I promised myself that I would posta a Trackback to this blog for helping me out of a pickle today – exchange 2010 is a bit of a bear when attempting to repair a botched install… r

The speed of them getting this out since my friday phone call was great!  I guess there is at least one good thing I can note; alas, I can not test this adapter until I get home – that is where I left my Mini 1000 with the expectation everything would be shipped there.

One more notation: HP has some tight reins on their replacement pieces – I only received the half of the adapter I complained about (the brick and jack that plugs into the laptop) The AC wall plug end-to-adapter cord was left out.  Although this may seem like a silly point, HP may be now trying to weed out those who lie about their adapter being broken to get a second adapter for the “road, office, etc…” by only giving out half and adapter (thus requiring you to use the existing plug from your current adapter).  This is probably a “smart move” on their part, and they’re saving what, $.10 of plastic cord while dropping $15 in overnight shipping, all so I can feel like i got a somewhat cheesy, half-fix?  I’m not really complaining here, but come on… really?

on Oct. 5, 2009 I called HP about an issue we’ve had with this laptop since day-one.  When the computer is running idle for an indeterminate period of time (i.e. reading an article on a website, waiting for an e-mail, even after just booting the system and waiting for everything to “start up” so the system is ready to go) the system will freeze for 15 – 30 seconds.  During this “freeze” you can move the mouse, click on anything you like (without response) and after the freeze lets-up, the system catches up (like a buffer) and performs all the actions from the first click on.  After some research on the web, I’ve determined the issue probably has to do with a “first-batch” of SSD, of which this system has one.  Usually SSD’s have very fast random read-write speeds, and some early models have a “lag” which make systems almost unusable. Of course I had no idea this was the case, otherwise I would have spent less money on a unit that didn’t have an SSD (solid state drive).

We also had an issue with the power adapter not fully plugging into the unit like it should (we’ve tried a friend’s and an aftermarket adapter, both work fine, this adapter just has “issues”.

The rep at HP promised it would not be any trouble, that they would ship out a box.  Off we go on a path I’m all too familiar with.  I’ve had a number of dealings with HP service (I typically rave about their Proliant servers and coupled support) but I had a horrible experience with a Pavillion DV9000 laptop about 26 months ago  (the incident that prompted me to buy my first macbook pro) and was hoping things would be better this time.

It took me a week to get the laptop off to HP the first time, and they recieved the unit on Oct. 26, 2009.

I just received the “fixed” unit yesterday (11/5/09).  I carefully inspected the condition (The biggest issue I had with my dv9000 was they scratched the top case badly and refused to accept responsibility for the damage.) If anyone knows me, any computer that graces my home stays in protective plastic as long as possible, that’s just how we are  Anyways, I booted the laptop and noticed on the service papers that came with the unit this detailed description of the fix:

Ok.  I tried to be optimistic: maybe they were able to upgrade the firmware of the SSD – that’s software right?  I went back to the now fully-booted HP mini and reached for the AC adapter that was returned with the unit – in the same position I sent it in.  Did they not even check the power issue?  I plugged it in.  I was right – they didn’t even look at the power adapter.  Trying not to succumb to the sinking feeling that I’d have to DEAL with HP again, I began to use the computer… the freezing issue was still there.  I uninstalled AIM6 and adobe reader 8 (for some reason, these come pre-installed with a “software reload” from HP.  I installed Microsoft security essentials – it downloaded fast enough, but once the computer sits unused during the install process, the lags begin.  Next installed IE8 – the installer (from filehippo) downloaded in seconds, and the install started very zippy – but during the period where the computer scans for malware – and then updates from Microsoft – we’re talking almost 30 minutes into the install, I started to get tired. Next, I downloaded foxit PDF reader – a small, lightweight PDF client to replace Adobe that I uninstalled.  20 minutes into what should have taken about 40 seconds, I closed the computer and resolved to call HP in the morning.

Fast forward to 2 hours ago: I just got off the phone with HP with another frustrating session.  Everyone was “very sorry” and I spoke to at least 4 women all non-english primaries and almost unintelligible accents.  The best of the group was Prava – I could speak to her in a conversive manner – I didn’t feel like she was searching for the correct “response card” every time I asked a question.   At any rate, she assured me that the issue would be taken care of – HP would send me a new power adapter without trouble, and that she would create a “new” order to have the original problem fixed (when an OS reload doesn’t “fix” a computer, the next step is hardware!)

So my last phone call lasted almost 1.5 hours, and 2 out of 4 people I talked to “promised” that I would not have to worry and that HP would take care of me.  Here comes the real test – with approximately 1 month left on my original warranty, how long will this “fix” take for the laptop to really get fixed?

I’ll have to keep you posted.

-Ryan “Toad” Walsh

After I got a moment to breathe the other day, once I was able to resist the initial urge to drive straight to the apple store and throw my money at closest dude in a light blue t-shirt at the mall, I was able to do a little lookey-uppy on this cute little wonder.

No photo? What? I can shoot video but no photos? Is this thing even for real? I mean, I would have just been happy with the pedometer, and the FM addition is LONG overdue, apparently the wahoo who was smart enough to bring his ipod with him while he was tubin’ didn’t give a snot about taking a picture of his girlfriend in her heart shirt who wears a matching innertube/bracelet combo. No no no no… video is the FUTURE! I love apple – always pushing the boundaries of what we deem normal

The COVER of CDW’s latest mailer:

Big deal right?

Let’s look a little closer:

Ok, little handy-held windows unit right?

wait a minute:

Yup.  That’s OSX’s Safari web browser – not the windows version, but unless someone was using “window blinds” to change the windows shell, we’re definitely looking at a macintosh “command+shift+4, space” screenshot photoshopped onto this unspecting model’s little screen.  Easy enough for the marketing department, but on a national mailer?  What if I wanted to purchase this fantastic little device that seemingly runs OSX?  Could I sue them for false advertising?  Probably not – but it does make me wonder just how far they can push the advertising envelope and cut corners just to get their stuff out the door… I guess “pretty” sells, that’s why they dont use phootos of turned-off computers in their glossy sales fodder.

Sure enough, the world hasn’t stopped since I wrote this post, just another observation of impossibility and how easily we’re hoodwinked by the photoshop elite.

It turns out the problem may be related to the way the mac is put to sleep… I followed a few steps on this article and things have been quite stable since:

http://www.windley.com/archives/2007/10/fixing_macbook_pro_sleep_problems.shtml

Good luck with yours!

Got the box, the phone feels like a really nice weight, better ballance overall than the 700p, which kind of feels like a happy meal toy.  Everything is plastic of course, so it’s not half as sexy as a new ipod, but following the design of the centro, this unit has no external antenna and a somewhat symmetrical layout.

I’ve had the 800w out of the box for a total of 15 minutes, already I have it connected to the office wifi and have begun downloading my IMAP office e-mail. Oh, and I updated my twitter with it already. Crazy. Eventually i’ll have to call sprint to activate my number, and connect it to my mac to get my contacts going, but until then, I have some work to do – but oh the goodness!  I can’t wait to install opera and try to do some basic administration on my websites.

I had to re-install my macbook over the weekend because I upgraded the hard drive.  (I pulled a 250 from a recent costco purchase, so thanks to Western Digital, I’m now fast, fat and happy!) So… to gain the added experience of restoring a macbook from files of a crashed drive, I swapped out the drives (after making a backup of course) rather than run time machine (which is hella cool btw) and did it with straight data from the old drive.

So anyways, the method that I used and hoops I jumped through to get my Treo Sync’d with iCal and Address Book:

1. Install Palm Desktop 4.2.1 Rev D
http://www.palm.com/us/support/macintosh/macdesk421revd.html

2. Sync the Treo using USB cable (not sure if this step is needed or not, but I assumed the conduit connections need to be created first – and I didn’t mind making a backup to the palm desktop software)

3. Open iSync – select “Devices -> Enable Palm OS Syncing…” This should disable the conventional palm conduit and get you ready to sync in iSync

4.  From Palm Desktop, Select “HotSync -> Conduit Settings” – notice that iSync Conduit says “see Conduit Settings” – click it and then click the “conduit settings” button.

5. “Enable iSync for this Palm device” MUST have a check – do this, click “ok”

6. Re-open iSync if you closed it – you should now have your treo in the list.  Click the “Sync Devices” button and perform a hotsync from your palm – voila!

I realize this method isn’t all inclusive, and may work with other devices.  Like I said, it worked for me, maybe it can help you too!

Peace

So, rather than waste more time talking about the motherboard with the flaw, I’m going to spend the rest of the time talking about how fun the “Phantom Hourglass” is. It is really fun. If you own 1 game for your Nintendo DS system, it definitely should be new super mario bros. If you can afford two, definitely pick up Zelda: The Pantom Hourglass… It has the same feel that made Zelda for the super nintendo so great – but since it uses a real 3d graphics engine and the stylus for all control, it’s way funner. It has sailing, so if you hated that in the Wind Waker, you’ll still hate it here… but at least the cannon is fun, and you can blast things to your heart’s contempt.

Threw XP pro up on the build and everything is smooth sailing, till we get to the High Definition Audio Bus.  The drivers for the HD audio actually install fine from the enclosed driver CD, but this “Audio Device on High Definition Audio Bus” keeps popping up like it has no idea where it’s home is.  Biostar, while their hardware value is prime, their website lacks – the US version of the site has dead links for the HD audio driver, and the global site thinks you’re looking for the setup executable (included in the installer… along with about 2 dozen other files that are needed) – it just barfs when you try to run it (duh! it’s like they threw the installer cd at some intern and said “put all these drivers on our website!” and he just started copying what he thought was right from the disc to the web!

Did a little googling on the problem, found some other people who had trouble with HD audio and fixed it with updated video drivers – “yay” i thought – a little unorthodox, fixing audio with video, but since it’s an integrated chipset, i figured, what the hey… Downloaded, installed & no dice.

Dug more on google, found generic realtek drivers for the same model/chipset (these should be the drivers from the biostar site) but alas, they were on some weird site, downloaded, installed, nada.

I’m starting to remember why I hate XP and new hardware so much

to be continued….