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No Nexus One For Me

I've been in the market for a new touchscreen smartphone, but I for one will not be getting the Google Nexus One. Why?  It is too expensive for the unlocked contract free version. I'm already with T-Mobile and contract free, why sign another 2 years of my life?

If I have to be tied down with a 2 year contract, I rather go with the iPhone. Why? Simple, software updates. One thing I really must give credit to Apple on is the iPhone firmware updates, even the original iPhones get firmware updates with new features. That's something you don't see in the cell phone industry where they are all about pushing handsets.  I know Apple is also about pushing handsets, but at least they allow their new software to be installed on existing hardware.

Yes, the Nexus One is running Android, but is Google really going to be able to provide a new firmware for every Android release? Seeing how HTC lets out like 20 phones a year (a number I just made up, but they do put out several a year), I highly doubt it. Have you seen the G1 or HTC Hero? It's not running Android 2.1 now is it? And it probably never will. At least with the iPhone I'll know I can always run the latest iPhone OS with a firmware update.  And this is coming from someone who does not own any Apple hardware, not even an iPod.

I just don't understand why these touchscreen smartphones cost so much. My Nokia N78 has a lot of similar hardware to the Nexus One and other smartphones like WiFi, AGPS, GSM, 3G, 3.2MP camera, LED flash, bluetooth, MP3 playback, video playback, and even FM radio and FM transmitter. And it cost me around $250 in 2008. Is a faster processor and touchscreen really worth the extra $250? I guess that is a yes to some people, but not for me. I would jump at it if it was in the $400 range, but $529 is just too rich for my blood.

So, no Google Nexus One for me, at least not until the price comes down.  I figure Google would sell them at a discount seeing as how they will be collecting very valuable information about me from the phone so they can show me more targeted ads.  Yes, I'm willing to give up a little privacy for a cheap Nexus one.

Posted: Jan 06, 2010 @ 01:17 am

New Folding Bikes

Just got two Dahon Boardwalks S1 folding bikes.  What I wanted was a cheap, simple, and high quality folding bike, and these are just what the doctor ordered.  They are single speed and back pedel to stop, so no gears or extra break/gear cables or parts to worry about.  These bikes are not the lightest in the market, but at 30lb, they aren't too bad.  I guess if I take off all the extra stuff it may go down an extra pound or two, but I kinda like the whole package.  I paid around $440 total for both, which is not too bad for folding bikes.  Could have found cheaper ones, but I've read that Dahon makes quality bikes, so I went with them.

Posted: Jul 13, 2009 @ 10:06 pm

How I think the auto industry should be bailed out.

No, don't just give them money, that's as good as burning it.  What you want to do is to get people to buy cars, American cars.  And what better way to do that than a government discount program for qualified vehicles?  Those who finance with a 20% down should get 30% discount for the price of the car.  And for those who pay in full, they will get a 50% discount.  The car dealers will redeem the discounts directly from the government program, with no hassles for customers. 

This will pump more cash into the economy than what the government is handing out because this will give people an incentive to spend some of their savings.  Now I know what all the experts are saying: save, save, save.  But is that really what's good for the economy right now?  For those who do have some savings and can spare some on a car, why not?  Taking $15k out of savings and spending it on a car will keep someone, somewhere employed, at least for some time.  These cars have to be built and serviced, and that means jobs.  And who knows, if the American cars are as reliable as they are claiming, they will have many converts even after this program.  I for one will definitely take money out of my savings for a Mustang if I can get a 50% discount.

The unions, now that's another issue.  The labor contracts will have to be renegotiated, which should be a condition for this program.  Negotiate or everyone loses their jobs, I think that's motivation.

This is just a random thought I had, but why not?  The car industry gets money because people are buying cars, labor contracts get renegotiated, and the car industry as a whole gets healthier.  And the best part is some of us will get something out of it.

Posted: Apr 16, 2009 @ 11:39 pm

50 Pound Burger

I came across an article about a 50lb burger the other day and turns out the diner in the article is only around 65 miles away in NJ.  So my friends and I figure why not, it seems like fun and set a date.  Unfortunately the burger didn't live up to the hype, it was much smaller in person.  Below is a picture of me and a slice of the burger.

Posted: Dec 14, 2008 @ 08:01 pm

My Fish Broke My Monitor!

My 22" Dell monitor broke a few weeks ago and I think my fish broke it. Yes, my fish. The fish tank is right next to my computer desk and it probably splashed water out of the corner onto the monitor while it was hunting. It worked fine for another month or so, but strange things started happening and the buttons started going nuts. The Samsung that is right next to the tank gets splashed all the time, but it works fine, maybe it's just poor build quality on the Dell, I don't know. But I'm happy Dell didn't give me any trouble, it was still under warranty and they sent me a replacement. (I called at around 10PM and got a replacement the next day, now that's what I call service!)

Don't let those puppy dog eyes fool you, it's a killer! I caught this thing off the beach at Captree State Park in Long Island last year, and after it grew a little bigger it started eating everything that'll fit in its mouth! I don't have much fish left in my tank. Last month I put like maybe 20-30 killies in there, it's all gone now. I still don't know what kind of fish it is.

Posted: Sep 25, 2007 @ 11:29 pm

Phone Bill

I recently noticed something on my phone bill, out of the $30+ dollars, only $.16 was for the cost of my calls.  Yes, that's 16 cents of out a $30+ bill!  The privilege of getting a dial tone costs over $11, and another $11 or so for taxes and surcharges.  So the basic bill without including calls or any other services is over $22!  That's just crazy!  Now I know why so many people go without a landline, at least your not charged $11 for a dial tone on a mobile phone.

Posted: Sep 09, 2007 @ 09:44 pm

First Vista Freeze!

Vista finally froze for the first time.  Not a crash, but a freeze where the screen is still up but nothing (not even the mouse) works.  I have a feeling it was because the DVD ripping software I was using didn't like the scratched DVD.  Oh well, hope that was the problem and not something bigger.

Posted: Sep 01, 2007 @ 01:49 pm

Avoid Devil's Tombstone Campground

Avoid Devil's Tombstone like the plague. I was supposed to be camping there last weekend, but we turned right back around after we saw the place. We ended up staying at North South Lake, it was crowded and noisy but at least it didn't have a highway running through it. Yes, that's right, Devil's Tombstone has a freaking highway running through it! You're camping like 20 feet from a highway. It's like camping at the side of the road, if god forbid there's an accident, the car will land on top of you.

I don't know where they took those pictures on their website, but it isn't Devil's Tombstone. And the river? It's run off water. Everything is done over at North South Lake, their sister campground 8 miles away, even garbage dumping. You have been warned. It's off my list.

Posted: Jul 09, 2007 @ 11:30 pm

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