| Netbook |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|10:43 am] |
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) cuddlyeconomist has been wanting a more portable computer because Rhys likes to do video chat with her regularly. Her current laptop is a great machine, but its a little bulky and while not the heaviest laptop around, the weight does push up her backpack load for a school day to an uncomfortable level especially once you throw in the power brick.
We got a Dell Mini 9 at work to play with, so I brought it home for her to check out. She liked it, but it had a lot of issues for me. Yes it was really light-weight, but the Intel GMA 500 is a sucktastic Intel Integrated Graphics part which does not play well with the already under-powered Atom CPU. It also came preloaded from Dell with half of the 60 GB hard drive hidden for their silly preboot software, which makes the Windows XP OEM image seem really anemic. Flattening it with retail Windows 7 was at least a big improvement. After putting Windows 7 on the Dell Mini 9, it also became apparent that the Intel GMA 500 WDDM drivers were not up to snuff not properly redrawing many parts of the desktop. Getting it to run Direct3D applications was also an experience in sad. The undersized keyboard worked for her, but I can't really type on it with normal adult male sized hands--at least as anything but hunt & peck, and I'm a touch-typist.
I was not impressed. Yes it was super light-weight to carry around all day to check email and browse the web, but it could barely run a Flash website. The Intel Integrated Graphics parts have been a bane on PC desktops for years, but they had a helping hand from dual-core CPUs. Pairing it with an Atom made it just a really big smartphone in terms of power without the ability to text or make a call.
With the release of Windows 7, I was expecting to see some new form-factor machines release and perhaps the netbook could be saved from being one step up from an OLPC machine. Recently someone pointed me at the HP 311. Office Depot is having a sale on the older model (comes with Windows XP, 1 GB of RAM, and NVIDIA's ION LE graphics) for $350. The newer model (Windows 7, 3 GB of RAM, ION) was ~$550 on the HP website. Since I could easily get retail software from the company store, I just picked up an extra 2 GB memory stick for $50 and the result is actually a quite nice machine. The overall size is slightly smaller than the Dell Mini 9, whose battery sticks out a bit, and the NVIDIA ION is a huge step up from the Intel GMA 500. The interface is snappy, and while Direct3D games need to be in the lowest detail settings, they actually can play at a reasonable framerate. The HP 311 is also field upgradeable with easy access to the hard disk, memory expansion slot, and the wireless card.
The only difference between the ION LE and the ION is that ION supports Direct3D 10, while ION LE does not. It seems this is just a driver hack difference as well rather than any actual physical hardware difference, likely to cut off some support costs for what had been a Windows XP only machine. There doesn't seem to be any actual difference in terms of performance, and its not like you'd be wanting to try Crysis on a netbook in any case. It does steal 256 MB of the system RAM for the video, but with 3 GB installed Windows 7 and the usual applications running do fine on the remaining 2.75 GB.
As with all netbooks, it does suffer for not having a CD or DVD player. For most software, you can work around this by having a desktop and a reasonably large USB drive. This also means that most games can't be installed on it because they need the physical CD/DVD for their copy-protection. MMOs work fine of course, and if you just used Steam, Gametap, or no CD cracks then that probably won't stand in your way.
The WinSAT score for the Dell Mini 9 machine came in as:
Processor 1.9; Memory 4.2 (1 GB); Graphics 2.9; Gaming Graphics 2.5; Primary hard disk 4.2
The WinSAT score for the HP 311 machine came in as:
Processor 2.2; Memory 4.5 (3 GB); Graphics 4.5; Gaming Graphics 4.1; Primary hard disk 5.6
For basic operations, it is working out great. It chugs trying to do any real multitasking, but you can avoid that easily enough. Combined with Remote Desktop to my other PCs, its a comfortable way to compute from the living room. HP is selling them as a "PC Companion", and they are definitely not up to the rich-client experience. You could get away with a USB CD/DVD drive instead of having a desktop to get files onto it, but I think the overall experience is much improved when its just another device on your home network rather than trying to use it as your only computer.
In any case Margo is super-pleased with it and talking to Rhys on it right now. I'm tempted to go buy 2 more of the things... |
|
|
| Snow and cars on both sides of the Atlantic. |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|07:49 am] |
Abandoned cars this morning in Basingstoke
From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/6860344/Transport-chaos-blizzards-bring-Britain-to-standstill-as-more-snow-on-way.html:People living in the Home Counties, Wiltshire, the Chilterns and the Cotswolds have been warned to expect a blanket of fresh snow this morning, with severe weather warnings in place across Wales, the Midlands, and the east and south of England,
"With these levels of snow its really very difficult to keep routes open and it's likely that motorways will be forced to close some lanes," said a Met Office spokesman.
"It's going to be a tough drive to work, and just as bad for people using public transport."
Forecasters fear that their original prediction of one or two inches of snow last night may have been an underestimate, and warned that much of the South East may see more than four inches.
Temperatures could drop to as low as 21F (-6C) in some parts of the country, the Met Office said. 
Drivers tried to navigate through snow in Alexandria, Va.
From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/21/AR2009122100558.html:Millions of East Coast commuters returned to work Monday over slick roads and icy sidewalks after a weekend winter storm dropped record snowfall, interrupted holiday shopping and stranded travelers.
The storm yielded record snowfall totals at several locations. The 16 inches recorded Saturday at Reagan National Airport outside Washington was the most ever for a December day. Philadelphia, which recorded 23.2 inches, had its second-largest snowfall since it began keeping records in 1884. 
Snow brings high-tech Dutch to their knees
From http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/europe-disrupted-snow:In Amsterdam, some people were using skis to get around this weekend, children had gone to the attic to get their sledges and snowmen popped up throughout the Netherlands. The onset of winter brought with it fun and lots of beautiful views. However, between 10 and 23 centimetres of snow fell throughout the country and this was enough to disrupt daily life.
The whole of Europe has been hit by the worst snow for four years. Spain especially has been surprised by unusually thick snow and has issued a warning about severe cold. The weather is not just affecting mountainous and northern Europe. A temperature of –36.4º Celsius was recorded in the German Alps on Sunday, but central Italy was not much warmer at –25º. |
|
|
| Obligatory Post |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|10:26 am] |
It has been a busy month since Thanksgiving, and I've not really posted much in that time so I thought I'd sum up:
- Two holiday parties (Microsoft and DigiPen)
- Finished up DigiPen for the Fall semester and turned in final grades. Due to budget, it appears I won't be teaching again in the Spring although I might be doing some lectures.
- Which is fine, because things at work are shifting dramatically, and with a ton of work-related events and conferences in February it would be pretty difficult to cover a full section at DigiPen right now in any case.
- Our furnace was bust for about 2 weeks due to a part failure. Thanks to the original homeowner's lack of diligence, and various technical hurdles set up by the furnace manufacturers lawyers, it was not covered by warranty even though it was clearly a manufacturers defect. In any case, it has since been fixed and we are warmer. It was poorly timed with Seattle's cold snap, but we managed on some nice space heaters and occasionally running the furnace anyhow with CO alarms installed to ensure we didn't kill ourselves.
- Saturday we had Margo's annual cookie party, now relocated to Seattle. Seven kinds of cookies, about 120 of each, plus three drinks. Everyone in attendance had a good time, although we are still taking back significant cookieage to Texas. |
|
|
| FYI |
[Dec. 19th, 2009|07:33 pm] |
|
My email is eating all LJ responses, so if I haven't replied to a comment of yours, my apologies. |
|
|
| in which there's falling, throws, neck pain, prayer, cake, and... that other thing! |
[Dec. 18th, 2009|06:57 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  chipper | ] |
i spent two hours this week doing multiple kata, falling drills, and getting thrown to the mat. when i woke up this morning, my neck filed for divorce. the SCMs and scalenes, especially, are sore to the touch. i want a hot bath in the worst way.
i'm working most of the day tomorrow (four appointments), part of Sunday morning, and Monday afternoon. Monday evening is the penance service at church, after which i'll be sitting Vigil. while my plan involves a more spiritual Solstice celebration this year, the puckish part of me feels the need to mention it's still Global Orgasm Day.
and Tuesday is that day again. if you happen to be in Syracuse, cake's on me. ;)
|
|
|
| in which there is a brief Impression. |
[Dec. 17th, 2009|04:52 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | content | ] |
yesterday a friend and i went to the Everson Museum in downtown Syracuse, to see an exhibit of Impressionist paintings currently on tour from the National Museum of Wales.
i had been particularly anticipating seeing La Parisienne (the blue girl) in person. while i had no idea that the original oil is so large (easily four or five feet tall) what struck me most is how very sad it made me; up close, the canvas betrays an almost 'dead' quality to the eyes that quite repelled me.
however, being able to see this Renoir "in the flesh" (so to speak) was well worth it. the emotion is no less striking than La Parisienne, but much more accessible. the woman's downward gaze, especially, intrigued me; it's considering, slightly sad, but also... slightly sardonic (which doesn't come across in the scan). it's as if she's being told something that might be disturbing, or fears she is being sold a bill of goods. and, of course, the colors, depth, and roundness of form are amazing (no justice given in the jpg).
the various Turners were very good, and the Cezanne, but the Waterliles on display didn't speak to me. i found one of Monet's bridge paintings, however, quite lovely in person... not washed-out or sad at all.
all in all, a nice day off. :)
|
|
|
| Planetes and the reflection of cultures |
[Dec. 17th, 2009|08:49 am] |
I watched Planetes recently. It's a near-future anime series that focuses on the lives of a group of people who make a living as "debris haulers". Near space garbage men who go out and remove orbital debris that threatens space traffic. It's very good (won the seiun award a few years back) and will really tickle any and all space nuts.
The thing I've been thinking about is that like most good anime it's very cynical and downbeat about the future of our corporate/ministerial culture. If you watch much anime at all the blackened cynicism of modern, young (and not so young) japanese for whom the stuff was created is unmistakable. There is almost always an element of hope and optimism but it's a pretty forlorn streak in the larger bleak oppression & existential angst. I can't help but wonder if some of the malaise that petrafied japan since the 90's isn't related to that.
The thing is that same cynical all but hopeless tone has also taken over american science fiction. We've gone from the relentless optimism of star trek to firefly & BSGv2. Even within franchises look at the change from the cheerfully revolutionary star wars trilogy of the 70s & 80s became the much darker clone wars. Hell even middlebrow stuff like Stargate went to the dark Stargate:Universe.
Science fiction is inherently a forward looking genre (steampunk aside) and it says so much about our expectations of the future when it heads to dark and unhappy places. We have gone through periods like this before, the new wave of the 60's and early 70's had a lot of bleak hopelessness and the cyberpunk themed 90's was pretty dire. The possibilities and potential of the internet revolution pulled us out of it somewhat during the late 90s and early 00s. But we just seem to have run out of optimism, or at least any optimism we have is so poisoned by despair it's at most bittersweet. |
|
|
| in which there is the amazing ever-changing work schedule, and other annoyances. |
[Dec. 15th, 2009|02:06 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | grateful | ] |
my schedule keeps changing out from under me, and as much as i chant to myself "Chill. Accept. Breathe. Love." sometimes i just want to gnaw on someone. *wry grin*
Saturday i had the Appointment That Wasn't (which i ended up getting paid for, so i can't complain, except for the Ego Blow aspect). i instead spent my afternoon reading The Interior Castle, by St. Theresa. Sunday i was with my family, watching SU basketball, and putting together more of the birthday puzzle. i spent yesterday getting and giving awesome massages... though i am somewhat sore in the tailbone today. this morning was a truly cool karate class (testing - new belts! - and Mr. Paul left the class with me while he went off to work with one of the lower belts, having me lead kata for about 30 minutes. which is always somewhat nerve-racking, but also kind of a rush. right now i'm at lunch with Natalie, before heading to work in a few. so that's all good.
just, sometimes it's the little things that get irritating. like the Threadless t-shirt order consisting of shirts that one can see through, are badly printed, and rather small to be considered extra large. however, i'm trying to take comfort in the fact that what my nephew really wants is cash. *grimace*
sometimes it's the fact that the person cleaning your teeth caught your gums a dozen times with the scaler. and that you paid almost a hundred dollars for the privilege.
sometimes you hear that a good friend is in dreadful pain, and you're too far away to do much of anything.
but on the whole, here and now is very good. i just need to continue to smile and suck it up. *grin*
|
|
|
| Rawr! |
[Dec. 14th, 2009|10:02 am] |
Rawr!
Originally uploaded by toyacoyah.
This weekend we had temps between 32-37 degrees. Yay above freezing! We enjoyed what little sunshine there was on Saturday morning by venturing to Starlounge coffeeshop. Merrick has an art show running there until the beginning of the year, so the boy and I took a trip down there while Daddy finished his setup. Mo played on the patio in the snow and warmed up with a hot chocolate. We tested out the new bear paws and they kept his hands warm just fine.
Saturday night I dressed him up in his candy cane striped PJs and we did a photo shoot for the Christmas card. I can't wait to pick out the pics and shoot them over to Shutterfly.
On Sunday I took the boy with me to Target, to do a little supply shopping before my mom gets here this coming weekend. I picked out some new shoes for him to grow into and I was amazed that he's now a size 7 going on size 8. Where did the time go?!
Later on that night, we went to Lincoln Park Zoo to check out the Zoolights. They had tons of Christmas lights all over the Zoo which put a huge smile on the boy's face. It was also nice walking around with a warm cup of spiced wine. ;)
In work news, we're currently packing up our office and preparing to move across the street into our new headquarters. It's a Gold certified LEED building about 40 stories high. We'll be on the 7th floor, which means this will be the highest altitude I have worked at. We're taking a tour tomorrow, which I am pretty excited about. Can't wait to see what my new view will be. |
|
|
| Artisianl Lard |
[Dec. 14th, 2009|07:14 am] |
I've been experimenting with baking lately and have some utterly brutal failures to show for it. The flour brick bread was probably the worst, but the blackened cinnamon rolls were memorable. But the exploration has brought up the issue of which fats to use. Vegetable oils work for things like muffins or quick breads, but for most baking that involves a crust you want something that is solid at room temperature. That gives you just 3 choices: Butter, Shortening, and Lard. Butter is ok, but the proteins in can cause issue and it ain't cheap. Shortening is just evil, it's pretty much solid transfat. Lard however is the goodstuff. It has a high smoke point, it works into dough easily, doesn't have any taste, and is much healthier for you than either butter or shortening.
Well, good lard is healthier. The problem is that most lard in stores is this industrial gloop that's been partially hydrogenated to last longer. And it's the process of hydrogenation that puts the trans in fats. So what the intertubes recommends is getting using artisanal lard. I find the concept of artisanal lard funny, but it makes sense. The only problem is there ain't any on the web. Hell there really aren't that many online butchers, and none them sell lard. I did find a couple of vendors but it's at least as expensive as butter.
I suppose I might try rendering my own. It's apparently not too difficult (and you get cracklins as a bonus). |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Dec. 13th, 2009|12:21 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  amused | ] |
Having only recently been indoctrinated into the world of parenting, this is far more amusing to me than perhaps it really warrants.
|
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Dec. 12th, 2009|08:55 pm] |
Anklyosing Spondylitis sucks. I was a couple of (2) days late in taking my weekly Enbrel, and that was enough to let the beast off of the leash. Three days after I had taken my next Enbrel dose, I started to feel a little uncomfortable in my right knee. The next day was worse, and last night / today my right knee was swollen up to about twice its size.
Nancy gave me some darvocet, which helped the pain a lot, but it was still uncomfortable sleeping on the couch. This morning, I got up off the couch to let the dogs out, started feeling nauseous, sat on the chair next to the door, then woke up a moment or two later feeling very relaxed, face down on the floor.
Nancy wasn't awake, though, so I just chilled there for twenty minutes or so, then scooted on my butt to the couch, and waited. Nancy came down and told me to call my rheumatologist, which was really good advice, as I forget that you can call them outside office hours. Wound up calling through the Medical Exchange, got the rheumatologist on call for my rheumy, and got sent to the ER.
Where they pulled 60mL of fluid out of the knee, and sent us home, after some long delays. I got more pain medication during the process, which was nice, as I was able to sleep for a few hours before and after, while Nancy had to take care of Kate.
They didn't give me a steroid injection in the knee, though, so my knee is probably still subject to effusion until I can get into see my rheumatologist and get something non-mechanical done about the knee.
This evening, I'm feeling dopey on hydrocodone, Kate is calmly watching lots of baby einstein / elmo, and Nancy is trying to catch sleep as she can.
I'm hoping one bottle in Kate and she can fall asleep in bed, and Nancy can totally slack.. when not playing Dragon's Age : Origins. |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
| |
|
|
wry
indescribable