Treo 600. The software is supposed to sync with avantgo, a function Palm’s current software does not do. Unfortunatly the software from Mark / Space does not work with my current Treo 270, so I will wait a few weeks.

I am about to cancel my Verizon Wireless phone. I haven’t needed to use since December, except once. That constitutes a reason to cancel a $40 a month charge. I will take the hit on early termination fee. This will be the first time I have ever paid that fee, but I don’t want to wait until augist to cancel the phone. That will cost too much. Once done, I will have just my T-Mobile phone. Now I have to figure out how to use the Treo 600 with T-Mobile while connecting to my Powerbook so I have a dial up connection for it. No Bluetooth yet for the Treo so I will need a USB cable to do this. I am not sure if software exists to do what I want, but I will look.

Powerbook Is Back

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I got my Powerbook back today from apple. not sure what they did to fix it, but it seems to close ok now. It is not as snug as my old powerbook when it closes but I am dealing with it.

The new 1GHZ 12″ Powerbook runs allot cooler than the other one I had. Other than that I cannot tell much difference from the old one. I haven’t done much intensive work on it yet so I cannot tell how much faster it is. The keyboard is still decent. It is a major improvement from my T-40 from work.

Now all I have to do is finish installing all my software on the powerbook. Of course that is an every changing task!!!

Wrong Numbers

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Someone is beginning to piss me off. Some person keeps calling my cell number thinking it is someone else’s. I think it is just some stupid person not knowing they are making a mistake. The problem is that I got 3 wrong number calls from the same number last night. It is starting to drive me crazy.

There has to be a way to block 1 number from calling you. I have to look into that:)

Powerbook Went For Help Today

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I sent in the new Powerbook for repair today. I should hopefully get it back by the end of next week. Still rather pissed that a laptop that was broken out of the box is not replaced, but I have to wait a week to get it fixed. Even with all the leverage I get because of how much business my company gives our hardware vendor I still have to get it repaired.

I eagerly await the return of the computer!!!

Treo 600 Finally, Well Almost

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Yesterday Handspring (PalmOne) finally started taking pre orders of the Treo 600 for T-Mobile. I finally placed an order for mine. I got it for the discount price but I now have to wait at least a month until it actually ships. They won’t ship till early march. Who knows when that will be. hopefully I will have it by my birthday.

It was about time too. My Treo 270’s battery doesn’t hold a charge as long as it used to. it still lasts an entire day with usage, but since I am using the data services, I am sucking down the juice.

In the interum I got my old T-68i unlocked. I just got it in the mail today. It now works with my T-Mobile SIM. I can use that instead of my Treo until the new Treo arrives.

The New 12″ Powerbook

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So knowing I was getting a tax return I went out and ordered myself a new 12″ Powerbook. I probibly didn’t “need” it, but I wanted one. It is in addition to my iMac. I wanted the Powerbook for the commute, and around the house. I find that I do like to write away from my desk. Since I had “found” money I splerged and got the new 1gighertz Powerbook. It is almost like the one I had before but faster. I also think it runs a bit cooler. that was a problem with the old one.

I didn’t get the DVD burner since I have the super drive on my imac.

The only problem is that out of the box the dam hindge that locks the screen in place when you close it is broken. Apple wont exchange it for a new one, so I have to get it fixed. That may mean up to a week of not having the laptop. I am not happy, but lets just hope they fix it. I am hoping to take it to the apple store in SoHo and see if they can fix it onsite.

More on my support issues as they develop.

Visiting Friends

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Spoke to my friend Jayson today.  he is planing on coming into NYC for a week in february.  He is going to take a Cisco Voice Over IP class.  I think he is a punk for needing to take a class in it, but he owns his own buisness.  In order to get clients he needs to not just prove he knows the stuff, he needs certification in it.

He may stay by me while he is up here.  I don’t see him much so I think it would be fun.  I need to get down to New Orleans and hang with him, joe and gretchen soon also.

I told him he should come to work with me and see a Cisco Call Manager in action.  He was at the our "parent" company office when Jeff & Dave where there, but hasn’t ever made it to our current office.

Hopefully that will be a fun visit.  I look forward to it.