i LOVE this laptop
much as i dig computers, i've owned only four desktops since 1988 (the first of those being a long-term borrow), and didn't buy a laptop until recently. my last desktop purchase a few years ago was an obvious time to switch to a laptop, but my chosen video surveillance system for my business required a desktop expansion slot.can't think of many good reasons to own a desktop now. with the purchase of this unbelievable piece of ass for $850 (after rebate), my 21" tube monitor looks like a joke. hate to say it, but that's the deal. what a screen on this thing. resolution and colors are a blast, and even for documents i dig the widescreen ratio. i think the price was so good because it's superseded by something a little more expensive, but very nice.
yeah, i know there are a hundred laptops superior to mine, but good luck beating it in the bang/buck department. if you haven't used a laptop with built-in wireless (the standard now), get ready to have your mind blown. wireless networking is a trip. still can't believe it works so well. right now i'm connected to the internet via a wireless router many feet away at another building. despite a weak signal, my connection is over 4 times faster than my fastest standard dial-up rate, and more reliable. after sticking with it happily for years, the recent bullshit from the residential phone crew required that i abandon them and my beloved dial-up. the downside, of course, is that i spent the first few days glued to youtube and doing other stupid "broadband" (hate that term) shit.
bought a wireless keyboard and mouse when i bought my laptop. wireless seems like a gimmick at first, but it sure is nice, even though i have to connect a USB cable to use the keyboard/mouse. all during my computing career (IT pro for a while), i've been a regular keyboard-on-the-lap guy. so nice to be able to shift the keyboard all over without a wire, and without being stuck to the usual execrable laptop keyboard, which is hell on a devoted keyboard-shortcut guy.
moving to a laptop gave me some things i was ready to spend combined hundreds of dollars on, such as a portable DVD player, USB 2, and firewire. this fucker reads multiple memory card styles, comes standard with wireless and wired network connections, and a built-in modem. figured modems would be on the way out, but there it was (and i needed it before i moved).
something else i just learned is that most people can avoid paying for wi-fi. some coffee places and restaurants are happy to have laptoppers in there for hours, even using AC power! what a great thing, the market. and without coercion i'm encouraged to buy, buy, and buy some more for the privilege.
if you're a wi-fi fiend and haven't gotten straight on how to do it securely, check out the new Anonymizer Anonymous Surfing with encryption. their prior encryption option was about $100/yr., in another product. AS has spots, but it keeps your signal private up past the ISP, and even allows you to route around the evil blocks at some wi-fi places (e.g., youtube is banned at one restaurant i frequent). i don't think it works with email progs though, so i think you're better off using webmail when on an unsecure wireless network. for those reasonably "paranoid" (i.e., aware), it's worth considering that products such as this are merely a honeypot for government assholes; the only secure communications these days are those inside your head. and good luck keeping that secure when they're waterboarding your "combatant" ass, you enemy combatant fucker.
for those new to wi-fi who may have stumbled onto this post, security at most wi-fi places is non-existent. here's the primer i wish i'd found last month when getting up to speed:
- public wi-fi is necessarily unsecured, for efficiency. you can make it more secure by considering everything you do public unless it's via https (SSL) with the locky thing showing in your browser, or with other encryption (e.g., anonymizer running and activated).
- webmail generally starts as https for login, then goes unsecured for everything else. act accordingly.
- one of the least talked about subjects is security of your laptop; most of the discussion is about securing networks. well, my first thought was "fuck networks; what can people see on my computer when i have this internal wireless fired up?"
apparently, if you use microsoft's firewall set to no exceptions, and disable file and printer sharing, you're pretty safe. all of that is done within the properties for the wireless network connection. - if you, like i did, buy and use a linksys wireless router, tech support there will recommend little to no security. at least use WEP encryption and MAC address limiting, even though those are piddly and easily overcome by a geek. apparently, security is running a few years behind for this stuff.
also, i use anti-virus software (not the abominable symantec, which gives ass-rimming a bad name) and a software firewall in addition to the microsoft stuff.
Labels: YouTube
posted by saltypig @ 04:15
Well, if you're scoping out YouTube a bit, here are a few you might enjoy (you can branch out from these easily enough; you might be able to find even better ones by the same artists easily enough):
The incomparable Art Tatum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzj6Q61h3oA
Your good friend, Jaco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3d5L6832VE
Or.....how 'bout a 3-foot giant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ERQvYrB0QM
Ok, admittedly this is only tangentially related to your laptop, but here's one more that will help you appreciate broadband:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1172784483135614308
thanks. you'll probably curse me after reading this, but art tatum and michel petrucciani don't so much float my boat, despite their technical powers. oscar peterson usually left me flat too. i like the crazy fuckers. that youtube petrucciani clip had me looking for a pin to stick in my ear. LOL.
“you’ll probably curse me after reading this…” LOL! Well, first of all even if not warming up to Michel Petrucciani and Art Tatum were a cardinal sin (whatever that may be), which it clearly isn’t, I hardly think it would be the sort of thing that would cause me to curse you. Secondly, in your response I almost detect what, from you anyway, approaches tact. I’m honored.
But with respect to the music, and although I by no means have a total grasp of the full scope of your listening habits, I’ve seen enough to know that you have good musical instincts. With that in mind, I prefer to consider you a “future” fan of Petrucciani and Tatum. I myself wasn’t prepared for them years ago.
I remember speaking with Eric Johnson many years ago when he was still with the Electromagnets. He was talking about who he was listening to at the time and the first person he mentioned was Art Tatum. It was the first time I’d even heard the name. I thought it was interesting that a guitar player would count a piano player as such a great influence. Only many years later did I get to the point that I could appreciate what Tatum was doing. Yes, the first thing one notices—obvious to anybody—is his technical prowess. But technical genius in the absence of a strong aesthetic sense is pretty useless. It took me a long time to tune into his aesthetic. There are no superfluous notes in his playing. (Granted, I haven’t heard everything he played; it’s possible that there could be a few in there…)
Admittedly the video of Michel Petrucciani isn’t the most compelling for the uninitiated (although as a committed fan, I naturally soak it up). I wish I could find a video of his performance on this live recording:
http://www.amazon.com/Au-Theatre-Champs-Elysees-Michel-Petrucciani/dp/B000001ZT9/sr=8-35/qid=1161904461/ref=sr_1_35/102-8705217-3206553?ie=UTF8&s=music
Fortunately, that CD was my first introduction to the 3-foot giant and even though I love his other stuff that I’ve heard, nothing has ever topped that one for me. Still recall my initial exposure to this day. I was in the flagship Tower Records in Toronto in the mid-90's and sampling a lot of sounds at their numerous listening stations. (I was a kid in a candy store!) I tuned into the first song on that CD (Medley of My Favorite Songs) and was hooked from the opening with his rendition of tunes by Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, and more—all played with inventiveness and verve. Although the first song is more than 40 minutes long, I couldn’t tear myself away from the listening station. I HAD to hear that song all the way through. I was thinking who is this guy? How have I never heard of him? Anyway, I was struck by his technical mastery but I couldn’t get over the humor and childlike playfulness that were also ever present—what an interesting combination: I knew the guy was truly alive! I had no idea at the time of his health issues. Of course I bought the CD and have never grown tired of it.
I was saddened when he died at such a young age, but he left a legacy… Anyway, that was why I provided the link for the documentary about him. The documentary captures a little bit of his playfulness and humor that are so evident on his best recordings.
Anyway, I apologize for the ramble here. But I hope that at some point, when you’re receptive, you’ll be able to give another listen with fresh ears and a mind unimpeded by a previous exposure that failed to “convert” you at the time.
I would appreciate getting the URL for ANONYMOUS. You see ,Art was my beloved friend and I would love to be able to have exchanges with somebody else who knew him.
I am Milton Berlin mberlin7@optonline.net
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