Newspaper Taxis

Obsession

Yesterday Apple announced the new 17″ MacBook Pro. I have never even considered getting a 17″ before as they just seem too big and unmanageable. This new machine though, is making me reconsider. I use my laptop a lot and do a lot of design work from it and while the big 15″ screen does the job, I could definitely use the extra space especially for menu heavy programs like InDesign. This new model has what is supposed to be the best and brightest screen to appear on a laptop yet which is enticing. My favorite thing by far though, is the new built-in smart battery that holds its charge for up to 8 hours. 8 hours! That is far beyond the 2.5 maybe 3 hours I have ever got from a laptop. Plus the new technology is good for 1000 charge cycles, unlike the 250-300 on current batteries. The most tragic/opportunistic thing is that my current laptop is experiencing the first of this downhill run to the end. I can’t keep it unplugged for longer than 15 min without it shutting off with 60% left on the battery. Supposedly I have water damage and my logic board is failing (though I don’t know where from) so the damages aren’t covered by my AppleCare. Whatever caused this also is causing the screen to get all splotchy, so there you go. Excuse to buy a new one. Besides, won’t it help the economy? I’m patriotic.

iPhone Withdrawl

As anyone who knows me knows, I am a gadget guy. Love gadgets, love little electronic things to carry around. Now the mother of all gadgets come out and as a certified gadget geek and apple geek I think I have a responsibility to go get one of these shiny objects to call my own. But alas it is not to be, at least not yet. In addition to being extremely overpriced, I have the bad luck to have made a bone headed decision a year ago to sign a two year contract with Verizon. Now I have a year old Razr that can’t make it till 5pm without the battery dying, and have to hack into the phone’s system to get the photos on my computer thanks to Verizon’s draconian locked system.

I haven’t looked at the prices lately for breaking my contract, but I’m sure its a few hundred dollars, which of course my wife would refuse to allow me to do anyway. I should have left Verizon in the first place for having the worst designed logo of any major phone company. Although unfortunately VSA’s Cingular logo was shown the door to bring back the mega-brand and newly friendlified at&t globe.