I get at least one email a day, usually more, from TigerDirect.com, a electronics wholesaler in Miami. On the 8th of April their email advertisement offered a 240 GB Solid State Drive for an attractive price, including a $20 rebate coupon.
I ordered the drive. It's something I have been looking for. I also ordered a case for it from Amazon. Several days later, the case arrived from one of the many companies that do business through Amazon.
I kept waiting for the drive. I could go online to track the shipping progress, but every time I did, I received the notification that it had not yet been shipped.
Today, 20 days after my order, I again checked the status with the same results. So, I called TigerDirect's telephone number. At least it is easier to find than AT&T's. After several "listen to the following..." choices, I got to the usual "Please wait for the next available representative" notification. I waited for over five minutes - not too bad when compared to AT&T's responses, and listened to their statements of how important my call was, and oh by the way did I need printer ink, because they had great deals on it if I did.
Finally, Carlos answered. I commented that I had been waiting for this device for 20 days, and added that it could have been shipped directly from Hong Kong in less time. He asked for the order number, disappeared for a while and then came back and told me that the item would ship tomorrow. I asked it had been lost, and his response: "No."
I can't help but be mystified that this item for which I've been waiting for 20 days can be shipped so quickly after my telephone call.
Monday, November 10, 2014
How many computers?
Someone recently asked me how many computers I have. I didn't try to be be evasive, but it's a hard question for me to answer. Because my definition of a computer may differ from yours, counting is not as easy as you might think, but, here's an attempt:
iMac - Runs OS-X. My primary computer. This is the one on which I do all my regular work - email, bills, doc preparation, etc., etc.
Macbook Air - Laptop, running OS-X. I use it to do many of the same things as the iMac, and also use it for presentations and other stuff away from home. In addition, I use it with a Windows emulator so as to have a portable computer for running Windows-specific communications software during communications exercises.
Home built PC - in my radio room. This one runs Windows 7. There are some programs for my radios that are only available on a Windows platform. For example, I have a radio which is called a "Software Defined Radio." It has no front panel, and is basically a box with no controls and several high speed A-D/D-A converters, filters and other stuff of no interest to you. The software to make it work only runs under Windows, on a relatively fast computer. So, this computer is pretty much a single use computer.
RMS PC - This is a refurbished off-lease computer whose purpose is to run one software package. That software has to be hosted on Windows. It is a 24/7 communications server. Other similar stations around the US communicate with this computer to forward message traffic.
Shuttle - This is a small computer, about the size of hardback book. Currently it runs Linux, although it could run Windows. Among other things, I use it as a personal webserver for web page development. At some point I may adapt it to use in my truck for GPS tracking and other jobs. Or not... A while back I was having trouble with my Internet provider, and this computer, which connects with my local area network (as do all of the above) became a tool for me. I wrote a small program to monitor and log my Internet connectivity, to prove just how bad my service was.
Linda's PC - A Windows machine which I will likely adopt for use as the controller for my 3-D printer.
Linda's laptop. I may just get rid of this as it is rapidly becoming a dinasaur.
Beaglebones, Raspberry Pi's - these are tiny computers best suited for building special purpose devices. They run the Linux operating system. I have several of each. One of them might have been a better choice for the Internet monitor for which I used the Shuttle.
Arduinos - These are also tiny computers (2" X 3") which have microcontrollers. They don't run operating systems per say, but can do all sorts of things when fitted with sensors and output devices. For example, I have one set up to measure the speed of a rotating bicycle wheel as a project for the "Hands On" children's museaum in downtown Hendersonville. I have several of these devices.
Tablets - I own several, all of which run the Android Operating system. This includes a couple of Kindles, and a Samsung that I use for all sorts of stuff. My cellphone is a Samsung which also runs the Android OS, and a lot of the apps on my phone are also on my Samsung tablet.
Notice that in spite of the fact that I use Apple computers, I have neither an iPhone nor an iPad. Some of that is historical: I loved my old iPod, and I wanted an iPhone, but at the time that I was in the market for an one, my cell provider (Verizon) did not offer them. And, I've already expressed my feelings about AT+T elsewhere in this blog.
I also have several defunct PCs, and two old Macs which are currently just taking up space. I ought to get rid of them.
That's not all, but all I can think to enumerate at the moment.
iMac - Runs OS-X. My primary computer. This is the one on which I do all my regular work - email, bills, doc preparation, etc., etc.
Macbook Air - Laptop, running OS-X. I use it to do many of the same things as the iMac, and also use it for presentations and other stuff away from home. In addition, I use it with a Windows emulator so as to have a portable computer for running Windows-specific communications software during communications exercises.
Home built PC - in my radio room. This one runs Windows 7. There are some programs for my radios that are only available on a Windows platform. For example, I have a radio which is called a "Software Defined Radio." It has no front panel, and is basically a box with no controls and several high speed A-D/D-A converters, filters and other stuff of no interest to you. The software to make it work only runs under Windows, on a relatively fast computer. So, this computer is pretty much a single use computer.
RMS PC - This is a refurbished off-lease computer whose purpose is to run one software package. That software has to be hosted on Windows. It is a 24/7 communications server. Other similar stations around the US communicate with this computer to forward message traffic.
Shuttle - This is a small computer, about the size of hardback book. Currently it runs Linux, although it could run Windows. Among other things, I use it as a personal webserver for web page development. At some point I may adapt it to use in my truck for GPS tracking and other jobs. Or not... A while back I was having trouble with my Internet provider, and this computer, which connects with my local area network (as do all of the above) became a tool for me. I wrote a small program to monitor and log my Internet connectivity, to prove just how bad my service was.
Linda's PC - A Windows machine which I will likely adopt for use as the controller for my 3-D printer.
Linda's laptop. I may just get rid of this as it is rapidly becoming a dinasaur.
Beaglebones, Raspberry Pi's - these are tiny computers best suited for building special purpose devices. They run the Linux operating system. I have several of each. One of them might have been a better choice for the Internet monitor for which I used the Shuttle.
Arduinos - These are also tiny computers (2" X 3") which have microcontrollers. They don't run operating systems per say, but can do all sorts of things when fitted with sensors and output devices. For example, I have one set up to measure the speed of a rotating bicycle wheel as a project for the "Hands On" children's museaum in downtown Hendersonville. I have several of these devices.
Tablets - I own several, all of which run the Android Operating system. This includes a couple of Kindles, and a Samsung that I use for all sorts of stuff. My cellphone is a Samsung which also runs the Android OS, and a lot of the apps on my phone are also on my Samsung tablet.
Notice that in spite of the fact that I use Apple computers, I have neither an iPhone nor an iPad. Some of that is historical: I loved my old iPod, and I wanted an iPhone, but at the time that I was in the market for an one, my cell provider (Verizon) did not offer them. And, I've already expressed my feelings about AT+T elsewhere in this blog.
I also have several defunct PCs, and two old Macs which are currently just taking up space. I ought to get rid of them.
That's not all, but all I can think to enumerate at the moment.
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