Thu, 26 Apr 2007
Why Do I Need Always On Broadband?
Lately I'm starting to see that I've lost sight about why people use computers, particularly networked computers. As much as the Internet is supposed to be an active medium, one by which we pull content to us instead of getting pushed upon as passive observers, I find that half the time I'm reacting to websites or emails rather than thinking about what it is I am even doing on the computer. Sites like reddit.com used to provide both an active and passive Internet experience whereby I could connect with highly intelligent people and what they value and comb between all their recommendations. Over time, as the site became more popular, the quality of the content diminished substantially. Yet I still found myself checking for new information to consume day after day, regardless of quality. So now I want to step back and start asking myself what it is that I want out of a relationship with computer technology.
[/Technology/Computers] permanent link
In recent months, MySpace has viciously cracked down on any form of 'automated use of their systems'. This would include automated messaging and commenting, but it also unfortunately includes trolling through one's own "Friends" and adding calendar entries. Nothing is more annoying than having to enter identical data into two separate databases. If MySpace lightened their hardline stance and let the user community decide was is spam rather than outright banning automation, the tasks that do need to be automated could be automated.
[/Technology/MySpace] permanent link
When I switched from Cingular to Verizon, I lost the ability to use GSM phones. Therefore I almost lost the ability to use the fine Nokia 2630, the personification of candybar perfection. My only other legitimate Nokia option on Verizon was the 6256i.
Pros
- Infrared for syncing with Palm
- Surf the web using minutes over USB
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Flip Phone
- No QWERTY keyboard
[/Technology/CellPhones] permanent link
What does the ultimate cell phone need to have?
- QWERTY Keyboard
- Always On Broadband
- Linux
- Keyboard Backlight
- Flash Drive Capability
- Plug it into a computer and use it as a hard disc.
- Pocket Sized
- FLAC playback
[/Technology/CellPhones] permanent link
I like the 2007 RAV4. Inside, it is a very clean design with no frills. Minor objections:
- Power for MP3 player connected to car battery, which introduces high pitches whirling noises into the audio. Not sure if that is a function of the MP3 player's electronics or the car. Wherever the solution lies it would probably be an excellent business.
- The seat belt alarms are facist, especially the passenger side alarm. If I put a heavy backpack on that seat, after about 20 seconds it is bound to continuously alert me to the fact that my backpack is ostentatiously refusing to buckle itself up. Feh.
[/Technology/Automobiles] permanent link
I went car shopping this weekend, determined to cast off my old SUV ways and head into the bright future of hybrid technology. Without question, I was going to buy a Prius. The dealership had my color, had my package. Everything was set. I had test driven it once, loved it. Tried it again, loved it again. So I bought it. After I left the dealership in my new Prius, I went to pick up my wife. She was a little hesitant about the car at first, for good reason: it didn't seem to fit our physical bodies very well. And after a few hours in the car, we found that her feelings were correct. The car was just too small for my long-legged frame. And then the back pain set it. There was absolutely no lumbar support whatsoever in the seating. The chairs were angled so as to drop the hips well below the knees: very bad ergonomics. The base of the seat had hip supports that were way too angled that actually put direct and uncomfortable pressure on the hips. Needless to say, soon we found ourselves in debilitating pain. We couldn't even drive the car after a while!
So we ended up making the painful decision to go back to the dealer and trade in a day old Prius with 40 miles on it for a 30 MPG (not bad) RAV 4 in red.
The tragedy of it all is that we were ready for a Prius. We were ready to support our world as an environmentally conscious voice. It's very upsetting that the world would not support us back.
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