Is the "wake up to new content" such an integral part of the product that I won't utilize it?

I loved being able to buy books absolutely anywhere, but I think if I didn't have access to it I still would've loved the device. (Mine got left at a Barnes in Noble, unfortunately, for extra irony. Don't do that.) Once it's loaded you don't need the connection, and loading it via USB is really easy. If you get a system in place that works for you, I think it'll still be worth it.

My iTunes has started to not play sound when I restart the computer. I went to the audio device control panel and disenabled all the devices with the intention of re-enabling them (which in my experience sometimes re-initializes all sound capability)... except that Stupid Vista is now not acknowledging the existence of ANY audio devices, so I can't turn them back on.

For the record, I have restarted/coldbooted the computer since them. The best advice I can find is to reinstall the drivers, so I'm DLing the Realtek Vista drivers in the hopes that manually adding them this way will help. More as this develops -- of course I have to leave for school now....

Whoo! I am back in the world of the near-broadband! My new Verizon mobile USB modem is rocking. I think I will make the investment on the router and get us multiple computer access. Meanwhile, it's great.

We'll see how I do with the 5G/month data cap.

Random question for people with TiVo: How often do you have to replace the batteries in your remote?

I feel like a remote should last forever and I've replaced the (4 AAA) batteries in ours multiple times since I moved in (18 months ago).

I still have the batteries in my remote that came with it, two years ago, though I think they're creeping up on the end of their life. But then again, mine has 2 AA batteries.

I've had mine for almost a year and I haven't had to change them yet. I do find that my TiVo remote is more sensitive to accidental hitting than any other remote I have. Could it be getting lost in the couch cushions and accidentally depressed?

I can't remember the last time we changed batteries.

Everything in my apartment that recharges goes dead long before its time. Maybe I need to line my apartment in lead or tinfoil. Harmony remote, cellphone, wireless phones, roomba (the thing just gave up after 15 minutes!). And I know I don't use them sufficiently to have worn the cells out.

Our Tivo remote goes through two AA's like every six months or so. But I can stretch it out some more by taking them out and switching their positions.

A new battery for my Roomba looks like it will cost $79. Ouch. That's a considerable %age of the full price of Rosie.

On the upside I'm currently typing on my Linux box via vnc4server from my Mac, so I have had one technical success.

I have been banging my head against the wall with Alfresco. No chance anyone here has it installed, and on Debian to boot? I'm all set for major geek work--Apple TV is playing me Aretha, taken headache meds, and all is promising with the world. Except Tomcat hates me.

I've decided that app server architectures are something I need to learn as much as possible about. Given that I'm stumped by the Alfresco install, does anyone have any suggestions about a good place to start learning about app servers in general?