Feb
27
2010

Most of the packaged Windows Home Servers are headless. This includes the Acer easyStore h340 and the various HP Media Smart Servers. Being headless at first sounds like a great idea. Since it is a server, you will use it more or less like a network attached storage device, and you will interact with it using the Windows Home Server Connector software to setup most of the configurations. If you really want to log in to it, you can always use the remote desktop client. That was what I thought until I ran into some issues with Windows and would like to troubleshoot it right on the server. A headless server that came without any video output makes that impossible. Luckily I found this cable from VOV Technology.
Continue reading
1 comment | tags: acer, easystore, EF 24-70mm, gadget, home server, sd450 | posted in Hardware
Feb
24
2010

Came across Craig Mod’s site while looking for more Lumix GF1 info. Craig posted his field test of GF1, what a delight to read his travel field test page.
Continue reading
6 comments | tags: art space tokyo, book, canon, craigmod, gf1, lumix | posted in Hardware, Tokyo
Feb
8
2010

Ok, it is official. Canon is releasing the EOS 550D/Rebel T2i/Kiss X4 Digital. More information from dpreview.com.
Image above courtesy of dpreview.com.
Continue reading
2 comments | tags: gadget, T2i | posted in Hardware, Photography
Jan
26
2010

I have been having the Acer easyStore h340 Home Server for a while now. Most things work pretty good. But as you probably know, Windows is not the most stable platform and I run into occasional file corruption sometimes (which is not supposed to happen, Microsoft…) Most mysteriously, the Home Server restarts from time to time unexpectedly and there is no useful system events logged to help me diagnose the problem.
Continue reading
3 comments | tags: acer, easystore, gadget, hacks, home server, tips | posted in Hardware
Jan
23
2010

I am an ADSL user. I use Telus as my ISP because I like the consistency of ADSL. It is not a shared line like cables and my internet connection speed is not affected by neighbors downloading all day (or vice versa :)).
Continue reading
4 comments | tags: ADSL, cable, internet, ISP, optic fiber, richmond, speedtest.net, telus, Vancouver | posted in Hardware, Vancouver
Jan
17
2010

Been using Canon Digital SLRs for a while now. As a Canon user, I have always been Nikon-envy for some reason. Maybe because I am just itchy to try more gadgets. But Canon Digital SLR cameras have been a very solid performer for us. So far, I have used 3 Canon Digital SLRs and the current model I use is the Rebel T1i/Kiss X3.
Continue reading
11 comments | tags: aputure, camera, EF 24-70mm, EF 50mm, EF 70-200mm, EF-S 10-22mm, EF-S 60mm, flash, gadget, lenspen, SDHC, T1i | posted in Hardware, Photography
Jan
4
2010

I usually try to avoid repeating news from other blog sites. But I am feeling particularly excited about yet another “mirrorless” interchangeable lens camera system being offered to us.
Continue reading
2 comments | tags: camera, gadget, micro 4/3, nx10, samsung | posted in Hardware, Photography
Dec
31
2009

Been lucky enough this Christmas to be given a new piece of computer hardware: Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch. Here is a bit of deboxing excitement to share with you.
Continue reading
no comments | tags: bamboo, gadget, multitouch, tablet, wacom | posted in Hardware