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Forum
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RE: Kindle Free Books --- Any Catch?
I use an iPod Touch to read books as well as all the other things it can do like eMail and web browsing. The nice thing about the Touch over a Kindle is I can run the Kindle reader the Barns and Nobel reader and several other readers on the same device. It also is small enough to fit in my pocket so I can read when ever I have a chance or get stuck waiting. The backlight makes it nice for reading in low/no light situations. The negative is it has to be charged regularly where the Kindle goes forever.
As far as free books MommaJo is partially right a lot of the free books are old out of copyright, but there is also a lot of new authors that are trying to break out and some are very good. Amazon throws current books out for free every so often but you have to be on the right lists to catch them because they are usually only offered for a few days. Barnes and Nobel also does the same thing. If you are in to SciFi and Fantasy try http://www.baen.com/ they have a free library and encourage all their writers to release at least one book in the free library to generate readership. They also have the lowest prices for new eBooks that I have seen.
I use Stanza for a lot of the none Kindle and B&N books, it is free software and they have Mac and PC versions and some other smart phones.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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11/20/09 08:30pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos
We have a similar approach to dish washing. We went one step further and don't have a hot water heater, the space it takes up is better used for other things.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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11/17/09 06:54pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: A thread about your favorite iPhone apps...
This was talked about back in September.
Here is a Link.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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11/08/09 06:26pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Sleeping bags
We have zip together bags. We choose two different weights so you can pick what you want on top by how cold it is. We also bought zip together polar fleece bag liners. In warmer weather we just use the liners, in real cold we use it all and carry and extra wool blanket to throw over the bags.
Jim..
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JimBollman
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10/27/09 04:46pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: Refrigerator average daily propane consumption
Guess I just have bad luck on frig efficiencies. The only two that I have owned over the last 20 years have been the smaller units used in the small slide in campers and they both use as much or more as you guys are using on big frigs.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/23/09 06:35pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Ebook Readers vs Computers
If I was planning on reading for hours at a time I would probably consider some dedicated eReader. I tend to read books when I have a few minutes. A 30 minute session is a long one.
My needs are small enough to be in my pocket, and back lite so I don't have to worry what the lighting is where I want to read. The iPod Touch does all that for me and allows me to check eMail and do a bunch of other things without getting my laptop out (even when it is with me). There are apps for all the major eBook stores plus some that allow you to do a bunch of the public formats. I have 4 readers on my iPod currently and about 60 books. So far I have found enough free material to keep me happy but have a short list of titles I plan to buy soon.
Some of the more progressive online eBook publishers give away titles to get you hooked on an author/series. It works, that is where my list is being generated from. Some of those same stores realize that an eBook shouldn't cost as much as a paperback and allow downloads in the $4 range instead of $10-20. Not all free books are out of copyright old stuff many are current books. Some are junk but you find that out in the first few pages and discard and move on (part of the reason I have so many books on my stack).
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/21/09 08:02pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Firewood
Kiln dried wood scraps and wax logs in a small fire bowl for us. Doesn't take up as much room and doesn't cost much. I cut the wax logs into chunks about 3-4" long as my main fuel source and supplement with scraps as needed. I can carry the fire bowl and a weeks worth of fuel in the wheel well storage compartment of my slide in camper with space left over.
Maybe not as impressive as the large camp fires but nice to sit around in the evening with minimal fuss.
It wouldn't surprise me about some fire restrictions after all it is the government, but burning wood is carbon neutral. The log puts off roughly the same CO2 if it burns or rots. Pulls it back in when the new tree grows.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/21/09 07:25pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: How do I pull in a weak WiFi signal?
This is one of several threads on the topic. Here is my last post.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/18/09 07:21pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Cost of Fuel and Stratigic Storage
I keep some gas on hand in the Winter, but not for price. I stocked up just today, I have several 1 Gal to 6 Gal metal Eagle gas cans totaling 17 Gal. I fill these every fall (before winter blend switch over) treating them with gas stabilizer. These are used for my tractor to plow snow and as back up fuel for a generator in case of a power outage. After two 100 year ice storms 10 years apart where we lost power from 4-6 days each time my wife said I had to buy a generator. Since both times it would have been hard to get gas for several of those days, I decided that after buying the Honda 2000 I better have enough fuel to run it and the tractor for multiple days if necessary. Tractor starts the winter full also (8 gal).
Any gas still in the cans in the spring get dumped into the tractor and lawn mower through the summer and not refilled till fall (or I run out).
Pretty much guarantees my emergency fuel is never more than a year old.
I specified the type of gas cans I use because they are heavy steel cans not plastic or thin steel junk. They stored off the floor on shelving. Still a lot of flammable fluid to keep around but not anymore than a car sitting in the garage. I also bought this year from the last station in the area that does not add alcohol, not sure that will be possible next year.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/17/09 07:44pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Increase WIFI reception area?
I have posted my solution before. It works great to extend my WiFi range and I have about $20 invested. All it takes is a small cheap tripod a roughly parabolic reflector (I chose a collapsable colander) and a generic USB WiFi dongle.
http://www.jebs-stuff.com/Misc/WiFi_Ready-sm.jpg
http://www.jebs-stuff.com/Misc/WiFi_Travel-sm.jpg
The dongle showed is a more expensive one that stopped working on my Mac due to a laptop upgrade and has been replaced with one I bought For $10.
I used a USB Extension cord that I pushed threw a hole I cut to be a tight feet and then bound it in place with a tie wrap. The tri-pod mount is one of those captive nuts that are intend to go in a hole and just draw down to lock into place.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/13/09 08:18pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Deleting data from a hard drive
Any good formating software should have the option of writing zeros over the whole drive. This takes awhile but should make it unreadable by all but the CIA and above. Some have the option of writing over with zeros 7 times, unreadable by all but the NSA and above. I have seen up to 35 over writes, not readable by anyone.
No need to destroy a good disk.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/04/09 06:55pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Diesel engine in TV
My 7.3 was hard to start in moderately cool weather. I then discovered a bad Glow Plug Relay and a starter that was pulling 1000 amps when first engaged. After replacing both it now spins over faster and starts easier than my old 4.2 V6. Seldom gets cold enough to plug in anymore.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/04/09 06:36pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Digital Camera Recommendation
My current go to camera is a CANON SD1100 IS this is the second in this series I have bought over the years, the last one now rides in my Wife's purse. It takes great pictures and can also shoot very good videos. It is a true pocket camera so it can always be with you. besides it's size the two other big features is image stabilization (great for low light level with no flash) and it has both a good view screen and one of the few small cameras with a view finder. The battery seems to last forever.
I also have one of the CANON long Zoom cameras with image stabilization that I love but it is to big and I take it when I know I need it. The 1100 is with me most of the time and I take 100 times as many pictures with it. I think the current version is the SD1200 IS.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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10/02/09 06:25pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Do you use iphone or itouch level app to level fiver?
I have an iPod Touch an have been using Army Knife Basic 3-1 all summer on my truck camper. Seems to be plenty accurate for frig. Since it gives me degrees that I'm off and I know on my rig that it takes a little more than 1/2" of block/degree front to back and a little less side to side I can usually hit it with one try.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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09/28/09 06:19pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Web Publishing Software
I think I heard Front Page was discontinued. The one time I looked at the pages it made it would be hard to use another package to edit anything it creates anyway.
I use Nvu, free and cross platform. Makes very clean html.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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09/26/09 05:39pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: iPhone users!! What are your favorite apps or accessories?
Lots of my favorites have already been listed but here are a few that I use regular that have not been listed.
HanDBase - general purpose database program quick and easy to learn to keep all kinds of records. It was one of the must have apps I was waiting for to move from a Palm. I have dozens of DB lists, takes the place of lots of specialty apps.
RoadTrip - For us anal types that like to keep records of all auto expenses. I use the paid version for multiple cars and a few extras.
WikiTrak - Great for finding weak WiFi spots
WeatherBug - I like the paid version but the free one is ok.
Army Knife 3 in 1 - it is the free one gives me a level which is great for setting up the camper, and an emergency flash light in one free app. The paid one gives more tools but not ones I need.
ACTPrinter - If you have a Mac you can print directly to your iPhone as a PDF for reference, or drag and drop PDFs on to the iThing.
BookShelf - Book reader that you can read a bunch of formats off your computer and download from the net.
Stanza - My primary eBook reader. Great to pull out and read a couple of pages when you are stuck some place. I have read a bunch of books in the last few months in bits and pieces. It is also great for reading in the camper at night, no extra lights needed. Lots of free and paid places to download from.
iPhunny - Gives you the top 100 night time comedy show jokes, 10 new ones each day.
Area Codes - good for checking where that phone number is really at when you see it in an ad. Works both way give it a town or an area code and it gives the other.
Zip Codes - works both way give it a town or a zip and it gives the other.
I have lots more but these are the regular use ones, along with some of the others mentioned above.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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09/25/09 08:05pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Inverter Sizing
I have only checked a couple of inverters so this is only an opinion on a small sample, but the larger inverters I tested had a higher no load current load than the smaller ones. I went for an inverter that did the job and not much more for that reason. If I forget to turn it off or am running a very small load I don't waste a lot of power.
I mounted a small inverter (I think it is around 150W) under the over head cabinet in a convenient spot to plug into and the switch is right handy with no extra switches or modes. I saved enough power by converting a close by light to LED, I just patched into that wiring.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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09/24/09 08:48pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Did I Have A Senior Moment?
We don't have a screen door on our current camper but are old one we left open many nights for fresh air. Currently we almost never lock the camper when we are in it, only if we are going to be away from it. Guess we camp in safer places or are in a dream world.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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09/24/09 07:49pm |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Battery Questions....
My setup really only works for people with low power demands. We can get by for a week + on one type 27 battery. I normally only charge it when I'm connected to land power (no charging from the truck going down the road). The paranoid part of me says it will die some day when it is the most inconvenient. The only must have electricity part of our setup is the water pump and in hot weather the aux fans on the frig. My solution was to buy one of those portable power packs with an inverter built in the back. The 12 volt battery part of it will power the water pump and the fans for an additional day or so, plus it is small to carry for possible recharging or remote use. I have used the remote use several times to jump start stranded people and charging tools at worksites, plus it is handy around the house when we are not camping. I also pack a long cord that will allow me to charge the camper battery or run the camper from the aux plug in the cab of the truck. It is a small package to stash in the camper for an emergency and so far I have never had to use it.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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09/04/09 04:57pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: i got a new toad/toy
What some of the guys that run with my son do is make it look reasonable for the road and throws some old out of state plates on it. Most police will not hassle you because it has plates on, if you don't abuse the road us and they don't know what is street legal in the state of the plate. If they do get stopped they get a ticket for an unlicensed vehicle.
Jim...
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JimBollman
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09/03/09 07:05pm |
Truck Campers
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