RSS viri na mojem spletniku

Računalniki vsekakor ne bi bili tako fine igrače, če se ne bi venomer nekaj “kvarilo” oz. ne delovalo kot je treba.

Že dlje časa s pridom izkoriščam RSS vire, saj mi tako ni več treba brskati po spletnih straneh, ki me zanimajo, ampak novice pridejo “k meni” z vso ostalo e-pošto v Outlook. Tam jo potem v miru in ko mi paše prebiram – ali pa tudi ne – vire RSS.

Povsem naključno sem tako preizkusil, če RSS viri delujejo tudi na mojem blogu in z grozo ugotovil, da NE! In kaj sedaj? Nič – čaka me pač vohljanje in poizvedovanje kaj težavo povzroča…

V troje je lepše!

Govorim oziroma tipkam seveda o plezanju. Torej vzponih opravljenih v trojni navezi, kjer se trije plezalci hkrati vzpenjajo po steni navzgor.

Osebno mi je takšnen način plezanja všeč iz večih razlogov. Prvič je precej bolj družabno. Ob kakšnih daljših zimskih vzponih je dobro tudi zato, ker se da lepo porazdeliti opremo in prvi lahko ves čas pleza brez nahrbnika. Osebno sem nad tem navdušen jasno tudi zato, ker potem lahko res kaj dobrega posnamem, prvi v navezi pa je tudi zares varovan. Kadar snemam in varujem hkrati je namreč zaendrek oboje – varovanje in posnetki.

Malo sem se zdrznil in sem kar brez da bi ju kaj dosti spraševal, Arneta in Tadeja namreč, naročil Mammutove Daisy Chaine. Ko pridejo, jima samo še izstavim račun. Skrajno priročne močne prešite gurtne, ki omogočajo, da se v trojni navezi na varovališčih (štantih) vse skupaj malce hitreje odvija.

Čeprav smo s tema dvema junakoma (drugi je nor na becikle in spanje pod steno dan pred vzponom, prvi pa na ženske, Dolomite in šteko jajc s kosi čebule za zajtrk ob 04:00 na dan vzpona) zgledno hitro plezali tudi v dolgih smereh, sem bil nekako mnenja, da bi se dalo še precej narediti na hitrosti. Morda sem na to malo “cepljen” tudi zato, ker sva se z Ažmanovim Grego vedno tako neizprosno podila prek sten. Vedno, ampak res vedno namreč za njim lovim in hlastam zrak. Ko že mislim, da sem hiter in se mi malce dvigne samozavest, takrat se Grega šele ogreje in že pospeši na meni nedosegljive hitrosti gaženja ali zgolj navadne hoje (beri: na pol teka) navkreber.

Temu vsled sem obema naročil Daisy Chain ali neke vrste popkovini, s katerima se bosta – tako kot se tudi sam v primeru trojne naveze, hitreje in z manj zapletanja in krotovičenja vrvi – vpenjala v in izpenjala iz varovališč. Prav nesramno se znajo namreč zavezljati te dolge, kačam podobne sintetične vrvi.

Naslednji cilj je že znan. In tudi želja posneti nekaj malce drugače. Smučal, deskal in tudi letel sem že s kamero na glavi, nisem pa je še nikoli uporabil za sam vzpon. In ker mislim, da bi lahko nastali povsem zgledni posnetki pri plezanju v kakšnih zračnih, torej strmih in izpostavljenih raztežajih, bomo to kaj kmalu preizkusili… Konec koncev bi že bil čas, da znova zmontiram kakšen zanimiv filmček.

Lahko noč.

MS Office 2007 Ultimate in težave z Excelom

Ko je najmanj treba – se pojavijo težave. Podobno je tudi sedaj. Kot sem že (pre)večkrat povedal, pač pišem diplomo. Zadnje tedne ne preveč pridno, le po nekaj vrstic dnevno mi uspe spraviti skupaj. Nekatere bolj tehnične reči me še jezijo in mučijo, ker jim (še) ne najdem odgovora, predvsem pa je zadnje dni na novem sistemu problem z Excelom. Nepogrešljivi paket v katerem delam prenekatere analize in izračune, mi namreč pošteno nagaja.

Sprva mi uspe nekajkrat reč pognati in uporabljati normalno, kmalu zatem pa se pojavi nadvse neprijetno sporočilo v Visti – “This program has to shut down”. In podobna sporočila, ki mi že pijejo kri. Najhujše pa je dejstvo, da težave ne znam odpraviti. Nešteto minut ali bolje rečeno ur – presedim za računalnikom, a mi te zlovešče napake še kar hodijo v zelje. Upam, da jih v kratkem popravim. Sicer mi ne preostane drugega, kot da na nov disk, ki je še nekje daleč na poti iz Singapurja, celotni sistem naložim znova… Rajši ne pomislim…

X61 Tablet and X60s comparison

I’ve now finally found some time to blog a bit. As title suggests, I will be about comparing the two ThinkPads. I’ve been using the Tablet for a few days now, whereas X60s has been used for a year and about 8-10 hours daily.

Comparison that follows is of course only a part of my opinion and an impression of the two computers.

Before I begin, here are the specs for both computers:

X61 Tablet, Vista Business 32, 80 GB 5400, 2 GB ram, Intel AGN, SXGA+ 1400×1050 px, 8C + 4C battery
X60s, Win XP Pro, 80 GB 5400, 1.5 GB ram, Intel ABG, XGA 1024×768 px, 4C + 8C battery

SIZE AND WEIGHT
Both computers are »ultraportable« design, although X60s clearly wins the »ultra« prefix, being both lighter and smaller than the X61T. When both laptops are placed next to each other, size difference is well visible. Before I bought the X61T I was very concerned with the bigger size and weight, but as soon as I started using the Tablet, my fears were gone. At least in the bigger-size regard. Weight is a different matter though. I was mainly using the X60s with a 4 cell slimline battery, only using the heftier 8C when on travels or away from plug-in power. The Tablet came with an 8C battery and I ordered an extra 4C battery. Although the difference in weight with the 4C battery is rather small, when the X61T is fitted with an 8C battery, it’s huge. At least if I hold the X60s with a 4C battery in the other hand. So to summarize, if you’re thinking of moving to the Tablet version and have previously been using the super-light X60s, you will notice the difference mainly in weight, but less in size. However, both being fitted with a 4C battery, you’re going for a very light and compact (ultra)portable. Personally, I was rather pleased differences not being to immense.

TABLET FUNCTIONALITY
I had an opinion tablet/touch functions were just another best-seller gimmick or a useful tool for rare industries or professionals only. However, my opinion has changed a bit, once I’ve discovered the many possibilities of what a digitizer pen can do/perform. Although I still think that I will only be using the tablet functions for about 10% of the time, it can’t hurt to have them. For what I know the Tablet will be useful for and that I will be using it for is – Photoshop retouching, taking notes on meetings, drawing engineering schemes and of course for travel – airplane seats being so cramped etc. I might also find other uses for it over time.

Screen
The screen on X61T can’t really be compared to the one on X60s. Tablet is brighter, color reproduction is much better, viewing angle is absolutely great and of course – this is why I bought the tablet in the first place – the resolution is higher!
Screen of the tablet is thicker and way heavier, I guess that’s mostly because due to special coatings/materials for touch/pen input.

Keyboard
Keyboard on ThinkPads is legendary and both – X61T and X60s keyboards are of same good quality, touch/feel and all that comes with it. I have no other comment on this rather than it’s really nice in comparison with Vaio, HP and some others I’ve tested.

Battery
Battery life on X61T is worse than X60s. I guess that there are several reasons for that, but one that I’ve noticed and is prominent is definitely Vista. The x61T is a new computer and as such, it is indexing many files and folders. Disk is spinning a lot and I suppose this is why battery life is shorter. I am now for instance using X61T, just word 2007 from where I’ll publish to WP blog later when I get connected. WLAN is disconnected as well as other wireless devices. When fully charged, the 8C battery with 5 cycles only shows about 6 hours of battery life. The X60s with WinXP, 40 cycles on the 8C battery, with only word running and all the rest turned off, including WLAN, showed 9 hours 30 minutes. Brightness setting on both, the X60s and X61T, is/was set to medium.

It’s hard to compare the battery life on X60s and X61T, mainly because OS are different, not all applications installed are the same and also X61T being so “fresh”, Vista probably hasn’t settled down completely.

Final conclusions
I could probably go on with this comparison for a long time. However, I think I need more time to thoroughly test the Tablet, the HDD to stop indexing etc. As for now I am very happy with the purchase and my main concern – size/weight vs. better screen issues – are finally over. I do like the SXGA+ real estate, sharpness and color reproduction far more than about 300 grams weight difference.

ThinkPad X61 Tablet – first thoughts

• Naj se opravičim tistim rednim bralcem, da bo naslednje pisanje v angleščini. Ker pa bo dotična objava pisana povečini za angleško govoreče, je pač logično uporabljena angleščina.

First thoughts on X61 Tablet
This ThinkPad definitely has the best screen that I’ve ever owned! This is what I bought it for in the first place, moving from X60s to X61 Tablet. SXGA+ is very crisp, sharp and has beautiful color reproduction, at leaset in comparison with X60s. My fears of the X61T being much bigger and bulkier than X60s are gone too.

X61T is bigger, of course, but not to an extent that would bother me in any way. It is, as many have noted, quite heavy in the back and akwardly distributes the weight.

In short, before I write a comprehensive comparsion of X61 T and X60s, here are the facts:

• Screen: Awesome! Contrast ratio, brightness and colour reproduction are great.
• Keyboard: Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad keyboards are legendary and there’s no need to say anything more than it’s great
• Battery : As it’s known, Vista indexes a lot in the beginning when it’s fresh etc., so battery drains really fast, it only lasts about 1:35 on 4C battery at the moment.
• Performance: as I don’t really do anything too “heavy” except light video editing I can’t say. I can only compare to X60s, which was running Win XP pro… Once the system is booted and comes to a complete idle state it’s really fast. MS Office and other programs from Adobe Suite boot up nice and fast. However, booting in Vista is still near 2 minutes, but I am hoping this to improve over time.
• Tablet Functions: I thought this would be just another gimmick. I bought the Tablet version just because of the SXGA+, but have already started to like the Tablet functionality… However, I know I will only be using that for about 5-10%. But it certainly can’t bother to have that option, especially because I’ll be using Photoshop more and more.

I guess that’s about all I can write at the moment, as I’ve only been testing the laptop for 8 consecutive hours. Extensive review will follow in a couple of days.

Naposled tu!

Tako sem živčen, da ne bom kaj dosti napisal… Pa še delo imam. Sem pa končno dočakal novo prenosno mašinco – računalnik. Več o tem kasneje…