I was working on a Windows Forms application today in .NET 2.0.  I set up a Textbox with an AutoCompleteMode set to append.  I then set up an event handler for the KeyPress event so that I could capture when the user pressed the enter key so I could add their selection to a list.  After running a quick test, I noticed that the Textbox was not recieving the KeyPress event when the enter key was pressed.  I changed the AutoCompleteMode to None and voila, it captured the event again.  Bug!  The obvious work around is to use the KeyUp event.

I have talked about the Sony Reader (here and here) in the past.  I really liked it when I checked it out but I really thought the only way it would work is if the content was there.  Well, I finally got my hands on one thanks to my lovely wife on Christmas.  My first impressions are pretty much on target with my initial thoughts on the device.

The device is really cool especially the whole e-ink display.  I see how a dedicated ebook reader is nice to have, especially this device.  It is very small and light weight and easy to carry.  The instant on is really nice when you need to kill some quick time.

The problem was just as I suspected, the content is just not there for the books I want to read.  I mostly read technical books or biographies.  I tried to find these types of books in the Sony Connect store but I could not find any of them except for one out of about twenty.  The good news is that many publishers offer electronic versions of their books on their own web sites.  Since the Sony Reader deals with PDF versions, you can find good content elsewhere.  It may take a while but it is more worth it because it takes more effort to read a book than listen to a song per se.

...and that's to get a tax deduction.  Just Joking....well kind of.  Our doctor told us that he is on call on New Year's Eve and we can get induced then if we wish.  We took him up on his offer and scheduled our appointment to the hospital today.  Ava Marie should be born on New Year's Eve (unless she decides to come sooner).

I really like the whole inducing thing, of course, I'm not the one getting a melon pushed out of a grape sized hole.  I like that we will have all our bags ready, go check in, and then the doctor's help mother nature speed up.  It's a lot easier than speeding to the hospital while someone who is in labor is yelling in your ear the whole way.  I love the science of medicine.  I can't wait and stay tuned here for pictures.

Lora Heiny has just finalized the details for the Tablet PC & UMPC meeting during CES. Here are the details:

Cheeseburger Las Vegas, in the Aladdin Casino Desert Passage.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
3:30PM - 6PM
Cheeseburger Las Vegas

RSVP to ljheiny at hotmail dot com.

I wish I could be there.

I have asked before and now I have gotten an answer.  I called a Lenovo sales representative today to ask about the integrated WWAN option that they have been talking about for their X60 Thinkpads.  He said that they will be available early January.  You should be able to purchase a model with that option then.  I can wait...I can wait....I can wait. (I just have to keep telling myself that).

There has been a lot of talk within the blogosphere about gadget bags and who uses what throughout their mobile day.  First, Marc Orchant asked what is in people's gadget bags and then Sumocat answered with a video blog post of what is in his bag.  I thought that I would add to the fray.

Here is a picture of what is contained within my nerd bag. [Further details after the jump.]

First off, lets start with the nerd bag itself.

My nerd bag is a Booq Boa XL.  I ordered the System and I sometimes use the sleeve when I take my tablet out in the nude.  I love this bag.  It is plenty big enough for all my nerd gadgets with plenty of room to grow :).  It's very comfortable and looks good too.

I will now go through where each item of nerd goodness is contained within my nerd bag.  The bag has four main compartments.

The first compartment contains all my nerd supplies and fun gadgets.

This compartment contains:

• Nintendo DS Lite [Black] - I use this to pass the time when I can't get connected and I don't have a good book or magazine with me.
• Nintendo DS games [The New Super Mario Bros. and Metroid Prime Hunters] - I really like The New Super Mario Bros. and it is very addicting.  I am on the last castle which is very hard.  Metroid Prime is not that good and I don't play it much.
• DVD burner for my tablet - I usually keep the extra battery in the expansion slot but when I need to do some burning, I have it with me.
• expansion slot cover for my tablet - This is used in case I want a lighter tablet to take to a meeting or something.  It really lightens up the tablet.
• screen cloth - This came with my tablet as well but I also use it on my phone and DS.
• Sprint PC-5740 EVDO Card - This thing rocks.  I love EVDO.  It allows me to get connected pretty much anywhere.  I use Sprint instead of Verizon which is my cell phone carrier because they have better coverage in my area and they are cheaper.
• headphones for my phone - These came with my phone and I use them in case I want to watch a movie or listen to music through ORB on my phone.
• business cards - I had these made for my business.  You never know when or where you need them, especially for those free lunches :).
• Microsoft USB pen - It's a pen, it's a USB drive.  I mostky just use it for the pen features.  It is very nice.
• Dell 128 meg Thumb drive - Use it to quickly transfer data from someone else.
• YoMego Brain yo-yo - I love to yo-yo and I use this to pass some time.  It's also a great thinking tool.  When I'm stuck on something, this helps me sort it all out.

The second compartment contains all my items that I need quick access to.

This compartment contains:

• Verizon XV6700 - This is my favorite phone ever.  I have used a lot of phones, switched a lot of providers to get the phones I want and I have to say that this is my favorite ever.  I sometimes use it to connect to my tablet and use it as a modem via PDANet.
• iPod [4th Generation] - The best music player of all time.  I need to update it but I am waiting for the new video iPod.  Maybe at MacWorld this January?
• iPod headphones and remote - I use these headphones on the road.  I have a better pair of headphones that I keep at my client site so I don't have to lug them back and forth.  I am in the market for new ones though.
• Motorola H700 Bluetooth headset - I mostly just use these when driving or on my PC.  I really never wear this out in public because I don't want to look like a geek.  This is a really good bluetooth headset though.

The third compartment contains my chargers and one of my laptops:

This compartment contains:

• Dell D610 - I am not even going to link to the product page for this laptop.  It sucks.  I really do not like Dell laptops one bit.  It is the laptop that my client gave me to use when I sign on their network.
• iPod charger
• Nintendo DS charger
• XV6700/headset charger This charger can be used for both my headset and phone.
• tablet charger
• XV6700 USB cable

The forth and final compartment holds the best gadget of them all.

This compartment contains:

• Fujitsu Lifebook T4020 - This is my pride and joy.  I love this tablet and it is my main computer.  I do all my development work on this as well as my email, documents, and other tablet work.

Well, that is what I have in my nerd bag today.  I am looking at replacing and/or adding some of the items in the bag over the next year.  My number one replacement is going to be my tablet PC.  I love the tablet but I need something that will run Vista fluidly and an updated model.  I am going to go with the Lenovo Thinkpad X60 once they add the integrated WWAN feature.  I am also going to update my iPod.  I am holding out for the next video iPod which will hopefully have a full video screen like rumored.  I need to add some good headphones to my gear.  I have tried the Sure E4c earphones since everyone sweared by them but I did not find that they were worth the $300 price tag so I sent them back.  I am looking at the Sony MDR-VJ700 DJ headphones and will probably purchase those after Christmas.  I hopefully will replace all my chargers with a Battery Geek Power station.  My nerd bag should look quite a bit different next year.

I have been using Office 2007 since the beta 2 at my home.  I love it so far.  I love all the new features and the new user interface.  It seems to be a little slow but that is Office for you.  Other than that I have had no problems with it.

My client installed Office 2007 on their laptop that I use for work with them (since they won't let me use my own because of network security stuff).  When I tried to send a new message from Outlook for the first time after it was installed I got this dialog box [click to enlarge]:

So, I can't send a mail message from Outlook.  I guess it is just a bloated RSS reader and calendar.  Seriously folks, I can't make stuff like this up.  This really happened.  I'm gonna send this into the Daily WTF for their pop up potpourri.

I have said before that I am a big fan of Newsgator.  I think that their online reader rocks.  I have used several and think that Newsgator allows me to get through the noise quicker.  That may have changed today.  I opened Newsgator online and noticed they have made several changes.  Here is a screenshot from tonight [click to enlarge]:

If you notice, (1) Newsgator now requires the user to click on the "+" sign to read more of the story.  This sucks.  This adds so much time because now I have more clicks to get to what I want.  I sometimes need a little more content to determine whether I need to read the rest of the post.  This inhibits my reading although I can see how Newsgator thought it would improve my speed since there is less room on the page.  It doesn't work for me.  I feel like I am missing some of the information and not getting all of what is available.  This may work for some people but it is a complete departure from what the online reader did before.  Plus there is no way for the user to expand all or configure the reader differently.  I am very disappointed in this change.

Second (2), Newsgator is now trying to bank on their large user base.  They have added a column of Google ads to their reader.  I really can't blame them for it but it is at the expense of me using their software.  It cuts down on the room I have to view my news.  I personally never click on Google ads and the less room is really annoying.  Maybe they will add a paid option for users who wish not to see the ads.

I really hope they are just testing these changes out or I hope that enough users complain about these changes so they are changed back.  If not, I will try out a different online reader.  If it ain't broke Newsgator, don't fix it.  There was nothing to fix.

UPDATE: In classic Newsgator style, they allow an option out of the blog post display.  Brian from Newsgator left a comment on this post explaining that you can change this under the "Display Options" on the main feed page.  You can select "Full Posts" instead of the "Summaries".  They must of changed the default option.  I honestly did not even notice these options.  I would suggest to Newsgator that they fix this UI issue.  Why not place these with the other links like My Settings, My Account, etc?  My eyes didn't even gravitate to that area on the page and I totally glossed over it.  More good news?  The Google Ads disappeared the next day.  It may of been a small experiement.  Either way, good job Newsgator.

I hope I don't teach my daughter any of this naughty stuff...

Rocky Lhotka is stepping into the world of self publishing and publishing an update to his successful 2005 Business Objects books which focus on CSLA.NET 2.0.  He is writing an eBook for a CSLA.NET 2.1 version.  He writes an update here.

CSLA.NET is a great framework for writing business objects and I am actually using it in creating the Morale web applications.  I am also scheduled to do a talk on CSLA.NET at the Northwest Ohio .NET Users group meeting in March.  These books are a must read for anyone doing business object development.  Even if you do not use the CSLA.NET framework, there are still a lot of usefull ideas and theories to take from these books.  I am sure that the eBook will be just as great.  I plan on ordering one as soon as they are released.