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How to make Deviled Egg Salad

I spent a few years when I was young growing up in the south, where a favourite weekend food was the deviled egg.  Many recipes offer their versions of these picnic staples, but I found that the same basic ingredients in this side dish also make a great egg salad for sandwiches, on a nice dark rye or olive bread these days.

Today I was asked for our recipe, and posting it here.

  • Four hard boiled eggs
  • 2 tsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp brown or spicy mustard
  • 2 tsp sweet pickle relish
  • optional: 1 tsp of your favourite sweet onion (we like Maui onions), finely chopped
  • shake of salt and white pepper

After you have hard boiled and cooled the eggs, remove the shells and separate the whites from the hardened yolks.  Throw away one or two of the yolks – you’ll only need two.  Take the yolks and mash them until smooth in a bowl, adding the mustards and mayonnaise. Mix until smooth.

Chop the egg whites and remaining yolks, and place in separate a larger bowl.  Add salt and white pepper to the egg mixture, then toss in the relish and (if you like) finely diced onion, roughly cut to the same size pieces as the relish.

Last, mix the mustards and mayonnaise into the eggs.

I recommend that you prepare a couple of hours before making sandwiches to let it set up.

 

Tags: recipes, how to, food.

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Your questions: What kind of a computer should I buy? (updated for Fall 2008)

(See an update to this article in “It’s nearly back to school time: here’s info on buying a new PC“, Aug 14, 2009) 


As I Tweeted, This week, I received a popular question around this time of year, as people consider getting a new PC:



“What kind of a computer should I buy? We’re looking for a new computer for our home/son/daughter…”



“Which PC should we buy? It’s for the whole family”


“I’d like to get a new computer, but I don’t know what we shoudl get: a desktop or a notebook.  What do you think?”


Decisions, decisions. Good to hear that others are working to keep the economy moving.


Reprising a past post that answered the question “What kind of a computer should I buy?” post…



I found a special article on buying a new computer in the Personal Technology section of the Seattle Times. I was going to forward a link to the online version of the story, but wasn’t able to find it on the Times’ site.


But thanks to Brier Dudley, tech and business writer at the Seattle Times, I now have the link (having already recycled my paper). “glad you enjoyed the story. It looks like we forgot to include attribution, ouch. We took it from the wire, the original source is Mike Himowitz, Baltimore Sun.”


Mike Himowitz is a columnist at the paper, and wrote the article “Sticker tells shopper key parts of a laptop” in which he covers “the specific components of a portable PC.”


For general home use, I first recommend that people consider a media notebook, perhaps a laptop replacement, if it will be moved around the house. Last year, I noted that “if you are a careful shopper, you can find some very good prices on the latest offerings, especially during key sale seasons like, well, now, and back to school in the fall.” 


I agree with Himowitz’ suggested general specs (excerpted) with a few of my own suggestions:



  • The screen: “General-purpose laptops have screens in the 15.4-inch range, with an aspect ratio (width to height) of 4:3 – the same as a standard TV or desktop monitor. These are fine for most purposes… Wide-screen laptops, with a more rectangular, 16:9 aspect ratio, are gaining fans because they’re shaped more like theater or HDTV screens.”

  • Keyboard: “There’s a secret, industrywide competition to find the most awkward and illogical positions for these. So try to type on any laptop – or a model with the same keyboard – before you buy it.”
    My experience: I like Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba and Dell laptop keyboards, but preferences vary.

  • Microprocessor: “Laptops generally use mobile versions of processors from Intel or Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Look for a PC with a dual core processor.”
    My suggestion: buy the fastest Intel “Core 2 Duo” or dual core AMD processors (“X2”) you can afford.

  • Memory: “Microsoft recommends 1 gigabyte of internal RAM for its Vista operating system, and Apple serves up 1 gig in its basic MacBook line. I recommend 2 gigabytes – particularly if your student likes to play games in those rare moments when he or she is not studying.”
    My suggestion: If you’re buying Vista Home Basic, 1GB may be fine unless the RAM does double duty powering your graphics (AKA “shared” memory). In that case, go for 2GB or 3GB, often after market (meaning you install it yourself) if there’s a premium to pay for the model. If you’re not handy with a Philips head screwdriver and an anti-static band, then have the pros do it. This year, we’re seeing 3GB and 4GB systems the norm for very little (if any) price premium.  But get Vista Home Premium for the Media Center features.

  • Video: “The computer’s video adapter determines what appears on the screen. Even when they’re displaying moderate detail, games and high-end graphics programs can strain a PC’s video processor.”
    My suggestion: This is one of the areas that is difficult if not impossible to upgrade later (as you can upgrade memory and hard drives fairly easily), so buy the best you can afford.  Best thing you can do: look at the screen and see which models appeal to you.

  • Multimedia: “A DVD/CD-RW, which records audio and data CDs and plays DVD movies, will do fine. But a drive that can also burn DVDs is a nice extra.”
    My suggestion: if you don’t have an external hard drive for backing up, consider a CD/DVD SuperMulti drive with Double Layer support that reads/writes DVD±R/RW, DVD-RAM, DVD±R Double Layer, and CD-R/RW. It’s a must if you burn videos for DVD playback.

  • Hard disk storage: “Laptop drives are generally smaller than desktop models, so get at least 80 gigabytes of storage.”
    My suggestion: 80GB is so passé: the standard models I see thsi year start at 120 to 160GB and average models feature 250-320GB HDDs.

  • Ports: “The more USB ports your laptop has, the better.”
    My suggestion: if you work with digital video or consumer electronics, look for an IEEE-1394 (or DV) connector for hooking up to digital camcorders and some hard drives.

  • Wireless networking: “Many laptops come equipped with wireless network adapters… make sure it meets the industry’s 802.11g standard.”
    My suggestion: get a 802.11g or better, an 802.11g/n wireless card: many hot spots are still 802.11b.

  • Pointing device: “Most laptops use touch pads to replace the mouse, although a few use trackballs or little buttons in the center of the keyboard.”
    My suggestion: I agree with Himowitz: Get a mouse. I love my Microsoft wireless notebook mouse, much more than my (too touchy) trackpad on one laptop. But I often find that I use both for many tasks. 

A note on 64-bit Windows Vista: Vista with 64-bit is quite solid: I use it at home and it was pre-installed on my wife’s new Sony Vaio NS laptop which has 4GB or memory (which triggers the requirement for 64bit).  She can run all of her current software and the kids are able to access all their favourite games and web sites. 


A recent look online illustrates that there is something for everyone, at all price points:


Notebooks:


For under $500 at one of the big box office stores (on sale or after rebates), you can find a name-brand notebook with a 15.4-inch screen with (as I concur with many of my associates) a decent 1280×800 resolution, Intel Pentium Dual Core T3200, 120GB HDD, 2GB of memory, six cell battery, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, 802.11b/g wireless and a CD/DVD Burner running Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (splurge and get Windows Vista Home Premium for a few dollars). 


For many general computer applications (surfing the ‘net, writing term papers, listening to music and watching DVDs, streaming video from Netflix) this would fit the bill. And more.


This tops the 1.73GHz Dual-Core processor (T2080), half GB of memory, an 80GB drive and a double layer DVD Burner with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic I noted last year for the same amount. 


For under $1,000, you can get a very nice 15″ laptop with Core 2 Duo, 4GB, 320GB & DVD Burner (after current discounts).  Or even better if you’re looking for a desktop replacement with a bigger screen, I found a 17″ (1440 x 900 resolution) notebook with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5800, 3GB memory, 320GB SATA Hard Drive, Intel 4500MHD Graphics, 802.11g wireless, 8X Slot Load CD / Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive, 2.0M webcam, 9 cell battery, all running on Windows Vista Home Premium Edition SP1. 


Very nice when you consider a year ago the same amount got you a 17″ widescreen with a Core Duo Processor (T2350), 2 GB of memory, 120GB hard drive and DVD SuperMulti drive. Ouch.


Netbooks


Also under $500, consider the crop of netbooks as I posted this week, especially if you are considering a second computer for home use or travel. Rob Pegoraro, the Washington Post’s tech guru, noted in his article “Tiny PCs, Full-Size Problems.” 


I did appreciate Pegoraro’s advice for those of you considering an ultralight laptop.



“If you’re buying a netbook as your sole computer, knowing that you’ll only use it on the Web, Acer offers the best bet for now. If, however, you’re buying it as a third or fourth computer and are willing to tweak it to fit your own needs, look at the MSI.



“But it might be better to wait. If these manufacturers have the good sense to steal each other’s best ideas, we should see significantly better choices before long.”


But as it’s been said, “a man’s got to know his limitations.”  If you consider the trade-offs, there are some very good products available: I opted for the HP 2133 with 1.6GHz proc, 2GB of memory and 120GB HDD with Windows Vista Business for $399 after HP rebate as noted in the post.  And not to be outdone, Dell is offering their Inspiron Mini 9 UMPC for just $99.00 with select PC purchases (regularly $349).


Desktops


You will get more power and better integration with home television services (cable connectivity) with a desktop.  Looking at solid all-in-one, entertainment desktop PCs that will stay in one place, I would recommend one of the new Sony or HP models. 


Sony’s new JS Series (http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/category/desktops) are attractive, very solid and feature very nice TV functionality. There are some excellent discounts found Live Cashback.  The JS110J is under $900 from a reputable AV/PC seller.  The more powerful Sony Vaio JS139 (Sony Vaio JS139) is about $65 more available through another reputable seller.  Both can be purchased via Live Cashback that helps lower your cost with a rebate (from Microsoft ;).


Dell also offer an all in one — the XPS One, offered in 20 and 24″ models — that get very good reviews and high marks from people who own them. 


But my favourite is the new HP Touchsmart 2 IQ506, which I just ordered last week.  It has a larger touchscreen that is very nice, with integrated TV just like the Sony.  It’s about $300 more than the Sony (after rebate) but it provides more screen real estate (22″ vs. the Sony’s 20″) and it has a touchscreen.  Very cool.


My preference is falls to the Sony or HP for style.


Another choice is to buy an inexpensive modular desktop system, one that has a traditional tower PC with external monitor.  Deals abound on models from Dell and HP: of the recent models featured on PC Magazine’s “Get a Great Desktop for Under $500” review (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2335137,00.asp), I would select from any of the great PCs noted.  I personally have had good experiences with Dell, HP and Lenovo.  Plus, www.dealcatcher.com is a great place to watch for the latest discounts. 


Last, if you have a credit card that doubles the warranty of products you purchase, use it: that’s a smart investment whenever you consider a new PC.  I get this for free through my Costco AmEx, effectively a $150 ‘deal’ when you consider some of the waranties offered by Dell and HP.


Hope this helps.


More info: Upgrade or buy a new one? Suggestions from the Seattle Times


Tags: shopping, RSS, Microsoft, New PC.


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Your questions: How do I install ring tones on a Windows Mobile Phone?

Today this question from Mary…


“I am thinking about getting a new Windows [Mobile] phone and was wondering how to install ring tones? Can I use any files? I’m also looking at the new iPhone but I read that you have to purchase ring tones for the iPhone.”


Is it ringtone or ring tones?  I have no idea.

There are free and commercial ring tones, and you can also make your own.  IMHO, Windows Mobile certainly seems easier to customize ring tones, even if the process is a little more involved than on the iPhone.  As noted in Wired magazine’s recent article on iPhone ring tone hacks, the process isn’t very streamlined on the iPhone with iTunes… 


“Users have to pay Apple $1 for a song, plus an extra $1 to convert that song into a ringtone. Of course, hackers immediately set out to find a way to generate iPhone ringtones for free. In a classic game of cat and mouse, Apple has spent the last few days trying to block iPhone owners from installing free ringtones on their devices — only to watch hackers come up with workarounds just hours after each patch is released.”


As noted on the Windows Mobile Total Access site, you can use just about any Windows Media Audio file for a ring tone, or download free ring tones from Total Access. (Click here for installing ring tones via Windows Vista, or here for Windows XP Users.)  It’s best to select an audio file that is less than 20-30 seconds in length (WMA, or MP3 seems to work fine, too).

To transfer the file to your phone, connect your phone to your computer and on Vista, use the Windows Mobile Phone Center to drag copy the ring tones into the Sounds or My Ring Tones folder on your phone.

If you receive a ring tone via email or download one via the Internet on to your phone, you can choose to save it to your Ring tones folder by clicking on the file and selecting to save the file (with Save As…) to the Ring Tones folder in your main memory.

To select a new ring tone on your phone, press Start, and then click on Settings and then click on the Sounds & Notifications icon (WM6) or on the Sounds icon (WM5):


  • On WM5, on the Ring tone drop-down menu, choose the ring tone you’d like to use. To hear a ring tone, simply wait a few seconds after making each selection. When you’ve found the ring tone you want, press Done.
  • For WM6, click on the notifications tab and scroll down the pop up menu next to Event, and select ‘Phone: Incoming call’ and select the ring tone of your choice from the pop up menu.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows Mobile, ringtones, mobile phones, customer support.

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Surviving MGX: A few helpful travel tips for Atlanta

If you’re heading to the US for MGX (Microsoft Global eXchange – the Microsoft Sales & Services annual event), I’ve posted here a few hints along the lines of my notes from Surviving CES in Las Vegas.


(Please note that an updated post with new information is available at http://blogs.msdn.com/mthree/archive/2009/07/20/mgx09-072009.aspx)


Flight and Hotel: Given the event is invitation only, if you don’t already have either of these, good luck.  You’ll have a better chance of seeing a mid-day temperature under 85 degrees than finding either at this late date.  


Overall, stick to the plan: MGX is a well-run, professional event.  Remember to use the shuttle busses, go to the planned events and have fun.


Pack light.  Keep in mind that it is hot in Atlanta this time of year (high 80s, and lends to the given the nickname, Hotlanta), and the weather will be in the high 60s/ low 70s at night, and humid as all get out (up into the 30s at mid-day, and about 18-20 degrees for my friends outside the States).  Check the weather report for Atlanta here.  Standard dress includes light khaki pants or shorts and comfortable shirts: think Hawaii. 


Bring sunglasses, a hat that doesn’t brand you a tourist, and wear great, comfortable shoes.  And don’t bring the stylish shoes, go for comfort as you will be standing and walking.  A lot.  My pick: anything from Ecco, Rockport or New Balance. And see also a few travel recommendations from Colin Cowie on packing.    


Getting from the airport to anywhere: Remember, if you need to get a taxi cab at the airport, look to the departures area where people are exiting the taxi.  (Just a suggestion, not an endorsement.)  You’ll receive a number of suggested modes of transportation, but always good to pair up (or three or four) with folks going to the same hotel and split the $30 taxi fare into town.


Getting around town: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (or MARTA) is one of the easiest and inexpensive ways around Atlanta and the surrounding area.  Taxis are readily available from most major hotels, and likely there are a number of places to see within a short walking distance from your downtown hotel. 


When in Buckhead, ride the Buc: The Buc Shuttle is a free shuttle bus service that connects MARTA’s Lenox and Buckhead stations to popular places in Buckhead, including hotels, restaurants, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square. Important to note when visiting some of the clubs and restaurants noted below.)  According to the Buc info site, “the shuttle runs every 8-15 minutes between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday on a five-mile loop.” So, for heading home from a late evening, take a cab to MARTA or back to the hotel.


If you arrive into Vegas with other folks on the same flight, consider renting a limo or get together an impromptu set of people going to roughly the same hotel on the strip: that way you’ll pay one limo fee.  Last, unless you plan on traveling off the main strip, don’t rent a car (take a cab) unless you enjoy paying daily hotel parking rates akin to what you would pay for a flat in SoHo.


Say hello your new best friend: the hotel concierge.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it here, too: the concierge is your connection when you don’t have connections in town.  When you arrive at the hotel with a concierge on staff, introduce yourself and hand them a business card.  That one move may come in hand later more than you know.  See ‘dinner’ and ‘getting to the airport’ for starters.  As Cowie notes, “ask your concierge to make some reservations for you now at top restaurants so you don’t find that you can’t get in when you arrive there in peak season. Tip the concierge the moment you arrive…”  See, you can learn helpful travel hints from a man that you thought only had great party design sense. 😉


Eating out: You’ll no doubt have some free time one or two nights, and Atlanta is a wonderful place.


Best breakfasts:


See these suggestions on sneakysunday.com and if you’re game, check out my favourites…


Alon’s, a great local bakery and breakfast joint, with brunch offered at their Dunwoody location on Saturday and Sundays. 1394 North Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306
Tel: (404) 872-6000


Java Jive, for the authentic Atlanta Southern breakfast, with homemade biscuits and traditional “big, American breakfasts” with eggs and bacon. It’s a very busy place but worth the trouble.  790 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308, Tel: (404) 876-6161


Lunch and Dinner:


Around town: Check out the MSN MSN City Guide for Atlanta here, as well as their restaurant guide.  Also, my favourite web spot for ratings and information is Zagat’s, with links to a few of my favourites – you can also book many of these restaurants for free via OpenTable.com:



  • Bacchanalia – The food at Bacchanalia is still among the best in Atlanta. You can order a la carte or from a sampler menu (prix fixe), featuring local fare and excellent wine.  It’s expensive, so don’t pad the expense account… eat at the bar and get the same food as in the main restaurant.  1198 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, (404) 365-0410

  • Aria – this is one of my favourite restaurants in Atlanta.  (http://www.aria-atl.com/) and on many top restaurant lists, serving a great fare ranging from local fish (I see that Mountain Trout with crab smashed potatoes, haricots vert
    and pecan brown butter is on the menu this week), chicken, duck, and meats.

  • Bone’s Restaurant – When in Buckhead, one of the best place for steaks is Bone’s, a nice local alternative to Ruth’s Chris’ or Morton’s, with starters of excellent starters, steak and seafood. The restaurant has excellent service and a very good wine list.

In addition, there are a few tried and true spots in Atlanta, including these two high-end chains:



  • Capital Grille – Atlanta.  Technically, it’s in Buckhead, which has plenty of late-night fare and entertainment, and a classic steak house in the vein of The Palm, with plenty of lobster and seafood.  A very nice wine list, excellent service and a full menu in the bar if you are there for a simpler evening or can’t get a table. Tel: (404) 262-1162

  • Oceanaire Seafood Room.  Oceanaire is a great choice for fresh seafood from all over the world.  1100 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309 – Tel: (404) 475-2277.

A note on booking tables… Consider booking your table through your hotel concierge as noted above: if you haven’t called them in advance, ask for their help in booking a table (tip, please) and get their business card with their phone number after you check in… and give them a tip if they offer a direct dial number.  A good concierge may be able to score a reservation to a hard-to-book place: I have found that your best bet is a well-connected hotel concierge if a direct call to the restaurant doesn’t pan out.  Also, look to your credit card company (many offer a concierge service) or try your hand (or mouse) booking a table at OpenTable.com. Many of the restaurants still show availability on OpenTable.com as of today, so book early.


Stuff to see: Always a good reference for the best restaurants, clubs and activities in Atlanta, see 10best.com, and visit MSN Travel Guide to Atlanta


(Added 072009) Thanks to Jeff for his suggestions on other cool sites in and around town (for any free time between events you may have…):



I’d also recommend that folks who have a few minutes to spare might enjoy the Georgia Aquarium and/or World Of Coca-Cola. If you have enough time, you can take a walk around Centennial Olympic Park (bonus points if you can find the nail imprints on the metal statue from the Olympic Park Bomb). News junkies may enjoy the CNN Tour.


Getting to the airport.  Finding a cab on the last day of MGX or any large event in the Peachtree capital is like finding a street in the City without a ‘peach’ in the title.  Arrange a car in advance through your concierge for more than one traveler.  Or that concierge you tipped earlier just may have arranged a shuttle for a small group that has an opening.


Added July 2009…


Ask your friends and followers on Twitter.  Follow the discussion about MGX on Twitter here via the #MGX hashtag: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23mgx


Have fun.


Tags: Microsoft, Atlanta, MGX, travel tips.

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Windows Home Server DIY: Borg Cube (too much)

I admit it… for a while after dogfooding the systemHP in an old, spare PC, I thought for a while that I would build a custom, low-power Windows Home Server.  But, as I looked at the time involved, the appeal of the HP MediaSmart Home Server was too great, so we took the plunge and moved to the little darling into our home.


But I originally thought of another form factor, much to my wife’s chagrin: a Borg cube.


Been done, with great attention to detail:



“The plans for an extra PC, functioning as a router, firewall and download-machine were made long before I got the idea to make the Borg Cube. I first intended to use a small midi case (A-Open H340B) with a Via EPIA-M 933Mhz chipset and 256MB RAM memory. After having put it all together, I was not really satisfied with the way it looked. It looked kinda boring to me, and that’s when I got the idea to build a case myself.


Not that the design wouldn’t make a great coffee table… 😉


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