ArcaOS 5.1 ? new release by Arca Noae.

 

Arca Noae has the release of 5.1. I have read of it having support for UEFI. The store where one can buy ArcaOS; the support and maintenance version,  the personal edition version, the commercial edition version. They still have 5.0 available. 

ArcaOS (Blue Lion) is an updated version of the OS/2 Warp operating system by IBM. I have been using the previous version and it works but not on the newer laptop. I am hoping that this newer version with support for UEFI will allow me to install it on it. 

I am glad there are ways to install it via the USB port and USB flash drive. With so many newer laptops and computers not coming with an optical drive, it would be difficult to install it unless one has an USB optical drive (which I have since my HP laptop doesn't have one - something I remember on older laptops and wish the newer ones still have). It seems even the newer laptops have fewer USB ports. I am glad there are ways to expand the number of USB ports with attachments (some not expensive). 

The previous release and post release of OS/2 Warp is eComStation. It does not seem to be developed anymore but there website is still up. 

OS/2 Warp was developed by IBM. There is still support for it online at OS/2 World. I had used this version many years ago. It was really good. I thought of it as an alternative to Windows (especially since - at the time - IIRC - 3.1 ran on top of DOS and seemed to have crashed a lot [from my experience]). 

TomLeeM

2023 / 09 / 22

ArcaOS 5.1 released by Arca Noae ?

 There is an updated version of the ArcaOS by Arca Noae. Since IBM isn't developing OS/2 Warp anymore, I am glad someone is. It is nice to have alternatives to Windows or Apple (they are out there, one just has to look). 

Here is the personal edition. Here is the support and maintenance edition. Here is the commercial edition. 

Here is the link to the Arca Noae products. 

I am looing forward to using it. It has some updates so it can be used on newer computers (one of which is UEFI support). I have used 5.0.7 and it works really well but not on my laptop that is newer (sort of tried it but I made the ISO installation CD incorrectly so I don't if it was that or a lack of UEFI support). One doesn't have to use a CD since I think there is support to having it installed using an USB flash drive (checking that out - very few computes have an optical drive - especially laptops). 

I miss having an optical drive. It is not just for installing software but also for playing movies and listening to music. Streaming to either isn't always possible. I guess I am just old fashioned that way. Perhaps there is no nerd like an old nerd? (is it no geek like an old geek?). 

It is an updated version of OS/2 Warp - Wikipedia. ArcaOS is - IIRC - the third updated version of the operating system by IBM. I believe the second one was eComStation. I don't believe that eCS still being developed (the site indicates a eCS 2?). 

I also read of the 5.1 being released from the OS/2 Warp World site. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 09 /13 

My Experience With The Nintendo Mini Classic

I had ordered the Nintendo Mini Classic from the Walmart online store. It was about 24 dollars with shipping (about 30 - 31 dollars). I have read about it. I had wanted to give it a try. With a gift card, I was able to do that; especially with it being priced so low. I have seen others online for a lot more. I think I got a good deal on it. At least before I got it. After I got it, I still think it is a good deal.  

This is part of the screen that is on my television. I find it easier to play since the screen is a lot bigger than ever was on my GameBoy. I had given up my GameBoy since the monochrome screen was so small. I had a lot of accessories and games for my GameBoy (had two of them) but eyes no longer see the screen well but that is another story. 

Here is the game Mario. It is one of 620 games that is part of the console. I have tried a few of them but it will be awhile before I get to try them all. It is like they took GameBoy games and enlarged it. I think this is neat since it is easier to see. The games seem a little pixelated but that could be from being enlarged. I find it isn't too bad and still very playable. 

I have found that some games are easier than others. There were some games that I had no idea what I was doing. I found some games that responded well to the controls and others games did not respond well with the controller. I have not tried all of them but did try some. Most of the ones I tried was fun.

Here is the first page of the list of games. One uses the up and down to get to games on the list. To get to other pages, one uses the left and right arrows. The arrows in on the first game controller. 

Here is the game console installed on my television. It shows the size in relation to my television; a 50 inch LCD.

Here is the game console - lower right of the television - showing how small it is in comparison to the television. 

Here is the inside pages of the users manual. It is not complicated. I think it was easy to install on the television. I am glad my television that had a red, green and blue connection on the back. It is how it connects to ones television. 

Here is the front and back page of the users manual. It shows how easy or simple it was to connect to ones television and how the accessories and power supply it was to connect to the console and television. 

This is the list of the 620 games that is included in the console. It will be a long time before I get to try them all. There are some that I will be trying over and over again. One being the Mario game. I was really good with it on my GameBoy but that was many years ago. I am finding I am not as good as then. I am hoping to get better. 

Here is the game console It is out of the box it came in and everything is connected (just not to the television). The game console is not as big as the one it is supposed to look like. 

I put my hand on the game console to show how small it is. It is just out of the box that it came in.

Here is the game console. They got all of that into the box on the upper right of the photo.

I put my hand on the box that console plus accessories that it came in.

Here is the box that it came in. It is a lot smaller than I expected. 

I put my hand on the package that the game console came in. I was surprised how small it was. I didn't think it would be that small.

Here is the package it came in. It arrived a couple of days that they indicated that it would arrive. 

The photos are reversed to how I took them. It happened from bottom to top. I am adjusting to the way this blog is allowing me to put the photos / images on the blog. I will be trying a different to post photos.

Thomas Lee Mullins

TomLeeM at Cafe Press

both of my web sites need a lot of work; 

especially my store. 

Problem with 'New' Nook Reader Solved

 I got this Nook ebook reader that my brother brought home from where he works (it was tossed out). I think it was disposed of because one could not get any new ebooks or deregister it. Their loss was my gain. 

I tried to unregister the previous owner so they would not be charged for things and they would not have to worry about people seeing what he reads. I have tried to deregister it but it would not since it could not connect to the network. I connected it to my home network but it still would not do it. I connected it to my computer. I went to the Nook site at Barnes and Noble. I downloaded the software update (the site indicated it would not connect without the update). I copied it to the device. I disconnected it / ejected it since it saw it as an USB device. I started it up and it installed the updates. I went to deregister it and it worked. I entered my account information; information from my Barnes and Noble account from their web site. It works. I just need to look for ebooks to read on it. It joins my Kindle ebook reader and my tablet computer for reading books. I have a lot of books on them.

It is not a big ebook reader but the print on it is nice. It has an E-Ink screen; which means the batteries last for quite awhile. It only uses power when changing the screen. This is why I think E-Ink screens are great for ebook readers. It gives you extra time to read before having to charge it. 

Once I add a micro SD card onto it, it will have lots of room for more books. I am not sure how many ebooks it can carry but I tend to read a lot of books and don't delete older ones. I like to go back read them again. 

It looks just like this one. 

Thomas Lee Mullins

TomLeeM at Cafe Press. 

New Mystery Machine? An Electric One?

I think it is cool that Volkswagen has come out with a newer microbus. This one has that old one look but with an updated features and look; totally retro. I read that VW will make this.

Newsroom VW. Boston.com. 

This is the ID Buzz. It looks really nice. I read that it is supposed to go into production It is supposed to have a good range. 

I think this version of the Mystery Machine is way cool. It would be neat if they used it in the next Scooby Doo movie. It would be cool if this is an option when one is buying a VW ID Buzz. I would definitely consider it. I can see the inside being filled with equipment that the Mystery Inc would use to solve mysteries and a place for Scooby Doo. 

I also like these other variations.

I think this is a cool and green update on the VW camper. Being electric, one would definitely want a camp site with electric outlet so one can recharge the vehicle's batteries for the trip home.

 I think a fuel cell would give it extra power when needed and extend the range. I have been reading about fuel cells. It would be faster refilling the hydrogen tanks than charging the batteries. 

I think this microbus / pickup combo is cool and green but I am not sure how useful it would be since it is battery powered and does not have a gas engine of some sort. I think in cases like this, a gas engine would give that much more power and reliability and range. The upside is that it does have that 'macho' look to it. It looks powerful. I just hope the electric power / batteries is able to deliver what it looks like it can. 

(source of photo)

I think this is neat. It even works with the original air cooled VW microbus. I like this one since it has a lot of windows. I think this one is very well done. I think it is even better on the newer microbus. 

Scooby Doo Wikipedia Mystery Machine. 

It seems the Mystery Machine has taken different shapes. I like this one the best. I think this one is the one closest to the one that the VW ID Buzz would come closest to looking like. 

I am a Big fan of Goofy who is a Guy. 

My Art on Things For Sale So I Can Make a Little Extra Money and Share My Art

30 Fantastic Raspberry Pi 3 Cases to 3D Print

There is an article at the ALL3DP site that is really cool and nerdy. It is on cases for the Raspberry Pi board and they are 3-D printed. The article provides and information on the design, on who made it and where it can be downloaded from. The have photos of the different cases that they report on plus information on the cases.

The Raspberry Pi is an affordable little computer board that (per the site) one can learn code with. They have a blog. They have downloads. There is a community section. There is a help section. There is a forum section. There is an education section. The have a magazine called MagPi that one can download.

One of my pet peeves about cases is how plain and boring they are. It is just a box. One could make it a little more interesting with some color and/or stickers. One could add the companies logo; sticker or in 3-D. Most seem to be a plain boring box that is just a box.

The ALL3DP site is a 3-D printer new site. It covers both the hardware and the software. It also covers projects one can do with a 3-D printer. They have some interesting articles on or related to 3-D printing.

There are other sites that cover 3-D printing. I am checking them out.

I came across a site - years ago - with custom cases for the mini-itx boards. It is Mini-Itx. They have a section where people created custom cases for this board. Mini-Itx Projects.

This is one of the cases shown. I included a photo from the article site since I like it resembles an old gaming console. Perhaps one could use it with an game emulator to 'recreate' the game console? I like how one can chose the colors. 

I think this is cool since it resembles the PAC Man character from the game of the same name. It too is shown on the article site. 

I think this is neat since it is a mini-tower for a mini board. The article has others cool cases but I just chose these three to give an example of what was done on the site. I like the use of colors and the Raspberry Pi logo on the side. 

Big Goofy Guy

My Art On Items For Sale.

Pi Laptop?

I came across this laptop kit that uses the Raspberry Pi board. It is really neat since one assembles it before using it. I have not bought one, yet (perhaps in the future). I do think it is cool. One can learn about computers and the software when one assembles this computer. 

I think this is neat. It is a laptop that uses the Raspberry Pi computer board. It is a kit. One assembles it oneself. I think one could learn a lot by putting it together. 

I like the clean look of the Pi Top. It is a very simple design.

One can see the placement of the Raspberry Pi inside the case. 

One can see the power port? 

It seems thick but this is probably to accommodate the Raspberry Pi board.

It has a nice shape; traditional laptop size.

Here is all that one gets, per the site where this photo was taken from.

I like the traditional laptop look to it. 

 One can see the Raspberry board that is inside.

Pi Top at Adafruit. 

A couple of places that has the Pi Top. 

Pi Top at Id Tech.

Big Goofy Guy

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