Posted by Robyn on Dec 24, 2008 in
Technology I’m sure you all know how much I love my little Acer Aspire One netbook. The Asus Eee PC really did spark a “revolution” of sorts in the mobile computing markets. Netbooks are cheap, portable, and “powerful enough” for everyday web browsing and document creation.
But the ONE thing I would love to have, and for which I would be willing to shell out much more cash, is a true TABLET sub-notebook. Here are the requirements.
1) 9″ or 10″ capacitive multi-touch LED backlit screen plus active pen digitizer.
2) No more than 2.5 lbs WITH battery that lasts 5+ hours of actual use.
3) Full keyboard with convertible screen for tablet mode.
4) Must fit in my purse. Small footprint is preferable to crazy thin.
5) Either a real 2.5″ SATA hard drive or fast SSD > 64 GB.
6) Full desktop operating system that supports true multi-touch.
7) Graphics that don’t completely suck (nVidia 9300/9400 would be great).
8) Dual-core CPU, but doesn’t have to be a powerhouse. The new dual-core Atoms would be perfect.
9) Real connectivity options. WiFi, Bluetooth, e-SATA, Firewire, USB, Ethernet, etc.
10) Integrated 3G would be a nice bonus.
This is clearly above the capabilities of a netbook, so I would be willing to pay well upwards of $1000 for such a device. Maybe even $2000, if it’s beautiful. As to operating system, I’m agnostic. Mac OS X, Windows 7, or Linux are all fine with me, as long as they support true multi-touch… but I’m looking at you, Apple.
Let’s face it, the MacBook Air just doesn’t measure up when you can get pretty much the same thing in a netbook for less than 1/4 the cost. Make the device I just described, and you will be the king of ultraportables again.
Posted by Robyn on Dec 20, 2008 in
General How did I not know that Aspartame (artificial sweetener) is linked to Migraines!?
I have suffered from miserable migraines my entire adult life. We’re not just talking about a headache here. We’re talking severe vomiting, extreme light and sound sensitivity, and frequent trips to the emergency room. I finally got them under control with medication, but I LIVE on Diet Coke. I have two or three a day, at least. I never was much of a coffee drinker (until my beloved hubby got me started on Starbucks), so I have always gotten my daily caffeine fix from diet sodas.
Now I come to find out Aspartame could reduce serotonin levels, making a “hair trigger” for migraines. Which means anything else I do that could potentially cause a migraine even more likely to tip the scale.
Holy freakin’ hell. I have researched migraines extensively! I even saw a neurologist! And I never heard of this until I saw a commercial for some new sweetener called Truvia and Googled it. What are some of the benefits? IT DOESN’T CAUSE MIGRAINES. Oh, and everyone in the universe seems to have known this EXCEPT ME.
Pardon me while I go pour out all my diet sodas. BRB.
Posted by Robyn on Dec 7, 2008 in
Technology Justin and I bought each other iPhones for Christmas. Yes, they are very cool.
But any time someone gets an iPhone, there is also a rolling of the eyes that takes place. It’s an Apple product, and has a lot of hype surrounding it, so there are a lot of misconceptions about the iPhone. So here is a Q-and-A based on my first experiences with the device.
Q. Is the iPhone really better than any other phone out there?
A. No. It is quite different than any other phone I’ve ever used, so I don’t think it would be a “better” solution for all people.
Q. But the iPhone is better than any other smartphone out there, right?
A. No. It lacks a QWERTY keypad — or any keypad — and that is going to be a deal breaker for a lot of people.
Q. Yeah, I heard texting and emailing on it totally sucks.
A. No. I was able to text and email right away. The on-screen keyboard is far better than I expected. I prefer it to the two-or-three-letters-per-key solution on many cell phones. The predictive/corrective text feature is quite good at understanding what you meant, even if you don’t hit exactly the right letter.
Q. So, it’s as good as a full QWERTY keyboard?
A. No. But it’s a good compromise, and after holding it in my hands and using it, I understand why Apple chose not to include a full keyboard. It’s also great for those who often switch between languages.
Q. So what’s all the hype about?
A. What “makes” the iPhone is the App Store. There are so many cool things this phone can do, and it’s so easy to make the phone do them. Many apps are free, and none are terribly expensive (from what I’ve seen).
Q. How is the interface?
A. There are no words. The phone is incredibly intuitive, and I felt like an expert after just a few minutes. For a device that can do so many things, having an interactive screen with a multi-touch interface is just perfect. Web browsing, email, texting, applications — everything the iPhone does seems to “fit” into the iPhone. You’d just have to spend an hour with one to know what I’m talking about.
Q. How is the media playback?
A. Fantastic. That’s the one thing I’ve always found lacking in other smartphones and PDAs. This is a fully-functional iPod, in addition to a great smartphone, so the result is what you’d expect.
Q. I like all the data and media features, but how is it as an actual Phone?
A. Wonderful. No, really. Call quality is great, and the in-call features are much more intuitive than other phones I’ve used. (For example, conference call.) Visual voice mail is also a kick-ass feature. I’ve always HATED voice mail because navigating through the voice menus is a pain. Having it all in front of you makes managing your messages much easier.
Q. I really want an iPhone now. Is it worth switching carriers?
A. Absolutely. I was with T-Mobile for 12 years, so I carefully considered this decision. I looked into the unlocking options, and it’s just not worth it. The process of switching was quite simple, and keeping our numbers was far easier than I thought. If you want an iPhone, you’re stuck with AT&T (in the states), and that’s just the way things are. But it’s worth it. Trust me.
Q. Aren’t the plans expensive, though?
A. Yes, but that’s the case with pretty much all smartphones. We ended up paying about $30 more per month than we were paying with T-Mobile, but part of that was the leap to 3G, which costs more on both carriers. If you would choke on a $100 cell phone bill (per line), then the iPhone probably isn’t for you.
Q. Hmm. I really like a lot of what you talked about, but I don’t really want to switch carriers and/or pay that much per month.
A. That’s why the iPod Touch exists. If you don’t need or want the phone features, and you have WiFi available to you frequently, then go for the iPod Touch. You get the same interface and the same awesome App Store. It’s a win-win!
Q. Then why did you get the iPhone?
A. I don’t spend all of my time near WiFi connections, and I use Exchange for my personal email, contacts, and calendar. I also liked the phone features, and don’t want to carry multiple devices. Your choice will depend on your usage habits.
Q. So… does having an iPhone make you better than everyone else?
A. Yes. Yes, it does. 