As recovery continues... a thought

[dianeduane]

...I hate the flu. Hate it. I hate this stand-up, whoops, no, fall-right-over thing. Especially when I have work to do. Well, at least I can work on the laptop in bed. I just wish it wouldn't keep overheating and shutting down without warning. (Turns out this is a fault in the Sharp UM32W that can only be solved by getting the motherboard replaced -- to the tune of about $800, since the thing's out of warranty. Gah.)

Anyway: I've had some mails from people over the last few days about the writers' strike, saying they support it and want to know what they can do to help.

For the moment, try signing on to this online petition. Yeah, I know, such things can seem to be of questionable value. But we'll see. Please, spread the link around as widely as you can.

Another thing: those of you who are in LA or NY should feel free to go down and join the picket lines -- they'll be glad to have you. LA folks: the big picket today is at Fox. Thousands of writers and supporters will be there. I wish I could be. (Except I'd just fall down after taking about ten steps, which would dampen the occasion somewhat.)

And again, if you're not sure you understand the issues surrounding this whole fooforaw, try checking out the entries and sidebars at United Hollywood, where the strike captains are running a blog.

(You could also read our old friend Ron Moore's excellent interview on the subject over at IGN.)

(...And here's something worth seeing: past master of our craft, longtime Obi-Wan to my Luke [or Lukette, as the case may be]: Harlan Ellison talks about getting paid for one's work. Inimitably.)

Comments

[dduane.livejournal.com]

Yes, backup is definitely on my mind at the moment.

Fortunately, though (strange word to use in the circumstances...) the problem is apparently due to the video card overheating. Many Sharp machines of this model seem to suffer from this problem, which Sharp refuses to acknowledge except by insisting that the motherboard be replaced.

This particular laptop, fond as I am of it, is starting to show its age, and I suspect there's a Mac in my future. :)

[raishi-fox.livejournal.com]

Have you tried a cooling pad for it? I don't know how much they'd help with that particular issue, but they're fairly inexpensive and might be enough to keep the laptop alive until you can replace it.

[dduane.livejournal.com]

I have my eye on one on eBay.

[raishi-fox.livejournal.com]

Well, unfortunately, it looks like they're right about having to replace the motherboard. I looked up what I could find on that laptop (too much free time; my job usually consists of 15 minutes a day helping people with the sort of tech support problems you usually find on computer humor sites and the rest of the day sitting at my own computer), and the problem is that they used poor quality ceramic capacitors on the motherboard, either to save money or perhaps they just unknowingly got a bad batch. Either way, cheap capacitors tend to develop microscopic cracks over time or under stress, and cracked capacitors can generate extreme heat. Hence, your problem.

In theory, it would be possible to replace the capacitors, but speaking as someone who's attempted circuit board repairs before, it's more practical to just replace the motherboard.

$800 is ridiculous, though, especially considering that this is definitely a manufacturing defect in the laptop, not normal wear. I see no reason why they shouldn't be taking full responsibility for fixing that.