jarandhel

Made out pretty good computer-wise for the holidays. I got Dusk's old 30 gig 3rd generation iPod for Christmas, since he got a new video iPod from his parents. Tried being a real geek and loading Linux on it (no I'm not joking) but wasn't real impressed with the iPod linux project. By default, the menus were too dim to even read and I couldn't adjust the contrast without access to the menus to find the right option. So I cleared that back out and reinstalled the standard iPod software. Having lots of fun with it, I currently have it hooked up to a set of spare speakers my parents brought with all their surplus computer stuff. And there's a lot of real gems hidden in here. I've been going through it all.

For one thing, there's a cable that I'm 100% positive came from INSIDE a computer. Don't even know how it ended up on the outside here let alone in with the other spare parts. My parents would certainly never take apart a computer, and I don't recall ever removing a cable. Maybe it was an extra. I'm not entirely certain what type of cable it is, it's one of those obscure little ones that goes to some header or another on the motherboard, and I'm not up to puzzling over it at the moment. I'm sure a quick look through my textbook will help me sort it out. Later.

There's also some stuff in here that really isn't "computer" hardware, though it can certainly be used in conjunction with computer stuff. Phone cords, microphones, even a device that can be hooked up to a phone line and a recording device to either record anything said over the line or to play back over the line. I'm pretty sure that last one is from my mother's writing career when I was younger, for use during phone interviews. Not sure how the hell it ended up being lumped in with the computer stuff, but I'm not really complaining. ;-)

The computers themselves are a mixed lot. One of them looks in rather decent condition, my main concern with it is that it has no fan other than the power supply fan in its rather cramped and wire-filled case. I'm thinking I may have to reposition the hard drive in the case to open up some room, and install a fan inside, before I'd risk using it. Too easy to fry the cpu. And considering it has a history of random errors and blue screens of death, I'm thinking that may be the exact reason: it's been overheating all this time. (Either that or it's just the fact that it uses Windows. ;-))

The other one is, quite simply, awful. It's so dirty I can hardly believe it. It has dust *bunnies* inside it. It's going to require a lot more than a simple can of compressed air to clean it out, I think. Best case scenario is I complete disassemble it and clean off each piece individually. Worst case scenario is I scavenge it for individual parts that I need and clean them off one by one as I transfer them into different boxes. Not sure which of those approaches I'm going to take just yet, still considering my options.

Also got a rather nice printer, fax machine (though we don't actually have a land-line or even VOIP to use it with, and it has no capacity to connect to a computer or network), monitor, two keyboards, something like four sets of spare speakers, a usb external modem, a usb bus, and a serial external modem. And a scanner, but as I've mentioned before I think the scanner's dead and I'm not really sure it's in my power to fix it. All in all, quite a nice little haul.

Oh, and mice. Must not forget the mice. :)

And THERE'S a usb to ps2 adapter! I knew they made those!! *was just looking for one of those the other week*

I will so be getting my geek on...