I was chatting with a friend recently, and we were talking about MP3 players and how much they’ve evolved. He insisted that all MP3 players should just incorporate the Apple “i” somewhere in them since the iPod is the first MP3 player that comes to mind when most people think of an MP3 player. “It’s kinda like Kleen-x,” he explained like a physics professor simplifying the definition of dark matter for a freshman, “Everyone knows tissues as Kleen-x now because they were the biggest brand in the business, so now when someone asks for a tissue, they always say ‘give me a Kleen-x.’” I quickly interjected with “no no, I say tissue and I also say please first.” The point here is that I couldn’t agree less with my friend on this. The high and mighty iPod is a great line of products, iPod mini, iPod micro, iPod etc. There are so many of them, and they are all great. We really need to stop for a minute though and realize that there is more to the MP3 universe than just the iPod family. There are all kinds of other great models like the Toshiba Gigabeat MEG-F60 for example. Its a great MP3 player and guess what. It doesn’t have iPod written on the side of it. There are all kinds of other MP3 players that are out now as well that are focusing on specific user types like the excersizing type who needs music to workout, or the file troll, who hoards as much music on one device as is possible.
So before you buy, check out your choices and understand that just because the iPod series is a great group of products doesn’t mean that it is the only group of MP3 players out there.

Clank! (Sound of me cheersing you with a beer stein)

-Pete

I did a posting a while ago on the iPhone and why I think Microsoft should back off with the nagging and the teasing. It’s not going to be long now though. June 29th is the official release date of the iPhone. I was reading through a few blogs, and found a posting on CrunchGear talking about the statistics involved with AT&T preparing for the iPhone launch. It is RIDICULOUS how much investment has gone into the iPhone. I mean, I know I am going against my inner-geek when I say this, but can’t we feed a couple of countries or something instead?? Its just a phone right?! (I love how when I say that as a joke to my buddies, I get immediate silence accompanied by many shocked looks, followed by a storm of comments on all the other things the iPhone is and does… HA) Seriously though, AT&T apparently hired an additional 1800 employees to deal with the expected slew of service needed during the famous iPhone launch. Each sales associated employee at AT&T received 6 hours of training a PIECE on the iPhone for a grand total of over 100,000 hours of training for the launch. Thats freakin CRAZY-town!
I almost want to NOT get an iPhone now just to watch AT&T squirm a bit when no one shows up Somehow I have a feeling that the AT&T stores are going to be busting open with iPhone-hungry customers. The timing actually couldn’t be more perfect for me. I need a new cellphone BIGTIME…

CHEERS!
-Pete

Well, if your weirded out by my title, I don’t blame you. But seriously, baby boomers and technology do tend to mix like water and oil. Who can blame them? They didn’t grow up with complex technology, video games, or the other hundreds of gadgets that saturated our generation’s lives during adolesence. Baby boomers are now having to learn the technology as it comes out, and that is fast learning because there is so much innovation every year. In fact, it seems like everything has just started to progress exponentially at this point. Now that we understand why baby boomers and technology mix like water and oil, what do we do?? Well, the answer to that is simple. We add one egg, and some readymade brownie mix, stir it up and bake it of course. Baby boomers have to work with what they have, but the bottom line is that they are innevitably going to have to learn about the technology as it progresses. The key is in the way they need to approach it. When we learn something new, we tend to look for the simplest answer to our problem. Technology problems take time, and there are ALWAYS several contributing factors involved. So baby boomers really need to take their time and learn about the product they are interested in from the basics on upward. The TechSelector questions are designed specifically to address the simple basic issues that are so fundamental to picking the right product. I think there is hope yet for Baby Boomers. There are some great resources out there for them to start with. As I mentioned before, TechSelector is a great place to start. Also, if you want to keep up to date on the new trends, issues, and all the “shiny happy news”, then check out Cali Lewis’s sites. She runs a podcast (basically a tv show over the internet) that covers all the really interesting gadget/technology issues going on. Its called GeekBrief.com The other site she has that I really like is DearCali.com, where Cali answers popular questions that she gets from viewers. She gives good advice so check it out.
When all is set and done, remember that baby boomers need a little help with this stuff because they weren’t fortunate enough to grow up knowing it all. It’s like growing up speaking two languages. If you are fortunate enough to grow up in that kind of situation, then its easy! But if you try to learn when your 50 years old, it is one hell of a lot harder. So baby boomers, get over to the techselector system and start learnin’!!

Thanks and cheers,

-Pete

Well maybe it has a little to do with the printer. But what people don’t realize is that even a mid grade inket printer can print lovely images if you use the right paper and settings. So here is a tip - invest in good coated paper and follow the instructions on that paper for changing the settings in your printer dialog box. Coated paper is really important because it doesn’t let the ink seep into the paper and create oversaturated and blurry images. There are a few kinds out there - my favorite is actually the matte (not shiny) coated variety because you get very crisp, clean edges. The general rule of thumb for settings with coated inkjet paper is to choose the highest resolution possible (usually called “Best”) and the appropriate paper type. The main difference between the higher priced printers and lower priced ones (if the resolutions are in the same ballpark) is speed. You may have to wait a lot longer for those pretty pictures to print. But you can achieve similar quality if you pay attention to your paper.

I think it is time to upgrade in the printer category. I have one of the old HP 750 PSC. She’s a bit of a bear, but trusty and true. Sure, it takes up about a half of my desk space and I haven’t moved it for fear of a pulled back, but I have had the thing for 5 years now. Recently, I was checking around through the TechSelector for a new printer. Now, when I say printer I really mean “All in One” because I demand all those features in one machine. I was checking through some of them and saw a Tech Spec comment, I think by Desmond Dekker (I find that funny, because I can’t see the original old school reggae artist Desmond Dekker lending his two cents on technical specifications) that said something about how good we have it nowadays. He’s totally right. I mean can you remember when you had your office all decked out with one machine to print documents, one machine to “photocopy”(ha ha remember that word?!) things, another machine just for faxing, and yet another seperate scanner? I’m not trying to demoralize the idea of getting seperate machines to do certain jobs mind you, the point is that back then we didn’t have a choice. At least now when we get a seperate printer, its going to be a good printer or a specialized scanner, etc.
Anyways, back to my point. Printers are great these days. The new All in One’s are half the size, with way more functions and benefits. My bottom line here is going to be short and simple. Chuck the old, in with the new. (just be careful of that back when chucking the old, seriously they can be pretty heavy, and there’s nothing to brighten up your day like a nicely pinched nerve:) )

Thanks and Cheers,

-Pete

I often find myself asking the hypothetical question “If superman were a blank, he would probably be a blank.” Don’t ask me why, I just like doing it and that’s all that really matters. So you will likely see more posts on this question.
Now, back to the question at hand. The Canon Rebel XT is surely a titan of the Digital Camera realm. It has super human powers that makes it a hero among good quality Digital Cameras. Intuative user features, exellent quality pictures, and a snazzy look make the Rebel XT an obvious candidate for Superman. SLR cameras are the powerhouses of the camera world, boasting pro-like performance. The challenge that SLRs face is to continue providing that proffesional quality and plethora of benefits along with a touch of class in a user-friendly package. I know, its a mouthful, but that is the reality of the market today. More and more people want to be pro photographers, without having to learn what it is to be a pro photographer. There is nothing wrong with it at all, but it just means that the Camera companies are having to combine that quality with a “pro photography for dummies” mentality. Have you ever taken pictures at a wedding and ended up shooting hundreds of “artistic” shots that you think represent the majesty of lighting and composition, only to be asked by a someone else when viewing them “What the hell is that?” I know it can be a frusterating affair. Hey, just remember that there’s always the super man Rebel XT to save the day, and who knows, maybe one day we’ll all be pro photographers!

Thanks and Cheers,

-Pete

Recently a few friends came over to my house for a movie and some barbeque (at which I am the master by the way). Naturally we got into a discussion on TV’s during the movie. Now, a friend of mine has a regular old CRT TV sitting in his living room. You know the good old tube TVs of old. Two of these guys are room mates and they split on a Panasonic TH 42″ PX 50U. Naturally they ripped into him for having such an outdated TV, and I must say that he rightfully deserved it. The next day we went over to their place to check out their Panasonic. I must say this very clearly now: This individual has been living a life deprived of rightful TV benefits. There is a HUGE difference in so many ways between the older CRT Televisions and the new flat panel Tvs. The colors, the clarity, the Screen size, the viewing angle. These things are fundamentally different from one technology to the next. This friend of mine remarked that he hadn’t wanted to upgrade because he didnt want to deal with learning about the new features and how to use them. Big mistake if you ask me though.
In my mind, the important things to consider with a TV are screen size, aspect ratio(screen shape), contrast ratio(difference between the lightest light/darkest dark), the form factor(really just how thick the TV is), and whether it is HD ready. There are others, but those are the biggies for me, and differences in these areas truly do make the difference. I didnt even know how to console this buddy of mine with his chunky tube tv. I will tell you one thing though. The look on his face as he sat and enjoyed the Panasonic’s screen was priceless. It was the look of someone truly discovering something new, like he just took his first steps, or figured out how to use email. I have heard a lot of people say things like the title of this post “I need a Real TV like I need a hole in the head,” but I often wonder if they have ever discovered the differences between old technology and the new and improved technology just like my friend did.
The bottom line is this: technology is meant to help enhance people’s lives not make it more difficult or more stressful. Don’t stick to an inferior technology just because you know it!! There are just so many ways you could be depriving yourself of less work, more enjoyment. What’s the Bottom bottom line? Well, you already have several holes in your head, and you need them. So you probably need a “Real” TV too.

Sirius Stilleto Satellite player(try saying that 10 times fast)… Its a great concept, and one that will evolve as MP3 has, producing smaller players, better services, and probably infultrating cellphones and many other gadgets.
The conflicts certainly remain in terms of pirated and shared music for the music industry, but services like the new Napster, or iTunes store have made some pretty big steps in addressing the issue. Im confident that at some point someone will come up with a dynamic solution to this and make millions, but for now, I all for free music at home, and let the musicians charge for concerts. They make way too much anyways

Gracias, and Cheers!
-Pete

Bestbuy is a monster of a retailer. They are the biggest and baddest in most every respect. Now, when you think of Bestbuy, you probably think of it as the Mecca for the millions of geeks throughout the land. However, Bestbuy has a face that has only really emerged in recent years. An extremely intelligent face (if that makes any sense…). They have undertaken a massive rennovation of their storefronts nationwide. The purpose for this? To better target the surrounding groups of consumers. They have categorized customers into two groups: the angel buyers and the demon buyers. Ouch, Demon buyers?? Well don’t be so hurt by it. It is simply Bestbuy’s way of recognizing those customers that dont send sales their way. The Angels, however, represent those customers that are valuable to Bestbuy. These are the storebrowsers that actually buy things often. Bestbuy has categorized us further into 5 main groups: Buzz, Barry, Ray, Jill, and Mr. Storefront. Yeah I know, Mr. Storefront… Not sure where they came up with that zinger of a name, but it works I guess.
So each of these characters represent a certain type of person. Buzz is the young teen gadget addict, Jill is the busy single mother, Barry is the tech enthusiast, Ray is on a budget and always looking out for his family, and Mr. Storefront is the small business owner, with a really bad name. Each of these people have special needs. So what has Bestbuy done? They have taken particular interest in each character and physically changed their storefronts with different lighting, interior design, different music and volume levels, different product offerings, and every other conceivable change that would bring the stores more in line with what each specific character would need in order to purchase more frequently. SMART HUH?? They call it their “centricity campaign.” Keep in mind that some of these stores require over 1 million dollars (per store) to change them into character-targeting, sales-producing little factories. Ouch
In particular, Bestbuy has taken a huge interest in women, and why shouldn’t they? Women control 90% of consumer electronics purchase decisions in the United States. So Bestbuy has trained their employees to be more design conscious, understand lifestyle needs, and perhaps how to gossip. The point is, Bestbuy is on to something, and their ridiculous revenues increases since starting the centricity campaign speak for themselves.

Thanks and Clink (that was the sound of us cheersing)

-Pete