'War Stories'
Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!
Askye, in theory, yes, MSN chat should be able to use it. But it depends on how sophisticated the pref's are. I do not use MSN chat or Windows to know for sure. I am not sure about using it for games. Again, it would depend on if that game could choose between various sources.
If you don't have a BT heaset already to try it out, maybe borrow from a friend? It might require re-pairing the unit with the phone after the experiment, but worth the try before you buy.
Uhg, I've had to reboot my macbook pro running leopard twice in the past four days because it won't wake up. I looked on the support forums and it seems to be related to the Time Machine and sleep mode, but I can't decipher it. It's alway happened after reconnecting the TM drive after running off battery power, but not for long (it was at 60%.)
This last time might have had kitty shenanigans, as the cat was sitting on the power cord and may have disconnected it. Or stepped on some combo of keys.
Remember that wireless Logitech mouse/keyboard combo I mentioned buying the DW for Christmas? [link] Well, I did it and bought one for myself, too. Unfortunately I think that they are interfering with each other. Whenever we are both on our computers at the same time, my keyboard and mouse go all wonky (hers don't seem to have a problem). We are right next to each other on the same desk. Anything I can do or should I get the Apple bluetooth setup? I'd prefer to keep what I have, but this is getting really frustrating.
I'm guessing there is a "base station" that plugs into the computer that is tied with the keyboard/mouse. If yours is wanky and hers is not, I wonder if her K/M is hitting your base station. Try moving it, and/or putting a little barrier around it that shields it from her stuff. I suspect the mouse is the biggest culprit. Also try moving your base station closer to your work zone.
No advice on the digital converter/VCR thing? If I can't record shows I will pretty much just not watch TV since I'm often working in the evenings.
A VCR should work with a digital converter in a limited capacity. The VCR will depend on the digital converter for tuning, so you can only record whichever channel the digital converter is set to.
I'm guessing there is a "base station" that plugs into the computer that is tied with the keyboard/mouse.
There isn't a base station -just a small USB receiver thingy that is plugged into the back of each iMac. We have to have the computers right next to each other (tight space). After a little digging, I saw that Logitech recommends having computers using their wireless devices 10 feet away from each other. Damn. The weird thing is, though, that this wasn't a problem until a few days ago (we've had this set up since right before Christmas).
Try moving it, and/or putting a little barrier around it that shields it from her stuff.
Do you think I could do that by the receiver? Also what sort of thing would work as a barrier?
The VCR will depend on the digital converter for tuning, so you can only record whichever channel the digital converter is set to.
I thought that might be the case. I'm pretty sure that I had everything set up the way that page describes and I got nothing. I guess I'll try again later.
There isn't a base station -just a small USB receiver thingy that is plugged into the back of each iMac.Yes! Exactly. OK, I am guessing it's a USB thingy? Do you have a USB extender cable so you can move it to closer to your work zone?
Or, can you move the computers around a bit? What Mac's do you have. If they are towers, can you put her's on the floor and yours on the table? Or both on the floor? If they are iMac or laptops, you really don't have any options in that respect, huh?
Also what sort of thing would work as a barrier?Um. You could try taking some cardboard and wrapping it in tin foil. Shouldn't need too high, just high enough to block 'line of sight' from her K/M to your receiver thingy. 4" high or so. Maybe make a little V around your thingy so the open part of the V has the thingy in it and it opens to your K/M, like a reflector dish of sorts.
Mind you, I've never dealt with these gizmo's before. So I am guessing based on work with wireless mic's. If others have ideas, feel free to pipe up.
I'm betting those wireless K/Ms are using an infrared signal, which means pretty much anything that blocks line of sight to the wrong receiver, right? I mean, the problem is just that IR doesn't really do channels, right? It's just light, and any receiver will pick up any active mouse in it's line of sight. I think.
So if the problems recently developed, it may be something as simple as a small change of placement of an object on your shared computer work surface, or a change in the way you or DW are holding the mouse or keyboard, so the IR emitter is now pointing at your receiver as well as hers.
Also, is there anything else in that room that might be emitting IR light?