A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

I've visually scanned the weekend circulars and found that there's no mini-note in my immediate future.  At this point I'm using that term.  I'm not sure what we'll eventually call this new genre of machine, perhaps sub-notebooks, netbooks, or cloud PCs.  Of course they are the hottest market segment; in fact, they're so hot that companies cannot crank out enough of them.  They seem cheap but one still gets a lot more bang for the buck with an inexpensive 15.4 inch laptop.  Mini-notes do not even come with optical drives.  Yet, there are so many occasions in which people need less.  Much less.  Therefore, I, for one, would be pleased to pay $400 for a little device for very routine tasks and web browsing.   In a way, it's a relief there's nothing available right now as I'll have to wait until later in the fall when there are more options and better prices. 

The trip to Italy which begins on Sunday sure as hell would've been a perfect test for one of the new little devices.  Unfortunately, as it doesn't look like it's in the cards, I am readying my old Gateway dinosaur. I was tempted to run off with nothing but three weeks seems like a long time to have to rely on mere chances of finding Internet cafes.  I will tote this extra five pounds around the entire country, I guess.

I am getting things ready now.  I generally only use my Gateway at BCIT.  I can get wireless access in any classroom on campus.  An extended trip requires other software.  For example, I loaded ZENcast Organizer just to be able to easily pull in the hourly CBC news podcasts while away.  It's 'politicking' time in Canada.  The process is a whole lot less expensive, more condensed, and a bit less exciting than the electoral zoo in the US.  Still we'd like the ongoing info to be ready to vote the week after getting off the flights from Rome.  On the computer, I had to make sure all email accounts were accessible.  I also had to make sure I could download digital pictures and videos off my cameras.

Just as importantly, I will be using Windows Live Writer to keep drafts of blog entries.  The good thing about it is even if I don't have access to free wireless, I can type out my entry.  It'll then be waiting for upload the next time I get near a little bandwidth.

Labels: blogging, government, mini-note, Q3_2008, travel planning

I was rather exited about coming through the border and being able to declare goods purchased in the US. Shopping isn't really a hobby. I think that people who think of it as recreation should really stop to reconsider their lives. However, there are, undoubtedly, better deals on lots of goods in the States. I usually combine larger purchases with a vacation so as not to incur the collection of duties. I think the duty-free allowance is $750 if out of Canada for a week.

Anyhow, I was prepared to actually admit to the border office that I'd bought a mini-notebook. I talked about it here the day before yesterday. I was curious as to what paperwork is required. Unfortunately, Best Buy in Bellingham, WA did not have a single Acer Aspire One in stock. A pimply kid said they had sold out a few hours after arrival. The US website shows they do not have any to ship to online buyers but it surely appears as if they had 'em at the store. It was just poor website implementation, I guess. So, I didn't get to declare any purchases.

However, Jay took a paid sick day. As it is his birthday, he got a free lunch at the Country Buffet at the Mall.

What a mess the Peach Arch border crossing is. We had to wait 45 minutes to go south. It was 11:15 on a weekday morning but construction has forced the opening of only three lanes. I guess things will be finished for the 2010 Olympics. With such a wait, maybe we'll wait until then to drop down to Bellingham for our next brief, pop-across-the-border trip.

Labels: food, mini-note, Q3_2008

I just finished reading an Internet article discussing generational differences in the concepts of online privacy. Have you noticed how many newspapers are now starting to offer article forums in which people can comment? I generally kick myself for actually going through the paragraphs written by all those informed readers. Most opinions are not worthy of the time they take to read. I already have an opinion or two on almost everything and someone else's is not likely to affect mine. I was contemplating adding my own thoughts on the topic here but why bother? It just makes my head hurt to think about it.

Rather than that, I'll briefly mention the potential purchase I'm wavering over. Next Sunday, we're off to Rome. Although the past two times to Europe in 2005 and 2007, I took along my notebook, this time I am unwilling. It simply weighs too much. I don't want to carry around five pounds of extra luggage as we're pretty good at going lite.

A mini-note would be perfect for a trip. I have progressive lenses, so I could make due with a screen less than nine diagonal inches! I became interested in the Asus last fall and thought getting one would be great. Then, the HP 2133 showed up this summer. The keyboard was perfect but in this first incarnation, they used an underpowered processor. Next, I became very excited about the Acer Aspire One. There are several models and XP is an option. I wanted to wait until I saw what Dell was to release. I was disappointed to see during last Friday's launch that they're currently only using solid state drives. One reason for taking a mini-note along on a journey would be to dump pictures and video onto it in order to not have to buy extra memory cards.

Okay, so it looks as if I really want one now, it'll have to be the Acer. Unfortunately, in Canada the model is only released with a damned bilingual keyboard. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against some additional markings on my keys as I don't look anyway. However, they have had to modify the keyboard on the bilingual version to fit in a few extra keys and vary the placement of others. Yuk. As it is, the Acer is nearly too narrow for comfortable typing in the best of conditions.

So I guess if I run to Bellingham, WA and pay taxes twice, I can get the US model for about the same price. For some reason the Best Buy there has it $50 cheaper than can be found in Canada. But I'd have to pay Washington state tax, and then turn around at the border and declare the GST and PST too. So, it comes out as a wash. I am leaning to the notion that it'd be worth the hassle.

Or, more appropriately, I could simply take along a $1.99 paper notepad and pencil on the trip to Italy.

Labels: computers, mini-note, Q3_2008, technology

Other than lugging my notebook computer to BCIT, I don't use it much. It's an old Gateway that I really wish would break. Sometimes when I turn it on, the pixels on the whole lower third of the screen appear dim. Unfortunately, after a few moments it always seems to come back to life. I'm no longer careful when carrying it; I drop it on the table in hopes of hastening its demise. The damned thing continues to function. When I got it, the 14.1 screen seemed smaller than those with that additional diagonal inch or two. Yet. after repeated trips abroad, I've discovered it is far too big and heavy.

I first read about Asus Eee online. At the end of October last year, I blogged about the apparent new class of computer. I would dearly love something with less than a 10" screen. As the Eee has proved so popular in many circles, many other manufacturers are finally jumping on the parade. I can't believe the industry couldn't figure there is a huge market for mini-notes. One student had one in class today, and, of course, everybody wanted to see it, touch it, and ask questions about it.

A mini-note wouldn't be a replacement for one's main PC. I still like a big plastic box in my house with a zillion wires. I can see how a big, fully-loaded laptop could be many people's main computer though. That's not the point nor function of these sleek little babies. They are just for basic computing and Internet access on the go. They are something one wouldn't regret carrying when popping down to Starbucks. Cell phones and Blackberries are too small, but as any techno-Goldilocks knows, a mini-note would be jusssssssst right!

Rather than an Eee, I sort of have my eye on the HP 2133. Or perhaps I can wait to see what Dell throws into this increasing crowded ring.

Labels: computers, Hardware, mini-note, Q3_2008

I hadn't planned on making any comments about computers today.

I did successfully find a new home for the machine that used to be the main PC. The new owners stopped by this morning and lugged the enormous beige box away. That didn't require a blog entry. My students are busy checking information on the individualized course homepages at my.bcit.ca. I've gone on and on about that many times before, so it didn't require even the briefest mention here today.

I find myself complaining here as my notebook computer seems to be on its way out. The bottom third of the screen appears washed out now. This makes using it impossible. I've had a rather love/hate relationship with this particular piece of equipment, I suppose. I was happy with the 14 inch screen as compared to all those people lugging around much wider beasts. The little notebook worked well when overseas on separate trips to Europe and a month in Asia. On the other hand, Gateway product support did not impress me at all.

This means I probably will have to start looking for something new. I don't want to replace my home computer, so I do not want anything large. In fact I think it'd be rather nice to have something with less than a 12-inch screen. I want something that's not a pain in the back, literally, to carry around. If it weren't for the fact they're a bit overpriced for what you get, I'd absolutely love one of these new ...

Labels: computers, mini-note, opinions, Q4_2007