Ahasae Tharu . net

Having a wonderful time catching up with history in Copenhagen after visiting Reykjavik for two days.  Read an intriguing story about the former Kings and Queens of Denmark and my interest grew to encompass learning about Danish history and culture.  Incidentally, I learnt quite a bit about Icelandic culture as well while visiting their National Museum - one of the best museums I have ever visited in terms of information decimation.  The National Museum in Copenhagen isn't as good for explanations and storytelling, but it is free.  I invested in a book (like a tour guide) to one of their exhibits titled "Stories of Denmark".  I was not disappointed.  I also attended a walking tour of their pre-history.  

There's no real order to this blog post.  For Iceland - I recommend to anyone visiting there to skip going to tourist places like the Blue Lagoon and instead save your money and visit the local swimming pool/hot springs of the city centre.  You won't be disappointed.  The feel of the town is not that of 'high street' - which unfortunately I did find on the main pedestrianized ways of Copenhagen.  

My other thrill of this holiday is catching up with long lost friend and former housemate/classmate from Waterloo - Andreanne and her recent addition to her family Joel.  

As for the subject of this post - yes - the husband has taken off with the camera to his Drupalcon conference.  I chose not to attend and instead to enjoy the holiday for what it is.  That and I do tend to get tired easily!

Pregnancy, among other things - is a time for couples to unite and to bond over shared experiences.  The experience I have will not be the same as the experience he has and not to mention the responses tinged with extreme hormones.  One moment you're happy and singing softly to your belly and the next moment you're a storm cloud and raging about how the world is unfair and you're all alone.

Husbands do get a bum wrap and I'm just as guilty as anyone else for either taking advantage, not appreciating, or just failing to see what he's actually up to.  A husband has to put up with his wife's moods; fill in for her when her ankles are swollen and dinner would just otherwise not be made; and offer her back rubs and constant encouragement.  He's also expected to keep up with his usual workload or hobbies and to do his fair share of the chores.  

But for a woman, what we think in the moment is what is the most important thing (at least when pregnancy brain sets in).  We know that if we don't do something immediately, it's just not going to get done. So we feel hurt when our husbands are too busy to just drop what they're doing and jump in with full enthusiasm.  

This pertains to the setting up of baby registries, websites, cooing over pictures of a cute nephew, and all manner of things.  

So its important to remember that patience is a virtue.  Trust as well that your husband (or partner) will be there when necessary.  He may not always see things eye to eye, but he will at least try - for your sake.  

First blog post from the wee little Netbook!  Keyboard isn't bad.

I'm in the process of compiling my list of "must haves" for when our little bundle of pooping, drooling, joy falls into our laps.  I felt the need to comment on the availability and usability of various online registries.  In this case, the obvious ones of Babies R'Us vs. Amazon.com (joint with thebump.com).

Previously, we went shopping at Babies R Us and I was delighted by the way we could walk around and 'zap' whatever items in-store met our look or feel.  Good for getting information on stroller solutions, crib/cot solutions and the like.  That said, the website likes to email me (it appears) on a daily basis and I'm getting quite tired of their constant advertising.  Nothing is particularly cheap even with the sales and the things you really want are generally excluded from the sale or discount.  That said, everything on the registry is 10% off some days after the baby arrives - so if there's anything outstanding, that's a bit of a savings.

Then today, I thought - why not check out my favourite online shopping store - Amazon.com!  First, I was incredibly happy with the ease and speed to set up a registry.  Babies R Us took me three days and their system somehow dropped my registry a few times before I went and concretely established it in the store.  In terms of the navigation - Amazon works seamlessly with your registry in the same way it does with your shopping cart and wishlist.  Unfortunately I can't say the same for Babies R Us as their website is slow - gives limited information - you find yourself clicking on the product info to actually get anything useful.  I am a big advocate of looking at customer reviews and buying things that people (over 50 ppl) have recommended.  It took me half an hour to try to figure out what type of bathtub would be good. On Amazon, it's much easier.  

So these are my thoughts.  I will eventually post links to the registry of choice - I'm looking also for cost effective solutions and we are limited in space.  We are also going for reusable diapers and strangely enough going to try to do without a stroller and crib for as long as possible!

Addendum: Amazon has a wide selection, good reviews, and gives business to the 'little guy'.  Babies R Us isn't the one stop shop they'd like to think they are!

10 reasons Linux should be your netbook operating system By Jack Wallen (August 12th, 2009)

So we took some time to test run various flavors of Ubuntu on the netbook.  Contenders were Easy Peasy, Eebuntu (Aurora OS), and Ubuntu (NBR release).  In the end, decided on the NBR Release since it looked the most up to date and easy to customize.  I still need to figure out how to get some of the Asus keyboard shortcuts working (i.e. volume, light/dark, etc) but I think that's a matter of time as there are drivers that can be installed.  

I especially like the ease of navigation, there are games and all the necessary audio/visual software installed.  Now I just need to do personal customization like downloading e-book readers or adding all my bookmarks and syncing with google contacts, etc. 

I didn't expect to be able to use the computer so quickly after installation!  Also start up and shut down are a whisper of a breeze compared to the prior Windows 7 installation (which was still trying to set up all sorts of unwanted stuff when I gave it one last ditch effort yesterday evening).  

In terms of internet security, I couldn't ask for a netbook more secure.  In terms of speed and usability, I'm absolutely satisfied. 

Yes, there are some limitations (like Kindle reader doesn't come in Linux) and you can't access 'everything' that's accessible to Mac and Windows - but that said.  My original and current objective has always been to use the netbook for surfing the web, blogging, and travel.

Now just waiting for the little shoulder-strap carry bag that I ordered over Amazon before taking my little netbook out with me! 

Another person's experience with the same computer (Ahren's Blog).  

Features: Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz, 512KB L2 Cache)
1GB DDR2 RAM, 1 SODIMM Slot, 2GB Max; Intel UMA graphics
250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM); 0.3MP Webcam
10.1-Inch 1024X600 WSVGA LCD Display; 802.11 b/g/n; Chiclet Keyboard
6 cell battery for up to 11 Hours of Battery Life; Windows 7 Starter Operating System

So I would like to say that we received my cute new netbook, started it up and started using it right away!  That is, I would say that if it were not for Windows 7 Starter.  I made it a point to go through the programs offered and to see how everything integrates.  The amount of hourglass watching, not to mention when I finally went to 'shut down' and the computer stayed on for quite some time installing updates.  At one point I was looking at customizing IE and trying to get rid of some of the automatic links they've included in their toolbars - and bang, ended up installing the trend anti-virus ware trial that I didn't mean to install.  I'm a bit lost to be honest, couldn't customize the background - couldn't change the startup screen.  The classic windows games and things that are included just don't seem to be worth the hassle now that I'm used to my Macbook (family computer) and iMac (at work).  

When I installed Skype, I had to admit their PC interface is much nicer than the Mac one.  They inadvertently prompted me to install Google Chrome - my god it's faster than IE!  I quickly made it the default browser.  

Then we get to Windows Media Player (WMP).  I didn't like it in XP and that sentiment carries over again.  There's no way to easily remove it from my desktop.  I have long since removed myself from the dependency of Windows based media types.  Usually VLC does the job and if it doesn't, well it's just not worth it.  So that was another wasted 20 minutes of clicking around and waiting around.  I still haven't even been able to surf the web properly or to do anything that I would otherwise do.

Today I took sometime to look into eReaders.  The Kindle looks promising for PC (and has a Mac version) - but won't work on my black berry.  In contrast, the Barnes & Noble E-Reader does have a BB friendly version (for my model) as well as PC and MAC AND EVEN LINUX versions!  Only downside is that it's a bit limited in the free book title arena.  I think Kindle might have the larger number of titles.  I'm also wondering if the books are readable from the different readers - i.e. if I buy a book off Kindle, can I read it on the E-reader.. or if I buy a book off Amazon.  So this is something to look into before making a final decision.  

Bottom line - I feel as though it may just be worthwhile to scrap the Windows 7 startup and to install Linux.  

Question: What am I trying to achieve with this little netbook?

Answer: I want to be able to surf the web, blog, write stories, and read the occasional book.  I would also like to play the occasional game - thought that is achievable on any platform.  

So Ubuntu may be the eventual answer.  See the youtube comparison of start up and shut down Ubuntu vs. Windows 7 Starter.  I can definitely conclude that Microsoft as usual has given you the equivalent of a 2 star all-inclusive resort where you have little or no choice in what you encounter and don't really want to do anything because what they do offer you isn't particularly worth the effort.  I think I'd rather if the market changed altogether and allowed you to pick any operating system you wanted. The control of the "Choose your own adventure" is much preferable to falling into the middle of a jungle and getting sucked into quicksand.  Defeats the purpose of paying good money for tools that are supposed to work and provide you with what you want.  I would have been much more happier and satisfied had I been able to use the netbook right out of the box.  Instead, I think it'll take me more than a week to get it customized to the extent that I'd be using it.. and in that week I may just get tired of the blasted thing (pregnancy hormones kicking in).  So may just give into Steph and get him to put Ubuntu on the system.  Then can run Chrome and firefox, whatever eReader... and open office/notepad.  When it comes to esthetics, I prefer if I can customize the desktop as I like.  Microsoft, though you include bells and whistles... they seem to come with a price!