Various thoughts and adventures, including but not limited to Linux, assorted bits of hardware new and old, and occasionally Windows XP/Vista/7.
I started working with what we called "analog computers" in aircraft maintenance with the United States Air Force in 1970. After finishing military service and returning to university, I was introduced to microprocessors and machine language programming on Intel 4040 processors. After that I also worked on, operated and programmed Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8, PDP-11 (/45 and /70) and VAX minicomputers. I was involved with the first wave of Unix-based microcomputers, in the early '80s. I have been working in software development, operation, installation and support since then.
I started the day today thinking that I would write a "Calm Before the Storm" blog entry, saying that things have been quiet for the past few weeks, but new releases are likely to be coming soon from all four of the major companies in Video IM. Well, it turns out that the "Storm" got to me before I would even write that.
My friend Grant recently pointed me to what I think is a very interesting and very under-promoted feature in SightSpeed - the ability to have someone call you on SightSpeed without having to install the SightSpeed software on their computer! Although I had seen this in the Account Information page, it hadn't really occurred to me what it was, and how useful it could be.
I have heard from friends that Skype has been really struggling with a lot of video problems. So I decided to go back to the Skype forums and have a look, just for the month of January, to see what is being reported.
It has been two weeks since I switched from Windows Vista back to Windows XP Professional on my Fujitsu Lifebook S6510, and two months since I made the same switch on my Fujitsu-Siemens Lifebook S2110. So, I suppose it is a good time for a status update.
I used to spend a lot of time answering user questions and problems on the Skype User Forums. I made over 1,000 postings in just a few months, until I finally started to realize that what we (the experienced users) were doing there was covering up for Skypes ridiculous lack of Customer Support.
The AirCard 880 PC Card is one of the latest in the Sierra Wireless line of mobile data communication products. I got mine as an OEM branded product from Swisscom, what they call their "Unlimited PC Card".
The WRT350N is one of the latest in the Linksys line of wireless routers. It has three main features that interested me:- Wireless-N support, for my new laptop, and Wireless-G for the rest of the wireless devices around my house.
After a rather long detour, caused by my being away over Christmas and then settling in with a new laptop, it's time to get back on track with examination of Video IM programs. Next up on my list was Gizmo 4.
I have a coffee cup that says "To err is human - to really screw things up you need a computer!".