Joyce: Dawn, you be good. Xander: We will. Just gonna play with some matches, run with scissors, take candy from some guy, I don't know his name.

'Beneath You'


Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."

Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!


tommyrot - Mar 26, 2009 12:12:29 pm PDT #9536 of 25501
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

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.


NoiseDesign - Mar 26, 2009 12:47:55 pm PDT #9537 of 25501
Our wings are not tired

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.


Gris - Mar 26, 2009 2:53:30 pm PDT #9538 of 25501
Hey. New board.

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.


Toddson - Mar 27, 2009 8:46:10 am PDT #9539 of 25501
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

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.


Dana - Mar 27, 2009 8:49:07 am PDT #9540 of 25501
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

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


Gudanov - Mar 27, 2009 8:50:42 am PDT #9541 of 25501
Coding and Sleeping

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


Toddson - Mar 27, 2009 8:54:01 am PDT #9542 of 25501
Friends don't let friends read "Atlas Shrugged"

Thanks!


meara - Mar 27, 2009 8:54:15 am PDT #9543 of 25501

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.


brenda m - Mar 27, 2009 8:55:11 am PDT #9544 of 25501
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there

The Pearl doesn't have a full qwerty keyboard, so typing quickly will be a bit more of a learning curve. Other than that I've heard good things.


Gris - Mar 27, 2009 8:55:22 am PDT #9545 of 25501
Hey. New board.

Blackberry Pearls are pretty nice for basic phone/internet stuff, and blackberry e-mail is good. If you're forced by Verizon to pay extra for a Blackberry plan, though, it may be overkill.

I have very dextrous fingers and love the tiny keyboard on my Centro so can't really speak to key size - think that's a personal feel call- but I will say that the weird 2-letters-per-button fake-QWERTYness of the pearl has always thrown me. Maybe I've never used one long enough to get used to it, but even so. Looking at the Verizon site, I personally would go up a step to either the Centro (my current phone which I adore) or one of the phones with a slide/fold-out keyboard, like the Alias or the Glyde. You'll have to pay $50 with plan and the online discount for the Alias, but the keyboard will be more functional.