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A Netbook Review: Dell Mini 9

So I’ve owned a netbook for a while now. I bought the Dell Mini 9 a while ago. It was half gadget lust and half a need to carry something lighter than the MacBook.

I had operating system issues. I bought it with Ubuntu with the intent of installing OS X on it, but because of hard drive space (I only have 16gig) I ended up moving on. I used a series of Linux operating systems like Ubuntu, Moblin and Jolicloud. Jolicloud was the most fun to use because it gave a nice balance of Ubuntu, a custom skinned front-end, and “applications”. It was really buggy and I couldn’t deal with the system crashes leading to reboots. I never got Moblin to work because the network card required some funky drivers that I couldn’t install, but it looked like a nice OS for a netbook. Ubuntu, although functional, is ugly as fuck.

Eventually, I installed Windows XP. I have to admit, for this netbook, is the best operating system. Everything worked, and I got all my tools working properly. I even ended up ordering a touchscreen for it (arrives next week from the time of this writing). The form factor of XP still requires you to have an external mouse

That being said, I still don’t know what to do with it. I can’t code on it without getting early onset carpal tunnel. I can’t flip it around and turn it into a tablet because I’m too scared to tear the case apart. Document writing is tricky and you eventually hit a wall with the inferior trackpad (maybe the touchscreen can help out). I started watching a movie on it and it was fine until it started working with bigger HD files and then it got really choppy.

So what would I use it for? I would say that it’s a glorified notebook (like the paper kind) / mp3 player and video player maybe a torrent downloader in its spare time.

8:00 am 2 Comments

Dear ABC TV Network, You suck!

Dear ABC,

Let me first say that I hate you for turning me into the livid old man that writes crazy letters to companies. You’re not the first but by expanding from one to two companies, I don’t have a guarantee that it will not happen again. Damn you.

Now onto business, your abrupt stop to Pushing Daisies was a horrible thing to do. It was the equivalent of writing [atom bomb detonates and kills all characters] in the script. I screamed at the TV during the last minute of the last episode. Not fun for TV watchers, it’s the emotional equivalent of stealing a baby’s blankie. You just stole a cute baby’s blankie ABC!

I’d also like to say that because you cancelled Pushing Daisies, Anna Friel (who plays Chuck) did Land of the Lost. Horrible movie! All. your. fault!

You know World Hunger? Yea. That’s your fault too ABC!

Kind Regards,

Ritchie

p.s. Bring back Pushing Daisies!

9:30 am 5 Comments

Spank the crap out of that child

Did you hear? Yea, they found Balloon Boy in the f*ckin’ attic. Scared to come out because his dad yelled at him.

Now really, who am I to offer parenting advice? I have zero credibility when it comes to taking care of children. However, that being said let me exercise my right as part of the crazy blog-o-sphere to offer up a solution that would prevent the world from tarring, feathering and setting your child ablaze at the stake: I suggest spanking the living daylights of that child on national TV. Chase him down with a leathery old belt and slap his butt for every helicopter and news van that came to the scene until it turns a light tinge of pink.

Me personally, I had to endure a million tweets about the same crazy hysterics caused by the commotion in my twitter circle. Arguably, I could’ve just turned it all off but I didn’t want to miss out on all the #glee and #kanye tweet topic trends. Missing that would just introduce a whole different level of crazy into my world.

For future reference Mr PersonThatNamesTheirChildFalcon, let me offer you this flowchart:

It’s just like the boy who cried wolf. The next time your child decides to jump into a contraption for hunting aliens down we’ll only be sending the equally crazy reporters. And finally Mr StormChaserAndInMySpareTimeIHuntForExtraTerrestrials Dad, go buy an Ed Hardy shirt because you’ve officially been downgraded to Jon Gosselin status.

9:30 am 0 Comments

Ritchie vs. Fame (2009): The Movie

First of all, a Fame remake is a good idea in theory. However, like all good ‘theory’ ideas (Ronco Pocket Fisherman, I’m looking at you!) most times execution fails horribly. There are spoilers in this post, so if you’re planning to see the movie (God help you) then stop reading this. Here is the premise:

Put a bunch of artsy kids into a NYC artsy school with strict instructors. Mix in a classically trained pianist who happens to be African American, token Asian girl struggling artist, nerdy geek film producer, So you think you can dance finalist and angry African American man with stereotypical upbringing and you have Fame (that or a really bad Benetton ad).

Now, let me say that in my years of teaching at an art school things like random singing, dancing, rapping and tap dancing doesn’t randomly break out in the halls (or even the cafeteria). Mostly, sleeping and stressing out about assignments and exams. It just doesn’t happen.

The typical angry African American youth story line with inspiring adult is a bit old. It’s been done and has been beaten with a stick. That horse ain’t walkin’ no more. No. Seriously. Stop it.

The “classically trained pianist gives up her years of training to be an R&B signer” storyline was incredibly stupid. I would imagine that, to be that good at piano, you’d have to invest years into the art. A singer, I would also imagine, requires a similar amount of years invested (read: not just 3 years of high school, regardless of how well you can belt out Out Here On My Own).

To the children out there. Stay in school! Don’t drop out of high school because you get a chance at a recurring role in Sesame Street. No seriously, Ms Anna Maria Perez de Tagle; Its an embarrassment to your Filipino heritage. If her parents were as crazy as mine, every 2nd phrase you heard should’ve been “Do your homework” or “Be a doctor”. I think it’s official: proximity to Miley Cirus decreases your overall IQ points.

<sarcasm>Overall, I loved the movie.</sarcasm> It might be worth the watch to see Megan Mullally sing (I think she does actually sing). The soundtrack is decent (if you like crappy music like me) and the movie offers a good vehicle for the soundtrack. However having the soundtrack play in the background is way better than wasting two hours of your life in a movie theater. Serves me right for watching something that has a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.

9:00 am 0 Comments

Sicky sympathy

I’m sick. I caught the flu and have spent the last few days at home. Everyone in the house has been sick. Cheryl caught the bug from a recent plane ride and Java has ear infections.

The amount of movies consumed during a sick stint increases 10 fold. At the time of this writing, I’m lying on the couch watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall and …. *eww*. Ok, moving on from this movie. I wonder why the penis is getting this much face time at movies? Weird and bizarre trend, I tell ya.

I also have to get through a bunch of drafts in my blog that I can’t seem to get through because being sick leaves me a bit hazy and unfocused. Ok, that is all. Now I want cereal… stupid Sarah Marshall.

10:27 am 0 Comments