Barb’s Connected World

Posts Tagged ‘Uncategorized’

I’d be remiss if I didn’t make mention of two issues with the new dream pc.

First off, as others have been reporting, the onboard IR receiver that is the enabler for the MCE remote and keyboard was not functioning when I set up the machine. As a work-around, I borrowed an external eHome USB IR receiver from one of my other machines and plugged it into one of the rear USB ports (and I also contacted Velocity Micro). After an interchange of emails where I learned that VM was not pre-advised that MS would be installing the 64 bit version of Vista, and pointers from VM to “beta drivers”, I checked and investigated further and found that MS did install the drivers for this device, but that device manager reported them unsigned. You can press F8 on each boot as a work around for unsigned drivers, except in this case the included keyboard was an MCE keyboard that requires the IRtrans device to be operational (and as I recall it does not work until the GUI is booted anyway). Chris Morley tells me that he is chasing signed 64 bit IR drivers with a vengeance and will provide them ASAP.

The other problem that I have is that the two front USB ports are not working. I found that strange since the X in 1 Media Reader is working fine. I have not cracked open the case yet to investigate (and won’t until I return from CES), but this is not a showstopper.

I spoke with Chris Morley this morning. Great guy. And this is still a great machine.

(Homage to Technology)

As I sit here watching High Definition TV, I reflect on how quickly we’ve moved from CRT based black and white TV’s to today’s LCD and Plasma based flat screens. It wasn’t that long ago that I purchased my very first color TV. I was one of the last people I know to get one. A 13 inch RCA. The year was 1983. It was beautiful. And I was living in a one room studio nearly without any technology at all save a small transistor radio and wind up alarm clock. It was shortly after that when I bought my first computer, a Tandy 1000 SL. Circa early 1984. And yes, Radio Shack still keeps docs for these relics online. Look at the features of this beauty! And look at all the setup options. I remember buying the SmartWatch add-on to avoid having to type in the time and date at every bootup. In 1989, I purchased my second computer and it was mobile love at first sight. This state of the art portable was a 13.5 lb. luggable Tandy 1400 FD convertible pc. Equipped with a whopping 768K of RAM, it had a switchable clock speed of 4.77/8.16 MHz and an 8026/7 Intel 8 MHz processor..

I realized that I’d discovered technology. And nothing has been the same since.

Fast forward to 2007. Windows Vista 64 bit computing and all the multi media is state of the art. We’ve gone from DOS to Windows and skyrocketed beyond what I could even imagine back in the “olden days”. And as I sit here typing this blog entry on Ferrari 5000 Vista x64 computer watching TV using MCE on a Velocity Micro 64 bit Vista home theater desktop computer I reflect on how far I’ve come. And how lucky I am to have the opportunities that have come my way.

It’s a good thing I have this week off from work. I’ve had some quality time to spend exploring the Velocity Micro Windows Vista Ultimate computer home entertainment system. Windows Media Center rocks. If you want a quick overview of Media Center, see my column Windows Media Center or webcast.

64 Bit Vista Operating System: Out of the box, the computer was loaded with the 64 bit edition of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. Microsoft custom loaded this box and I would think that Microsoft/AMD want to demonstrate that 64 bit computing is the future (but here today). I’ve been a fan of 64 bit client computing since Windows XP Pro x64 and wrote about Upgrading a Laptop to Dual Boot with Windows XP x64 Edition.  So I am hoping that companies like Velocity Micro load x64 on these machines when they become available for sale in January 2007.

Peripherals: The only downside with x64 is that other peripherals you already own may not have 64 bit signed drivers. But there are work arounds if you don’t want to replace most existing functioning equipment. Older printers, for example. See my work around in the section Older operating systems and older hardware in my column Windows Vista Home Networking. My Nikons are recognized when I plug in the USB cable. See Digital Imaging in Windows Vista Photo Gallery for info on how this works.  Some people are reporting in various newsgroups that they can’t find drivers for their camera (camera that don’t look like external USB hard drives to Windows fall into this category). Luckily, the Velocity Micro (like most computers and laptops you buy today) has one of those X in 1 media readers which work beautifully with Vista on x64.

Networking: There are two onboard NICs (remember, ASUS mobo..) and an internal (but apparently USB bus based) wireless NIC.  This NIC is a standard ASUS 802.11g and not one of the newer draft N or a/g types. I’m hoping that this piece gets an upgrade before production shipping starts. I’ve connected one of the onboard Ethernet NICs to a D-Link DGL-3420  gaming adapter (you can see this in some of the images in other blog entries here) running to a dedicated 802.11a AP on my network, so I’ve got the Need For Speed licked. Some folks in the public Vista newsgroups are reporting some connectivity issues with older wireless routers. So check for a firmware upgrade or replace it if you are bitten by this one. I’ve been fine, but I have fairly new routers and access points.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better.

Cable Card (OCUR) support *IS* soon to be an option for Vista Media Center Computers custom built by Velocity Micro. See http://www.velocitymicroblog.com/ and the blog entry “11.28.2006 What I Want For Christmas”.

I’ve been exchanging a few emails with Chris Morley.

I talk about Cable Card support in a recent webcast I did for Microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/927174