Life On the Wicked Stage: Act 2

Thomasin Reviews The HP 2133 Mini-Note

My lovely wife, Thomasin, has a new career starting as a gadget reviewer from a decidedly non-geek perspective. Back in December she did a first look at the Asus Eee PC, which we can't pry out of her hands now. And now that GottaBeMobile.com has gotten a review unit of the new HP 2133 Mini-Note I thought I'd get her unvarnished opinion on that ultra-portable device as well. She says quite a lot about both devices and coins a few new tech/gadget terms as well. Head over to GBM and check it out.

Technorati Tags: GottaBeMobile,HP 2133 Mini-Note,Asus Eee PC,InkShow,Thomasin Savaiano

Sunday Morning Reading

Some Sunday morning reading to share.

I've been very busy this week, but I'm enjoying catching up on the Davos coverage from Robert Scoble and Michael Arrington. I wonder if anything substantive ever comes out of conferences like this, except for the participants?

Bill Gates' talk at Davos on a New Approach to Capitalism in the 21st Century is good reading and good viewing. Of course I always look at thoughts like this with the old axiom in mind, "the length of the journey depends on how much you want to make it."

The NY Times looks at gadgets that listen and obey. I still think this is far off from mass adoption.

Jonathan Sidener in the SanDiego Union-Tribune looks at how cell phones are transforming everything. I'm not sure they've mastered multi-tasking as he claims, but they might be on their way.

Amazon looks like it is serious about taking on Apple. They are going worldwide with the DRM Free model. Pressure point? I think so.

I, Cringely on Moore's Law, chips, and heat.

Steve Laser pens a controversial piece saying the HTC Advantage is the ultimate UMPC.

Caroline Kennedy endorses Barack Obama. Will that matter to anyone?

The sky is falling! Actually, not the sky, but a dead spy satellite will be crashing on the planet sometime soon. Gravity always wins.

The artwork accompanying this weekend's Sunday Morning Reading is from Chris Harrison's Visualizing the Bible.

Technorati Tags: Davos,Bill Gates,Mobile,Amazon,Apple

The Third Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards

I still can't top what I wrote at the creation of the original Ink Blot Awards two years ago, so I'll repeat and then extend those remarks as we head into the Third Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards.

I created The Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards as a celebration. Yes, it's a celebration of the 1 year anniversary of this blog. But it is more than that. It is a celebration of a community that I have come to know and admire. The Tableteers that make up the Tablet PC Community are an amazing collection of individuals who know and work with the Tablet PC platform. They are fiercely protective of it, insatiably curious about advancing it, very intelligent, often wickedly funny, at one time very forgiving and patient, and in the same breath, scathingly critical when the need arises. They are also exceedingly willing to evangelize the platform to anyone who will listen, and in my humble opinion, have helped keep the spotlight on The Tablet PC in ways that may, in the long run, prove to be responsible for keeping the platform thriving.

Most, if not all of that remains true here in Year 3. But like everything in life it is changing. The Tabletscape is now the Tablet/UMPC scape, although at times it tries unnecessarily to be two different scapes. We're about to add another scape with the advent of Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) just around the corner, and that promises to bring great changes. Touch has become king and I'm afraid Ink is drying up like an old maid in the desert. Multi-touch or Dual Touch Tablet PCs and UMPCs are now becoming the norm, but on the smaller devices the powers that be don't see the wisdom of Inking. Microsoft has more than let the ball drop. They've refused to take the field here lately, and Intel, HTC, Apple, and Nokia are defining what will be in the next phase of mobile computing. Microsoft may yet make a play, but the goal posts have shifted. Quite frankly, I'm not sure they will be able to field a response, although that could change.

But that doesn't stop Tablet PC, UMPC, and mobile computing enthusiasts one bit. Their passion keeps pumping with great vitality on the pages of blogs and forums. This year, in addition to honoring that passion for Tablet PCs and mobile computing, I'm adding some other categories to honor some other things and people that I find interesting or worth noting. As usual the rules for inclusion here are my own. Recognition here comes from things that strike my fancy or I think merit attention, praise, or ignominy. Some things are included just for the fun of it. Some are "best of breed." My good friend, Mark, "Sumocat" Sumimoto was the first to christen the Ink Blot Awards with the nickname, Blotties. I still can't afford to have a big celebration where we can all get blotto while celebrating the Blotties, but until then, have the beverage of your choice, kick back, and enjoy the Third Annual Life on the Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards.

Cue the dancing girls. Enjoy!

Sunday Morning Reading

Some Sunday morning reading to share.

Google becomes GM on the road to the White House. On the one hand, I'm glad politicians see some wisdom in speaking to important business constituencies. On the other hand, I think dog and pony shows don't lead to much, except donations.  Via NY Times.

What is a blog? Good answer here.

Facebook has raised a lot of questions and ire all about the Beacon advertising scheme. Long from over, but I think the line may have been crossed. Don't you love the innocence and greed of American capitalism? Marc Orchant also weighs in on this on his way out of the door. Hugh MacLeod weighs in here.

Dave Winer on podcasting. Dave brings this idea about a podcasting device up every once in awhile. He's correct in his assumptions. I wish it would happen.

The Courts order Bush and cronies to turn over data on the Telcoms and how they gave up your data. Via CrunchGear. Do you read about the Facebook thing and wonder when the Feds are going to go after that goldmine?

The EFF is still on Comcast's butt about their downshifting users' bandwidth. Comcast still is saying it doesn't. I can't prove it, but I think it is happening here. Not on BitTorrent, but on some media uploading and downloading.

Richard Belzer on banks, the sub-prime chaos, and history. Andrew Jackson would say I told you so.

Linda Epstein's Annual List for Santa. A must see shopping lists of Tablet PCs, UMPCs, and gadgets galore.

The Washington Post profiles Martin Scorsese. Good read on one of my favorite film directors.

Double Dave. Dave Winer on the writer's strike. What he's saying will be heresy to some. Religion to others. And it will be a muddled mess for quite some time beyond this strike.

Michael Parekh on Verizon's move to openness. Are they wolves in sheep's clothing?

Why Twitter can be hazardous to your job security. Too funny.

Technorati Tags: Google,Facebook,Comcast,Tablet PC,UMPC,Verizon,Twitter

Halloween Fun on the Intertubes

Some Halloween fun to share from the Internet:

This guy had his UMPC swallowed by a pumpkin, while he was showing us how to carve a pumpkin with the stylus from a UMPC.

AT&T and iPhone Shenanigans

You gotta love the Internets when you have a mobile device in your hands. I've never liked the Telcos for their business practices. They rate up there with the RIAA, the MPAA, MLB, and used car salesmen in my book. But it is fun when something as big and publicized as the iPhone launch exposes their fun and games for all to see.

First there is the story of the AT&T stores that told customers they had to purchase iPhone accessories in order to buy a phone. Turns out AT&T is issuing some refunds over that one.

Then there is my local situation. As I blogged on Friday and Saturday when I went by the store, I was told there would be no displays of the iPhone and you couldn't look before you bought. Well, after reading a few blog posts of customers in other areas being able to fondle an iPhone in AT&T stores I decided to head back and see if things had changed after the big rush.

Nope. Still the policy I was told, and that was in every AT&T store nationwide. Oh, really.

So I pulled out my trusty Asus R2H UMPC, showed them a few blog posts where folks were indeed doing so. (Here's one from Greg Hughes by the way) and had a blast watching some faces blush.

I was asked if I was going to blog this. After answering in the affirmative I was asked to leave the store. What a way to woo a customer. But then is anyone really surprised?

TabletKiosk Looks To Tablet PC/UMPC Community for Assistance

I don’t usually cross post much from GottaBeMobile.com, but I know that quite a few folk read this blog as well. Gail Levy from TabletKiosk sent this email out, looking for some support.

The Tablet PC and UMPC fan base is often referred to as a community. This is why I am reaching out to the online Tablet and UMPC fan base so that we can all respond in a unified front.

On Sunday, February 11, the TabletKiosk warehouse in Torrance, CA was robbed. The thieves stole a considerable number of Sahara Slate PCs, eo v7110s and eo v7210 units.

We are working with the police to catch the perpetrators and retrieve the stolen units and are exploring every possible avenue. This is why we are asking for assistance from the Tablet and UMPC community who often uncover significant information about Tablet PCs and UMPCs online.

The stolen units are both pre-configured and configured units as well as some customers’ personal machines.

If you find information about any eo UMPC or Sahara Slate PCs for sale which seem too good to be true, I would appreciate if you would send the information to my attention. A reward will be provided for the person who provides us with information leading to the culprit.

Gail Levy
TabletKiosk

You know these units are going to end up on eBay or some other site for sale, so keep your eyes peeled.

UPDATE: Here’s Gail’s email address: gail@tablketkiosk.com If you discover any info on this let her know. Josh Bancroft suggests we use the “geeky tools” at our disposal to get this story spread around. For example, like heading over to Digg to Digg the story. Check out more of Josh’s suggestions here.

Taking A Segway For A Ride

I had some great fun the other day. Skip Coghill, a GottaBeMobile.com Forum member, who lives in Chicago, got in touch when he heard about our trip. We managed to hook up for Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef, and to compare gadgets. But the most fun? Skip brought along one of his Segway's and gave me a lesson and let me give it a spin. Lots of fun. If you want to check out a brief video of me toodling around here's the link.

Thanks, Skip, for the lunch and the ride!

Tablet PC/UMPC Meetup at CES Details Set

Lora Heiny is spreading the word that details are now set for the Tablet PC/UMPC community meetup at CES. Here's the info:

Cheeseburger Las Vegas, in the Aladdin Casino Desert Passage.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
3:30PM - 6PM

RSVP to ljheiny at hotmail.com so there can be a head count and don't forget to bring your Tablet PCs and UMPCs. All the GottaBeMobile gang and many others wil be there. Should be a rocking good time.

Questions? Follow this link to WhatIsNew or drop Lora a line.

Two Years and Counting with Life On The Wicked Stage: Act 2

Two years ago I started blogging. At times that sounds more like a statement of acknowledgement from an addict beginning some 12 step program than I’d like it to. A lot has changed since the last Wicked Stage Blog Birthday when I wrote this:

One year ago today I started blogging with the original Life On The Wicked Stage, using MSN Spaces. A lot has happened since I blogged this statment:

Well, I'm trying out this blogging concept using MSN Spaces. Who knows where this will go. It is fun, but I'm not sure if in the long term it will be of any value

Ok, I'm still not sure if it is of any value, I'm still not sure where it will go, but it is still fun.

Yes, it is still fun, and yes, I still question the value two years in. A lot has changed in my life, in the Tabletscape, and in the blogosphere in general. I turned the Big 50 back in July. I got re-awarded the distinction of being a Microsoft MVP for Tablet PCs. Life in the theatre here at Wayside Theatre was just as much fun and just as wacky as it has ever been. No, there were no new emu sightings.

I was given a wonderful opportunity by my Tablet PC colleagues and fellow MVPs, Rob Bushway and Dennis Rice, to become a part of the GottaBeMobile.com team and that certainly changed a lot of how I blogged. Working with Rob, Dennis, and Matt to continue to evangelize everything about Tablet PCs and UMPCs is a real joy and I’m thrilled and often humbled to be a part of that team. Rob and Dennis’ vision of community is a wonderful thing, and I love them for giving me the opportunity.

As most of my blogging about things Tablet has shifted to GBM, that has led to some ups and downs here. But the readers who still follow Life on the Wicked Stage seem to find some value, and I am grateful for all who stop by and take a look, leave a comment, or just take a peek. Some come for the politics. Some stay away because of that. Sorry. Some come for the wacky looks at things that strike my fancy, be they outrageous or just plain fanciful. Some come for the theatre stories. And some come to leave spam. (I’m not grateful for them.) I’ve expanded my interests a bit to include more things in the tech and Internet scapes, not only because they interest me, but because they speak to many of the core reasons I do this in the first place, which are reflected in this blog’s header. I’m often bemused, often outraged, and occasionally just slack jawed in astonishment at what happens in the world, regardless of whether it has to do with Tablet PCs, the Internet, politics, art, or whatever. Hopefully some of that awe, wonder, anger, bemusement, and astonishment gets reflected here, and hopefully it entertains someone, somewhere, beyond myself.

As I celebrate the Second Birthday (Blogiversary?) of Life on the Wicked Stage: Act 2, I will offer the same tribute to the community that got me started on this addiction in the first place. Last year, I kicked off the celebration with The First Annual Ink Blot Awards. Well, here comes the Second Annual installment of the Ink Blot Awards. Yes, it centers around the Tabletscape, mostly, but as my blogging interests have expanded, there are a few new areas of inclusion as well. As we head into year three, I hope that through some intelligently designed construct what happens here will continue to evolve as I do. In the meantime join with me as we celebrate two years of Life on The Wicked Stage: Act 2 with the Second Annual Life On The Wicked Stage Ink Blot Awards. Enjoy.