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Friday, October 31, 2003
Ultra Portable Handheld computer - Sure glad I didn't wait for one of the much hyped ultra portable computers to be released. It looks like the Antelope Computers will release the first ultra portable next week. It looks like a great computer, but wonder how many people are willing to shell out $4,000 for one. I certainly wouldn't. Wonder if you will have to wait for Windows XP to boot to check your calendar? The other competitor in this field, the makers of the OQO computer, seem to have vaporized. Their “latest” press release is from April 2002. (0) comments
Recents reads - Reading Microserfs by Douglas Coupland, a book about a group of computer geeks who work for Microsoft, who then move on to work for a start-up in Silicon Valley. It's a very silly book told in the form of a daily journal. While not well written, I'm enjoying it nonetheless. Recently finished reading Atonement by Ian McEwan, and excellent book about events that take place in England around the time of World War II. It deals with the consequences of the actions of a young girl and how they change the lives of the characters lives forever. (0) comments Thursday, October 30, 2003
Driven by tasks - Now that I have the PDA with contacts synced, music loaded and the task list filled it I find I'm becoming obsessive about the task list. I always kept a to-do list in my journal, and every once in a while I would remember to check to see what I haven't done lately. But now I find myself turning on the PDA about every half hour to check the task list and try to check off one more task. Maybe this isn't such a bad thing for a procrastinator like me. (0) comments
I wonder why no one seems to talk about population control these days. I don't see that the problem is going away any time soon. I have a theory that most conservative Republicans want as much population growth as possible so that there are more bodies around to purchase goods, leading to continued economic growth. So what if a few of them go hungry, it's survival of the fittest. (0) comments Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Have been spending time learning to use the new Dell Axim X5. I'm not overly fond of the OS. Navigating through the Start menu tree structure is tiresome. I think there is some software out there that creates icons on the opening screen for one-touch startup of applications. I hadn't planned to purchase a Microsoft-based PDA, but the reality is that I use Outlook at both home and work. The price of the X5 was much better than other hardware. Most other PDAs with both SD and CF memory, with a microphone and regular headphone jack, and with 64MB of memory cost much more than the Dell. The screen is bright, the colors are sharp, and it syncs with Outlook well. I've got the 256MB SD card loaded with a few Wilco MP3s and the sound is OK. The way I look at it, it's an expensive MP3 player that can do lots of other stuff. (0) comments Tuesday, October 21, 2003
The great PDA search is over. I finally decided on the Dell Axim X5. I chose the 400MHz model as there was a 10% discount with free shipping, so I saved about $40 on just the handheld. There was also 10% off the foldable keyboard and the SD memory card. I had thought about buying it on eBay, but the prices there weren't much less than what Dell was offering. After adding shipping, I wasn't saving much. The main reason I went for the X5 was that it has two memory slots, CF and SD. Newer models like the X3 and the Tungsten E have only an SD slot. (0) comments Monday, October 20, 2003
Back from a long weekend in Staunton (stanton, not stonton), VA. The Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival is held there every Fall. It's a beautiful time to be in the Shenandoah Valley, along with thousands of other tourists from the DC area. The Fortune Williams Music Festival was also being held in Staunton that weekend. We saw great shows by Nancy Griffith and Ricky Skaggs. (0) comments Thursday, October 16, 2003
Spent some time trying to finish the Volcanoes Bike Tour trip report. It's nearly finished, at least until the next typo is found. (0) comments Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Walked to work today. It's a beautiful, sunny, clear autumn day and the walk was refreshing. The walk is a little more invigorating than the three mile bike ride, and felt good to stretch the legs a little. (0) comments
Today Dell released the next version of their PDA, the Dell Axim X3. It seems reasonably priced at $229 for the basic configuration. One can get a 300 MHz processor with external keyboard and a 256MB SD card for $367. There's a review at BargainPDA. (0) comments Monday, October 13, 2003
It's depressing that hp is using The Cure's song Pictures of You in a huge ad campaign for hp printers. Another group sells out, another song ruined. (0) comments Thursday, October 09, 2003
It seems odd that in the Official Clark '04 Campaign Blog: Generally Speaking... Clark mentions the support of Republicans in the first paragraph: The reception everywhere has been overwhelming, particularly by the Draft folks, but also by party regulars, independents, Republicans and even kids too young to vote! I plan on watching the Democratic candidate debate in Phoenix tonight, having missed the previous ones. Maybe I'll also check out the transcripts of earlier debates, such as the one on Sept. 25. (0) comments
When I rode cross-country there were a few places where we had problems with rednecks honking, yelling, and throwing things at us. The worst place was the Florida panhandle. Other places where it has been a problem is in rural Pennsylvania. I didn't expect it here in Reston, VA, but in the past year I've had two nearly full soda cans thrown at my head. One hit BOB, my trusty trailer. The one thrown today just missed my head. I chased the car, a red honda with VA plates JGJ 9408, for a while then lost sight of it. I'll be looking for it. (0) comments
Working too much lately and not posting much here. Rode about 50 miles yesterday, to work, for a spin to Ashburn and back, then to a meeting at the Government Center. It was cool on the ride home, with a full moon and my Niterider lighting the way home. It was almost better not to have the light when riding across the golf course in the thick fog. (0) comments Wednesday, October 08, 2003
(0) comments Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Breezer Bikes - Joe Breeze, designer of some of the original mountain bikes, is now selling a line of commuter bicycles, Breezer Bikes. We saw them at the huge REI store in Seattle. Like Joe, I think the bicycle could be our salvation from congested streets and polluted air. (0) comments |