Comments for Dan's Thoughts http://www.wambooli.com/blog Thrice weekly high tech commentary Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:03:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on How Newspapers Can Adapt to the Internet by jamh51 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/27/how-newspapers-can-adapt-to-the-internet/#comment-216 jamh51 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:44:05 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=143#comment-216 Mark Cuban disagrees that TV will go. I think that he's right in that HD tv is a better experience (and always will be better) than streamed video online, even good quality online video, and especially with a TiVo to allow pausing and on-demand playback. It's like comparing an XBOX 360 to a PC for games. Yes, the PC can play games like the XBOX--but the XBOX is wildly more popular for gaming. And that's because it is a specialized piece of equipment that does one thing very well, like an HD tv. Mark Cuban disagrees that TV will go. I think that he’s right in that HD tv is a better experience (and always will be better) than streamed video online, even good quality online video, and especially with a TiVo to allow pausing and on-demand playback.

It’s like comparing an XBOX 360 to a PC for games. Yes, the PC can play games like the XBOX–but the XBOX is wildly more popular for gaming. And that’s because it is a specialized piece of equipment that does one thing very well, like an HD tv.

]]> Comment on How Newspapers Can Adapt to the Internet by admin http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/27/how-newspapers-can-adapt-to-the-internet/#comment-215 admin Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:17:59 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=143#comment-215 I'd have to add a downside to paper. This morning it's raining and the newspaper human failed to put my paper into a plastic bag. It was soaked through-and-through. Unreadable. I’d have to add a downside to paper. This morning it’s raining and the newspaper human failed to put my paper into a plastic bag. It was soaked through-and-through. Unreadable.

]]> Comment on How Newspapers Can Adapt to the Internet by admin http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/27/how-newspapers-can-adapt-to-the-internet/#comment-214 admin Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:16:17 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=143#comment-214 I agree. The Web gives us the promise that the VCR made decades ago: to be able to watch your show when you want to. If I were to play the ponies on this one, I'd bet on Apple TV. But it's not quite there yet. I agree. The Web gives us the promise that the VCR made decades ago: to be able to watch your show when you want to. If I were to play the ponies on this one, I’d bet on Apple TV. But it’s not quite there yet.

]]> Comment on I’m a Keyboard Snob by admin http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/20/im-a-keyboard-snob/#comment-213 admin Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:11:58 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=136#comment-213 Good tip, Douglas. I never thought of that. I typically use a bottle of kitchen cleaner and a sponge. It's amazing how filthy a keyboard can get. My guess is that's why nearly all the new keyboards have black keys. :\ Good tip, Douglas. I never thought of that. I typically use a bottle of kitchen cleaner and a sponge. It’s amazing how filthy a keyboard can get. My guess is that’s why nearly all the new keyboards have black keys. :\

]]> Comment on How Newspapers Can Adapt to the Internet by linuxlove http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/27/how-newspapers-can-adapt-to-the-internet/#comment-212 linuxlove Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:54:06 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=143#comment-212 TV may go next, because of all the online video sites, such as YouTube, SurfTheChannel, Toudu, ect. And it's free to get these shows! A lot of them want you to get their cable or sattelite service, so you can get what you want. But since the web is (mostly) free, the cable, sattelite and regular TV brodcasters may (or are now) lose people very soon. TV may go next, because of all the online video sites, such as YouTube, SurfTheChannel, Toudu, ect.
And it’s free to get these shows! A lot of them want you to get their cable or sattelite service, so you can get what you want. But since the web is (mostly) free, the cable, sattelite and regular TV brodcasters may (or are now) lose people very soon.

]]> Comment on I’m a Keyboard Snob by Douglas http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/20/im-a-keyboard-snob/#comment-211 Douglas Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:41:44 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=136#comment-211 Dan, I find that the easiest way to clean keyboards (or anything plastic for that matter) is to simply attack them with a pencil eraser. If taht doesn't work, then you have to really clean them. Dan, I find that the easiest way to clean keyboards (or anything plastic for that matter) is to simply attack them with a pencil eraser. If taht doesn’t work, then you have to really clean them.

]]> Comment on I’m a Keyboard Snob by linuxlove http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/20/im-a-keyboard-snob/#comment-210 linuxlove Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:28:46 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=136#comment-210 Hmm. The keaboard must be old enough that it won't work with the new stuff anymore... Hmm. The keaboard must be old enough that it won’t work with the new stuff anymore…

]]> Comment on I’m a Keyboard Snob by admin http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/20/im-a-keyboard-snob/#comment-209 admin Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:03:08 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=136#comment-209 I must confess also, James, that I'm beginning to favor those "extra" keyboard keys as well. At first I didn't like that they loaded the keyboard with those keys. But on the Mac, the function keys are also mapped to volume control, screen settings, and other handy features. I like that. I must confess also, James, that I’m beginning to favor those “extra” keyboard keys as well. At first I didn’t like that they loaded the keyboard with those keys. But on the Mac, the function keys are also mapped to volume control, screen settings, and other handy features. I like that.

]]> Comment on I’m a Keyboard Snob by jamh51 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/20/im-a-keyboard-snob/#comment-208 jamh51 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:40:36 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=136#comment-208 My keyboard is a Logitech Elite keyboard, my second of this type. I used to not like keyboards with lots of shortcut keys and such, but have found that these keyboards suit my needs perfectly. I listen to a lot of online radio and music while I work, so the volume control and multimedia controls are essential. Also, I love having a scroll wheel on my keyboard. It serves two purposes--one, so I can scroll through long documents without having to have my hand on the mouse all the time, and two, if I'm in a hurry to scroll up or down I'll often roll BOTH wheels (keyboard and mouse) and it goes twice as fast. Also, the keys (while not being loud) have a comfortably solid feel. They don't just squish down--you put a little weight on them and then they go easily. But it doesn't feel squishy at all to me. My keyboard is a Logitech Elite keyboard, my second of this type. I used to not like keyboards with lots of shortcut keys and such, but have found that these keyboards suit my needs perfectly. I listen to a lot of online radio and music while I work, so the volume control and multimedia controls are essential. Also, I love having a scroll wheel on my keyboard. It serves two purposes–one, so I can scroll through long documents without having to have my hand on the mouse all the time, and two, if I’m in a hurry to scroll up or down I’ll often roll BOTH wheels (keyboard and mouse) and it goes twice as fast.

Also, the keys (while not being loud) have a comfortably solid feel. They don’t just squish down–you put a little weight on them and then they go easily. But it doesn’t feel squishy at all to me.

]]> Comment on I’m a Keyboard Snob by admin http://www.wambooli.com/blog/2008/08/20/im-a-keyboard-snob/#comment-207 admin Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:48:20 +0000 http://www.wambooli.com/blog/?p=136#comment-207 They use the PS/2 adapter. Oddly enough, they wouldn't work in my new Lenovo computer (the one with the Das Keyboard attached). I may experiment with them later, and I do know that there is a PS/2 -> USB adapter. Still, the older keyboards lack a Windows key. And I do need to clean them up. :) They use the PS/2 adapter. Oddly enough, they wouldn’t work in my new Lenovo computer (the one with the Das Keyboard attached). I may experiment with them later, and I do know that there is a PS/2 -> USB adapter. Still, the older keyboards lack a Windows key. And I do need to clean them up. :)

]]>