Posts

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So I need a fast graphics card to burn a DVD?

So there I was messing about with Windows 7 when I thought I would give the DVD burning a go. In the past on Windows PCs I have relied on third party applications such as Nero. Even on the Mac I don’t use the in-built burning tools and use Toast.

So I started DVD Maker and got the following error?

So I need a fast graphics card to burn a DVD?

Hmmm.

Not quite sure why I need a fast graphics card to burn a DVD.

I can imagine if the drive was too slow (or I had the wrong kind of disc) or my hard drive was not fast enough, however a graphics card which was too slow…

Why?

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Can’t connect, won’t connect

Good article from Bill Thompson on wireless issues.

The BBC’s technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones, must be hoping that his neighbours don’t decide to have a larger family.

He recently spent ages setting up a high-speed wireless network (wi-fi) at home, documenting the whole tortuous process on the BBC Technology blog, but all his hard work could apparently be ruined by a single baby listener.

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Windows 7

I have been running Windows 7 (build 7000) on my HP 2133 for a few weeks now and it has been running very smoothly with very few issues.

I ought to really get a 6 cell battery for the 2133 as the 3 cell battery is really insufficient for most needs, okay for around the house, but rubbish for taking the 2133 out for the day.

At least the camera works, which it didn’t in Suse, and it remembers my wireless network too.

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BBC iPlayer to go HD

BBC’s iPlayer is to go HD.

The BBC’s iPlayer is to start offering high definition (HD) streams and downloads of some programmes. It will mean improved picture quality on streams to web browsers.

Read more.

Other new features include a new internet speed diagnostics page, the full release of the new BBC iPlayer Desktop, and a cross-platform manager that will allow Windows, Mac, and Linux users to download BBC programmes, including those in HD. 

Sounds good, but I do worry about those like me who have bandwidth caps, downloading HD video takes up a fair bit of bandwidth.

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XP goes down…

On my home iMac I run a variety of flavours of Windows through Parallels. In the main to test Windows software and to access some sites which only really work on IE.

Over the last few months I have been running in the main Windows 7 or Windows Vista.

A couple of days ago I started the Windows XP VM on Parallels and started getting a WMI crashing error.

A Google search brought up this solution  however despite trying this (including deleting the relevant files from Parallels Explorer.

It was suggested to me that it might be a virus, but even my AV software then started to crash.

The only solution was to delete the VM and create a new VM and install Windows XP all over again. Not a quick solution as there are quite a few updates to install like SP3.

Seems to be working now.

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iMac going slow

I now feel that my iMac is way too slow for how I am using it these days. It shouldn’t surprise me but it does, this iMac is (well should be) one fast computer, but I certainly push mine to its limits and notice slowdowns and memory issues.

I have 2GB of RAM in there, so it’s not a lack of RAM, much more running too many applications at the same time. Yes I should exit one application before running another, but I often don’t have the time and sometimes (as with EyeTV) it just isn’t possible due to scheduling issues.

I wouldn’t mind the odd delay here and there, but due to delays it is starting to impact on the performance of applications such as EyeTV and as a  result I am getting dropped frames on my EyeTV recordings.

My solution will be to get a new iMac, not to replace my current iMac, much more to have double the processing power. As a result I am going to get a bigger desk.

So which model, well it’s going to be the 24″ model.

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Lovely Vintage Retro Website from 2009….

I am a fan of The Vintage Web and I believe that I have found a wonderfully retro (currently active) site that fits their criteria perfectly.

I present the Wind and Wheels website.

From the wonderful Flash splash screen and animated gif enter graphic, you know you are in for a wonderful retro treat.

Lovely Vintage Retro Website from 2009….

Once you have enjoyed the Flash animation, onto the main site, where you can find a wonderful animated rollover menu, a weather widget, an additional expanding side menu and clever use of Comic Sans.

Lovely Vintage Retro Website from 2009….

Despite the website, there are some great photographs of wind powered action on the site, so well worth having a good look round.

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Well that went well…

So far so good, the installation of Windows 7 on my HP 2133 went fine, no worries and no problems. Have rebooted the computer to check that it is working all okay.

Useful site if you have an 2133.

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Taking the plunge…

I have taken the plunge and an now installing Windows 7 on my HP 2133…

So far no problems…

Using an USB DVD drive to install.

Screen says Starting Windows…

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HP 2133

You know not sure why I am writing this, as HP no longer make their HP 2133 having replaced it with the 10″ HP 2140…

As netbooks go, I quite like the HP 2133, in the main as the keyboard is much bigger than your average netbook and therefore a lot more usable.

The model I got has 1GB of RAM, a 100GB HDD and an 8.9″ screen.

HP 2133

The included camera does not work under the Suse Linux operating system (which surprised me) and in many ways the Suse Linux is (for me) the one weak point of the machine.

Now don’t get me wrong (yes I know I come across as a bit of a Mac fanboy) but it’s not that I don’t like Linux. I do like Ubuntu and think the Xandros distro on the Asus EeePC is extremely well done. I have installed Mint on another system. I do use and like Linux. However there are some issues I am having which are making me thing to either install another Linux distro or possibly Windows 7.

So what are my main issues?

Well it’s all to do with the wireless networking. I can’t seem to get the HP 2133 to join my wireless network automatically, I always need to enter not my wireless network key, but the administrator’s password to unlock the HP 2133’s default keyring

so that it can then connect to the wireless network. The other aspect is that if I set the HP 2133 to Sleep or Hibernate, the only way I can rejoin the wireless network once I have awoken the HP 2133 is by restarting which kind of defeats the reason for using he Sleep or Hibernate function!

Now I have done a little searching (not a lot, but a little) but haven’t come up with any answers.

So what with the camera, the sleep wireless issue and the Flash Player problems I am seriously giving thought to putting on a different OS