Oooo! Shiny!

[kengr]

I so want this

Only problem is that it runs WinXP

Comments

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I can live with WinXP...the two grand price tag is the killer.

[kengr]

Priced laptops lately?

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I just got this one for $633. *sigh* I know there is good stuff out there, I just can't afford it. Since I can't write I have to carry a laptop and printer with me to each class. The laptop is almost 8 pounds, the printer about the same, and with the associated cables, books, papers, etc. I'm carrying about 70 pounds between classes. I could get a smaller printer but the one I have now, as large as it is, is only $48 and the black ink cartridges are only $7 each. I could get a printer as small as my laptop, but they want $350 for it.

Same with the laptop, I could get a smaller one that weighs half of what this compact weighs, but it would run $2500.

And I'm not only a poor college student, I'm the father of two poor college students. At least we get to go to school together.

[kengr]

Well, my two laptops were both acquired used, so I didn't pay as much.

I wouldn't haul a printer around. Portable printers generally aren't worth the trouble. And with wireless, if there's a campus network, you can just print to a "public" printer or something. Or, if you have the right sort of router and a DSL or cable connection at home, you may even be able to use VPN to print to your home printer.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I used the printer mainly for taking tests, which means the teacher wants the paper document right now. There are alternatives, but they aren't very satisfactory. For instance, they will let me test in the office of disability services at a seperate time, but you have to make an appointment three days in advance, schedule around other classes, and use their equipment...all serious pains in the ass. Then too, that doesn't help with quizzes. I could get a note taker or scribe for each class, just in case, but I'm sure you could see what a pain that would be. Some teachers will let me hand in a burned CD, or download to a data pen, after a test or a quiz, I must say the school has been great about accomodating my handicap, but I'm an independent sort and I refuse to depend on someone else when I don't have to.

[kengr]

Dare I ask what your handicap is? I don't recall you mentioning it.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I have many handicaps, the lack of a personality being chief among them.

Actually, I injured my wrists back in 1989, tearing the ligaments and cartilege. They've deteriorated to the point that the twisting and bending motion used for writing is almost unbearble, even after surgery to remove the damaged cartilege. I also have arthritis, heart problems, lung problems, memory problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, ulcers, body oder, bad breath, and memory problems. I'm a write-off but I'm to selfish to lay down and quit.

[kengr]

I dunno, you seem to have a personality. Maybe not standard issue, but...

I don't have half the problems you've got. Though I keep pissing off my doctor because with my weight & diabetes he *expects* me to have things like high blood pressure. :-)

As far as the printer goes, if I was in your position, I think I'd try to modify an old thermal printer I've got. Only 40 column, and an odd serial interface. And needs AC. But in a classroom, not a big problem. And it weighs maybe a pound.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I've got a small thermal printer, it even has both cable and infrared interface. I've got a small Jornada computer that I'm trying to get to work with the printer. If it works, I can stick both in my pocket and go.

[mistresscayenne.livejournal.com]

Why is that a problem?

[kengr]

XP is evil. XP Pro isn't as evil as XP home, but...

[mistresscayenne.livejournal.com]

If XP is XP anything and XP is evil. Then so be it. I have an evil computer. No half ass winnying around here.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

The LJ I saw it in originally mentioned that it should run Linux, but drivers aren't available yet.

But I suspect that drivers for Win98 & Win2K aren't available either and those are what I'd be more likely to run.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

You don't need drivers for the CPU, you need them for the motherboard and all the devices (even "built in" ones) attached it.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Well, from all reports MS's next OS is something I want no part of.

[lone-cat.livejournal.com]

What is the Evil Redmondian Empire planning now?

[kengr]

"Secure computing" is what they call it. But what it *is* will be an OS that will only let "approved" programs run. And that can remove approval upon command from MS. For that matter, thaty can remove *files* upon command from MS (or anybody who can fake being MS)

Getting a program "approved" will require handing over the source to MS and paying to have it certified.

Add in CPU chips designed from the ground up such that you can't reverse engineer software to find out what it's actually doing, and require special hardware for creating software and you'll have MS able to control the market way too much.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]