Tech News Vermont

Not really a full on episode, really just a function check for some new equipment and to see if everything still is setup for the podcast. Real episodes will be on tap next year.

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My new macbook pro has arrived and I’m nearly done transfering my old data from backups onto the new machine.  Yes, I received a completely new machine from the 2009 design family.

My late 2008 Macbook Pro was exhibiting the freeze up problem when running on the higher graphics setting.  My local Apple service center replaced my RAM, the motherboard and the upper case and I still had the problem.  I sent the machine to Apple’s repair center in Tennessee and it still had the problem.  I even tried to upgrade to Snow Leopard and still I’d freeze up for no reason.

Apple replaced the machine last week with a new Macbook Pro and I’ve been freeze free.  The Applecare team was very helpful through the whole ordeal.

Now that I’ve got my machine back I expect to be updating TechNews Vermont on a more regular basis.  I may even get a podcast done.

My main machine, a late 2008 15 inch macbook pro, has been experiencing lock ups.  It’s not tied to anything in particular. I’ll be working along in Garageband, Word, Pages, Excel, Xcode, or World of Warcraft and everything stops.  The screen doesn’t go black, it just freezes.  The only way to get the machine to respond is to press and hold the power button and restart.  Of course you lose everything you were working on.

I took it into Ormsby’s in Barre.  They are central Vermont’s Apple service center.  I explained what was going on with the computer.  This is one of the those problems that are hard to explain and difficult to replicate.  Allen was great, he was able to replicate the lock up and ran several diagnostics.  Apple suggested that we swap out the RAM.

The new RAM made the lock ups less frequent.  I had three yesterday, which is much less frequent than before, but the machine continues to freeze for no reason.  It goes back into Orsmby’s today for a new motherboard.

When I get the laptop back I can start recording the next podcast.

The frequency of the Tech News Vermont podcast is going to reduce. I’m taking the show down to once every two weeks versus the once a week format I was working with. There just isn’t enough material for weekly shows.

I’m still planning on announcing meetings and events around the state. Make sure you continue to send those into feedback@technewsvt.com. I still have space for sponsors, you can get your business or group featured on Tech News Vermont twice a month.