martes, 20 de diciembre de 2016

Checking out the Levono Miix 510





So I got my hands on the Levono Miix 510. The first thing that I will like to tell is that feels a lot more "high end" that other Lenovo Miix tablet that I had tried on the past.

Information


Hardware Specs

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-6200U
  • Memory: 8GB RAM
  • HDD: 512 Solid HDD 
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 520

BIOS

I access the BIOS the same way of the Miix 700, by pressing "Volume Up + Power".
The things that I liked (and I appreciate a lot) on the BIOS are:
1) You can disable Secure Boot
2) You can put Legacy mode on UEFI, it is important if you want to try a different OS.
3) You can Enable Intel Virtualization. (I will try my VMs on the future)

Pre-Installed Software

I think that with all the past issues that Lenovo had has with "Super fish" and other software that was included, this time Lenovo didn't want to run into any more risk and it almost didn't included any strange software on it.

It is very clean and the only Lenovo software that you see at once is "Lenovo Companion" which it is useful to update the firmware and drivers of the machine. 

Mouse

Even that I complete dislike the touchpad mouse (I'm a Trackpoint guy), this time Lenovo improved the touchpad. If I compared it with the one on the Miix 310, the Miix 310 touchpad was very unreliable and lack precision in my opinion, the one included on the Miix 510 offers you a better mouse movement. 

Pen

This model didn't came with a Pen, but it uses Wacom technology to support one. I grabbed my "Lenovo ThinkPad Pen Pro" (4X80H34887) and it worked like a charm.  Even that it didn't came with "Lenovo Write It" pre-installed I just download it from the site and start using it with the pen.

An important issue of the Miix 510 is that when you tried a tablet of this quality you don't want to go back to use a "lower-end" one. For what I have tested it I'm very happy with it, but I still want to try more the USB-C port and the BIOS properties (just because I like to touch everything).

The tablet does not has a pen holder, I was just trying on the next picture to see if you can hold the pen with the magnet. Since the  "Lenovo ThinkPad Pen Pro" came with an USB holder, I also tried it on the tablet.

Keyboard

The keyboard has backlight !!




You can put the keyboard on two positions if you like to press the keys a little higher. All grabbed with the magnet that the keyboard has.


USB

It has two USB ports, one USB-C and one regular.


The hinges 

The hinges to hold the back side are very similar to the newer Lenovo Yoga hinges. It is like a cropped version of it, since it does require to be full reversible like a laptop.



The Jacket?

It came with a bag/jacket to store it. It is very simple and it has a little part to hold a pen there.


...and that's all.


Let's see is this year's holiday I can make it run OS/2 Warp.



martes, 6 de diciembre de 2016

An Interesting Movie Scene.

There is this scene that I liked on the "A Beautiful Mind" movie. I can not know if this dialog happened on real life or it was just a little bit of Hollywood pixie dust.  It is very subtle and it may not be as important and other scenes but I did liked it because I had seen this kind of behavior in real life.

The scene is just 2 minutes and  you can see it on YouTube right on this spot:
https://youtu.be/2E4pX9anFwk?t=793



This is the script of the scene:

- Walk with me, John. I've been meaning to talk with you. The faculty is completing mid-year reviews. We're deciding which placement applications to support.
- Wheeler, sir. That would be my first choice. Actually, I don't really have a second choice, sir.
- John. Your fellows have attended classes. They've written papers. They've published.
- I'm still searching, sir, for my...
- Your original idea.
- Governing dynamics, sir.
- It's very clever, John, but I'm afraid it's just not nearly good enough.
- I'm working on manifold embedding. My bargaining stratagems show some promise. If you could just arrange another meeting with Professor Einstein. I've repeatedly asked you for that. I'd be able to show him my revisions on his...
- John. Do you see what they're doing there?  It's the pens. Reserved for a member of the department that makes the achievement of a lifetime. Now what do you see, John?
- Recognition.
- Well, try seeing accomplishment. John, You haven't focused. I'm sorry, but up to this point, your record doesn't warrant any placement at all. Good day.

The important message of the scene is the accomplishment thing, but that is not the words that impressed me. What impressed me was John's excuse when he was not focusing on his idea or the research paper:

" If you could just arrange another meeting with Professor Einstein. I've repeatedly asked you for that. I'd be able to show him my revisions on his..."

Maybe the scene is to obvious but I had seen something similar on real life (not with Einstein of course). I knew people that were not able to accomplish something and thinking that a little talk with someone "awesome" will inspire them to their breakthrough. Or maybe they have on their mind the crazy idea that if a genius approves or agree with your idea, they will became a respectful genius too.

Sometimes maybe it can be counterproductive to talk to a genius about an specific thing that you are working on. I knew professors that are at some high level of geniality that just don't care of all the subjects that students may came out with. You don't present a business case to "high energy research physic", he would not care about it, just like you don't show a "clock potato" to a business management guru.

So maybe instead of getting approval for your idea by "notorious people", it will be better if you start producing something first and see if goes in good track. Oh, that's the "accomplishment thing" that this scene talks about.

viernes, 11 de noviembre de 2016

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Wireless Touch Mouse | 4X30K40903


  • Lenovo Part Number: 4X30K40903
  • FRU:  03X7142
  • HardwareID: 17EF:6088 (USB Dongle) (for both mice)
  • HardwareID:  0217ef:6088 (Bluetooth)

Drivers

Windows 10 - 64bits

The normal mouse (with bluetooth) is recognized as the Thinkpad X1 Mouse and the touchpad mouse (on the back) is recognized with the regular Windows 10 drivers.


Links:

How many buttons?

It has three. Left, right and middle...on the top.

Where is the scroll button??

It is there, is the red line on the mouse...wow

Is it Bluetooth? Is it wireless with dongle ?


It has both. You can choose any of the two modes.
 If you slide the back side you can find the dongle and select the mode of the mouse, regular wireless (dongle) or bluetooth. 

By the way, to hold the USB dongle in place it has a magnet. Super cool, but don't put this mouse over your floppies :)

What is with the back side???

The backside is a touchpad mouse with the "PgUp" and "PgDn" buttons. It is great for presentations. If you tap the touchpad it is the regular click.


Charging

It uses a micro USB cable. When it is charging you can see the side lights on the mouse that indicated the level of charge. Also, when you turn on the mouse the lights shows the charge level of the mouse.



Lenovo Mouse Suite

Lenovo Mouse Suite also offers some customization for the mouse.




miércoles, 5 de octubre de 2016

Buena Idea / Mala Idea : Cambios


Buena Idea: Una empresa grande tiene problemas de retención de clientes y bajas ventas. Quieren hacer cambios importantes y radicales en su negocio para conseguir nuevos clientes, mejorar su imagen y retener a los clientes que tienen.

Mala Idea: Para lograr esto despidieron y cambiaron a todos los que trabajaban y dejaron a los mismos jefes.

Como que así no van a lograr nada.

jueves, 15 de septiembre de 2016

Sin Luz en el C.C. Unicornio





 

Un día de 7 de septiembre caminaba por afuera del Centro Comercial Unicornio cerca de mi oficina e ingresé al lugar para dar una vuelta ya que tenía unos minutos libres.

Me di cuenta que no existía luz en los pasillos, mientras que los locales si la tenían y era lo único que alumbraba la parte comunal. Me pareció raro que se encuentren las escaleras y pasillos tan apagados.

Resultado de imagen para Centro Comercial Unicornio
Cuando vi a un guardia le pregunté:
- ¿Qué paso? ¿Porque todo esto están sin luz? - esperando que me contestara que hubo alguna falla eléctrica o que saltó un breaker.
- La administración no pagó la luz y la cortaron - me respondió.
Solo acerté a responder... "ahhh"

El centro comercial Unicornio nunca fue un referente de éxito.  En su inicio intentaron vender los locales como "la gran inversión" con propagandas de televisión. Me imagino que mucha gente compró locales pensando que era una inversión que no podía fallar. Luego tuvo una vertiginosa caída en las visitas por la falta del conocido como "local ancla" que tiene la función de atraer a la gente.
Resultado de imagen para Centro Comercial Unicornio Quito

Se convirtió en uno de esos centro comerciales de los cuales nunca vas decir algo como "Me estaba tomando un café en el CC Unicornio y me encontré con la Fernanda haciendo shopping". Más bien si en una conversación dices que estuviste en ese centro comercial es posible que te pregunten "¿Que mier... estabas haciendo ahí?". Para no crearme enemigos lo puedo definir como un "Centro Comercial de Nicho" donde hay ciertas tiendas especializadas, la cual su giro de negocios no da tanta rentabilidad para estar un lugar más tránsito comercial.

Este lugar en los últimos años se dedicó a ciertos comercios específicos, en donde los locales que mejor están son los ubicados hacia la calle y luego los que se encuentra en el nivel de la calle. En el segundo piso tiene algunos locales de copias de CDs, juegos piratas, recarga de cartuchos de tinta, instalación de chip a consolas, cables/estuches para teléfonos y un almacén de música (discos de acetato de colección). El segundo piso es más una zona fantasma donde la parte posterior tiene también un pequeño local de discos y el resto son oficinas que tienen persianas y no exhiben ningún producto. 


El tercer piso es un descuidado centro de entretenimiento infantil y la oficina de la administración. Y donde no me he atrevido a ingresar en la última visita, el subsuelo, que asumo también deben ser oficinas con persianas cerradas. Aunque me acuerdo que antes había un local donde reparaban las consolas de video juegos.

Es lamentable ver que la crisis afecta primero a lo más sensible, los sitios que tienen poco éxito y baja afluencia de clientes. Especulo que varios locales ya deben estar en morosidad con la administración y cada vez el dinero escasea para poder pagar los servicios comunales.  Posiblemente el CC Unicornio ya nunca pueda ser como inicio su idea original, sin embargo a veces sueño despierto de como podría haber sido distinta su situación.

lunes, 5 de septiembre de 2016

Hardware: Matricom G-Pad BX Wireless USB Rechargeable Bluetooth Pro Game Pad Joystick


To turn it on/off press the "Mode" button for a while.

This gamepad has three available modes:
  • Mouse = Mode + A
  • Android = Mode + X
  • IOS = Mode + B

Windows 10 - 1607- x64

It does not requires any drivers to be installed.  I had tested the "Mouse" and "Android" mode.

You need to pair it by:

1) Access Windows  "Add a Bluetooth Device".


2) Press the "Mode+X" buttons (or the mode you want to pair) at the same time on the controller so the lights starts blinking.
3) On the screen select the "Bluetooth Gamepad" and select "Pair". It will take a little while and it will say "Connected".


At that time the lights on the controller will stop blinking and only one light will remain turned on. (depending on the mode).



Android Mode: You can check the  "Control Panel - Setup USB Game Controller" and if it is paired on "Android Mode" it will recognize the buttons without problems.


Mouse Mode: If you selected this mode, it will also be recognized as a Game Controller but you will move the mouse with the control of right thumb.  L1 is left lick, R1 is right click.  The controller will show the second light turned on once it is paired.

iOS Mode: On Windows I was able to pair it with this mode. Two lights of the controller turned on at the same time (the first and the second light) but it was not able to make it work on Windows.  The buttons are recognized as different combinations of key strokes, so I think that this mode may be useless on Windows.

Some Other Pictures:





miércoles, 31 de agosto de 2016

Rule #1 of Social Networks

If you say something stupid expect the same as reply.

miércoles, 10 de agosto de 2016

Cheap from China: Classic USB Controller Gaming Joypad (Looks like NES Controller)



  • Win HardwareID: USB\VID_0810&PID_E501&REV_0106
  • Win HardwareID: USB\VID_0810&PID_E501
  • HardwareID: 0810:E501
  • Price: $2.99

Information

According to some hardware database 0810 is the vendorID of Personal Communication Systems, Inc. I was not able to find information about the E501 deviceID.

 

Windows 10 64bits:

Windows recognize it automatically with the default drivers.


A different Windows 10 machine (64bits) recognize it on a similar way.


Windows sees this device on the "Joystick Configuration". It shows several buttons but it only has four.





sábado, 16 de julio de 2016

VIA/S3 Unichrome Pro Integrated Video Adapter and Windows 10 (not available)

HardwareID: 1106:3343
Windows HardwareID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3343&SUBSYS_12071565&REV_01

Name: VIA/S3 Unichrome Pro Integrated Video Adapter [BIOSTAR MICROTECH]

I was not able to find a decent driver for Windows 10 for this Video Adapter.

miércoles, 6 de julio de 2016

Let's never forget this....

Do not forget the color code of the prongs of the plug.



martes, 7 de junio de 2016

Why I Don't Believe in Country Branch Consolidation in Big Corporations (Closing a Country Corporate Branch)

I know it from my own experience with big corporations here in Ecuador. Sometimes an idea shows up that says that a bigger corporate country branch (Like Perú or Colombia) can manage the small country operation or even overtake complete all the branch office.

They will sell the benefits to the corporate headquarters like:
  • The bigger country branch will give resources to the smaller one to have better business opportunities.
  • The skilled people of the bigger branch will help the smaller one that does not have all the people with required skills.
  • We will save costs on staff like consolidating finance, management, etc.
  • The corporate headquarter will not have to worry about the small country operation request, because that branch represents only the 0.001% of the stock,  the bigger country will consolidate it.
Everything sound nice, logical and beautiful. But I have seen the results of this kind of “taking over”. It does not work and it is just a lie.




  • The bigger branch has bigger projects and they do not want to send the skilled people to the small country.
  • The bigger branch has bigger deals and sales the manager simple does not care what will happen on that small country.
  • The sales manager of the bigger country just sees the small country as the extra thing that will help him to get to the sales quota, but will not make any strategic efforts for the small one.
  • The smaller country branch just gets ignored with all their needs, and the bigger country manager only replies that your small country does not have enough sales to invest more on them.
  • The promises and plans that the bigger branch CEO made for the small one just vanishes with time.
  • Instead of saving costs the corporation lost profits, but since it is too small the corporate headquarters do not notice it.
In general terms the sales, image and service of that big corporation get affected on the small country allowing local competition to take advantage.

 

Real Life Example

Let me put this example over the table:
Let's spin-off this division of the company

XYZ corporation spinned-off the SmartPhones and Tablets division of his company to a new company called “Phone-vo”.  Phone-vo starts the worldwide hard work to operate in an independent way from XYZ corporation.

At that moment the Phone-vo local CEO in the Colombia branch says:
-    Why maintain the 6 people operation in Ecuador? We can take it over from here.
-    Are you sure? – Says the worldwide CEO of the new Phone-vo corporation.
-    Yes, we can take over the work from here and work directly with the Partners in Ecuador – replies the CEO with confidence – We will reduce costs and help the Ecuadorian market grow with my blah blah blah marketing strategy.

At that moment they decide that Phone-vo Ecuador company branch does not need a local CEO and the remaining five people starts working with the Colombian staff.

The Colombian staff are just too overwhelmed with the spin-off, their day-to-day work and now they also have to put orders for an additional territory that has his own laws, merchandise importation rules and little details that you have to notice all the time. And the Colombian staff has their CEO always breathing on their back telling that the number one priority is “Colombia” because it is the bigger market with bigger deals and more money.

Even if there are people in Colombia that are hired to work exclusively for Ecuador, when Colombia have a peak of workload the CEO just says to drop Ecuador and focus on the Colombian branch business.

Result: The Ecuadorian orders for Phones and Tablets starts taking 6 months to get to Ecuador because of the lack of interest and focus of Colombia team on that business.
The Phone-vo Ecuador company, without a manager, starts reducing his staff from five to four and three, until the last one is only the finance guy in charge of closing the company in legal papers with a local outsourced attorney.
 
The customers complained on how it is possible to take that long to bring an order to Ecuador and started to look for other brand alternatives.  The local Phone-vo partners in Ecuador also complained about that 6 months it is too much time to get the products and that they are losing sales opportunities. Since the partners cannot live just by selling one single brand that takes too much to get into the market, they start selling products of the competition to the loyal “Phone-vo” customers in Ecuador.

The “Phone-vo” brand is today a faraway memory on the Ecuadorian market, that shows from time to time with a disconnected marketing strategy to promote a product or two.  From a business that was good (not incredible excellent) in Ecuador, the operation got reduced and the sales started dropping because of this great idea (sarcasm).

What are the factors for doing this?

How do you manage the balance between reducing costs without losing operational ground? From a good business you can reduce it to a bad business just because trying to reduce costs.


But there is another factor on it called “greed”. The Sales Manager thinks on the sales bonus check at the end of the month and sometimes it became their only motivation. When they see that their country just reached their sales potential, they may have the great idea to annex more territory to their sales scope to get a bigger commission check and not necessary to close more sales for the corporation. It does not matter if the other territory already has a good sales and management team, a decent sales record or if the local market can grow or not, it just matters the sales bonus that the Sales Manager and country CEO are going to get, because the sales number will be bigger for them individually but not increasing the net sales for the corporation.

 

Conclusion

It may sound like a good idea to close a country branch to be taken over by a bigger one, it even may look great on a PowerPoint slide. The CEO of the bigger country branch may have a cost saving strategy and list of good wills for the smaller country, but that is not enough.

The corporation or regional CEO will only have to make himself this little questions.
-    It is really going to give more profit to the corporation? Or is only going to help the sales bonus check of the bigger branch CEO?