Category Archives: Technology

Nerd Happiness… Check!

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If you refer back to a few postings ago you read about my frustration with finding a high-end consumer router. I had the Netgear WNDR37AV which, although has a lot of potential, had poor performance and reliability. I reluctantly returned it. I felt lost in finding a truly quality product. I decided to bite the bullet and purchase the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station. What can I say? Easy and awesome! Solid setup experience. My wireless setup is now complete again — this time finally for good. I’m so satisfied with the AEBS. I’ve got all nine seasons of The X-Files back on the now-formatted HFS+ external hard drive connected to the router as well as all the seasons of Trailer Park Boys. This process of wireless network upgrading is finally complete. Nerd happiness… Check!

Networking Nuisance

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I am desperately looking for the BEST consumer router out there on the market. I have done an extreme amount of research, but I always run into some type of dead end. I will tell you a story…

I had my eye on the Netgear WNDR3700. It is a simultaneous dual-band wireless N router with almost all the bells and whistles. I use most of these advanced settings. I was very determined to purchase this router until I began investigating people’s product reviews. They were very mixed between one and five stars. I assume this range is due to individual consumer’s technical knowledge and awareness. The more elaborate reviews led cue to this issue that the WNDR3700 has a problem with connections lagging out. I knew I could not go with this router until I either found another product or that there would be a firmware fix on the way. It was then that I discovered a product variation of the WNDR3700. I found the Netgear WNDR37AV — a product seemingly more honed towards the home entertainment system market. I began my research on this item.

I read various articles saying that the WNDR37AV had an updated motherboard and newer firmware. While I pitied those who had the WNDR3700 and received no updates from Netgear, I figured the WNDR37AV had fixed any of the lag issues with the updated hardware and firmware. Other forum postings vaguely signaled that the WNDR37AV, indeed, fixed these issues the WNDR3700 was cursed with. So, I made my purchase through Amazon.

My product was actually delivered the next day. Props to Amazon on that. I set up the WNDR37AV with no flaws. I set up both band frequencies, guest accounts, and even a network hard drive. With zero issues, I had already forgotten the many complaints people had about the WNDR3700. Everything seemed to be perfect.

But, slowly I began realizing an issue I had subconsciously been experiencing. When I would attempt to open a new tab in Google Chrome, about 10% to 20% of the time the page would not load. As these links were usually to Facebook or Twitter, I knew these sites have heavy traffic and often lag out for me anyway. But then I really began exploring the predicament, and I came to the revelation that all sites I tried to visit were often met with the same fate. And a dead giveaway was bugging out on Google searches. That never happens. I always found, though, that it was better to just open a link in the same tab rather than to open the site in a new one. I can’t explain this but I do wonder why it happens.

Anyway, where am I now? I’ve got my return shipping label printed and I’m getting a box and packing supplies ready. I’m pretty sad to have to pack it back up. It’s really a slick-looking router. I will have to set up my aged Draft-N Netgear router until I find a new replacement for the WNDR37AV.

So, now I’m back to researching… And I can’t find a newly-released router that is at the top of the charts. Other sites recommend the Linksys E3000 or the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station. The Linksys has its own slew of issues when it comes to trying to use advanced features — and it does not support being stood on its side like I need it to be for my setup. The AirPort Extreme has no support for Wireless Protected Setup, is not designed to stand on its side, and just has a network health LED indicator. Like other Apple products, its extremely strong in the designated product category, yet it’s stripped of some fundamentals. I just don’t feel any of these options I’d be satisfied with.

I know there are some others out there… I feel like I’ve seen and considered them already. Also, many of these products have been on the market for a while. It is rumored that Netgear is even phasing out the WNDR3700/WNDR37AV. After CES 2010, I’m sure more products will be released mid-year — like Netgear set to release the WNDR4000 and WNDR3800 — an update to the WNDR3700 series. But, I am skill skeptical — even skeptical of Netgear entirely.

I know I can flash the firmware of the WNDR37AV and load DD-WRT onto it… But I feel like a product should be almost perfect right out of the box. You wouldn’t purchase a car knowing that it has a problem. Why purchase a faulty router? The WNDR3800 isn’t set to be available until June. That’s a long ways away. I don’t know what to do until then, but I suppose I will just survive as I have thus far.

iPad… My Story.

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Recently, I nest-dropped on a Twitter conversation between two friends. The topic regarded how my friend, Matthew Oswald, was discontent with his iPad in sight of Apple’s announced iPhone 4. He continued to say that he was going to sell his iPad so that he could purchase the new iPhone once available. When questioned by my friend Eugene as to why he decided to sell, Matthew said that he finds his iPad as more of a toy than a tool – and an iPhone is a tool.

Now, I understand Matthew’s decision. I am not bringing this up for negative reasons. Rather, I write this because I’d like to share how I find my iPad more of a tool than a toy.

First of all, when I think of “toy” I think of games, instant messenger clients, and watching videos. Although I partake in these fun applications, I find myself using my iPad as more of a tool. For example, I’m blogging right now from WordPress on my iPad. This is a “tool” for staying devoted to my blog and publishing even when I’m not near my computer. It allows my thoughts to be posted as they are still fresh and unraveling in my mind. Also, my iPad helped me a lot when studying for finals. I had a perfect system set up at Starbucks where I had the iPad displaying my classes’ study guides. Then, I had a notebook with all my notes open adjacent to it — and next to that, comfortably in a writing position to my right, another notebook turned to a blank page where I would create my study guide. The iPad not only motivated me to study, but it also expedited the process.

The iPad is also a tool for me because I’m a news junkie. I feel like I’ve been really out of touch on the news lately (top stories, tech, lifestyle, etc.), but with my iPad I use applications like Pulse, Newsy, USA Today, NPR, and BBC News to access information from our nation, world, and my own RSS feeds. Furthermore, I’m getting information from a variety of different perspectives. Newsy, for example, covers larger news stories in the strict form of video reports by using and citing information from a range of other sources. They don’t collect their own information. I think this is great because not only is news more fun to learn about, but also it has less of a bias or inaccuracy factor to it.

Finally, the iPad can be a gateway to bridging old and new media together. For example, I just found an application called “Narrative”. It’s a non-profit literary magazine that publishes anything from short stories to cartoons. The iPad is a tool for me because it is one device that promotes positive behaviors, methods, and actions all across other areas — like reading and study habits. Yet, at the same time, I can use it as a toy whenever I choose so — but as of now I feel like it’s my little companion. I am definitely happy with my iPad.

Published from my iPad.

SigmaTel Drivers

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5/31/2011 UPDATE: I searched around and found even newer IDT audio drivers for the Dell XPS M1530 running Windows 7 64-bit. I have not tried the installation of these drivers but you can follow the link and give them a try. Personally, I am content with the IDT drivers as derived from the instructions posted below — BUT… It may be cool to have the newest and greatest.

January 2011 IDT Audio Drivers for Dell XPS M1530

 

Hello all you web roamers!

If you have a Dell XPS M1530 and are looking for an update to the outdated, very basic SigmaTel drivers, I have discovered a source that walks you through the simple, free upgrade to IDT Audio – the company that purchased SigmaTel a couple of years ago. So, I thought I would spread the word about this find – read more for the details. Hope it works well for you! Good luck.

Continue reading →

Wishlist: Mobile Data

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You know what I want more than an iPad, next generation iPhone, a vacation, or six-pack abs (okay, well not more than that)? I really want to cellular data for my notebooks.

In September 2009, my parents and I traveled to Oahu, Hawaii (cue these posts). Just prior to the trip, a non-jailbreak hack was available for my iPhone that allowed internet tethering – and boy do I sure miss it now. When we arrived at our rented condominium in Hauula (non-touristy area), I discovered that there were absolutely no hotspots around. Initial panic, right? However, all I had to do was connect my iPhone to my Dell Mini 9 – and voila!… Les Internets! It was a very, very nice feature to have. I took my netbook out to the picnic bench alongside the beach – though I had no reason to be actually using a computer while on vacation. It was all just for the capability factor. Internet… Everywhere!

And so now, here I am craving it again. I really want to go lay in the park with my netbook and maybe do some reading or writing – but the internets do not dwell there. This isn’t the only time my need for cellular data with my notebook(s) has existed. I think about the road trips I go on from time-to-time with the family – sitting in the back seat, nothing to do. Chances are I’m tooling around on my iPhone because that’s the only thing that’s got internet.

But, I also feel bad about “needing” wireless cell data capabilities. Should I really be that connected to the internet all the time? Is it really necessary? I’m no business man – I don’t need to check/reply to emails every hour. I’m just a kid living a casual life as a student. Maybe in the future…

Take a Bite

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Tomorrow is another big day in the tech world. It’s like all the technology junkies hold their breath from now until the event is over tomorrow morning. I will certainly be following the live-blogging on Engadget – I’m so excited to see how I can spend all my money that I don’t really have to use! Still, it will be great to see what Cupertino has been working on… Plus iPhone OS 4.0? Sock’it to me!

Remember… January 27, 2010 @ 10AM PST