Finally got the new laptop up and running. I decided to stick a smaller laptop again. I want to wait until Apple brings out a new MacBook model in 2011 before I pick another Mac.
Had to order the Ultra Base and DVD Wrtier Bay. The store tells me I have to wait 3 weeks to get the items. Yikes. I cannot believe it. What kind of world do we live in?
My Otter Box just arrived by courier today. I can't wait to wrap my BB in it. Wait, I can't do it just yet. My Bold jumped out of my hand a week ago and took a dive into the pavement. Bam. Bam. Busted screen. Now, the Bold is at the NTT docomo hospital getting fixed. Shucks. I should have order the Otter Box a week ago!!!
Yesterday, I took my 11-month old X61 to the point of purchase and dumped the 'brick' on the counter and bought a new X61 with XP. I don't know why the f*ck I ever tried Vista. I regret spending close to a year with a sub-standard product. The final straw was when the computer sent up a message stating the OS was not genuine and I would have to buy a license or something else. WFT? I bought the computer at one of the largest electronic stores in Shinjuku and Microsoft has the nerve trying to squeeze yet another hundred bucks from my wallet? No way. Yeah, I know. I bought another MS product, XP. But, I had no real choice.
With my company using only Windows OSs, I could not not buy another MS OS. Let's hope one day in the near future, I never have to worry about this problem again.
For now, I am so glad to be back with XP.
Dear Jerry,
Congratulations on getting Carl and his gang of boys to step back and give you a chance to make it work in Sunnyvale. I'm sure you know Carl is going to let things be as they are for the rest of the year but... a big but, he will be breathing down your neck come the 2008 AGM. You need some serious talent to help turn around the mother ship. And that, Jerry, is where I come in. Just hire me. Yup. Just hire me. Give me a low six-figure salary and I will whip the boys and girls into shape. If I don't deliver results in 12 months, I will resign. That's it. I don't want to elaborate on what types of fixes I can bring to your company, lest you use them now and not hire me later. So, for now, let's just say I know how to fix your company.
You can reach me here at my blog or you can look up my account information at Yahoo. I'm one of those subscribers who pay for a business email account and my Movable Type blog with you guys.
Well, look forward to hearing from you soon.
Potential Yahooer living in Tokyo.
I got to take a very short test-drive of the new laptop coming from Steve & Gang: Air. I was in Shibuya yesterday and took a short trip to the Apple Store. Out in front of the store was one of the sales/demo staff holding and test driving the MacBook Air. The employee let anyone who asked a chance to hold the computer and give it a go.
Let me tell you what I like about the MacBook Air:
1) Weight - very light. Perhaps, too, too light.
2) Everyone wants one.
3) My current laptop is making my back hurt.
4) Coolness factor.
5) Solid-state drive.
What new product line and services will Steve & Co. announce at this year's Expo? Here is what I would love to see happen this year:
Last but not least, I really want Steve to announce who will one day succeed him. I want to know that the company will be left in good hands.
What will Uncle Steve & Co. unveil at next week's Apple Event in Cupertino? Will it be a whole new line of iPods/TV/small handheld PDA? Or will they jump the gun and announce a whole new line of thin laptops? Let's hope it is the latter. I am in serious need for a new laptop. It would be great if Steve had the engineers design their next gen laptop to run a flash memory drive rather than a HD platter. Think of the weight reduction. Think about the quick start-to-operating time. Think about how much thinner the machine could be!!!
Apple recycles old machines. Good for you guys.
(Read CNN: Cupertino boys and girls finally wake up.)
Boot Camp. What will the boyz and girlz at Cupertino think of next?
Here's my wish list:
1) Foldable laptop (micro-thin that can fit in my coat pocket)
2) Laptop with built in video projector
3) Auto trade-in system for old computers (recycling centres) "Bring in three old Macs and get 50% off a new one"
4) Buy a Mac and Get 1 Share in Apple
5) Think Apple BBQ: World's Largest Outdoor BBQ in Cupertino (Heck, I would fly all the way from Tokyo to attend the event!)
I'll have to say that I am a wee bit intrigued by MS's new product. However, any fanfare the company hopes to achieve shall be shortlived: Apple will announce their own mini-portable-PC-like-entertainment device no later than the spring of 2007. I am quite sure that the boyz and girlz down in Cupertino are hard at work on the new product design. The new product will/should have (1) 8" screen, (2) USB & Firewire, (3) WiFi, (4) 40GB hard drive, (5) 1GB Ram, (6) VOIP enhanced capabilities, (7) digital camera lens 5MB pixels, (8) smart card function for digital cash, (9) fingerprint & facial recognition, (10) optional voice-activated systems, (11) GPS, (12) remote-access for lockdown, when you lose the device - simple code will lock out unauthorized users and begin erasing all files and thus, emitting a loud beeping sound.
When is the new laptop coming out? Does anyone have the skinny on the launch of the new Apple-Intel machine?
I got around to watching Steve's Keynote Address this afternoon. I was left speechless. I love the way he did the 'Intel' thing. Fooled many of us. Double life. Let's look under the hood. Voila! Running the entire keynote via Intel. A marketing guru.
I was even impressed that he was able to get someone from Wolfram down for the day. As a user of Mathematica, I am happy that it is a simple process to get it to work on .... what the heck do we call it? MacTel? MacIn? Stevetel? SteveIn? I am definitely holding off on picking up another Wintel laptop. My trusty and old Sony Vaio is about a year and half old. It's getting a wee long in the tooth and I need to upgrade to a newer system. But, with Steve's announcement, I guess I should wait a couple more years until he release the PowerBook G5 with the Intel chip.
I know my recent investment in AAPL is a long-term deal. I'm not so worried about how the markets will react to Steve's plan. Imagine how much AAPL will trade when the company attains a 10% market share of the global PC market. It may be trading in the $37-38 range right now so, when AAPL doubles its market share, I can see the price hit $80 in 2007-2008.
Go Steve Go! Go! Go! Go!
Will Steve Jobs make the biggest announcement of his Apple-life? Apple makes switch to Intel.
How does the switch affect the millions of G4 and G5 owners? Will we want to make the switch with Steve or will we stand our ground and stick with PowerPC? If Steve plans on making his announcement on June 6th, will he announce the plans for the PowerBook G5 (Intel version) on the same day?
The two years that it might take for Apple and Intel to get their tech teams to bring out the next generation of Aptel (I coined it first here) machine will affect current sales of Apple-Power PC machines.
I guess Apple users have two years to mull over our future.
Dear Trend Micro:
If my computer crash is the direct result of your company's stupidity, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will yell at the top of my lungs to anyone who listens about your company's shoddy service.
Is Trend Micro a publicly traded company? If so, 'SHORT THE STOCK'!!!
Strategist
On my desk is a copy of Stephen Levy's book, Crypto, that I picked up at the Kinokuniya Book Sale last month. I like the subtitle of the book: How the code rebels beat the government - saving privacy in the digital age.
It's nice to read about the people behind some of the code and the programs I read about both at home and at work. The book is a definite "Who's Who" tome.
Great Apple switch story coming down the pike.
No, good sir, the honor is ours. A fabulous read about an extraordinary person. Definitely, gentlmen like Gilmore are destined to inherit the earth.
(Pittsburg Post-Gazette, Dennis Roddy: Grounded)
I am surprised that the US government does not institute a 'no-fly' zone over D.C. With the need to secure the national governmental bodies from attacks, it might be more prudent to ban all commercial and personal aircraft from the skies above. Only government and military flights would be approved. If the state of Virginia would build a larger airport to accept all in-bound flights to the region, perhaps there would be no need for commercial flights coming to D.C.
I am unsure whether or not the 'intended' lasers would be sufficient warnings for commercial and private pilots. First off, aiming a laser, no matter how safe they are, would probably scare the 'crap' out of a few pilots and possibly lead to an unstable aircraft. I don't think the American public would like to see any laser lead to the downing of any civilian aircraft. Second, evil people may use the government's plans for evil purposes. So, don't you think a 'no-fly' zone would be better in the short term and long term?
Just got my newest toy for my PowerBook G4 15" - Vyper M. Rathering than shelling out another $900 for a new backpack (Tumi), I decided to go the more economical route and ordered a laptop sleeve instead. My Tumi bag's computer slot/sleeve is not designed with the PowerBook G4 15" in mind. At least with the Vyper I can throw Sophia in my Tumi and haul her around town.
I'll post my feedback on the Vyper in a couple of weeks or months.
(Booq: Vyper M)
Is it really this simple to patent something in the USA? Do you think Tim is a bit 'miffed' at all this corporate stupidity and greed? Whatever happened to the corporate slogan 'Do no evil'? I guess when it comes to driving up your share price, you'll do anything!
(Tim Bray: More patent funnies)
Can you frigging believe it? No sooner had I plunked down more than $3000 on the counter and walked out of the Apple Store with a brand-spanking new G4 15-inch PB with 1GB of RAM, did Steve pull a fast one on me. He just introduced a newer/faster model today. Yikes! My PB is a slow girl now. Oh, I named my G4 "Sophia" - a very classy and sexy woman. My wife is a wee bit jealous about Sophia. I am always talking to her until the wee hours of the night.
Getting back to Steve and the Gang at Cupertino, you'd think that Steve would let us diehard fans know about the upcoming new/faster models when he spoke at the Expo last month. C'mon Steve. It wouldn't have killed you to let us in on your little secret, would it???
No matter. I will keep Sophia for now. I'll try to get a good year out of her before Steve brings out the G5 PB. And when he does, I have told my wife that Sophia will be hers. I only hope my wife will get along with Sophia. Only time will tell.
I am beginning to really like Ffox. It is a very simple application and offers a very clean ride. I wonder how long Microsoft is going to stand by and watch this upstart steal people away for the IE world. I think I am going to order a few stickers from M.org and plaster one of them on my G4.
Unbelievable! Just frigging incredible! Apple plans on selling a $99 iPod... Just think of the wonderful business opportunities! Instead of handing out stupid business gifts, a smart tech-savvy businessperson can start handing out iPods. Do you think Apple will begin offering 'logo' printing services? If not, get Steve on the phone. I need to tell him about the upside and potential of seeing iPods in every businessperson's shirt pocket!!!
(CNN: Money - Apple)
I was at Shinjuku Sofmap (computer store) looking at some PB G4s. The shop had a very interesting sign on display: Mac Expo 2005 San Francisco - PB G5. I am unsure whether the shop has inside info but I hope they are preparing the masses for the soon-to-be-released PowerBook G5 in the spring or summer of this year. For now, I will hold off on picking up a PB until the new models are released.
I don't know what to say..... Microsoft OS is possessed. We all need help!!!! They attacking my pals!!!
Thanks go to face2face for the link via A Sabre Geek.
Senate Majority Leader Frist has just thrown the first 'political grenade' within the GOP. He is unhappy or concerned with fellow GOP Senator Specter's recent comments regarding future nominations for the Supreme Court as how they might affect abortion rights. If the GOP is trying to send a 'signal' or 'warning' to fellow GOP politicians, they have done just that. I guess it is up to the GOP leadership to ensure that their junior or backbenchers follow the 'new party line': total support for a full-right wing political agenda or face 'ousting'.
I can't wait to see the entire mandate of GW Bush for 2005 and beyond. I am hopping that GW does not force the country to the right but, I am not holding my breath for it not to happen. With the fate of America in the hands of the GOP, let's hope the country will not break apart in civil strife. I mean - wouldn't it be funny if the UN had to send in troops to oversee the well-being of the downtrodden (read "liberals", "gays", and "non-Christians"). Also, wouldn't it be incredible if mass migration of Americans headed to Canada and Mexico just in order to be out of the reach of the 'onward coming soldiers' of the US army?
If you have five minutes to spare, you must visit this web site (TED) and just listen to the beautiful music created by a very talented young lady. When she started playing, I felt so calm and relaxed. It is incredible how talented some people are in this world. I read about this person's performance in an email. Here is a part of that email.
(email excerpt)
Jennifer Lin is a fourteen-year-old pianist from southern California.
She began her presentation by playing two very difficult classical
pieces; to my untrained ears, she sounded as good as any professional
performer two or three times her age.
It was her third piece that brought the house down. She announced
that she would like to improvise a song... and asked an audience
member to select five notes, at random, from the C scale. She got
the sequence C, G, B, A, E.
Fourteen years old, with a live audience of 800 adults awaiting a
brand new piece of music, based on a theme of five notes just handed
to her. She had ten seconds to prepare.
[You can find the music, slide slow and a world of inspiration by accessing "Magic moments from TED2004".]
[comments: by the way, doesn't Goldie Hawn look absolutely fabulous??!!!]
(from Mark Hurst@Good Experience.com)
I am getting very upset at my Sony Laptop. The battery is kaput and will no longer hold a charge. I intend on contacting Sony next week to ask what 'THEY PLAN' on doing to resolve the problem. I bought the computer last year and can not believe the battery is causing so many problems for me. Does Sony want to 'upset' consumers so badly??? Is this why their company is 'bleeding red ink' like there is no tomorrow?
In an interview with HBS Professor David Yoffie, he talks of the challenges facing Apple in the near future. In the grand scheme of business and economics, Apple either needs to raise the price premium on its wonderful products or find new ways of increasing the adoption rate of its products. (HBS Working Knowledge.)
Dear Steve Jobs,
When do you plan on releasing the Powerbook G5? I sure would like to purchase a new Apple laptop sometime this year. Any ideas on when I can run down to the Apple Store in Giniza?
Best regards,
strategist
(Apple Store.)
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. (CNN.)
Just picked up the new Vodafone. It's filled with many wonderful features. I plan on giving it a 'whirl' when I fly back to Canada at the end of the month. Hopefully, there will be no problems in using in across Canada. (Vodafone Global Standard V801SA.)
specialist: mergers & acquisitions, global business development
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