Brand new Dell laptop on wireless home network (four other computers going through the same router experience no problems). WWW on all browsers work fine. McAfee Agent won't connect to its server, nor will the MSN or Skype downloaders/updaters. OTOH some other automatic update services work fine, such as Visio's. Windows Firewall is disabled. ( Read more... )

Because I'm flying to Philly very early Wednesday morning for a conference. As per its history of always my laptop has chosen to break down precisely when I need to use it outside of the house: first the external battery expired, then (after I replaced it via ebay vendor and an extended saga of Canada Post being unable to read a correctly printed ( Read more... )

Your last laptop purchase for personal useSimple, takes 5-10 minutes, and definitely more gender-inclusive than either the salon hair care one or the non-fat ice cream one. XD;; Would be particularly interested in responses from people who are older and/or non-techie - twentysomething whizzes don't need more help, by definition. If anyone doesn't ( Read more... )

1) Laptop died again. It was a mistake to even think of the thing as Ed - but it looks so much like Ed. XD; Small, red and black, powerful but noisy, prone to overheating. Much like Ed it knows its responsibilities and keels over only after the crisis has resolved (read: finals period), but once in the shop half its components will need replacing ( Read more... )

All I'm saying is that the universe needs to realize that although I am quite willing to make a stab at coordinating projects involving sizeable numbers of people when necessary and appropriate, it is by no means something I am naturally good at; my natural state is being late for things due to inexplicable procrastination and misplacedly hopeful ( Read more... )

Earlier than I'd expected - was given an estimated ship date near the end of September. It's red and black and very slight for its class, but I didn't name it Ed. XD Pictures and review that is actually informative, not going to bother myself ahaha ( Read more... )

Screencaps abetting this stroke of genius kindly provided by beeblebabe and marici. Feel free to take/distribute with credit, btw. XD ( Read more... )

Some days ago my home computer caught a worm which proceeded to install a spam virus, so I was treated to the annoying sight of mystery emails outbound through my antiquated filter. Now it's freezing unpredictably at startup. I can't be arsed to cleanse the infection when the hard drive needs a reformat this badly so reformat it is. But it's ( Read more... )

I did end up making a special trip to the Turbo Records stall on Sunday afternoon, 30-something degree weather and all. Life was saved by a cold cup of cinnamon rice milk from a Mexican eatery soda fountain. Seriously, that's like the best hot-weather drink ever, I have to figure out how to get hold of the stuff... The football fans were out in ( Read more... )

"Following the screening, Miike returned to the stage for a question and answer session with a Japanese film critic whose name I was unable to catch. The critic misleadingly described the film as a "gay horror", but Miike explained that his concept was to place characters based on Yabuki Joe and Rikiishi from the venerable manga/anime "Ashita no ( Read more... )