SSD Coming Along But Still Expensive

It's taken a while but solid state drives, SSD, are coming nicely. What I mean is that I see them more and more as an option from the major PC makers.

Everyone from Dell to HP to Apple, its MacBook Air being very popular over the Holidays and demand has not let up, are using them as a premium add-on.

Now we are seeing SSD sizes at more affordable prices. Not only that, the drives are bigger. Still, I am not quite ready to pluck down $1,500 to $2,000 for a 480GB drive.

For that kind of money, it would be more economical to get a whole new laptop. Say a MacBook Air with 256 GB or storage.

So what is in your laptop or MacBook? Have you moved onto a SSD or consider making the move in the near future?




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Wifi Chips Need To Be More Battery Friendly

Over the weekend, I took my MacBook out for some time at Borders. I had to do work on the laptop that I cannot do on the iPad at this time.

And this is an older MacBook. Late 2008 and the battery life has been put through it's paces in the last couple of years. According to a battery utility, it's got 80% left of the original charge left. When it gets to 70% or less, I'll probably have to decide if I should get a other battery or invest in a new MacBook.

I turned it on and it attached itself to the free wifi. And the battery indicator said there was 2.5 hours of work I could do. But I wanted to spend my afternoon there working so I turned off the wifi.

It has been quite some time since I've done that. The long battery on the iPod touch, and specifically, the iPad has really spoiled me. The battery life jumped to four hours!

I was there for about four hours and got about three hours of work done so there was some change left in the battery had I wanted to stay longer.

But my point is the wifi chip. What a power hog! I hope today's wifi chips are more battery friendly. But if they are not, someone need to invest some time and research on making wifi use more efficient and the chips draw less and less power.

We'll be using wifi for years if not decades more. Bring mobile isn't just about more efficient CPU, display, or bettery batteries. It's about other components of the mobile devices or laptops. And it's also about programming for power management.

For now, wifi chip and its ubiquity is one area that I see that can help mobile warriors work longer and worry-free.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Steve Jobs' Disney Has Sold More Than 1 Million eBooks on iOS.

Disney reported that it has pushed out more than one million ebooks to iOS loving children.  And adults I'm sure.  I cannot underscore the significance of this enough.  In a previous post I published on December 29, 2010, I had suggested that perhaps, Apple should create release a SDK with a subset of tools for the iBooktore.

An iBookstore SDK.  This will provide a more enriching experience for writers and publishers for the readers.  After all, the iOS devices can do so much more than read books.  If you want to do just that, the Kindle or the Nook would suffice.  

And interestingly, these one million books are not ebooks.  Rather, they are iOS apps that are books that provide text and rich media like sounds, pictures, and video clips. The sales volume from Disney is a testament to this idea.  I created book using Shutterfly for my nephew last Christmas.  If there was a tool to easily create an interactive ebook, I have all the materials I need to do just that.  Heck, I might even be able to sell it on the app store if there was a easy way to create what I am talking about.

So, Apple.  Time for you to step up and seize this moment.  I have a suggestion how Apple can do this easily.  And there are two routes Apple can do this:

1. iWorks.  Pages has all that we need in terms of layouts.  And Keynote provides a page-by-page presentation.  The combination can be used to create an interactive ebook app.
2. iAds tool that Apple released for develops is a great opportunity for users to create apps running.  From what I understand, it is an even easy tool to use than the iOS SDK.

Obviously, creating an iBookstore SDK that can publish to both the iBookstore and the app store would be idea.  And this would be a golden opportunity for Apple revolutionize the book industry and, more importantly, how contents are created and consumed.  Let text readers have their ereaders.  For anything else, there's the iOS devices.

More on Disney's 1 million book app sales at TUAW.

 

Preliminary Impression of iSpot

After some hairy moments with Fedex on the delivery of my iSpot, I finally got in after days of back and forth with more customer service agents than I hope to deal with.

And yeah, I am very happy with this mobile investment. In fact, I was able to get it up and running in less than 5 minutes of opening up the box the iSpot came in.

SSD - A Must Have For Mobile Ruggedness

Upon learning that Apple will be going all out with SSD instead of traditional hard drives has me thinking that that the era of power efficient and relatively safer memory storage is upon us for every day mobile warriors and corporate drones.

Apple wasn't the first to come out with SSD but does that matter? Nor was Apple the first to have USB in the iMacs but that didn't matter either.

However, Apple made it okay to have USB in PCs and it was quickly adopted as a standard. And for SSD adoption, The MacBook Airs with SSD only options made it okay for for mass adoption for even consumer lines.

I imagine that by this time next year, Apple will have moved a majority of its macBook lines with SSD options. This will be followed by other PC makers, like Sony and its Vaio laptops.

Keep in mind though that hard drives are not going to go away for a long time. But for folks whose data are very important and requires more insurance from accidents, these excellent prices from Apple are welcoming news.

Personally, I think I've got another year left in my late-2008 unibody MacBook before I find that I need to move on. Plus, I've got my wonderful iPad that has quickly become my main go-to mobile device for work and play.

But if you're in The market now or will be soon, consider SSD options whether it's the MacBook Air or a Windows machine like the Viao.

Note: SSD while great still has issues with degradation over time. TRIM is built into Windows 7 while this support is still lacking in OS X. Perhaps Apple might have something coming in way of this beginning with SSD implementation in the new MacBook Airs.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Battery Saving Tips For Laptops

I found a 3-year old post on battery saving tips for laptop users. I came across it when I googled about the battery life saving potentials of adding extra RAM.

It's been a while since I've talked about battery life and tips. I was beginning to sound like a broken record. Having said that, battery life has increased in the last couple of years especially those offered by Apple (drawback is that they don't allow users to easily change out the battery). Typically, Macbooks ranges from 9-10 hours of use. I only see HP and Dell advertise use of 9-cell batteries which I think do well enough for most folks working under a normal load.

But more battery life the better I say. And frankly, this post ain't all that much more different anything that I have written up in the past year for laptops, iPhones, or other mobile devices. Dimming, defragging, conditioning. I'm sure you've heard all that before.

And while battery life has improved through a variety of technical advances, the fact that we are still using the same battery-saving techniques say volumes about the state of battery development. It's 2010 and we still haven't see methane-powered fuel cells. Or even hydrogen powered cell phones.

So, while I have also shared my opinions and news about green tech and the enthusiastic push from some quarters of the government and entrenpreurs, I like to see a mini stimulus for trying to make a giant leap forward for mobile devices. Perhaps we might see that in the course of researchers trying to find a way to store renewable energy source, miniaturization will still be required to apply any new technology.

For now, I leave you with a 3-year old post on saving battery life that is very much still relevant today.

More at Fried Beef (I know, weird blog name).

Longer Battery Life Or Double The Battery Life?

I read a very good article from ZDNet on non-removable batteries.  Specifically, the article was more or less about Apple mobile products - iPods, iPhones, and Macbooks.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, Apple is famous (or infamous) for sticking batteries into its iPods and iPhones, making it very difficult for the user to replace.

This was joined by the Macbook Air and then the Macbook Pro 17".  Just recently, they were joined by the rest of the pro line of Macbooks.

I'm jealous.  Not because I bought a Macbook one generation too soon but for an entirely different reason.  That reason being that I will likely never buy a second battery until my first one will stop holding any charge long enough for meaningful mobile computing.  That being said, the new 13" Macbook has about 40% more battery life than the one I've got.

Maybe Apple's right in their thinking.  Large majority of laptop or mobile device buyers don't carry around a second battery.   I have a G1 and as bad as the battery life is, I don't have a second battery to replace the first one when it runs out of power.

Nevertheless, it's the peace of mind in knowing that option that if I wnated to, there is more juice in the computer bag at a moment's notice.  And it is something that I've grown accustomed to thinking.

The article went to make some comparisons with other laptops and devices like the Flip that now have non-removable batteries.  In the beginning, I thought it was just Apple's insidious way of getting us to upgrade every few product cycles when the battery finally dies.  I'm not saying that isn't the case at all.

However, given the choice:  a non-removable battery with extra hours of use (7 hours) or a removable battery (4.5 hours) but I'm likely not going to carry around a second battery, I think I'll go with the first one.

However, it might be a different situation for other mobile warriors.  It also comes down to what you're requirements are.  If you work in the field a lot, Macbooks or other laptops with sealed-in batteries will not work for you at all.  In fact, the whole line of Apple laptops just won't work.

However, you're likely in the minority.  At least, that's what Apple's thinking is.

More at ZDNet

OS X Without the Mac

Traditionally, with we talk about Apple's Mac with the OS, we refer to it as "Mac OS X".

Now, Appleinsider has revealed that Apple has decided to trademark the "OS X" with the "Mac".  As explained, it's likely because Apple's OS exists in multiple devices that are not Macs:  iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV.

Not to mention on a myriad of non-sanctioned devices like my MacWind.  So here's where I think this is interesting.  Just OS X.  

What I'm about to say is mere speculation on my part (I have no sources, this is not a rumor, but just my educationed musing) but consistent with Apple traditon of taking unassuming steps that are laid out on a road map that eventually somewhere.   Can this be the towards possibly licensing OS X for use outside of Mac computers?

Here's why based on Apple's past actions.

• PowerPC to Intel transition - no one thought that was possible.  Blood enemies and all.  Things change.  Time change.
• Apple has AMD chips running OS X in Cupertino.  We have to be very naive to think otherwise.  Cell chips?  You bet.  
• No disk drive.  Now, no user changeable batteries on some Macbooks.  Already, that exists in the iPod and iPhone lines.  And let's not forget no firewire on the unibody Macbooks.  Apple is very sneaky at adopting new technology as they are at dropping older ones.
• USB - Apple wasn't the first to use it but it was certainly the one that introduced the public to it with the original iMac.
• iPod Touch with recoding abilities.  Right.  VOIP is more like it.  iChat Voice or Video years down the line?  Definitely.
• Some experience now with certifying apps - may translate that experience into hardware certifications.

Those are behaviors that Apple has exhibited in the past that had me wondering about this trademark change and potential of OS X licensing.  Nothing in those behaviors sugget OS X on Viaos or Inspirons.  Nor should we just take Apple's word if Apple executives, Cook or Schiller, offers Apple's explanation for this change in trademark.  

Apple likes to surprise people so don't be surprised if OS X licensing is in the cards.  Apple will still make Macs.  And as far as licensing, I'm sure Jobs and Co. has made sure Apple always come out on top - in technical and financial terms.

If this happens, it'll be soon.  Windows 7 is coming soon.  Based on personal judgment and what I'm reading in the press, Redmond may have a remedy for it OS woes. The public is still fuming over Vista and corporations are sticking with XP.  If Apple wanted to take OS marketshare, this is the time.

Source:  Appleinsider

Note:  I know the other side of the argument:  Steve Jobs will never let this happen.  I'm almost with you on this one.  Jobs has never public said he regretted not licensing the Mac OS in the 80s but he has publicly said he marvelled at Microsoft's ability to make deals.  Maybe Jobs, health willing, will try to make a few of his own now.

Mobile Tip: Windows 7

Some of us felt burnt by Vista.  Now, Microsoft has quickly released Windows 7 beta for the general public.  

Well, I, for one, am looking forward to Windows 7.  XP is great but I do want a modern 64-bit OS for my Athlon and, maybe, even my Macbook.  

So, if there's anyone else out there in the same boat as I am, this is what you can do.  Download virtual PC from Microsoft which is free.  Download a copy of Windows 7, which is also free during the beta period.

I'm trying to see if I can install Windows 7 on top of Virtual PC to give it a try.  The beta ends on August 1, 2009, which is plenty of time to get used to it.  And if you don't like it, you simply delete the installation and not have to worry about it screwing up your XP or Vista setup.

Link:  Virtual PC , Windows 7 Download

Note:  You might have some trouble downloading Windows 7.  Just keep trying or do it during off hours.

Sony's Netbook Game Changer?

A couple of days ago, we posted a wireless briefing on what's going on this week.  One of the notes we posted was about Sony's secret answer to the netbook.

Through and accident or otherwise, some information are now out.  Keep in mind that we don't have the compete picture just yet.  However, given what we've read online, this is quite something.

It remains what the rest of the missing information are.  Price, availability, battery life, and overall mobility performance.

• Two models
• 9.5" by 4.5".  To give everyone a bit of a perspective, the 
• High speed wireless access - 3G, Wi-Fi
• 8" Screen with 1600x768 LED - this is very good.  By comparison, most netbooks offer 1024 by 600.  We're talking about almost twice the number of pixels.
• 1.33Ghz Intel chip - could be a slower Atom.
• 60GB hard drive - 128GB SSD for the rich.

Of course, two very important details were left out:  price and battery life.  Over at On Apple, I've offered my opinions and gusstimation on what Apple's netbook solution is going to be.  Obviously, Sony has its own idea here.  Both Apple and Sony consider themselves to be the BMW and Mercedes of the computer industry respectively (or Mercedes and BMW...).  Obviously, my idea and Sony's netbook soluion here will allow both companies to command a premium and still compete on some level with the netbooks.

We'll know in January, possibly CES what Sony has cooked up for us.

Source:  Electronista

Intel To Lock Out Nvidia From Atom And Netbooks

Let's hear from the legal mobile warriors on this issue.  According to Digitimes, Nvidia wants to offer the 9400M GPU with Atom to make for more powerful netbooks.  Netbooks capable of playing games and HD content.

You say that's great.  Me too.  Except that Intel is making sure that Atom is only sold with its own chipsets, meaning all those sucky integrated graphic processors.  Okay, sucky is too strong a word.  Intel's IGP works and if you know what it's capable of, there should be no complaints about it.  If you want better graphics, there are other solutions out there from AMD and Nvidia.

Nvidia is offering their own custom solution dubbed "Ion" which marries Atom with its 9400M GPU.  Such a combo would offer a great deal for mobile warriors.  Imagine playing a lot of today's games and HD video.  the 9400M first appeared in Apple's new Macbook lines in the fall.  So far, the Mac folks only have good things to say about it.

But without Intel's cooperation, Ion would not be possible as Intel made sure to remind netbook makers Atom and its 945 chipset (very very old) are married together.  No exceptions.

So, what now?  Well, Intel has been the subject of many anti-trust and anti-competitive lawsuits and complaints in the past.  I can't say this is where its headed and I can't say if Intel is doing the right thing or not.  Certainly, mobile users will be stuck with a slower graphic solution with Intel's 945 chipset.  But we are talking about netbooks here, not Alienware or Macbooks.

Still, it sucks.  Impact on mobile users?  Well, either Intel opens up or Nvidia says "fine, I'll go make my own chips.  See if I care".  Now, that could take a whole.  Years down the road if Nvidia designs its own CPU.  But it also means competition in the marketplace and could very well force Intel to get more serious about graphic cards.

Since Apple switched over to using Intel CPUs, it had been using Intel's integrated graphics solutions.  It was not until this fall the new Macbooks sport Nvidia's 9400M GPU and forgo Intel's X4500 offerings.

Via Digitimes , Gizmodo

Wide-Spread SSD Deployment in 2009?

While many of us who watch Steve Jobs and Apple, among other companies and mobile characters, mourn the passing of an annual event where Mac faithfuls gather in SF for the Macworld keynote, it was at Macworld 2008 that Steve introduced to us the Macbook Air with a 64GB of SSD as its main storage.

Now, Apple is by no means the first company to put an SSD in its laptops.  XO and EEE PC all came out with SSD as their storage.  I think even Dell also had SSD options for its laptop lines.

Then 32GB and 64GB.  The 64GB option from Apple originally cost $1000.  Today, Apple is offering the 128GB option for $500.  Half the price and double the storage.  Now, Toshiba is offering a 512GB SSD option with 240MB a sec read and 200MB a sec write.  Oh, did I mention that its suppose to last over a hundred years?  I wonder what the warranty will be like.

Speed, sturdiness, and power efficiency are all why SSD will likely play in important role in future laptops and mobile devices.  Not only that, it's a backup option making its way into servers as well.  In recent tests by some blogs, the speed and power efficiency are not quite there yet but for studiness alone, it's worth it.

Besides, it's a natural evolution from regular hard drives.  With SSD prices dropping so fast, I'm willing to call 2009 year of SSD.  A cursory check of some online stores show a big drop in SSD prices.  Some are low enough (but nowhere near the price of regular HD) that it is an option for people who are data worth protecting.

Now, I'm not saying SSD drives will overtake regular HD in 2009.  But I certainly do see more SSDs offered as an option.  Besides, with the recession...anyway.

Here are just some examples:

• 32GB - $75 and up
• 64GB - $135 and up
• 128GB - $249 and up
• 256GB
• 512GB - From Toshiba.  No price yet.  Samples will be available for testing in Q1.  

What do you think?  Is there an SSD in your future?

Via Electronista, Toshiba

MacCandidate Will Also Be iPresident

World leaders who are democratically elected, be warned.  What laptop you use or what MP3 Pplayer you take to the gym may make or break your ascendency  to the presidency or whatever highest office that is in your land.

In the midst of a global recession, terror threats, and any number of dozens of political, economic, and environmental issues that President-elect Barack Obama and his transition team has to grab by the horns and hit the ground running on January 20th, apparently, just as important is assuring the American public and the international community that he was a Macbook candidate and will be an iPod President is just as important an issue.

So important is this issue that an Obama spokesperson has to come out and dispel a story that Obama jams with a Zune at a local gym in Chicago.

But if you think about it, Obama had openly talked about his family's Macbook during the campaign.  There's no reason why he would go out and get a Zune after that.

It's just amazing the kind of impact of a product that has sold 150 million units can have on Presidential politics.  History might be a bit different had Obama talked about using a Presario or Inspiron and Senator McCain's advisors had made him look more tech savy with pictures or video footages of the Senator with an iPhone and a Macbook Air.  Karl Rove uses an iPhone.  They could have used the Architect.

Note to future Presidential candidates:  just as you'll likely make the ethanol pledge when you're in Iowa and the rest of the Midwest, make sure you make the iPod pledge as well.

Source:  PC World

Apple Announcement For Macworld: We've Got Nothing (Go Home!)

Onox was right (unfortunately) about no new products outside of refreshes of existing Apple products.

I am going to say it now.  No new mobile product from Apple at Macworld.  We might see a refresh of the iPhone with lower entry prices for the 8GB at some later date.  We'll likely see a 32GB model as well.  That's about it.

However, we will not see a tablet, Macblet, iTablet, MacTablet.  Nor will we see anything new multi-touch hardware.

Here's why I think this to be the case.  This week, many Apple sites have reported (when they're not reporting about President-Elect Obama being a Zune user ) Adobe offering a limited presence at MacWorld 2009.  If you recall earlier this fall, Apple execs made a lot of buzz about new products and leaving no umbrella room.  Well, they sort of did that will the iPod line, they lowered the price of the entry Macbook, and will do so with iPhone early part of 2009, either through power prices or added memory capacity.

Now, Appleinsider is reporting a line of other companies not making their presence felt in at the January event (second most important event in January in my mind).  Why is that?

The economy for one.  But as AI mentioned in its post, many of those folks have already paid for the venue and, thus, cost should not be an issue.  Nor is travel expense given that companies like Adobe lives in the area.  So, what could it be?

Hence my guess:  no new products other than Mac desktop refreshes.  New Mac Pro.  New iMac.  Maybe new Mac Mini (or that Mac Hybrid that I wanted).  For any other company, that would be news in of itself but this Apple.  Two years ago, the iPhone.  Last year, the Macbook Air.  This year, nothing.

And let's face it, people are about mobility now.  Desktops don't get people excited like they once did.  Supposedly, attendance will also be down.  I'm guess people are thinking they won't see anything exciting at this year's keynote.

So, let's hope that I'm wrong.

Source:  Appleinsider

First, We Find Out Obama Uses A Blackberry And Now...

The last couple of weeks in mobility was dedicated somewhat to the subject of President-elect Barack Obama having to give up his Blackberry due to security reasons.  Makes sense.

While the Jobsian cult was not to happy to learn that the next President of the United States uses a Blackberry but at least they can take comfort in the fact that once he enters the White House on January 20th, 2009, he'll have to give it up.  No iPhone but no Blackberry either.

But now this.  Apparently, someone saw him at a Chicago gym.  Cool, right?  We all know he works out.  We also know he likes music.  Who doesn't? so he must have a MP3 player, right?  President Bush has an iPod.

Well...Apple fans, read no further if you don't want your heart broken by the man you elected to be the next leader of the free world.  You will not like what he uses as his MP3 player.  Macenstein has the details.

Note:  Well, at least we know Obama uses a Macbook or Macbook Pro.

MacWind Update: Keep it?

Dave the Mobile Warrior informed me last night that he may get rid of his MacWind.  I was curious to find out why he would do such a thing.  It was his idea that we get the Wind and install OS X (we own our copies).

So, I'm a bit torn now.  Folks, what should I do?  I truly do like the new Macbooks and the 13" LED are just what I was waiting for.

Anyway, I want to run some benchmarks on it before I do get rid of it or something.  We got it on eBay with the live.com 30% discount.  So, the cost came out to about $350 which isn't bad for the configuration. The same Wind was on Amazon for $480 at the time. (Sounds like Dave the Mobile Warrior might do well under the Obama plan...hmm...)

The thing is that it's a not real Mac.  So, there are quirky workarounds that has to be employed to get it working the way it should.  The mic doesn't work so you need a Bluetooth or USB headset.  The Wi-Fi works but through a 3rd party utility.  Otherwise, you'll have to get some specific wireless card that OS X recognizes.

I like it because it's light and small.  I just have an issue with real estate.  It's a nice toy.  That's pretty much what I have say about it.

So, what do you think?

Mobile Update for October 29, 2008

Today, many G1 owners got a rude awakening when T-Mobile suddenly ended our 3G/EDGE services causing widespread panic.

Apparently, we have been part a week long promotion but I think they call it that but since Google's involved, we were a part of their beta program yet again.  Anyway, this "beta program" ended badly.  Instead of switching everyone over to the data plan we selected when we pre-ordered, it just dropped us without so much as a notice.

Again, to get your service back, you'll need to call T-Mobile.  I just logged into my account and reselected the data plan I want.  Thirty minutes later (though it may take up to 48 hours for some folks), I was back up and running again.

The curious thing was that my Gtalk and Gmail was still working during that time.

Now, the other mobile news we're tracking.  We have been updating you on the white spaces saga.  It continues with new information.  The FCC has decided to go ahead with their plans for a November 4th vote.

Dolly Parton or not, looks like geeks (Gates and Google's Schmidt) won this round at least.

More links and the rest of today's mobile news at our new Mobile Digerati.

MacWind Update

My Powerbook still gets it's use as an iTunes base for me.  And I've got a webcam set up as a security cam.  So, it's still got it's place on my mobile life.

However, since last Saturday when I picked up my Wind from Dave the Mobile Warrior, it's all I have been using.  My impressions?

It's plenty fast for day-to-day work.  I've written some short stories on it for my friend's site.  I've worked on a children's book for my nephew's birthday using Inkscape and Gimp.  Obviously, outside of iWork, Crossover (free yesterday), and Rapidweaver, I've decided to go as open-source as I can on it.

I enjoy having a notebook with a long battery life.  My Al Powerbook 1Ghz lasts about 3 hours on two battle-tested batteries with a pretty worn LCD screen.  So far, it's lasted me from about 4 to 4.5 hours (wireless on, screen 3/4 bright), it's a far cry from the 6 hours advertised.  I should have known that was too good to be true.

Best of all, the LED screen is very bright.  That's a big plus.

I'm going to run some basic benchmarks this weekend to compare it with the Powerbook and a Mac Mini to see how it fares.  The Wind has an overclocking function so I'm curious if the 25% increase in clock speed translate into real world benefits.

Netbooks Their Smallish Screens

I remembered a time when I had the Sony Viao subnotebook.  2000-2002.  I think it was 505VN or VX.  It was a really well designed laptop.

By today's standard, it may be considered a netbook given the supposed size of the screen, 10".  Well, the $2500 price tag would not cut it today as a netbook.  But it was a fast Pentium II 333Mhz.  It ran everything I threw at it.  It even has a Firewire port, a port that is sorely missed in today's netbooks.

However, the resolution on the Viao was 1024x768.  Today, you get a weird 1024x600.  You essential lose 22% of the former real estate on the screen.

I took my MacWind out for a test-run at Starbucks last night.  It worked great.  Fast even only 1GB running OS X.  But back to the screen.

I had some issues with it earlier.  But after really sitting there on the couch and really got to know it better, I got used to it.  Now, I imagine a lot of folks who come from a world of 15" LCDs or, if you're like Dave the Mobile Warrior, who is trying to adjust from a 17" Macbook Pro, it can get a lot of getting used to.

I did some web dev last night so it was nothing something where screen size was an issue.  Rather it was Microsoft (that's a story for another day).  I'm going to go back and try it this time and do some artwork using Inkscape and see what that's like.

For anyone looking to pick up a netbook, go with at least a 10".  The Wind is excellent because of the long battery life with the six-cell battery.  I also like the new Dell's new 10" Mini.

Note:  Go to Best Buy and play around with it a bit.  I highly recommend doing that if you're considering using a netbook to do a major bulk of your mobile computing.  Get used to the screen size.

Mobile Update for October 27, 2008

Two big wireless news today.  Last week, we saw ATT and Apple rocked with new customer acquisitions and iPhone sales.  This week, Verizon stepped up to the place and knocked on out of the part.  Imagine what would happen now if Apple and Verizon were partners.

I'm doing that just now...anyway, VW saw an increase in data and wireless but monthly rates rose a mere 1%.  Still, all in all, a great quarter for the "can you hear me now" guy and company.

The second news we will start following is Cox's plan to rollout wireless services next year.  Right, the Cable company.  This would open up a new front in the war with the telecoms.  It's actually quite brilliant if it works in bringing a new game into a familiar playground.

So, what will we see?

• Mobile devices to watch TV shows and video from digital recorders.
  
• "Triple play" to be "quadruple play" or something with voice and wireless data.
• Working on 4G.  Mentioned work with Sprint in the past so it might be WiMax.  Because it also owns a chunk of the wireless spectrum, it is free to choose its own platform including LTE.  

For other mobile updates, please go to Onxo Daily.