usesthis.com recently posted an interview where I discuss what hardware and software tools I currently like to use to get my work done. This is a nice follow-on to a post I did about four years ago titled “The contents of my bag” where I summarized the things I carry around with me all the time. The only thing missing from the usesthis interview compared to my previous review is the bag that I use. Currently, it’s a Timbuk2 bag that’s been discontinued, but has the nice feature that it has both a shoulder strap and backpack-style straps with a muted charcoal-and-gray color scheme that is very versatile: it works for both more formal business meetings in Japan, as well as more mobile, casual situations such as hoofing it around the show floor at CES in Vegas. The bag has held up surprisingly well to abuse, although the left shoulder strap is starting to tear off and the tines on one of the snap-buckles for the main flap has broken, rendering it useless. This means my old Coach laptop bag is still the winner for durability, but unfortunately the single-strap design of the bag makes it tough to use when traveling.
Fascinating brain dump, thanks. I wish I had your equipment scrounging talents!
I take it you’re using WinXP-64 (otherwise the extra RAM in your laptop is just soaking up battery life…). Is the Win XP VM 32 bit as well?
Solder: Regular or unleaded? : )
Do you use a logic analyzer, or just depend on the o’scope?
Also, if you want to keep using Eudora in the future, a company called Infinity data systems is trying to make a feature-for-feature work-alike called MailForge. It still “needs work”, but I think they’re making a lot more progress than the Thunderbird-remake “Eudora 8” is. They’re coming out with a 2.0 soon, maybe it’ll be a reasonable replacement. RIP Eudora.
No, I’m using Win-XP 32 — there is an extra gig of RAM in my computer kicking around that I can’t use currently but according to the datasheets the extra power consumed by the extra bank isn’t that much. I bought the full 4 gigs because I figure someday I may upgrade or dual-boot to a 64-bit OS.
Solder — actually, still using the same, eutectic lead/tin one-pound water-clean flux roll of 0.6mm wire I bought about a decade ago. That stuff just seems to last forever. I should eventually switch over to a lead-free solder but my iron doesn’t touch anything that goes for sale on the broader market, so really no need to scrap all that material.
I have a logic analyzer as well — a really, really old 100 MHz codger that doesn’t work too well. The oscope actually tends to be a better solution overall; the only time I’ve really wished I had a logic analyzer is when I’m debugging serial bus protocols, which is why I got the Beagle.
Thanks for the pointers!
Re: your broken plastic bit, I wonder if you’ve ever thought of getting a MakerBot and printing one out yourself?: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1416
I think a 3D printer would find itself quite at home in your home lab, for prototyping cases and such. Also, it would be cool to see Chumby accessories and add-ons on thingiverse instead of just iPhone widgets.
Hey Bunnie,
Just a quick question. Why do you think 802.11n is a sham?
I Recently upgraded my network to 5ghz 802.11n and get amazing effective data rates and very low latency. Also 2.4ghz n works much better than g in a crowded environment.
Personally I was a bit wary of the change as I tend to prefer proven over novel and g worked quite well, but when my router died I went for the upgrade and n works better than expected.
Hi Bunnie,
I use the same laptop, for the same reasons! Great pixel density! I had one external display 1920×1200, but recently added a second one – an HP LP3065 2560×1600 30″. Run, don’t walk – and get one – a fantastic improvement over the 1920×1200 (which I now use as a secondary screen only).
I also run Win7 32 without any issues, drivers, etc work fine. Run VMWare VMs for older SW too…
Cheers,
Atle
PS – in addition to you and I “discovering” these great laptops, NASA has about 30 or so on the ISS!
wonderful work boys check out my blog on Xbox 360 Hackz
You should ask the nice folks at Timbuk2 if they will ship you a replacement snap for the bag. Failing that, you may be able to find a replacement at a sporting goods store that caters to the rock-climbing enthusiast – they usually carry replacement buckles, straps and cinches…
Really like the post. Maybe hiking gear may help someone there.
Thanks very much for sharing.
There is no doubt that the Christian louboutin is the best high heels in today’s fashion world.
Curios about the ERSA butane soldering iron.
I’ve been using Weller Pyropens and Master Appliance irons for many years now.
I’ve got four of them now in all states of non-function.
Have you compared the ERSA iron to these?
I’m pretty fed up.
We do a lot of field soldering: Tinning wires for field fabrication of harnesses.
The MA self igniting iron is over $100 and they don’t last.
Frankly I’m starting to like my Weller cordless for small gauge stuff.
Feedback would be cool!
I guess next question would be: where do you buy one in US?
This would have been the laptop for you, if Sony still sold it. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666073686
About your Blackberry, could you tell us which plan/carrier do you use?
Which way(s) do you use for your Blackberry email connection, BIS email address, Blackberry redirector, Blackberry main connector or BES?
Do you that Olympus BHMJL Microscope for soldering?
The stereo microscopes seem to vary quite a bit in magnification..
What gear/training would you recommend for someone very new to smt soldering?