Nordic Njerd

Blog converted to Joomla!

2009-12-12T22:51:00.001-06:00

Note that this blog has been converted to run on Joomla! at the 1and1.com hosting service.

Future posts can be found at njerd.us

iPhoto Problem Solved

2009-10-02T11:14:00.003-05:00

I have used iPhoto for years, since it was introduced by Apple for the Macintosh in 2002. At this time, I have 9914 items in the iPhoto library. A few of these are actually Quicktime movies from my new iPhone 3GS. Many have been imported directly from my Canon A85 digital camera. Others have been scanned in, saved directly into iPhoto from email messages or dragged in from any other window on the Mac, even from Windows XP.

Anyway, I have had a small problem with syncing iPhoto with my AppleTV for a couple of years. I just exported any photos that I wanted to use elsewhere. I forgot about the problem until a few days ago when I purchased the new Bento 3 database program which has integration with iPhoto. When I first fired up Bento, it could not see the iPhoto library. I checked the Bento User Forum and found a similar problem discussion that got me started on a path to finally solving my problem. The problem revolved around the operation of the iLife Media Browser which shows up only as a menu item in iLife applications on the Mac.

After researching this further, I remembered that I had actually saved a link to an Apple User Forum which points to possible corruption in the iPhoto Library. A little more testing with techniques from the Apple Forum to see if I could fix the corruption, I finally decided to create a new library. The new library worked fine with Bento and I started exporting from the old and importing into the new. Since this proved to be a lot of work I decided to dig deeper to solve the corruption problem.

I discovered an application named iPhoto Library Manager that identified the corruption in the AlbumData.xml file that is part of the iPhoto Library. That gave me the line number and text that was causing the problem. I then used TextWrangler to view the XML file and edit it, but iPhoto kept recreating the error. I examined the lines around the error and noted that it was part of an album definition. With the album identified, I went back into iPhoto. I selected all the photos in the problem album and created a new album from the selection. I deleted the old album and quit iPhoto. After checking the library with iPhoto Library Manager which gave no error, I went back into Bento which loaded the iPhoto library with no problems.

Now I can see my iPhoto Library within Bento, my AppleTV, my iPhone, the Mac desktop/screensaver, GarageBand and possibly a few other Mac applications.

TI99 Update

2009-06-29T10:51:00.009-05:00

Recently, I purchased a Jaton X-Media Dreambox which converts TV and other video signals to SVGA for viewing on an LCD or other computer monitors. It was a $150 converter on sale for $30. My main reason to buy it was to eliminate a TV monitor that I was using on one of my TI99/4A computers which now can display on the Dell PC monitor. I actually use one of the A/V inputs leaving two other A/V and S-Video inputs that could be used with a DVD or VCR. A 15 pin computer monitor input allows switching to use the PC normally. There is also a regular TV/cable input and 125 channel analog tuner built-in so that broadcast TV can be watched. The converter also has an audio mini-jack input and output which is switched depending on the video input selection through a remote control or buttons on the box.

The picture above shows the A/V input which comes from the TI99 console shown in the left picture below. The Dell PC is connected through the Dreambox VGA input as well and the display is switched between the PV and the TI99. The other picture below shows the TI99 Peripheral Expansion Box with one internal 5 1/4 inch floppy drive and 2 external floppy drives. The

Dual-screen Recliner

2009-05-09T08:43:00.011-05:00

I recently updated my LazyBoy recliner to two screens. Back in Feb 2006, I posted my setup with an iMac G5 mounted on a PVC pipe arm. In Oct 2006, I upgraded that to a MacBook Pro with a second monitor. About a year ago, I purchased a MacPro and used it with the monitor which I had. About a month ago, I purchased another 20" monitor and modified the base stand to support both monitors. I was able to find another Sanus monitor support arm that matched the one I had. Both PVC pipes have a steel pipe within for added strength and less flexing. In this picture, you can also see the HP All-in-One printer and the extended carpeted base. The MacPro is a quad-processor running at 2.8 Ghz with 6 GB of memory and 3 SATA hard drives totaling 1.14 TB. I have space for a 4th hard drive which I plan to fill soon with at least another TB.

This second picture, looking from the back corner, shows the Logitec wireless keyboard and mouse. My iPhone is also sitting on the side-shelf which is a place to set the keyboard and mouse when I am not using them.

I can also connect the MacPro to my Sony 46" LCD TV and effectively have 3 monitors. (Note the perspective makes the 20" monitors look bigger than the 46" TV). The TV and Mac are connected to separate Sony and Coby surround sound systems. The Coby system also has an AM/FM receiver and DVD player built in. An AppleTV (essentially a Mac computer) is networked with the Mac and connected to the TV as well for direct internet access to Apple's iTunes store. To complete the setup, an EyeTV box is connected to a Comcast DVR as well as direct to the cable and a VHS tape player. This allows video recording on the MacPro from all three sources.

Note that the raised base for the chair provides a stable support for the monitors and makes it easy for me to stand up with my arthritic knees.

Macintosh 25th Birthday

2009-01-26T10:49:00.004-06:00

There has been much publicity over the weekend about the Macintosh computer turning 25 years old. It was at the Superbowl in 1984 that the famous ad ran. It was shortly after that I saw my first Mac at a local Dayton's store. My 3 yr old daughter was with me and was readily using the mouse and MacPaint within a few minutes. I own the premier issue of MacWorld magazine shown to the left as well as issues of Byte and Popular Science that featured the Mac on the cover in the next several months. A good review of the Mac history can be found in today's MacWorld online article.

It wasn't until mid-1985 that I bought my first Mac though it was really a MacXL, a repackaged Apple Lisa that ran the Mac software. It had a larger screen and a 10MB hard drive built in. At one point, I had 3 MacXLs as shown in the photo below, but sold all on eBay in 2000.

My February 2008 post listed all of the 44 computers that I owned at the time. 27 of these are Macintosh though I had purchased and sold others that are not listed. Some of these were given to me by people cleaning out their closets. Actually I should count the iPhone as well since it runs a version of Mac OSX. Anyway, I am no where close to the 1500 Apple computers owned by Wayne Bibbens who was featured on the DVD Welcome to Macintosh.

Prior to 1990, I was a Mac developer for a few years and bought a new Mac when they came out about every 6 months. I got a 50% discount from Apple and sold my old Mac for what I paid for it, upgrading to the next level. That got me to a Mac IIci level which I used until 1998 when the iMac was produced. A complete description of all Mac models can be found at the Apple History web site. Note the list on the right side of the page.

Unlocking a Norwegian Chest

2008-07-24T16:20:00.006-05:00

The njerd goes retro.

Recently, my mother-in-law died and left us an old Norwegian immigrant chest but no key. The chest was very heavy and about 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet high made of wood about 1 inch thick. It was very heavy and we joked there might be a body inside.

The chest was dated 1792 and had an old fashioned lock that apparently used a large key with a 1/2 inch diameter hollow key. We talked to a number of locksmiths who claimed they could open the chest but not guarantee they would not damage the chest. I told them that I could certainly do just as well and took the challenge. We located a blacksmith associated with the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, IA who had opened similar chests for them. He was willing to come to Minneapolis sometime next month at a cost of $500, but was kind enough to explain to me what his process to make a key. It took me a couple of days, about 6 hours and 6 trips back and forth between my shop and the chest, but I accomplished the task. As I was working on this, I thought of the Norwegian carpenter/blacksmith who built this chest over 200 years ago and who had used it in the passing years.

I started with an old door hinge from which I cut one of the three rolled parts with part of the flat portions. It actually took me a couple attempts to get a piece the right length to use as a primary blank. I braised a piece of copper water pipe to the hinge blank and a steel ring bolt to the other end. To get the right lengths inside the lock, I used a bent paper clip to probe the depth of the lock and internal parts. The lock was almost 2 inches deep though the first inch was just to get past the wooden side of the chest. The lock was a basic "warded lock" with one ward requiring that I had to cut the key blank to allow rotation. I determined the location of the ward by dripping candle wax on the key and turning it to get an impression of the ward on the key. The ward seemed to be tapered since it took me about 4 attempts as I kept cutting more and more of my key blank away. By that time, I had my Dremel tool with me to make fine adjustments on site with the chest.

As you can see from the final version of the key, I ended up cutting most of the blank away. It was a great feeling when the key finally turned in the lock and I raised the lid. Unfortunately, there was no great treasure inside, just heavy metal tools and some old clothes. A 1977 newspaper lined the chest, giving the best guess of when it was last opened.

Computer Inventory

2008-02-24T22:21:00.003-06:00

I was just exchanging email with an old friend and mentioned this blog to him. I said I needed to update it so decided not to procrastinate any further. This update will relate a current inventory that I did of my computer collection. Note this is somewhat an update to the posting of Feb 15, 2006 titled "Summary of Computers Used" except these are computers that I presently own. The number in ( ) is the number that I have of that model. That should total 44 "computers" in my museum though only about 80% are working.

Wolverine Adding Machine
Post Slide Rule
TI99/4 (2)
TI99/4A Black & Silver (9)
TI99/4A Beige
TI99/4A Modified with Mechatronics 80 Column Card & Rave 101 Keyboard
Mac Plus (2)
Mac SE/30
Mac Classic II (2)
Mac IIvx
Mac IIci (2)
Mac PowerBook 170 (2)
Mac LC II
Mac LC III
Mac Quadra 660AV
Mac Performa 630CD
Mac Performa 636CD
Mac Performa 6116CD (2)
Mac Powerbook Duo 2300C
iMac G3 Bondi Blue
iMac G3 Strawberry
iBook G3 Blue
iBook G4
iMac G5
PowerMac G5
MacBook Pro 15" (Dual processor, away at college)
Mac Pro (Quad processor)
AppleTV
Dell Dimension XPS R400 PC - Win98
Nobilis PC - WinXP

iWoz

2006-12-30T09:42:00.000-06:00

I received Steve Wozniak's autobiography titled "iWoz" as a Christmas present. It was very interesting to read about how Steve (Woz) invented the Apple I and II computers and started the Apple Computer company with Steve Jobs. While I never owned an Apple II computer, I got hooked on the Apple Macintosh shortly after.

There are a number of things about Steve's life that paralleled mine. He was born in 1950, two years after me. His father taught him much and got him interested in engineering while he was young, just like my father. The difference was his father was an electrical engineer while my father was a carpenter and mechanic. While Steve was messing with electronics, I was messing with cars and shacks.

But our experiences came together in college. Steve and I first learned computer programming through Fortran required as part of an engineering class. We both had problems with overspending on computer accounts when we had to pay for computer time on big timesharing computer systems. Our first introduction to how a computer worked on the lowest level was through a book from Digital Equipment titled "Small Computer Handbook". I still have that book on my bookshelf.

But that's where the similarity ended. Steve was on the provider side, inventing the new computer technology, while I was on the consumer side using it. His side was decidedly more lucrative, making him worth hundreds of millions of dollars just a few years after starting Apple Computer.

While not downplaying the importance of the Apple II computer in the personal computer history, I felt a little let down with Steve's story in the last twenty years. He never had another great invention, but does seem to get satisfaction from teaching young people about computer technology.

Obsolete already?

2006-10-26T22:38:00.000-05:00

Well, I have just had this MacBook Pro (MBP) for a couple of months and now Apple has come out with a new version that is 39% faster. The new model uses the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor and more memory, but costs the same as the old one. Actually, my "old" MBP runs at the 50% idle even when recording video off my TV cable and playing two other videos at the same time. At the same time, I am using only 2/3 of of my 1 GB memory. I am not sure what I would do with the extra power though I am sure to find some benefit.

I am still appreciating the other technical features of my new system. For example, the MagSafe power connector has already been tested. Instead of using a conventional plug and socket, the power cord connects magnetically and comes off with any sidewards pull. When I accidentally jerked the power cable, it popped off rather than stressing the connection or pulling the MBP off on to the floor.

Now if the MBP does fall, it detects the movement with its Sudden Motion Sensor and parks the hard disk heads before it can hit the floor. Someone has hacked into this sensor to produce a program that can display the acceleration of the MBP in all three directions. Another programmer has written a program which can sound an alarm, take a picture of the thief and email it if it senses motion of the MBP.

There is much more unique technology in this computer, but that's all for now.

MacBook Pro LazyBoy

2006-10-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize that it has been 6 months since I last posted here. Anyone who was checking has probably given up. I have no real excuses though I have been updating my other blog on a weekly basis. If you go back to my second entry on Feb 12, you will see an iMac G5 with VESA mount and my LazyBoy recliner. With demise of my wife's eMac, the iMac G5 was passed down to my son and I picked up a new computer from my daughter.

Shown here in my new 15.4" MacBook Pro coupled to a 20" Samsung Syncmaster LCD display with 1600 x 1200 resolution. On the big screen, you can also see that I have replaced my homemade support arm with an articulated arm, Model VM3 from Sanus Systems. Both displays are active effectively extending the image area. The video connection to the display is digital DVI, but I also have a composite video adapter to send the image to a TV.

This computer is fast with a 2.16 Ghz Intel Dual Core processor, effectively 2 computers in one. I also have the Parallels virtual desktop software that allows me to run Windows XP at the same time as Mac OSX. Windows XP is essentially running directly on the Intel processor at close to native speed.

Ignition Coil Housing

2006-04-10T19:43:00.000-05:00

Well, this blog entry is a departure from my computer related stuff so far, but still njerdy. Several weeks ago, our 97 Malibu stopping running while my wife was at her mother's house. It would start but run very rough like there was an ignition problem. We had a similar problem which cost us $300-400 about 4 years ago. The first time this happened, I went looking for spark plug wires to check, but there were none. I could not even find the spark plugs which were hidden under a metal cover on top of the engine. Since we needed the car running ASAP, we had to pay for a tow to a mechanic. This time, my mother-in-law was in the hospital and her car was available for my wife to drive while I sorted out the problem.

After my son helped push the car into the garage, it took me a week to get back there and check the engine computer codes which showed "multiple cylinder misfires". It took less than 30 minutes to take the top of the engine off. Underneath was the ignition coil housing shown above which is actually upside down. The four terminals on this housing connect to the spark plugs. Inside the housing are two coils, providing spark for two plugs each. A little checking with an ohm meter showed that there was a short (low resistance) between terminals 1 and 3. Another week of procrastination later, NAPA Auto Parts had a replacement for $72 and about 30 minutes later the car was back in operation.

TI-99/4 Home Computer

2006-03-19T20:23:00.001-06:00

I purchased my first home computer in the Fall of 1979. After using an Apple II computer at work and investigating what was available, I decided to buy a Texas Instruments TI-99/4 computer. This was the first 16-bit personal computer, based on TI’s 9900 processor used in business computers. It also had several technical capabilities not seen in other personal computers. It had an accuracy of 13 digits based on its Radix 100 notation and a method on context switching found in Control Data mainframes. Unfortunately, it also used a double-interpreted BASIC making it slow since the base machine was programmed in GPL, a Graphic Programming Language.

My first TI-99/4 computer cost about $2500 with all the accessories. TI included a video monitor with the original console. It had a total of 16K bytes of memory built in, used programmed cartridges and stored BASIC programs on a cassette tape. I then added a 32KB memory expansion, an RS232 interface, a disk controller with two 5 1/4” floppy drives. These were all “sidecar” boxes about 7” wide, which along with a Speech Synthesizer and the 15” wide console, resulted in a computer train about 39” wide.

Later, TI came out with an upgraded TI-99/4A model and a Peripheral Expansion Box (PEB) that contained cards for each expansion connected to the console through a wide, shielded ribbon cable. The picture included here actually contains the 4A model with two PEBs that also contain two 5 1/4” floppy drives, a 3 1/2” floppy drive, a p-Code PASCAL card and an IDE interface card connected to a 2 GB hard drive. The bottom PEB is actually used just for its power supply and to mount the 3 1/2” floppy and hard drive. The IDE interface and HD were just added in December 2004. The console also has a cartridge expander that allows switching between three cartridges.

More to come later.

Modems

2006-03-03T23:22:00.000-06:00

Last night, I started checking my computer inventory for a modem that my sister could use to access the internet. I told her I would set her up with an old PC that I had, but discovered it had no modem built-in. I knew that I had a 56KB modem around here some where, but I have not found it yet. But what I did find was amazing, taking me back to 1979 and showing the changes that have evolved in home computer communications since then.

By the way, the term modem is short for modulator - demodulator. This is a way to convert a computer's digital data in a manner to transmit it over telephone lines. In the early days, this was done with an acoustic coupler in which a telephone handset was placed. These were built into old Teletype machines like I first used in 1969. The one shown here is from my first TI 99/4 home computer that I bought in 1979. These typically worked at 150 or 300 baud (bits per second). I also found other hardwired modems running at 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 and 14,400 baud. As the technology advanced in speed, these would negotiate the highest speed they could operate on with the modem on the other end of the telephone line. When you dialed to connect to another computer, you would hear this chirpy, hashy noice, increasing in frequency until it matched what the other modem and the quality of your telephone connection could handle.

Starting around 2000, I have had Qwest DSL service that ran at about 256 Kbaud. Though I upgraded to their Deluxe DSL which was supposed to run up to 1.5 Mbaud, it never ran at half that speed and degraded back down to about the 256 Kbaud level last year. Finally, in December, I switched over to the Time-Warner Road Runner cable internet service. This evening, the cable modem speed has varied between 1.5 Mbaud and 4.8 Mbaud, probably averaging around 3 Mbaud. Imagine, over the last 25 years, we have experienced a 10,000 times increase in speed at least with a typical home computer. Dedicated commercial lines and the main internet trunk networks operate at much higher speeds.

Virtual Machine – IBM Personal Computing

2006-02-23T22:07:00.000-06:00

The majority of readers will think that IBM entry into personal computing was with the IBM PC in 1981, but my first introduction to IBM’s promotion of personal computing was a few years earlier. I remember attending an IBM personal computing presentation with anticipation, but finding out it was about their VM/CMS capability on their System/370 mainframe. VM stands for virtual machine. CMS is Conversational Monitor System. VM/CMS essentially gave each user their own personal computing environment even though it was on a dumb IBM 3270 terminal in a timesharing mode. I also used IBM’s TSO (Timesharing Option) at the time.

The concept of a Virtual Machine has been around for over 40 years. I was reminded about this while reviewing an upgrade to our VMware Virtual Machine environment at work this week. Another variation that I use today is Microsoft’s Virtual PC where I can run Windows 98 and Windows XP under Mac OSX on my iMac G5. I also run Windows remote to a system at work through a Citrix ICA client and VPN.

Analog Computer

2006-02-19T19:57:00.000-06:00

Today, it is very rare to use or even see an analog computer in real life. But back in 1968, this was the type of computer that I first used while a Mechanical Engineering student at Michigan Technological University. I don’t remember what class it was for or the problem that I solved on it. I don’t remember what the exact model was either, but it was similar to a Donner Scientific 3100 shown at the Analog Computer Museum web site. I remember using a Problem Board on which we setup our solution and then plugged that into a bigger system.

Today’s digital computers are sequential devices, operating on data one step at a time. It represents data internally in a representation called binary. Thus a single transistor in a digital computer can only store two states, on and off, and requires many transistors to store a number to any degree of precision. Digital computers are programmed through instructions which switch transistors on and off at the lowest level.

An analog computer operates differently than the digital computer. It offers continuous solutions to the problems on which they are operating. All components of an analog computer are part of a complete circuit that operates in parallel. The system is setup with electrical components that simulate portions of a real system. A mechanical spring-mass system may be represented by resistors, capacitors and inductors. When a switch is thrown, the system starts operation and results are measured as voltages and currents.

Note that there were actually mechanical analog computers many centuries earlier. An automobile speedometer is a mechanical analog computer that measures the rotations per minute of the drive shaft and translates that measurement into a display of miles or kilometers per hour.

Summary of computers used

2006-02-15T19:37:00.000-06:00

What I hope to add to this blog in the future is a little info about computers that I have used in the past. The following is just a list of what I can remember now though I will update the list if I remember more. They are in chronological order:

Wolverine adding machine
Post slide rule
Analog computer
IBM System 360 - card reader
GE Timeshare TeleType - paper tape
DEC PDP 8/e
HP 35, 45, 25 calculators
IBM System 370
General Automation SPC16
Computervision
Control Data 6600, 7600
Apple IIe
TI99/4 home computer
Commodore 64
IBM TSO/CMS
VAX 780
Apollo
Control Data 830
IBM PC - DOS
DEC Rainbow PC - CP/M
Apple Lisa
Mac XL
Mac 512, Plus, SE, SE30, IIci
Compaq PC - Win3.1
iMac
HP Unix workstation
Toshiba laptop - Win98
Compaq, Dell - Windows 2000
Sun workstation - Solaris
Power Mac G4, G5 - OSX
Virtual PC - Windows XP
eMac, iBook
iMac G5

iMac G5 VESA Stand

2006-02-12T18:14:00.000-06:00

Seeing that I started this blog with a picture of my "first" computer, I figured I would go next to my latest and then fill in with others that I have worked with over the years.

Shown here is my 20” iMac G5 containing a 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processor, 1.5 GB of DDR SRAM memory and 250 GB internal hard drive. It has built-in Airport and Bluetooth wireless capability so the only cable that it needs to run is the power cord. I have it connected up to a AC-powered DYNEX hub containing 3 USB and 3 Firewire ports which is then connected to a number of other peripherals. I have a 250 GB LaCie Firewire hard drive that is my backup, completely mirroring my internal drive. I also have a Maxtor 200 GB USB hard drive that is used for backup of other computers as well as video data.

My keyboard and laser mouse are wireless from Logitech with the wireless transmitter connected to the USB portion of the hub. This means that I have no wires to contend with when using them on my old LazyBoy recliner. The laser mouse works great on the arm of the chair without any need for a mouse pad.

Also connected to the hub is a Canon flatbed scanner for capturing paper docs and an EyeTV 200 converter, which allows me to watch and record cable TV on the iMac. I occasionally connect an iPod mini, a Canon PowerShot A85 digital camera, a Canon ZR-10 video camera and a Blackberry 7250.

Undoubtedly, you noticed the special setup on my homemade computer stand. This is actually my second-generation stand; the first was used to mount a 17” LCD display connected to a PowerMac G4. In this case, the 20” display contains the complete computer. (See the Apple store for the original desktop stand that I removed.)

The iMac had a VESA standard mounting option that I have bolted to a 2” steel pipe stand. The rest is regular PVC plumbing pipe, the main members of 2” pipe and supporting members 1 1/2”. The original stand was made all of 1 1/2” pipe, but deflected too much with the 25 lb weight of the iMac. The vertical portion of the pipe has a steel insert that I happened to have in my collection. This allows the arm to swivel. The last piece is the base made out of 2x6s and plywood with a corner hole and PVC wedges to hold the vertical pipe secure. The weight of the wood and the LazyBoy are enough to make this setup very steady.

I also have a portable PVC stand that I can use on a desktop and another portable floor-based design under construction. I have deflection problems with the portable floor-based system and need to try larger pipe on the lower portion.

This iMac has a little history before me. I bought it from Scott Sheppard, Editor-In-Chief – OSXFAQ, back in August. Scott had some excess inventory from his office that he posted on his email list. I jumped on the opportunity and saved $200 for a new system, sealed in the original box. Check out Scott’s web site, Tip-of-the-Day and email list at http://www.osxfaq.com

What's in a name?

2006-02-04T11:21:00.000-06:00

Nordic Njerd is mine since I am of Scandinavian heritage and have always been sort of a technical nerd. From the Wikipedia - "Traditionally, a nerd is a very intelligent but lonely and socially awkward person who is fascinated by knowledge, especially science. A nerd who is versed in computer technology can also be a hacker. Beginning in the late 1990s, many nerds on the Internet reclaimed the word nerd as a badge of pride, and began using it as a positive description of any technically competent person, with less implication or focus on social awkwardness."

My great-grandparents came over from Norway and Sweden. Both grandmothers were Norwegian and both grandfathers were Swedish. See other Wikipedia definitions for Nordic and Scandinavia

I have used computers since the 1960's. Even if before if you consider my first computer being a Wolverine Adding Machine in the 1950's.

My profile picture is from when I was about 5 years old. I already had my nerd glasses at that time as well.

I scored 54% and 51.4% on the following Nerd tests. Check them out to see how much of a nerd you are. Nerd test Long nerd test