Well, things at the new job are going really well…just got a new laptop for work last week, a new Dell Latitude D810. Needless to say it’s pretty darn sweet! Only downfall is the 7200rpm Hitachi drive has this annoying ‘click’ sound that perks up every 2-3 seconds while idle (it’s apparently the drive heads parking/unparking). I found a post on the Dell forums about how to ‘soften’ the sound, and alot of mention is given elsewhere to updating the drive’s firmware. Will have to try it out and let you know. But I hope since the drives are still being used and/or not recalled, they’re just annoying and not failing. Needless to say, though, I’ll still be installing some imaging software, as my work laptop has alot of software on it that takes days to install.
So what’s the next thing after getting a new laptop that a techie gets excited about? Shopping for a new bag, of course! (I believe also one of the signs you might be becoming a metrosexual?) I had to go buy a new bag at CompUSA right away to protect my investment, and I had to get one in-person since I don’t like buying one from Dell I can’t put my hands (and eyes) on first. The first one I picked out was a Kensington Contour model that was rather nice. Unfortunately I got it home, went to put my new laptop in it, and it got stuck halfway down. Pulled it out, tried again, still no luck. So I took out the sleeve insert that the laptop fits into, and I kid you not it was in the shape of a trapezoid. The top part may have fit a 17″ laptop initially, but not even a 15.4″ Dell was getting to the bottom. So being a stickler for being able to zipper the bag shut, I took it back, where the girl at the counter couldn’t have cared less; I tried to relay there was a major design problem here, no way in hell a 17″ laptop fits in there, but to no avail.
Oh well, went back in the same store and tried to find another bag, as CompUSA is one of the few places with good bags on-hand. Since I had spent an hour the last time probing all the ones there and only found the one I had bought originally, I wasn’t thrilled with my prospects. And mind you I need one with space, I need to carry a lot of cords and accessories, plus paperwork, etc. without needing rollers on the bag. But then I noticed a bag there I had brushed aside quickly before: a Targus CityGear. Let me tell you I highly recommend this bag; it’s got so many compartments and so much space, yet doesn’t weigh a ton, it’s super easy now to lug around my laptop, PDA and MP3 player, and their cords, without much fuss….check out some of the other images on that page. The CD holder (actually a sleeve) is wickedly smart….
Ok, enough techie raving….otherwise, as far as work, I’m just doing some minor billable work, waiting for the first big project here hopefullysoon. But it’s still a very nice change, the environment, the people, etc. I don’t know why I ever left…well, actually I do remember why, and I was a moron back then….
blog of hair 