I ordered a KVM switch from Dell on Sunday nite. I really need a second screen for work. And I had a $25 coupon that Dell sent me after I bought my laptop. I couldn’t pass up the deal. Only $21 for the KVM (with tax and shipping).

As I said, I ordered it on Sunday nite. It shipped out Monday. It was scheduled for delivery tomorrow but actually showed up today. I was happy. I was planning on setting things up tonite. That is until I opened the box. I found a 12 ft video cable in the box rather than the KVM switch that I ordered. The packing slip that came with the package had the correct item on it. But some dumbass in shipping must have been going too quick and put the wrong damn item in the box. They’re not even from the same manufacturer!!

I called Dell right away to get the correct item sent to me. I really should have done it online. But I wanted to talk to someone and get things squared away as soon as possible. But of course, when you call Dell, you get someone from overseas … generally India. At least I could understand this woman. But she didn’t seem very smart. She wanted the Dell part #, but the item I was sent didn’t have a Dell part # on it. I gave her what I thought was the manufacturer’s part #, but that didn’t help her. I went to Dell’s website and searched using the part # I gave her and found the item. I then gave her the Dell part # that was listed on their website. But THAT didn’t help her either. She said she couldn’t find it. I told her I found it on their site. That’s where I got the Dell part #.

She finally put in the return/exchange. Then told me it would take 8 business days. Excuse me. Dell screwed up. I would expect them to take care of their customers faster than that. She said that was the maximum time frame they give. The CORRECT part will be shipped to me via next day shipping. It had damn well better be. She said I would get an email about this and gave me a confirmation number. I still haven’t gotten that email. I’ll give them until noon tomorrow before I call and complain.

From now on, when I buy stuff like this … I’ll get it from NewEgg. I never had a problem with them. But that $25 coupon was only good at Dell. That’s why I got it from them. They had better take care of things quickly or they’ll feel my wrath.

When I got my laptop, I set up a network between it and my desktop. My desktop has my mp3s and website files. I’ve then mapped network drives on my laptop for some of the folders on my desktop that I’m sharing across the network.

I wanted to rename one of the network drives, but Windows is being an ass and won’t let me. It ended up deleting some of the name and won’t let me add anything to the name. So instead of ‘Websites’ I have ‘ebsites’. I have removed the directory from the network and then added it back and re-mapped it, but it still has ‘ebsites’ for the name.

Does anyone out there know if it is possible to rename a mapped network drive? I have Windows XP on both the desktop and the laptop. Any help that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Added at 7:04pm
Looks like I answered my own question with a little sleuthing on Google. It turns out that I needed to edit the registry. I’m putting this here for further reference for myself. And if it happens to help someone else out, all the better.

1. Open the registry (put regedit in the run dialog)
2. Find the following node (I think that’s what it’s called):
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2\ ##Computer#Share
   – in my case, ##Computer#Share was ##HOME-BASE#WEBSITES
3. Open up the following key and modify the data value: _LabelFromReg
4. Close the registry

And that’s it. It’s as simple as that. Now things are all happy, happy again. And so am I.

I am not one who likes to spend a lot of money … mostly because I don’t like to waste what I have. When I need things, I tend to go for the cheapest version I can get away with. My coffee table and tv stand came from KMart. My kitchen table came from Target. My dresser and computer desk came from Walmart. I even got my stereo from Walmart.

There have been times when I’ve actually spent more money, but that was either because I had to or I had tax refund money to use. My couch is actually pretty nice. Don’t remember the name of the place I got it, but it was an actual furniture store. The only real bad thing is that it’s over 4 years old. And for my bed, I did get a nice mattress and box spring. But I skimped on the bed frame … went with the cheapest thing they had … it’s just the metal frame to put the box spring on.

And my most recent spring was my laptop. But it took me forever to save up for it. Bills and groceries and other necessities kept getting in the way. But it did replace my nearly 8 year old desktop (which is still running and will be turned into my media center after I finish removing all the other stuff that it doesn’t need anymore).

Since I got the laptop, there are some accessories that I’ve wanted to get. I already got a wireless optical mouse. But I needed a carrying bag for sure. And now I’m thinking of getting a KVM switch so I can use my monitor with my desktop and my laptop. And the mouse too. Then I could get rid of that corded beast … LOL. Not sure about the keyboard though. I actually don’t mind the one on the laptop. The only beef I have is that there is no number pad. But that’s what you get when you get a 15.4″ laptop … there’s no room for that separate number pad. But I’m getting used to the embedded number pad (if that’s what you call it) on the keyboard. When I do use the keyboard for the laptop, it takes some getting use to again. I was also thinking about getting a cooling pad, but I’m not really sure I need it. That will be the last thing I get, I think.

But the main thing I needed was the laptop bag. I wanted the messenger bag style one. I really don’t like the backpack ones. My work laptop has a backpack. I find it really awkward. I wanted to get one here in town so that I could actually get my hands on it to check it out. If I got it online, all I would have to go by are the pics. I went to Best Buy first. They’ve got crap for bags. Didn’t have much for KVM switches either. They only had one brand and 3 models of that brand. They had very few bags to choose from. So, I was outta there in less than 10 minutes. I went to Office Max next. They only had one KVM switch there. But they did have more bags to choose from. And some were even on sale. I think I spent 15 to 20 minutes looking at them. There was one that just kept calling my name. And it was one that was on sale. I was hoping to get one for around $25. This one was regular priced at $62.49 but was 25% off … so around $46-47. I wasn’t really sure I wanted to spend that much, but I thought about it. I paid over $900 for my laptop. I want a bag that will keep that investment safe. So I got the bag. Now I can’t wait ’til I go somewhere with the lappy so I can use it. This is what I got …

Targus 15.4″ Urban Messenger

Click to enlarge

I think I’m going to get a KVM switch from Dell. I got a $25 coupon from the earlier this week. It was a “thank you” for buying a laptop with us kinda thing. I looked at what they had for KVMs the other day. I was hoping to pay around $25 for one (as I started this post saying … I’m a cheapskate). So with the coupon, that means I could get a pretty nice one if I still go with that. Or maybe one even cheaper. But I really don’t know what to look for … what brand to get … what’s good. I’ll just have to see what they have and then see if I can find some reviews on them. Anyone out there reading this have a KVM? Any pointers on what to look for?

Well … my laptop is finally up and running. I had to do some work before getting to play with this. But I’m here now. The laptop is up and running and is connected wirelessly to the internet. I’m actually sitting at my coffee table right now typing this.

I haven’t played around too much yet. The first thing I did was download Firefox. Now I’m posting here. I think I’m going to have to download some drivers so that my flash drive works so that I can get at my passwords.

So far so good. I did have to call Dell to request that they send me the Windows OS disk. When I ordered, he told me that I would get it. But it wasn’t in the box. They said they’d send it to me. I’m not sure that I’ll be reinstalling any time soon … I haven’t checked to see what kind of bloatware there is on here. But I would like to have it … as a just in case kind of thing.

Well, I’m gonna go play more. Gotta check my mail soon too … I’m waiting for my paycheck. I’ll post pics of my new toy when I get a chance.

My laptop is now in my possession. I have already taken it out of the box, but I haven’t turned it on yet. It’s cold from the trip to me (damn winter weather … LOL). I thought it would be a good idea to let it warm up first. Besides, I should probably read the documentation before I turn it on. And I really should finish up what I was working on for work so I can spend the rest of today and tomorrow playing with my new laptop .. setting up my programs, removing stuff from my desktop that I won’t need there anymore.

I am now the proud owner of a Dell Inspiron 1520 laptop. I hope I made the right choice.

It appears that my laptop is FINALLY out for delivery. According to DHL tracking, it was “With delivery courier.” as of 8:17am. I have no idea if that is local time or some other timezone. But it’s out for delivery and scheduled for delivery today. It damn well better be. It left Sioux Falls, SD. According to Google maps, that’s less than a 4 hour drive. But I’m hoping it’s on a plane and will get here before that. I’m gonna go crazy waiting for the damn thing to show up.

I guess I could get some work done while I’m waiting … even though it’s my day off (I took a vacation day). I have one thing left to do on a project (unless Justin gave me more to do on it), and I’m hoping it won’t take too long. We wanted to get this all buttoned up before the transition to working directly for the client.

I just checked the status of my laptop (since I’m on lunch). Much to my surprise and extreme happiness … IT HAS SHIPPED!!!! No tracking number yet, but it says it shipped. And it will be delivered on Monday (stupid shippers don’t work on the weekends … :G-razz1: ). I can’t wait. I tried to call Dell’s 800# to see if I could get a tracking number, but it was just dead air after it connected. Not sure what’s up with that. If I don’t have a tracking number by 5pm, I’m definitely going to call. I wanna track that bad boy.

Oooooo … I SO can’t wait … :dancin:

Random Thought: There are too damn many mice on my desk right now. I keep grabbing the wrong one. One for my desktop and one for my work laptop. I need a bigger desk.

Since I ordered my laptop on Sunday nite, I decided it was time to buy the wireless router too. I got the one I had been planning on … the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router (WRT54G). It was $49.99 at Best Buy (as it always seems to be). I am soooo glad I got it. It was really easy to install. The worst part was waiting for things to finish. Other than that, it was a breeze. The setup had videos that showed you exactly what you needed to do. Robin … if you’re reading this, you should take the one you got back and get this one.

Now I’m all ready for a laptop. Where’s my laptop? Here laptop, laptop, laptop. Here boy. Come here …. LOL It still has an Estimated Ship Date of Jan. 8, 2008 with an Estimated Delivery Date of Jan. 9, 2008 (thank goodness for FREE next day shipping).

I will have a laptop connected before I get mine though … my work laptop. At least I’ll be able to test out my network. I set it up secured … would be stupid not to.

The only thing I’m confused about now is my firewall. I use the free version of Zone Alarm. Ever since I set up the router, there’s nothing in the Zone Alarm log like there usually is. Is the security on the router stopping all that? Is there a log somewhere that I can see? I’m going to have to do a little research and find out for sure. I just want to make sure that no one can get into my network but me.

Now I just have to figure out how I’m going to set up my desk. I might move the cable modem to the floor or someplace out of the way. I want a nice, clean desk. At least for tonite. It doesn’t stay clean for long … LOL. I don’t know what I’m going to do once I get my laptop and have my work laptop. I’ll probably have to work at my kitchen table … more room for papers. And then have MY laptop on my desk. I’ll probably hook it up to my monitor since I’ve got a nice flat panel LCD that I got only a year or 2 ago (I can’t remember exactly when I got it).

Boy I hate waiting …