Browse Category: goodies

stupid apple

I knew this day would come. My macbook was destined to die soon. With the new Intel macbooks there have been numerous complaints about this and that. Here are just a few of them:

  1. It runs really hot…no longer a “lap”top unless you want to burn your legs.
  2. The white ones have a weird discoloration on the keyboard with very little use.
  3. The macbook suddenly shuts down for no reason.

Well, as of last night, I have 3 out of 3. Awesome. Jes tried to follow all the directions on the website to try to fix the shut-down problem but there’s no luck in sight. So, it’s time to call Apple Care and complain. It’s a good thing it’s still under warranty. Stupid apple. I’m so glad that I never abandoned my ThinkPad.

I’m so mac-dumb.

On Sunday night, I was fiddling around with some new software that I just installed on the macbook. I thought I’d update some of beakatude and upload the pages using a new ftp software that I had to learn. Well, learning how to skillfully navigate on this new OS and doing what I usually do on the Thinkpad has been quite an adventure. Something so simple as to delete something from your desktop requires two-finger tapping the mousepad and clicking “move to trash”. Whatever happened to the delete button?
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Speaking of deleting…in my mac-dumbness, I accidentally deleted the index to my website. Haha. No problem, I’ve done THAT before. Previously, all I had to do was upload the backup index that’s on my computer and voila, solved. Not so fast…apparently it’s not that simple with my new site. Fortunately, my wonderful Admin managed to fix it by the end of the night but it involved a whole lot of reinstalling and reconfiguring stuff. *sigh* I’ll learn to love my macbook soon.

it’s all good

This is my first post from the new macbook. After a little reformatting by my Admin, this little machine is good as new and running better than ever. Apparently this crashing thing with the Adobe Suite has been a common problem for the new Intel macs. Admin found this article. I have to give props to my Admin for staying up late reinstalling everything while I slept. Maybe I won’t fire him yet.
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Anyway, this new OS is going to take some getting used to. Just a simple cut and paste requires pushing a new “open apple” key instead of “ctrl”. Just today I was still back on my ThinkPad streaming some music off the network and chatting with my brother. Just call me a baby duck.

stupid apple

On May 27, 2006, I became a Mac whore. Stupid Apple.

For a while now, I’ve admired the design of Apple products and even their retail store. We probably visit the store about every two weeks, fiddling with the computers, checking out the newest iPods, and shaking our heads with disgust and shame that we too have gotten sucked into their packaging and product design. All I could hear in my head was “it’s so preeeeety”.

They recently came out with the new MacBook that has an Intel processor and more reasonable price.  With some debate and confusion, I did it.  I forked over the money and said, “Yes, make me an Apple whore”. I got the white 13″ model with a 2.0 GHz processor and 60 MB hard drive.  I must say that it’s pretty snazzy with a new magnetic power cord, newly designed keyboard, and solid feel.  And it’s purty.

When we got home, we just turned it on and it was ready to go. Amazing! All I needed to do was decide what my login name was going to be and what language I was going to use. Today, I tried to install the Adobe CreativeSuite today and it totally crashed on me. Aren’t Macs not supposed to crash?!  I tried to restart and it would fall apart after the first couple seconds. So now my Network Admin is helping me reinstall Mac OS X and it should be good as new in about 2 hours and 5 minutes (according to the installation window). Cross your fingers…I may need to call Apple Care soon.

I’d like to file a complaint.

For those who have been to my house or know my husband, we have a house filled with gadgets, gizmos, and random hard drives and do-hickeys lying around the house. Let’s just say my “Network Administrator” may need to be fired. Here are several examples:

When my dad comes over and wants to watch tv he sits on the couch with a puzzled look on his face. Why? Well, it’s because we have 4 remote controllers sitting in a glass vase like a bouquet of buttons to push. Well, it usually takes holding down one particular button to get the tv/cable to turn on. But, if you don’t live here you would never know that.

Most people have speakers or something that they can plug their iPod into so they can enjoy their music at home. We have something like that…sort of. It usually involves turning on my laptop, connecting to the network, using some random url that changes frequently, and learning a new “iTunes-type” program to play my favorite songs. *sigh* Just two minutes ago, I was happily listening to the Black Eyed Peas to find it cut off abruptly. I look over at the Admin and he says, “the network will be down momentarily for rebooting”. Once again…*sigh*. Oh yeah, did I mention that I would also need to find the special button among the bouquet of remotes to switch the input on the dvd player so I can hear my music? Yes…another step.

Anyone have a printer that’s connected to their computer at home? Well, we have three printers upstairs in our “library”. One of them usually works. The other two? Questionable. It depends on whether the network is working properly or if the server is turned on or not. I admit that it’s pretty cool when everything is working but that’s been pretty sketchy lately.

Ever been to my house on a lazy Sunday afternoon? You’ll find me digging in the backyard or doing some laundry and the Admin comfortably seated on the couch hacking away. We sort of have a “fun with compiling” song and dance now. I don’t really understand Linux but apparently it takes a bit of trial and error and lots of compiling for it to all work. If my Admin ever gets up to do something productive in the house (i.e. take out the trash or walk the dog), it means his laptop is running a long string of letters and numbers that I don’t understand and he’s just looking for a way to kill time. Interesting.

Oh what fun it is to live in the “Futuristic Gadget House of Tomorow”. I need a new Admin.

I’m a fan.

I hate vacuuming. It hurts my ears. It’s stinky. It’s heavy. And the results are never worth the amount of physical labor it requires.

dysonFor the past few months, we’ve considered purchasing our very own dyson. Each time we go to Costco, we pass the vacuum aisle and debate whether it’s really worth $469.99. Victor and Susie got it a while back and were totally raving about it but still, it’s a vacuum! Well, after I tried to vacuum the house on Friday, I was a little frustrated with the results of my hard work and seriously reconsidered the possible purchase. Today, we went to Costco and finally forked over the money for our very own dyson DC14 full kit and didn’t look back. We were skeptical at first but boy has it changed my attitude towards vacuuming. For example, I just vacuumed our livingroom rug on Friday afternoon and today (Sunday), it managed to pick up another half a canister of fur! Wow…either our old vacuum wasn’t doing anything or my dog is shedding a lot. Speaking of fur, we also tried to vacuum the dog but he wasn’t a fan. Later, even Jesse got into the fun and vacuumed the fur out of the back of my car and the entire second floor of our house. I can totally imagine a commercial where some housewife says, “Dyson saved our marriage!”

A couple more things and I’ll shut up…it has some really cool attachments that snap to the side or top of the machine, it’s less hurty to my ears than the old vacuum, and because it has a Hepa filter it doesn’t smell!! OK. I’m a fan.