Edward Piercy

Laptop of the Gladiators

Friday, 30. October 2009, 13:09:03

Somebody please remind me to brush my hair next
time before I get a photo taken.

As some of you may already know my Gateway laptop died on 9-9-09
(kinda creepy, yeah?). Since the laptop was my backup computer
for the desktop that died last Winter, that left me with no
computer whatsoever. For a while I did the best I could to keep
plugging with the blog posts and blog rounds working from my
Blackberry. But it eventually got to be too much -- just more
frustrating and depressing than anything else. Worse, it looked
like I wouldn't be able to come up with enough money for a new
computer until January.

So I decided to quit for a while, to get away from the blog and
to a great extent the internet altogether. I'm afraid that my
last post (which I have since deleted) wasn't very clear on
these matters, and perhaps was made worse by turning off the
Comments -- I don't quite know what I was thinking on that one.
But I would like everybody to know that it was not my intention
to cut anyone out of the loop. For that I apologize.

I'm not exactly a cool headed private eye who keeps a level head
and knows what to do in any tough situation. In fact even my
fictional private eye Pat Maginess isn't that type of person.
When dealing with stressful situations I can sometimes freak out
a bit. In the past I've had my girlfriend or other friends there
at my side to help, saying "It's okay, Ed. It'll be all right"
and sort of mentally patting my shoulder. But those friends are
gone or are fading. And I have really no one to help like that
anymore. I guess I'm going to have to learn to do that kind of
thing myself.

In any case, I didn't have to wait until next January. Through
the auspecies of my brother-in-law John, who took pity on my poor
computerless state, I was able to arrange financing for a new
laptop. So to John I would like to say -- thanks a million, bro.
Without you I would still be piddling away my mornings watching
soap operas.

For those who are into computer stuff, here are some of the
tech specs.

Model: HP Pavilion
Screen: 17"
Keyboard: full size with numeric keypad
Processor: AMD Turion X2 2.2 Ghz
RAM: 4 GB DDR2
Hard Drive: 500 GB
CD Drive: DVDRW
Ports: 4 USB, SD/Memory Stick/MMC/XD card slots
Webcam: integrated 2 MG
OS: 64-bit Windows Vista SP1

It's very fast. And to quote Donald Trump, it's HUGE, a real
desktop replacement. In fact I had to move my desk lamp from
the center of the desk where it has always been to the left
side to get the computer ergonomically right. It's also far
too heavy for me to take anywhere. But I wasn't planning on
being a road warrior with it anyway.

It's not really necessary to name a computer unless it is on
a network, but I typed in a name anyway. I call it "Gladiator"
-- seemed to fit somehow with the shiny bronze color of the
computer. "I have my books / and my poetry to protect me /
they are a mighty armour." (Paul Simon)

Now. Let's see what I can do with this blog. Probably just
more of the same -- but who knows.

Them Old Cotton Fields Back HomeThe Blue Notebook

Comments

dirk # 30. October 2009, 13:54

so glad you're back

Edward Piercy # 30. October 2009, 14:05

Hey Dirk. How are you? Hope you and your significant other are doing wonderful.

dirk # 30. October 2009, 14:19

oh yes ... we do!! just came back from office ... when I saw your blog post ... really glad that you're back, Ed! I know this charming machine will keep you online ... good choice, I think, got a HP too but desktop

and so many RAMS ... they are not needed if you run linux

Martin K # 30. October 2009, 14:34

Nice to have you back.

In lack of images of sparcely dressed roman gladiatresses, I just bring the occasional flowers.

Edward Piercy # 30. October 2009, 14:35

Linux is a great OS. Torvalds was a genius.

Edward Piercy # 30. October 2009, 14:37

Hey, Martin! Thanks for the flowers. I hear that flowers bring good luck in the arena!

Dan Alexandru # 30. October 2009, 14:38

Yeah, that last post was peculiar. Cheers!

PS: I recommend you upgrade to Win 7, if it's free. If not, SP2

PainterWoman # 30. October 2009, 14:45

Glad you're back too Ed. That's a bummer about the computers. It would make me crazy if something happened to mine.

I don't have a laptop but I do have a Dell. Bought it three years ago. My 3 in 1 printer is a LexMark which I had bought the year before that so I didn't need a Dell printer.

Come to find out that Dell has been making LexMark printers for several years so my LexMark printer is actually a Dell. Went to Staples yesterday to get more ink only to find the cartridges had gone up yet again. $49 for the color and $39 for the black. $94 with tax!!! That's a week and a half of groceries for me.

I went to the manager to complain and to ask why it had gone so outrageously high. He said it was because of Dell. He told me that now LexMark is taking back making their own printers and showed me a few models, then showed me how much the ink was for them. $16.!!!! The high prices for the others is because LexMark is trying to keep afloat because Dell has given them a bad name.....or something or other.

So in the last year, I've actually paid for a new printer because of the ink. This will be the last time I pay that price for the ink. I don't print out that much and I was suspecting that they weren't filled to full. I still think that and think that Lexmark wants people to chuck the old LexMark/Dell printers and buy the new ones actually made by them.

It's either a new printer or keep paying $100 for ink.

I don't know...I sort of feel like I'm being used or blackmailed or something.

I also found out from this guy that Dell is no longer Dell. It is now owned by Alien....something or other...which is the biggest gaming company in the business, worldwide. Plus, Windows XP no longer has tech support but that if I download Windows 7, my Dell pc won't handle it. He told me to keep XP because it is good. I'd already heard from various net sources about not having the tech support any longer.

What are ordinary people supposed to do with these tech wars? That's what I call it.

Edward Piercy # 30. October 2009, 15:05

@ Danny

Supposedly my laptop model comes with a free upgrade to Windows 7. I don't know whether to do it as I'm not sure how much reconfiguring and reinstalling I'd have to do.

There's a SP2 for Vista? I imagine that I will get the equivalent in the form of periodic updates, but I'll check into it.

@ Pam.

Interesting info. "Tech wars." That's a good phrase. You don't know how sick I am of those damn Apple commercials on television. They always have that "totally cool" young guy making the old overweight balding guy look stupid. Of course what they don't say is that the cool young guy is paying 3X as much for his computer. You know the closest MacBook to the one I just bought cost $2500?

I've always liked HP printers.

PainterWoman # 30. October 2009, 15:19

I know quite a few people who have HP printers. My ex is one of them and he's had his for five years or so. The one he had before was HP as well. I may start looking around. The three Lexmark ones I was shown yesterday ranged in price from $100 something to $299. What's funny is that they look very similar to the HP one my ex has.

Oh, and I love the name of your new laptop.

Angeliki # 30. October 2009, 17:11

he is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Darko # 30. October 2009, 18:28

Ed, your Gladiator is almost as strong as mine desktop, I think my processor is a bit faster but the rest is the same (although I would need to check on frequency your RAM is working). One question: that big tower you have behind you is your old desktop? I haven`t seen those cases for quite some time now - they were very good back when they were invented

Pam, ink printers are a scam, if you ask me. In Serbia you can buy a HP or Canon inkjet printer for less than 50 eur and then you will spend cartridges faster than you notice - as you already experienced. The best way is to buy a laser printer, it is more expensive but quality of prints are much better and cartridge would last much longer. But if you continue using ink jets, consider to change the quality from best (for photos) to normal, and for text from normal to draft or whatever is the option. It will help you save the ink.

L2D2 # 30. October 2009, 19:22

I have a HP inkjet all-in-one printer that has been very reliable for me. It scans, copies and prints and is easy to use. It uses a black ink and a tri-color ink which combo costs me about $31. If I printed more than I do, I would upgrade to a laser printer. True, the cartridges are expensive, but they will print several thousand more pages on a cartridge than mine will.

Edward. Happy you're back. Missed you. And your new PC has bigger harddrive than mine. My processor is AMD Athlon X 2, each processor being 2.6 if my memory serves.

I already have installed SP2. I think it took about 15 minutes or so.

Edward Piercy # 30. October 2009, 21:06

@ Everyone

Sasha -- Live version!

@ Pam

Yeah, it suits.

@ Angeliki

Yes, and I told Sasha that I was tired of being "unemployed" and that it was time to get our tails back to work!

@ Darko

Yeah I built that tower back in 2001. I haven't the heart to throw it away, so I'm going to stick it in the hall closet. As soon as I get around to cleaning out the hall closet, that is.

@ Linda

Thanks and it's good to see you too. I will be in the market for a new printer myself -- there's a cheapo HP laser printer that looks nice. Or there are a couple nice HP inkjets in the $100-150 range. To be honest the only thing I need a printer for these days is to print out proofs of my fiction. I need to get some bound copies and pass them out to people. Not sure exactly who those people would even be yet, but...

L2D2 # 30. October 2009, 21:16

I got my HP on sale for $40 Edward. It wasn't supposed to be, but some employees put my model on the shelf with the cheaper sales ones, and Wal-Mart had to sell it to me for that price. It's normally about 80-90USD, so I lucked out.

Edward Piercy # 30. October 2009, 21:24

Sweet. I wonder how that happened?

Oh, I forgot, it's Wal-Mart.

Stardancer # 31. October 2009, 00:04

WooHoo!!! You're BACKKKK!!!!!

About time, Edward! Missed you bunches!

And you and Sasha (and your mom, too) are absolutely adorable. REAL Sasha kisses!

Made my day!

Welcome back!

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 00:10

Some of them kisses were for you, S.

Yes, it's back to work. Although I'm not sure if this sense of the word "work" corresponds to any of the dictionary definitions.

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 00:28

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

Yes, and I told Sasha that I was tired of being "unemployed" and that it was time to get our tails back to work!

hahahahahaha you two crack me up!

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 00:30

PS I got my HP for 60.00 on line from Best Buy and no S/H

it works like a charm!

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 00:47

Didn't you misplace a decimal place there?

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 01:00

nope,
we still talk about printers , no?

if I had a 600.00 printer, it better clean the house,cook, and give me a massage every night too!

that will worth another zero (0)

by the way ,
did you miss Johnny's picture yet?

no intention of adding it here tonight ,
unless you insist!

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 01:36

ah a printer. I thought you were talking about a computer! I don't think that even those Barbie computers cost $60!

Johnny is always welcome here. You know that already.

Now that Sasha is a movie star maybe she could make a movie with Johnny?

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 01:41

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

Now that Sasha is a movie star

OK things happened to Sasha and I was never notified???

Our little Sasha is out there exposed and sleeping with every director, film producer,photographer and I am here tasting Halloween candy?? *eats another piece for comfort*

Johnny has a thing for pretty girls! Sasha is IN!

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 01:43

PS

how do you like my Picture and Avatar for Halloween?

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 03:13

Check out Sasha's first video in the comment above "Sasha -- Live!"

iJustine now has some competition!

On my way over to check out your Halloween.

Watching Ghost Whisperer ( o Y o ) and Medium ( o )( o ) special Halloween episodes and trying not to eat all the Halloween candy.

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 03:36

w00t! bewbs with candy in the middle! Enjoy!

Eddie,
I must be very tired and I do not see the link for Sasha, I will check tomorrow during my lunch break... G/nite

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 06:16

Here's the link again for you Angeliki.

Sasha -- Live version!

Martin K # 31. October 2009, 07:51

I've seen Sasha's video a couple of times now, and I must say, I'm impressed. I can't figure out how you do it. I realize of course it must be one of those special effects things, because dogs don't speak. However, I simply can't tell how you do it. So, unless Sasha really speaks, you have hidden ventriloquist skills... Which is good... I mean, if your ventriloquist skills weren't to some extend hidden, they wouldn't really be ventriloquist skills, would they?

Darko # 31. October 2009, 08:02

She is a beauty

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 14:23

@ Martin

You know what surprises me even more than the fact that Sasha can speak is that she sounds like Michael Palin of Monty Python.

@ Darko

She's my pretty little girl!

And also my secretary.

Darko # 31. October 2009, 15:25

Allan # 31. October 2009, 16:45

I have three things to say:

1. Congrats
2. Glad you're back
3. Even more glad that it was only about some computer

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 16:47

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww HOW SWEET!!!!!! and I saw your mom in the back too!

Sasha is a STAR in my books!

PS

I love your Avatar Eddie!

I hope you change your profile picture soon too... you have so many more happy pictures to use.

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 19:20

@ Allan

It is good to be back too. And to hear your "voice" again. You see if I were in Aarhus we would meet for a beer and catch up.

@ Angeliki

Kisses from the movie star Sasha. I told her I was going to have to get her a pair of sun glasses.

My about photo I took the night Baron died and put it up and swore I'd never change it.

I know you understand.

Well, pumpkins and brooms it's Halloween.

BTW I didn't eat all of the Halloween candy. There's some left for the kids.

Angeliki # 31. October 2009, 23:27

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

My about photo I took the night Baron died and put it up and swore I'd never change it.

I know the day you did take it Eddie,
that's why I want you to give it a rest.
Baron was a happy boy,
don't make his loss more important than his life...
I know you understand me too

Stardancer # 31. October 2009, 23:34

Happy Halloween!!!

I bought Tootsie Roll Pops to give out.

I like Tootsie Roll Pops.

Edward Piercy # 31. October 2009, 23:55

@ Angeliki

Thank you very much for your concern A and I will take it to heart and think about. Promise.

@ Star

I've got some. They're those mini ones. But I can't eat them anymore due to teeth. Leaves more for you and my mom, though!

As for me, I'm waiting for tonight to see if any of the small bags I made up are left. If so, I'm hitting that candy corn fast and serious.

Stardancer # 31. October 2009, 23:57

I've already dived into the Tootsie Roll Pop bowl.

L2D2 # 1. November 2009, 00:30

I have Mounds and Almond Joy minis. I love candy corn, too. Still buy it sometime. Rarely get trick or treaters.

Angeliki # 1. November 2009, 00:35

Originally posted by edwardpiercy: