Rick's World

I have 2 computers at home. (Well 3, if you count the old laptop, and 4 if you count the work laptop...) Both work well, both are fairly well loaded and both are of use to me. One computer runs Linux. I use it for email, web browsing, and generalling playing around with Linux (which I like alot). The other computer has Windows XP on it. I use Windows XP for work related stuff and for a few programs that don't exist (yet) in Linux.

A while back, I upgraded my monitor from a 20" CRT running at 1024x768 to a 20" LCD running at 1600x1200. The new LCD works beautifully. I have no complaints there. However, not long after I did this, my KVM switch died. This means I was locked into using 1 computer at a time, without having to go and reconnect the monitor, keyboard, and mouse to another computer in order to use it. This means I need a new KVM.

Since the new monitor supports DVI (a much higher quality video connection), I wanted to buy a DVI that would allow me to use DVI on both computers. I went out and spent $90 on a new video card for one of the computers, so that both could support DVI. I then spent $150 on a new DVI based KVM switch and $50 on a new set of KVM cables. I got the DVI KVM and cables and connected everything up. At first, it seemed to work, but then I noticed odd little miscolored pixels scattered around at random on the screen. This didn't happen without the KVM switch. To me this meant that the DVI KVM was defective. So, I mailed back the DVI KVM and the 4 sets of cables to Buy.com (where I bought them from). They were very easy to deal with for returns. They even send you a preprinted UPS shipping label to send it back! You don't have to pay shipping. Kudos to them. This was several weeks ago. They accepted the cables, no problem and refunded my money. That's $50 recovered so far. However, the other day, they returned the DVI KVM back to me! They stated that they couldn't accept it because it was missing the box and all the packing materials. I'm not sure it ever came with that! I have to hunt down these things and see if I still have them. If not, I'm out $150 because I can't return this thing. Worse comes to worse, I sell it on Ebay and make back some of the $150 but probably not close to all of it.

After the DVI KVM disaster, I decided to give up on a DVI KVM and go back to a regular VGA KVM. This can be done using adapters to turn the DVI plugs on the video cards back to VGA. The monitor also supports regular VGA so this should work too. I go on ebay, find a cheap 4 port VGA KVM and order it. It arrives after a week. I try to use my old KVM cables from the original KVM to plug into the new KVM. I then discover that the cables don't match the KVM because the KVM was expecting cables with male/male plugs, but my cables were male/female. So I went to ebay and ordered 4 new KVM cables of the right type. Another week passes and these arrive. The plugs are the right type, but the different cable ends on each end aren't spaced wide enough apart for me to plug them into the back of the computers. So I decided to go back to my old KVM cables, which are spaced wide enough to plug in. I went back to ebay and ordered 4 gender changes for the old KVM cables. The gender changes arrive after another week. I connect these to the cables and connect everything. I fire up the Windows XP box... Success! (or so I thought). Windows XP comes up and seems to work properly with the new switch box, although I had a sneaking suspicion that there wasn't something quite right about the picture quality. But it worked and I figured I could live with it. So I switch over to the Linux box and fire it up. Text mode boots, but as soon as it goes into graphics mode (at 1600x1200 naturally), it just gives me a blank screen and locks up. Obviously Linux is having some kind of sync problem with the monitor using the new cheapo KVM.

I'm now considering buying a THIRD KVM that I saw in CompUSA. It has 4 ports, includes the cables and says it supports resolutions over 1600x1200, so it should work. I'm just not sure I want to throw *more* money at this damn KVM.

Sometimes, I really hate computers.

PalmOne just officially announced their new Tungsten E2 PDA today! I got the original Tungsten E PDA for Christmas last year and I love it! At the time I got it, I hoped that it would work with a 802.11b/g wirless adapter but it doesn't. The new Tungsten E2, however will. It costs $249 and the specs can be found at the link above.

I want one!

I spent some time (and a good chunk of cash) upgrading the stereo on my car today. I replaced all the stock speakers in the Accord (all 6 of them) with Infinity speakers. It's laughable to see the stock speakers they put in Accords. The magnet on these things is about the size of a quarter, (no power to speak of) and the entire thing is made out of cheap plastic. What do these things cost anyway? 5 bucks? They are pathetic. I don't know what kind of speakers were stock in my Camaro, but one thing is for sure, they definately had a much higher sound quality than these things.

The replacement of the speakers is just the first step, though. I still have to put in a good 5 channel amplifier and a 10" subwoofer into it, to truly get good sound out of it. I'm not looking to 'thump' down the road. I just want a stereo that sounds good when a song comes on that I want to listen to loud. I ended up ordering the 5 channel amplifier this evening on Ebay. I found it for an excellent price, compared to what the car stereo shop wanted to charge me. It's the exact same amp that my brother bought for the upgrades that he's doing to his car stereo. The amp is an Alpine amp. A big sucker too! I would guess it's at least 2 feet long by 1 foot wide.

I hadn't intended to buy all this stuff today, but I really can't stand to have a stereo that isn't up to the standards I got used to with the Camaro's 'Monsoon' system. I still have to get the 10" subwoofer and get the rest of this stuff installed. I keep telling myself that I'm gonna wait another month or so and pay off this stuff before I buy the last pieces I need, but somehow I doubt this will happen. I gotta have my tunes! *grin*

With the exception of the Infinity door speakers, it's likely that everything else in my car (including the stock stereo interestingly enough) will be Alpine. They were going to put Alpine speakers in, but they didn't fit. They tell me that the stock stereo in the Accord is actually an Alpine stereo, even though it says Honda on it. The amp I got is Alpine and I expect the subwoofer will be too. Let's see how long I can fight the urge to finish upgrading the car...

This is the first (new) entry in my blog. I just moved my blog over from Blogger.com to this, my own domain. I hope you enjoy it.

It isn't often that you walk out of a movie speechless.

I just returned from seeing the movie "Sin City". For those of you who don't know, this movie is based on a comic book by the same name. This has to be the most violent and unusual comic book movie I've ever seen. It makes other violet comic book based movies such as 'The Crow', and 'Road to Perdition' seem tame in comparison. I'm still digesting this thing. I'm not sure what to think. On the one hand, it has some amazing visuals. I have never seen a movie that literally looks like a live action comic book. This movie looks identical to the Sin City comic book on which it is based - right down to the fact that the entire movie is black and white with only rare bits of color added in. It is truly a sight to behold. On the other hand, the dialog seems very cheesy. I suppose you could chalk this fact up to the fact that it is such a faithful comic book adaption. It looks like a comic book and it sounds like a comic book.

I was hesitent to see this movie at first based on the fact that it was in black and white. I figured that a black and white movie would never work in today's day of flashy color movies. Surprisingly, the black and white works. It really emphasizes the small flashes of color in the movie. It reminds me of other movies that made interesting use of black and white versus color - movies such as 'Pleasantville' and 'Shindler's List'. It certainly is different. So many of the movies that come out of Hollywood these days dissapoint me. They are all the same and generally the stories suck. This one, if nothing else, is worth seeing simply because it goes completely against the typical Hollywood 'cookie-cutter' style movies.

As for the acting, Bruce Willis does his usual excellent job playing the gritty 'everyman' cop. And to think, this guy started out doing comedy on TV. Micky Rourke does a pretty good job of playing his tough guy character. This character seemed perfect for him. It's the same kind of gritty character he always plays in movies. The opening seen with Josh Hartlett was terrible though. The acting was atrocious. I considered walking out after seeing the first scene. Luckily I didn't, because the patience of getting past that opening scene is worth it. Jessica Alba is gorgeous - enough said. I can't wait to see her in 'Fantastic Four' this summer!

Go see this movie. You may like it, you may not, but it's a sight to behold.

So this past Monday night, I bought a new car, as you probably know from my previous blog entry. It's a nice, blue, 4 door Honda Accord EX V6. This is basically the top of the line Honda Accord with the exception that it doesn't have a navigation system. The navigation system was a $2500 option that I thought would be pretty useless to a guy who doesn't travel for most of the year. Considering how my commute to work is only 5 miles each way, I think I can find my way!

The way I've been looking at it is, this is my 'cheap Acura TL'. The Acura TL is basically a souped up Honda Accord with 30 more HP, nicer headlights and a built in Bluetooth connection for your cell phone (allowing you to use your cell phone hands free in the car). The Bluetooth is a neat feature, but I can't justify the extra $7-10K worth of cost to myself for these minor little differences. As it is, the Accord has 240HP, versus 270HP in the Acura TL and 300HP in my old Camaro Z28. Yes, I traded in a sports car with 300HP for a 'family-mobile' with 240HP, but I'm OK with this. The Accord still accelerates pretty well, even without 300HP and being able to run it on regular gas instead of premium like the Camaro is a nice cost saver, especially in these days of $2.50/gallon premium gas! This is also the first time in 8 1/2 years that I've actually had a car with more than 2 doors! It's amazing how much things have changed in those 8 1/2 years...

The Accord also has XM satellite radio built in to the stereo. In my first blog about the XM a few days ago, I said I wasn't impressed with it. That impression is starting to change. I'm starting to like it. I've found several channels I like on it, and have programmed them into the stereo. Gotta love those steering wheel controls for the stereo! One of the channels I've been listening to lately is the comedy channel. It has a lot of funny stuff, but it is strange to hear cursing like that coming from your radio. Since the XM is not a broadcast radio, it doesn't fall under the FCC 'decency' regulations, so they are free to say whatever they want. A lot of disc jockeys like Howard Stern are starting to find this freedom appealing and are switching over to satellite radio. I've also been listening to CNN Headline News, the heavy metal channel and various other channels. I like it, but I'm not sure it's worth the $12/month that it normally costs. Interestingly enough, it's not costing me a cent (yet). As I understand it, when you buy the car you get a free 3 month preview of it. It was already working when I bought the car and I never even signed up for it! I never left a credit card, or my name or anything. I have to wonder whether the XM is working by mistake, or if it will just shut off by itself after 3 months. Either way, I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Yesterday, I took my car by my parents house to show it off. They oohed and aahed over it. I think they liked it, but I think they were more happy about the fact that I got rid of the old, beat-up Camaro at last. I'm sure my mother is relieved to know that I'm no longer driving the 300HP rocket ship (right Mom?) Another nice thing that happened last night was that my brother gave me this plastic trunk liner for the Accord. My brother used to own a 2003 Honda Accord and this trunk liner used to go to his Accord. He doesn't have the Accord anymore, so he has no use for it, so he gave it to me. It's a nice liner. It's molded exactly to the size and shape of the entire trunk. Now I don't have to worry about getting any dirt, etc. on the trunk. This was a very nice move by my brother and I really appreciate it.

One big complaint about the stereo I have is that it just doesn't have the sound quality that the Delco 'Monsoon' stereo system had in my Camaro. It's a great stereo. It has all the features I want - FM, AM, 6 CD in dash changer, XM Radio, but the sound quality itself leaves much to be desired. It's pretty bad when my 6 year old Camaro from another millenium has a better stereo than my spiffy new car from 2005! Fixing the sound quality on this stereo is going to involve replacing all 6 speakers, adding 1 or 2 good amplifiers to the system and probably a decent bass box to the trunk. Toss installation into this, and no doubt this won't be cheap. I was planning on waiting a few months to do this, but I don't know if I can last that long! I miss that stereo on the Camaro most of all right now. I'll probably end up doing this sooner.

For the last couple of days, I've been going through a real mess with my current car - a 5 1/2 year old Camaro Z28. It's been in the shop for the last two days getting $2000 worth of repairs. This is likely to be the last time this car ever sees a repair shop, at least with me as an owner.

I had said in previous blog entries that while my car didn't run perfectly, I didn't think it was time to replace it yet. I felt that if I had to spend a couple hundred dollars every 6 months to fix it, that was fine. It was still cheaper than buying a new car. My general rule was $500 for repairs every 6 months was an acceptable amount. Compare $500 once to $500 every month and it still works out to be more affordable to keep the older, beat-up but paid-for car. This trip to the repair shop broke the threshold that caused me to decide to replace the car. $500 once every 6 months, I can live with. $2000 every 6 months I cannot. The current Kelly Blue Book trade-in value for my car is about $4500. I just spent half of the value of my car making repairs to it! In my opinion, this pushes it past the point of worth keeping. I plan on getting the car back, and sometime in the next couple of months, trading it in on another car, either a late model used car, or a reasonably priced new car.

I'm still trying to decide what kind of car I want to replace it with. One thing I have decided with absolute certainty is that I will not be replacing it with an SUV or truck of any kind. This is a decision sure to run counter to my family again. Everyone else in my family owns either an SUV or a minivan. I've always been a fiercely independent person. My mother used to say that "I marched to the beat of my own drum - a tuba!" I do things the way I feel it should be done, not the way 'everyone else' believes it should be done. Sometimes, I'm wrong, sometimes I'm right.

Why have I decided not to get an SUV? In a word - stability. When you've spent the last 5 years driving a sports car that handles incredibly well and sticks to the road like glue, you cannot stomach driving a top-heavy vehicle with a tendency to flip over. I've seen more scenes of SUVs that went out of control, and flipped over than I can count. One day I witnessed the tail end of an accident involving an SUV. The SUV couldn't have been going more than 30 miles an hour and yet when it was sideswiped by a car, the SUV rolled completely over and landed back on it's wheels. I will not drive a vehicle, that in my opinion is unsafe. In the past, whenever I've driven an SUV, it has always felt unstable to me. Everytime I change lanes, I can fee the thing pitch way too much to one side. Now, I'm not driving like a maniac when I drive these things. I drive very conservatively and yet, I still feel this pitch. Right now, while my car is in the shop, I ended up driving, of all things an F250 Super Duty pickup truck. Believe it or not, that is all the rental car company had available. This thing is massive! I feel like I'm driving a bus. This thing is so damn big, it makes SUVs look small. After looking at the other cars from the point of view of this thing, I'm scared to think of myself driving a car among all these monsters.

Being one of the few people left in the US who does not drive an SUV puts me at a disadvantage. Try parking your low riding sports car between two SUVs. It happens every day. It's to the point now that every time I back out of a parking space, I can't see a thing on either side of my car due to the behemoths on either side of me. All I can do is back up really slowly and hope whatever lumbering SUV that might be driving down the parking lot behind me sees that tiny little car pulling out in time to stop before running it over. There is an entertaining marketing campaign concerning SUV safety called ESUVEE. This web site for this campaign shows this CGI monster version of an SUV and tries to make you understand how to control the 'monster' that you drive. This is how I feel driving these things. Like I'm trying to control a monster. I worry that as the American need for 'bigger, better' continues, SUVs will get bigger and bigger and us poor car drives will get muscled off the road. Another humorous web site tells a funny story about SUVs that exemplifies this. Read the story. You might enjoy it.

The sooner I can get the beat-up Camaro back and get rid of the lumbering monstrosity that I'm driving the better.

The quest for a new car is over. Last night, I bought a 2005 Honda Accord EX V6.

This car is basically the top of the line Accord with the exception of no navigation system. It's pretty nice. It's got leather, automatic, power seats, dual climate control, sunroof, XM satellite radio, a 6 CD in-dash changer, HomeLink system (essentially a built-in garage door opener remote). I ended up getting the "cheap Acura TL". The Acura TL is basically a fancy Honda Accord anyway, so I saved a good $10K buying the Honda over the Accord. the only thing I really lost over the Acura TL is about 30HP. No big deal. I was actually quite impressed on how friendly and non-pushy everyone in the dealership was.

This is the first time I've bought a car in almost 6 years. Many of the features of this car are new to me. It feels so 'high-tech' compared to the Camaro. I'm still trying to adjust to having a new car. It's been so long since I last had one. Just think, the last time I bought a car was in the previous millenium! :) Now that I have a new car, I have to start thinking about all those annoying things like tinting the windows, car payments (ugh!), etc. It's quite a change for me.

Still no car for me. I just spent 3 hours arguing prices for a 2005 Avalon XLS at the dealership with no luck. They wouldn't come down in price enough for me to able to afford the car. I'm going to another dealership tomorrow to look at another Avalon, but frankly, I'm not expecting much.

The Honda Accord is looking more and more likely. I can afford it and they have 2.9% financing available, so that sweetens the deal even more.

God, I hate shopping for a car. What a nightmare!

Yahoo is going to be increasing the storage space on the free email system to 1GB to match Google's Gmail service which has offered 1GB all along (though only in beta).

Between my Yahoo Email account, my Google Gmail account, and my Hotmail account (which I fully expect to hit 1GB soon also), That's 2.25GB of free email storage and likely soon 3GB of free email storage. Who needs CDs anymore? Just email the file to yourself and it'll stay there forever...