Make Canter in BorderLayout square no matter what.

Question

I have a Frame with BorderLayout. In borderLayout.North is a Panel (flowlayout) with buttons on it. In borderLayout.Center I add a custom Panel. I want the panel in the Center to be square(i.e 300*300), and only square.
(because the custom painting will very heavy mathematical, and I can't change the painting code my friend made for me.)
I have a solution that works, but I think it is "bad" coding. (I read that setPreferredSize shouldnt be used).
//in Frame
addComponentListener(new ComponentAdapter() {
      public void componentResized(ComponentEvent e) {
      //calc average between height and width
      int x = calculateFrameSize(e);
      frame.removeComponentListener(this);
      gui.setPreferredSize(x);
      pack();
      show();
      frame.addComponentListener(this);
}Any input would be most welcome

Answer 1

You could try an smc reset - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
And you could buy a UPS that would power a mini for 45-90 minutes easily - anything in hte 1300-1500VA range should handle running a mini (nothing else plugged into it) for at least a full hour or more.  You'll need to feed the UPS 110VAC when the truck is running though, to recharge the battery between drains.
I have an APC 1300VA UPS that can power my 46" LED-LCD television and cable box for about 35-40 minutes, so I'd be surprised if it could not power a mini by itself for at least an hour.