BitDepth 474 - May 24
11/01/09 17:42 Filed in: BitDepth - May 2005
Things that don't exist, but should and a local anti-virus website.
Technology cravings
Google "antivirus" and you'll get just a little shy of 53 million hits, but you can start your journeys at trinidadvirusfree.com.
There are some things I really want to own, devices and gadgets that I'm sure already exist in some proof-of-concept lab and are being slowly leaked into the mass market, model by model, so that we will need to buy ten versions of them before we get the one we really wanted in the first place.
Why, for instance, can't I get the laptop of my dreams, a computer with desktop capacities of RAM and hard disk space (4GB and 400GB respectively should do it) with a high resolution LCD screen that has its own solid-state memory layered into it so that I can just twist it off and prop it on my chest when all I want to do is read?
And what is it about handhelds that nobody has figured out that what people are really want is a slick looking device that makes calls easily, like Motorola's Razr, but can be repurposed easily to act as a laptop substitute, with a fold down keyboard and much larger screen for reading, editing files and browsing e-mail while on the move?
These are the questions that keep me up at nights, for a whole extra thirty seconds at least, as I wonder how much hard earned dosh I'm going to have to spend before manufacturers realise that we want the ultimate device, right now.
It isn't as if they don't know that you can own the market with a well-priced, full featured technology item that fulfils every wish that a customer might reasonably have, so why keep chinksing on us with the feature updates every six months?
While I'm baring my soul about the absurdly unattainable, I'd also like to see some simple things that would only call for some careful thinking that's focused on customers instead of on companies.
Why for instance, is there a different power supply with a different plug for every single laptop computer, cellphone and PDA? Aside from the actual technology that's hanging off my spine, I also have to pack chargers for at least three different devices. Even if I don't expect to need them, I can't be stuck without them.
Even if the actual power supplies have to be different because of differing power draws (which in 2005, I think is a spurious technology argument) then why the heck do all the cables have to be different? There have been times I've stuck my hand into my laptop bag and had the unwelcome feeling that it's resting in a nest of snakes, reptiles that are happy to entwine themselves in intriguing ways that would fascinate knot badged boy scouts no end.
Now iGo has a universal charger, the Juice, that you can buy different adapter tips that goes some distance toward solving this problem for serious power junkies, but why is this a third-party opportunity when it could simply be a standard makes no sense.
Whenever I start thinking about things like this, I begin to see large conspiracies to separate the technology addicted from their money, and I get upset, because I'm sure it's me they're after.
Anti-virus T&T
In the spirit of support and endorsement, I am pleased to report that Microsoft's Trinidad and Tobago arm has joined forces with Infotech and other partners to launch a campaign to make Trinidad and Tobago's computer systems virus-free by June 15, 2005.
I know this because the information broke on the website of co-sponsor New Executive Times, but I choose not to be sulky about things like snubs when it comes to invitations to press conferences. The group has mounted an attractive website, which gathers some useful, though hardly comprehensive information and tools for computer users who want to take up arms against a sea of unruly viruses.
That said, I should also point out that there are more resources available than the website offers, such as Symantec's resources at
Windows users who aren't running XP will have to search Microsoft's website for updates for their software but be warned, Microsoft's emphasis on security is focused on their current operating system.
I could point out that the best way to avoid viruses, Trojan horses and other Internet based shrapnel is to own a Mac or some other flavour of Unix based computer, but that would be dirty pool. Most of T&T is running Windows and the friendly, welcoming earth tones of the T&T Virus Free is a good start on letting people know what they should be doing about safer computing.
Google "antivirus" and you'll get just a little shy of 53 million hits, but you can start your journeys at trinidadvirusfree.com.
There are some things I really want to own, devices and gadgets that I'm sure already exist in some proof-of-concept lab and are being slowly leaked into the mass market, model by model, so that we will need to buy ten versions of them before we get the one we really wanted in the first place.
Why, for instance, can't I get the laptop of my dreams, a computer with desktop capacities of RAM and hard disk space (4GB and 400GB respectively should do it) with a high resolution LCD screen that has its own solid-state memory layered into it so that I can just twist it off and prop it on my chest when all I want to do is read?
And what is it about handhelds that nobody has figured out that what people are really want is a slick looking device that makes calls easily, like Motorola's Razr, but can be repurposed easily to act as a laptop substitute, with a fold down keyboard and much larger screen for reading, editing files and browsing e-mail while on the move?
These are the questions that keep me up at nights, for a whole extra thirty seconds at least, as I wonder how much hard earned dosh I'm going to have to spend before manufacturers realise that we want the ultimate device, right now.
It isn't as if they don't know that you can own the market with a well-priced, full featured technology item that fulfils every wish that a customer might reasonably have, so why keep chinksing on us with the feature updates every six months?
While I'm baring my soul about the absurdly unattainable, I'd also like to see some simple things that would only call for some careful thinking that's focused on customers instead of on companies.
Why for instance, is there a different power supply with a different plug for every single laptop computer, cellphone and PDA? Aside from the actual technology that's hanging off my spine, I also have to pack chargers for at least three different devices. Even if I don't expect to need them, I can't be stuck without them.
Even if the actual power supplies have to be different because of differing power draws (which in 2005, I think is a spurious technology argument) then why the heck do all the cables have to be different? There have been times I've stuck my hand into my laptop bag and had the unwelcome feeling that it's resting in a nest of snakes, reptiles that are happy to entwine themselves in intriguing ways that would fascinate knot badged boy scouts no end.
Now iGo has a universal charger, the Juice, that you can buy different adapter tips that goes some distance toward solving this problem for serious power junkies, but why is this a third-party opportunity when it could simply be a standard makes no sense.
Whenever I start thinking about things like this, I begin to see large conspiracies to separate the technology addicted from their money, and I get upset, because I'm sure it's me they're after.
Anti-virus T&T
In the spirit of support and endorsement, I am pleased to report that Microsoft's Trinidad and Tobago arm has joined forces with Infotech and other partners to launch a campaign to make Trinidad and Tobago's computer systems virus-free by June 15, 2005.
I know this because the information broke on the website of co-sponsor New Executive Times, but I choose not to be sulky about things like snubs when it comes to invitations to press conferences. The group has mounted an attractive website, which gathers some useful, though hardly comprehensive information and tools for computer users who want to take up arms against a sea of unruly viruses.
That said, I should also point out that there are more resources available than the website offers, such as Symantec's resources at
Windows users who aren't running XP will have to search Microsoft's website for updates for their software but be warned, Microsoft's emphasis on security is focused on their current operating system.
I could point out that the best way to avoid viruses, Trojan horses and other Internet based shrapnel is to own a Mac or some other flavour of Unix based computer, but that would be dirty pool. Most of T&T is running Windows and the friendly, welcoming earth tones of the T&T Virus Free is a good start on letting people know what they should be doing about safer computing.
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