Wilsonsway

HW/SW (Hardware/Software)

I’m a computer nut I guess and like the Linux operating system for it’s simplicity and ease of use. I have a Windows machine too for work and play but mostly, I use my LM8 system for most day to day tasks.

Two of my computers are desktops and both are Lenovo H210’s. One I installed Linux to and the other I’m leaving Vista Win 7 64 bit installed because there are still some things that won’t work in Linux although that list is getting smaller every day.

I have a HP dv9335nr laptop that I installed Linux Mint 8 to for those occasions that I need to take a computer with me for some reason. It works a lot better with Linux than it ever did with Vista. Makes one wonder why M/$ keeps pumping out resource intensive products like they do.

I also have 2 Samsung monitors that have a sweet display. One is a SyncMaster T220 and the other is a SyncMaster 2233 which has a 1080p display. Awesome for watching movies online or on DVD. I bought all of them from Tigerdirect.com except for the T220. I got it at Best Buy in Trussville.

I had a Toshiba X205-SLi laptop that I wiped and reloaded Vista to. I gave it to my wife for her work and general goofing around as she was using an older HP laptop that had a small 14 inch screen. It had gotten slow and was beginning to show signs of age so she needed a newer computer to keep her going for a while longer. She loves the larger screen that the Toshiba has and the speed is much improved as well. To be honest, Vista is much better for her to use over XP too for some reason.

I use Rhythmbox for my music needs in Linux and can incorporate my Last.fm preferences in it too. Classic Rock is the genre I prefer over any other. Guess that gives away my ‘child of the seventies’ mentality, eh?

I use Twitter from time to time, LinkedIn for my professional contacts and some of my personal sites for my hobbies and projects.

My cellphone of choice is not so high-tech however. It’s an LG enV3 through Verizon that I use just for making and receiving calls only. Very little texting, no internet, no special apps. AT&T sucks for all those addon’s and I honestly can’t see trying to justify the added cost of these other features. This is one reason why I decided to go with Verizon.

I like using applications, whether online or desktop bound that are easy and simple to use. There are some that blow the mind when it comes to figuring out how to use them. The KISS principle seems not to apply to them. Bluefish, The GIMP, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Artisteer, Notepad++ and Filezilla are just a few that I use from time to time that I like.

Right now, I’m on a DSL modem with supposedly 6 MB service that feeds a router (Linksys) with both Wi-Fi and hard line capabilities. The router feeds a 5 port switch  into which I have both desktops plugged into. My ISP can’t give me 12 MB service due to not enough folks around here want/need it. Nuts! Would be nice for those big downloads.

That about sums things up technologically speaking. Although, things can change in a moments notice.