My new toy
So, here I am, blogging via my new netbook computer. It is a lovely little Asus eee PC 1000, w/ a Linux operating system & 40G SSD. It has a webcam & even has some voice operated command thingy, by which I guess I could be really lazy & launch programs if I chose to use it. I doubt that I will find a use for such a thing. This mini-'puter has a 10 inch screen. I'm still getting used to it. I was trying much of yesterday to change the operating system to the eeepc version of Ubuntu, which is what I use on my other laptop. But for whatever reason, I was unable to figure out how to get my computer to boot from a flash drive. Not sure what was going on with that. I was rather frustrated and disappointed with that, because the installed OS was the "easy" mode of the xandros linux OS, which as one commenter said on some forum, looked like the "Fisher-Price" model of computing. Thankfully this morning, I was able to find out how to boot this os into "advanced" mode. I guess if you weren't used to linux or any other computer at all, you might have enjoyed the easy mode, but I myself was going nuts. I am much happier with a grown-up operating system. But as I type that, I realize that something like that system would be very very good for someone with computer phobias (like my mom, hint, hint), because it was pretty clear what icon to click to get to the internet or office applications or whatever. The complete opposite of intimidating. Hmmm...maybe someday when I'm feeling rich, I'll buy one of these babies for my mama!
Anyhoo, my old coffee-drenched laptop is still going strong, but I wanted something even a bit smaller so that I could take it other places... my laptop wasn't even that big, but this is only about 2 pounds, has a lovely little sleeve to protect it, and will fit into a tote bag or a really big purse, if I had such a thing. I'll be able to take it with me to the conference I have to go to on Monday, use it during the keynote speakers talks if I want to. Or if I don't, I won't, but at least lugging it along will be a less bothersome option. So far I am thinking that this would not make a very good primary computer - no optical drive. Of course, having said that, it strikes me that I don't actually use the cd/dvd drive on my lappy very often either - just to change or reinstall an operating system or once in a while to rip music from a CD. I supposed I could learn to live w/o it if I had to. Heck, the Macbook Air doesn't have an optical drive either.
So yeah, that's what I'm doing on a Saturday night, playing with my new computer, watching/listening to Obama's inauguration speech, which I never had time to do earlier this week. What a man! It sure is a wonderful thing to have a president who's a good speaker - and who hopefully has the character to back up his inspiring words!
Anyhoo, my old coffee-drenched laptop is still going strong, but I wanted something even a bit smaller so that I could take it other places... my laptop wasn't even that big, but this is only about 2 pounds, has a lovely little sleeve to protect it, and will fit into a tote bag or a really big purse, if I had such a thing. I'll be able to take it with me to the conference I have to go to on Monday, use it during the keynote speakers talks if I want to. Or if I don't, I won't, but at least lugging it along will be a less bothersome option. So far I am thinking that this would not make a very good primary computer - no optical drive. Of course, having said that, it strikes me that I don't actually use the cd/dvd drive on my lappy very often either - just to change or reinstall an operating system or once in a while to rip music from a CD. I supposed I could learn to live w/o it if I had to. Heck, the Macbook Air doesn't have an optical drive either.
So yeah, that's what I'm doing on a Saturday night, playing with my new computer, watching/listening to Obama's inauguration speech, which I never had time to do earlier this week. What a man! It sure is a wonderful thing to have a president who's a good speaker - and who hopefully has the character to back up his inspiring words!