The Sony VAIO battery that came with my laptop (circa 2007) expired sometime earlier this year. I put off looking for a replacement, because, honestly, I was ticked off.
I finally bit the bullet and went on Amazon where I found a super economic replacement option, which has worked out wonderfully thus far.
Along with the new investment comes common sense practices, which I've earnestly begun to adopt now. The biggest #fail on my part was leaving the laptop plugged into the AC overnight while hibernating or while downloading media. I can do that now, but only if I remove the battery first. I really have to retrain myself in embracing the fact that batteries on laptops serve only the purpose of providing juice to a moving laptop, not plugged in laptops. Duh.
In either January or February I found myself in the position of looking for a new cable/adaptor cord, for same laptop, because the one I had, began spontaneously sparking while on the sofa. Closer inspection revealed a cut in the black cable plastic covering, exposing some cut filament which began sparking. The new cable worked effortlessly until I began noticing a crackling noise again earlier this summer. *palmface*
In commenting to the significant-other unit about my need for some isolation tape, he helpfully suggested wrapping some scotch tape around it and leaving it as far away from Master Benny (the Baying Beagle) and the sofa cushions as possible when unattended. That's worked thus far.
Now, if only I could get the laptop from heating up enough to scorch my lap when in use...
Showing posts with label pc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pc. Show all posts
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
MacBook Pro vs. Sony Vaio, An Update
The Laptop Wars!! Hardly.
So I've now been using my MacBook Pro for about four months and I still really like it. The learning curve was short because I watched as many Apple videos and read as many Windows-to-Mac switch articles as possible.
I especially enjoy the portability. My Mac is 13 inches, so I can slide it into my work bag and that's it! The battery is far far better than the (2007) Sony Vaio, so I often don't even take my charger with me. On the other hand, for my Vaio, I had to purchase a replacement charging cord because the one I had, suddenly started sparking at a section where it somehow got cut, while I was on the sofa with Benny (my dog). Eek. Talking about waking up from hiberantion in January, that really got my motor running that day. Luckily, no injuries to sofa or otherwise were had.
But would I give up the Sony to switch to Mac? No. I prefer to have two laptops for different purposes.
My Sony has all my movies (and the huge letterbox screen to watch them with) and all my music collection. I also use it to synch my iPhone. My documents and photos are stored on Dropbox so I can access them anywhere. My Vaio also has my Dreamweaver CS4 and Photoshop 7. So I do most of my web programming homework or on-the-side experiments there.
My Mac is used as an Internet appliance (as is my iPhone mostly!) where I just learn the Mac way, download interesting software, then uninstall it after I get bored with it, and just keep on trucking on my merry Apple-tinted web 2.0 way.
I still don't understand why the industry standard in graphic design is using Macs. The quality of pixels and art/design/layout can be modified using the same standards either in a Windows machine or a Mac. The software is the same (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign etc.). I'm sure there has to be a reason besides the eye candy and encapsulation convenience of Mac products. I certainly don't feel like taking up a full-time job working on web programming or design (either on a Mac or Windows), because, well for one I have been there and done that and didn't like it, and secondly, I like the flexibility of playing with these projects when the muse strikes and then moving on to something else.
As it regards the new delectable iPad...I'm not so sure I need it. I like reading paper books, because screen reading causes me eye strain--and boy, after editing pages and pages at work during the day, the last thing I need is more eye strain. And I know everything looks delicious on the iPad, but I see it just fine on my two laptops and iPhone.
I'm not into photo album features because I do just fine with Flickr. I'm not into newspaper reading, because I use feeds and stream my info in multiple fashion online (and on apps on my iPhone). And I can listen to Pandora and mp3s on my iPhone or laptops just fine right now. I'm not really seeing the point just yet. And importantly, I have a beef with finger smudges on slippery products--that's why I am now on my second rubber/non-slip cover for my iPhone.
What do you think about the Windows vs. Mac fight? Are you getting an iPad?
So I've now been using my MacBook Pro for about four months and I still really like it. The learning curve was short because I watched as many Apple videos and read as many Windows-to-Mac switch articles as possible.
I especially enjoy the portability. My Mac is 13 inches, so I can slide it into my work bag and that's it! The battery is far far better than the (2007) Sony Vaio, so I often don't even take my charger with me. On the other hand, for my Vaio, I had to purchase a replacement charging cord because the one I had, suddenly started sparking at a section where it somehow got cut, while I was on the sofa with Benny (my dog). Eek. Talking about waking up from hiberantion in January, that really got my motor running that day. Luckily, no injuries to sofa or otherwise were had.
But would I give up the Sony to switch to Mac? No. I prefer to have two laptops for different purposes.
My Sony has all my movies (and the huge letterbox screen to watch them with) and all my music collection. I also use it to synch my iPhone. My documents and photos are stored on Dropbox so I can access them anywhere. My Vaio also has my Dreamweaver CS4 and Photoshop 7. So I do most of my web programming homework or on-the-side experiments there.
My Mac is used as an Internet appliance (as is my iPhone mostly!) where I just learn the Mac way, download interesting software, then uninstall it after I get bored with it, and just keep on trucking on my merry Apple-tinted web 2.0 way.
I still don't understand why the industry standard in graphic design is using Macs. The quality of pixels and art/design/layout can be modified using the same standards either in a Windows machine or a Mac. The software is the same (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign etc.). I'm sure there has to be a reason besides the eye candy and encapsulation convenience of Mac products. I certainly don't feel like taking up a full-time job working on web programming or design (either on a Mac or Windows), because, well for one I have been there and done that and didn't like it, and secondly, I like the flexibility of playing with these projects when the muse strikes and then moving on to something else.
As it regards the new delectable iPad...I'm not so sure I need it. I like reading paper books, because screen reading causes me eye strain--and boy, after editing pages and pages at work during the day, the last thing I need is more eye strain. And I know everything looks delicious on the iPad, but I see it just fine on my two laptops and iPhone.
I'm not into photo album features because I do just fine with Flickr. I'm not into newspaper reading, because I use feeds and stream my info in multiple fashion online (and on apps on my iPhone). And I can listen to Pandora and mp3s on my iPhone or laptops just fine right now. I'm not really seeing the point just yet. And importantly, I have a beef with finger smudges on slippery products--that's why I am now on my second rubber/non-slip cover for my iPhone.
What do you think about the Windows vs. Mac fight? Are you getting an iPad?
Friday, November 6, 2009
Backup your Flickr
I became a Pro member of Flickr (translation=paid) because I felt it's the best and more social media friendly online photo repository. It doesn't hurt that I liked people's photos on there better than on Picasa, either.
But it's always tricky for me to decide whether I want to upload ALL the pics from my PC onto there, vs. keeping private ones private and away from the Internet. Er...we all have our reasons...
But then there's the new question: how do you backup Flickr photos in case something happens to your PC or to your Flickr (you decide you don't want something then you do after all and it's too late, etc.). Well apprently there's a few little tools you can leverage at your disposal. An article on 3 Tools to Backup your Flickr at makeuseof.com helps you figure out which option is best for ya.
As for me, I've bought a USB external drive to which I save all my music, movies, and photos on a weekly basis. I am still going to reread the above-mentioned article and see if this is an option I'm willing to try out. I shall enjoy solving the new conundrum of backup choice-making when I get a mac at the very end of this year.
But it's always tricky for me to decide whether I want to upload ALL the pics from my PC onto there, vs. keeping private ones private and away from the Internet. Er...we all have our reasons...
But then there's the new question: how do you backup Flickr photos in case something happens to your PC or to your Flickr (you decide you don't want something then you do after all and it's too late, etc.). Well apprently there's a few little tools you can leverage at your disposal. An article on 3 Tools to Backup your Flickr at makeuseof.com helps you figure out which option is best for ya.
As for me, I've bought a USB external drive to which I save all my music, movies, and photos on a weekly basis. I am still going to reread the above-mentioned article and see if this is an option I'm willing to try out. I shall enjoy solving the new conundrum of backup choice-making when I get a mac at the very end of this year.
Hook Phone up to PC
You can use your Bluetooth to connect your phone with your PC if you don't have your tether/cord/whatever handy.
But it's not as intuitive as I first thought...especially when the significant other unit is in an **urgent** need to grab my Fergie mp3s (meet me half way) for his commuting/listening enjoyment.
So I found this really awesome website (http://www.makeuseof.com)that has tons of totally useful, smart, and easy to understand how-tos. Here's the how-to for connecting your phone to your PC using Bluetooth.
Njoy!
But it's not as intuitive as I first thought...especially when the significant other unit is in an **urgent** need to grab my Fergie mp3s (meet me half way) for his commuting/listening enjoyment.
So I found this really awesome website (http://www.makeuseof.com)that has tons of totally useful, smart, and easy to understand how-tos. Here's the how-to for connecting your phone to your PC using Bluetooth.
Njoy!
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