Category Archives: portable

Things to make portable computing, photography, anything really, easier to do.

Airport Express

Posted on August 29, 2004 | Leave a comment

I’m not sure exactly why I bought the Apple Airport Express. That might sound silly but it’s not just one device, it’s not two, it’s not even only three, it’s FOUR (yes four!) devices in one.

  1. It’ll work as a WiFi router. Can I tell you how easy this was to use? I was at my local Burger King and the WiFi was down again but the wired connection was up. So instead of sitting by the noisy TVs I plugged in the express to the wall and a RJ-45 (phone-like cord) into the ethernet jack and my laptop asked if I wanted to join the new network. That was it! I’m now wireless sitting in my comfy corner.
  2. A WiFi Extender. Does your WiFi network start to fade at the far end of the house? Put this somewhere where you still get a signal and it will extend the range farther for you.
  3. A music (i.e. iTunes) streamer. Computer in the other room with all your music on it? Plug in the optional audio cables into the AirPort Express next to your stereo and you can listed to your iTunes ianywhere in the house!
  4. Printer Adapter. Want to share a printer? Plug a USB printer into the port and you can print to it from anywhere in the house!

It works for Windows and Macintosh (but I haven’t tried the printing yet) and it’s great!

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Posted in reviews

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We Have Dial Up

Posted on August 12, 2004 | Leave a comment

So I’m in a hotel for an all day meeting. I ask at the hotel if they have a WiFi connection or a room where I can access the Internet. The reply — “We have dial-up”. Like’s it’s something they have, when in reality it’s something they don’t have. She just didn’t get it…

The problem with this is compounded by the fact that the new Mac OS X 10.3.5 update (from two days ago) broke the ability to connect my cell phone to dial out. I feel totally cut off from the world…

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Settled In.

Posted on July 22, 2004 | Leave a comment

london04-642london04-643Hotel is nice, room is tiny. WiFi in lobby!!! Checked out out the neighborhood, got some food, got a waffle toffee crunch ice cream thing for dessert (much more on that later!). Here is a couple of photos from the hotel window (click to enlarge).

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Posted in holidays + events

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Accommodations – Monday Madness

Posted on July 5, 2004 | Leave a comment
1. Bed & Breakfast or hotel?
B & B is the preference. But I also like the hotel with hot tub, pool, bar and WifI…
2. What determines where you stay?(i.e. price, accommodations, transportation, travel package)
Price helps, next trip it’s part of the package. It was the only way to make the flight affordable and it seems like we ended up with a great place.
3. When determining where to stay, do you ever consider the establishment’s history? (i.e. it might be haunted, location of high profile crime)
If it were interesting but not something I “shop” for when making plans.
4. Would such considerations sway your decision?
I might avoid the ghost. Or pay extra to know that einstein was conceived there…
5. Do you try and read the local paper for where you’re visiting, to get an idea of what the area’s like?
Definitely! I want to see what the people and area are like! I want a cafe to hang out at, maybe a bar or bookstore and want them to know my name or at least my order by the time I’m gone…

Found at Monday Madness

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RE: Blogs – 11

Posted on June 27, 2004 | Leave a comment
1. Have you ever blogged something you’ve regretted in the morning? Do you leave it? Delete it? Pray that no one reads it?
If I regret it, I’d delete it. I thinking of it as the Post-its of my life, they can be removed at any time.
2. Last week, RE: Blogs asked about the location from which you blog. This week, RE: Blogs asks for a photo of your favorite blogging environment. If you don’t have a camera ready – or aren’t willing to share a photo – – describe your favorite blogging place to the best of your ability
I blog from everywhere. I use ecto and it lets me save posts while off line, then I can manually post when on-line. I can always hook up my cell phone to connect and a few restaurants (Burger King and Panera) have WiFi.
3. What do you like most in a blog post by another blogger? Personal experiences? Fictional stories? News/Current events? Tech advice? Share some of your favorites from this week (either yours, or someone elses).
Personal experiences – either funny or drama, I wait for the next installment of their life. Tech advice is great, if it weren’t for others, I’d never use Movable Type as well as I do.

From RE: Blogs

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Seclusion – QOTW

Posted on June 21, 2004 | Leave a comment

Assume that you have to spend six months in total seclusion, in a room about the size of a one-car garage. You will not be allowed any visitors during these months, but you may take with you any three objects of your choice… provided you can carry them in your arms when you enter the room. Food, drink, and clothing will be provided for you daily. What three objects would you bring along?
I’m assuming a toilet, heat, light, electricty and A/C? Do I get dessert?

Their seems to be some different thoughts as to weather there is Internet/phone/(WiFi?) access…
I suppose either way, I want:

  1. a Macintosh computer loaded with software, MP3, videos, eBooks, etc. (I’d like books to hold but I could deal with e-books if I had to.)
  2. A bunch of Sharpies (all the colors and thicknesses) to draw on the walls (or paper) with.
  3. Printer (with paper and ink).

This was tricky since there weren’t many restrictions listed. I tried to stick into what I understood from the question. Is a box of sharpies one object? Is printer and paper?

If I don’t have 2-way Internet (which I’d trade either other the last two items for) I’d even take one way Internet (retrieve only), I’d even take one way avoiding the news sites (depending on the definition of seclusion).

I’ll have to pay attention to what I do in a day to see what I need… See what others think…

From QOTW.

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$1,000,000 – Fun Stuff RAOJ

Posted on May 30, 2004 | Leave a comment

You are given a gift of 1 million dollars (kindly adjust for currency in your location). There are some restrictions on how you can spend some of the money, as follows:

$100,000 must be donated to charity. What charities will you support?
Probably the two different shelters and the crisis hotline that I’ve volunteered for.
$100,000 must be given to one person that you know. To whom do you give it? What would you expect him/her to do with it? Would you put any restrictions on its use? Would it make a difference if you could make the donation anonymously?
Probably my Mom. She’d have to use it for travel (off of this continent) but I think I’d force her to learn computers first so she can take pictures and post, blog and send e-mail while she travels. She can take a friend, but she’s gotta take a different friend/relative on each trip(?)
$100,000 must be given to someone who has recently been in the news. Who gets it? Why?
Hmmm… I don’t watch/read enough news and everyone I hear about is bad… I’m sure I could find some deserving person/family who’s had some hard times, or needs something to get their business back together.
$100,000 must be spent on a public beautification project. You can build a park, commission artwork, etc. What do you do, and where do you do it?
There is a boring little park down the street that would be nice if it were redone maybe something with that.
$100,000 must be spent on a memorial to someone/something that you have loved and lost. What form does the memorial take? Who is it for?
The Frank Hill memorial computer lab / reference center for the Berkley Public Library (with WiFi). Grandpa got me interested to think about things: science, technology and to read a lot. I remember going up with him to that library when I was a kid.
$50,000 must be spent studying something you have not formally studied. What will you study?
Astronomy, I always wanted to understand it better.
$50,000 must be spent establishing a scholarship. What’s it for and who will you name it for?
It would be for students to offset school costs and to get them up-to-date with technology (nice laptop, printer, WiFi, PDA, iPod, TV, Stereo, subscription to NetFlix, iTunes store, etc.) so they can have some of the cool comforts…
$50,000 must be given away in a contest. What kind of contest do you hold?
A Michigan teacher web site contest. We’d supply space or they could use their own. They keep the site up for one school year. At the end we give five $10,000 prizes. Best content. Most updated (with real content). Best Design. Best Page/Post. One random (as long as they actively used it for a whole year).
$200,000 must be spent doing as many things as you can on your “lifetime to do list.” Always wanted to see Alaska? Take a boat trip on the Rhine? What things would you do first?
Travel like I never have before (and it’d all be first class!), some cruises, Paris, Egypt. Having a child is one my list so I’d be working on that too!
That leaves you with $150,000 of mad money. If the rules say you can’t spend that money on things that might be termed “practical,” what do you buy on your spending spree?
Geek out the house with more gizmos and such. Probably the same for the car (DVD/MP3/Player). One of those new infrared outdoor grills. TiVos, iMacs and home theater systems for all my family and friends. One of those cars that will go in the water like a boat. There isn’t much I need but I’m sure I could figure out a way to spend it.

From Random Acts of Journalling

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WiFi at Panera!

Posted on April 20, 2004 | Leave a comment

If you didn’t know it already many of the Panera resturant/stores now have free WiFi!

Guess where I am right now?!?

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