DR|ADV » lifehack

(Nederlands) Tijd- en humeur-redder: LastPass

Wim Andréa — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:39:40 +0000

Sorry, this entry is only available in Nederlands.

(Nederlands) Google Wave… mooi zo’n faxmachine

Wim Andréa — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:07:22 +0000

Sorry, this entry is only available in Nederlands.

(Nederlands) GoogleVoice: hebben, hebben, hebben

Wim Andréa — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:44:01 +0000

Sorry, this entry is only available in Nederlands.

Getting back on the GTD-train

Wim Andréa — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:02:37 +0000

I must admit: my GTD routine was a bit low the last month. In fact that is rather strange. Because last month was rather busy. You would say that a strict GTD-routine should have helped to overcome such a periode. But this is proof for me, that my intentions with GTD were just that: intentions (the best of them!) The routine didn’t sink in deep enough to make it second nature. And this is what Ben Tiggelaar is writing/talking/ranting about in his latest publications: to actually change one’s behaviour a lot of very consious and hard work need to be done. After that is all is simple… Because you drilled yourself in a way that the new behaviour became second nature.

Well, my earlier GTD-efforts learned me a lot however. Lessons I can apply now I’m getting back on the train again. The main reason for this – apart from a nagging frustration because I knew things weren’t on track – was the introduction to ThinkingRock (www.thinkingrock.com.au). An Australian (JAVA)applications that runs on my Mac as well as on my PC. It follows the GTD-workflow rather strict and helps me in gathering all things ”IN” in a better, more natural way.

Because this I found to be the hardest in learning and developing GTD-techniques: how to get to a solid, unique and always and everywhere working “INBOX”? How did you fellow GTD-ers manage that?

Broken Macbook Pro: Apple gone mad?

Wim Andréa — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:24:13 +0000

It happened: my Macbook Pro is broken. The screen that is. Never had any problems with carrying laptops in my old and trusted ASUS-briefcase. But the Macbook Pro showed up with a broken screen yesterday… Kind of fragile stuff. Today I visited a official Apple Service Center in Rotterdam in my lunchbreak. They told me that this is not covered by warranty. The price to fix this? A stunning 758 euros without 19% VAT. The repair will last al least 10 working days. But more likely 15.

I left the shop astonished and determined to solve it in another way, To make a long story short: I ordered a new screen via Ebay. Price: 256,98 Canadian dollars. Including shipment. That is 161,01 euros. The manual that tells in a step-by-step way how to replace the display was downloaded via Powerbookmedic.com This includes details photos on how to do the job. I guess it will take me a maximum of 3 hours, probably less. I’ll keep you all posted on how this story ends. But I guess I’m in for a very satisfying solution (fingers crossed!)

UPDATE – FRIDAY AUGUST 8TH, 2008
The screen arrived! That is rather rapid: ordered Tuesday and delivered Friday from www.screencountry.com in Canada! This evening I am invited to fly with the Dutch Airforce – in a balloon. But otherwise I would have rebuild the MacBook Pro this evening. I’ll do that tomorrow. When all works out, I am done for a bit more than 160 euros. Within a week! Via the official channels the situation would differ quite a bit: at least 750 euros and a waiting time of two – probably three – working weeks…

FINAL UPDATE:
Did it. Just a day after receiving the screen from Canada, I took the thing apart and fixed the screen. Geeting it back together was probably harder than taking it apart… Nice!

This is a pic of the MacBook Pro in it’s current state. I removed the LCD (top) from the display (right) that is also removed from the main unit (bottom, put together again). The hinges of the display with the connections can be seen at the complete right of the pic. These connections include Bluetooth, WiFi and main Logicboard connector. Internally the display has the connection for the iSight camera and the LCD-panel (naturally!)

When you look very closely, you can see that the right and left frame of the LCD-panel differ. Top and bottom also, but this is with every LCD-panel for the MacBook Pro. The displayed (and broken) LCD is a AU Optronics (matte). The one ordered from www.screencountry.com is made by LG Philips (glossy).

I’m having a e-mail conversation now with Pavel from Screencountry to see if the LG Philips-LCD (LP154WP2 TL A2)can replace the broken AU Optronics (B154PW04 V.4). Pavel never heard from the AU Optronics partnumber.

Nozbe is my favorite GTD-tool

Wim Andréa — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:06:18 +0000

Recently I found out about Nozbe. I think it was via the fine website of Frank Meeuwsen. Nozbe is now my favorite GTD-collection tool. Because it sits in my iGoogle start screen, I can easily and on-the-fly (crucial!) input things to remember. It also has an iPhone specific web application than can be checked everywhere. To keep it short: I’m a fan.

Waiting for my iPhone

Wim Andréa — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:15:59 +0000

I did it! I bought an iPhone. I was sick of the waiting for the announcement-that-never-came on launching the iPhone in The Netherlands. And after reading about all the hacks that are spreading the net right now, I jumped in. On eBay I found someone from California who had plenty of iPhones on offer. I did a winning bid. And now I am waiting for the parcel to arrive. I guess coming Monday is D-Day.
Then the hacking starts. I already downloaded all necessary programs, manuals and what have you. While reading I entered a complete new world (while familiar with hacking gadgets) where Jailbraking and other intriguing terms rule. This needs to be done, while in The Netherlands the iPhone would otherwise be a very expensive iPod. I am planning to keep you all posted on my experiences. Now I’ll wait in anticipation for the Ã¼berhyped gadget to arrive.

update September, 26th: The seller @ eBay is very uncommunicative at the moment. He sent me a tracking-number, but this appears to be invalid. No response up until now on my requests for clarification… This might become a lesson in “how to handle when a transaction on eBay goes wrong. I’ll keep you posted….

My iPhone arrived. Read the posting here.

GSM Doorbell: simply genius

Wim Andréa — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 07:20:44 +0000

It is true that great inventions are in fact rather simple. And so is the GSM Doorbell. This is the kind of invention you could have imagined yourself. But you didn’t. And neither did I. Connecting your GSM to your frontdoor (bell and lock) is in itself so simple, though so practical. Imagine: you won an eBay-auction and the postman is delivering the package at home. But your are not there. The postman ring (twice?) and your doorbell connects with your GSM. You can speak to the postman, asking him to leave the package at the neighbour’s. Or ask him to come back tomorrow, when you are home. And this example is also truly practical: the kids are earlier home than you thought. (Or: your are stuck in a traffic jam and too late to be home in time). They simple ring the doorbell. You hear it’s your kids and you open the door from your GSM. Truly an invention that makes you wonder why it wasn’t there earlier. I mean: how long do we use frontdoors and cellphones?

Imperfection as standard?

Wim Andréa — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:59:49 +0000

I’m having problems with the following approach:

From ‘Reclaim Your Life: A Two-Week Challenge to Help You Regain Time’ by Stuart R. Levine

Consider the way new technologies come to market. The major software and electronics companies cut down on time and costs by putting products on the market before theyâ€™ve been completely debugged. Not only does this save the consumer money in the long run; consumer feedback teaches these companies more in a month than theyâ€™d discover through years of in-house testing. Sure, some users might grumble at flaws in the early models or releases. But by now, most consumers are aware of the practice and know to wait for the updated version.

This manifesto is available from ChangeThis.

My problem is the easy conclusion about on “some users that might grumble at flaws”. These early adopters are the ones that feed the companies with worthwhile feedback. In forums online. On ‘Company-X-sucks.com-websites’. At the callcenters etc. Based on this feedback the product/service is then updated. The calculating masses wait for this moment. But the engaged few that paid the big bucks are not ‘paid’ for their effort. In my opinion, they will eventually stop being this ‘helpful’ (read: exploited). Thus: no quick fixes, no updated products, no lower prices. And hence: no critical mass to make your profit on… Just a thought.