On computers, toys and muggy weather
Jul. 22nd, 2011 08:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenayUgh, it's a grey, horribly muggy day and I dragged myself into work despite a bad headache just so that I could have air-conditioning. I suspect that the headache (which started on Wednesday, double ugh) is due to the barometer and unfortunately last night's massive thunderstorm seems to have made things worse rather than better.
Can we please have some warm, clear days now? I'm done with oppressive and muggy. My poor head will thank you.
After work tonight, I am taking Mum out to test-drive some Kobos. I like playing with toys :-D
Also, I now have the money saved for an iPad but I'm holding out until my birthday later this year. That way it will come pre-installed with iOS5 and I won't feel guilty for spending money on new gadgets. It's a birthday present! To me!
Now the money that was going towards an iPad is going towards replacing my laptop when that becomes necessary. I'm hoping to get at least another year out of it, but I acknowledge that it's just starting to get a bit temperamental and may not last forever. I'm buying it a cooling tray to see whether that helps. The dratted thing runs hot (apparently this is a known issue with this model - more research next time!) which is definitely not helping so if I can get it cooled better, maybe I'll be able to eke it out a bit longer.
Then I have the big dilemma: another laptop or a desktop? If I have an iPad then I'll have my mobile computing solution already. And desktops do seem to have less issues (and slightly more stability) than laptops. The main reason for needing something is so that I can work from home via VPN, keep websites up to date and to have somewhere to download videos.
If I went the desktop route, I'd need to figure out how to play the videos that I download on my TV. On my laptop, I just plonk the machine next to the TV and hook up the HDMI cable. I know that there are solutions to this out there (that usually involve streaming from the computer to something attached to the TV, I think?) so I'd need to have that all figured out before I commit. Of course, I've also seen hints that there are programs that would allow me to play .avi files on an iPad, so that may be entirely moot by the time I get to seriously thinking about a laptop replacement.
Ack, this is not something that I need to think about yet. Quit worrying at it, brain.
I'm worrying at everything right now. My brain won't turn off. It's very annoying. I'm pretty sure that a large part of it is the prednisone (I seem to get more anxious the higher my dose) and perhaps the reaction from being ill for so long with several set-backs, but it's really frustrating. I'd just like to relax a bit and stop worrying about everything around me!
Ugh. Maybe I should look into getting a massage or something, work some of the tension out of my shoulders and neck and then I might not feel so tense all the time and it will magically communicate to my brain that we don't need to be hyper-alert worried 24/7.
Anyway, it's the weekend and I intend to relax a bit, read a bit and generally enjoy myself without rushing around. I may even spare an hour to sort through some paperwork tomorrow so that I can feel slightly useful as well.
Mostly, I just want to nap and read. Although there is the final part of the Tour to watch and the race has been incredibly exciting, so some of my time may be spend in front of the TV. Oh, my life is so hard sometimes :-D
Can we please have some warm, clear days now? I'm done with oppressive and muggy. My poor head will thank you.
After work tonight, I am taking Mum out to test-drive some Kobos. I like playing with toys :-D
Also, I now have the money saved for an iPad but I'm holding out until my birthday later this year. That way it will come pre-installed with iOS5 and I won't feel guilty for spending money on new gadgets. It's a birthday present! To me!
Now the money that was going towards an iPad is going towards replacing my laptop when that becomes necessary. I'm hoping to get at least another year out of it, but I acknowledge that it's just starting to get a bit temperamental and may not last forever. I'm buying it a cooling tray to see whether that helps. The dratted thing runs hot (apparently this is a known issue with this model - more research next time!) which is definitely not helping so if I can get it cooled better, maybe I'll be able to eke it out a bit longer.
Then I have the big dilemma: another laptop or a desktop? If I have an iPad then I'll have my mobile computing solution already. And desktops do seem to have less issues (and slightly more stability) than laptops. The main reason for needing something is so that I can work from home via VPN, keep websites up to date and to have somewhere to download videos.
If I went the desktop route, I'd need to figure out how to play the videos that I download on my TV. On my laptop, I just plonk the machine next to the TV and hook up the HDMI cable. I know that there are solutions to this out there (that usually involve streaming from the computer to something attached to the TV, I think?) so I'd need to have that all figured out before I commit. Of course, I've also seen hints that there are programs that would allow me to play .avi files on an iPad, so that may be entirely moot by the time I get to seriously thinking about a laptop replacement.
Ack, this is not something that I need to think about yet. Quit worrying at it, brain.
I'm worrying at everything right now. My brain won't turn off. It's very annoying. I'm pretty sure that a large part of it is the prednisone (I seem to get more anxious the higher my dose) and perhaps the reaction from being ill for so long with several set-backs, but it's really frustrating. I'd just like to relax a bit and stop worrying about everything around me!
Ugh. Maybe I should look into getting a massage or something, work some of the tension out of my shoulders and neck and then I might not feel so tense all the time and it will magically communicate to my brain that we don't need to be hyper-alert worried 24/7.
Anyway, it's the weekend and I intend to relax a bit, read a bit and generally enjoy myself without rushing around. I may even spare an hour to sort through some paperwork tomorrow so that I can feel slightly useful as well.
Mostly, I just want to nap and read. Although there is the final part of the Tour to watch and the race has been incredibly exciting, so some of my time may be spend in front of the TV. Oh, my life is so hard sometimes :-D
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iPad Video on TV
Date: 2011-07-23 09:48 am (UTC)It's only failed to play one file, which was missing data from the middle of the file anyway.
It can be set to accept files via ftp or http over wifi, although I just load files through my desktop PC and iTunes.
Gryphon
Re: iPad Video on TV
Date: 2011-07-23 04:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-23 05:53 am (UTC)Desktop (in my view). Cheaper per unit of oomph. There seem to be plenty of options for remote connection to another system from the iPad and I'm sure I saw one which seemed quick enough to stream video. So if you want to run something that's on the desktop, you can do it from the iPad on the sofa without the inconvenience (weight, heat, battery life, etc.) of a laptop
Streaming from elsewhere on a network to a TV is also a solved problem although will most likely require a box by the TV to do it.
Of course there'll be lots of new toys around by the time you come to purchase so really not worth worrying about it yet! :-)
no subject
Date: 2011-07-23 05:21 pm (UTC)That's my thought. Three years ago my budget and the options out there were limited. Now there are much better options for mobile stuff and I'm replacing gradually.
It's good living in the future!
no subject
Date: 2011-07-23 07:50 am (UTC)OK - the short answer is you get ipad to HDMI adapter - http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MC953ZM/A?fnode=MTc0MjU4NjE&mco=MTcyMTgxODY you can put the VLan player app on the ipad which plays pretty much anything and then just plug the iPad into the TV via an HDMI cable (or add an appletv to your system but to be honest there's better stramers out there, the only advantage is airplay direct from the pad but the cable does the job beter).
A better solution is a media box that streams or you just connect a usb HD or memory stick to, much better at the job.
For entry level I suggest either the Popcorn Hour
http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/index.php?pluginoption=catalog&mainItemId=20 best with at least a small HD in - and can directly download your torrents or the AC Ryan Playon!HD2 mini (The full size one has a built in HD - but I always use a memory stick with mine). Both of these are around the £100 GBP mark and IMHO (I've had a Popcorn for 8 years now - just moved to the C200 and we take the Ryan everywhere with us, its that small and light (around the size of a GRR Martin paperback, but lighter) but I've had trouble sourcing a Ryan HD2 out there, though Amazon UK has them.
So no - its not something you need to worry - about at its simplest its a $45 (canadian) adapter ...
xxx
no subject
Date: 2011-07-23 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-07-23 05:41 pm (UTC)See - this is what happens when you miss my 'I've got it how the frack do I watch it' workshops at redemption ;-)
If Steve would stop scheduling my panels opposite that, I'd come! He's done it three times now...
Thank you for all that. I think that I'll be looking into the Popcorn thing soonish. It sounds like a better solution than what I'm currently doing and then I'll be ready when the time comes. Mind if I ask questions if I get stuck on any of it?
I'm definitely leaning towards a desktop. My budget and the tech three years ago made a lappie the sensible choice. Now that I'm able to replace things gradually and the iPad is so handy for a lot of things, it makes sense to change the set-up.
My mind is resting easier knowing what I can do when the times comes.