Mar 23, 2002, 7:05pm

Ultralight 570E This is my notebook computer, one of the first "media slice" models out there, and AFAIK, the only 13.3 inch TFT one available.

Man, do I love my IBM Thinkpad 570E

Thinkpads are the absolute best notebook computers you can buy today. Don't believe me?

Sure, they be expensive, some of the most expensive notebooks out there. But you know what? They're worth it. Here's why:

• Best portable keyboard in the biz, bar none. I like the feel of my Thinkpad's keyboard better than my $80 desktop model.
  
• Rock solid support. IBM is reknowned for their driver support releases, even for notebooks that are one, two, three years old or older. For instance, the very day that Windows XP came out, IBM had some update drivers on their site for 3 and 4 year old notebooks (including my 2.5 year old model) giving you 100% compatibility with the BIOS. Sweet. None of the other notebook makers (or many hardware makers for that matter) offer that kind of support
  
• 3 year, next day, to your door replacement warranty on business notebooks. Included in the notebook's price. And international in scope. No one matches this.
  
• Not a single (knock on wood) issue with any OS I have run on this computer - including Windows 98 SE, Win2K or WinXP Professional. Nary a one. In fact, with each new OS, the notebook does things better! Under Windows 2000, I had to "warm swap" to get my wireless network card out of it - ie, first double click the peripherals icon in the start tray, unload the PC card, then eject it. With Windows XP, it's automatic. By contrast, Jean's Windows XP install on her NEC Versa notebook was a nightmare, and her wireless card (same as mine) wouldn't even work. It took two months for the issue to be resolved.
  
• Super smart engineering. Two examples: first, the pointing / mouse system just BAM works - I am deadly accurate with the little red pointer stick, and it truly is accurate to a pixel. I do lots of photoshop work with it, and prefer it to a mouse. Second point - just bought some spare li-ion batteries for the notebook, as my original is getting a bit tired. Get this - I can have two batteries powering it if I want - one in its own chasis (it's an ultralight), and one in the media slice. Well, the system is smart enough that it charges the chasis battery first, then the media slice one. Sweet.
  
  

Like I said, IBM is the most rock solid notebook maker out there. My next notebooks' gonna be an IBM. I only hope they come out with a model to compete with this one. sigh.... half an inch thick. 12.1 screen. 2.5 lbs. I want it. Bad. Except it's not a Thinkpad...

Xbox sucks
There's one thing I absolutely hate about any product - the fact that something is 100% built in, but the manufacturer designs it in such a way that forces you to pay extra dough to actually use the built in functionality.

In a total money grab (and nothing but a money grab), did you know the Xbox has the ability to play DVD movies in the box, complete, except for one thing. They put a locking chip on it, and force you to shell out an extra $50 for the unlocking chip and a cheap ass remote? That, my friends, absolutely sucks, and is the prime reason I won't buy an Xbox. Ever. I'm perfectly happy with my PS2, and it's ability to play DVD movies right from the get go. Boo Microsoft.

It reminds me of another product I bought once. Back when "holiday cards on a CD" started as a rage, I bought the American Greetings "Deluxe" version. Little did I know that when I got home, my $60 software purchase had about 75% of its content "locked", requiring me to pay an extra fee to release bits and pieces of it. Bullshit. Bullshit bullshit. I did three things, and I'm proud to admit to them all.

First, I tried to return it to Office Depot claiming it was a rip off, and outright lying in advertising on the box. Of course, they pulled the old "you can't return opened software" BS, which is BS, but I didn't bother to fight it. Next, I searched the net and found a "crack" for the crippleware, and very happily applied it. Third? I vowed to never again buy any products from American Greetings or Broderbund, the company that puts the crippleware out.

And some four years later? I've kept to it, and spoken with my dollars.

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Mixelania

Photos from Algonquin Park
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Making Snow for the Fortress
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Webiffied

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Fiddlers Green by The Tragically Hip

Around The Bend by Pearl Jam

Here With Me (Rollo's Chillin' With the Family Mix) by Dido

With arms open wide by Creed

truffle pigs by Matthew Good Band

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Burundi and Beyond - NY Times
Great article by Peter Meehan - provided some background.

St. Petersburg Times
Side mention in an article about good machines

AP Story on Espresso
Background and information provided

NY Times - Grinders Article
Especially proud of this one - got the reporter to focus on grinders

Globe and Mail
LOL - showing bad reporting, dude says I'm an American-based site!

The Olympian, WA
Talks about my love for the El Sal Siberia Pacamara

Seattle Times - Clover
Interviewed for comments on the Clover brewer

NY Times - How it Works
Background and information for various espresso machines

Time Mag Article
Just a brief mention, article about roasting beans.

NY Times
Front page article about consumers getting into specialty coffee.

Washington Monthly
Quoted reference to what I wrote in an article at CoffeeGeek.

USA Today - Barista Jam
Intereviewed for my thoughts on what the epitome of espresso is.

WSJ Article
The Wall Street Journal has interviewed me 3 times. This is the first time my name got in a story.

Reuters Interview
Interview with Reuters, Jan 2 - this is the USA Today version.

My Other Stuff

CoffeeGeek
Launched Dec 22, 2001, this is THE online community for espresso and coffee fanatics.

CoffeeKid Website
It's all new, as of March, 2002. My personal coffee obsession site.

WebMotif Services
My company's site - needs an update!

Amazon WishList
Hey, if you feel the need to buy me something, check here!

Daily Visits

enGadget
Great gadget site run by the guy who used to do Gizmodo.

Google News
This is how I get my daily news fix.

DPReview Forums`
The most active forums for digital photography online today.

Daily Zen
Need my Daily Zen fix!

Jalopnik
A blog about car stuff. Vroom Vroom.

MoCo Loco
An industrial design blog. Very cool stuff.

Friends and Family Plan

Beata Blog
Beata's got her own blog! She updates it most days.

Riddla on Flickr
Matt Riddle's flickr account, updated regularly

Irdy Photos
Irdy, my friend from Jakharta, on Flickr

Recent Acquisitions

Canon EF 24-105 f4 L Lens
The best lens I've ever owned. Super sharp and quick.

Canon 5D
A full frame dSLR, with luscious colour reproduction.

Alzo Digital Lights
Some amazing florescent cold lights for product photography

Canon Xsi dSLR
Amazing technology and image quality in a tiny package.

Canon 40D
Latest prosumer camera from Canon - a much better upgrade than the 30D

Fujitsu P1610
Great 2.2lb computer that does most of my travel / writing needs

28mm f1.8 Lens
A great lens for closeup work and full picture photography

Foodsaver Advanced
Finally got the right tools for freezing green coffee.

Canon 50mm 1.4
Most amazing lens I've ever owned. Produces stellar photos.

Canon 10-22mm
Super wide angle (full frame fisheye) zoom for my Canon 20D