unboxing of belco alpha 400 demo unit for free and affordable computer project

This is like the machine we reviewed for distribution two years ago

Most of the models are 266 MHz and have Windows CE or Windows Embedded so thus then don’t have the flexibility to really be a PC but more a dedicated Netbook like device to Wordprocessing Email Messaging and Browsing plus a few other functions perhaps Calculator and a Game.  So the machines are slower but perhaps with two plus years of being around the software should be well optimized with (argh an inflexible windows version, locked) and the battery life should be even longer with the lower powered processor.

I still am interested in selling these machines under a get one when you give one program to help those in need get a basic device.  The latest one I saw advertised at a pharmacy chain and supposedly with YouTube capability (does that mean flash or some other protocol?)

More questions remain, but the time for the  $100 computer in the United States has arrived.  The question becomes again then, “what is a computer?” since these models are not achieving all the goals we have.  For me that would be an open system that is flexible for programming and customization.

me

Developing TinyPCNews.com with WordPress.org on a free webhost service

The most significant thing is I tried to create a wordpress.org site for the first time.  It took some wrangling to learn but basically it involved (as best as I can remember it) setting up the free host service, setting up a database there with MySQL, pointing my domain server’s DNS settings to the new host, then getting the wordpress.org code down to my own pc, making modifications to a sample file in a text editor with database settings and encrytion settings, saving that text file under another functional name, figuring out exactly how to archive that file for uploading to the server so that it would function correctly when extracted there, ftp uploading it to the right place so the  server knew how to extract the files correctly, running an initialization script through extrapolating the correct address for it in a webbrowser, downloading to my pc a template worth playing with, ftp uploading the template files into the correct folder on the server so that the wordpress interface knows how to find the template, making configurations to the templates widgets, going to one of my wordpress.com accounts to get an API key to get the Spam Filter Plug-In activated:

What did I produce: a content-less website with no statistics but one that is hosted on a server that I have contral panel access to and which I can use the full width of wordpress.org code and compatible code with.

Also for general internet presence I caught up on getting the following:

I got the http://tinypcnews.blogspot.com moniker from blogger, I also already had http://tinypcnews.wordpress.com I also set up a youtube at http://youtube.com/tinypcnews.  I also went up and set up a Amazon Storefront at:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/index.html?ie=UTF8&sellerID=A2ME2H26QFWC52

New addition to Gydos.com: JustSmartbooks.com

Time lately has been dominated by family activity, when twins arrived to my wife and me on April 25th, a little girl and a little boy.

Nonetheless, I have continued to expand my internet domain real estate and acquired http://www.justsmartbooks.com a few days ago .  I also set up an Amazon account as JustSmartbooks http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/index.html?ie=UTF8&sellerID=A3DR1FQQTEPEFW, I set up two blogs one at http://justsmartbooks.wordpress.com and another at http://justsmartbooks.blogspot.com,  a youtube account at http://www.youtube.com/justsmartbooks.  So far there is no content at any of these locations.

I also renewed my ownership of http://www.tinypcnews.com this past month

I am not active with http://www.hafup.com, http://www.ircgreensboro.com, or http://www.sparechangenews.com or at the HIVE or around town with HungryInGreensboro.  I have also been taking a sabattical from WRLP.  Nonetheless I have been sorting through the materials and experiences I acquired throughout this past fall, winter and spring slowly on my “free time” in order to best maximize the experiences.

Also purchased an ASUS 901 EEE W003X from RitzCamera.com.  Can’t wait to do the unboxing video and followup on what was don at www.minilini.net last year but through a new angle.

Actually we have 2,025 views on the youtube of last years gogivepc demo unit the belco alpha 400

Just wanted to update that post since whenever I see that older version of that post, it makes me cringe.  So on average we are getting 200-300 hits per month on just that video http://youtube.com/pgydos .  Can’t wait to shoot the next video, about a very mainstreamed and no longer bleeding edge, Asus EEE 901 W003x (windows XP version with 12 GB flash drives (4 GB fast flash, 8 slow flash)),  I want to put in everything I have learned this year into this video if I can so I’ve been taking my time. Also technically, this machine will not be a minilini (Small Linux Machine) until I put another install alongside the windows on the internal flash drive, or as a usb drive boot) I bought it to try various EEE operating systems and to try my hand at modding if I got a chance to get any mod parts.

64 views on my first you tube – the demo unit for our free and affordable computer project

I have got 64 views on my first ever you tube, and I am shamelessly asking you to help get that number up,  and also please leave your comments!!

You will get to see a piece of technology that is in my opinion will prove to be very significant.

If you haven’t seen this nifty little computer as of yet, then see my first ever youtube:

The unboxing of our demo unit for our free and affordable computer project: The Belco Alpha 400

at this url: https://minilini.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/unboxing-of-belco-alpha-400-demo-unit-for-free-and-affordable-computer-project/. Its the top post on https://minilini.wordpress.com.

Eternet 10/100 port worked on my Belco Alpha 400 at public location (yesterday) 092508

Yesterday, I gained internet access on my Belco Alpha 400 (purchased by donor at bloggingpoet-shoppes.com) through a cat-5 ethernet cable plugged on one side into the computer’s 10/100 Eternet port on its backside and plugged on the other side to an eternet port on the floor of a library at a local public university.

The internet connection was faster than the wireless connections I had used thus far. In both cases internet on this computer is a bit slow but tolerable. An amazingly large amount of visibility of text and picture and sound content. With eternet plugged in this computer, the tolerability was bumped up considerably and realliy then the Alpha 400 seems like its running in its sweet zone and sort of fun knowing you are using a 7″ computer.

I admit this computer really likes a table surface to be on, this makes really more of a subnotebook type of netbook than a mobile internet device type or cell phone hybrid device. This machine is for those who miss the touch type keyboard in their mobile device. They want to compute remotely but they need more typing capability than on a blackberry.

So far for typing up notes and doing a quick text pic sound content websurf, the Alpha 400 seems to do the trick for about $200.

logitech wireless usb mouse work on belco alpha 400 model 092508

Logitech Wireless USB Mouse works on Belco Alpha 400 model

Yesterday I plugged in my wife’s Logitech Wireless USB mouse to the Belco Alpha 400 demo unit bought as a demo unit for our free and affordable laptop project. (purchased at http://www.bloggingpoet-shoppes.com – not currently available but working on it)

I plugged in the mouse ‘s usb dongle mid-session and it promptly worked with no configuration needed!

I don’ t expect all peripherals to work instantly on this machine but that was refreshing.

It also generated a new micro-project, easy toggle of the touchpad on the comuter on and off.

less powerful machine might be better for learning and for students than today’s overpowered and inefficient machines 092508

Journal 09-25-08

 

I decided to have lunch at the Acorn in the Town of Elon.  The network here is run by the university and they no longer have public access wi-fi.  There are two computers which I think do not require log in on but they are awkwardly positioned.  I decided to stay off line for the moment.  I’m working on the Alpha 400 for the moment.  I’m learning to get used to it. The typing is not to bad when you can get yourself to not touch the touchpad by hovering your hands in a correct position.

 

Knowing that the computer can not handle endless numbers o’f session forces me to concentrate on each one more completely finishing it more before saving and going to the next one. 

 

Sometimes a by product of having a system that can handle so many multiple sessions is that the byproduct is I spin off tons of seperate documents for even just a small fraction of a thought, and tons of webpages, since its faster to keep setting one up while another is loading in the background then I work through each tab and browser one webpage load at a time moving to the next step in the next task.  Somehow when getting to some new material or tasks one forgets the everyday routine ones started at the beginning until one maxes out the memory resources of the machine, often dozens of sessions opened at one time.  Then to do a proper pull out and shut down can take quite a long time as one finishes that which can be finished, and takes note of what needs to be taken note of for later, and save whatever web pages need to be saved for later.

 

I don’t feel like the Alpha 400 is hampering my productivity because the changes in  style necessary to the machine are not really necessarily bad for my productivity.  I must account for my personal prejudice which gives me an incentive to adapt.  I like little computers, I want them to be available, I know that I need to demonstrate that they are useful.

 

However I know those who have other computers will often want to gravitate to other machines especially before being accimated to this one.  Users who have experience with other computers but no access to them might be frustrated with what they can or can not do with a more limited computer.  Many users who don’t have other access may not know what they are missing as the machine has quite a bit of functionality

 

These are things I use alot so far: AbiWord – A Word compatible  wordprocessor.  I save my files either to the internal flash drive, my 4GB USB key drive or my 1GB SD chip.  I use the wi-fi signal widget and the BonEcho, A Firefox driven WebBrowser optimized for small linux machines.  Particularly I like the Bookmark function on the browser which I use to point to webpages I’ve saved and may need to refer to quickly, as they seem to pull up well and quickly that way.

 

This is new for me as I’ve never been a bookmark or favorite user very much in the past, but this is a way of avoiding navigating through the File Manager for pages I might need to quickly present.  I wonder if this practise will help me on my computing when off the Alpha 400.

 

Video optimization is a bit of an issue, many will not accept the distortion and glitchiness when scrolling through a document. The screen resolves itself in just a flash and for many others this will not be a problem, as they will be happy they can edit text and if one is not picky the video is adequate.

 

I am not sure if the spellcheck function of abiword is loaded up.

 

Wow I’m going to learn about computer in this project.

 

The question looms about wether it is worth it to fix problems for a non-standard processor when the cost of a more powerful standard processor like the atom will probably be available in some time for cheap. 

 

For me the question is more abstract because for me the opportunity to learn about aspect that would otherwise be resolved and therefore less interesting will definitely help me personally wheter the goal of popularizing a free inexpensive or affordable portable computer is achieved through this model.

 

Having powerful machines is not an excuse for bad or inefficient code.  The amount of computing power we have today is extrordinarily huge and from the perspective of computers of old not well utilized for this reason.

 

That our technology at any point of physical power will be further optimized by good coding processes at every level of development will not change and therefore a useful skill.

 

In fact a lot of arguments can be made in this regard as to why a slightly less powerful machine might be better for learning and for students than today’s overpowered and inefficient machines.

 

I’m going to save this post to USB drive now and upload it to minilini.wordpress.com later on today when I have internet access.

AbiWord from Linux to Windows in doc and txt formats Computer Literacy is basic literacy 092508.txt

Because wi-fi access was not public there, I just jumped on a public computer at a coffee shop and put my usb disk on. It turned out their usb port was the type which is upside down from the way they normally are (some kind of Dell, weird).

I tried opening some of the files I wrote on AbiWord – word compatible wordprocessor on the Belco Alpha 400. The file I saved in .doc word format opened up in Office 2007 Word on the public computer just perfectly fine (it even identifies it to be running in Compatibility Mode and default saves it in the more common old word format .doc since Office 2007 Word’s native format is .docx).

However Notepad did not like the AbiWord files I wrote and saved in .txt mode, they did not have the carriage return formatting.

I immediately was curious about AbiWord for Windows and entered that phrase in the Google Search bar and found the download. I saved the download to the desktop, and it wouldn’t show on the desktop or in Explorer but would show on the desktop in the save window when I tried to save the download a second time. From that window I was able to launch the file and it put me right into AbiWord. From AbiWord for Windows I was able to launch the two files that I saved in .txt format on AbiWord and the formatting was perfect. In fact they are other posts which are going up today.

Just in case I was at a location that could not get AbiWord for lack of administrative privilege or internet access lets test WordPad and Word to see if they can see the formatting of the files saved in .txt with AbiWord.

In WordPad you could open it up if you knew to tell Wordpad’s Open document window to look for all types of files, but you had to choose to word wrap it to ruler from the View –> Options –> Text tab to see it correctly.

Word on Office 2007 opened it up if you knew to tell Word’s Open document window to look for all types of files. Word 2007 auto formated the file saved by AbiWord to .txt so that it was a legible document.

Another instance that illustrates that computer literacy is basic literacy

 

fourth wi-fi attempt on Alpha 400 successful 092508.txt

This is actually from Tuesday September 23rd 2008, I missed reporting this then.

I went to Cheesecakes by Alex in downtown greensboro who offer free wi-fi access to their paying customers.

From there I had no problem using the integrated wi-fi on my Belco Alpha 400 demo unit. I’m still in my process of testing this function in various situations.

Billy Jones purchased this computer at bloggigpoet-shoppes.com, his own store, for me to demo for our free and affordable computer project.