Laptop Computer Setup

Today, I began working on setting up my new Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Windows laptop microcomputer:

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 Laptop, 15.6” FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 Home, 720p Camera w/Privacy Shutter, Smart Noise Cancelling, Cloud Grey, $331.00 from Amazon on 9/11/2024. Supposedly, it runs Windows 11 Home quite well, has decent battery life, is sturdy and light in weight, and has a better sound system.

I will set up the Lenovo laptop for full featured use of the Internet (Chrome and Bing, My Homepage), Facebook, Blog, Amazon, Kindle, Atlantis, Website Links ...

Also, and most important, I want to use the new Lenovo laptop for music recording, music editing, DAW (Digital Audio Workshops: FLStudio, Ableton), Band in a Box Software, percussion software, MIDI keyboard connectivity, home music studio hardware and software, music composing, sound mixing, musical theory research, voice alteration Humanoid, ...

In September, 2024, I stopped using my old refurbished HP Elitebook 8470P laptop which I purchased for $250 in January, 2022,, except for photography work. I stopped using my old Galaxy 1 Tablet A in September 2024, except for music playing. Both older units are slow, have battery problems, do not work properly sometimes, have old hardware/software, etc. I'm removing some files from both, deleting some programs, and cleaning them up.

Musical Practice and Developmental Pointers

Suggestions Harvested by Michael P. Garofalo

Tips from a Beginning Harmonica Player

Harmonica Studies: A Beginner's Notes, Research, Resources, and Comments.

September 2024

Computer Tablet

I have used a Samsung Galaxy Tab A (2017 Tablet) for 7 years. I have all my favorite MP3 or WAV music on this Tablet, with many backups. Tab A has a viewing screen of 6.75 inches high and 4.15 inches wide. The Tab A is on the heavy side alone, and a bit heavier with a sturdy Braecn rubber protective cover with a swivel back grip.  Functional running Android software, I use Kindle Ebooks for reading. Comes with 32 GB internal storage, and I use 40 GB of a 150 GB SD Card. I get OK connectivity with the Tab A at home using WiFi from my XFinity cable services. This old Tab takes longer to charge, and faster to discharge.

Time to upgrade. So, I purchased a ....

Kadybe, Android 14 Tablet, 2024, 10 inch Tablet with 128GB Storage 1TB Expandable, 14GB RAM, Dual 4G Cellular Tablet with keyboard Support 5Ghz WiFi/Bluetooth 5.0/GPS, Octa-Core Processor, FHD IPS Screen, $173.00 Amazon. It comes with a compatible Blue Tooth connected standard keyboard.  

We shall see if I am satisfied.  I worked Thursday night and Friday morning and afternoon on getting the new Kadybe Android Tablet running the software I need and like to use. 

I purchased the FL Studio Mobile software for the Tablet, $29.00 once, for use in music recording, musical studies, harmonica recordings, learning to read standard musical notation for melody lines.  I also purchased a condenser lapel microphone and a 4 channel audio mixer.

Band in a Box Software

I downloaded the 2024 Windows version of Band in the Box Pro on June 20, 2024.

Started viewing Henry Clarke's Band in the Box Tutorials on UTube.

PG Music Website, Band in a Box, Software 

Using Ebook: Band in a Box by Peter Upclaire

Band in a Box 2024 User Guide PDF

Database Software: Microsoft Access

 I have used the Microsoft Access database software since 2001.  I used Access for work at my places of employment and at home for database applications.  

I had not used Access since 2017, and had used Microsoft Excel since 2017 for related simple home database applications.  

To my surprise, Access is not included in my current low budget Microsoft Office package.  I had to shell out $175.00 today for the Microsoft Access software.  I've used database software since the 1990's.  I like this kind of power user database software.  

I am currently working on a major database Project in 2023.  I call it:
"The Subject Index to Cases in Koan Collections."

The Access database for this project on my C: hard drive is called:
Koan Case Database.

The Folder on my C: hard drive where I store the various files, reports, backups, images, documents, downloads, etc., for this project is at:
C:\Koan Database. 

I was able to import all my existing Excel data into a new database called: Koan Case Database.  

Brief Spiritual Stories, Dialogues, and Encounters
Zen Buddhist Koan Collections
Catching Phrases, Inspiring Verses, Hard Questions
Bibliography, Quotations, Notes, Resources
Research by Michael P. Garofalo

The Fireplace Records By Michael P. Garofalo

Graphic Arts Studies

I have been doing introductory studies in computer graphic arts.  

I have focused more on the manipulation of text, and subjects such as concrete poetry, text graphics, calligrams, lettrisme, graffitti, typographic art, calligraphy and lettering, visual poetry, infographics, web effects.  

I own and primarily use CorelDRAW X8 2016 at home for graphic arts work projects.  It is a very robust vector graphics software program, and I can afford its one time cost of $100.00.  I have been using this vector graphics software since December 2019.

CorelDRAWing is a current hobby of mine.  CorelDRAW can create and manipulate and output graphic images in many formats for printing or web publishing.  

   

CorelDRAW X8.  By Munishwar Gulati and Mini Gulati.  Independently Pub., 2017, 308 pages.  VSCL   

CorelDraw X8: Books 

CorelDRAW X8 Graphic Design Level 1.  By Advanced Mico Systems Sdn Bhd.  Amazon Kindle, 70 pages. 

CoreDRAW X8 Keyboard Shortcuts.  By U. C-Abel Books, 2017, 59 pages.  VSCL

CorelDRAW X8: The Offficial Guide.  By Gary David Bouton.  McGraw-Hill Education, 12th Edition, 2017, 648 pages.  VSCL    

CorelDRAW X8  Vector Graphics Software, Corel, 2016.  $80.00  VSCL 

CorelDRAW X8 Tutorial Video Training.  By How to Gurus.  2 DVDs with over 11 hours of instruction in 198 Lessons, 2016.  VSCL  

CorelDRAW X8 Training Guide.  By Satish Jain and M. Geetha.  BPB Pub., 2018, 255 pages.  VSCL

            

            

Computer Problems

My computer has been disabled for awhile due to a variety of software, virus, and malware mischief.

Thus far, I've spend many hours and $200.00 to recover.

I still don't have Front Page 2003 or Cute FTP back working.  Therefore, no website maintenance since July, 2018.

What an annoying hassle for me.

Video Games 2: Software Experimentation

I find that the NBA 2K 18 on the Nintendo Switch is very difficult to play because of the rapid pace required in skilled passing and shooting.  The software has a practice option with 1on1 and 2on2, etc., so you can learn the basic movements possible in playing NBA level basketball.  Manual dexterity and quick reflexes are not my strong suit, so my progress is poor in this game.  I have, thus far, led the Golden State Warriors to four resounding 1st quarter defeats.

Using the Madden NFL 18 football video game on the X Box One is easier for me to play than NBA basketball because the pace is slower.  Lots of commands and selections to learn.  I think that using and learning this Madden software might make my NFL football television viewing experience this autumn more interesting.  Also, if I learn this software's command and movement controls, then I can use the Madden software upgrades in years to come, e.g., 2018-2019 season, Madden 19.  X Box One is a decent console for using NFL 18.  I've used NFL 14 before.

Cheat sheets for basic movements are not easy to find; Gamers seem to prefer figuring the controls out for themselves through experimentation, failures, and modest consistent successes in playing a new game.

I use Mario Brothers Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch.  I have also played older versions of Mario Brothers on the PS2, and NES, e.g., Super Mario Brothers 2, Super Mario Brothers 3, Super Mario World.  I even have some Mario Brothers art, toys, and ???? Cube.

I started purchasing computers (Commodore, Atari, IBM-DOS clones), and video game hardware and software in the 1980's.  I played lots of games on desktop computers, telephones, tablets, and video consoles for 40 years.  I have always been interested in computers, their uses in business applications, and in the potentials of artificial intelligence, networking, learning, programming languages, etc.  I earned good money, I worked till I was 70,  while being a leader in library automation, management, using computers for management information systems, website development, grant writing, and research.

Off and Running

I finally got my new computer loaded with all the software I use.  Some old software would not reload in Windows 10 - what a hassle and disappointment.  

I am using the Atlantis Word Processor ($45) and the Google documents spreadsheet.  I use Microsoft Front Page 2003 for my simple website publishing. Google Chrome is my browser.  

Mostly reading biological science books:

Hölldobler, Bert and Edward O. Wilson.  The Superorganism: The Beauty, Elegance, and Strangeness of Insect Societies.  W. W. Norton & Co., 2008.  544 pages.  ISBN: 9780393067040.  VSCL. 

Wilson, Edward O. (1929-)  The Diversity of Life.  New York, W.W. Norton and Co., 1962.  Index, glossary, notes, 424 pages.  ISBN: 0393310477.  VSCL.    

Darwin, Charles (1809-1882).  The Annotated Origin: A Facsimile of the First Edition of On the Origin of the Species.  By Charles Darwin.  Annotated by James  T. Costa. Belknap Press of the Harvard University Press, 2009.  Indices, references, biographies, appendices, 537 pages.  ISBN: 9780674032811.  VSCL.  Read in 1/2017 and in college in 1965.  


I am walking for 90 minutes everyday and lifting weights at the local gym five days each week.  I do the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan 24 Form, 108 Form, and one cane form.  

So, in short, I am "Off and Running" into the 2017 New Year.  


However, we do have visitors coming to our home and staying overnight from January 5th until January 14th.  We won't have much time for personal interests and hobbies until a week later.

Summer Vacation

I work part-time for the Corning Union Elementary School District during the school year.  I work 117 days each calendar year.  My last day of work for the 2014-2015 school year was yesterday.  I am now on "summer vacation" until August 16th.  Karen retired in June of 2014.

I walk 3.6 miles in the morning each day starting at 5:10 am; with laps interspersed with Taijiquan forms practice.  I teach yoga 3 or 4 evenings each week from 5:20 - 6:40 pm.  I lift weights at the gym 5 days each week from 4 to 5 pm.

We both work on home improvement projects, water, and garden each day.  During the hottest time of each day, we read, research and write indoors.  We use a simple evaporation cooler and a couple of fans to keep us comfortable during the hottest time of each summer day. 

This summer I will complete Phase 4 (indexing and concordance) for my Tao Te Ching project.  As usual, I will post to the Cloud Hands Blog each day. 

We listen to a lot of New Age music in MP3 digital format as well as use Pandora.  I also listen to a good deal of string quartet music.

I have four books of intellectual history that I plan to read, as well as the Essays of Michel de Montaigne.

This summer I will learn and use Photoshop CS5, AskSam 6, and the Atlantis word processor. 

I plan to watch parts of the Tour de France starting on July 4th. I enjoy the scenic and historical commentary, as well, of course, as the tactics and athleticism of the bike riders.  I seldom have ridden a bike in my lifetime, although I rode small motorcycles for 12 years for transportation in the city. 

Karen and I will complete the repair, painting, and remodeling of our back porch.  We will finish removing three dead trees and four overgrown trees in the wrong locations.  We will rent a dumpster and clean up materials stored in our far south field. We will tend our summer vegetable garden and enjoy the harvests. 

Our children and their families will be visiting us in late June and early July.  Karen and I will join my two brothers and their wives in Bodega Bay, California, and in Peyton, Colorado, for the Blaize Reunion.  Karen and I will also go up to Portland once. 

So, assuming good health, we will have a busy, productive, and pleasurable summer vacation.

If our son is fortunate enough to get a kidney transplant (he has waited 4 years), then Karen will go to Portland for six weeks to help him during recovery, and we will help with finances.  That event would make it a wonderful and perfect summer.

Writing Software: Atlantis

Lately, I have been using the Atlantis word processor to work on Ebooks that my wife, Karen, and I are writing, and will be publishing online starting in December, 2013. 

The Atlantis Word Processor is full-featured, fast, compact, and inexpensive at $35.00. 

I use Microsoft Office at work and at home.  I use Word 2003 running on Windows XP on my home and work desktops, Karen uses Word 2007 running on Windows 7 on her desktop, and we use Word 2013 running on Windows 8 on our Toshiba Satellite laptop.  Most of our documents are in .doc format, backed up to an external hard drive, and easily imported into Atlantis.  Atlantis saves documents in a variety of formats.  I am most familiar and most comfortable with using Word 2003, and Atlantis is quite similar in appearance and functionality to Word 2003.  Since I also use Excel, Access, and PowerPoint at work, Microsoft Office is indispensable.  However, If all you need is a good word processor, then consider buying and using Atlantis.     

You can easily export the entire Atlantis word processing software to a USB flash drive, because the program is only 9.8 MB in size, and quickly use Atlantis on any Windows computer.  Kind of like a "Cloud" on a lanyard.  A great addition for my tiny Acer Netbook laptop. 

I really like how Atlantis exports to EPUB format.  Even Word 2013 can’t export to EPUB format. The Atlantis software even comes with an Ebook template. 

I read Ebook files with the Calibre Ebook Reader and with a Kindle Paperlight.  Both Karen and I use the Kindle Paperlight readers.  Calibre can convert any EPUB file into many Ebook formats other than EPUB.  Calibre is open source and free, and a donation is advised for this high quality product.  

As we are both now semi-retired, we are looking for more ways to generate income from our web publishing efforts at our Green Way Research business.  Our hope is to have a more successful home business, and too work more at our rural home office in the very near future.