Bird commute - Browns Waterhole

I commute on my bike fairly regularly through Browns Waterhole. This morning as I rolled down the track towards the creek - I was greeted by a gang of cockatoos in a low bush. Quite a site. Of course they ignored me as I rolled past. Past the creek and on my first stretch of incline - the track is like an avenue surrounded by scrub. This morning the bushes on either side of the track were packed with Lorrikeets - eating the wattle I think. They squawked away indifferent to my passing as well. It’s nice to have such wild life so close to home! 

Out with the ipad.. in with the Asus eee transformer

A few months ago, just when iPad2 was released - I went and bought a refurb ipad v1 wifi 16GB. The things that I imagine I will need/want in a tablet are:

1) instant on. It’s always a bit annoying waiting for a laptop to boot up when you want to look something up on the internet

2) web browsing

3) playing videos.. when my wife is watching some crap reality cooking show

So after a few months of playing around, I have decided that although the ipad is definitely a quality device… browsing on an ipad isn’t as good as a pc.. and getting videos onto the ipad was just a pain. 

In regard to videos.. i had to either re-encode or use a streaming server. I’m pretty techy and I can handle this… but I just don’t want to. I also really dislike having to use itunes to get stuff on to the device!

In the end I sold the ipad and recently bought an Asus eee transformer. I quite like it! It doesn’t solve the “not quite as good browsing” .. but the video and file sharing situation is heaps better.

Strangely, I am finding that I always use the thing with it’s keyboard. So I wonder if I can find an instant on netbook? Netbooks are cheaper too :)

HP ProLiant MicroServer Pt2

So I finally have the micro server up and running.

Only a few points of note: I have installed the “OS” drive in optical disk drive bay without a hitch. There are screws hard disk screws and tool for installation on the inside of the server door! I spent ages looking around in my toolbox for these until I realised that they were provided. I am running Windows Home Server 2011 for now.. will see how that works out.

HP ProLiant MicroServer

I was recently looking for a NAS when a friend recommend that I consider a HP ProLiant MicroServer. Considering that I could get one of these for about $220 AUD, it’s lower power, 4 Bay and more configurable than an out of the box NAS - for me it ended up being a no-brainer. If you’re not really a tinkerer - then it’s probably not for you.
I also invested in 2x4GB sticks of RAM and 2x2TB Samsung  ECO hard disks.. so total cost was $430 AUD.. still way cheaper than a NAS I reckon.
Anyway, it’s taking me a while to get this all set up. Like quite a few others, I am moving the pre-installed 250GB hard disk into the ODD bay - so that I can leave 4 bays for my own data disks. There are a few hoops to jump through though.
You need:

• 3.5” to 5.25” bracket
• molex to sata power cable
• sata data cable
• USB memory stick (or usb ODD) so you can install an OS!

So I have pulled out the guts of the box and installed my RAM. I actually discovered last night that I don’t have a spare SATA cable. I ordered one on ebay and will wait another day or two.

Between jobs

So I am between jobs. Admittedly, I only finished my last gig on Friday and am starting a new gig on Monday. Technically a weekend is still between. 

What is significant about this new job is that it’s a 15minute cycle away. Goodbye Sydney cbd commute - hello North Ryde technology park!

Now I just need to make sure that I make use of the extra 2 hours that I will gain each day! I wonder how well that will work out…. I am determined not to spend them in sleep