AlisterCompteron vs. the Evil Dell Tech Support January 30, 2009
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Mobility, Reviews, Technology.Tags: Dell, Dell Mini 9, Tech Support
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Last fall, I bought the new Dell Inspiron Mini 9. Shortly thereafter, I began having problems with it. First I had an issue with the screen. There was an inch-wide column down the center of the screen that caused some green pixelation on pictures and windows. I sent the computer back and got that repaired.
Next, the computer began going into standby for no reason, even if I was using it. That was a hard one to explain to tech support. The techs I spoke with simply didn’t understand, and their fix was to turn off all the power save settings. I sent the netbook back again, only to have it return without anything done to it. One of the techs at the depot emailed to say he wasn’t able to reproduce the behavior I was seeing. I replied with detailed instructions on exactly how to make the computer to its automatic standby dance. Either he didn’t get my message, or still wasn’t able to reproduce the problem.
I called tech support again, and this time I decided to the let computer run for a few days without power saving settings. I even disabled the standby when I closed the lid. The Dell Mini stopped going to standby with all the power save settings off, but the screen would flicker instead.
So I called tech support again one evening, and after being transferred twice, giving my Service Tag number three times, and briefly explaining the problem three times, a tech realized that the computer was having a power issue, and probably needed to have the system board replace. THANK YOU! And duh. That’s what I suspected all along, but had to get them to realize it. Yes, I was partly at fault for not following through on the original instructions to keep the power save settings turned off, so mea culpa on that one.
I sent the Dell Mini in for a third time, and got it back today. I was eager to get it up and running so I could test for the issue. When I booted it up, I noticed that I no longer had a wireless adapter listed in Device Manager. I downloaded drivers from Dell, but each time I tried installing them, I got a message that the device wasn’t present. So another call to tech support.
The tech tried the driver installation again with the same result, and had me open the computer to re-seat the WLAN card (does re-seating a card ever work?). She said she would send out another WLAN card for me to swap, and she is also sending another box. So the Mini may be making a fourth trip to Texas.
If I didn’t love this little computer so much, I would have thrown in the towel long ago. But I just love the small size and portability of my netbook. I wasn’t sure what I’d actually use a netbook for when I got it; I mainly got it to see what all the buzz was about. I am having second thoughts, though, on buying a Dell over another brand. And quite honestly, I may be done with Dells after this experience.
I’ll post again after I get my replacement wireless adapter.
Jott to end Free Services January 14, 2009
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Internet, Mobility, Web Apps.Tags: Jott
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If you’re a Jott freeloader like me, you’ll soon need to upgrade to one of Jott’s paid plans or look elsewhere for a task and note manager.
In an email to users and on their web site, Jott announced that after February 2 the free services will not longer be available. Current users can upgrade to a paid plan for as little at $3.95 per month.
Jott says they are ending the free service because of the cost to continue delivering a high quality of service. An ad-based plan is not feasible, they say.
Well, Remember the Milk is still free, and there’s always good ol’ Outlook for those with smartphones. Of course, neither of those options offer speech to text.
Handset Makers and Carriers getting Ready for Android September 28, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Internet, Mobility, News, Smartphone, Technology.Tags: Android, Apple, Google, iPhone, Motorola, News, Technology
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Motorola Building Up 350-Person Android Team. Nokia Also Sniffing Around.
Now that Google and T-Mobile have introduced the Android-equipped G1, other handset manufacturers and carriers are getting geared up their very own versions.
Motorola is increasing its Android team from 50 to 350 people. Nokia and Verizon may also be recruiting developers.
According to TechCrunch:
There is a certain inexorable logic behind all the interest in Android.1. It is a more capable mobile Web computer than anything other than the iPhone.
2. It is a very appealing development environment for app creators—and just like on the PC, apps will drive adoption.
3. Most importantly, as an open-source OS, manufacturers don’t have to pay a licensing fee to whoever controls the OS. Given the razor-thin margins in the cell phone business, that alone is reason for manufacturers to embrace Android (with the exception of Nokia, which owns Symbian). But you can see why Motorola might see Android as the key to its recovery.
I think this is an early indication of how big Android is going to be. It may be Apple battling Google for the dominant position in the mobile market.
Technorati Tags: Android, iPhone, Apple, Google, Motorola, Technology, News
Still Waiting for my Dell Mini 9 September 28, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Internet, Linux, Mobility, Technology.Tags: Computers, Dell, Dell Mini 9, Linux, Netbook, Technology
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Earlier this month I zipped over to Dell’s website and purchased on of its new Inspiron Mini 9 netbooks. I am eagerly awaiting it’s October 13 arrival. I ordered mine with Ubuntu Linux, 1GB RAM, 4GB SSD, and Bluetooth.
I bought this more as a project or experiment than anything else, to be honest. I want to be able to take a relatively inexpensive device with an open source OS, and use it for accessing the Internet and using Internet applications almost exclusively.
I recently took an old Pentium III PC and loaded Xubuntu Linux on it. I use it from time to time to access the Internet apps, like Gmail and Google Docs, and I think the experiment has been successful. To access the Internet, I don’t need a full OS; just something that will run Firefox.
The Mini 9 will give me the benefit of mobility in a very portible form factor. I’m anxious to see how well it functions as a multimedia device, too, although, I know I’ll need memory cards for transporting music and videos.
By no means will this be my primary computer, but I think I will find uses for it beyond what I currently plan. Stay tuned for more.
Cool Tools to Help You Get Things Done September 26, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Cool Tools, Internet, Mobility, Smartphone, Technology.Tags: Jott, Outlook, Remember the Milk, Technology, Twitter, Web 2.0
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My first job out of college was with a department store chain in Nashville, TN. That experience has left me scared for life; I still can’t go into a department store during December. Thank goodness for Amazon, eh?
One of the biggest problems I had while working there was always forgetting tasks. My manager would tell me some things I needed to do each day. Invariably I would forget one or two of those. Perhaps it was more about the loathing I had for my job than simple forgetfulness, but eventually, I started carrying around a steno pad to write down my to-do’s. But alas, that was no good, either, because I would lay the steno down somewhere and forget where I put it. Needless to say, I had a short career in retail.
Since forgetfulness is a weaknesses of mine, I’ve worked diligently over the years to improve my ability to remember my tasks, be better organized, and thus, get things done. Outlook was huge in helping me track what I needed to do and to remind me of when things needed to be done.
Now that we’re in the mobile era, though, I’ve discovered other tools that allow me to access my tasks from anywhere. Sure I can sync my Moto Q9c with tasks in Outlook, but Outlook is so 1990’s – to be cliche about a cliche. It’s all about Web 2.0 now.
Nowadays, I’m using a combination of services to keep all of my to-do’s organized. I keep my trusty Q with me all the time, because I hate when I have a good idea, only to forget to follow up with it because I didn’t write it down.
Remember the Milk is my primary task organizing tool. I have the RTM gadget on my iGoogle page, where I can quickly enter tasks when I’m at my desk. When I’m away from my desk, I use Twitter to add tasks to RTM.
Sometimes I’ll be in my car and think of something I need to remember. It’s difficult to send a quick Tweet while driving, even while stopped at intersections. So for cases when texting isn’t the
best method of recording a thought, I use Jott, the speech to text service that lets you record short notes to yourself and to others. There’s also a Google Gadget for Jott.
Both RTM and Jott let you set up notifications. Reminders can be sent via email and SMS. And RTM, Jott, and Twitter are free services. Jott recently exited beta, and it now has paid service levels with enhanced features, but you can still get the basic service for free.
Web 2.0 is making me more informed and better organized. The tools are plentiful, easy to use, and mobile. Let me know what you’re doing to stay on top of your things to do.
Technorati Tags: Jott, Outlook, Remember the Milk, Technology, Twitter, Web 2.0
Cutting the Strings in a New Mobile World August 8, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Internet, Mobility, Smartphone, Technology.Tags: Evernote, Mobile Web, Mobility, Smartphone, Technology, Twitter
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The world of mobility has taken a giant leap forward in recent months. In May of 2006 I bought the just-released Motorola Q. There wasn’t much available on the smartphone, and its mainly selling point was being able to sync with Exchange for email, calendar, and tasks. The mobile web was nearly non-existant in 2006. News sites were about the only web sites that were neatly formatted for the mobile web browser.
I was disappointed with the Q, because I wanted it to do more than be just a communications device. I wanted a tiny, palm-sized computer, but the Q, and other smartphones at the time weren’t up to the task. They still aren’t really up the task today, but the technology has emerged to make them more useful. I dumped the Q in favor of a flip phone.
A couple of weeks ago, though, I got out the ol’ Q, dusted it off, and reactivated it. See, I have two teenage kids, and since teens use their phones more for sending text messages than talking, I’m getting sucked into texting. Initially, I was like, why don’t you just call; it’s easier than typing out a text message on that little phone keypad. However, I’m realizing that sending text messages can be more convenient at times, than making a call. I also wanted to try out Twitter to see what all the buzz was about. Have you ever tried typing on the regular phone keypad? My kids can do just fine, but I wanted something a little easier to use.
Well, I discovered – happily – that the mobile world moved on without me. Mobile search, which had just emerged as a really useful tool when I dumped my Q, is getting better. I was out pillow shopping this week, and was planning to pick up some wings for dinner after shopping. I thought I had the number for Buffalo Wild Wings in my contacts list, but it was actually in on my flip phone. No worries. I fired up Google, did a local search for BWW, and was able to dial the number right from the search results – very cool stuff. My wings were ready for pick up as I arrived.
But there’s so much more. I can create notes on a site called, Evernote, and access those notes from a desktop application, from their web app, or from my phone. I can blog from my smartphone. I can go to Twitter’s mobile site and send tweets and see what my Twitter buddies are doing. I can set tasks and get reminders from Remember The Milk. I can listen to streaming audio from DI.fm, my favorite Electronic/Techno/Trance station. I can even check my bank account balance through the bank’s mobile interface.
I probably jumped into mobility a little too soon, and I definitely had unrealistic expectations from my smartphone. But now there’s so much that can be done with web-enabled mobile devices. It is so cool to have all this information available without being tethered to a computer. Sites and mobile apps are getting better, and the offerings are becoming more plentiful. Devices are getting better and easier to use, too. I don’t know if there will ever be a tiny, palm-sized computer. But then again, as rich as the mobile web is becoming, I may not even need it.
Blogging from my Smartphone July 31, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Blogging, Mobility, Smartphone, Technology.add a comment
For those times when you really need to blog but don’t have a computer, and 140 characters on Twitter just won’t do, you can blog from your mobile device.
I’m blogging this post from my Moto Q, more just to see how it works and what it can do than actualy share information. In fact, I have my MacBook sitting on my lap while I carefully and slowly create this post.
Blogging from my smartphone is not something I’ll do reguarly, but it’s nice to know that I can. Wow! I can’t believe it took this long to type such a short post.
