USB extension cables.. you might think it’s simple to get them working. You just plug them into the PC, plug the device into the other end and job done. Not so.
After much messing around trying to get it to work, it seems that active (like a mini usb hub one end?) USB extension cables don’t always work with Linux (despite working fine with Windows).
Month: September 2002
Webcam success!
Hooray! It finally works, well I can get 160×120 video with xawtv anyway. Now to find out how to get a larger image and work out where to put the camera to get something vaguely interesting..
New webcam.. or not!
Having not had any success with the old Logitech Quickcam Express as a webcam attached to a linux box, I figured it’d be worth spending a bit more than the 45 quid for 2 that I spent on the QCE about a year ago. Did a bit of research, read reviews online, looked for drivers etc and decided to opt for the Logitech Quickcam Pro 3000.
Movie review
Having watched Vanilla Sky last night, I have to say that it’s a really strange film in places. Definitely not one for the kids though due to the bad language and nudity. Nice twist in the story at the end although the film was a little on the long side at just over 2 hours long.
How alarming!
Car alarms are great… except when they’re so sensitive that accidentally trapping a moth or some other insect in there sets it off late at night! This isn’t the first time either, wonder if there’s a sensitivity adjustment feature somewhere, now where did I put that manual??
Batteries not included
Having spent the best part of an hour looking at doorbells in B&Q, we finally picked one that included one battery for the push button, but none for the actual chime unit. Why on earth don’t doorbell manufacturers include all 3 batteries required, or none at all?!
Of course, having originally decided on one that included all the batteries, we didn’t spot that the final choice didn’t include them all.. got home.. and doh! no batteries.. and they had to be an awkward size that we don’t use anywhere else. One quick trip to the local supermarket and problem solved.
You never realise how important some things are…
You never realise how important some things are until they’re not available. Having spent much of Thursday ripping out the final cabinet in the kitchen and replacing it, we never quite got as far as plumbing the sink back in… and now it’s being sorely missed.