Category Archives: hardware

Configuring a new Windows install

Got a new work laptop. Never did finish this list, but it’s a good start. Software Firefox. http://getfirefox.com Synergy. Share a keyboard and mouse via TCP/IP. http://synergy2.sourceforge.net Launchy – keyboard launcher, similar to Quicksilver. http://launchy.net Subversion and Tortoise http://http://tortoisesvn.net/ and http://subversion.tigris.org/ Emacs for Windows. I usually use the patched version. http://ourcomments.org/cgi-bin/emacsw32-dl-latest.pl Cygwin. http://www.cygwin.com/ Opera Safari

Monitors and screens

When I started at LexisNexis, I was used to using multiple monitors when I worked. There’s plenty of studies, blog postings, whatever, that show how it’s a benefit to have multiple screens and added real estate. I’ve had the discussion with several people, and it seems that you have to actually try it to like

iPod Kiosks?

Saw something new today in Macy’s. A standalone Kiosk where you could buy iPods, headphones, docking stations, and speakers. Swipe your credit card, and it drops into the bin for you to grab. This is a great step for apple – thing of all the places you’ll be able to buy an iPod now instead

External drives

Currently have two external Seagate hard drives – View it on amazon – that’s the one on my Ubuntu machine, and the other is on the windows machine my wife uses. They run great, are quiet, and recognized out of the box. On the Windows box, I’m using BounceBack express that came with the drive.

Configuring a new Windows box

Windows Desktop to black Use cleartype Mli>VIsual effects (My Comp/Properties/Advanced): only show window contents while dragging, smooth fonts, smooth scroll No menu effects Don’t hide keyboard shortcuts Double height taskbar Don’t group buttons on the taskbar Don’t highlight new programs Control panel as a menu Scroll programs Show system admin tools Show hidden files and