Tell Me (and Others)

If you have a Gateway laptop and it ever fails to boot, then you are pretty much on your own.

I recently tried to get help for a family member who has a Gateway Vista laptop. it is about 3 years old. Now it will not boot. It does not even get through the progress bar on the initial “Gateway” screen. The progress bar stops about half-way.

There are on-screen option… F10 or utilities, F2 for BIOS.

Using the F2, the system start showing BIOS and Processor and memory info. Then locks up.

I tried on-line chat support from Gateway, and then 24Hr email support from Gateway. The common responses were just cut-and-paste sentences from some resource the responder has. In neither attempt (chat with their “expert”, or their email tech responder) were any of the concerns I outlined addressed.

Result = Pay $100 for 30 minutes phone support. This would only result in a wasted phone call. The machine is kaput! Their help sucks BIG-TIME.

Stay away from Gateway products as their support is pretty well non-existent.

It is a sad day when tech support has dwindled to such a low level. Bad Gateway!

Review of Acronis Migrate Easy

Link: Acronis

OK, we have been battling for several months now with a 4 year old PC (Windows XP) that my Wife uses. The 60GIG hard drive was close to capacity. It was so close that we could not even perform a Defrag!

I had attached 250GIG pocket USB drive and had directed most internet downloads to go to the external USB drive.

She is heavily involved in her love of movies and so does voluntary work for FilmSpotting and their podcast productions. (plus her Blog stuff at MagneticNorth )
This involves downloading large video and sound clips of films. Hence the large accumulation of data on her hard drive.

I knew that the hard drive would need replacing. I dreaded managing getting all her programs and MS-Win-XP onto a new bigger hard drive. Then the crunch came when downloads and FireFox and many other programs began to complain about the HD free space.

Then I learned about Acronis Migrate Easy. I read on-line what was promised. I read several user comments. I believed none of them because of my long term relationship with MS-Windows and programming. But Hey! It is only a PC where I am not doing real development work. Something needs to be done, and it needs doing now. So why not take a small chance and try it out.

The Process:

Downloaded the 15 day trial software, installed it (only just, given the space limitations on the existing HD). Went out and bought a new 500Gig WD hard drive and set it to “Slave”, Installed it, and then ran the Acronis program. I opted for the ‘Automatic’ process (I think the second on the menu) and reboot, watch, walk-away, come back in 50 minutes, and it reported success and was done.

Then I removed the origingal HD, re-configured the new 500Gig HD as IDE Primary (using the jumper block on the back of the HD unit).

Feeling 100% confident, I put all the panels back on the PC case, plugged all the cables back in, and turned it on.

VOILA! All worked perfectly and now we have a PC with enough spare space for several more years! I had been ready with the original Win XP Install CD and activation key, but neither were needed.

Summary:

If you need or want to substitute a newer larger HD to a PC, then go with Acronis. I give it 10/10 for meeting expectations.

John

I have a friend who claims he and his family live in Winnipeg.

So out of curiosity I had a look on-line at their current weather.

I am now convinced that he is lying about living there. Nobody could live there. Here is the current (Just after Midnight, Tuesday morning Dec 23 2008) and forecast weather for the next few days!

And those temperatures are degrees ° Celcius. I know I could not live there! Hope you all survive the winter there.

John

Spotted this little gem whilst searching for another picture on the internet. Thought it was worth sharing

GD&R

So, to rescue the US Banks and Insurance companies from their own self-inflicted pains driven by greed, the US Government is to jump to the rescue!

The alternative seems to let natural market forces prevail, and have a lot of them go bust! This would hurt all investors (direct and indirect). By using government funding, the burden will be spread across the whole population. Which is the better option? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, the federal regulators need to put some kerbs in place to prevent a recurrence.

I suggest the new regulatory body be named:

Finance and Underwriters Committee of Kerbs.

John Griffiths

It continues. The debate about air fares and viability of airline because of the increasing fuel prices.

On the one hand, there is much criticism of airline management. And the other, the rising cost of airfares. Well people, get a grip!

My big gripe is that airlines charge a Fuel Levy on flights. This tends to be a flat amount. Hardly fair to charge $65 for a flight LAX (Los Angeles) to SFO (San Francisco) and the same $65 for a flight LAX to JFK (New York). But they do! Also, $15 for your checked in bag. Crazy!

John Griffiths says to airline managers:

• Charge enough IN the FARE to recoup your fuel costs
• Charge a proportionate amount for extras based on flight distance
• Take a long term view, forget about this year’s annual bonus
• Start to really MANAGE you airlines finances

If the business were a single owner/driver Cab, then I am sure that the manager would either up the fares, or park the cab. The other alternative is to go bust.

And, John Griffiths says to airline managers:

• When/If the price of fuel drops, then you can drop your fares and look great.
• OR… Just maintain a management position if fuel prices continue to rise.

If your aircraft leasing rates went to 20% p.a. and state taxes rose, would you not raise fares?

If passenger loads drop because of fare increase, then curtail a few flights.

If too many segments are dropped, and the service is desirable/critical, then hold your hand out for some government funding. – Just like all those old rice farmers and tobacco farmers who are PAID not to produce. Crazy situation!

If bookings fall, and you order less new planes, will not Mr Boeing drop his price?

John Griffiths, trying to solve the world’s problems

So, we are all starting to really feel the effects of the rising price of Oil.

I found this snippet on another blog and thought it would be great to share….

“$200 oil is still very cheap. 200/160= $1,25 per liter of oil.

1 barrel of oil produces as much energy as 12 workers during 1 year, and at $200 it is still cheaper than Coca Cola.

The problem is that we are used to cheap energy, and this cheap energy is essential especially for aviation. But with production stagnant at approx 85mb/day, and demand rising despite record prices, there might be some dark clouds ahead.”

Aviation is beginning to reel from the rising prices… jet fuel went through the $1,300-a-tonne mark last week. Attempts by airlines to hedge against future price increases is becoming more difficult, as hedging providers are being careful not to be burned by price rises. British Airways are planning to reduce flight schedules commencing later this year. Falling demand for tickets limits the airlines ability to raise fares. Other airlines will no doubt follow the the BA lead. Gasoline prices will continue to rise in line with the price of crude. perhaps, if governments raise taxes in an attempt to reduce demand, then gas price rises will exceed the crude price rises. Oh woe are we! The worst is yet to come.

John Griffiths

I travelled to Bangkok several years ago and was sure that I did not need to re-visit the city any time soon.

Today I received this short video (Windows Media Player .wmv) from a friend and decided to share it.
I did not go to this part of the city.

I do remember that Bangkok had some over-crowding problems back then, but now it looks worse.

Train in Bangkok

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John