1. Work switched from using a web-based Citrix login system to a Remote Desktop Connection system, making it impossible to login in to the company system from the main site that I work on up north (they block outgoing RDC);
2. The workaround provided was a PCMCIA Telstra Wireless Broadband Card, which I installed on my laptop;
3. The (very buggy) installer required a reboot (why?);
4. On reboot, I could no longer log into my laptop (cached domain logins had expired, normally I just hibernate the laptop);
5. Thankfully I knew the Local Administrator password so I can get to my work.

Firstly, why replace a working solution for people on site with one that only works for a very limited number of sites (certainly not out main client sites)? Secondly, is there any rational use for Windows Domains? *

* I know the reasons that domains are used, they just seem to be the main cause of grief for me at the moment.

I have finally decided it is time to upgrade my 12″ G4 PowerBook (1GHz).

First up I am replacing the non-functioning combo optical drive with one from eBay which works. I have a FireWire external DVD-RW drive so I don’t see the point in spending up big on a SuperDrive (I don’t burn DVDs away from the office, or very often at all actually).

I am then upgrading the slightly full 40GB HDD (1.5GB free) with a 160GB one. Having a camera that can take 5MB digital photographs can chew up disk space quickly.

I have previously upgraded the RAM from 256MB to 768MB and added an Airport card.

Finally I am upgrading to Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5). All of this will probably take a few hours to do but I should end up with a very usable Mac as a result. I just can’t justify spending the cash on a new one.

I recently purchased a Newton MessagePad 2000 (upgraded to 2100 specifications). It came with:

• An original stylus and leather wallet;
• A recently repacked battery (that holds a charge quite well);
• A black serial cable and adapter for plugging into the Newton;
• All software disks and manuals;
• A Lucent Orinoco Silver wireless card (that will work with the Newton);
• A Palm Stowaway keyboard with adapter cable (that will also work with the Newton).

The battery, wallet and stylus are being used with my Newton MessagePad 2100 at the moment. Once I get the Stowaway keyboard driver working that will travel with me also.

I picked up my fourth PowerBook 100 yesterday – a working unit (I haven’t confirmed this yet) with an external floppy drive. No power supply but I have a few of these now. Hopefully it will have a working hard drive and more than 4MB of RAM (I can hope).

With enough time I intend to build as many working examples as I can. The other three have power-up issues (although at various times ALL have worked).

For those wondering, “Derringer” was one of the alleged code names for the PowerBook 100 in production (see this photo). Derringer/Deringer is also the last name of a gentleman who made small firearms. Given that the PowerBook 100 was Apple’s second attempt and first real success at a laptop/notebook computer (the Portable being barely that), I can see the link.

Edit: Sadly, it doesn’t boot (why am I not surprised?). It does have an Apple 20MB 2.5″ Connor SCSI drive that may work though. As far as RAM goes it looks like 4MB (again, still searching for the elusive 6MB upgrade card).