August 2007

Yesterday evening my wife and I stopped by the local bowling alley to support to a group of bowlers from her work place participating in a charity event.

As I stood watching not only the bowling but also the friendly and active interaction of the 100+ bowlers, I couldn’t help but think of social networks and how real, energetic, sustaining, and beneficial the social interaction I was witnessing was compared to what is called social networking on the web.

Look up the meaning of “social” and you’ll see the word companionship mentioned in a number of the listed definitions.  A companion, by most counts, is a person who accompanies, associates, lives or travels with another, physically.

The web’s vision is often turned inward, promoting it’s own realities (webalities).  It’s blind to many external situations and interactions.  Much of what is “hot” on the web seldom filters back to the real world.  How many web “social” sites improve or impact world situations? Or how many new web technologies may even be known of in the business world?

Words that have been adopted from the “real world” to try and describe this “webality” (web-reality), often result in meanings being diluted, bent or altered.

After observing my recent example of real interactive social networking, I  suspect that these web “Social Networking” sites are missing the most important ingredient of socializing…companionship.

But then, in the world of “webality”, perhaps this is as good as it gets.

Technorati Tags: companionship, reality, social networking

When Apple recently announced the new iMacs they also made available two new keyboards, a USB model and a smaller bluetooth version.

Both of these keyboards are completely redesigned and feature elegant, ultra-thin aluminum enclosures with low-profile keys that have a positive short click.  The USB keyboard has 19 function keys with new positions for most of the one touch features such as screen brightness, volume, eject, etc..  This keyboard also contains two USB 2.0 ports.

I ordered the USB version and received it late last week.  I’ve been using it this past weekend and so far I like it.  What seemed at first to be “mushy” feel when typing, I’ve since recognized as the impression of the short throw.  There’s a positive click but it happens within such a short depression range that it’s hardly noticeable when you’re typing quickly.

The keys are flat and widely set apart with little or no audio feedback.  If you like the “Underwood typewriter” sensation of shaped keys with a long positive throw and a loud audio feedback then these keyboards are certainly not for you.  I however, have found it easy to type quickly (for me)  and accurately on.

The new arrangement of the function key features will take some time to get use to. I still have to stop and look at them to fine the new placements.  While I certainly welcome the inclusion of media controls, I don’t understand the reason’s behind moving the other features… except perhaps for greater consistency with the MacBook and MacBook Pro functions.

The look and design of the keyboard is amazing, and matches the newly redesigned iMacs.  It also goes well with the aluminum of my Apple 23″ Monitor and Mac Pro.

These keyboard will polarize those who like them and those who don’t, at least from a use perspective.  There could well be more on the don’t like them side with this one since it is a departure from the normal accepted design of a keyboard.

I’d recommend you try them at your local Apple store or by using a friends or colleagues before you make a purchase.

Technorati Tags: apple, keyboard, mac

Electronic Art has delivered four of an announced six games for the Mac OS X users.  Battlefield 2142, Need for Speed Carbon, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars are now available to order at the Apple Store.

Availability dates for these titles range from August 21st to August 28th but can be ordered now.

Technorati Tags: mac, games, ea+games, os+x, electronic+arts, apple

Here’s a WOW folks!  I know things aren’t good in “Vista Land” when  Jim Louderback, the former editor-in-chief of PC Magazine and Microsoft Windows fan boy, expresses serious doubts about Vista as he’s writing his last column..

“I’ve been a big proponent of the new OS over the past few months, even going so far as loading it onto most of my computers and spending hours tweaking and optimizing it,” Mr. Louderback wrote. “So why, nine months after launch, am I so frustrated? The litany of what doesn’t work and what still frustrates me stretches on endlessly.” - via MacObserver -

Mr. Loudenback went even further in stating…

“I definitely gave Microsoft too much of a free pass on this operating system: I expected it to get the kinks worked out more quickly. Boy, was I fooled! If Microsoft can’t get Vista working, I might just do the unthinkable: I might move to Linux.”

I don’t think that’s the “WOW” Microsoft was striving for, but it’s certainly the one they seem to be getting lately.  Even their greatest fans are frustrated, especially when remembering that Microsoft worked on Vista for five+ years prior to it’s release.

Hey Richard, you guys with Ubuntu wouldn’t mind welcoming Mr. Loudenback aboard would you? 

Technorati Tags: jim loudenback, linux, microsoft, pc magazine, vista