New computer - built and running

The new computer was a breeze to assemble. With little hardware to install, fitting and routing parts and cables was very easy. Windows 7 install went smooth, and the computer performs very well.

The mobo and cpu run Hulu pretty well. I don't have a blu-ray to test its full 1080p HD performance, but HD Hulu at 720p was fine.

I added a USB wireless dongle (Rosewill RNX-N100), which windows7 recognized immediately and works great between the router in the basement, and the 2nd floor bedroom.

This would be a good setup for a htpc, other than the loud rear case fan and the bright blue led power light. For a little better build, a higher end htpc case would be the way to go.

New Computer Build

My parents needed a newer computer. Their computer was pushing 10 years old. I volunteered to build one for them, and will also use the experience to gauge how a HTPC spec might look.

I went with the following items:

GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2H LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI Micro ATX Intel MotherboardIntel Celeron E3200 Wolfdale 2.4GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core ProcessorRosewill R363-M-BK Black Ultra High Gloss Finished MicroATX Computer Case with 400W ATX 2.2 12V Power Supply

New Ducati Multistrada 1200

Ducati unveiled their new Sport Touring bike, the Multistrada 1200. The pictures are OK looking, I imagine seeing it in person will either make you fall in love or run away.

It appears to be a very flexible bike, and the specifications are impressive, so it might be a hit. No work yet on msrp.

L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled
Power: 150 hp - 110,3 kw @ 9250 rpm
Torque: 87,5 lb-ft 118,7 Nm @ 7500 rpm

20 l fuel capacity (including reserve)
Dry weight: 417 lb
Seat height: 850 mm

Still impressed with windows 7 64bit, with 1 exception

My experience might be unique, but when I create 2 standard user accounts, they eventually end up with different permissions security settings on their user folders. This has happened on 3 different clean installs. The functionality does not seem to be affected though.



I was impressed - windows 7 recognized my HP L7680 AIO machine across a network with no work from my end! It took me about 2 days to get it to work across the network with XP.

I was also able to install canon zoom browser software 5.7 that was for XP, and it runs just fine.

Windows 7 64bit - Thumbs Up

Is up and running. So far I am impressed. It is as snappy as my XP was, and with an improved interface imo. I made the jump from XP to 7, so I have no fhe with Vista. It should be fun to see what happens when I go from 2gb to 6gb DDR2 ram.

Casey is Back

Congratulations to Casey Stone & Ducati on a great victory at his home track!

Marantz RC2001 Universal Remote Review

I saw the Marantz RC2001 Remote for sale at a local distributer, and the price was too good to not try. I have Marantz receiver and DVD player, so most of the settings were already good. I had to do some IR learning for my Hitachi TV. I also did some macros for watching a DVD, or going back to watching TV. The software was suprisingly easy to use and stable. I would recommend it.

Bye Buell

Harley Davidson announced that the Buell brand will be phased out. That is too bad. While most of their bikes I would not have bought, and they seemed substandard compared with Ducati or the Japenese I4's, I always saw huge potential for a legitimate American Superbike company.

ANSYS Workbench V12

I am trying to install and use ANSYS Workbench version 12, and so far, I am not impressed. They changed too much in the user experience, and even installing it was difficult. Why change a software that was so good?

My Favorite Motorcycle

It is hard to beat the lines of the Harley XR750. While built only for racing, it captured the attention of many cyclist. There are conversion kits today that try and duplicate the original, but they only succeed half way.

Ben Spies to MotoGP

What a year for the American rookie in World Superbike Racing! He is going to move up to MotoGP for 2010, which is old news. The exciting part is going to be the last race of 2009, Valencia, he will be a wild card, and should make for a interesting performance against Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner, Hayden, Pedrosa, and his teammate Edwards.



Chad

Congratulations to Ducati

For winning the manufacture's title in WSBK racing. Hopefully Haga can win the racer's title too.

Other websites for google to crawl

I have a google website that has more information about engineering in it:

http://sites.google.com/site/mittelstadtc/

Chad Mittelstadt

Getting Better

I was able to visit my friend last week, and he and his family are in good spirits. He started chemo yesterday, so at least the battle has begun.

Last Week = Worst Week Ever

First, loosing a friend in a motorcycle accident early in the week.

Second, my 34 year old best friend from college was diagnosed with lung cancer later in the week.

I hope and pray his PET scan comes back showing the cancer has not spread.

Caring Bridge

Wed Night Bike Ride

We had the best weather imaginable and decent roads to go to a not so fun memorial service for David in Gladbrook IA. There were about 20 of us from Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. The 2 groups split up for the ride home. The CR guys had a good dinner at Brogans in Palo.

RIP David Ryan

I found out today that a fellow rider from Eastern Iowa was taken from us this weekend. Details are here:

TT Tourers

Mittelstadt Machine Werks Weblog

First, I hate the word blog - are we so lazy we can't say weblog - it isn't that long.