I have got a HP 2133 Mini-Note:-

• 1.2Ghz Processor
• 2Gb RAM (upgraded from 1Gb it came with)
• 120Gb Hard disk
• 8.9″ Screen
• Built-in Wifi, 2x USB2.0 ports, ExpressCard54 Slot, SD/SDHC Card slot
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• 3 Mobile network dongle

HP 2133 Mini-Note

Also I now have a computer from my Uncle who passed away earlier this year:-

• Lian Li PC-69 Case
• AMD Sempron 3000+ @ 2GHz
• 1536Mb Ram (3x 512Mb)
• 2x Sony DVD/CD RW Drives
• 2x 160 SATA drives (in Mirrored RAID array)
• Windows XP Professional
• 19″ Iiyama monitor

Lian Li PC-69 Case

Finally the 3rd Computer, my mum got a Flat Screen iMac. It’s her computer, so not publishing more info on it.

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2 New Computers (well actually 3)

Firstly, my friend jw has started a blog jw³ otherwise known as “jw’s cube on this interweb thing…”. Welcome to the world of Blogging jw.

Also made a few changes to my blog.

• Twitter Feed added
• Debt Free Countdown updated
• Updated Wordpress to version 2.6

Will be adding some photos soon from my short trip to Isle of Wight. Don’t think I took many, but I had fun drinking 3 out of 4 evenings with my Dad. I came back early as the day I was planning to return there was torrential rain. Glad I left early.

I know this is short, but hopefully next post will be a bit longer.

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July Update

• Do Not use Credit Cards
  • Possibly get a pre-pay one
• Do Not get Personal Loans without a goal
  • Buying a Car for example fine, but just to have money or to clear debt no.
• Do Not have an overdraft
  • Especially, do not live in your overdraft
• Do Not use check cashing services
  • The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) could be near 1,500% mark (not a typo)
• Start a saving account, maybe an ISA
• Pay for things with Cash
  • This is also a way to avoid problems with possible credit card fraud

I may add more items to this in the future, and please feel free to add your tips.

I want to avoid future debt.

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Ways to avoid debt

So what is the Slingbox?? It’s a device that can stream your TV over local network and the internet, even on a PDA or phone (mobile software costs £20 currently).

Cable or Satellite boxes?? No problem.
DVD, Video, Hardisk Players/Recorders?? No problem.
Digital TV?? No problem. (not on Solo)
High Definition TV?? No Problem. (not on Classic)

Why did I choose the Slingbox?? I purchased a Video Sender prior to this and as operated on 2.4GHz interence was caused by my Wifi. Also couldn’t change channels as VirginMedia (ex-Telewest) remote uses IRDA signals.

It soon went back to the shop I purchased it from and eBayed a Buy-It-Now Slingbox Classic for £75.00. Bargain.

The photo is of my Slingbox in situ with a DVD temporarily above it to show it’s size.

I currently have a Cable Box and DVD player connected (although one cable for sound has to be manually changed if I switch via the software), and a Digital TV freeview antenna.

If you have local network at home, Cat5 or Wifi, I would advise to look at the Slingbox as a seriously cool Gadget. Visit the Slingmedia home page www.slingmedia.com.

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Slingbox, the best Gadget ever

I am starting at the lowest level, hoping this is all my sites need. But if I need more resources I can easily add from the Dreamhost web panel.

Was a few hiccoughs during the setup as DH network was slow running, but they were sorting the move. All sorted now.

Any problems noticed, please use my contact form.

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New Dreamhost Private Server

The model I purchased was a Blue 2nd generation iPod Nano with 4Gb of storage.

I have already almost filled the unit with my stuff.

I started with Pink Floyd’s - Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd, the some other stuff including Ministry of Sound, M-People, Mike Oldfield & Jean Michel Jarre albums.

To do with Amateur Radio I added a Morse Code tuition course, but realised this would be a problem when I used the random shuffle feature. A program was soon found and the files converted to AudioBook format. This took over an hour, but now happily enjoying my morse training.

Other features have also been put to use, including my contacts, and calendar events.

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iPod Nano owner

But no, I won’t talk about the usual political drivel. No, I will use this to see how my life has been this past 12 months & what the next 12 may bring.

2007 is almost over. Whilst I am getting on OK at my new office (even 18 months it’s still not like I belong), I am hoping it’s merely a stepping stone onto better things. I even got my best performance mark I have (& could get) but still I am not sure how long I will remain.

So Home & Family. This year the last of my sisters moved out. I feel I should point out that I have lived away from home for a number of years, but lack of work drew me home nearly 10 years ago. I plan on moving to the Isle of Wight when finances allow.

Which brings of neatly to Finances. With say rises & bonuses this year I feel a bit more in control of my own money. Even put a few things back no direct-debit.

2008 should be a year of change for me. 10 years in my job, which brings more leave (30 days annual instead of 25). Hopefully can look seriously at moving to next pay level. May also look into driving lessons when debt is gone.

On the radio side hoping to go away in time for the CQ WPX to France to operate. It may even increase my DXCC tally. Well I can hope.

Finally looking at saving for a nice holiday. Started saving with some bonus vouchers from work. May suggest that people get me holiday vouchers instead of presents from now onwards.

Well that’s enough of a waffle for now. Back to watching some for films on my films page.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my readers.

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Gadget17’s Christmas Message

* Update:- Top 15 films on the list I have now watched as of 22/01/08.

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Top 50 dystopian movies

• Coax Cable cut by FM Conway
  • Friday 31st August 07
• Broadband lost
• Cable TV lost
• VirginMedia activate dial-up & offer £25 rebate
• FM Conway offer to send team to dig road when VirginMedia call
• Engineer calls, but has to book 2 man cable pulling team
• Modem in Laptop stops working
• Order New USB Modem
• New Modem doesn’t work
• Phone line is dead
  • Later found out Virgin had removed old cable inc telephone line
• 10 minutes on hold before they answer, but call back my mobile (Nice)
• Get 1 month free TV & Broadband due to length of outage
• Go to Science Museum with Nephew (OK, not to do with Outage, but was a cool day out)
• Finally 18 days later the teams turn up on 17th Sept and I am reconnected with
  • Broadband
  • Cable Television
  • & Landline Telephone
• Monday 17th September 07

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What went wrong?

I have written a blog post but can’t post it yet as is on my PDA. Check back shortly.

To keep up to date, I will post some stuff to my Twitter page via Text Message. You can view this at Twitter.com/Gadget17

I will not have major internet access until at least Friday 7th September, please avoid sending any messages or emails until this time. Thanks! Paul.

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Bad Friday!