da | Mysteries...

On the whole, I like my new laptop quite a lot. (I should've brought it to C&J's arts evening; three others brought laptops, and I certainly could've started experimenting with artsy stuff on it.)

My guess is the reason that dan can never connect to our network from the bedroom, is that there are two other wifi networks using the same channel. They're not really in range, but they're probably close enough to fubar the downstairs access point. So, I'm curious whether his laptop will have an easier time if I change channels. I'm also slightly curious whose networks these are, and also the other two (open) networks within range, since this is four more networks than there were here a year ago.

I'd love to know why there's a low-volume buzz, I think coming from the speakers. It stops when I hold down hit the mouse button. I don't think it's "the whine" described by other macbook owners, since it stops when I hit the mouse.

I'd also like to know why occasionally the mouse seems to disappear when I'm using it. I probably just need to get used to the trackpad thingy.

Today had some nice surprises; mail from my folks, my tax refund (not sure why H&R Block didn't electro-file it, but anyhow), and the replacement credit-card, whose number got stolen two weeks ago.

I need to come up with a name for this laptop. Probably something having to do with "supernova", "furnace" or "80 watt bulb", 'cause this thing puts out a fair bit of heat.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Largely because of my computer's name, I recommend "suncenter".

Glad you like it!

When I got a tool to do a really detailed search for networks (including ones with hidden SSIDs) and ran it in our place, I found 16 networks within range of my computer. I'm amazed wireless networking works here at all.

I was just using the net radar dashboard widget... I wasn't actively trying to sniff stuff out, though now I'm curious. Do you remember what tool you did that with?

16 is... a bit much. I wonder whether the city-wide networks project supposedly happening in TO will make the issue easier, or more difficult.

Well, one interesting thing about the city-wide network project will mean that a lot of people won't need to have (their own) internet access at home at all. That could be pretty nifty.

I don't recall the tool I used offhand for sure, but it may have been this one.

We don't live in that city, unfortunately. (Well, there are some reasons why it's nice that we don't...the taxes are substantially higher, as a result of their last expensive boondoggle...)

...it occurs to me that you might've meant the same city I meant (Toronto) or the city we live near; both fit your description.

I do hope the city-wide wifi isn't a boondoggle.

Right--sorry--I meant in our town. (Well, not our town. But you know.)

Whoa. I stop reading LJ for a few days and you go off and buy a Mac? Clearly I don't work at the speed of the Internet. I do recall laptop murmurings, though.

I say you name it "cashburner" or "moneyfurnace". Or maybe "stupid OS that won't do backups properly for me because of all the metadata, and also because copy commands arbitrarily stop with unhelpful error messages", but then your terminal prompts will get long.

You're one to talk, Mr. "Moving to Cleveland"... Mr. "I won't find a job but I'm selling all my posessions anyway".. (I take it you found a job?)

Anyhoo, getting back to the triviality of naming a computer, there's always the handy acronym "sotwdbpfmbamabccasuem"

Actually, I don't mind "sot." Just one step away from "zot" which sounds like what you'd like to do to somebody's macs?

Hm. Zot. Has a ring to it.

Cool, new laptop! What did you get?

And yes, if it's a Mac it's supposed to make the cursor disappear (unless you mean the acceleration is set so high that you keep overshooting the cursor to the screen edges) -- you are supposed to see the arrow/cursor when you move the mouse, and it's supposed to disappear (actually turn into an I-beam/insertion point) when you start typing... I'm so used to it that computers that don't do it drive me nuts 'cuz then the cursor is right where I'm trying to see so I can type. Then again, the other day I was reading a web site where people where claiming that it's not really the big differences in interfaces that make people love one and hate the other, it's small stuff like that. For example, I hate input follows mouse, some people hate click to type, there are lots more examples like that.

Enjoy the new toy!

I got a macbook pro. :)

The cursor is probably falling off the screen; becuase when it does reappear it's near an edge. I can't seem to reproduce it, though, which is why it's confusing. Ah well, I'm sure I'll get used to it. I've gotten used to Mac OS before.

Yes, then you have two options, well, three options and a fanatical devotion to the Pope... :-)

First option is to slow the acceleration (System Preferences>Keyboard&Mouse>Tracking) but most people after a little time will just set it back to maximum again.

Second option has to do with the way that tracking works -- if you move your mouse/fingers on the trackpad slooowly, you can even move pixel by pixel, but if the hardware senses that you are moving very fast or accelerating, it doubles the tracking rate for every sampling, so you can move very fast or even shoot the pointer from one end of the screen to the other in less space than the trackpad has. In my experience, if they just told people that, they'd be making many more friends, because it's typically the info that's missing.

Third thing to be aware of is that the cursor can't fall off the screen with MacOS, which is a feature we've been relying on for eons to shoot the cursor from anywhere on the screen to a border, say, menu bar or dock etc. If it's truly falling off the screen the thing to check is that your computer doesn't think you have extra displays (System Preferences>Displays) that are being used to extend the screen instead of mirroring it.

And yeah, the new MacBooks and MacBookPros are very tempting, I keep thinking about them even though I don't need another computer. ;-)

I understand how acceleration and trackpads work (and even secondary displays); it's just an occasional issue where I lose the pointer and it takes a few seconds to make it appear again.

I keep thinking about them even though I don't need another computer. ;-)

I know that feeling, believe me. :)

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