The ParkerPress » Geek Toys

Indigo

December 16, 2006 3:26 pm

November 2006

I’ve been running X10 type devices in my house since the early 80’s, having graduated from simple controllers to a CP-290 (programmed from an old Macintosh SE using “MouseHouse”). I’m now running Indigo 2 software on my Macintosh G5 Desktop plugged into a PowerLinc USB connection. Given the amount that I travel, I have embedded motion sensors and email notification to my cell phone, as well as other “security features” wrapped in and around Indigo.

I also use it to control the HVAC system, although I’m much more careful when I plan my programming and triggers now. I made a simple “programming” mistake a couple years back that ended up turning my AC system in to a giant ice-maker and burning out a blower motor….

All in all, it’s a great system that just proves there’s a geek in all of us. OK, well, in some of us…

Categories: Software
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Garmin Nuvi 660

December 8, 2006 11:02 pm

First Impressions, December 2006
This is my latest navigational hardware (aka toy) for work (and a little play). I’ve used a handheld eTrex Vista and a Quest in the car. My comments will be a little biased due to the features I have (and love) on the Quest.

Right off the bat, let me point out that I love the “functionality” of the Quest. I like the fact that I can change all of the display information on any of the screens to whatever I feel like seeing (like altitude, arrival time, next turn time, etc).

To be fair, I did NOT pay money for this NUVI, I used points from a hotel program. So my “disappointments” will be tempered by the fact that I don’t feel the loss of value (see the negative section) as much as if I had paid $$$ for it.

Show me more… »

Categories: Hardware
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Parallels

November 2, 2006 7:56 am

November 2006

For years now, I’ve carried a PowerBook and a Dell C400 notebook in my bag when I travel (which I do a LOT). Almost all the sites I work on are either Windows or Unix sites. I’ve used the Dell with VMWare Desktop and an external hard drive to build “virtual machines” for each client site, which allowed me to set up each machine exactly the way the client environment looked, and prevent them from conflicting with each other.

Now, with Parallels, I’m doing the same thing on my MacBook Pro C2D and have given up the C400 (and all the extra gear) completely. The best part? My backpack is about 10 pounds lighter!

Although the initial versions of Parallels were a little buggy, and couldn’t do everything I needed, later versions have been getting much better, and with the latest build (release 2.5 build 3188), I no longer have any complaints.

And… The best part? I can run 2 or 3 Windows machines side-by-side at the same time, and each one is considerably faster than my old C400. I typically only run one at a time, but occasionally have a need to run one Windows 2000 machine hosting an Oracle 10g database, and another running a CM product called Harvest.

Categories: Software
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