The new toy.

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I am trying the new machine. It is a Toshiba nb200. Beyond having the biggest keyboard among micros or notebooks, the longest (?) battery life, and some other good features, it just felt right. Plus, I no longer trust HP and Dell spent my trust in them on their prejudice against guns (long story, but if you want to know, ask). There were other reasons I went with Toshiba over Asus, though I honestly think for the types of applications I am interested in for this machine, all of them would have worked. I can take this into the field, and write there, to send later or perhaps, to send with certain other electronic toys I am also considering.

Actually, this machine is not just for the field. I believe I will be using it for my email, online business, and internet browsing. The old machine will simply become an offline gaming rig for all of the games I have. I suppose I will just have to quit playing the online games. They are easy to steal anyway, and with a compromised desktop, I kept losing access or had aspects of those games compromised. That is so not fun that even the free games became more of an annoyance than anything.

I also think, when I can figure it out, I will change this to a dual boot OS, and then switch to using one of the Linux platforms. Which one I cannot be sure. I have some belief that Linux is more secure, and that can be tightened, for free, even then. I am not sure if I can learn C++ or some of the other programming languages on this, but that would be good. Without a DVD player, everything I put on this will need to be added via the internet, unless I wish to shell out for a external DVD R/RW, etc. Perhaps in time.

Okay, I admit it. This whole post was just to see if I could get used to the keyboard. To be honest, even with paws the size of bear paws, I am having no real problems with this. What I am finding a problem, however, is the heat. This thing is all but glowing. As someone who is heat sensitive, this could end up being a problem. There are devices that will help. And, really, in the winter, this thing could be a great hand warmer. But in the heat of summer, this will not be a favorable aspect. Time will tell. If need be, I have 30 days to accept or take this machine back. But I will only be here, probably for a little more than a week more, so… I will need to know by then. Though, there are Best Buys everywhere. Decisions, short timing it, and all that is getting rather old. I NEED TO LEAVE!!!

Good night.

Update: That post was from when I first purchased the machine. Since then, I have had no real problems with the heat, and the battery does seem fairly long lasting, if I have not timed it. My internet quit, and I had difficulty using my neighbors internet. I took the machine in and after a tagteam effort by two of the Geek Squad at Best Buy spent five minutes on it, they solved the problem. When I got it home, I was able to use it and reconfigure some things even though I have never done this before.

Since I gave away my computer desk and my own internet is down anyway, and add in that I cannot use my old email addresses once I turn in my modem and end my household service, I really need this machine to use the local wireless to get all of my email address connections fixed before I shut down the system. Go figure. All this in the middle of the mad dash to finish packing. I am doing okay, but I keep tripping over seeming isolated events which end up causing problems. Printer without cord, this system having something deep inside which would not allow IP addresses to be randomized (or even changed), ISP outage, and the list goes on. A few more days and one way or another I will be finished with this damned fool and evil place.

Well, now I really must sleep. Good night!