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The portable DVD player we've been using on the upstairs TV hasn't been dealing with the heat lately, it kept locking up and it has been having trouble reading discs with my other player reads without problems. We decided to replace it with some of our remaining Target gift cards. I found a small (but not portable, next time I want a portable DVD player, I'm getting a new laptop.) cheap (right around $30) player at Target from Trutech. Model number T-600D ( I can't find a link on target.com…) One neat little "feature" was a hack to make the player region free. There are a number of possible hacks for this model on that page, but the one that works for me was this:
1. Press SETUP
2. Press 8, 8, 8, 8
3. Press NEXT CHAPTER (4 times)
4. Current RC should be displayed , upper right
5. Select RC with LEFT/RIGHT (255= codefree)
6. Press SETUP
7. Turn the player off


I order a new computer for Meg as her IDE controller appears to be flaking out. I decided to order one of the new Dells with Ubuntu pre-installed. On first boot up, I was asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions. This was before even the OS loaded, must be a BIOS thing. Once though this screen, Ubuntu 7.04 booted up, I created a user account for Meg and myself and we were up and running. I did an synaptic update and started to explore the system. Everything but my printer just worked. USB drives, Sound, flash installed right into firefox, no extra fiddling needed.

Extra work with the printer was to be expected and I was able to easily get it running with the lexmark driver and the directions from ubuntu forums. Dell did a good job on their blog explaining that they are only going to recommend certain printers. One odd thing was that the sales page for the linux systems didn't let me select a printer at all. I guess they are still ramping up the system and determining which printers would be best to offer.

It was pretty neat to unpack a new Dell PC and only have this one CD in the box:

I'm going to let Meg play with Ubuntu a bit, but I think we may end up switching back to Kubuntu, as that's what she's more familiar with. I do have an XP CD sitting here as a backup in case she decides Open Office can't handle her powerpoint needs or something else. I might try the Qemu > rdesktop trick if she decides this is needed.

1) I'm tired, but not nearly as tired as Meg.
2) Apparently, being induced and having 2 different epidurals wear off isn't as fun as you'd think.
3) Baby eyes are other-worldly. They are every color and no color at once.
4) Having the entire blogosphere link to my new website while in the hospital with Meg and Cory was… interesting.
5) I'm going to really miss having Meg's mom do live-in-maid-and-nanny work when she goes back tomorrow.

this was going to be 10 thoughts from a 10 day old dad, but I've forgotten about half of what I wanted to blog (sleep? we don't need no stinkin' sleep), and the cable / electricity were out intermittently yesterday.