Bill Ryan's Other Blog

Ok, I’m being a little dramatic, after all the only thing that happened was that Time Magazine moved the Droid to the top of it’s gadget list.  That’s a good sign.  I had an iPhone and I liked it a lot.  And I hate to say it, but it was much better across the board than my comparable Windows Mobile 6.0 Phone.  When my airheadedness took the life of my iPhone, I hopped on the opportunity to get an Android.  I know I’m a Microsoft MVP and Google is the arch enemy but well, I don’t think anyone can blame me.

I like my G1 a lot.  I see way more iPhones out there but I think the Droid is going to take it soon.  As everyone and his brother gets an iPhone, the coolness factor is wearing off – it’s like what happens when the superdorks start listening to the same underground band you were listening to 3 years ago.  Apple fanboys are among the most obnoxious fanboys on Earth. It’s not that they have no right to talk smack, the iPhone set a new standard and forced other competitors to step up to the plate. It’s just that they’ve overplayed their hand. 

Since AT&T was kind enough to give me a Tilt 2 as the prize for the Windows Mobile Race, I’ll be using it for a while.  But I have to admit, it hurts to pass up the Motorola Cliq. We’re counting the days until Windows Mobile 7 comes out – at which point every family member will immediately have the coolest WinMo 7 phone out.  But we’re (I’m) conflicted as to whether or not we need a new Android in the family between now and then.

I want to see Windows Mobile be the force it originally was. I want Microsoft to win.  Yah,I know, “Mr Microsoft” yada yada yada.  But the truth is, I spent a long time learning the Compact Framework and it’s rough thinking about letting it go  (which I won’t do).  A really killer Windows Mobile 7 will be awesome and if it’s half as cool as I’ve heard, the competition between the 3 platforms is going to lead to some seriously awesome sh*z.  Firefox bitch slapped IE across the face and forced it to get a lot better.  iPhone and Android have slapped windows mobile even harder.  Competition, especially fierce competition between 3 powerful, innovative and rich companies with plenty of smart people can only be good for the marketplace.

I’m hoping Android slaps around iPhone for a while… until Windows Mobile 7 comes out and takes it from Android.  Then I’d like to see steady back and forth competition between Andriod and Windows Mobile 7 until the mobile market is so awesome that the singularity is reached, or whatever.  Not sure it’s going to happen like this, but that’s what I’m hoping for.  It’s a small step, but at least the market is recognizing that the iPhone isn’t any cooler than the Android – before long people will realize it’s actually less cool.  But I digress.

[tags]iPhone, Windows Mobile 7, Windows Mobile 6.5, Andriod, Motorola Cliq, Android G2, HTC Tilt 2[/tags]

The new Cuckoo 1 was delivered last night and Kim and I headed over to pick it up.  The Cuckooette was very enthused by this particular model but didn’t accompany us b/c she was at a sleep over with one of her very cool friends.  (So tonight, she and I will be driving around minus Kim, doing what people do in cars that like to go really fast).  The process was quick and painless and within an hour – we were off:

I wanted a sports car and so did the Cuckooette. Kim wanted anything but a sports car.  My mother seldom inserts herself into family decisions but when she saw the 370z I was originally looking at, she said the following:

Do me a favor would you?  On your way to pick it up, can you stop by the store and buy a really big butcher knife, then stop by and plunge it into my heart.  B/c that’s what buying that stupid car will do to me anyway, but at least it’ll be quick and painless

Mom isn’t above throwing out a bitchin guilt trip here and there when it comes to something she views as life-death. And she was pretty convinced that the 370z would be a continuation of the last Cuckoo 1, and that I’d inevitably get myself killed. Kim’s sentiment was pretty much the same, although she was a little more clever about hiding it

You’re a few years away from being 40, you’re married, with a wife and daughter that need you.  2 Seat cars are for non-married men, or inconsiderate men, and you’re neither.  So you can get whatever car you want, as long as it’s not a 2 seater and as long as it’s not some ridiculous sports car. And yes, a RX-8 is off the list of acceptable vehicles

Then one day, my wife called and said she found the perfect car for me, it was an Infinit G something or other.  I thought, God not only answers prayers, he’s quick to hook a brotha like me up.  My swagga already included:

• Da Dough
• Da Paypah
• Da Hoes (Kim, dear, if you’re reading this and I hope you’re not, I only pluralized Hoes for grammatical consistency, and don’t believe what all those people tell you, Ho is an abbreviated form of ‘Honey’, honest)
• Da Gats (Da feds ain’t the only ones that can Pimp Sigs and Glocks, I pimp a Sig P250 and a Glock 23 and trying to figure out how the hell I can mack around a H&K MP5 like evil movie villains do)
• Da threads (who other than OJ has more Bruno Magli’s then me. Who other than has more Ferragamo’s then me? If Imelda Marcos was a silly fuzzy teddy bear with a touch of gangsta swagga, her name would be Bill)

So now I can add

• Da Whips – as of November 24.  You simply can’t pimp in a Malibu. Period.

You see, for all of her objecting, Kim called one day and had the ‘Perfect’ car for me.  She was pulling up next to it and would let me know what it was.  ‘Oh, it’s a Porsche Cayman, never mind’.  What a bummer that was. So I was bumming, thinking I was about to head straight into dorkville for a while (at least they weren’t demanding a Minivan. So no matter how lame it was, I could at least still have my manhood.  Yes, there’s no such thing as a man that drives a minivan – that’s right.  In fact, if you’ve ever even thought about driving a minivan, then you get kicked out of the club)

A few days later I got the same call, but this time she said “It’s an Infiniti something or other”

Me:  “You mean, the G35 or G37? “

Kim:  “I think so but I’m not sure, its really cool though, I know you’d like it”

Me:  “2 doors?”

Kim:  “Yes, its sporty but looked mature and professional not like something some teenaged hotrodder would drive around. HINT HINT HINT”

Me: “So I can get one?”

Kim: “If you like it and want one, yes, I think that’d be ok.”

Me: “Will you tell my mom that you approve so I can get her off my back?”
Kim: “Well, yes.  Like I said, it looks refined, it’s not a hotrod but it’s still sport”

Me: [Thinking to myself – Will I burn in hell for not pointing out to her that this is the same damned car she and my mom hate, but with 4 seats?  Maybe I should tell her. No, that would be patronizing. She’s a big girl and a hell of a lot smarter than me. She knows what she approves of or not. I don’t need to say a damned word about it mwuahahahahahahahahaha. Behold my Patrick Duffy Leg dammit!”

Me: “Can we go look at them tonight”

Kim: “Well I look for some online but yes, we need to get this taken care of”

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Three days later I was driving home in it.  I wanted to hurry up and buy the thing before she realized it was just a  4 seated version of the 370 because I was renting a car and the period that the insurance company covered it had just run out. So I didn’t check it out very much.  I knew I’d like it so if she was cool with it, I’d be cool with it too.  Upon getting it though – I realized how unbelievably high tech it is.  And I was fully intent on adding to the list.  There’s a little more cabin space and a ton more dashboard space than the previous Cuckoo1 so my dreams could be realized. The following is being as we speak or tonight:

1. Kyocera KR1 – Mobile Travel Router
2. T-Mobile webConnect ™ usb 3G Travel Router
3. Vehicular AC Power Supply
4. Gateway Netbook (and yes little Cuckooette, unless you change your mind and want to go on another super trip to Hollister, I’m sure CuckooClaus will have one of these for you)
5. U2500 Vehicle Laptop Stand

So when Kim and I drive to Fripp Island tomorrow to see Mom and the family, Kim will be able to surf the net in 3G, on a Netbook instead of her Android. Since the Netbook has Windows 7 instead of Vista, it’ll actually be a good experience for her).

But the picture is bigger than this.  We’ve got a few extra notebooks at the house and some tablets too.  The back seats are really small and fitted specifically for function as opposed to space.  The router and webConnect™ enables the car to be a Wi-Fi hotspot and if I understood correctly a full T-Mobile hotspot as well.  Between now and Christmas, the Cuckooette and Kim along with anyone else we may be taking with us can surf the net in relative comfort while driving around town or on trips.  Sure, longer trips may have some down spots but on the whole, the trips we usually take have solid connectivity for most of it.  The Cuckooette's finally coming of age and I’m sure would jump on an opportunity to shed her DS in favor of browsing YouTube with her cumpys.

Two more Zune HD’s have been requested for the remaining members of the household (in the interim, they’ll have to suffer through using their current Zune’s, or borrowing my Zune HD) which can be used to surf the net while driving as well.

At the end of the day, watching YouTube clips is no more value added than watching Hannah Montana or whatever else but I feel  a lot cooler/better about having computer access for the wife and daughter than DVD or movie access. Maybe that’s just my mind trying to rationalize buying more computers and more gadgets but since I’m not the one who’ll be using the stuff primarily (not the computers anyway), I think I can still try to pass off the altruism routine, right?

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If you’re interested in vehicle computer systems, the best place to start is probably Geek My Ride. The book provides several links to a companion site and enthusiast sites as well as vendors who sell the various components.  There is also a lot of other coolness you’ll find in the book (I mean, what’s cooler than a computer geek who drives a RX-8, and a black one no less. Not sure but I know that a computer geek that drives a techhed out G35 has to be right up there). And if you want to check the book out before buying it, It’s available on Google Books.

There are several computers specifically made for cars, most of which are just the case and stuff inside.  Depending on your car and what you’re trying to accomplish, this may or may not be desirable.  Netbooks are so cheap now though – that I highly recommend them for such projects(just make sure you install Windows 7 instead of Vista). You can get Netbooks in all shapes and sizes so from small to large, you’re covered.  What’s more, you don’t have to deal with having a monitor and a computer (although you’ll probably have to work out some sort of fastener for the Netbook including a seatbelt equivalent – unless of course you don’t mind leaving heavy projectiles sitting around your car).  There’s a lot of simplicity here and consider this – I’m about as unskilled when it comes to drilling and installing stuff as a man can be yet I pulled it off without a glitch – I promise you, you can too. Think about this too – what are Netbooks targeted to do?  Browse the web, check email and light editing of office documents (You don’t want to write multiple best selling computer books on a Netbook unless you get yourself a much better keyboard).  That’s exactly the sorts of things you’d primarily due as a passenger in a car – or need in a pinch when you’re driving.  So b/c of price, weight, battery life etc, a Netbook is probably a great choice.

If you’re on a low budget, you can do away with some of this stuff too.

You can do away with the Notebook mount for one thing.  You could build your own or get a small lap based laptop desk. You can also do away with the router. If you don’t have two lovely ladies driving around with you that you want to keep entertained, then you can just Roll Fo Dolo and skip the router.  Save roughly $150.00 on the project

If you don’t need/want to power multiple machines you can do away with the power supply (although you still want a surge protector) as well.  I always have devices that need powered (and now that my wife turned into an Android junkie, she does too) so I got a power supply that could charge multiple items at once. My thinking is that with multiple people actively surfing, I was pretty sure battery life would die more quickly. Save roughly $100.00 on the project

Or you could be completely lame and just skip the internet connection, but I can’t think of much fun in that case. Save roughly $50.00 on the project up front, and then monthly costs of the plan

I’m going to ask Kim to post a review of the experience after we get home this weekend.  The Cuckooette will likely want to provide a review of her experience as well – with a little luck I may be able to provide that this evening. Sure, I’m going to write about how cool the stuff is, b/c I’m a gadget geek and I went through all the trouble of setting it up (which honestly, wasn’t much trouble at all – I was shocked at how easy it was). However the end users (Kim and the Cuckooette and maybe some of her friends once they’ve had a chance to see it in action) are going to be less tolerant of things that don’t go well and will have a different perspective altogether.  I think their reviews will be particularly insightful.

[tags] Geek my ride, Car Computing, Mobile Computing, Android, T-Mobile Hot Spot, Netbook, Kyocera KR1, Mobile Router, Gateway Netbook, Netbook, Bill Ryan, Kim Ryan, Cuckooette, Windows 7, Windows 7 vs Vista, Infiniti G37 [/tags]

Did a quick inventory trying to plan out some networking issues – I decided to lock down the network. To do that, I needed to first do an accurate inventory of everything in the house that connects to the internet.

• Notebooks | Netbooks – 7 total
•      Windows XP Pro – 2
•      Windows XP Media Center – 2
•      Windows Vista – 2
•      Windows 7 – 1
• Desktops – 3 Total
•      Windows XP Pro – 3
• Servers – 1
•      Windows Home Server – 1
• Routers | Switches – 3
•      Wireless N – 1
•      Wireless G – 1
•      Gigabyte Switch – 1
• Video Game Systems – 2
•      XBox 360 – 1
•      Wii – 1
• VOIP Adapter – 1
• Misc Devices – 3
•      Wireless Printer – 1
•      Zune HD – 1
•      Tablet PC – 1

Doing a nice clean inventory (Mrs. Ryan dear, I can make LISTS TOO – W00T!!!!!!) sure puts things in perspective.  B/c when I look at the networking area – All I see is some glowing neon and a bunch of cables that look like they’re trying to strangle the dogs or anything that comes near them.

(Great, I just heard the Router complaining about me again Having to serve a secondary router is already difficult enough, but how do you as a primary router deal with pressures that are unnecessarily created by secondary devices, obnoxious humans and doom spreading canines who don’t understand that Cisco/Linksys/Netgear != Dog Toy, that wants to destroy your available bandwidth, and will continue to do so until one way or another they break you? (When we just had the Netgear Router everything was fine – but once the Linksys moved in – it’s been nothing but headaches, whining and a whole lotta butthurt)

I’ve been having a  ton of problems recently with dropped connections. There’s a wall separating the kitchen and living room (where the routers are located) so using the microwave usually causes some problems.  But things are much bigger than just this.  The Netbook drops the connection constantly  and is the one usually located closest to the routers.  If I am on it for an hour – it will drop at least once.  Kim’s Mrs. Ryan’s media center and work notebook seem to be the most robust and seldom drop irrespective of where they are.  There’s a desktop that connected over BPL and whenever that was used, we’d have immediate problems with other computers.  The problem was in part that the assigned IP Address would often be one already in use – so that was easy to correct.

Frustrated (b/c I can’t download anything new like Office 10 without a trillion attempts), I decided to fix it this evening.   Brilliant idea on my part.

No matter how hard I try, no matter what I buy to help alleviate the problem, my network cables gain self-awareness and decide that all carbon based life forms inhabiting our house need destroyed.  I’d like to be a man about it and blame my wife but no one would believe that.  But we use velcro wraps, plastic ties, a special octopus power strip and UPS that has fasteners to hold each incoming power chord.  Even with all of this, it looks like I hosted a beer funnel and Graphix Bong contest at my house before attempting to install everything. Then I realized something really disturbing – I have this complete mayhem of a situation and every one of our computers (as well as the video game systems) are wireless. I can only imagine what kind of clusterf*** would be in place if we were wired.

Anyway, I changed things around a bit though and basically had the configuration go from the modem to the switch where I plugged in each of the routers and BPL Adapter.  I plugged the Tablet directly into the N Router and did the same for the VOIP Adapter.  Since the Home Server is sitting next to the routers and I couldn’t possibly make things any more convoluted, I decided to plug the Windows Home Server box directly into the switch.

I turned on several of the computers and hit the internet on each of the ones I turned on.  I’ve been sitting here for about 2 hours and all is good.  Sure, it’s not *really* long enough to say for sure that I fixed the problem, but I fixed the problem. If I get 45 minutes of net time on the Netbook without dropping a connection I’m shocked. It’s been two hours.  And each time I used the power line networking – I always had problems with the other computers.  I fixed it temporarily by assigning an IP address but I undid that for the test – just to see if things were really fixed.  So far, so good.

Then I thought about it and maybe I shouldn’t be so happy yet.  You see, earlier tonight I upgraded the Netbook to Windows 7.  It’s like I stuck another 2GBs of RAM in it and fixed everything else that was wrong with it (it’s a high end Netbook so should have decent performance but froze all the time, had driver problems constantly and just overall worked like crap – all of that went Bye Bye 1 second after Windows 7 Showed up.

Either way – I should know soon what’s driving what but first thing tomorrow – all the Vista machines are going to be Windows 7 machines and unless my wife and daughter say otherwise, the XP machines are going to Windows 7 as well.  The wife and daughter both want Santa to bring them new laptops and Santa  couldn’t possibly say “No” to such charming gals.  Hopefully Santa has gotten with the program and is ensuring Windows 7 is running on any laptops he’s delivering

[tags] Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Bill Ryan, William Ryan  [/tags]