it’s my island

Dell Mini 10v Hackintosh Review

// January 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // On the Radar, Reviews

With the end of the year fast approaching I needed a new laptop but with the lifecycle of the Macbook Pro’s near their limit and the possibility of some new technology so close to the horizon I decided to save a little money and build a hackintosh with a Dell Mini 10v.

Research Required

This wasn’t undertaken lightly. Even though I have a long background in technology I don’t have a lot of time to spend tinkering. All I needed was another time sink.

It all begins with netbook selection. There are a number of netbooks out there, some work well, others not so well. BoingBoing has a matrix up (last updated July 09) of compatibilities of Netbooks.

Luckily there is a lot of community out there trying to make this possible.

• Gizmodo’s How-to Hackintosh (getting dusty but got me started)
• My Dell Mini, forum community.
• Mechdrew, the guides and drivers (from meklort) you need.

In a Nutshell

With those three sites you can do this in less than 4 hours (being very literate) on a Dell Mini 10v.

1. Install Snowleopard OSX onto USB Key (>=8gb) with NetbookBootMaker
2. Downgrade Bios A06 to A05
3. Reboot Mini onto USB Key
4. Install Snowleopard 10.6 onto Mini
5. Finalize Install with NetbookInstaller
6. Upgrade to 10.6.2
7. Enjoy!

None of this would be possible without the spare time of dedicated individuals who want to see this happen. Hopefully someday Apple will allow others to run OSX without needing the Lexus machinery underneath.

Trials, No Errors

Experiences vary but for myself I have had nothing but pleasant ones. USB, Camera, Touchpad, Bluetooth,  Audio, all work as they should.

The first thing I setup was Dropbox and with their new local-lan sync all my files we’re ready to use in about 20m. I don’t think I’ve ever setup a computer this fast.

Without the extended battery you’re looking at less than 2 hours of work time. Being that my stints go longer than that I went ahead and got the extended battery and writing blog articles and general surfing give about 5h of time.

Going beyond the basics of iWork, OpenOffice, etc I’ve installed photo processing applications Lightroom and Aperture. The computer wasn’t built for them but they do an admirable job and get the process of processing pictures well underway.  Using such processor intensive applications however will suck the power out of your battery at a pretty alarming rate.

Personalizing Your NetBook

The machine is no longer as advertised, it’s mine, and what better way to showcase that than by getting your own skin for it.  Again in the forums there was talk of a number of different skin providers but the designer in me wanted my own creation so I went with UniqueSkins. For a little over $14 I got one of the advanced 3M re-applicable decals and it is so sharp.

The Downside

For what it’s worthy I don’t have much of a con list yet, I haven’t hit my head enough. The trackpad is probably the only thing I am having trouble using from MBP & iBook (now Macbook) experiences. While it works and seemingly without issue, I can’t seem to adapt yet to it’s style. There are a few nice bluetooth enabled mice I’m looking at but the need hasn’t driven me that far yet.  I’ll probably end up using my wireless Wacom tablet as an intermediary.

The Upside

This unit replaces my kick around iBook G4. It’s got a better processor, 1/3rd of the weight, and more HDD than I had for a cost of about $400. This little machine will carry most of what you have to do on an average day well and get you ready to be back at your larger machine efficiently. I even find myself using vnc/screen sharing to it to write things like this article.  Then whenever I pick it up I’m already where I need to be.  That’s pretty cool.

Even though this machine is more or less tiding me over until the next generations come out I think I’ll have use of this machine for many years to come as it’s too easy and able.

Are You Ready for Anything?

// May 2nd, 2007 // 2 Comments » // Books, Reviews

Yesterday I finished David Allen’s “Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life”. If you are in the concourse of productivity, looking for gems and fine tuning, questions to ask yourself (and [ready to answer](http://blog.nuancelabs.com/2007/02/27/the-importance-of-managing-self/)) then you’re ready to read this offering.

I’ve had the book in my possession for years. Picked it up, read a little passage and generally put it back down. During those sessions I was still more or less uncommitted but yearning. For some reason it never pulled me as deeply as it does now.

>You have created, accepted, or promoted whatever you are experiencing. That’s the great news, because you’re in charge and you can change it if you want. You are your own writer, producer, director, and yet merely an extra in everyone else’s play. […]

The book is broken into 52 sections. Each one with an observation or focused view then going into details and minutia for dealing with the perspective. Surrounded by fantastic quotes and a small question section to provoke you into a positive response or reflection.

How hard can that be to digest? Not really. What is hard is if you’re not in the right head space the book offers that classic “Are you doing what you should be doing at this time”, and for a lot of people the answer is no. That incites people into a close the book response. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere fear or the faux sense of over burden really screws with us.

>Completion of open loops, whether they be major projects or boxes of old stuff we’ve yet to purge and organize, prepares the ground for cleaner, clearer, and more complete energy for whatever shows up. […]

The book is a distillation of over a decade of [David](http://www.davidco.com)’s newsletters, talks, and observations. By this time he could probably write another 52 principles since another decade has almost slid by. The lessons are real, the truths are plain to see, and if you are ready to continue down your productivity path and need a bit more wisdom to help yourself along. The book is right up your alley.

If on the other hand you are still a novice to it all (or haven’t begun yet), stay with the [basics](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142000280?ie=UTF8&tag=myislanandyci-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0142000280 “Getting Things Done”), continue participating and evolving your systems and pick this up as you feel your momentum stabilizing.

>Before everything else, getting ready is the key to success.
—Henry Ford

Stone Cup Roasting Co.

// January 30th, 2007 // 5 Comments » // Reviews

There’s been a lot of talk around me about [Stone Cup Roasting Co.](http://www.stonecup.com/) out of Chattanooga. Run by an impassioned Jennifer Stone I was going to meet her this past week but scheduling conflicts are going to keep us apart for a while longer. From what I understand she’s working on some farm programs, good brokers, recently reconditioned a beautiful German Gothot roaster from the 50’s….and she brew’s a mean stout?

Oh I had to learn more and try some goodies.

I placed a quick order of their Espresso Blend, Nicaraguan Cup of Excellence ‘El Cipres’, and the Mexico Pluma de Oro. It was a very difficult selection. Even more difficult has been to get me to distill my thoughts. I’m not really keen on compiling this all at once but theres something to be said for consolidation. Over a period of two weeks I drank a lot of coffee, and it was good. It even got better. I like it when that happens.

Espresso Blend

Thoughts

Pulled at a floating 202’f, amazingly bitter free. I sampled again.. where is that *clickclick..* back of the throat up tick you generally get. It wasn’t there. Overall through my samplings it has rarely shown up to the party. This is a very smooth espresso. I get images of cigar smoke.. smooth, silky, sultry..

Fragrance

* Vegetal
* Tomato
* Cinnamon

Brightness

* Small
* Corner pub table w/ a dim light

Flavor

* Beefy
* Brothy
* Worn Leather
* Cured Tobacco
* Dark Black Cherry
* Currant
* Dark Dark Chocolate

Body

* Clean
* Silky

Aftertaste

* Bitter-free
* Hung around then left without telling.

CoE El Cipres

Thoughts

I had heard about the Ruiz farm through Intelly last year and was curious to see them when the farm popped up here. I had no expectations but was very pleased. A lot of clean Nicaraguan traits assembled into a classic profile. Goes great w/ a little milk, smooths down the serious brightness.

Fragrance

* Banana, ripe
* Apricot
* Brown Sugar
* Light Tanned Leather

Aroma

* Baking Bread
* Dark Chocolate
* Sweet, Sweet, Sweet!
* Chocolate Cake
* Gumbo Broth.. Roux

Brightness

* 2.5:5
* Ka-Pow! (Even 2 weeks later it’s still got some serious Zing)

Flavor

* Orange Zest
* Chocolate Covered Raisins
* Curry
* Little Leather
* Lemon

Body

* Snappy x2
* White Wine Cling (ie: not-much)

Aftertaste

* Tannic
* …gone

Mexico Pluma de Oro

Thoughts

This coffee was our morning staple and it was nice. Comfortable, smooth, dry cocoa powder.. I hate to say it had a Mexican terroir so take that with what you will. Over time it got a heavier body and w/ milk & some sugar I’d have thoughts of hot-cocoa.

Fragrance

* Pecan
* Dates

Aroma

* Caramel
* Pears
* Clove

Brightness

* Medium
* Expected

Flavor

* Beef Broth
* Grilled Steak
* Cinnamon
* Short Bread
* < Salty
* < Peppercorn

Body

* Syrupy
* Coating
* Cling—but snaps free
* Round

Aftertaste

* Comfortable
* Even
* Gone when told

Summary

[Stone Cup Roasting Co.](http://www.stonecup.com/) is doing an admirable job and I look forward to seeing them grow. If there other products are as good as what I’ve tried then they are right on the money. Roasters, like any other group that deals with mother nature has their work cut out for them. Making and delivering a product that hits home every day is tricky and my hats off to those who take up the profession. Stone Cup is making great ties and doing the right things. I hope to learn more about them in the coming months since they are right over the hills east of us and I hear making some in-roads into the Charlotte area.

Caffe Fresco Flossies Blend

// December 31st, 2006 // Comments Off // Culinary, Reviews

Caffe Fresco has brought out a nice blend that can function in any role from espresso to press. Tony has done this by making a fairly bold blend that teeters into the french roast arena. This lets it stand up and not get lost on any of the levels. After touring some Yirgs this coffee had some gravity I had to adjust to. Since we ordered a few bags I’ve got some voluminous descriptors. In our first set I’m going through initial opening and three seperate cuppings. Then how it was as an espresso to cappuccinos.

This blend was created to support the Young Survival Coalition through their Tour de Pink.

Flossie’s Blend is a creation from deep within Fresco’s soul. A place where Vision is fueledby a promise to Flossie. Vision, along with patience and gumption, makes Fresco a viableentity. Fresco is ready to bring forward a message and cause, that’s been a long time coming!

— Caffe Fresco

Cupping / Vac Pot / French Press Notes

Bag Opening

• Steak
• Stew
• Fajitas

Fragrance

• Cigar
• Pipe Tobacco
• Dry Soil
• Old Earth
• Leaves
• Raisins
• M&M(tm) Shell/Coating
• Brownies
• Pie Crust

Aroma

• Outgassing (day 3)
• Cigar—burning
• Chocolate Souffle
• Steaming Brownie

Fragrance

• Dark Chocolate x3
• Chocolate Cherries
• Vegetal
• Sea / Ocean

Body

• Rich
• Thick

Aftertaste

• Mild Smokey
• Lingered
  

Espresso

Aroma

• Dark Caramel
  

Flavor

• Tart
• Apples
• Crisp / Snappy
• Easter Bunny Chocolate
• Raspberries
  

Aftertaste

• Clean
• Smooth
• Hint of Grain
• Cider
  

Cappuccino / Dessert (+sugar)

Flavor

• Chocolate
• Marshmallows
• Rich and Creamy
• Velvety
• Full bodied, robust
• Hint of Cherry
  
  
  

Afterthoughts; this blend in the vac/press realm kept toggling between a Kenya french roast or a full city+ Sumatra. It had enough boldness that I always wanted some milk to cut it. As an espresso it really had that classico Italian experience that really smoothed out with milk and softened with sugar. Venture here for something you can tour around your kitchen and feel good about supporting a good cause.

technorati tags:coffee, espresso, caffefresco, charitable, review

Caffè Fresco Ambrosia Espresso

// August 28th, 2006 // 2 Comments » // Culinary, Reviews

After much cajoling from Noll we took on some new espresso and coffee’s from [Caffè Fresco](http://www.doubleff.com/).

Tony Sciandra, the proprietor of [Caffè Fresco](http://www.doubleff.com/) makes a strong effort to educate those who buy his product. The general rules of thumb are posted on the site as well as in your purchase email he goes to a good length to make sure you understand how to use what you are purchasing.

>Fresco’s gentle roasting style ideally requires our espresso to have a min. of 5 days of rest after roast. Coffee, 3 days after roast. Day 8 is when the degassing completely subsides. For the sake of freshness it’s best to let the beans degas in their heat-sealed, one-way valved bags.

The Prime Flavor Window coincides with the rest and degassing. Our espresso begins to come into the window at day 5, and the optimum days are 7 through 14.

Your coffee has been roasted to a true Full City roast level. Therefore, for proper extraction use of a scale is suggested to measure the weight of the bean dosage. Suggest, 0.3 oz. of bean per 6 oz of water for coffee and 7 to 8 grams of bean for a single-shot of espresso.

This takes a lot of guess work out for new consumers and lets even those of us vetted to see roaster recommendations which help keep us in line. Tony lets you know the brew range as well to further create that perfect cup.

Enough common talk, what did we find. We started note taking on day 4, and finished the blend around day 12. I have to say this is one of the smoothest espresso’s I’ve had. Smooth is kind of hard to translate, was it the flavor, the body, the texture..what is smooth. Smoooth daddy-o. It was all of those things and more. It’s the most reocurring thought we had.

### Fragrance
* Caramel
* Mexican Hot Chocolate

### Aroma
* Roasty
* Clean
* Semi-Dry
* Wood…Birch maybe
* Sweet Cigar, mild

### Brightness / Acidity
* 3:5
* 2.5:5
* 4:5
* 3:5

### Taste
* Honey
* Clove
* Apple
* Cinnamon
* Toasted Almonds
* Ripe Banana

### Body
* Medium
* Comfortable

### Aftertaste
* Pastry
* Tart
* Mild Linger, then gone.

I would recommend this coffee to anyone from the beginner to a classic afficionado. As a shot it was refreshing and crisp turned into a cappuccino to latte it sweetens and near dessertifies (new word!). I found it never too heavy, never too bold. All things considered it’s just right, and it ages well too. I left one shot (beans) in the hopper and even at 20+ days it still retains much of it’s normal characteristics.

Here’s to quality purveyors of fine quality beans and practices. If you’re looking to try something new give [Caffè Fresco](http://www.doubleff.com/) some love.

-a