July 20, 2001
- Playing Ball With The Right Parts
Yes, AJ, a small watermellon can be tossed once or twice. However, it doesn’t make a good baskeball or volleyball.To stretch the analogy, when you’re shopping for computer components make sure you’re buying product that was meant for your use.
If you are setting up a system at home for a webcam, digital cameras, and some video conferencing and you already own your camera equipment, make sure you know which operating system your cameras require. If you’re considering switching OS, make sure you have the proper drivers. Some digital cameras only work with Windows 98SE and Windows ME, and may not have drivers for Windows 2000.
On the road and need to send your photos back to the office? Perhaps you’re a realtor, appraiser, or insurance agent out on a call. Take pictures with your digital camera. Download, edit, and send them from your notebook computer back to the office. Then, you’re ready to move down the road to the next location.
What computer components can you use? ASUS M1300 notebook has a USB connector for your USB camera and an IR sensor for your PocketPC. It can come with Windows 2000 or Windows ME operating system. Check these notebooks out this weekend.
- AJ and the Watermellons
Last summer, AJ being the young, inquisitive pup that he was, picked green and ripe tomatoes fresh off the vine. For the most part, AJ has left the tomato plants alone this summer. Instead, AJ is picking watermellons.Yes, AJ is picking them off the vines, carrying them over to whomever happens to walk by and he proudly drops one at their feet. Then, he does a quick play bow before dashing across the yard in his "toss it to me" prance. AJ wants to play ball.
At first, one of kids thought AJ was being cute and tossed the watermellon to him. Hey, it was green, hard, and at just 4" in diameter it was easy to toss like a ball. Now, AJ thinks everyone should toss watermellons for him.
The same 7 year old who tossed the watermellon for AJ said, "the cure to stopping him from picking them is to build a big wooden fence around each plant."
Good idea. It’s too late for this summer’s garden. Please don’t show him the zucchini and the summer squash.
July 5, 2001
- Self-Aiming Camera
A researcher at the University of Illinois has demonstrated a self-aiming camera technology modeled on the brain. The system simulates a section of the human brain with an artificial neural network to point a camera automatically at objects of interest.
AJ: Gracie, I want one. Write me a grant. I’m hyperactive at school. The camera can attend to relevant stimuli for me. Then, I won’t miss the important stuff and can just be myself! What do you think Gracie, eh, whatdoyathink, huh, huh, huh?
Gracie: Keep the thought. Maybe all of us could use one at times, AJ.
Albert: Let’s watch this one. Could have potential.
AJ: Does UI stand for unlimited intelligence, like me?
Gracie: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You better focus more if you want to go there.
- Memorable Personnel Assessments
"The psychologist told me I was OK technically, but that I’d never manage anything," said Gordon Moore.Three years later, in 1957, he co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor Corp, and 11 years after that he and Robert Noyce (a colleague from Fairchild) founded intel Corp. Moore served as president, CEO, chairman and chairman emeritus of Intel, which estimated 2nd quarter revenue of $6.2-6.8 billion.
This is the same Gordon Moore who invented Moore’s Law, thinks biotech is interesting, and who ran out of unaccomplished goals. (read more about GM in Mannion, P. (June 4, 2001). The world according to Gordon, EE Times, 1169, 1, 20, 22.)
- Customers’ Choices
Top Sellers:
Barebones systems
Intel Pentium 4 processor 1.7GHz Boxed
Everything AMD
Aluminum Midtower Cases with"Wow!"
Moving Up: ASUS notebooks
July 4, 2001
- Pager Warns Hearing Impaired of Storms
Hard of hearing? Someone in your family deaf?
A pager system that relays storm warnings from the National Weather Service has been set up for Oklahoma’s largest concentration of deaf residents, officials announced Monday. A pager system is already in place to alert government officials. - ESC Technologies Holiday Schedule
Take a pause today to celebrate, enjoy home made ice cream, and picnic with family. Silicon Valley parking lots emptied before yesterday.
ESC Technologies will remain open online 24/7, including today, July 4. We will resume answering telephones on Thursday, July 5, during regular business telephone hours starting at 9AM.
July 3, 2001
- Gotta Dig it
AJ: (Digging to the tune of ‘When You’re happy’) Dig Dig Dig Dig … You should show it. When You’re happy … you should dig.
Albert: Ooooo.. When you’re happy you should
Gracie: BOYS ! Stop. You’ll get us in trouble.
AJ (with dirty face) Huh? But it’s fun. Can’t get in trouble for having fun.
Gracie: There are limits boys.
AJ: Well (clearing throat, mud dripping off chin) I use Moore’s Law for determining the amount of fun. For every 18 hours that I’m awake, I get to have fun.
Albert: Back to digging AJ !
AJ: When you’re happy and you know it
Albert: DIG.
Gracie: I’ll just curl up here with my new laptop. Nudge.
Webmaster’s note: Sorry, had to get something in about computers here.
Albert: (giving subliminal message) Buy … buy … buy… Hmmm.. maybe that isn’t so subliminal.
AJ: Sounded Sub-lim-in-la-esc-pcs to me. - UPS Holiday Shipping
UPS will make regular pick ups and deliveries today, Tuesday, July 3. UPS will not make any pick ups or deliveries on Wednesday July 4. Packages shipped by UPS will not move on Wednesday, July 4. UPS will resume its normal pick up and delivery schedule on Thursday, July 5.So, AJ, that means your new notebook will either arrive today or Thursday.
- Temporary Phone Service
Our telephone service will be disrupted this afternoon for a little while. We hope to have everything back up and running later today, or at least when we return on Thursday. If you have questions, just send us an email note at:
Website questions: webmaster@esc-tech.com
Sales questions: presales@esc-tech.com
Technical questions: techsupport@esc-tech.com
Go ahead and place your orders online. We will confirm with an email message.
July 2, 2001
- Willa Cather
Read about American writer Willa Cather. She found her characteristic themes-the spirit and courage of the frontier she had known in her youth in a place where she did not want to live. One of Ours (1922, Pulitzer Prize) and A Lost Lady (1923) mourned the passing of the pioneer spirit. - Intel Pentium 4 2GHz
Intel Corp. introduced its two fastest chips, running at 1.6 billion and 1.8 billion cycles per second, and said that the company would offer a 2 gigahertz chip later this quarter. Watch for them in the general PC channel later. Intel intends Pentium 4 chips for business users that run the latest data-intensive software programs and for consumer PC users who run demanding digital video and audio and three-dimensional graphics used in advanced video games. - CI-6606 Super Mid-Tower Case, Plain and Simple
Now’s a good time to change PC cases.If you’re building an Intel Pentium 4 processor based system, then the CI-6606 has ATX12V connectors on the power supply and mounting holes for processor retention too.
Your new AMD Athlon 1400 MHz processor requires a special power supply, such as HEC’s HEC-350LD 350W ATX power supply in the CI-6606 case.
For either system, CI-6606 Super Mid-Tower has the space you need for your drives and the right power supply. Perhaps you want yours tomorrow?
- Mapping Software for RVers
For your traveling convenience, try these with your new ASUS notebook.DeLorme has released two new mapping software titles for active RVers.
Topo USA 3.0 will show you the lay of the land, whether you’re headed outside to go just walking in the woods, hiking, biking, hunting, or fishing. Also, compatible with GPS receivers for use in the field.
AAA Map’n’Go 7.0 is tailored for any travel planning anywhere in North America.
You can purchase directly at www.delorme.com or from DeLorme customer service at (800) 452-5931.