Geeking out

How did you spend your Sunday? I was sitting in front of two old ex-work (and ex-working) laptops, trying to cobble together something that would run.

First it was trying the RAM and hard drives in each chassis to see which combinations would run
Then it was installing Ubuntu 11 from a CD
Then it was upgrading to Ubuntu 12
Then it was trying to figure out why the display kept turning itself off
Then it was finding that the graphics processor on both machines is known for overheating
Then it was trying to find ways of working around that by using different graphics drivers
Then it was finding that it was an issue that can only be rectified by a change in motherboard - not covered under warranty after 3 years
Then it was trying to find ways of cooling down the laptop
Then it was balancing the laptop on two pads with a fan pointing at it blowing at full speed - whilst I sat next to the fan sweltering & getting no breeze
Then it was trying to install a windows application onto Ubuntu via WISE
Then it was trying to figure out how to install WISE
Then it was getting the application installed but not knowing what to do with it
Then it was trying a native Ubuntu equivalent to figure out how the application should work
Then it was trying to figure out why the native Ubuntu equivalent wasn't working
Then it was installing a second native app to check problems with the first app
And again with a third
Then it was trying it on a different site to see if it was a site or application issue
And finally it was success.

When I say 'success' I mean I lost patience with the whole thing and went and had a beer instead....