Dell Computers Fail to Boot Due To ‘Bad’ USB Connections

Yeah, this was a new one on me…we use Dell Optiplex GX280 workstations here at the library. We’ve had the usual PS and HD failures this year, but last week I had a station that stopped booting right after the Windows “progress bar” screen. It just sat there, a black screen with a blinking cursor, no POST, no nothing.

It turned out that a USB printer cable was not plugged in “all the way,” something I had never even considered. Since the backs of our workstations are very crowded with cabling, one of the USB cables was 1/2-way out of its jack. The USB controller had failed to start, stopping the boot in its tracks. Plugging in the cable again and restarting solved the problem.

Eee PC Review

So I’ve had my 4 GB, 512 MB Eee PC (stupid name!) for a couple of weeks now.  Here are a few first impressions:

1. It’s so very small and light.  In comparison to my previous laptop (HP Z-Series 15″ screen) it weighs nothing.  It’s easy to hold in one hand without worrying that it will slip.  I took it out in public and sure enough, strangers were accosting me as if I had a cute baby with me.  Could the Eee pc be used to meet women?  Maybe!
2. OK, so the screen is small (7″ diag).  The quality is excellent, nice and bright and sharp.  No complaints there.  Sometimes, however, necessary buttons will be off the screen and  you’ll have to use the ALT-Drag trick to pull them onto the viewable area.  It took me a while to figure that out.
3. In ‘Easy Mode’, where the GUI has insultingly large kiddy-buttons to press for preset programs, the Eee starts up in about 15 seconds. Whee!  In Full mode, where you have a more recognizable PC desktop, it takes about a minute.  Also, it’s not easy to add buttons to the easy desktop, so if you want to use less popular programs (like remote desktop) you have to go to full mode.  I suppose there might be another way, I just haven’t found it yet.  I am not really insulted by Easy Mode, and I tend to use it unless I need to start some non-represented app.
4. The wireless reception is excellent.  Much more sensitive than my previous laptop.
5. The keyboard…pretty small.  I can span the whole board with one outspread hand.    It’s tough for me to touch-type on it, but I’m guessing it will become easier with use.  Some of my favorite navigation keys, such as page up/down, are in different places from the standard PC keyboard and require the fn button to function.  Tab and Enter buttons, etc, are single-sized instead of the standard double.
6. The software included is comprehensive.  You may have to install some less popular ones before they can be used.  I have heard some complaints that the OpenOffice suite apps are slow to load, but I haven’t noticed that yet.  Firefox is the browser, and it works a treat.  I find myself using the ‘full-screen’ firefox mode more often than on other laptops.
7. Skype works great, and the microphone and speakers have surprising quality.  The built-in camera is adequate.
8. I was a bit cranky to plug in my digital camera and not have it recognized.  I haven’t had time to rectify this yet.  However, the Eee PC has a card reader, so that hasn’t been a problem.
9. 3 USB 2.0 ports.  Sweet.  The Eee recognized my portable HD w/o trouble.
10. The power cord has no brick.  How does it smell?  Awesome!

Pointless Tech Purchase!

I bought an Asus 4GB Eee PC today. I figure I can sell my larger HP Laptop and cover most of the $350 cost, and the Eee is much more portable. I’ll provide a review when it actually arrives. Still pointless!

Actually, I thought my first laptop purchase was pointless, too, so this isn’t so bad.

Ebooks – Amazon Kindle

I’ve been looking for an electronic reading device that works for, oh, I guess about 40 years now. Lately more are being developed, but they all have one thing in common – they’re too expensive. Amazon’s Kindle is no different, coming in at $400. It has nice features…that are still not worth $400. Sorry, please play again.

The Kindle, by Engadget

p.s. also, it’s ugly.