New Technology

I recently purchase a new PDA out of a sad necessity. After purchasing a hard drive today for it.. I started thinking.. What? I just bought a hard drive for a PDA? What's the matter with me?, I thought. After a little reflection I've come to the realization that I've always taken my PDA seriously. Maybe a bit too seriously...
So, for those keeping score, this new PDA makes number 9.
Let's review John's PDA's which is itself a brief history of the PDA itself.

1)Apple MessagePad 100
The one and only.. The original. This thing was awesome.. except for the handwriting recognition. Compare the Newton to the Palm Pilot. See what Apple got right!
Status: Still Own

2)3Com Palm Pilot
The one that got it right. Took a good idea and made it work! Loved this thing!
Status: Given to brother

3)Compaq C120 HandHeld
QWERTY Keyboard and MSWORD! But.. WinCE 1.0 was clunky. No one supported the 1.0 devices... Strike 1, Microsoft
Status: Still Own, non operational

4)Handspring Visor
Cool expansion pack and cool look and feel! This was the first Palm "clone". This was a real work horse! Great design. Very durable.
Status: On loan to coworker. Used daily!

5)iPaq H3700
Used a lot for work (development) Wrote some code for this one. Wasn't really ever my "PDA". PocketPC software not as quick or elegant as PalmOS.
Status: Still Own, gathering dust...

6) Sony Clie PEG-SJ22
Brief, brief life. It seemed everyone was buying a Clie' at the time. Nice but ONLY MemoryStick! I hate MemoryStick! Although the "JogDial" rocks!
Status: Died and taken back. Strike 1 and 2, Sony.

7) PalmOne Zire 72
Loved this one until it lost all my data..twice! Got the chance to tell Palm face to face about this one... didn't get a good response. As much as it pained me to do so because of my long love affair with the PalmOS, strike 1 and 2, Palm.
Status: Died and taken back.

8) iPaq 3715
REALLY loved this one. First PocketPC device I liked. Great set of features. Great screen, 1.2MP camera w/video. SD slot.. Bluetooth, 802.11b.... (sigh).
Status: MIA. If found, please call! Reward!

9)Dell Axim x50v
Current PDA. Bluetooth, 802.11b (w/LEAP), VGA(wow), 4GB CF microdrive. Going to be putting some video and music on this one. Maybe some maps for a GPS...
Status: Still breaking in...jury is still out. The VGA screen is just gratuitous. I miss the camera from my 3715... I suppose a new digital camer isn't far away...

Partying For Dummies

I like talking. Most people who know me and read this may find it funny to read my words. Here in these pages, I'm breif. I may ramble but there's no chance if me sucking a half-hour of your life away telling you a story... well maybe.
See I'm a talker and not much of a writer. A few minutes a day writing and one is supposed to improve. Don't buy it. What I do buy is that I've need to "get out" a little more. Spend more time with my fellow man. As Marley said, "Mankind was (is) my business!" ... or something like that.
Anyway, this is about parties. Not good at them. Neither attending or throwing them. So what do I do? Throw a few of them. Get some practice. Have some fun.
The first one I committed to is for my best friend Andy. It's his bachelor party.
This is not an easy thing to do. Sounds easy. It may even sound fun. Just try it.
Especially when you are out of state from everyone else who's going to be there.
Now, this one has been planned for a while so just a few details to clean up.
At this point I'm feeling like, "hey.. that wasn't soo bad. How about something a little close to home?" So a little get together has turned into a block party of sorts. Lot's of friends and cowords, neighbors and friends of my son invited.
What to do... Build a 20' wide screen on the side of my house, show "Pirates of the Carribean" and BBQ! My own Drive-in, in my own backyard. I love this country.

Now, we're a few days away from the Drive-in and a week out from the bachelor party.
Let's see if I can "get out" a little more ... and survive.

Dell, Dell, Dell

I've loved Dell. I own some stock in them. I even lived down the road from them in Round Rock, Texas (they're a great neighbor!) ... but the last 24 hours has eroded about all my good will for the company. I've talked to four different sales reps who've told me all sorts of different things.. all while just trying to order a new Dell Axim PDA. To they're credit they employ certain "Misty" who while struggling with a new customer database software package stood by me through two disconnects and transfers (always get their email address and extension). Dell came through in the end, honoring a recently expired evalue code and offer. Oh.. I started this whole ordeal on Saturday by trying to order it online... had better luck with people.. go figure...

Home Improvment (Take 1)

Ok. This post is not about boasting. It is mearly a record for myself of what I accomplished today so that in the future when I am feeling most lazy I can gaze upon these words and think.. MAN I AM BEING LAZY. for today I have been productive!
Here's what I managed today:
* Cleaned Kitchen
* Cleaned Living Room
(yeh, no big deal so far)
* Painted from door (BLUE!)
* Installed new garage lights (outside)
* Installed new porch light
* Changed bulbs in garage (new spots)
* Cleaned spa
* Installed new track lighting in kitchen
* Framed new poster (Father&Son Jedi pic!)
* Cleaned and tried 5 loads of laundry
* Filled 1 years worth of paper work (bills, etc..etc..)
* Did 2 loads of dishes
* Cooked homemade TexMex Pizza for self and son (recipe to follow, it's a keeper!)
* Put together new lamp and moved stuff around in living room to accomadate.
* Put up new curtains in living room w/tie backs.
* Made homemade vinagrette for tomorrow.
* Bought new PDA (see previous post)

Ok.. all in all not that much, but at least I feel better.
Tomorrow is vacuuming + redoing my media collection.

I've lost my Mind (PDA)

As some of you know, I recently lost my PDA. That is to say, my HP iPaq 3715 to be exact. But, thanks to Aaron who sent me a wonderful deal on the Dell Axim X50v.
Now this baby has got some VROOM!

Intel® 624MHz, 128MB ROM 64MB SDRAM, VGA 802.11b, BT

Did you see that? VGA. Yep.. my PDA is all grown up now. I did lose the camera funtionality which I LOVED in my iPaq, but... I had decided before losing it that I needed a real digital camera.. one with > 1.2 mega pixels anyway.. so I've decided to purchase a Canon Digital Elph (more on that later).

Full review of the Axim and a justification for a VGA PDA when I post next... or think of one...

Review:Adobe Premiere Elements

I have used a lot of video and DVD editing software. I have to say "Elements" has a lot going for it. It obviously borrows a lot from it's older sibling and it shows. However, sticking the DVD menu template editing for Photoshop Elements was just silly. Lucky for me I bought the dual pack with both in there. I can just image other's surprise when getting into the guts of this only to realize that then need to buy something else... Overall it's more stable than Pinnacle or Sonic for that matter and creates better output than Microsoft Movie Maker. Although (listen here guys) Microsoft supplies the basic fun and cool video effects that "Elements" forgot! Want to do a little "old movie" effects in "Elements"? Good Luck...
Once again I find myself still searching for that great software package that will let me do it all and for less than $300. For now, I'll stick to using multiple tools, reminding myself how far each of these products has to go...

Googling at the Cafe'

Before starting on a milkshake Thomas like to Google. Ah.. how times change...

I've lost my mind.. my PDA

I've lost my PDA, my beloved HP iPaq 3715. With it went all my vacation photo's and videos. If you find it, I am offering a reward. If you found it, are reading my blog and haven't given it back to me then shame on you for making me go through this bit of tech withdrawel... on the other hand... I have to say that looking at the new VGA resolution Dell's and HP's has been fun.. but not enough to make up for my lost beloved...

So I'll have to face the music and replace this piece of my life soon. What do you think? I need the wifi and the bluetooth but what about the camera? What about adding another device on my utility belt, say a Digital Elf camera? Better than the 1.2 MP camera on my MIA PDA... ah decisions, decisions...

My Old Kentucky Home...

This Saturday marks the 131st Kentucky Derby. I won't be there. Chances are I might not be able to watch the race on TV. My bet's for Greeley's Galaxy. I always pick a horse, every year, whether I tell anyone or not. I've never picked a winner. Not once. It's a little known tradition I've had for a long, long time now. It started when I was a kid and as a family we would watch the race. Or, on occasion, watch the TV, to see if I could spot my parents who attended a few races in past years. On these family event days, I'd pick a horse and watch 'em run. Strange as is sounds, the Derby to me was always a delicate thread connecting me back to my Kentucky roots. I was always proud I was born in Lexington, horse country. I didn't see much of my Kentucky family while growing up nor have I been a model cousin, nephew or even grandchild in that respect since. So I always looked for ways to connect me back to something, to the Bluegrass state. And now, like the Indy 500 has also become, the Derby, manages to make me pause, and smile, feeling, if even for a few brief moments that I'm still somehow part it all.

Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright

Once again a MacHead tries and sell me some of Job's snake oil...... No.. it's great stuff. I just can play Battlefield or run MediaCenter!! :P viva la Media Center!

Chicago skyline

Ended up spending an afternoon at Shedd's and having a cup of coffee over at the Field Museum. Nice place to clear the head and think.