Polaris Pool Sweep Bag Replacement DIY, SAVE $20+.

This blog is not particularly technical but it is definitely money saving. I have a Polaris Pool Sweep in my pool. (a) It does a pretty good job keeping the pool clean. It uses a mesh bag (b) to capture the debris as it moves as a water pressure activated vacuum cleaner. So far no complaints, where I get aggravated is the $24.00 price tag on the replacement bags. We aren’t talking stainless steel or anything with a chip in it, we are talking a nylon mesh bag with a plastic collar. As a former business owner I am all in favor of profit but when you have a captive market that you assume has big bucks because they have an in-ground pool (hah!), there is no reason to hose (no pun intended) them over on a consumable. Anyway, now retired and needing a replacement bag I put my creative juices to the task and came up with a workable alternative.

You buy a lingerie wash bag at the dollar store for a buck. You use a stainless steel hose clamp ($3.00) or a cable tie $0.25 and you have just saved yourself $20 plus tax and shipping. (Parts C) If you have the plastic sleeve from an old bag, you can clamp on to it, otherwise just clamp onto the Polaris itself. I cut a hole in the bottom of the bag and sewed it to size with 4lb fishing line. Cutting the hole allows you to use the zipper the bag came with to empty the bag when full I added two pieces of Velcro to hold the bag upright and viola, a DYI Polaris bag. This process should work with any of their models as long as you have saved their plastic sleeve that inserts into the pool sweep itself.

It isn’t elegant but then who cares what the pool sweep looks like as long as the pool is clean. (Finished Product D) So save yourself some money and do it yourself!

Cheap Home Computer w. NO Microsoft

If you are looking for a cheap home computer, this cheapo may be just what you need. It is sold at Walmart for $199.00. You need a monitor and a printer but if you are replacing an aging Dell, as a friend who called me today is, you should already have both. With the included Open Office you have one cheap system. Walmart, feel free to send me some money for this blog. (ha, like that would happen.)

The system is preinstalled with the gOS and running on the power of an 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor, this computer lets you create your own CDs, easily transfer digital files and surf the Internet with broadband-ready 10/100 Ethernet port. Note: Monitor not included.

Here are the specs:
1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor
512MB DDR2 memory
80GB Hard Drive
DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
Burn CDs and watch your favorite DVDs on this versatile drive

Additional Features:
Operating System: gOS V2
Expansion Slots: N/A
Communications: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Graphics & Audio: VIA UniChrome Pro IGP and 6-Channel Audio
Measurements (CPU): 14.65"(H) x 6.89"(W) x 15.98"(D)
Weight: 21 lbs (total)
External Ports: 6 USB 2.0 Ports (2 front, 4 back), External VGA Connector, 1 Parallel Port, 2 PS/2 Ports (Keyboard and Mouse), 1 Microphone Port, 1 Line-In Port
104-Key Multifunction Keyboard
2-Button Scroll Mouse


Additional Specifications from Cnet.
Additional Specifications
Hard Drive Size: 80 GB
System RAM: 512 MB
Operating System: gOS
Processor Type: VIA C7-D 1.5 GHz
Cache Memory Type: L2 cache Installed Size: 128 KB
RAM Installed Size: 512 MB / 2 GB (max)
Technology: DDR II SDRAM
Storage Hard Drive: 1 x 80 GB - standard - Serial ATA-150 - 7200 rpm
Operating System / Software OS Provided: GOS v2
Software: OpenOffice.org 2.3
Graphics Controller Type: Integrated
Graphics Processor / Vendor: VIA UniChrome Pro
Optical Storage Type: CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo
Read Speed: 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
Write Speed: 48x
Expansion / Connectivity Expansion Slots Total (Free): 1 ( 0 ) x processor ¦ 2 ( 1 ) x memory - DIMM 240-pin
Networking: Network adapter - integrated
Modem: Fax / modem
Dimensions Product Form Factor: Tower

Width: 6.7 in
Height: 13.8 in
Depth: 14 in
More Information
Model No.: TC2512
Shipping Weight (in pounds): 26.0
Product in Inches (L x W x H): 22.0 x 18.0 x 11.0
Assembled in Country of Origin:USA and/or Imported
Origin of Components: USA and/or Imported
Wal-Mart No.: 000502741

SubNotebooks-Oops they did it again or Déjà vu all over again!

WhooHoo subnotebooks are predicted to be big….AGAIN. Is there any recollection of the the Poqet PC, Psion palmtop computer, Newton or the Jornada. After 28 years in the computer business, I find many of the headlines Yogi Berraish. Now it is subnotebook vs. the smartphone. Which will be the winner? Reality check, it will be the first vendor to successfully morph the notebook and phone into a easily carried device that is SUPPORTED. Follow through in the computer industry is much like a bad golf swing…non existent. I have owned many incarnations of the subnotebook genre.

I currently have a Smartphone, I can access the internet, get email and take iffy 3 megpixel photos. The screen is bright and way too small to be useful. Admittedly subteens and other species with acute vision may not find it so but for those of us approaching adulthood, the screen is too small. I opted not to get the Treo since my son has had limited success with his even after several warranty replacements. Instead I got a PDA to accompany my phone.

I have a great PDA. Sadly it is a Dell but nevertheless I like it. The main reason I got it was the 2 memory slots. It has both SD and Compact flash slots which allows me to bump up the memory to realistic states. It is fairly quick, it latches onto wireless access points reasonably well, I can get my email and surf. The MS software included allows importation of Word docs and spreadsheets which are legible and very useful. The screen is very tiring trying to play scrabble. I have 75 books downloaded into it and find the back lit screen easy to use under many conditions. I also have over 600 songs and several games besides scrabble with plenty of room to add more. Admittedly after seeing the iphone screen I am dissatisfied with my screen but not grossly so. I bought the infrared keyboard since I find stylus typing tedious at best and astoundingly frustrating at worse. I suspect part of my concerns about screen size is habit. The little screen seems just that, little. If I could get a phone that would successfully do all of the things my PDA does, it would be a winner. I don’t carry the PDA with me most of the time. I always carry my phone which is about 50% smaller than the PDA.

Obviously if I am an incessant blogger, internet surfer, e-buyer ad nauseaum, I obsess over internet access. So in addition to the phone and PDA, I have a nice laptop that accompanies me whenever I expect to be away from my desk for more than a week. Unlike some addicts, I can go an entire week without major withdrawal symptoms. A few twitches, a couple of what if someone needs me moans and a serious feeling of being disconnected notwithstanding, I can do it. Regardless of how good the PDA is, it still isn’t my notebook which can do practically everything my desktop can do. In fact, if I didn’t already have 6 desktops, I would put a 21” monitor and real keyboard on the notebook and never look back. I am not good at trashing workable stuff so until all the desktops die, I will continue to use them.

Verbosely later, smart phones and subnotebooks are cool. Until they have someway of keeping the physical unit small and yet having a large display with ease of use, they will not displace notebooks. As much as I liked my Poquet Computer and my Jornada, as much as I like my phone and my PDA I don’t see them replacing my need/want for a more comfortable work tool. Conversely I love being able to carry a veritable suitcase full of books in my shirt pocket and reading in lousy lighting so I don’t see my laptop replacing my PDA.

So good luck marketing the subnotebook/smart phone controversy, it is just one more chapter in the never ending tech story.

Infrared Repeaters

Once again I am going to refer to Diamond Case Designs and once again I will reiterate I am not being paid one dime by DCD nor am I in any way financially connected to Diamond Case Designs. I do find their newsletters and their information center really interesting which may indicate that I need to get a life or maybe not.

As you may know, infrared remotes depend on line of sight to function. While babysitting my grandchildren I noticed that I had to open the cabinet under the big screen to use the remote. I thought at the time how inconvenient and it definitely impacts the whole reason for having the components out of sight. How could I use an infrared remote through the wooden door? I happened on the infrared repeaters at the Diamond Case Information center and realized I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel.

To begin place a sensing receiver somewhere in line of sight. There is a table top receiving eye and a tear drop style receiving eye. From my perspective, the tear drop style is way less obtrusive and that is the whole point of hiding the components in the first place. You mount an infrared emitter over the receiving eye of each of your components. A connecting block is mounted out of sight in with the components. It seems pretty slick. I am sure there are others out there that sell the same or similar components but the fact that Diamond Case goes out of their way to explain it, put them one up in my book. Take a look at their in depth explanation. http://diamondcase.com/Knowledge/Knowledge_HTML/Repeater.HTML
It seems like they have a pretty comprehensive solution that will undoubtedly end up as a birthday present for my son.

The Health Care Travesty Prescription Plans

I know, the last three posts have not had a one word to say about money saving tips. Note the philosophic part in the Blog Banner.

Prescription plans are a rip off. I know that is hardly news to any of the majority of us who have disgustingly expensive health plans. My plan gives me three months of prescriptions for the price of two if I submit my script to the mail order branch of the insurance company. Sounds good but appearances are deceiving. Take a recent example, a generic drug that I submitted to my insurance through the mail order pharmacy provides me with 90 days supply for $40.00, not too bad, right? Well my local pharmacist, (not the one in the previous blog) tell me if she submits the script to my my insurance company they will only provide a 30 day supply at the price of $14.99. So locally it is $5.00 more than the supposedly big saving I am getting from mail order. But wait there’s more, a set of free steak knives… not really. It gets better, under her pharmacies generic drug plan, without using my insurance I can get a 90 day supply for $12.00. So the huge money I am paying for my prescription plan is giving me a negative savings of $28.00. Now I know that there is a profit being made at $12.00. Walmart, for example, is not known for it lack of a profit incentive.

What do we do? Our wonderful legislators spend so much time in bed with the insurance companies and pharmaceutical giants that it is a wonder that the D.C. vice squad has arrested them for pandering. AARP campaigns extensively for fair medical care. I am not finding blogging about the issue particularly cathartic. We must as responsible citizens badger our elected officials to get out of bed with the lobbyists and start paying attention to the people who elected them. He, it isn’t just old dudes such as myself that need prescriptions or medical care, you may too. Call your elected representative, email them, snail mail them, stop them on the street and tell them..WE MUST HAVE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE MEDICAL PLAN FOR ALL OUR CITIZENS.

I will try not to get on our economy or gas prices or other non tech related issues for the next couple of blogs. Honest!

Local Pharmacy Shoots Itself In The Foot

Small businesses and some larger ones, bitch constantly about how the big box store or the Internet is robbing them of business. They complain that it is unfair that big box stores buy in volume and get a better price than they get. They complain that the Internet reseller doesn’t have overhead, or taxes or employees or something that makes them more competitive. Bitch, bitch and more bitching and then they drive business to the Internet in droves.

My 93 year old Mom is on a walker. It used to have two larger wheels in front and two smaller wheels in the back on springs, supposedly so her weight would depress the wheels and keep her from speeding off into the night. One of the rear, spring loaded wheels broke off. It really didn’t impact the performance of her rig but if you have a Mom around, you know that didn’t make any difference. It was broken and she was going to fall, again. Since the wheel broke off on our way into our favorite breakfast joint, we were already out and about. Getting her moving is another whole story. There is a locally owned pharmacy that carries wheel chairs, walkers etc. right around the corner. So we went over to buy a new wheel. No new wheels, they stopped making them since they always broke. Instead they have skid or skis that replace the wheels. I bought two small plastic skids for $30.00. I put them on in the parking lot and Mom was happy. (happier)

When I got home, I jumped on the net and discovered the same skids, same brand for sale at myriad web sites from $11.95 to $14.95. Some had free shipping and some didn’t but the overall impact was my local pharmacy hosed me. I spent most of my life in some sort of profit making business and the quickest way to drive customers away is to grossly overcharge them. If you are a small independent you can charge more but you can’t go the route of obscene profits unless you are an oil company or insurance company.

My small local pharmacy made a good margin on my Mom’s skids. Of course they have lost my business and my extended families business as a result. I am sure they will blame it on the unfairness of the Internet.

Dying Young

A friend died recently at 39, he dropped dead mowing the lawn. I’ve known him since he was a kid. His parents are my peers. He’s dead. That strikes me as preposterous. How can you drop dead at 39? At my age, they drop like flies but at 39, preposterous. Death is inevitable but expectations dictate that it is age appropriate. This kid was only a bit older than my kids. I can’t contemplate the emotional impact. I’ve got friends who have lost kids overseas in action. They are devastated but since their kids were in harm’s way intentionally, I think they were somewhat prepared for the possibility that harm would come. Dropping dead while mowing the lawn is not one of those things you expect. My heart and my condolences go out to the family and the wife. To you young immortals please recognize that you are never too young to get a physical and discover whether you are truly healthy. There is no guarantee that medical awareness will prolong your life, but your chances are better if you know what you face.