this is not a journal title

So if you happen to own a MacBook Pro (I bought mine this year [2011], 2GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 memory, running OS 10.6.8), ...

AND you unplug the headphones or speakers from the headphone jack, ...

AND you then discover that no sound is coming out of the internal speakers, and moreover hitting the button to adjust the volume gives a display that the internal speakers don't exist, and System Preferences confirms this, ...

... then try quitting Firefox.

No it doesn't make sense, but I've had the Case of the Disappearing Internal Speakers twice, and quitting Firefox worked twice. The first time, I quit Firefox with the intent of restarting the entire computer (after reading a bunch online about this issue) and discovered the problem solved before I had to restart.

Originally posted on Dreamwidth. comments there. Comment here or there.

So I got the tablet early last week finally, after a bunch of hassle with Lenovo. Today was "Install Camtasia Day" so I got the CD w/ license key from the appropriate IT person, brought it back to my office where the tablet was warming up, and promptly discovered that it didn't have a CD drive. That's right, I ordered a computer without an optical drive and never realized it. So, workaround time. Said IT person recommended copying the disk to a thumb drive. Of course when I popped the disk into a computer w/ a CD/DVD drive, turns out it has autoplay software, so I couldn't look at the directory and drag'n'drop it. So I went to the command prompt, googled recursive copying, and xcopy d:/* g:/Camtasia \s-ed. Amazingly it worked, installing smoothly from the thumb drive onto my tablet, after only 10 failed attempts to type in the license key!

Dear Internet,

In October I am going to be applying for an equipment grant to buy a tablet PC for classroom use. Said tablet must run on Windows (XP Pro preferred), and required software is listed below (that is, those softwares that will require purchase).

• MS Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)


• MS Outlook


• MS Frontpage (yeah, I know, take it up with my IT)


• Camtasia


• Adobe/Macromedia Flash


• Typical tablet softwarez

I will need sufficient RAM-power to run Camtasia in record mode during Powerpoint presentations, and I really want a surplus, not just barely enough. So my question for M. Internet, is manifold.

1. What are the minimum specs for a tablet PC that can do what I want?


2. What are the maximum specs out there now, as of October (when I'll be submitting the grant), and as of December (when I'd be getting the money)?


3. What is the cost of such systems?


4. What's the best brand or specific model of tablets? I'm looking for reliability, good customer support, and sturdy (as I'll be lugging it to school and back daily).


5. What else am I forgetting to ask?

Thanks for any advice you might give this poor confused prof.

Sincerely,

Zandperl

the_xtina, prompted by a post by hitchhiker, I'm curious as to whether one can write a greasemonkey script that would look at each icon on a page searching for a characteristic file size, image dimensions, and loop time, or some other simple description of the file that wouldn't require actual face recognition-style analysis, and then block either (a) the icon itself, or (b) any post or comment with that icon.

I don't actually care about the specific icon in question and wouldn't use such a script, I'm just curious if this is doable. So don't feel you need to create such a thing, a yes or no would be entirely satisfying to me.

I bought a .wma player - SanDisk's "Sensa Clip" 1GB for $40. I figured that buying multiple audio books will cost lots more than that, so why not?

I couldn't install the OverDrive program on my PC b/c I needed an internet connection to download the other parts of OD. So I shlepped the PC out to the living room where I could actually wire it into the router. Have I mentioned it's so old it barely is able to handle WinXP? And by "barely" I think I now mean "it doesn't". Crashed Windows Explorer multiple times. No programs really want to run, whether Windows Media Player (tried to burn CDs), or the OD program (to transfer the files). So I installed upgrades, crashed a few more times, updated virus scans, locked up the screen for long delays, am currently defragging everything and will do a scan disk next.

Meanwhile I plugged the .wma unit into my laptop, transferred the files (via drag'n'drop) from my USB thumb drive to the unit, and am now charging it - I can't actually *play* them yet b/c the stupid thing needs an OK from Overdrive or another Windows box to tell it it's allowed to play them. Friggin'. I only have the books "checked out" for another few days, what do you want to bet I'm not allowed to play them after that date, even though I transferred them? So since the PC is still puking all over the place, and I'm going to campus (over Break!) for a meeting tomorrow anyway, I'll try plugging the thing in to my work PC and see if it'll play nice.

Meanwhile the Roomba is either sick or on drugs, as he's making small circles in reverse, as opposed to actually vacuuming a room. T$'s turn to call that one in.

So after complaining a bit ("How are you today?" "I'd be better if my computer were working." ... "You know, this MacBook was a replacement from YOU for one that wasn't working."), the friendly Apple Care guy talked me through power cycling my Motorolla modem for FIVE MINUTES. Apparently the stupid fuckers just need that long sometimes. It's working for now, but who knows if it'll stay that way.

Decision tree:
IF keeps working, THEN yay.
IF craps out again, THEN

Stick in install disk, restart holding D (or Option? or C?) for Apple Hardware test
Hit Apple-L or use menu to put into Loop Mode
Do Apple Hardware test for 2 hours or finds and error.

IF doesn't find error AND still not working, THEN go to line 20.

IF does find error, THEN

IF not fixable, THEN go to line 20.
IF fixable, do, THEN

IF keeps working, THEN yay.
IF fixing doesn't resolve THEN go to line 20.

Line 20: Apple store or call Apple Care for AirPort card replacement (no longer user servicable).

*grumble* That's actually a lot clearer in my head than on paper.

PS: I now know the Apple Care call center secrets. Although there is a call center in India, for the most part US calls are routed to the Canada call center (where my person was) and the Canadian calls are routed to the US call center. Why? Because that way on most holidays we still have people to take our calls. He said they're closed tomorrow though, so either all of Apple Care's closed, or that's a good day for them to route us to India.

Sadly, Evil Genius still runs slowly on XP on my MacBook. But the number one complaint I have about the whole Mac/XP thing is that for SOME reason unbeknownst to me, every time my computer starts up it defaults to Windows. Anyone know how to fix that?