The fact that I’m sitting in front of 3 computers right now suggests that I am really, really geeky.
What’s even geekier is that I’m using all three at once. One isn’t enough, neither is two. Okay, one of them is just playing music right now, but that’s a very important function.
I bought a refurbished gaming computer from Best Buy a few weeks ago, which wouldn’t boot up Vista no matter what I did, so I wiped that off and put Ubuntu on it. I was going to do that anyways, but still, Vista missed its chance to not suck in my presence. FAIL. I bittorrented a 64-bit version of Vista Home Premium, since the license key is on a sticker on the side of the computer and Best Buy wasn’t going to give me installation disks. I’ll get around to burning that onto a DVD and setting up a virtual Windows machine one of these days, when I’m feeling especially masochistic.
I intend to use the new desktop as a software development and database testing machine, but most often as a music server, since it’s got a big enough hard drive to hold all my mp3s, unlike the Macbook or webserver. I’ve got it hooked up to the living room stereo and I’m thinking of buying an Apple Airport Express to put in my bedroom to attach to the boombox. Supposedly it’s been reverse-engineered to work with Linux and stream its music.
And then from my bedroom I can either remote desktop or ssh into the music server using my Macbook (or with my iPod Touch if I get command line mp3 playing commands figured out, though that’s an awkward interface) and control the music playback. Because walking a few metres to the physical computer itself is too much work. I’m not sure “my apartment is large” is a justifiable excuse for wanting to set this up, but then, the only real excuse is utter shameless nerdity.
Stuck inside and unemployed for 3 months, the typical woman would probably clean and redecorate. And instead I’m trying to create the sweet wireless media hookup throughout the apartment using Linux and Apple hardware. Note, while the Ikea furniture I bought 4 months ago is still in boxes on the living room floor. I’m even wondering how I’d be able to play music into the bathroom. Priorities, what happened to you?
Okay, I bow down before your nerdiness. My double monitors may be the envy of my colleagues in the business consulting field, and some might accuse me of nerdiness for owning four computers, but I only actually USE one (maybe two) computer(s) simultaneously, and my media hookup is generally limited to Iceberg Radio.
You crack me up.
As for the IKEA furniture, I think the cardboard boxes are actually one of the best places for IKEA things. Nasty mean ikeakes. (similar to Orcses, without the drooling).
What can I say? This so is something I can relate to and see being a fun way to pass one’s time. Besides, who needs furniture anyway.
Evil husband! WE DO! WE need furniture! *lol*
Sorry to hijack, Gill!
Geekiness may now resume….
That’s kinda hot
Jason calls it.
Anyway, if you set up the Ubuntu music server and then access it via iTunes from your MacBook, you can use Apple’s Remote application (free from the App Store) on your iPhone or iPod Touch to control iTunes via Wi-Fi from anywhere within range.
I did that at Air’s birthday party in September: the music in the kitchen was playing from the Mac in the basement through the AirPort Express, and I changed songs from the iPod Touch in my pocket.
Nnnnnnnerrrrrd!