Sunday, June 05

Geek

The Connector Conspiracy

Observation 1:

There are at least three types of DVI connector, even though they all do exactly the same thing. On the other hand, two plug-pack transformers can have exactly the same plug, even though one provides five volts and the other twenty-four.

Observation 2:

Small electronic gadgets are surprisingly resilient in over-voltage conditions. But I still wouldn't recommend doing that.

I was recabling my computers because the space under my dining table desk had turned into something of a R.O.U.S. nest. In the process, I managed to plug my USB hub into the plug pack for my old Logitech wireless keyboard. (Not the new old one, but the old old one.) It survived, assuming that all the lights are supposed to be lit up all the time.

I haven't got my new flashy keyboard working yet. It doesn't seem to like being connected through a USB hub, which will be a problem since I plan to get myself a little KVM switch - one of these; it supports DVI, so there should be no loss of picture quality. But if my keyboard won't work with a USB hub, it probably won't work with a KVM switch either, which kind of defeets the porpoise.*

Meanwhile, my intended new ISP turns out not to provide static IP addresses. I've always had static a IP address, since way back in 1996, so I didn't even think to check.

Damn. That will really screw things up.

* If you ever wondered why porpoises live in the ocean, well, it's because they don't have any feet.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 11:54 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Post contains 268 words, total size 2 kb.

1 "* If you ever wondered why porpoises live in the ocean, well, it's because they don't have any feet." Your day job... keep it. *sigh*

Posted by: Wonderduck at Monday, June 06 2005 01:11 AM (86QII)

2 Iinet don't provide static addresses, but their IP assignment seems to work DHCP-like: every time I reconnect my ADSL (which isn't often, since I don't disconnect much), I get the same IP.

Posted by: Jojo at Monday, June 06 2005 01:42 AM (K7kS/)

3 Your day job... keep it. *sigh* Yeah. I was planning to. :) Jojo - thanks. Hopefully it will work out okay.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at Monday, June 06 2005 01:56 AM (+S1Ft)

4 iiNet are about to roll out ADSL2 and 2+, so I could jump from 1.5Mbit to 8 to 12 to 24... Or maybe to 6 to 10 to 16 or so, since I probably won't get full speed where I am. Still, even 6Mbps would be very nice.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at Monday, June 06 2005 02:01 AM (+S1Ft)

5 failing that dynamic IP isn't too much of a hardship if you're prepared to go the DynDNS route or similar...

Posted by: Rob at Monday, June 06 2005 06:42 AM (kTm63)

6 I've been using the Gyration wireless keyboard for a couple years. I don't even care so much about the wireless or gyroscopic parts; I was a consultant my first 4 years out of college, so I got used to scissor keys and this was the only keyboard I could find at Best Buy that had them. Plus, if you get really mad, they make a very satisfying crunch when you smash them with your fists.

Posted by: TallDave at Tuesday, June 07 2005 09:54 AM (9XE6n)

7 * If you ever wondered why porpoises live in the ocean, well, it's because they don't have any feet. Thank you for that duck-billed platitude.

Posted by: TallDave at Tuesday, June 07 2005 09:56 AM (9XE6n)

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