Posts Tagged ‘computers’

Writing on a Plane

Monday, November 16th, 2009

I’m still adjusting to this keyboard.  Wait, nope.  It’s more I’m still adjusting to the mouse pad.  I keep hitting it while typing, and the cursor jumps around as a result.  The keyboard itself is fairly close to a standard keyboard with both shift keys and the enter key uncompromised.  It’s the home, end, and where the arrow keys are relative to the right shift and right control that are getting me.  I use Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Keys a ton while typing.  Kinda like how I use the backspace all the time.  Rare for me to get things out right the first time.  And my typing speed would be so much quicker if I could.

I set up the magnifier to follow the cursor which is working out really well.  Earlier I didn’t have the feature turned on, and I would be typing and typing and then the text would no longer be on the screen.  I’m still really jolty with moving about the screen when zoomed in.

There is one really inconvenient part about my awful vision.  (Okay, that’s a lie, there’s a lot of inconveniences.)  I am often amused at the thought that people must think I’m looking at what they’re reading or at their computer screen when in reality I’m just zoning out and can’t see a thing from such a distance.  On the flip side, with everything majorly enlarged on my computer screen, anyone with decent vision can read exactly what I’m writing.  Like now.  On the plane.  Folks down the aisle behind me can most likely see this just fine.

Gives me another reason for preferring the window seat.

Microsoft Student Insider – Imagine Cup

Monday, November 16th, 2009

I guess this is an appropriate first post to be typed on my new netbook.   A week or so ago I was contacted by Microsoft and asked if I would like to be a “Microsoft Student Insider” for the Imagine Cup.  This involves attending conferences and Imagine Cup events and blogging approximately fifteen posts through the Imagine Cup World Finals in July 2010.  This is an unpaid job and in exchange for writing up these posts and spending my time at these events (which I was pumped about alone), Microsoft has sent me an Asus Eee PC 1005HA netbook, a Flip HD video camera, a 4GB flash drive, $100 gift card to cover my expenses at PDC09 (along with travel, hotel, and PDC registration fees), and two Quick Assistance cards for Microsoft Support in the case I run into someone who desperately needs expert assistance.  I figure full disclosure is better than missing anything.

Despite deciding I would not be buying a netbook with my own funds due to my awful vision, I am pleasantly content with this little guy.  This is probably due to the fact it has a very nice battery life compared to the non-existent battery on my Dell.  Stupid thing.  I also opened the box to the surprise Microsoft had already installed Windows 7 Ultimate on it for me!  I love me some Windows 7 if only for the magnificent built-in magnifier.  Like right now, netbook comfortably on my laptop and I’m leaning backward.  Microsoft upgraded the RAM to 2GB so things are running smoothly.  Only confusing hiccup was that I wasn’t informed that I would have to put in the Product Key of the Windows 7 DVD that was in the Eee PC box despite Windows 7 being already installed.  However, figured as much when Windows told me on boot up that I may be using a counterfeit copy of Windows.  I sent out a quick email to ask what was up with the sealed Windows 7 disk, and found out the Windows 7 installed was a trial copy.

While I’m still waiting to touch base with my Microsoft contact (almost 20 minutes late on that phone call), I’m thinking my coverage of PDC09 will be similar to the work I’ve done at GHC in 2008 and 2009.  This will include tweeting (the thing I do most consistently), uploading photos to Flickr, blogging (since that’s my “job” and all), and most importantly to me, video blogging with Ed!  Yup, she’ll be joining me, and we will be shooting episodes of Ed & Ashley’s 5 Minute Show.  Perhaps we can also get our first video chat interview recorded this week as well.  That would be exciting.

Looks like I won’t be connecting with my Microsoft contact before my flight. Now I gotta run and grab some Auntie Anne’s.  I can’t resist.