In order to stream video, ASCII cord needs to have gold-plated connectors. Otherwise, you get extended-character-set noise.

I have an Apple Mail app question. Mail v3.5 running on Mac 10.5.6.

At some point awhile ago, soon after getting the laptop in the fall, mail had some difficulties. There was a pop issue with the Outlook server or something, but when I finally got it working again, it downloaded messages a 2nd time, so there were a lot of messages that I deleted from mail, but I guess not from the server, that got d/l again, so it shows (2) messages, one of which is greyed. The grey one can *not* be deleted again or moved to another folder. Very frustrating. But I lived with it, just not scrolling down to the old messages.

Well, now it's starting to do it on new messages. Clogging the IN box, not being able to move grey messages. This time, it's not one I've deleted, but moved to a folder, but it remembers the message or something, but then I can't move the reply into that other folder.

OK, I think I'm babbling, not sure if I am making sense. It probably means a trip to the genius bar in May when the season is done, and I can afford to not have the laptop for a few days. But I was wondering if anyone here had heard of such a strange issue, and if there was a simple fix?

Anyone interested in buying a used 60 GB iPod? I'm getting tired of not being able to fit my music collection on an iPod and am thinking of getting a 120GB iPod Classic.

I've given up hope on them ever having an iPod big enough for my music. I'm looking at transitioning to a 1 TB drive soon.

I bought Improbable Girl a Kindle 2 for her birthday, and have been playing with it, setting it up.

I definitely have to say that some of the improvements are very nice, especially the much faster screen refreshes and the dictionary lookup process, which works much better with the new five-fold nav nipple. It looks like the web browser is a bit better, too, and the text-to-speech is actually quite nice: no replacement for audiobooks on long journeys, but if you just MUST find out what's going to happen next while washing dishes it's pretty cool. And the way it handles archived content is MUCH better, and makes me hope for true folders in the navigation system soon.

But (and I feel weird saying this, a little): I actually like the look and feel of it LESS. Because in pictures, sure, the original Kindle looked kind of like an old Atari, but in your hand it actually felt a lot like a book, with the same weight in all the right places. The new one feels more like a large iPhone. Which, sure, shiny. But it impedes the ability I had with the first Kindle to completely disappear into the book. And the much-maligned giant Next Page button of the first Kindle was never maligned by me: I miss being able to turn the page from such a wide variety of different hand positions.

The new Kindle also feels heavier. It's not, technically, but I think because it's got a worse weight/thickness ratio. The first Kindle had about the same weight to it as a book of its thickness. The new Kindle is significantly heavier than a book its size would be. Again, somewhat breaks the invisibility of the device.

Still want one. But I hope they can eventually strike a better balance between their original goal of invisible-feels-like-a-book and the new looks-pretty-like-an-Apple-device sequel.

OK, advice please. I've decided it's time to get a cell phone that really works (my current provider has a lousy network - I have problems getting service just about anywhere indoors). I also want e-mail access. I'm looking at Verizon because they have the best coverage in my area. I checked with them and they recommended a plan, which I'm mostly OK with, and a BlackBerry Pearl.

Comments? suggestions? I'm a little iffy about the device because the keys seem kind of small.

My mother loves her Blackberry Pearl, if that's any help.

I have Verizon and it was worked really well. I just have one of the basic free phones though.

Thanks!

If you particularily like flip phones, my best friend (who lives but mere blocks from you) really really likes her blackberry flip phone (which is very similar to the pearl, but...is a flip phone). Though she's got T-mobile, and some sort of freakish plan where everytime she's at a wifi spot (aka, every time she's at HOME), all her calls are free, or some madness like that.