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February 01, 2004
New toy
I have been really fustrated lately. A while back my laptop went out on me and hasn't responded to treatment. It looks like the computer isn't talking to the hard drive — but who knows if that is a cable or a motherboard problem.
If it is a motherboard issue, that could mean a $400+ repair bill.
This weekend I finally decided that:
- I'd really like to have a computer that can burn CDs and DVDs
- $400 is a good chunk of the cost of a new computer
So Saturday I drove out to the Apple Store at Southpoint in Durham and looked at my options. What I ended up with is the single CPU G5 tower — which I've named Minas Rouse ... it certainly is fortress looking.
Aside from the basic setup I made sure I had a CD-DVD burner and 512 MB of extra RAM (the basic setup is 256 MB). I didn't get a new monitor, but I did finally upgrade Adobe Photoshop to a Mac OS X native version ("CS"), and I have to say so far I like what I see. I also got another copy of BBEdit — thinking that the boxed version would come with a new printed manual, but it didn't. That's okay, I needed the upgrade anyway. Of course the computer also came with the new iLife programs — including GarageBand. Very interesting, but of course I have zero musical ability.
I've been wanting a burner for a while now, both for backups and creating DVDs from my video projects (that I really need to work on and finish).
Needless to say, the new computer is much snappier and does a great job with image editing, X-Plane and Racer.
I hate to give up the portability, but the G5 seemed to be the best balance of price, performance and expandibility. I'd like to get back into video editing (as well as more still photography) so being able to add a second hard drive and another big monitor (I'd have to rearagne my desk) is a big deal. Anyway, I can still transfer files back and forth to work with a firewire drive.
So hopefully all of this will mean more pictures on RouseWorld (maybe even that redesign) and more video on iRouse.
Comments
You having zero musical ability has no correlation to whether or not you should bemaking music for a public sphere. Just look at the mass popularity of karaoke and American Idol.
Come on, can't you see yourself as the next American Idol? Bring fame and fortune to us all, dude...
Very cool... Oh and the nicest thing abt the Trēo is that there is no pause while it takes a pic (except the pause to save to memory - but there's no delay between button push and image record).
If you can think of a way we can meet let me know. I have a mtg until about 8pm Tue night in N Raleigh, tonight I have to find a way to deliver $50 for the van I guess.
-C
P.S.
S is right abt the music.
Thanks for the kind words re my musical ability -- I'll have to start sending you guys some of my mp3 files...
But seriously, it is difficult for me to think musically -- to have a sound in my head and know that I'm going to need instruments x, y and z to pull it off and a key of C. But it is neat to have the stuff available to play around with.
David:
I am still keenly interested in aquiring a Teleramn Portabubble. Please let me know if you are interested in disposing of the one I believe you have.
thanks
Paul Treuthardt
Posted by: Paul Treuthardt | February 2, 2004 09:44 AM