Consumed Consumer . org

Recently, my Linksys VoIP adapter malfunctioned. Here's my adventure in customer support.

After discussing the softphone options in the first part and the VOIP device in the second, we are now looking at finding a provider and setting up the system.

Having briefly discussed how to choose a virtual private server (VPS), we have experimented with a number of (hosting?) providers, some providing limited-time free service, some providing rock-bottom prices, and we are now ready to make a recommendation. We started this overview in 2020 and finished it in 2022.

I have recently received a Valentine's Day card from Google. But rather than signs of love, I'd much rather get signs of respect, for where there is no love, it's just (corporate) lust.

Oneandone or 1and1, a domain registrar and webhosting provider has had its share of praise and criticism. Some claim they are the largest in the world. Here the story of a customer attempt to regain control of their domains after what the customer felt was unfair treatment by this corporation.

Over the years, I tried many hardware solutions to bring “convergence” to the PC desktop, but I found most implementations to be flawed one way or another. The new contender from Silicon Dust seems to be the perfect solution.

I recently had an issue with my laptop caused most likely by some software conflict or update. It's not the first time it happened so I document it here in the event it happens again. I'm also not the only one going through this, hopefully it is useful to others as well.

I recently got another used laptop off eBay. It came without an OS so I was going to install Linux, but seeing that Windows 10 has just become available for download, I decided to give it a try and install Linux alongside, in dual boot. First, let us look at downloading the ISO, comparing the 3 possibilities: NetSession, Direct and BitTorrent. This article represents my pre-install research – the install experience and tips coming up soon.

I recently had difficulties connecting to a cable modem / router combination and since it took me a while to find its default username and password, I decided to share it here.

I'm through some infurating issues. When my home broadband Internet connection failed, I was not alarmed, as I had my iPhone tethering available through Fido 3G. I have done that before, it's never been an issue. Except that this time, it did not work.

After placing the order for my new cable modem it is now time to receive it, unbox it and test it.

Although I have purchased my WRT-610n router (pretty much the same as the newer E3000 ) many months ago, only recently was I forced to install the Linux firmware on it – mostly due to lack of time and procrastinating. This is primarily due to some issues with my Internet connectivity, which I am hoping could be solved with a better router.

I have recently resurrected some older devices with flaky connectivity and while ssh-ing into them had to use some terminal tricks (aka multiplexers ) to restore connections if disconnected (or to purposely disconnect/reconnect on long commands). I used tmux where possible, but occasionally only GNU screen was available, making a summary of features opportune.

Maybe you have run into your current webhost limitations or you discovered that running your own server is cheaper than whatever piecemeal services a dedicated provider might sell you. Or maybe you want to run a service that is either not offered or too expensive for your requirements. Or you consider a VPS an essential part of a mobile lifestyle. Either way, we shall quickly review how to accomplish that.

I have Windows 10 Enterprise Tech Preview on a "slow release" schedule. However, after each upgrade, I am forced to go through the same activation error: 0x8007007B. Here's how it went last time I fixed it.

It has recently transpired that a large number of Bluetooth headphones are vulnerable to a particularly nasty attack and among them, Apple and Sony products, so I look at the ones I have as well.

After installing Windows, I started playing with it extensively. These are the voyages of the Windows 10 Technical Evaluation, its continuing mission to explore strange new apps and computing paradigms, to seek out better GUIs, to boldly go where no stylus pen has gone before. In this article we will look at partitioning for dual boot with Linux and the very first impressions.