My IT background
Background

My hardware
Hardware

My coding
background
Coding

Hardware Cooling
Techniques
Cooling

Linux on an HP
Omnibook 800
Linux Omnibook

Linux on an Sony
Vaio Z505
Sony Vaio

Interfacing Linux
PCs to household
appliances
Appliance Control

WELCOME

Whether it is coding or building hardware, both are the hackers equivalent of an artist's canvas. Whilst I'm not exactly a Picasso of hacking stuff (more an ape with a paintbrush), I can code, I enjoy coding, and I relish taking things apart or building things out of electronic bits. I do spend rather more time in front of computers than I should though (too much, according to my girlfriend). But, that's because there's always something new to do or learn with Linux (or to fix, in the case of Windows).

If I have a doctrine, it is probably "If electricity flows through it, Network it!".

A PRIMER ON TAKING THINGS APART OR RE-ENGINEERING THEM

Taking things apart is easy. Putting them back together again is more difficult. If however, something can't be put back together, then it should at least be thoroughly analysed so the next time, there is more chance of putting it together again, or re-engineering it to work in some improved way.

Hardware Cooling techniques, (or how to use the laws of Physics to play a better game of Quake).
Interfacing Linux PC's to household appliances.
How to build a solar powered Linux web server.

CURRENT TECHNICAL OBJECTS OF LUST

Computers: Sony Vaio Z505
- The almost perfect laptop. Gorgeous design, small, lightweight, yet perfectly formed. The only thing stopping it being perfect, is the fact that you have to carry around external floppy disk drives and CD-ROMs.

Peripherals: Philips ToUCam webcam
- Nice design, good quality images for a webcam.

Gadget: Garmin eTrex GPS
- Rugged and small hand held GPS. Works very well in deserts, as I found out in 2000.

Power Source: Solar Panel
- Solar Panels are so useful for powering electronic devices or charging electronic devices if you've got a light source around. Interestingly, they do work well in the U.K.

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Richard Osborne - 1996-2001