This isn’t the first time a Commodore 64 laptop has been made but it’s probably the coolest one. Commodore’s original SX 64 was built in 1984 and featured a tiny 5 inch CRT screen with a hardly portable body weighing in at 10kg! I actually saw an SX 64 years […]
Linux
HOWTO: Ubuntu desktop visual effects on Dell D630
The Dell Latitude D630 comes with a number of different video cards but if you use the Intel chipset you may be frustrated when trying to activate the visual effects eye candy of Compiz: Checking either of the lower two options brings up this alert saying, “Desktop effects could not […]
Linux
Ubuntu WiFi problems on the Dell D630 laptop
Wireless networking was always a bit patchy for me on my Dell Latitude D630 while running Ubuntu Gutsy version of Linux. It would work fine for ages and then freeze up suddenly, requiring a hard reboot to get things working (Apache would become unkillable, I guess because it was attached […]
Web
It's so hard to sell a laptop on eBay
Sometimes blog posts take on a life of their own. Occasionally they attract the wrong sort of attention. I made a brief post called, Laptop for sale back in 2003 and ever since that post has been collecting comments from Nigerian scammers. It’s bizarre. Last month one of them got […]
Linux
Ubuntu Gutsy on the Dell Latitude D630
I previously documented my problems with Ubuntu and the DVD in the D630 but the upgrade to Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy From Feisty went almost painlessly. All the packages downloaded and installed through the nice GUI front end. I was able to work away while they downloaded and for most of […]
Linux
Ubuntu Linux on Dell D630: the DVD
Getting the DVD drive working in Ubuntu Feisty on my Dell D630 laptop was one of the tasks that eluded me until a few minutes ago when I went searching again and found the solution. At first I tried this and used the ide-generic driver. Linux recognised the drive, but […]
Apple
How much of your Macbook's battery is gone for good?
Rechargeable batteries start deteriorating from the moment they are manufactured. I’ve noticed my Canon 20D’s batteries don’t last quite as long as they did 2 years ago. AA and AAA batteries seem to be even worse. As I’m heading to San Francisco in July I’ll be doing a lot of […]
C64
Picodore 64: Your DIY Commodore 64
Ever fancy your hand at building a C64 laptop? Here are some screenshots and ideas from someone who built a mini laptop from the parts of a C64 games joystick! I have one of those joysticks.. I wonder if I can do the same, but I think I’ll stick with […]
Apple
The Pigs, they are a flying
The impossible has happened. When you're outside over the next few days watch the skies. If you looks carefully you may see pigs flying through the air! Why? My Apple MacBook arrived yesterday and I'm playing with it now. After some initial problems with my Linksys WRT54G wireless router I […]