MAMA's Techno-Geek Thread

[MGB Boy]

Yes, closer to the British "purse" than the American "purse" (which would be more of a "handbag" in Brit-speak). Cash, credit cards, checkbook, spare pair of contact lenses, and a "Swiss Army Card Knife" thingie. Only the flat spare MINI key fits. House key would only fit if detached from all other keys. Certainly no room for a standard key-wad (multiple keys, big MINI key, and a couple keychains). Hand sanitizer would only fit if it was some sort of single-use pouch, a bottle certainly wouldn't fit. And no way would the cellphone. Not the previous Nokia and certainly not the current Treo (unless most of the other stuff was removed). 5.5" by 8.5" by 2.0". So there's your parameters, judge as you see fit. For me, anything labeled as "bag" should have handles or a strap, some manner of carrying the item without actually having to hold the whole item itself.

-Ricardo

[Oldpaint]

European man clutch?

[Theo]

I'm having problems getting to the MINIUSA site from Firefox on two of my computers at home; the attempt to connect times-out when I try to connect. As far a I know, this is the only site I am having trouble accessing from home.

I have a router through which all the computers connect and I have checked to make sure it is not filtering/blocking the IP address of the MINIUSA site (68.115.224.72). Note that this has been working fine since the last time I went there was a couple of weeks ago.

I am using Charter's internet service and their DNS servers. I have tried Earthlink DNS servers but the problem still prevails.

Any suggestions?

Theo

[Actual Size]

TreeWalk DNS Home

Ooops...only for PC's. Started using it when the Adelphia nameservers up in Burlington, VT were giving me problems. Still use it today.

[yellowmininy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Oldpaint (original)

European man clutch?

Somehow this brings up a whole different image...

Theo, do you have pop-ups blocked? If so, turn them off for MINIUSA. I have to do this if I want to play with the configurator.

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by Oldpaint (original)

European man clutch?

Well, we all have those - except Ian who went with the automatic..!

[NoNo]

Actually I think the term was European men's carry-all. And why shouldn't I throw stones? I'm a woman, I'm supposed to carry a purse.

[GadgetGav]

Did you know that Costco sells $50 iTunes cards for $45... Of course, being Costco, they're sold as a huge piece of card in a plastic welded casing, but still, that's a good discount. I didn't get one only because I'm about to give Apple a big chunk of cash anyway and I've still got $15 from Christmas sitting in my account.

The big chunk of change I'm about to hand over will be for a new computer - so expect an amazing new model to be announced in about 5 weeks..!
I'm upgrading from a Cube (yes, I bought one) and a Luxo Jr style iMac. The iMac is 800Mhz G4 and I upped the Cube processor to a 1.25Ghz G4, but I'm thinking the new Intel machines will be somewhat faster..! I really can't justify a Mac Pro and 23in screen, so I'm saving myself $1000 and getting the 24in iMac. I know it's a single dual core processor, rather than two dual cores (when are the quads coming?) but I've tried stress testing it in the store and it seems to do all the things I'll want to do well enough. If I buy the ADC / DVi adapter, I could even use my current 17in Studio Display alongside..! Oddly enough, with the 2 memory slots on the iMac, it's actually cheaper to buy the 2Gb upgrade from Apple, rather than from a third party, assuming you're not going to be able to sell the 512Mb memory for anything significant. Does anyone know if they do memory upgrades like that in the bricks and motar stores? I remember they did it with the PowerBook Jane bought a year or so ago, and I think I read somewhere online that they were doing some BTO options on desktops too...

[snid]

Windows 386 Promo Video - Google Video

Skip straight to some time around 6:45... absolutely hysterical.

[blalor]

I think the brick 'n' mortar store will sell you the memory module, but I don't know that they'll install it for you. I hadn't heard they were doing any BTO stuff in the store. I'd still be surprised if it was cheaper to buy the memory from Apple (especially if you don't do BTO). Have you checked OWC's prices?

The more I do with Aperture the more I want (no need!) more screen real estate than my MacBook provides. The add'l HP of a real graphics chip would make things nice, too.

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by blalor (original)

I think the brick 'n' mortar store will sell you the memory module, but I don't know that they'll install it for you. I hadn't heard they were doing any BTO stuff in the store. I'd still be surprised if it was cheaper to buy the memory from Apple (especially if you don't do BTO). Have you checked OWC's prices?

Well, if they'll sell it at the upgrade price, I'll take it..! They certainly fitted extra memory to the laptop and I'm assuming it was at the upgrade price. I'll have to find the invoice to check.

I am also surprised at the prices, but it's true. If you assume you can't sell used 512Mb modules for much money, Apple is the cheapest upgrade option. The problem is that it ships with both slots occupied, so to go from 1Gb to 2Gb you have to change both 512 modules for 1gb ones. OWC's price is$239.99, DMS's price is$248 (0r $220 for 'econoram'!), Apple's price is $175..! A quick look on ebay says the 2 x 512Mb modules might go for around $70 which almost makes it a wash, but you have to factor in all of ebay and paypal's fees...

[RenaultF1]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

I really can't justify a Mac Pro and 23in screen, so I'm saving myself $1000 and getting the 24in iMac. I know it's a single dual core processor, rather than two dual cores (when are the quads coming?) but I've tried stress testing it in the store and it seems to do all the things I'll want to do well enough. If I buy the ADC / DVi adapter, I could even use my current 17in Studio Display alongside..! Oddly enough, with the 2 memory slots on the iMac, it's actually cheaper to buy the 2Gb upgrade from Apple, rather than from a third party, assuming you're not going to be able to sell the 512Mb memory for anything significant. Does anyone know if they do memory upgrades like that in the bricks and motar stores? I remember they did it with the PowerBook Jane bought a year or so ago, and I think I read somewhere online that they were doing some BTO options on desktops too...

You're in luck on one front...the iMac is Core 2 Duo...the only consumer model that isn't at this point is the Mini. However, on the idea of upgrading the memory at the Apple store, they charge you for the memory already in the machine, plus the upgrade, where when you do it online they only charge you for the upgrade. When I looked into doing it for the MacBook I got on Black Friday, it would have cost something rediculous like $600 to go to 2GB. Call before you go over so you know what to expect. I ended up buying from Apple.com because I couldn't justify the additional money. The problem after that was the first MacBook was DOA on arrival and I got to see a whole different side of Apple...not so good if you have a problem and didn't buy it at a store. Had I bought it at a store I'd have just been able to take it back...because I bought it online, it turned into a bit of a nightmare and took about 3 weeks to get a new machine.

Buy it at the Apple store with regular memory configuration and then buy 3rd party memory after the fact. That's what I'll be doing when I get a desktop for home in February.

[jwardell]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

You know what makes me really mad...? (Do you even care? )
Web pages where there is a product photo and underneath it has a link to click on which says it will take you to a larger image, but when you click it, all it does is open the exact same (or marginally bigger image) in a bigger pop up window...!!! G

I always head over to crutchfield's site for photos. They have hi-res photos of everything, as well as the accessories and most importantly the back of the unit so you know precisely what IO connections it has. Aside from car radio, I then proceed elsewhere for a lower price, like onecall.

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

So while we're back onto GPSs... My wife has expressed an interest in getting one for her car. My options are:
Get another antenna set for my PDA-based system and she can only have nav when I'm not using the PDA
Get a Nuvi something or other
Gat a TomTom something or other

I would recommend holding out a few months for something revolutionary:
Dash : Welcome
No idea on price yet though.

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

Oddly enough, with the 2 memory slots on the iMac, it's actually cheaper to buy the 2Gb upgrade from Apple, rather than from a third party, assuming you're not going to be able to sell the 512Mb memory for anything significant. Does anyone know if they do memory upgrades like that in the bricks and motar stores?

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, the brick and mortar stores memory prices are completely different than the online store. They do not credit you for the unused modules you'll be upgrading from. They charged an additional $300 for just one one gig stick when I got my parents iMac. The upgrade prcies aren't so bad from the online store, but just get the base config from the brick and morter, and get ram at a quarter the price from a third party.

[GadgetGav]

Thanks guys. You're right of course. You can't get the online upgrade pricing in store. I called and they confirmed that they'd charge me full price for the memory and I'd get the 512 sticks they take out. The person I spoke to even suggested buying it online rather than pay their price, which she didn't actually name!

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

I would recommend holding out a few months for something revolutionary:
Dash : Welcome
No idea on price yet though.

Hmmm... not so sure about that...
What's it going to use for internet access..? Random, unprotected WiFi, or a new Dash installed network?
Real time traffic info? Only once there's lots of their units in the areas I want to travel. Until then, it's like being the first kid on the block with a Zune - no one to squirt with!
Their comparison to 'dumb' GPS is a bit over simplified. The TomTom and Garmin solutions that have traffic data are getting it in pseudo real time. I'd trust XM and Clear Channel to have a better idea of traffic snarl ups initially than needing other early Dash adopters to get my information.
Their Destination Search is no different to what other GPS nav systems do. You don't need the "power of the internet" when the other units come with thousands of POIs loaded and the ability to customize / download more...