November 10, 2008
Until recently, even if you didn’t have a “network” enabled printer, you could putz around with the thing and get it to work… especially if you […]
April 3, 2008
I recently added a new hard drive to my little emachines T5230 (a low-cost, high value desktop that runs Kubuntu and Ubuntu like a CHARM). The […]
January 25, 2008
I’ve been battling with the frustration of having a Thunderbird application that shuns it’s brother, Firefox, in my Kubuntu install. Whenever I click on a link […]
October 3, 2007
I’m brilliant. I’ve learned so very much about Linux in the last few weeks. Every day I learn something new and exciting. For instance, I’ve learned […]
September 23, 2007
After much struggling, and much guilt about how far behind I’m falling in all my work, I finally got Kubuntu working. To be fair, much of […]
September 19, 2007
Ok, I’ve been trying to sail without a tailwind of late. So much to do, but so many things that I try to do require me […]
June 19, 2007
I was talking with a client this morning, and got the best chuckle of the past two weeks. He informed me that he was recently told […]
April 25, 2007
If you have a problem with a particular product or gadget and you can’t find the information you need on the manufacturer’s site, you now have […]
April 6, 2007
For those who haven’t been on the website in the last few hours, go and visit the site. You will see that the company address is […]
April 4, 2007
Following my recent detective work, and the ability to find Mr. Ryan’s cell phone number, I did get a response — via email — asking for […]
April 4, 2007
I’ve been looking for contact information on this slippery company and have found the following: The office number (non-toll free version) on their website (520-888-2036) yielded […]
April 2, 2007
I lost a bet. I almost NEVER lose bets. Main reason? I don’t bet unless it’s a “sure thing” or something really close to a sure […]
March 20, 2007
https://www.charmedpen.com/posts/got-a-response-from-sean-ryan-president-of-chatterbug-company/After being extremely pleased with the results of using ChatterBug for my long distance, I’ve hit a brick wall. Last week, while I was still in […]
September 27, 2006
I had a client with an interesting problem this week. Their T1 connection had gone down for a few hours and suddenly their emails were bouncing, being delivered to their webmail instead of siphoning through their onsite router, and life was just generally difficult for them. They were also no longer receiving their web-based forms email.
It took a bit of research (and calling in favors from some of my most talented fellow techies) to resolve the issue. These things are never as simple as they should be, are they?
In case it's of any assistance to anyone else, I wanted to deconstruct the problem here... and share the solution.
It took a bit of research (and calling in favors from some of my most talented fellow techies) to resolve the issue. These things are never as simple as they should be, are they?
In case it's of any assistance to anyone else, I wanted to deconstruct the problem here... and share the solution.
May 10, 2006
I've been able to get online with my laptop, while here on retreat. My father, on the other hand, ... not so much. I've been a bit frustrated with the download speeds (read this as "impossible to download large files at all") and I always am amazed/shocked to learn how dependent I am on the Internet. Five minutes doesn't expire here at the camper without me having the urge to look something up, jot something down, send something out, or check on something on the Internet.
So, I was doing ok and had decent signal strength... until the RV slot next to us (and between us and the office where the wi-fi lives) filled up with our neighbor. Then, signal strength plummeted. We are lucky to get one or two bars (for those of you that know wi-fi meters).
Pops and I looked online for an antenna to help draw in the signal. We ordered one -- one that was going to cost nearly $200, including the shipping and handling, but I was desperate. So I ordered it and paid extra for fast delivery. Today marked the SIXTH day since the order was placed, and still no antennae. So I called the company (radiolabs.com) and they informed me that my antenna had not yet been sent!! It was on back order and they really couldn't tell me when they would get the part they needed back in, nor did they bother to inform me of this at any time within the six days since I ordered it.
ARRUUUGGHHH!!!
So Pop and I drove into town and he got a little creative. We ended up making our own for a fraction of the cost. Want to know how? Read on...
So, I was doing ok and had decent signal strength... until the RV slot next to us (and between us and the office where the wi-fi lives) filled up with our neighbor. Then, signal strength plummeted. We are lucky to get one or two bars (for those of you that know wi-fi meters).
Pops and I looked online for an antenna to help draw in the signal. We ordered one -- one that was going to cost nearly $200, including the shipping and handling, but I was desperate. So I ordered it and paid extra for fast delivery. Today marked the SIXTH day since the order was placed, and still no antennae. So I called the company (radiolabs.com) and they informed me that my antenna had not yet been sent!! It was on back order and they really couldn't tell me when they would get the part they needed back in, nor did they bother to inform me of this at any time within the six days since I ordered it.
ARRUUUGGHHH!!!
So Pop and I drove into town and he got a little creative. We ended up making our own for a fraction of the cost. Want to know how? Read on...
January 4, 2006
Ok, after getting my pretty, shiny and incredibly fast new computer (to replace my ailing desktop replacement laptop), I've had a nagging problem with Norton's program that came with the new computer.
Yeah, I was stupid enough to NOT remove Norton the second I set up the machine. I figured using it as it was would buy me 60 days of free coverage while I investigated other AV options, since I've not been happy with any I've tested thusfar.
What I ended up with was a blasted Norton Toolbar add-in for Outlook that couldn't be removed. Until now!