Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

The Macintosh at Best Buy

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

I stopped by the local Best Buy store yesterday, and was pleased to find that they are now selling Macintosh computers. This area has never had many options for Apple retailers; the nearest Apple store is a day’s drive away. Having a new retailer is welcome news, especially one with a good selection. The salesman [...]

Virtual Keyboard

Friday, June 27th, 2008

I have heard of virtual keyboards, but I had never seen one in action before. This virtual keyboard is the i-Tech Virtual Bluetooth Wireless Laser Keyboard for PDA/Smartphone. It uses light to create an image of a keyboard on any flat surface. The unit is quite small (about the size of a matchbook), much smaller [...]

DTVPal Is Finally Released

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

The much anticipated DTVPal digital converter box from DISH Network has finally been released. For more information about the introduction, you can read the DISH Network press release. If you’re not familiar with the DTVPal, it has a number of advantages compared to other converter boxes including:

a guide with up to seven days of [...]

Computers Are Quiet Once Again

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Back at the dawn of the personal computer revolution, all computers were quiet. They cooled themselves by convection and used no fans. I liked quiet computing, with only the sound of the keyboard and the floppy drive to interrupt my thoughts.
But after a few years (and particularly after the introduction of the IBM PC), things [...]

Passive TV Repeater

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

I ran across this intriguing article about a passive TV repeater. The construction is extremely simple: connect two ordinary television antennas (pointed in opposite directions) with a length of coaxial cable. (I once saw a fairly complex installation just like this, although I didn’t realize what it was at the time.) The idea behind it [...]

The Kindle

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

I read recently that Amazon has reduced the price of the Kindle to $350. If you haven’t heard of the Kindle, then you must be one of the few people to have missed the publicity. It is a handheld e-book reader that has captured a lot of attention. The Kindle weighs only 10.3 ounces, but [...]