Cheap and Nasty Izzie
04/02/2005 11:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
izmeinaIt's a sad sad day when the Izzie resorts to using public library computers to write her LJ squiggles. For this particular library you have got to make bookings. Izzie got herself an hour and is ever so lucky to get on straight away. Sometimes there may be nothing available for an hour or so.
Just got here from taking the scenic route 107 bus that does in 70 minutes what the train does in 25. This bus goes by lots of really very posh and pretty suburbs in the snotlands. Got to thinking that it was almost exactly two years ago that the Iz had taken this particular bus when it had a different number. Was the same day that there was a meeting at work for the kitchen elves to tell us all that the kitchen would be outsourced and frozen food brought in. Instead of being all doomy and gloomy, Iz was all happy and chirpy. That was Wednesday 6 February 2002. Seems like much much longer than two years ago.
Now after today, the Iz has decided that it just may well be another two years before she ventures near that route again. Didn't make the stupid mistake of last time of being on the bus around 3pm when all the Urban Assault vehicles were on the march collecting the little Joshuas and Trudys from their private schools. We couldn't have the poor dears walking ten minutes to their houses. They might get too tired to attend their gym workouts.
But for some reason, even though hardly anyone in these areas except the oldies ever use the buses (imagine the shame if the neighbours seen you) the bus company still insists on using only the newest buses in these areas and these new buses have the awful characteristic of of being very jerky when stopping and starting. It's got something to do with some stupid safety device that automatically activates the brakes while the doors are open and very few drivers have mastered the art of operating it smoothly.
So after seventy minutes of numerous roundabouts, manouevers by the driver to get past double parked Pajeros and assorted jumping and jerking, the Iz felt like she had just undergone a NASA astronaut training exercise and she was only a passenger.
Well, at least now we have an afternoon at St Brutus to look forward to after first getting some bread and stuff. Izzie had the inspired idea of cutting thin slices of parmesan cheese, tomatoes and green peppers at home so that the only thing left to get is nice crusty bread.
Tomorrow the Iz slinks off to her favorite beach which she had originally intended to visit two weeks ago until a last minute change in plans resulted in a detour to the Snakepit.
Tonight, will have to be a good little serpent and visit the Ministry computers. Now that internet access is no longer available to graduated goblins, the only thing left to do is write that damned stupid resume and save it on the usb pen thingie. Or we could always try playing with Photoshop.
Funny - from at least five visits a week, the Iz hasn't darkened the door of the place since last Friday.
Since the ma asked Izzie to visit Sunday nights instead of Saturdays like we used to, and lately we seem to be stuck with those stupid 8am shifts on Mondays, Iz did not see the point in topping up the prepaid internet hours on the ma's computer. Will be interesting to see what surprises will be on the new roster starting 16 February.
The Iz is hoping to get extra hours this Tuesday. Been so so long since last lurking in chatland. Izzie also wants to know what the story is with wireless internet laptops. Iz always had the impression that wireless internet is extremely expensive but got told by the anarchistic lawless lot at this morning's public speaking group that there's lots of 'hot spots' where you can go to freeload.
Any geeks care to enlighten the Iz on such issues - like apart from wireless internet, what else is absolutely essential in a laptop and what things should one avoid at all costs?
Since the price of such laptops with cd burners and stuff is now down around $$1,500, the Iz might seriously consider getting one but does not want to appear clueless while snooping and sniffing.
Just got here from taking the scenic route 107 bus that does in 70 minutes what the train does in 25. This bus goes by lots of really very posh and pretty suburbs in the snotlands. Got to thinking that it was almost exactly two years ago that the Iz had taken this particular bus when it had a different number. Was the same day that there was a meeting at work for the kitchen elves to tell us all that the kitchen would be outsourced and frozen food brought in. Instead of being all doomy and gloomy, Iz was all happy and chirpy. That was Wednesday 6 February 2002. Seems like much much longer than two years ago.
Now after today, the Iz has decided that it just may well be another two years before she ventures near that route again. Didn't make the stupid mistake of last time of being on the bus around 3pm when all the Urban Assault vehicles were on the march collecting the little Joshuas and Trudys from their private schools. We couldn't have the poor dears walking ten minutes to their houses. They might get too tired to attend their gym workouts.
But for some reason, even though hardly anyone in these areas except the oldies ever use the buses (imagine the shame if the neighbours seen you) the bus company still insists on using only the newest buses in these areas and these new buses have the awful characteristic of of being very jerky when stopping and starting. It's got something to do with some stupid safety device that automatically activates the brakes while the doors are open and very few drivers have mastered the art of operating it smoothly.
So after seventy minutes of numerous roundabouts, manouevers by the driver to get past double parked Pajeros and assorted jumping and jerking, the Iz felt like she had just undergone a NASA astronaut training exercise and she was only a passenger.
Well, at least now we have an afternoon at St Brutus to look forward to after first getting some bread and stuff. Izzie had the inspired idea of cutting thin slices of parmesan cheese, tomatoes and green peppers at home so that the only thing left to get is nice crusty bread.
Tomorrow the Iz slinks off to her favorite beach which she had originally intended to visit two weeks ago until a last minute change in plans resulted in a detour to the Snakepit.
Tonight, will have to be a good little serpent and visit the Ministry computers. Now that internet access is no longer available to graduated goblins, the only thing left to do is write that damned stupid resume and save it on the usb pen thingie. Or we could always try playing with Photoshop.
Funny - from at least five visits a week, the Iz hasn't darkened the door of the place since last Friday.
Since the ma asked Izzie to visit Sunday nights instead of Saturdays like we used to, and lately we seem to be stuck with those stupid 8am shifts on Mondays, Iz did not see the point in topping up the prepaid internet hours on the ma's computer. Will be interesting to see what surprises will be on the new roster starting 16 February.
The Iz is hoping to get extra hours this Tuesday. Been so so long since last lurking in chatland. Izzie also wants to know what the story is with wireless internet laptops. Iz always had the impression that wireless internet is extremely expensive but got told by the anarchistic lawless lot at this morning's public speaking group that there's lots of 'hot spots' where you can go to freeload.
Any geeks care to enlighten the Iz on such issues - like apart from wireless internet, what else is absolutely essential in a laptop and what things should one avoid at all costs?
Since the price of such laptops with cd burners and stuff is now down around $$1,500, the Iz might seriously consider getting one but does not want to appear clueless while snooping and sniffing.
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Date: 2005-02-05 09:39 am (UTC)As for the laptop, if you still want to be geeky and install Linux on it, check the http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/ (or similar) for the presence of your model (although the laptop may work fine with Linux even if it's not listed yet), or when you have an eye on some particular model, research it on google before buying. Of course you also can ask in the store, but most of the clerks are pretty clueless in everything which concerns Linux.
Don't buy one-button-mouse laptops (apple) if you're planning to switch the OS... because then you'll have to use an external mouse :( I don't know what other essential features might be missing on a laptop... I'd go for at least something like 1.2Ghz speed, 512Mb memory (it's possible to ask them to install more - for some reason the default memory configuration in all the new computers is kind of low), 40Gb hard disk, a 64Mb AGP graphics card (NVidia GeForce if possible, but it's essential for gaming, probably doesn't matter for word processing and such). Of course the CDROM, the USB port, (die floppy drives die :) and the above-mentioned wireless card. Check how long the batteries last if you're planning to use it outdoors.
Maybe you'll be interested in this laptop ?
We wants it!
Thanks for the other tips and tidbits. Iz did get the Apple laptop leaflet and they've got all the stuff you mentioned but seem to cost about 50% more than the usual PC laptops. Iz never did ask what operating system they have - it just might be worth getting an apple simply to escape the evil influence of Windoze.
And it seems with wireless that you still have to have a stupid phone line somewhere in the house anywhere unless one goes freeloading in those 'hot spots' and Iz has heard lots of bad reports about crappy security and stuff concerning wireless.