My Mac is freezing at the grey bootup screen. Anything I can/should do other than the genius bar? Before the reboot attempt, I had a spinning beach ball after trying to play a video on a web page.

You can hold down Command-V while it's booting to get a verbose boot. You might get some idea what's causing it to freeze.

First Google Android Netbooks spotted

Certainly this can't be it. The first Google Android netbook should definitely be more monumental than this $100-$200 device from SkyTone. Guangzhou, China-based Skytone is famous for making Skype headsets and ultra low cost children's computers. But, as of today, they have on their website, the Alpha-680 Google Android netbook. In Pink, Yellow, Red, Black and White.

While this device is going to be extremely cheap, it does have some redeeming qualities. It looks to have a flip around touch screen and a gaming pad built in. And this thing does have Wifi, Ethernet, 3G, USB Ports and an SD card slot in a $100-ish package.

The specs overall are anemic, like you'd expect for a low-cost Netbook.

This is just a glorified cellphone...without the glory. Its build quality also looks extremely low end. However, with Skytone's Skype heritage, at least it will be able to function as a Skype phone.

I'd like to see a better processor, more RAM and more local storage. I guess the SD card slot is means enough to put in 32GB more Flash storage if desired. And as long as this thing runs a browser over WiFi, it is hard to complain about a $100 device. Worst case scenario, you can give it to a child to play with.

In terms of arguments:

Can you tell them that having a site that can't be seen on blackberries (and cell phones in general), that can't be seen on low bandwidth connections (and that include a lot of wireless connections on laptops) is really unprofessional. Putting stuff into flash that does not need to be put into flash is a widely made mistake, comitted b people who don't know that they are doing. Would it be too harsh to say that you think too much of this company to have your site make mistakes that label as amatateur hour?

Point out that google does not use flash or high res graphics.

Also point out that in general, super high res graphics don't belong on either the main page or integrated into into pages with a lot of text information. The professional way to use high res graphics is integate low res graphics into standard pages that serve as links to high res.

Are there exceptions to this? Sure major ones: sites whose business model centers around media - Disney, Tv networks that sort of things. (Even then I think it would be bette if the fuckers did not put flash video on the main page.)

I will add that a flash site not only excludes phone users and many other mobile users. Most journals ban flash from the newsroom, because of the security risks. So if you make your site flash-centric you are also making in inaccessible to the many journalists. Is free publicity unimportant to your business?

Command-V gives no joy--bootup screen with or without it doesn't get to the spinny circular bars. I held them down both right after powering it on and before powering it on until my hand got uncomfortable, and nothing.

ita, this is a Mac laptop, right?

I'm not sure if this is a useful strategy, but I'd try unplugging it and removing the battery for a minute or so... then put the battery back in and see if it boots.

The only other thing you can try is to boot off of the install disk, and try to repair your filesystem.

Oh, you could try reseating the RAM?

If you reboot with the option key held down do you get a screen of boot device choices?

I'm guessing the Tiger Update CD is a no go? Dammit. That's all I can find. I don't know if I had anything else, unless ... fuck. Would it have shipped with the laptop? I don't know where any other discs are. Man, this is my most-used machine.

I'll try the RAM. The memory doesn't do anything either.