Writer’s Netbook

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

About a year and half ago when I moved across the country, I started using my MacBook as my main machine. By now, it is way too plugged into external hard drives, external monitors, headphones, KVM switches and other devices to comfortably move around the house. I’d consider replacing it with a PowerMac desktop, but that would likely cost more than a second, cheap laptop that I can use around the house, the library, the university, the park, the coffeeshop, and other places I like to just write. A NetBook might do, but I really want a good sized keyboard. here’s what I’m looking for:
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Blu-ray Cracked

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Not having a Blu-ray player I hadn’t had reason to notice this before, but apparently the Blu-ray DRM system has been well and thoroughly cracked. Anyone who couldn’t see this coming is sufficiently detached from reality to qualify for a climate scientist job in the Bush administration.

Dragon Preferred Mobile Recorder Model?

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Does anyone happen to know exactly which model of the Philips Digital recorder is included with the Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Preferred Mobile Edition? I can’t seem to find that detail anywhere obvious. Thanks.

I found one Pro version that’s bundled with a Philips 9500, but I’m not sure if they use the same recorder for the Preferred Mobile package or not. I suspect not since the 9500 is about $399 on its own.

Dude, I Can’t Believe I’m Getting a Dell

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

Yep, I did it again. I ordered yet another PC from Dell. I wasn’t exactly happy about ordering my latest box from convicted fraudsters; but nobody else I trusted came close on price, especially when the Memorial Day sale price kicked in. I actually wanted a less powerful system with no monitor, mouse, or keyboard and Windows XP; but that would have cost quite a bit more than what I did buy.

I most certainly did not buy the extended 3 year warranty with onsite service. I have no faith at all that Dell would actually fulfill any part of that promise. However, this isn’t a mission critical system (I mostly bought it for Age of Conanexperimenting with Java 7) and I’m capable of supporting myself for most tasks.
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Time for Internet Pirate Radio?

Tuesday, March 13th, 2007

Personally I listen to hardly any Internet radio, or much radio at all for that matter except when I’m driving; and being a New Yorker that’s almost never. However people who do listen to the radio seem incensed over a recent decision by the Copyright Royalty Board to dramatically increase fees Internet radio station pay for broadcasting music. Some are even calling it a death sentence. I’m not so pessimistic, and here’s why.
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Windows Vista Insecure By Design

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007

Joanna Rutkowska rips through Windows Vista “security”. I wonder what she’d do to Mac OS X or Linux?