Before installing Virtual Server 2005 R2 on my already overworked server (actually, its just a PC) which acts as a domain controller, DNS server, DHCP server, RIS server and handles a few file shares (admittedly on a small network – I’d never advise running a business on a single PC), I thought I’d better put some extra memory in it.

I find it impossible to keep up with PC hardware, and at the danger of turning this post into one large advert, I was really impressed with my experience at the website. In a few clicks, I was able to use the Crucial Memory Advisor Tool to identify the memory options for my aging Compaq Evo D500SFF and, although I didn’t use it at the time, they also have a system scanner which can be used to identify upgrades for a specific system (I’ve just run it now and it correctly identified the system which I’m using to write this post).

Another area of the Crucial site that really impressed me was the help text, which enabled me to understand the various memory types (so I could decide whether or not to simply swap some RAM around between my various systems).

To make this post a little more balanced, I should mention that Kingston Technology also have a memory search tool but my experience was that the Crucial version was faster to use and the prices were lower (I suspect this is because Crucial sell direct whereas Kingston redirected me to a third party to actually buy the RAM). Crucial also sell flash memory cards and readers, USB flash drives, graphics cards and printer memory,as well as offering free UK shipping by Royal Mail Special Delivery for orders over £25 and guaranteeing compatibility of the memory purchased (as long as you have used the Crucial Memory Advisor Tool).

For some time now, I’ve been looking for a miniature mouse to take with me when I’m on the road and save my aching hands from the pain of trackpad/touchpoint. A former customer of mine has a fantastic IBM optical 3-button travel wheel mouse, but at the time I looked into getting one it was too expensive. Then, yesterday I was in PC World (sorry… it was an emergency) and I saw an optical 2-button mini-mouse which was both inexpensive and “different”. A £9.99 optical mouse coloured like a bee!

My son loves it (even though, at just over one-year old, he doesn’t understand what it is, he was soon holding it correctly and clicking). My wife thinks it is cute. I just like it and find it remarkably easy to use, despite its diminutive proportions.

A few months ago I sold my KVM switch on eBay. Now I’m running out of desk-space again…

To be honest, the old one was too big, too noisy, and had 12 feet long KVM leads making it a bit over the top for a desktop solution but yesterday I picked up a Linksys integrated KVM 2-port switch at RL Supplies.

With built-in cables, drawing power from the PS/2 port on one of the PCs, and no software required, this is an ideal solution for letting the port replicator for my work laptop and my desktop PC share the same keyboard, mouse and monitor (at resolutions up to 1920×1440). I just hit the Scroll Lock key twice to switch between PCs and my USB mouse even works with it (using a USB to PS/2 converter). Definitely worth considering by anyone who needs to find some extra desktop real estate.

I’ve spent most of today comparing a variety of PC workstation specifications from various manufacturers. This isn’t normally a level of detail I get involved in so I found the Intel processor product numbers information particularly useful for comparing features between the various CPU types, particularly the discover processor technologies multimedia presentation.