tintin
Sorry, DCC, but this is Physics 101, and it would take too long for me to explain (especially when one types, as I do, with two fingers). Besides, I do not know where I should start.
Briefly, a transformer is an electrical device that transfers energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling with no moving parts. In the case of a AC/DC power supply, which is sometime wrongly referred to as a “transformer” (as you did yourself), it does involve a transformer, but also some bridge rectifier made up of diodes, etc, and a filter to filter out the twice-the-line frequency, 50 or 60 hz, i.e 100 – 120 hz. One usually adds to this circuitry a voltage regulator. The specs on your AC/DC power supply should tell you if it is a regulated PS or not, most likely, there would be some kind of regulation, but it is not required. If there is, it most likely was not designed to handle the wild fluctuations one usually encounters in places like Bali . In any case, what you have for your PC is NOT a transformer.
DCC
Thanks Sanur And yes I took physics 101, can't remember if I passed or not :-).
I use mine at home so always running on the grid and the battery is my backup.
I'll have to ask the question to anyone using a meter - what is the measured fluctuation here?
Sanurian
[b]DCC[/b]
I have noticed your avatar depicting Alfred E. Newman from [i]Mad Magazine[/i]..."[b]Wot - me worry?[/b]"
A popular quote around Bali is "[i]Don't worry, be happy[/i]" [i]ala[/i] Bob Marley. I'm not sure what kind of laptop Bob had (if any). But there do seem to be some fundamental things you don't appear to grasp fully, unless you're just trying to have a lend of us all.
[quote]...I don't keep my LT plugged in when not in use - no need to...[/quote]
Of course not. But how do you re-charge your laptop's battery? Plug it into the Sun?
[quote]...The AC adapter will account for a drop in voltage as it functions down to 110v...[/quote]
The AC/DC adapter enables you to [b]be connected[/b] to the "normal" electricity supply, wherever you may be and when you need to be connected to the grid. It doesn't usually have any built-in real-time voltage regulation apart from the bare minimum, for it to function.
[quote]...UPS - or uninterrupted power supply for a laptop? It has battery back up, remember...[/quote]
We [b]all[/b] hear ya there. Your "back-up battery" is only any good when it's charged. Most people have to use some device to plug into the juice to re-charge them.
A few others have tried to address your confusion and I thank them for their trouble:
For example:
[b]tintin[/b] writes:
[quote]...One usually adds to this circuitry a voltage regulator. The specs on your AC/DC power supply should tell you if it is a regulated PS or not... most likely, there would be [b]some[/b] kind of regulation...If there is, it most likely [b]was not designed to handle the wild fluctuations one usually encounters in places like Bali[/b]...[/quote]
(My emphases). And this [b]is[/b] starting to sound like [i]Physics 101[/i].
"Alf"...if you've been lucky all these years doing it your way, why should we worry? I just hope that you understand more about using your equipment in an efficient and safe way whilst in places like Bali. Before a disaster strikes.
:lol:
JAMIE
SAN ...Dont worry ,Be happy was written by Bobby Mcfarren...sorry for bring a budinsty
Sanurian
Thanks [b]Jamie[/b]
You're completely correct about Bobby McFarren being the artist behind [i]Don't Worry, Be Happy[/i]. I stand corrected.
Then again, this thread is really concerned with being connected, computer woes and good computer experiences in Bali. I also hope the "basic physics" stuff of late will go away soon.
I'm unclear if this is a typo from you:
[quote]...sorry for bring a budinsty...[/quote]
I don't know what a "budinsty" is, let alone how to bring one.
:oops:
Sparky
Wow Phil what a thread you started there, although i suppose it was to be expected asking questions like that....intersting and useful if not slightly confusing at times tho.
SParks
JAMIE
I think this string will get alot more action when microsoft intros the new operating system , i forgot the name of it , but im sure we'll all find out that when you upgrade that all of your old printer ect wont work on the new system .
bolli
butt·in·sky or butt·in·ski Pronunciation (bt-nsk)
n. pl. butt·in·skies also butt·in·skys or butt·in·skis Slang
One who is prone to butting in; a meddler.
Oh and McFerrin :lol: :lol: :lol:
DCC
OK so deft silence re stats of power fluctuation - where's the beef. Back it up boys n girls, what are we subjecting ourselves to that has all saying regulators are must. Show me the money......
no quote sources requested :-)
spitfire
[b]Re: RE: Using Computers in Bali[/b]
[quote=JAMIE]I think this string will get alot more action when microsoft intros the new operating system , i forgot the name of it , but im sure we'll all find out that when you upgrade that all of your old printer ect wont work on the new system .[/quote]
That would be Windows Vista that is to be released in January 2007. At the moment RC1 (Realease Candidate 1) is available for testing. It's free but a 2 GB download which is not really an option for me. I couldn't find it in the shops around Kuta/Legian. Anybody knows where to buy a copy? (this would be legal, no piracy involved as it can be downloaded from Microsoft's website).
spitfire
Well hardware requirements would not be a problem for my equipment. As my yearly fresh re-install of XP is almost due, I thought I'd play with Vista first. I have bad experiences with upgrading Operating Systems, so I'd give Vista a fresh install on a thoroughly formatted drive first.
Anyway, [b]Sanurian[/b], could you be more specific on the location of that computer college? I have a friend coming from Singapore who will need to work online next week. I am looking for a place to drop him off every morning on the stretch Jimbaran - Sanur. At first I was thinking about Blue Ocean, which is nice for him to hang out too, but Seminyak is less convenient to reach.
Sanurian
No problem, [b]spitfire[/b]
[quote]...could you be more specific on the location of that computer college?...[/quote]
It's pretty hard to miss really since it's got giant flags out the front boasting the fastest connection in Bali. Coming from the south along the By-Pass Road, it's on the left-hand side past the [b]KOKI Restaurant[/b]. The first road on the left past KOKI's is Jalan Tirtanadi. It's maybe 50 metres past there.
When I made enquiries a few weeks ago, they told me they had CD burners available at their terminals but no DVD. That might have changed by now, not sure.
:D
spitfire
Thanks a lot Sanurian, I'll let you know if he has tried it.
Sanurian
Sorry, [b]DCC[/b]
[quote]...stats of power fluctuation...[/quote]
I haven't been ignoring your request for "statistics" regarding power fluctuations in Bali. I just don't have them and am not sure who does. Maybe [b]PLN[/b], the electricity provider, could shed some light on the matter but I wouldn't bet on it. However, I [b]do[/b] have [b]lots[/b] of personal experiences with the power going off completely for various periods of time.
There have been many times when I've considered keeping a detailed diary of these events with a view to getting some kind of reduction/discount in my monthly electricity bills. The more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself that it would probably be a futile exercise. Anecdotally, during last month (October, 2006), my electricity stopped completely for a total of about 4-5 hours. That's when I noticed it because I was still awake. Deep-night stoppages also happen and would add to that 4-5 hours I just mentioned. For example, two nights ago the power went off for about 1.5 hours around 3-4 am. I noticed that because it was a particularly hot night, I was reading late and the air-con and lights went off.
I don't have any equipment that can monitor and record voltage fluctuations over time. But there are many times when I can hear my mechanical voltage regulator ("STAVOLT") grinding through its paces. In your case, I can only say you've been either extremely lucky or the supply where you are is more "stable" than where I live. I have noticed on many occasions that when the power stops where I am, most of the lights in bars/restaurants in Sanur proper are still on. (That also goes for Kuta/Legian/Seminyak etc.) Obviously, somebody at PLN makes decisions about which areas are cut and which are not when the Bali grid is pushed to the limit, or even overtaxed.
:roll:
Sanurian
Hey [b]spitfire[/b]
You're right. Microsoft's next operating system is called [b]Vista[/b].
[quote]...At the moment RC1 (Release Candidate 1) is available for testing...[/quote]
Personally, I wouldn't touch the "final release", (whenever that happens), with a forty-foot barge pole until it's been up-and-running for several months and the immediate bugs have been identified. Even if you're considering giving RC1 a spin, it's my understanding that it has some hefty hardware requirements. Actually, they're not all that "hefty" by today's standards but experts have warned people not to try it with the [b]minimum[/b] hardware configuration.
As a guide, one [b]should[/b] have the following:
Windows XP Pro SP2
1 GB of RAM
128MB Video card
At least 40GB free space on the hard disk
I haven't seen the legal software in the software shops I frequent. Then again, I haven't really been looking for it. And most likely, you'll need to have a [b]legal copy[/b] of XP Pro installed or the installation will fail.
I saw a report yesterday in [i]The Jakarta Post[/i] where two alleged pirate groups in Jakarta were busted with, wait for it, 200 copies of illegal software. Supposedly, there is now some kind of Cyber Crime Unit in the National Police Department which is trying to enforce international copyright laws in Indonesia. (The chief maintains that all his department's software is legal.) The report also suggested that 87% of all software sold in Indonesia is illicit. So - How come they only caught two "alleged" pirate companies? Mystery to me.
Illegal software still abounds in Bali, not to mention pirated DVDs and VCDs. [b]If[/b] this crack Cyber-cop thing really gets around to doing something for real, I guess the days of one-dollar movies and buying pirate software by weight will be over. I'm still holding my breath.
And for those of us actually living in Bali, I just thought I'd mention this. There is a new "computer college" on the By-Pass road which also offers public internet access 24/7 for US$2/hour. It claims a connection speed of 1536kbs (quite "fast", at least by local standards). I haven't actually used it yet myself, but if it's as fast as they say, and for the price, it's a huge bargain.
8)
nightlord
I think you guys should migrate to UBUNTU Linux - a debian linux variant that is very easy to use and 100% stable.
Have been using it now for one and a half years now, sure beats using windows, too many crashes.
spitfire
[b]Re: RE: Using Computers in Bali[/b]
[quote]And now, I have to convince myself to get a Linux system up-and-running and explore further. And maybe convince some of my immediate friends to do the same[/quote]
I don't think I qualify as your immediate friend :roll: , but I am definately interested to give it a try. My hesitation is exactly like you stated Sanurian. I would probably not be able to use, for example Adobe Premiere together with my video editing hardware. But a dual boot system on my laptop could be an option, just for fun. I need to wait until January however, since I have been able to recover all my files BUT my .iso backups from my software CD's after an aborted repartitioning of my hard drive. The originals are in Europe and will be brought by my family in January. Till then..... no risky playing around anymore.
Sanurian, did it take you a long time to get the CD's? I should be getting a copy of Vista RC 1 this weekend. Let me know if you're interested.
PS: are we still in the right forum? :)
Sanurian
Hey, [b]spitfire[/b]
[quote]...did it take you a long time to get the CD's? I should be getting a copy of Vista RC 1 this weekend. Let me know if you're interested...[/quote]
No, they arrived surprisingly quickly...a tad over three weeks. I had no problems with Bali Customs. In fact, the Ubuntu company ([b]Canonical[/b]) even has a downloadable letter from them addressed to suspicious Customs departments stating that the disks are totally free worldwide, just in case.
Thankyou for your offer of [i]Vista RC1[/i], but I'll pass for now. However, I'd be very interested to know how it works for you and your reactions. I like to wait 6 months, at least, to see what headaches the brave ones get.
If you'd like a copy of [b]Ubuntu[/b] v. 6.06 LTS, you're more than welcome to come and get one. Send me a personal message (PM) and I'll give you my contact details.
Incidentally, there are new versions of Ubuntu/Kubuntu etc: version 6.10, but at present, you can only get them by downloading off the net or buying them from Amazon...
8)
Sanurian
Hi [b]nightlord[/b]
[quote]...I think you guys should migrate to UBUNTU Linux...[/quote]
What a coincidence you should mention [b]Ubuntu Linux[/b] at this time. I have been looking into this version of Linux the last few weeks. I've also considered setting up a computer that runs Linux but have yet to get around to it. I think one of the big factors that puts many people off installing a Linux operating system is the fairly steep learning curve involved. Sure, installation is pretty "straightforward" these days, but installing extra packages, etc, is not, at least for the average person weaned on [b]Wintel[/b] systems.
I'm sure you'll agree that many newcomers to a Linux system will have to spend quite a bit of time learning a bunch of new things that they may not be initially interested in: for example, navigating through folders, hard drives, getting installed devices to work properly, even the concept of switching through desktop versions such as Ubuntu and Kubuntu (the Gnome kernel vs. the KDE one). A whole lot of jargon to get on top of.
The other thing that makes people balk is getting used to the software packages that come with the distributions, such as [b]Open Office[/b], [b]the GIMP[/b] (a good image editor but way too difficult for most people to master), and so on. How does one really convince people that the 16,000 open-source free programmes that Ubuntu offers will actually meet their needs? And what if I love [b]ACDSee[/b], for example? Are there Linux distributions that are capable of installing and running Windows software, reliably? (I thought I heard about this a while ago and since you've been running your system for so long, perhaps you can enlighten me/us.)
The "coincidence" I referred to above was that yesterday, I received 5 totally free (postage-paid from the US) copies of [b]Ubuntu[/b] v. 6.06 LTS. I was particularly interested to see what, if any, instructions came with the CDs, especially from the perspective of a "first-time Linux user". I'd have to say "not enough".
I am [b]not[/b] computer illiterate by any means but for somebody considering a change of operating systems with little experience of computer tinkering, I think they'd find themselves in the dark very quickly. The notes on the CD cover tell people that:
[quote]... "To use Ubuntu as a Live CD, put this CD in the CD drive and turn on or restart your computer"...[/quote]
Well, ain't [b]that[/b] great? If somebody did that without first changing their BIOS settings to boot their computer from their CD drive, they'd get absolutely nothing apart from their system booting to their normal Windows configuration. I don't think that's good enough for newbies.
OK - So, people download the "How to Install, etc" files as PDF's and what do [b]they[/b] get? Pages and pages of quite esoteric material (for the "uninitiated"), and they have to wade through and make sense of them. And god help those who do manage to boot from the CD and hit the install button by mistake, starting the process of wiping everything off their hard drive...
Nonetheless, I have now ordered free copies of [b]Kubuntu[/b] (Ubuntu with the KDE stuff all in one place). I'm now waiting for 8 copies of this plus 2 for 64-bit PCs, just out of curiosity. I should stress (and applaud) that all these disks are [b]totally free[/b], including postage, to anywhere in the world.
And now, I have to convince myself to get a Linux system up-and-running and explore further. And maybe convince some of my immediate friends to do the same (although most of them raise their eyebrows at the suggestion as they're "struggling" to get "completely" on top of XP Pro).
Not everybody wants or needs to explore new computer territory. Maybe not just yet.
:lol:
spitfire
[b]Re: RE: Using Computers in Bali[/b]
Thanks Sanurian, I might get back to you on that when I have a bit more time.
[quote=nightlord].... sure beats using windows, too many crashes.[/quote]
[quote=Sanurian].....And what if I love [b]ACDSee[/b], for example? [/quote]
Windows never crashes on me.... ACDSee does however! :lol:
