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Re: [Wlug] Best Buy -- weird packing

by Bill Mills-Curran

Gee, Justin, where's the fun in that? :-) Actually, it's easier to saw it off than it is to go to Best Buy. Also, they're a nasty bunch when it looks like you're trying to do something out of the ordinary. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd claim I stole it if I went back to the store, even though I have a receipt. I had a huge hassle returning a video game that I bought for my son. The game would not work on the system we had (video card issues), even though the box didn't list any limitations. Because we opened the box, they were not going to accept a return. I had to get real insistent. The only reason I have something from Best Buy is because my wife bought it. I'm won't go there if I have any choice. Bill On Tue, Jan 18, 2005 at 07:09:40AM -0500, Simoncini, Matthew wrote: > I've been sort of keeping an eye on this thread and if someone has suggested > this, please don't flame me, but why not just call BB and ask them what to > do? > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org > > [mailto:wlug-bounces@mail.wlug.org] On Behalf Of Bill Mills-Curran > > Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 10:38 PM > > To: Justin Odom; Worcester Linux Users Group > > Subject: Re: [Wlug] Best Buy -- weird packing > > > > This isn't just heavy bubble pack -- This is a rigid plastic > > (about 1/8" thick) with a hinged top. The top doesn't open > > by any obvious means. The the top is opaque grey plastic, > > and there's a metal mechanism inside. (A magnet is attracted > > to it.) I'm guessing that a sufficiently strong magnet would > > release a latch/interlock to allow easy opening. > > > > I'm sure it was a mistake that they didn't remove the memory > > package (a normal cardboard retail shelf packaging) from this > > "armored box", because most people would not be able to get > > it open. I'm going to use my cutoff saw to attack it. > > > > On Mon, Jan 17, 2005 at 10:19:45PM -0500, Justin Odom wrote: > > > slice it with a razor blade on back, they wont charge you > > if you want > > > to return it. > > > > > > I worked at that horrible place for over a year :-p > > > > > > > > > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 21:23:59 -0800 (PST), Mike Leo > > <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > I think they do that so you can't return it opened and > > not be charge > > > > some fee for damaging the package....but then again, I > > always think > > > > the man is trying to keep me down! > > > > > > > > --- Marc Hughes <marc.hughes(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > I wonder what the relative melting points of plastic > > and silicon > > > > > are... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:47:10 -0500, Bill Mills-Curran > > > > > <bill(a)mills-curran.net> wrote: > > > > > > Along with my new computer, my wife also picked up > > > > > some memory for me. > > > > > > It's in the bullet-proof plastic case. I'm > > > > > assuming that they made a > > > > > > mistake and meant to take the memory (with it's > > > > > normal cardboard > > > > > > packaging) out of this tough plastic. There's no > > > > > non-destructive way > > > > > > to open this plastic case without destroying it. > > > > > > > > > > > > Comments? > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > Bill > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > Wlug mailing list > > > > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Wlug mailing list > > > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > > The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do? > > > > http://my.yahoo.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Wlug mailing list > > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wlug mailing list > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Jan. 18, 2005

RE: [Wlug] Best Buy -- weird packing

by Simoncini, Matthew

I've been sort of keeping an eye on this thread and if someone has suggested this, please don't flame me, but why not just call BB and ask them what to do? > -----Original Message----- > From: wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org > [mailto:wlug-bounces@mail.wlug.org] On Behalf Of Bill Mills-Curran > Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 10:38 PM > To: Justin Odom; Worcester Linux Users Group > Subject: Re: [Wlug] Best Buy -- weird packing > > This isn't just heavy bubble pack -- This is a rigid plastic > (about 1/8" thick) with a hinged top. The top doesn't open > by any obvious means. The the top is opaque grey plastic, > and there's a metal mechanism inside. (A magnet is attracted > to it.) I'm guessing that a sufficiently strong magnet would > release a latch/interlock to allow easy opening. > > I'm sure it was a mistake that they didn't remove the memory > package (a normal cardboard retail shelf packaging) from this > "armored box", because most people would not be able to get > it open. I'm going to use my cutoff saw to attack it. > > On Mon, Jan 17, 2005 at 10:19:45PM -0500, Justin Odom wrote: > > slice it with a razor blade on back, they wont charge you > if you want > > to return it. > > > > I worked at that horrible place for over a year :-p > > > > > > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 21:23:59 -0800 (PST), Mike Leo > <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > I think they do that so you can't return it opened and > not be charge > > > some fee for damaging the package....but then again, I > always think > > > the man is trying to keep me down! > > > > > > --- Marc Hughes <marc.hughes(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > I wonder what the relative melting points of plastic > and silicon > > > > are... > > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:47:10 -0500, Bill Mills-Curran > > > > <bill(a)mills-curran.net> wrote: > > > > > Along with my new computer, my wife also picked up > > > > some memory for me. > > > > > It's in the bullet-proof plastic case. I'm > > > > assuming that they made a > > > > > mistake and meant to take the memory (with it's > > > > normal cardboard > > > > > packaging) out of this tough plastic. There's no > > > > non-destructive way > > > > > to open this plastic case without destroying it. > > > > > > > > > > Comments? > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > Bill > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Wlug mailing list > > > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Wlug mailing list > > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do? > > > http://my.yahoo.com > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wlug mailing list > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

Jan. 18, 2005

Re: [Wlug] audio on new machine

by Keith Wright

> From: Bill Mills-Curran <bill(a)mills-curran.net> > > On Mon, Jan 17, 2005 at 09:50:22AM -0500, Keller, Tim wrote: > > > > You do realize that the /dev/ stuff is being progressively depreciated... > > Tim. > > Yeah, I've read about /dev going away, but I have no experience with > the replacement. > > BTW, you guys on WLUG are a tremendous resource. > > Bill Oh No! Don't let /dev go away! One of the first things I ever did with my first Linux system back in 1996 was accidentally delete /dev. The result was just horrible; I don't think I can take that again. Seriously, I haven't heard that /dev is deprecated. Who deprecates it? Where can I read about it going away? I assume the deprecator has a new plan well documented somewhere... -- Keith

Jan. 18, 2005

Re: [Wlug] Best Buy -- weird packing

by Bill Mills-Curran

This isn't just heavy bubble pack -- This is a rigid plastic (about 1/8" thick) with a hinged top. The top doesn't open by any obvious means. The the top is opaque grey plastic, and there's a metal mechanism inside. (A magnet is attracted to it.) I'm guessing that a sufficiently strong magnet would release a latch/interlock to allow easy opening. I'm sure it was a mistake that they didn't remove the memory package (a normal cardboard retail shelf packaging) from this "armored box", because most people would not be able to get it open. I'm going to use my cutoff saw to attack it. On Mon, Jan 17, 2005 at 10:19:45PM -0500, Justin Odom wrote: > slice it with a razor blade on back, they wont charge you if you want > to return it. > > I worked at that horrible place for over a year :-p > > > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 21:23:59 -0800 (PST), Mike Leo <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > I think they do that so you can't return it opened and > > not be charge some fee for damaging the package....but > > then again, I always think the man is trying to keep > > me down! > > > > --- Marc Hughes <marc.hughes(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > I wonder what the relative melting points of plastic > > > and silicon are... > > > > > > > > > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:47:10 -0500, Bill > > > Mills-Curran > > > <bill(a)mills-curran.net> wrote: > > > > Along with my new computer, my wife also picked up > > > some memory for me. > > > > It's in the bullet-proof plastic case. I'm > > > assuming that they made a > > > > mistake and meant to take the memory (with it's > > > normal cardboard > > > > packaging) out of this tough plastic. There's no > > > non-destructive way > > > > to open this plastic case without destroying it. > > > > > > > > Comments? > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > Bill > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Wlug mailing list > > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wlug mailing list > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ > > Do you Yahoo!? > > The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do? > > http://my.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Jan. 18, 2005

Re: [Wlug] Best Buy -- weird packing

by Justin Odom

slice it with a razor blade on back, they wont charge you if you want to return it. I worked at that horrible place for over a year :-p On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 21:23:59 -0800 (PST), Mike Leo <mleo963(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I think they do that so you can't return it opened and > not be charge some fee for damaging the package....but > then again, I always think the man is trying to keep > me down! > > --- Marc Hughes <marc.hughes(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > I wonder what the relative melting points of plastic > > and silicon are... > > > > > > On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:47:10 -0500, Bill > > Mills-Curran > > <bill(a)mills-curran.net> wrote: > > > Along with my new computer, my wife also picked up > > some memory for me. > > > It's in the bullet-proof plastic case. I'm > > assuming that they made a > > > mistake and meant to take the memory (with it's > > normal cardboard > > > packaging) out of this tough plastic. There's no > > non-destructive way > > > to open this plastic case without destroying it. > > > > > > Comments? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Bill > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wlug mailing list > > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do? > http://my.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

Jan. 18, 2005

Re: [Wlug] audio on new machine

by Bill Mills-Curran

On Mon, Jan 17, 2005 at 09:50:22AM -0500, Keller, Tim wrote: > Bill, > > In regards to your issue with /dev/cdrom Your /etc/fstab doesn't have > something like this in in it.. > > ... > /dev/hdc /media/cdrecorder auto > pamconsole,fscontext=system_u:object_r:removable_t,exec,noauto,managed 0 0 > ... > > You do realize that the /dev/ stuff is being progressively depreciated... > Tim. I have that entry in fstab. Yeah, I've read about /dev going away, but I have no experience with the replacement. BTW, you guys on WLUG are a tremendous resource. Bill

Jan. 18, 2005

Re: [Wlug] audio on new machine

by Bill Mills-Curran

On Sat, Jan 15, 2005 at 01:17:59PM -0500, Charles R. Anderson wrote: > On Sat, Jan 15, 2005 at 11:34:00AM -0500, Bill Mills-Curran wrote: > > Where do I find this (the setting to use digital rather than analog)? > > I gave a quick look at the user controls & did not find it. > > Oh yeah, the "CD Player" app in GNOME doesn't support it. I used XMMS > instead, whose cd input plugin supports Digital audio extraction. > > > I inspected the hardware, and you're right -- no audio cable. Maybe > > the solution is to just get that cable. (?) > > If there is a place to plug it into the soundcard (onboard I presume), > then yes, that would solve the problem too. I've always found xmms to be non-intuitive for playing CD's -- I just can't seem to get it to see the CD. I found an audio cable & that fixes the "standard" audio apps. (The only thing I'd like is the equalizer from xmms, but that's just to play with it.) Thanks, Bill

Jan. 18, 2005

RE: [Wlug] audio on new machine

by Keller, Tim

Bill, In regards to your issue with /dev/cdrom Your /etc/fstab doesn't have something like this in in it.. ... /dev/hdc /media/cdrecorder auto pamconsole,fscontext=system_u:object_r:removable_t,exec,noauto,managed 0 0 ... You do realize that the /dev/ stuff is being progressively depreciated... Tim. -----Original Message----- From: wlug-bounces(a)mail.wlug.org [mailto:wlug-bounces@mail.wlug.org]On Behalf Of Bill Mills-Curran Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 11:38 PM To: Worcester Linux Users Group Subject: [Wlug] audio on new machine Happy Birthday to me! My wife couldn't stand me whining about my old machine, so she picked up a demo emachines for my birthday from Best Buy. I just finished installing fedora core 3, and I'm having a few problems with the audio. 1. The audio test worked fine during the installation, and the "soundcard detection" menu pick still works fine. 2. When I play an audio CD, I have a couple of problems. a. There is no /dev/cdrom device. I made a sym link, but that disappears during reboot. What's the right way to get it in place & stay? b. The permissions on the cd player (/dev/hdc) are 600. I changed them to 666 so I could use the player, but, like the symlink (above), this change does not survive the reboot. Again, what's the right solution? Once I do a & b, then I can see that the cd is playing. With "grip", I can see that it's even getting the names of the tracks. Very cool. 3. No sound. I've played plenty with gnome-volume-control, but no sound. I don't even get anything from the headphone jack on the front panel. Some futher diagnostics: From soundcard detection: Detect sound device Vendo: Intel Model: Corp. 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller Module: snd-intel8x0 When I run gnome-cd I get: ** (gnome-cd:3579): WARNING **: Generic IO error >From /etc/modprobe.conf: <snip> alias snd-card-0 snd-intel8x0 options snd-card-0 index=0 install snd-intel8x0 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-intel8x0 && /usr/sbin/alsactl restore >/dev/null 2>&1 || : remove snd-intel8x0 { /usr/sbin/alsactl store >/dev/null 2>&1 || : ; }; /sbin/m <snip> > lsmod snd_intel8x0 34829 3 snd_ac97_codec 64401 1 snd_intel8x0 snd_pcm_oss 47609 0 snd_mixer_oss 17217 2 snd_pcm_oss snd_pcm 97993 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm_oss snd_timer 29765 1 snd_pcm snd_page_alloc 9673 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm gameport 4801 1 snd_intel8x0 snd_mpu401_uart 8769 1 snd_intel8x0 snd_rawmidi 26725 1 snd_mpu401_uart snd_seq_device 8137 1 snd_rawmidi snd 54053 13 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_ mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device soundcore 9889 2 snd $ ll mixer crw------- 1 bcurran root 14, 0 Jan 14 22:39 mixer Even after changing these permissions, I get no sound. Can anyone offer suggestions? Thanks, Bill _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Jan. 17, 2005

Re: audio on new machine

by albutler33＠netscape.net

b. The permissions on the cd player (/dev/hdc) are 600. I > changed them to 666 so I could use the player, but, like the > symlink (above), this change does not survive the reboot. > Again, what's the right solution? As root try changing the permissions to 755,which would give you read-execute permission (owner has write permission also).You've got them set as read-write for owner,group and other.After all, I doubt that you can write to a read only device. Al Butler __________________________________________________________________ Switch to Netscape Internet Service. As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register Netscape. Just the Net You Need. New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp

Jan. 15, 2005

Re: [Wlug] audio on new machine

by Charles R. Anderson

On Sat, Jan 15, 2005 at 11:34:00AM -0500, Bill Mills-Curran wrote: > Where do I find this (the setting to use digital rather than analog)? > I gave a quick look at the user controls & did not find it. Oh yeah, the "CD Player" app in GNOME doesn't support it. I used XMMS instead, whose cd input plugin supports Digital audio extraction. > I inspected the hardware, and you're right -- no audio cable. Maybe > the solution is to just get that cable. (?) If there is a place to plug it into the soundcard (onboard I presume), then yes, that would solve the problem too.

Jan. 15, 2005