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My Almost-daily Journal |
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| About I love trying out new things, especially when it comes to internet technology. I never really kept a journal, but it's something that I've always wanted to do. Now, everybody will get a chance to look inside my twisted, and somewhat-warped mind.
I've also subscribed to Audio Blog, so a few times a week, I'll leave actual voice blogs. Very cool!XML Newsfeed Previous Posts
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Friday, June 13, 2003
No Time for Fun Remember how I wrote I'm now a Program Manager for production programs? It has stripped all my free time. I don't even have time for lunch anymore. Lunch was a nice time for me, since that was the time that I actually worked on the site. I also used that time to read, reply and start new posts. My silence to some of the political posts is not because I'm eating hat. It's because I don't even have the mental or physical resources to put the time in to defend my position. I'll try to post to some of those over the weekend. There's many that I would like to comment on. What About Audio Blog? I haven't posted an audio blog in over three weeks. It's good technology that I'm not taking advantage of. I'll try to start using it on the road more. I'm paying $3/month for it, so I should use it. Goodbye Dell Axim + Nextel, Hello Blackberry Remember all the fun and joy I discussed with my new Dell Axim PDA? I purchased that on my own, and didn't even expense it at work. The Dell Axim was a great tool that saved my arse a few times, because of its built-in calendaring tool. Microsoft's PocketPC OS was also a wonderful thing. It has come a long way since they started competing against Palm. PocketExcel and PocketWord are a great thing. The Axim has been so useful as a business tool, I don't know what I'd do without it. It's funny how things end up in my lap, without me even asking. Decoma has issued me a Blackberry, which is a phone and PDA built into one device. It's actually pretty neat, since it is seamlessly wired into my work email... realtime (no syncing). It's actually the top-of-the-line communication tool available. But, that's where it stops-- it's a communications manager, not a life manager. The Blackberry has most of the conveniences of a cellphone + PDA: calendar, to-do list, and email. It also supports SMS, which is the phone version of asynchronous instant messaging, plus I get a text-based internet connection to sites. It's really very nice. And, the nicest thing about it, I will never see a bill. Before, with the Nextel, I had a $60 allowance per month and had to expense it. Now, I have an unlimited allowance, and I will never see a bill. Plus, this phone is international, so I'll be able to read and send emails, as well as take calls when I'm in Greece. That sucks. Blackberry Cellphone Gripes One of the downsides to the new Blackberry is that I lose my current cellphone number, that I've had for several years. It was so easy to remember: 248-640-PADI (7234). PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving Instructors. I'm a PADI Divemaster, so the phone number was extremely apropos. My new number is lame: 248-797-9343. A bill finally passed (or is in the process of passing), where November is the day where cellphone providers have to pay the piper. Long-gone will be the days that cellphone providers will hold you by the short-hairs. Today, if you switch providers, you lose your phone number. It was the barbaric way that providers forced you to stay with them: if you switch, you lose your number, which is something that people do not like to do. Just think of all the people that I have to contact and tell them that my cell phone number is changing. I have to get new business cards printed, and I have to update all my own personal information where my old cellphone number is used as a primary contact. It's a nightmare. I'm glad this bill is finally passing. As far as the Blackberry goes, it doesn't come close to scratching the surface of what a Nextel + Axim offer. The Nextel (even though the service sucked) was powerful. It DID have internet access. It DID have SMS messaging. It DID have calendaring. It DID allow you to access email. I don't see why Blackberry is tooting its horn. The Nextel also had two lines-- I never missed a call, since I could put someone on hold. It also had 3-way calling, so I could conference somebody else into a call. The Nextel had a speakerphone, which has been extremely useful when holding a meeting. It worked extremely well. Plus, don't forget the Nextel trademark: the walkie-talkie feature. This came in VERY handy over the years. And now that Danielle has a Nextel, we could walkie-talkie each other at any time. Blackberry PDA Gripes As far as being a PDA, the Blackberry sucks arse. It doesn't hold a candle to the Axim. I guess I'd label the Blackberry as a Communication Manager, where I'd label the Axim as a Life Manager. The Axim can do so much, that I'm discovering new uses for it each day. First off, the Axim and uses a stylus. Input can me made in several ways: Palm-OS block-style, keyboard, and even handwriting recognition. It was great, since I could actually take handwritten notes and save them for future use. I could also use OCR and transcribe my notes into text. Very useful, since I didn't have to carry around a notebook. Secondly, the Axim is color! The Blackberry is B&W! What the heck is Blackberry thinking? Who wants B&W!? We don't live in the 1970's! Shit! Finally, think about all the features of the Axim that I'll be giving up: MP3 player, Nintendo Game-boy, voice recorder, picture viewer, PocketWord & PocketExcel, GPS, Movie player (yes, you can watch movies, if you have the space), PDF reader, and Internet Explorer via Avant-GO. It's almost too much to give up. Parting with the Axim So, do I need two PDA's? I might even keep the Axim, but it doesn't make sense to me, since I'm a minimalist. Why have two PDA's? I spent $343 for the Axim (I got mine loaded with leather case, extra battery, extra plugs, etc.), plus another $75 for the 256MB card, another $30 for a second charger, $10 for screen protectors, and $5 for three replacement stylii. I'm in well over $450 into it. I'd be lucky to get $350 for it on Ebay. What a waste. If I sell it, I guess I could use the proceeds and upgrade my main home CPU, RAM and mobo. Or, I could use it to buy Danielle a nice dinner. Hmmm.... posted by Dino at 4:02 AM (permanent link) |