Computing Al Fresco? 67
ear1grey writes "With summer fast approaching in the northern hemisphere, do any readers have experience of taking their 'working from home' one stage further and 'working from the garden'? Any tips for making the screen more visible in the bright sunshine? Any problems with direct sunlight and overheating components? Are there other issues that we should be aware of before we venture, blinking, into the great outdoors?"
Re:Well, for starters. (Score:1)
Re:Well, for starters. (Score:1)
Re:Well, for starters. (Score:1)
Re:Well, for starters. (Score:1)
Al Fresco? (Score:5, Funny)
You want to do that? Keep it indoors, please!
Re:Well, for starters. (Score:1)
Re:Well, for starters. (Score:1)
Tables + Parasols (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Tables + Parasols (Score:3, Funny)
to the sun.
Re:Tables + Parasols (Score:1)
Daylight? (Score:2)
I have long struggled with the issue of hacking on my laptop in the daylight. Funny thing, the old LCD screens that everybody hated on the early laptops worked GREAT out in direct sunlight. I would love to get my hands on one of those with a decent resolution - even though it would not be color it would be slick for use outside.
Many times I have tried to
Re:biggest problem is.... (Score:1)
Re:biggest problem is.... (Score:1)
If the above post was made as a reflex response, like correcting something that "want's right" then you have been spending too much time on slashdot
I know because it took large amounts of effort to push the submit button without adding the "insnsitive clod" myself.
Re: An English garden is an American yard (Score:1)
He means "yard".
It's kind of like how they say "pavement" when they mean "sidewalk", or "Tony Blair" when they mean "GWB ass-kisser".
Best practices: (Score:5, Informative)
#0 - Laptop - easily moved and re-moved
#1 - Go wireless. For both network and power. Don't put any AC current anywhere near the pool!
#2 - Think Dark places -Stay in the shade. Install/build shade if you have no alternative, especially next to the pool. Go for blocking out as much sunlight as possible.
#4 - LTSP.org - Use your laptop as a wireless thin client. It reduces local CPU power consumption, extends the life of your battery, and your server, (any desktop machine), does all the heavy lifting so you can still go fast.
#5 Cheap Sunglasses and a hat. Brim helps block out sunlight, Iris will dilate just "a leetle bit" so you can see the screen easier.
#6 Pump spray bottle of sunblock! SPF 30+
#7 Ice tea. (Or caffinated beverage of choice)
#8 Extra towels
Re:Best practices: (Score:2)
#10 Profit!
Re:Best practices: (Score:3, Informative)
Eh, you can afford laptops, wireless networks and pools, but you skimp on the sunglasses!? Do you not like your eyes very much or something?
Re:Best practices: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Best practices: (Score:2)
Re:Best practices: (Score:1)
bogus suggesion (Score:3, Insightful)
This makes sense in theory, but I've yet to find a Linux that will run on my HP notebook and manage power properly. The fan comes on shortly after booting and the batteries run down in half the time or less than with XP, no matter what I'm doing , even sitting idle. I'm far from the o
Re:bogus suggesion (Score:1)
More useful suggestion (Score:2)
Re:Best practices: (Score:1)
Maybe a nice RSS feed would do the trick, or even a low tech solution like a portable radio?
What? You can't! (Score:5, Funny)
I hear there's even girls out there. Dude, it's not worth it. Trust me - I've heard the stories.
Pass the cheetos will ya?
Re:What? You can't! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What? You can't! (Score:1)
Re:What? You can't! (Score:5, Funny)
You mean The Daystar? Nobody believes in that anymore. I mean it's so improbable- a large blob of radioactive hydrogen emitting deadly ultraviolet radiation.
I mean, if it existed the environmentalists, they atleast must have gone outside once or twice; they would be up in arms about it, but nary a peep from them- get real; it doesn't exist.
Outdoors? (Score:5, Funny)
Glare Removal (Score:2, Informative)
Sunscreen. (Score:3, Informative)
I've surfed from a hammock (Score:3, Insightful)
TFT (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:TFT (Score:1, Informative)
TFTs (thin film transistors) drive the LCs (liquid crystals). The LCs rotate the polarization of the light going through them depending on their orien
Well... (Score:2)
NEC Daylite (Score:2)
They're also very small and lightweight, and have excellent battery life. (Well, at least the older Transmeta CPU models had excellent battery life - don't know about the newer P-III models.) I'm pretty sure NEC has discontinued the line, but you can probably still find the
Wireless Signal (Score:1)
Should have noted this when I posted ;): SHADE! (Score:1)
A useful item, I found, and one which applies in your case, is a velcro-attached sun-shade. I've seen ones that look both more functional and more durable than the cheap-n-cheerful one I picked up from a MicroCenter in Columbus or Cleveland ( it was a long trip [monkey.org] -- this map is largely accurate, just misses a dip I ended up making to the Four Corners area), but even the one
Been there, got it wired (Score:4, Insightful)
Big Buck Solution (Score:3, Informative)
Buy and install one of these [poetictech.com] on your porch near the garden. I think it tracks light sources and compensates by rotating itself. Apparently it also has built-in AC as well.
Re:Big Buck Solution (Score:1)
Shudder. It's both awesome and yet somehow reminiscent of a bad hacker movie.
Their price list [poetictech.com] is a little blank. Anyone had the benefit of a quote / delivery from these guys? ...or is it just wish-ware?
Re:Big Buck Solution (Score:2)
Choose the best times (Score:4, Insightful)
It starts getting light here (the UK) at about 3.45am, and I enjoy going out at this time. By 5.30am, of course, it's full daylight. Then at the other end of the day you get a nice light between 8.30pm and 10pm. The beauty of these times is also that it's not too hot to be sitting around, and there are also less flies/buzzy things about. Of course, not everyone has as loose a schedule as I do, and may not find these times ideal! (I do, as I sleep during the late morning and early afternoon, I like some night-time in my life!)
macs dont like sun (Score:1)
Ask David Drake (Score:2, Informative)
Don't emulate him too closely - he apparently has a jinx that wipes out machines on a regular basis.
See also http://www.baen.com/library/ for the Baen Free library, previously referenced on
Sunlight is toxic (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm not kidding. I just came back from my dermatologist, who gleefully cut away every little precancerous mole she could find, now I've got stitches in extremely uncomfortable places that won't be removed for another week. I used to work outside when I was a kid, mowing lawns and gardening, but now I regret it, since it apparently increased my likelihood of skin cancer.
The whole REASON I studied computer programming was because I hated working out in the hot sun in dirty environments full of allergy-inducing pollen, I vastly preferred air-conditioned, dark offices. So I figured that computing was the best profession, back in those days, computers were always installed in glassed-in rooms with intense air conditioning and filtered air.
Re:Sunlight is toxic (Score:1)
Generally, "uncomfortable places" is a euphemism for pubic areas, buttocks, armpits, etc. Places that don't generally see the light.
Also, I don't believe that "cut[ing] away every little precancerous mole" is standard practice. Were the moles showing precancerous signs, or was the mere fact that they were moles evidence enough?
Re:Sunlight is toxic (Score:2)
And yes, apparently it
Re:Sunlight is toxic (Score:2)
Re:Sunlight is toxic (Score:2)
Re:Sunlight is toxic (Score:2)
What outside? (Score:1)
Slackware (Score:1)