Pen-Based Bollocks
I would give a well-rounded response to this engadget article, detailing it's faults and inaccuracies, but frankly I can't be bothered as they are far too numerous, so as the title says, it's just a load of bollocks.
Pen based computing is very much alive and more proliferate than ever before in the history of consumer electronics, with many successes, listing a few failures definitely does not make a well-founded argument.
Expensive Taste
It occurred to me recently that I am rather stuck up when it comes to personal taste in certain things, mainly computers, Chinese food, and more recently clothing.
The main reason this came to the forefront of my mind was my current plans for a joint 21^st^ birthday present between my father and myself; I plan to purchase yet another PowerBook and iPod as a more portable upgrade to my current PB, with my current PB becoming a media server at home, an my current iPod getting sold on for funds towards the upgrade; the thing is, this isn't some sort of �500 PC upgrade, or an extra 12" iBook for more portability, this is yet another top-range maxed-out-specs PB when I already have a pretty damn nice one, just because I think it rocks and I'd like the best; it's all in my personal taste, to be honest, no real reason for any of it, other than i want to. I can be rather impulsive, and about the only reason I haven't organised for financing and the new PB/iPod order off Apple is that I'm waiting for Tiger ( next Mac OS X version) to be released so I can get it for free rather than paying for an upgrade.
It goes beyond this, more even than the fact I even have currently, and would like to get, a highly-protective yet stylish laptop bag/sleeve for the PB(s), but it extends into my sense of clothing style, enhanced more by Andrea's influences, I actually feel mentally more well when I dress up with a good looking shirt (preferably black), belt, pressed trousers, shined shoes, and dress-coat (which I to wear all too rarely), if I happen to have some sort of over stylised high-tech gadgetry with me (such as my Nokia 7610, or indeed my PB or iPod), then all the better; yes indeed ladies & gentleman, I feel as if I've become some sort of techie snob, it's not as if I go about espousing the delights that is the LISP programming language to all that will and won't hear me about, but am I really any better?
Yes, I think I am.
Why? Because I'm trying never to discriminate against you if you aren't wearing the same as me, and frankly I've gone through quite a few different styles in the past few years, many of which I still like myself, and indeed some I'd rather not even think about, but more often than not I'm more aware of myself and others discriminating merely because of different stylistic choices..not even real, concrete things, but things merely on style or opinion.
And I'm a big perpetrator of this, especially on the stylistic sub-group most commonly known as "townie" or "chav"; Burberry does not make the (wo/)man; I find myself discriminating on just style, not actual concrete things like action or inaction, and it's this that I shall try to change in my manner and demeanour in future; that and I need to stop slouching so much!
Let's face it, I've gone through a few changing periods myself, from introverted geek with a penchance for wearing whatever was shopped for me a few months before, to an introverted geek with a penchance for wearing all black and mumbling to my girlfriend so she can't understand me. :)
Now if I could just find a few more gas companies to pay for my tech upgrade!
I am seriously taking the Mickey Mouse with my choice of upgrade this summer, totalling about �1.5K, and with my father only paying for an undecided (pending actually saving up for the event) sum, I must yet again repeat that it's something I really don't need, other than satiating a mild annoyance at my 15"er being a little less-portable than I'd like, or wanting a slightly faster system, or more, or an OS X server spare in the house, or a new iPod..it just still isn't high on the list of necessities in my life right now, but in the list of things I've asked for my birthdays or Christmas's recently, it probably amounts to the biggest without any whining, and I think I may just be due a self-given treat..no, scratch that, I just plain want one. I want may not always get, but I'm getting it because I'm trying to make it be gotten..err..wait a moment..you know what I mean anyway, I think.
I think in the realm in which you spend the most time, for example computers, you should make yourself not only at home, but indeed make that home the best, and as in the mentioned realm of clothing, I think we all spend most of our time in clothing. Except maybe that one guy, but he usually doesn't get out much, the police make sure of that.
Oh, and yeah, I am a student, what's your point?
If anyone asks nicely, I may post my viewpoint on student purchasing too, but until then, take this word of wisdom and deep sage resonance with you..I'm bloody broke! ;)