Let's update some computers

Damn the windows update is a pain these days.

Some days ago I started update on a bit older windows 7 laptop that isn't used much these days. I started that around 9 AM, and according to notification the update scan finished around 10 PM. 13 friggin' hours just to check for updates! And that was just for three missed months of updates. Can't but wonder how many weeks a fresh install would take...

Well, at least that I wasn't using that laptop for anything during that time. Unlike a new windows 10 laptop I was using recently which suddenly started doing anniversary update install. In middle of game I just left there for a moment when I was doing something else. Fuck you very much, Microsoft. That is completely unacceptable default behavior.

Not only did it take ages to install that update, but of course it screwed up several settings I had to spend time to fix, but afterwards some idiot has chosen to force numerous unnecessary and unskippable "look what we just did, nyah nyah!" screens on the user. Talk about annoying crap.

Oh, and same happened to our office laptop too. In middle of work day, without any warning when we had work to do. In addition of usual fuck-ups update did, it also re-activated the PCMCIA slot of the laptop. Which was very deliberately disabled as it has some kind of conflict with network devices (both ethernet and WLAN). Didn't take long to fix but I would have had better things to do with my time. Did I remember say "fuck you Microsoft" already?

Day after day Linux systems start to look more and more inviting. At least "apt-get update && apt-get upgrade" doesn't take but a minute or so - and that's assuming that system isn't equipped with aptitude or such that does that for you with a single click.

Now, if only I figured out how to make applications that run also on windows (for my clients, I don't really expect them to switch to Linux anytime soon) from the linux computer...

Almost lego

One fun part of traveling at tourist destinations is browsing through all the low-quality forgeries there is for sale. Although surprisingly sometimes stuff is fairly high quality - I still have few T-shirts I bought 10 years ago from Vietnam that are still in great condition (and damn comfortable too!), despite being worn weekly. Although those weren't really brand forgeries but with the usual "Good morning Vietnam" (etc) slogans.

But on latest vacation I spotted, among others, these. These were just the most offending ones; very close to actual Lego logo, down to the font, but still different, albeit just barely. Although I'm quite certain they don't really have license to star wars...

No, I didn't get any. Although it would've been a bit interesting to see how bad the part quality would've been.

A short break

I've tried to keep up pace of two posts a week, but unfortunately I've been too busy with what you could call "real work" to be able to make more interesting posts. Even now I'm a bit short of good topics so you have to live with filler pieces like this.

And last two weeks were really dry. For that I do have an excuse; I was on vacation at Crete. And once again, the only bad part of traveling is the actual traveling - especially with small kids. At least this time it was relatively short flight...

 

One simple tool that is constantly needed

It's Saturday evening when I sit at my summer cottage which is equipped with all comforts of a modern home; running (municipal) water, electric grid connection, fast (wireless) internet (although I could have 100/100 fiber installed here if I wanted (30km from nearest town and 100km from nearest city!) but it just isn't worth it for now.)  Isn't modern living just wonderful?

Yet there is one simple(ish) tool I seem to miss every time I come here but never remember to bring: A simple multimeter. Like with any older house there is always something that needs fixing here. Leaking pipe fitting or roof, failed electrical connection at outside buildings, fire alarm battery and whatnot. For most mechanical and wooden things I have tools (nothing fancy, just enough to do basic repairs), but every time I happen to need a multimeter I remember - again - that once again I forgot or dismissed the idea of getting one there.

Maybe one of these days I manage to get one here permanently. After all, cheapest usable ones cost just few tens of euros (the very cheapest ones have essentially no protections and could kill you - I don't touch them and suggest that you don't either). Not a very big investment for a tool I find myself needing again and again.