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Journal bethanie's Journal: Santa Stuffed My Sock Early! 50

Journal by bethanie
Yes, indeed, folks. Santa took advantage of rebates and such and sent my present along a coupla months early this year: a Toshiba P25-S507. Here are a few of the delectable features of this scrumptious machine (according to the little sticker next to the track pad, along with my comments):
  • DVD-R/RW -- so we can burn to DVD for data storage, and also so I can take all those home movies we've taken of Kiddo, edit them, and burn them to DVD so my folks can have a copy, too.
  • harmon/kardon stereo speakers -- just to add to the atmosphere, I suppose. Not a big deal to me, but I guess this means that we could watch DVDs over the computer without much compromise of sound & video quality. Hmmm... the possibilities are just beginning to become clear...
  • NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 w/ 32 MB DDR VRAM -- not sure what this means, but it's better than the 7+-year old machine (slightly refurbished over the years by my wonderful geekly Hubby to remain functional) I've been using forever.
  • Intel Pentium 4 processor 2.80 GHz -- a fast processor, right? Well, fast enough, anyways!
  • 60 GB HDD & 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory -- It'll be a nice change from running into significant memory crises every coupla months
  • 17.0" wide XGA color display -- Like I said, we could watch DVDs on this thing and never miss our TV.
  • Integrated 802.11 a/b wireless LAN -- So we can take advantage of the fabulous job Hubby did nearly a year ago of wiring the house for voice, video & data. Along with the laptop, Santa ordered a coupla wireless access points (he said they were cheap). One for upstairs, and one for down! I'll be able to compute from everywhere inside & around the house!! (Now if only we could get DSL...)
  • Module Bays for optional 2nd HDD or optical drive -- For more expandability, I guess. Not really one of my parameters, but nice to have.
  • i.LINK (IEEE 1394) port & SD slot -- I have no idea what this is for... but I bet YOU do!

Anyway, I'm really psyched to have a new computer. It will enable me to do a lot of multi-media types of things that will enrich my family's lives, particularly the bits about burning DVDs to archive our family memories and share with my folks.

It will also improve our lives because rather than being stuck in the "computer room" (our living room, which is the computer room until the basement gets finished out), I will be able to move the computer around with me to wherever Kiddo needs to be playing at the time. It's definitely NOT a road warrior machine -- this thing is HEFTY. But still, it's portable, and that's the most important aspect. Seems to have been marketed as a "portable desktop replacement" machine, and that's exactly what we wanted, anyway!

It came installed with WindowsXP Home (bleah), and I will be installing Firebird tonight once Hubby comes home to hook me up with the network. Yes, it's true -- I am a total tabs convert. Since we just use the browser bit, Hubby downloaded Firebird this weekend, and I'll start using that instead of Mozilla.

At the moment, I'm working on installing my various and sundry Sims software, and will also install Kiddo's Reader Rabbit stuff on it, too. What else? (Mental checklist) Digicam software, spreadsheet/word processor/desktop publishing software, keyboard & optical mouse drivers ('cause I don't want to be forever stuck using the trackpad and laptop keyboard. Even though it's a "full-size" keyboard, it doesn't have a keypad, and I do quite a bit of number crunching at times, so I'll need it. Plus, my good old ex-boyfriend and Friend of Bill [ex-MicroSerf] just got it for me this past summer, and it color coordinates with the new machine so well!!). Oh, Roller Coaster Tycoon & expansion packs. For *real* Christmas, I'll ask Santa for Sim City 4 (I'm totally into the typical chick games, can you tell?). If I've left anything out, it's probably glaringly obvious.

So, apparently, I've been a *very* good girl this year (although Santa doesn't seem to mind when I'm naughty, either!). As the AC adapter so aptly puts it: "Be careful! I may become hot!"

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go play with my new toy! :-)

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Santa Stuffed My Sock Early! More

Santa Stuffed My Sock Early!

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  • what about the poor little DC adaptor?

    Yep. left out in the cold. As usual.

    *sigh*

    signed,
    DC Adaptor
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • just plug and play

      Hmmm... you may be right, since the keyboard & mouse are both MS products....

      I don't consider it a chick game

      Well, when you take it in the context of the other games that I like, and the fact that it excludes any shoot-em-up types of things, they seem like pretty typical "chick" games to me. No offense, bud.

      ....Bethanie....
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • Have fun with the new toy. :-)

    I just ordered meself a PowerMac G5 2x2 GHz with 1 GB RAM and Bluetooth, but sans modem (otherwise it's a stock config). Should be a lot faster than the G4 2x450 that I have now...but the wife can use it now and the old G3 266 can finally be mustered out.

    It also has DVD-R/CD-RW built-in, and I hear rumors that I'm getting a digital camcorder from the family for Christmas (perfect timing, since we're expecting a baby in February) -- and I'll be doin' the iMovie and iDVD bit

  • I think it's great. The overall massiveness of it is a bit distracting but other than that, it's tops. I'd be interested to hear if you run into any weirdness regarding ACPI/hibernation/lid shutting - I've had problems and the repair center has seen them too (more with the 477). Find a case for it yet?
  • XP is the best version of WIndows so far...

    Unless you mean the "Home", part... sure, I prefer Pro, but Home usually gets the job done.
    • That may be true, but I'd really rather have a user-friendly option that WASN'T MS -- you have to conform to its standards too much to use it. And before you say Mac, Mac is too expensive for what you get.

      We may convert it to a dual-boot machine, but that would be Hubby's territory. I'm still intimidated by the unfamiliar.

      ....Bethanie....
      • Dual boot to what? What do you prefer over XP? You won't be running Mac OS X on that.
        • OpenBSD, of course.

          Sheeshk.
          • There's any number of *nixes she might use, of course.. but I got the distinct impression that she was referring to some flavor of MS Windows. For my desktop, there just isn't a flavor better than XP. (I.e. if you're going to use the Windows, use XP.)
            • I.e. if you're going to use the Windows, use XP

              Much as I hate to admit it, I agree here. For once, MS have made a few steps in the right direction, and XP really is better than previous versions of Windows. That's not to say it doesn't still have more flaws than you can shake a stick (FSoF?) at. But it's a definite improvement.

  • damn!

    need to come over to the dark (light?) side, come to the mac, especially if you are into multimedia. good god man, iMovie, iDvd... firewire 400/800, built in 11b/g... all your computing dreams come true!!!

    That and OS X to boot! Throw in a sleek, sexy, sublime Apple studio display and well, its something to behold.

    Anyway, have fun with the new toys! I'm getting my Pro Tools rig soon and then a new recording console, so my toys will be coming soon :-)

    • You're right about the sexiness of Mac. But we run more practical around here, and this just gave us a lot more bang for the buck.

      I used to be a Mac user, until I had to pay for other things than my computers! :-)

      ....Bethanie....
      • The thing is though, I'm getting a lot more milage out of my Mac than the three PCs I've gone through at work since I bought it (G4/400). While I'm drooling over the sexy G5s, I think I can get at least another year out of it before I upgrade.

        True, I've spent some $$ on upgrades (extra RAM, swapping out the DVD-ROM for a Superdrive so I could use iDVD) but that nothing compared with the cost of three PCs. I could probably go longer with the G4, but now that I got iDVD up and running, it takes a long time t
        • While I'm drooling over the sexy G5s

          Let me tell you, this is an awesome machine. My girlfriend got one from the first batch (she pre-ordered back in July). She got a dual G5 with 1GIG of RAM. This thing is amazing, simply the best machine I have yet seen. Of course my PowerBook 17 is the cat's ass, but this G5 she has. Total sweetness :-)

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • iLink and FireWire are - for all intents and purposes - the same thing. they are both implemetations of IEEE-1394 interfaces. Sony decided to call their interface iLink and Apple decided to call theirs FireWire.

    Apple wanted to sell devices, like external hard drives, that wouldn't need a separate power cord. Therefore FireWire has an IEEE-1394 interface plus a couple of wires to carry power form the PC to the device.

    Sony's products already had a power source anyway. So iLink doesn't have the power l

  • The words, "Santa," and, "sock," and, "stuffing," in the same sentence, and it's the Victorian who wonders how the place got so well behaved???? Am i in an alternate universe???

    sol

    • You know your friends are total geeks when...

      Rest assured that I was not thinking about the stupid computer when I read that. For that matter, it's barely registering even now.

      I hope that "early" doesn't mean prematurely in this case. In any case, bethanie seems to have been well stuffed, whatever the timing or duration.

  • i.LINK (IEEE 1394) port & SD slot -- I have no idea what this is for... but I bet YOU do!

    Ooh.

    Ooh, ooh, oooh!

    SD is like a mini-version of Compact Flash. My new palm PDA has one for extra memory (or games, or a second digital camera...), and you can get digital cameras that save to SD as well.

    So, if you wind up getting a clicks-a-lot digital camera, or a real PDA (none of those Windows-esque taser-like battery life things...), remember to get one with an SD slot if you get one with any memory slot a
    • Yeah, and the iLink is for digital video. Bethanie's statement shocked me. I thought she'd never find a "port" or "slot" that should couldn't think of a use for. :-)
  • I was so incredibly jazzed about those laptops when I first saw them. Had a friend who was getting a new job, and needed a new computer. Her requirements: Something as powerful as a desktop, but portable that I can bring to work. Have no fear, the Toshiba P25 to the rescue!

    After setting up Linux and Windows on that laptop I am so glad I never purchased one for myself. If you just run their software, I'm sure it works fine. The NVidia drivers don't actually work all that well with it, and a lot of the
    • Hey, thanks for the advice.

      The new machine suits my purposes just fine -- it's *so* much faster than my old machine, just the time savings *alone* are enough to make me happy.

      When I want the full-size keyboard & mouse (and I know I will for some projects!), I'll plug them in. You're right that there's a lot of blank space on either side of the keyboard.

      But hey, I'm easy. :-)

      ....Bethanie....
  • Even better if you've got broadband too!

    Only problem is, it will be a got 6-7 months before it's warm enough for me to go read Slashdot and listen to Live365 out in the garden. :-(

    MT.
    • Only problem is, it will be a got 6-7 months before it's warm enough for me to go read Slashdot and listen to Live365 out in the garden. :-(

      Boo hoo. I've seen your garden (it was even my background for 3 months...). Just cause you can't lord your high life over us the whole year doesn't mean your still not living it up. In the months that you can go out to the garden, you more than make up for any cold, wet breaks...

      ;p
    • Nope. Wireless bad. It's *way* too slow to be even vaguely useful to me. I simply don't need the flexibility. My house already has enough Cat5 to the appropriate places to let me work at full speed. I don't need to have slow access from the garden, so what use is wireless?
      • Nope. Wireless bad. It's *way* too slow to be even vaguely useful to me. I simply don't need the flexibility. My house already has enough Cat5 to the appropriate places to let me work at full speed. I don't need to have slow access from the garden, so what use is wireless?

        Depends on what you call 'slow'. The 802.11b wireless network I have at home is more than enough to support web browsing alongside an audio feed over our 600Kbps Cable Broadband link. I suppose it might struggle a bit with online gaming,
        • Depends on what you call 'slow'.

          I call 10Mb/s slow. When it became unbearably slow, I upgraded to 100baseT. Wireless is either 11Mb/s or 54Mb/s in optimal conditions. In real life, half that is more common at best. Now that's probably fine for web surfing from an indivdual standalone machine, but I have a home network with home directories NFS mounted from a central server. For that, wireless is too slow. That bandwidth is also shared, whereas with Cat5, each machine has its own dedicated bandwidth (there

      • The wireless connection is 802.11a, which showed a 54 Mbit connection in testing last night. The access points are an older Netgear .11a/b model (rather than a/b/g, or just a/g for 3x the price), which is why it was cheap. Atheros turbo mode may double the speed if the Toshiba drivers can deal with it. File copies last night (Bethanie mentioned Firebird) were pretty quick.

        At any rate, it's good enough, especially since the ppp daemon says we have a dial-up link around 21 kbits most of the time.

        SC

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Here are some more lyrics to a different song. Juicy.

      in the winter in a seaside boarding house
      the killer swigs and wheels
      round his room telling how he made that
      weeping spinster kneel
      yellow light seeps through a fly-glown lampshade
      fading with the dawn
      he yells and laughs, "they all wanted it -- it was easy so
      how could it be wrong?"
      five am and the seas are boiling
      five am and the windows crack
      five am and my hands are on you
      big madness
      big madness
      when i phone you just to hear your voice, oh please
      don't judge me
  • you're in the butter zone now, baby. huh?

    sorry. sometimes people's new laptops cause me to quote the movie hackers.

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