i should be working (but i'm fixing my computer).

I suddenly remembered I actually have a life, so I have been running my computer on the stable kdomows desktop for a couple of days -- without even logging to the actual kde 4.2 desktop, even out of curiosity.

...

And, not even compulsively running daily updates.

So, I had a few spare moments between actually doing remunerative work and I ventured to visit my plasma desktop.

Wonder of wonders, it seemed to be more stable than I last remembered it. None of the (remaining) widgets was out of place, my (remaining) icons were in the order they should be (which is not quite the one I remembered them being in) and things looked relatively positive.

Oh, just to avoid getting too complaisant, one of my two kicker panels disappeared for no reason -- and unfortunately, the one where I moved all of my usual working icons when I decided to strip them out of the plasma panel.

My panels even decided to have blue tint like they are supposed to. However, I did note that the panel icons have decided to remain a slightly larger size than they used to shrink down to and they were about 1/4 off the screen.

But, here was the real miracle -- wireless networking connected not only once -- but twice! The first time I had to enter the WPA code, but the code was actually remembered in KWallet for the next re-boot.

On the second re-boot, the panels decided they liked a different size than the one I had in mind. However, as I had moved cairo-dock to the bottom, I had set the bottom panel to auto-hide. If it's going to disappear, then I don't much care how big it is. Except, however, now I can't see the clock except when I bring back the panel. Maybe I will put a clock back into the kicker panel at the top.

It might be asking too much, but maybe I can actually store static connection info in KWallet now. I don't feel much like trying. (ANSWER: No. In fact, attempting to do so results in killing the connection.)

In other nooz: so, one of my clients brought me a Dell Inspirion 1525. DO NOT BUY THIS COMPUTER!!!

First, the plus side: I actually like the features and the keyboard seems to work pretty well. And -- something I don't understand -- Vista seems to run much better on this machine than on my roughly comparable Sony.

But, let's skip right over the good stuff and get to the real dirt. My client bought this computer last December and has already returned it for a motherboard replacement because it would not even turn on! Still broken, though, which is the reason I have it. There seems to be a problem with the CMOS battery system as the clock absolutely refuses to keep time. It keeps bad time when the computer is running -- but if the computer goes to sleep or shuts down, then the clock stops altogether.

It is not just a figment of my client's imagination. A quick web search for "Inspirion 1525 CMOS battery" yields a raft of people with precisely the same complaint. Clocks that won't run, motherboards and CMOS batteries that have been replaced to no avail, etc.

I can't figure out whether they have a design defect or a quality control problem. I spent 1+ hrs. on the phone with Dell tech support, who updated the bios remotely -- except they were updating to a version the computer already had installed. And then, we played the "black is white".

"Your clock is now working."

"No it isn't, it's already lost a minute."

"Yes, we have fixed the problem."

"No you haven't."

Etc.

But, we lost enough time during our argument over whether the "fix" had worked that we ended up agreeing the computer should go back to the "depot" (wherever that is) and they sent me a box to send it back. The last time my client took it back to the Best Buy he purchased it at, so we'll se if "the depot" accomplishes something more useful.

My client also reports a problem with the audio drivers being reported "installed" and "not installed" at various intervals. I could not duplicate the problem, but perhaps it is also a CMOS issue.

I also learned that PC-illin virus protection is very virus-y, just like Norton. That is to say, mere mortals cannot remove it, even though the trial subscription has expired. Normal Windows uninstall will not work. One must go to folder in Program Files and run a program called "PC Tools" or something. It has uninstall menus and it is at least a two-step process, the first being to remove the firewall and after re-boot then removing the program itself.

I know this because I watched the Dell Service Tech remove it via remote control. It's nice that they have staff for doing this, but they seem to overlook the fact that as a user, I have to sit their watching the computer while their foreign legion service tech putters around via remote access. Slim though the chances may be, it is possible that some computer buyers are smart enough to follow written instructions on how to do this themselves. How about this? A nice FAQ, preferably on the desktop of the new machine, that tells me how to get rid of the thing.

I sadly feel somewhat responsible, since I said, "oh ... just go wait until a computer you like is on special at Best Buy and get that one." Well, I specifically said don't buy any of the computers I have had bad experiences with (eg. Gateway). But, Dell was still on my "good" list.

Of course, HPs are on my good list and I've had two of them that seemingly met a premature demise; and one of them got HP sued in a successful class-action lawsuit.

Well, the ole' good list is getting very tiny these days. Even my daughter's new-in-December Toshiba is already exhibiting signs of a worn out left touch pad button. Does she hit it with some weird superhero force or something (she wore out the same button on her Gateway twice ...)

A year & 1/2 in, I still give my Sony Vaio kudos -- despite how much I hated the pre-installed Vista. The computer itself still looks and feels brand new (except for the damage I did to the screen plastic using Windex on it. Am I an idiot or what? Apparently it is the ammonia in the spray the pits the screen plastic ... Fortunately, I only did this once and then came to my senses.)

Thank you for visiting and have a pleasant tomorrow.