my powerbook showed up today. it's a 15" AlBook with a 1.67Ghz G4, 512MB, 128MB VR(enough for the 30" display), an 80Gb hard drive, and a combo drive. i opted to downgrade the optical drive from the superdrive for two reasons: 1) it took off $150, and 2) why bother when there's dual layer, -RW, +RW, and eventually HD-DVD. i can live with the CD burner. Drive Features: 24X Speed CD-R Writing 16X Speed CD-RW Writing 24X Speed CD-ROM Reading 8X Speed DVD-ROM Reading Reads DVD-RW and DVD-RAM

never thought i'd hear this:
"your son is spending too much time playing on the computer and getting frustrated when he doesn't win. take it back to work."

took apart the pismo today. the dc/sound card is fscked up and it will cost 120$ for a replacement. really, really close to getting a new PB, especially since they've upgraded them.

2004: gentoo installed(2.4) and upgraded through to 2.6.10 machine is now back in the hands of the kids. waiting to decide on a new powerbook or an A64 system(pref. SFF) maybe a mini-itx.

going on vacation; this will put a real hold on any developmentm linux or other. 'linux format' mag(a UK 'zine) has really nice dvd's with the mags, the latest has dynebolic and coliinux; only one problem, i can't get my nforce mobo to boot from the dvd no matter what i try. i'm saving my pennies for a new system - maybe when the northwood chips go down in price i can get a shuttle(sb61g2v2) OR maybe an amd64(i really like the soltek 3801)

July 8, 2004: Gentoo - this is proving to be a bit more complicated than expected. the documentation is lacking a bit for those of us who are still stuck with dial-up(like you've never heard this before...) Getting the distfiles is more annoying than anything else. learned how to burn(only made four coasters!) i'll be happier once i get a more luggable machine; hauling my mid-tower back-and-forth to work is getting old. i want a shuttle amd64 xpc.