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My Dell Studio Hybrid – Unboxed… Finally!

 

Dell Studio Hybrid

My search for a Home Theatre PC (HTPC) began almost as soon we purchased our 32 inch LCD TV for the family room.  I loved having the ability to plug my laptop into our TV and have, what was basically, a huge computer monitor.  That was a few years ago.  Since then, we have done away with our monthly TV service bills and gone the route of free “over-the-air” HD service.  This is complimented by hulu.com, netflix.com, and the like.  We do subscribe to Netflix and thus have the instant play feature, but you can read more about all that in my Life Without A TV Bill posts. 

After a couple of years of hooking up and unhooking our laptops, I finally found a deal for a PC that I liked.  I’ve looked at a Mac Mini ($599), an ASUS Eee Top ($375.00), and a Dell Studio Hybrid ($499).  

Mac Mini

The Mac is the choice of a lot of people I know, but having all PCs at home, it just didn’t make sense.  The ASUS was the front runner, but didn’t have an optical drive, which I needed since my DVD player had recently died.  Plus, the ASUS is slightly under-powered since it is basically a netbook without a screen.  The Dell was the best choice, but I just didn’t want to lay down $500.  Then…  EARTH DAY!!!  

ASUS eee Box
ASUS eee Box

Dell covertly offered $200 instant savings during the week following Earth Day on its “Earth Friendly-Power Sipping” Studio Hybrid.  It was hard to find, but I stumbled across the link while reading a tech forum.  That’s was the deal I was looking for.  A dual-core CPU, 2GB of Ram, and optical drive, and best of all ROOM TO UPGRADE!  Since the Studio Hybrid is basically a laptop crammed into a tiny space, parts would be easy to get.  So that’s what I ordered.  

IOGEAR Keyboard

 

I was none to happy when I received my first, second, or third delay notice from Dell.  I still don’t know what the issue was, but it took over a month to get my HTPC.  I’ve never this sort of problem ordering from Dell’s Small Business Division, with whom I do business weekly at FBC.  I suppose it is just the curse of dealing with Dell’s Home Division. It was well worth the wait, however.  I’m loving this little computer.  It sits perfectly on our entertainment center, and paired with a wireless keyboard with builtin trackball from IOGEAR, and a Logitech Webcam with builtin Microphone, I’m loving this setup. 

Logitech C250

 

We’ve used it mostly for Hulu and Netflix, but with the addition of the webcam, and the family being home for the summer, I’ve been skype calling home just about every day from work.  We also skype my parents every now and then.  It’s a lot more fun to do it on the big TV than on our desktop computer.  This little camera works really well for us, even in low light, and its microphone pics up very well, even sitting on the sofa 5-7 feet away.  

If you’re looking for a HTPC to help you cut the chains of Cable or Satellite TV, I would highly recommend the Dell Studio Hybrid.  Just wait for Earth Day to roll around again…  

 Unboxing Picture Below: 

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iPhone Repair… It’s a hobby.

iPhone minus the screen

Since I bought my second iPhone, the 3Gs, and jumped in the lake with it in my pocket, I have had folks asking me to fix their phones. I don’t mind. I do enjoy taking these little things apart. But more than that I enjoy helping people and fixing things. Just for your information, if you have an iPhone and need repair, give me a call or shoot me an email. I can probably tell you what’s wrong and what part to order. I order from www.etechparts.com. They are located in Kansas and have been super great to me. If you want to order the part, I’ll install it for free. I just like to do it. Like I said, it’s a hobby.

In the past few months, I’ve repaired all three versions of the iPhone.  I’ve replaced the battery in a 1st generation iPhone, which, by the way, has to be SOLDERED to the mainboard!!  That was fun.  I’ve replaced a cracked touch glass on a 2nd Generation iPhone (3G), as well as a mute button.  One of the touch glasses I replaced did stop working recently, but etechparts.com is going to exchange it, so no problems.  It happens.  And I’ve replaced the ribbon cable of an iPhone 3Gs.  The cable that has the power button, headphone jack, mute switch, and volume control on it.  It was a tough one.  Lots of little adhesive strips to put on, but it works! 

Long story short, got an iPhone that needs help, or a friend of a friend who does.  Send them over.  I enjoy helping when I can.

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I graduated!! Um… 5 years ago.

May 2005, I walked across the stage at Austin Peay State University and was given a blank sheet of rolled up paper.

May 2010, I went to APSU to turn in my employment documents to teach a Microsoft Publisher extended education class. Oh, and I finally picked up my DIPLOMA!! Woo Hoo!

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Mother’s Day…

I’m never quite sure what do with this holiday.  Shouldn’t we be good to our mother’s all year-round?  If we haven’t been, then sure it’s nice to stop being mean to your mother for a day and be nice…  You can go back to being mean on Monday.  I’m never very sure what to get either, partially because I usually forget about this holiday.  We barely make it through our weeks with our heads still attached, much less plan ahead to purchase/make a gift for our mothers.  Not to say we don’t appreciate everything our mother’s do for us.  We do. Very much.  I also haven’t gotten the hang of getting presents from the boys to Kayce.  Parker is getting almost old enough that I can ask him what he wants to get mama for mother’s day or her birthday, etc…  He usually give pretty good answers.  Carson, well, he still has no clue.  So, here it is Saturday, May 8, and I have no gifts for anyone.  Sorry mothers.  And Parker and Carson have nothing either.  You can’t blame them, they really don’t have much of an income. 

So, the best I can do on this short notice is to say, without getting too mushy, what all the mothers in my life mean to me. 

Mom,
Although, I often disagreed with you, didn’t want to do things your way, or fought you with every ounce of energy I had…  Somehow, you managed to raise me, and I turned out alright after all.  I now have two boys who often disagree with me, don’t want to do things my way, and fight me with all their energy…  But if I can half as good at raising them, as you did with me, they will be alright, too.  Thanks Mom!  I love you!

Kayce,
You’ve been the most tremendous mother to our boys.  I won’t say that their Mama’s boys, but there have never been two boys who love their mama more than ours.  From the time they wake-up and want Mama to get them dressed, until I pick them up at school, and they wish that you had instead.  They love their Mama… Or dislike their Daddy…  Hmm… You’re a source of encouragement for me and an inspiration for our children.  Thank you for being my friend, my wife, the mother of my children.  I love you!

Donna,
If I have to have a mother-in-law…  I’m glad it’s you.

UPDATE: Before I get in too much trouble…  Let me clarify that the above is just a joke.  I do indeed love my mother in law.  I’m just a hopeless prankster.

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Leaf Chronicle Ad

I love doing ads for the Leaf Chronicle. Actually, I love doing anything that gets printed! It’s nice to see your work in print.  I’m a geek that way.  A few years ago, First Baptist did an Ad a month on the back of the GO section of the paper.  It was a point of great pride, and gave me alot of pleasure to create those ads.  Today, we get notice that The Leaf is doing a special Flood section and asked if we would like to buy ad space.  Always up for those, we said yes. Oh, and it’s due TODAY!!  What!  Well, here is the result of my 30 Minutes of work.  And a shout out to Danielia White for the photo.

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My Papaw Susong

Randle in 1955 parade

Someone in my family ran across this photo of my Papaw Susong recently.  I haven’t seen a ton of pictures of him, and didn’t know him, he died when I a baby.  Not surprisingly, my Dad looks alot like him.  My mom made the comment that this picture, taken in 1955, looks like it was taken in 1855.  I’ve got an entire book on the family history of the Susong’s.  If I ever get enough free time, I’ll have to digitize it for posterity.  I think Parker and Carson would like to know that way back when, their family used to own all of West Bristol.

I get asked alot where the name Susong came from, or they say, “I thought you would asian”. I take great pleasure in telling them, “No, it’s French, and my family used to own Bristol”. It’s silly, but hey, it’s true… Kind of.

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They caught me! The ONE time I speed.

I was caught in Morristown on our way home from East Tennessee.  Actually we were leaving after visiting my parents, but we were, at this moment, heading for the hospital to visit my Dad after he had heart surgery.  He went in with chest pains the day before.  So, I think I had a good reason to be speeding, but hey, why fight it.  $50 and it helps keeps the road paved, or some sheriff make a boat payment… whatever. Enjoy my misfortune. On the bright side… Look at the detail (minus our plate, which I smudged out) in the last picture.  I’m “allegedly” going “60” and you can clearly see our car and Parker’s head…  Crazy.

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Update: St. Jude’s Trike-A-Thon

Parker and Carson are both taking part in their preschool’s trike-a-thon for St. Jude.  If you would like to sponsor them just click the links below.  It’s a one time donation, not a per lap deal.  So don’t worry about it being multiplied.  Thanks in advance to all who help out.  St. Jude thanks you!

[The Trike-a-Thon is over, thanks to all who gave]

UPDATE:

Parker and Carson both raised $125.00. That’s each of them, so $250.00 total!!  Not bad!  Thanks to all who gave!

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