Targus Backpack Update

My Targus backpack started losing zipper pulls recently. The rubber Targus-branded ones were breaking off.

Fortunately, REI has these sturdy Zipper Pulls, so I'm replacing the Targus ones as they go.

Two PCs to drool over

Dell has a new thin notebook, the XPS M1330. Looks a bit sleeker than the typical boxy shape of the Inspiron line. Not that I'm complaining, I think my Inspiron 9400 is pretty damn cool.

Ironically it looks like Sony, who has always been the leader in sleek notebooks, has copy-catted Apple with a silver boxy design.

And then there's OQO. All I can say is.... OOOOOOOQO.

iPhone Aftermath

From CNNMoney.com:

It's now hard to imagine that the next iPod won't have the iPhone's gorgeous touchscreen features, the better to watch movies with. Conversely, the iPhone would be vastly improved with the iPod's supersized storage and easier access to iTunes. And while Apple engineers are at it, why not use the same basic motherboard, screen, and interface for both devices -- with touchscreen on the front and a trackwheel on the back, perhaps?

Here's an interesting observation: Optional Features

Not every iPod listener wants cell phone service. Not every iPhone user requires music. Some of us need only 5 gigabytes, while some of us won't be happy until we get our hands on 500 gigabytes. Some might even like the whole thing encased in zirconia.

In theory, there's nothing stopping your local Apple Store from selling you the feature set you need at a price that makes sense, just as so many Apple products have been sold in the soft pastel color of your choice.

P2P TV

From Business2.0:

The bigger question is: On the Internet, does live TV even matter any more? The TV schedule is a product of the historical limitations of broadcast television, where you have to broadcast the same shows to everyone at the same time. But those limitations are falling away. Even in cable and satellite TV, the growth of pay-per-view and on-demand channels proves that if you give consumers more choices, they will grab them. The Internet is the ultimate on-demand television system, where the choices of what to watch and when have no practical limits.

The concept of live TV almost makes no sense in that context. Why limit your audience only to those people who can tune in at a certain time? With a few exceptions, such as sports and breaking news, live TV will be a liability on the Web unless those streams are also stored for later viewing. On the Web, nobody wants to make an appointment to watch TV.

Quest for a cool Start Page

Many people have a Google Start Page (aka iGoogle). I think it looks kinda boring.

I tried Protopage, but found the windows can get too cluttered. I like how most of these types of sites organize things into columns. Protopage's free-form layout is a cool novelty but it wears off. Free form windows don't work on the desktop either. I wish Microsoft would figure that out.

I currently have a home page on Yahoo. But after trying out Netvibes, I think I've found what I've been looking for. It has a solid, clean layout. Stylish design (but not overdone). And it has lots of cool widgets.