Trying out Posterous — http://finite.posterous.com

Running a web application in the VS 2008′s built in localhost webserver using a custom IIdentity (but not a custom IPrincipal) that you set to the Thread.CurrentPrincipal using a GenericPrincipal causes an exception begining with “Type is not resolved for member” to be thrown when accessing Microsoft.VisualStudio.WebHost.Connection.get_LocalIP().

To resolve this, for your custom IIdentity class add the Serializable attribute, ComVisible(true) attribute, and make it inherit from MarshalByRefObject.

I don’t know exactly why this works, but it does.

I’m a huge Live Mesh fan.  If you haven’t tried it yet, it is a service from Microsoft that allows you to create folders “in the cloud” (what they call your “live desktop”).  There are a lot of services that let you store files online, but what sets Live Mesh apart is that it allows you to synchronize the folders with devices. 

For example, I create a folder called “Class Notes” in my Live Desktop

Then I can synchronize that folder to any computer(s) that I have installed the Live Mesh client software.

This makes files in that folder available off line on that machine and pushes any changes back up to the Live Desktop as well as pulls changes from the Live Desktop.

So far, I haven’t had any issues with the synchronization and this has proven a valuable resource for keeping track of documents and things that I am working on with multiple computers.

It Gets Better

Ok… so that’s the standard use case and that alone is pretty awesome.  Here’s another one.  I created a live mesh folder called “Programs” that I put stand alone (no installer required) programs in.  Now I have access to Sysinternals, notepad++, FF 3.1Beta, etc from all computers that  I use.  I update a program on one computer and it is updated on all my computers!  This feels like the time that I got my first flash drive (a pre-release 64mb Crucial Gizmo!)

The XPS 1530 is a powerful laptop, but has some slight issues.  Overall I think that it is a great value (esp if bought refurbished or on sale).

Specs as tested

• Intel T9300 2.6ghz with 6MB cache
• 4 GB DDR2 RAM
• 250GB 5400RPM HD
• 256MB NIVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
• 15.4in WUXGA screen
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Cost Refurbished: $1179

Overall Performance

I have been extremely pleased with the performance of this laptop.  Even when running multiple instances of Visual Studio (with Resharper), Outlook, Firefox, SQL Server, Reflector, and iTunes it is quick and there are few "slow" spots.  I have optimized the installation of vista as much as possible (no Aero, few startup programs) and am using a fast SDHC MMC card as a ReadyBoost drive – I am sure these help.

Screen

The brightness and resolution (1920×1200) are wonderful and combine with WinSplit Revolution make for a very productive experience.  The screen is glossy, which I don’t prefer – it seems to be quite susceptible to glare.

SIze, Weight, and Feel

The size and weight are great especially considering the size and resolution of the screen.  A lighter than my work provided Gateway 465 and it feels more solid too.  However… this is where my complaints start… the keyboard is just mediocre, it doesn’t feel as good as dell’s that I have had in the past and isn’t as good as my most recent gateway, either.  The touchpad is of poor quality, and I have had intermittent issues with it locking up. 

Other

Heat is an issue with this laptop – its main cooling vent is particularly prone to becoming blocked when the laptop is put on anything that isn’t perfectly flat and hard.  Even when the vent is not obstructed the laptop seems to run hotter than it should.  Noise level is great – the laptop is almost silent all the time.  The fingerprint reader is nice and I like the slot loading DVD drive.

Conclusion

I would buy it again, the heat isn’t a real problem, just something that I have to be aware of.  I don’t use the touchpad that much (I’m all about the trackball) so that isn’t a deal-breaker either.

Pros: performance, screen resolution and brightness, weight, price

Cons: heat, keyboard, touchpad, glossy screen

I’ve been working on a new project lately – it is going to be a real life, public web startup-like thingy.   Stay tuned…

 Microsoft’s managed operating system Singularity was released into codeplex yesterday:Singularity RDK – Home.  This is quite exciting and will surely make for some great code reading.  Another .NET managed OS: Cosmos.

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ISO Speed: 200
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/36
Focal Length: 55 mm

I always enjoy the beach but sometimes struggle finding ways to make it look *good* or different when taking photos. This photo is one of those “well duh” things that I just realized: Just as a waterfall will look better with a nice slow exposure, so will the rushing tide. 1/10 was as slow as I could get this (should have put on my polarizer) but it came out pretty close to what I wanted…

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ISO Speed: 800
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/5.3
Focal Length: 42 mm

Another walk around Burbank another cool photo… love the lines and color in this. My regret is the slow exposure (1/10) that causes it to be a little bury.

View LargeISO Speed: 800
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 18 mm