Awesome Laptop
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Topic(s): me
2004-08-04 01:47:37 PDT
As luck would have it, my laptop arrived today - the same day cable broadband was to be enabled at my apartment.
(For those interested... IBM T41 ThinkPad, 80 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM, 1.2 GHz CPU, G wireless, 4.5 hr battery, 14.1" 1400x1100 display, Windows XP, CD/DVD, IrDA, I think it may have bluetooth as well.)
So the cable dudes arrived on time. I appreciated that.
They quickly discovered that our existing modem would not transfer from Jason's former residence in Palo Alto. They were nice and retrieved a new modem from their truck, gratis.
Next they discovered there were some difficulties with my Linksys wireless access point. The WAP was removed from the loop in order to get the modem and service configured. Then it worked.
They had me sign the work order papers. They promised the WAP would work if I added it back into the loop. And they were on their way.
I added the WAP back in... and... it did not work. Not discouraged, I know this stuff rarely works on the first try. Second try. Nope. Maybe third try. No luck. Fourth, fifth. Ugh.
After a few hours of trial and error, I configured the WAP's domain to be comcast.net and that did the trick. My desktop was online!
Still I needed to get WEP going, and my laptop online.
WEP was painless for my Windows 98 desktop. It worked straight away. My laptop had some problems.
I googled for "windows xp wep linksys." A document popped up that explained that XP is ambiguous when it asks for WEP passphrases and WEP keys. You see, WEP keys are generated from WEP passphrases. XP could always ask for the passphrase and generate the key automatically. But that would be too easy.
So, the document noted that I needed to enter the key instead of the passphrase. Then everything worked.
In fact, I'm writing this blog entry on my laptop from bed!
Sometime soon I need to repartition the hard disk. What I'd like is to dual boot into XP and Debian Linux. That will, no doubt, come with its own set of headaches. But I'll have an awesome laptop!
Pulled eFingers: |
Steve —Sweet. I was issued a Gateway laptop that is the size of a microwave. Hopefully I will get a better one in Tucson. |
G. Ma —Sounds wonderful, but it's all Greek to me. I'll just plug along with what I have. I know I don't use it to the utmost,, but it's enough. Looking forward toseeing you nxt. wk. |
Louise —Yup my laptop is not only my desktop replacement but a boyfriend replacement. I think i spend way to much alone time with it. :( |
Mom —Where abouts (Texan for where) is the street address and zip of the new laptop location? I emailed Lori for her address, I have a b-day gift for Faith I need to send off to her before she turns 2 (kids grow fast!). I had her address on an envelope but lost it in the hubbub at home...Assistance, please! Love from Mom |
Exercise Your eFinger: |
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