I’m super pissed. I’ve generally loved Palm since day one back in the 90’s. I’ve had scores of Palm devices from a Palm IIvx to the T|X I use now and I have always preferred them over any other handheld device platform. Imagine my joy, then, when Palm announced their Foleo mobile companion. Imagine how crushed I am now that Ed Colligan, President, CEO, and biggest imbecile on Earth at the moment, has announced the cancellation of the project. This just a mere week after it was announced that Foleo would be on time (okay, two days before the end of Summer, but still within the time frame they set). Now all we have to look forward to is the Centro and an uncertain future for Palm. Sad, Ed. Very sad.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Maddening, Opinion

I’ll start by saying that I think the iPhone is a really, really impressive piece of work. I don’t doubt in the least that it will have a serious impact on the wireless telecom industry… over time. The hype has proven to be true, though only to a degree. Apparently one of Microsoft’s greatest contributions to the world of computing has bled over to Apple: the self-imposed wait for 2.0. From what I’ve seen so far, that’s a fair idea.

The first version of the iPhone offers too few functions for me to knowing dive in and drop $600. I’m a long time Treo user, a Palm OS freak, and a gadget lover in general, and the iPhone doesn’t offer the ability to add software. I’m just not into that. Like my Treo (or really any PDA ever made) I need to be able to make my device function as I need it to, otherwise I can’t warrant that kind of expenditure. I got a Katana from Sprint instead. Free Bluetooth. Ahhh.

I realize that this isn’t something that most people need, though. I drove my daughter over to The Grove yesterday so we could drop in to the Apple Store (and visit the sickening American Girl and Pottery Barn Kids stores) and get our hands on an iPhone. The crowd hovering like Vultures over the iPhone display table was thick and unmoving. We hung around for a bit, listened to the band play, and looked at the fish.

In the end, we left without having touched an iPhone. I’m sure that some of my blase attitude stems from the fact that I’ve not yet touched one. I defend that with the fact that I am a lifetime Apple fan, having had not just Macs, but at least one example of every single one of Apple’s major model lines. My list of Apple machines I’ve not had is far shorter: The Apple ][ GS, any of the Performa machines (what a sad name), a PowerBook 540c (man, I really wanted one of those), and a Mac G5.

I make no apologies, either. Of course, I don’t leap out and buy everything that Apple ships. My only iPod is a 60GB Video. I replaced my 7 year old PowerBook “Pismo” with a MacBook Pro. My daughter uses a PowerMac G4. Yes, my wife uses Windows XP on my old Toshiba lappy, but what can one do against the forces of nature. That makes me wonder. How many first day buyers were Windows users? I’m sure we’ll start getting stats from Apple soon.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is a simple one. Once the iPhone can replace my soon to be retired Treo 650 or my Palm T|X then I’ll switch, and gladly. In the meantime, I’ll stick with Palm, but I do use iSync. When the time comes to switch, I will. You can count on it.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Opinion

One day in the world and the Palm Foleo is already drawing heat. The first one is from Wired’s Gadget Lab guy, Rob Beschizza. He does list what he believes are seven alternatives to the new Foleo, and there are some cool devices on that list. However, he badly misrepresents the Foleo by describing it as such,”…no hard drive, a new operating system, and a reliance on your phone’s connectivity.” It doesn’t need a hard drive, Linux is hardly a new OS, and it has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which means it is NOT dependent on your Treo to connect.

What Beschizza failed to mention, whether on purpose or not, was that while the device only sports 256MBs of RAM it also sports a CF card slot to which a minimum of 2GB can be attached, and likely much more. Rob also neglects to note that the Foleo features Opera 9, a very, very powerful web browser. While its not FireFox grade, its far better than Internet Exploder. Let’s not sell the Foleo short before it even hits the street, and besides, Rob’s alternatives are more than US$1,000 and most are over US$2,000. The Foleo will street at US$600.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Opinion

Immediately after I find out about Palm’s triumphant new Foleo I find out about Microsoft’s scatological new “Surface” tabletop PC. Woot, I think not. At US$5,000-10,000 each, these monstrosities will inhabit hotel lobbies and mobile phone dealers and allow you to drag crap around on their 30″ touch screens. You can even put stuff on the top and it will scan a barcode it can find.

This is nothing more than a standard Windows PC with a large touch screen and some flashy software. I can go to The Bridge in Westchester and do the same thing with my feet in the theater’s lobby. Exciting! This is just another stupid project from Redmond that gets traction because they don’t know what to do with all that money they have.

Microsoft even said that the price tag would come down in a few years to make it an attractive purchase option for consumers. Ha! Is there such a thing as collective senility?

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Opinion, Watchdog

It looks like I might have been wrong about Palm being dead and all. Hmm. Why would I change my mind? I’m sure you’ll hear about it sooner or later, but they have just announce their new Foleo Mobile Companion. This laptop-like Linux powered device is just kick ass! Go take a look. I won’t expect you back any time soon, but in case you want some details before leaving the confines of COT for a few hours, here they are:

The unit weighs 2.4 pounds, sports a 10″ display which can run in 1024×600 and 1024×768 resolutions, it has 256MBs of RAM, likely runs some kind of ARM-based processor, has SD and CF slots for memory expansion, and has a copy of Opera 9 built in. I’ll say one thing for Opera, they’re really kicking ass and taking names (installed in loads of mobiles, Nokia’s 770 and n800, and now the Foleo).

Pricing is set at US$599 and you can get a $100 rebate if you buy early. They will start to be available in early summer, so get your pocket books ready. I can’t imagine any real reasons why you wouldn’t want this thing.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Cool Tools, Damn Fine Idea!, Opinion

No. That’s not a barb directed at Mr. McGuiness. I simply wanted you to understand up front that the person I’m going to complain about here is a man and not a woman. I’d also like to point out that even if it was a woman, I’d still complain.

Laurie apparently thinks Apple’s line of world famous, award winning, powerful computers (some of which are used to make some of the fastest super computers in the world) are silly and pointless. To make his point he has produced four ad spots which mock Apple’s famous Mac & PC ads, only here the PC is the winner and the Mac is a loser.

Its sad, really, because in order to make his point he has to lie by omission. He suggests that Mac users don’t share, alluding to the Microsoft Zune’s Wi-Fi sharing capability. He also suggests that Mac users are drugged up, alcoholic, ne’er do wells who are late and can’t pay their bills. He also suggests that Mac users stay and home and make movies or create web sites for their cats with their buddies while Windows users hang out with fantastically beautiful women.

Not one of these videos is funny, insightful, or illuminating. In fact, its clear that Laurie is, indeed, a hater of Macs, and clearly doesn’t like Mac users either. Maybe Laurie doesn’t know that most musicians are Mac users. A lot of people in the film and television industries are Mac users. I know first hand that scads of people in advertising are Mac users. Even Al Gore is a Mac user.

So, who’s the loser now? I don’t know. Maybe the guy who feels so insecure that he has to take dodgey, questionable, anger-filled stabs in the dark at an ad series not only recognized as tops in advertising, but has also proven to drive sales at Apple Stores. Laurie advertises himself as a copywriter. Maybe he should use a Mac and he wouldn’t be so angry any more.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Mac Musings, Opinion

Here’s my list of ten things I find in Apple Inc. that are common to all computer and operating system makers in the world. Its nothing all that flashy:

1. Apple makes an operating system which runs on a computer.
2. Apple’s Mac OS X can run programs like Microsoft Office suite and Firefox, the second most popular browser in the world.
3. People can use Macintosh systems to email other people, no matter what kind of computer they are on.
4. Apple sells its computers and software in stores.
5. Mac OS X allows input with a keyboard and controls a small arrow on the screen with a puck called a mouse. Users can click on things they see on the screen with the button(s) included on the mouse.
6. Macintosh systems have optical drives which can accept CDs and DVDs which allow users to add more programs, listen to music, or watch movies. Many of these drives can also “burn” discs, which allows users to save important data.
7. Mac users can open almost any computer file as long as the correct software is installed, just like any other computer.
8. Apple computers sometimes need to be repaired.
9. Apple offers warranty support and there are numerous 3rd party support providers as well. Macintosh systems come in desktop and laptop formats, in various sizes, and for varying prices.
10. Apple products take up physical space.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Opinion

I can tell you with relative certainty that I will not be the only pundit to rip apart PC World’s “10 Things We Hate About Apple” article. You know, the one that generated all that buzz around the ousted of that guy. Ok, so I’m not into fact checking today. I do, however, have the list printed out in front of me and ready to dissemble. Here’s goes:

1. Free Speech, Anyone?

Their big gripe over Apple is that they litigate everyone. Sure, I hate it when I hear the latest about Apple running around and trying to scare the crap out of some little site monkey who had the gaul to post details on Apple’s latest power supply designs, but they are doing what is their legal right. Apple has the right to protect its intellectual property. I don’t always agree with how it goes about it, but hey… they law is the law. Deal.

2. More Secretive Than Homeland Security

The lads complain about how Apple doesn’t reveal details about what it’s doing or what its working on. Fact: Apple has way less than 10% of the market. Fact: Apple has 70%+ marketshare in the DAP space. Fact: Just about everyone copies Apple when they know what Apple is doing. Fact: LG released that stupid iPhone clone a few weeks after Apple announced theirs. If I were Apple, damn! I’d keep everything close, too!

PC clone makers work on tight margins. Any edge they can get they will take. They’d also rather go to court for a few million to protect the possibility of making 100 million in a market they don’t have to spend millions getting into. If you think that Apple would be around if they revealed everything they were working on, you’ve got another thing coming. Vista, anyone? Continue reading »

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Opinion

First, I’ll fess up. I’m a hypocrit. Microsoft delivered a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate the other day and I have installed it. I said not long ago on MoboDojo that I would never touch Vista with any length of pole, 10′ or otherwise. I am glad, however, that I’m a nerd and could not resist installing it moments after the RTM version arrived from Microsoft. If I hadn’t done that I would not have learned the following two things.

A) I would not have discovered how different the release version is from the last beta I tested.

B) I would not have found out how much a clone of Mac OS X the new OS is.

Both A and B together go even further to prove to me that Microsoft is not an innovator and that Apple has been at the forefront of systems design from day one. I am going to be writing a bevy of articles, each one about a single shared element of Vista and Tiger. I do this to show in as comprehensive a way possible that Microsoft does not deserve the attention it gets.

If you want a computer, buy a Mac. If you buy a Vista system, its your mistake.

written by Tyler Regas \\ tags: Opinion