Apr 10, 1998, 7:30am

This is the first rant written on my new computer.

I'm pretty juiced about it. But I'll try to keep the gushing to a small level (and the crowd goes, chaaa... right!).

As I said in my main page update over a week ago, I finally succumbed and bought this notebook. A few of the details: it's an Acer 393T model. Stats include: Pentium 166MMX chipset, 64mb ram, 3.1 gig HD, 12.1 Active Matrix TFT screen, 20x cd-rom, external floppy, li-ion battery (I upgraded a few things), 33.6 built in fax modem, and a few other bells and whistles. The screen quality is amazing, and I found a pleasant surprise in the box - one of those studio quality clip on microphones. It's not listed in the specs or anywhere else as an accessory, so I guess the vendor slipped it in.

I used to own a laptop (note I didn't use the word notebook) eons ago, when I bought an old Zenith 386 laptop from a fellow student. This was back when they weighed about 20 lbs, had a 7.something inch grayscale screen, and ran through their batteries in like 45 minutes.

So far, the battery ability of this system has both impressed and disappointed. I'm impressed, because with heuristic power management, the system shuts off things like my external ports (they draw power), lowers the screen's display resolution, and basically learns how I work, and manages the battery accordingly. My longest wireless session so far was about 4 hours of solid computing time.

The disappointment comes from the fact that the "low battery" warnings kick in when there's still about 85% battery power left! The damned thing starts beeping, starts blinking, and tries to force a quick exit to sleep mode, in anticipation of my finding an AC plug. So far, I've been able to disable the beep and sleep mode requirement, but it sure would be nice to be able to change the timer warning to maybe 25% or less. I've since been in touch with Acer, and they are sending me a new battery, thinking it may be something to do with the way the battery reports to the CPU.

Overall, I'm very very happy with my new toy - uh, business too. It's a major purchase for me, and I have to justify it somehow... and I can. You see, I've been thinking about getting a notebook computer since last fall, when I could have used one on my trip to Chicago. But the last straw came about two weeks ago, when I lost a major contract to someone who had their wiz-bang presentation ready to go on a flashy notebook computer.

Me? I had my trusty binder, a couple of diskettes, and of course, a few web pages to show, IF the client had an internet connection ready to go, and even then, I couldn't show all my work since a lot of the sites I've been doing lately are Intranet based, and closed to the general public. I went last, but they left the door open just a smudge, and I caught my competition's spiel. No wonder I lost.

And I lost a contract worth probably about $4,000. Almost 1.5 times the cost of this new device I'm typing on. So I decided no more. Over the past two weeks, I've been honing my Microsoft Powerpoint skills (the last time I touched Powerpoint was when it was part of Office 4.2 for Win 3.xx), and I've been setting up demos of all my most popular and complex sites (the ones I've done for clients, not myself), and also a few PDF files to both show and give to the clients if they want on CD-Rom (that's coming soon, when I get a CD-Burner).
ugh. techno-geek dweeb morphing is in effect... right here, right now. (hey, if I say "right here, right now", can AT&T now sue me for trademark infringement? hehehe)

Anyway, typing on this screen is a mite different from my desktop system, but I don't mind. I paid the extra $500 or so for the Active Matrix screen because I need something bright, and I need something that can show off displays and presentations well. I really searched for an adequate Dual Scan screen, but couldn't find any. Dual Scan and the new HPA passive screens are good for students, writers and the like, but for presentations they lag, literally, because they can't refresh fast enough and their viewing angle is minimal. The main diff between passive and active screens is the ghosting effect, which is minimal to non-existent on an active matrix screen.

OK, enough gloating. I feel like I'm probably pissing a few people off, at least those with techno-envy, but hey, it is my job (uh, computers, not pissing people off), and I'm just happy happy joy joy'ed over my newest business tool (read, toy). I promise not to gloat too much. (This is directed at one person in particular, who I just know is thinking "wadda bastich" right now! :-))

In other news, we sent off a "care" package recently to my Dad. We put lotsa stuff in it, including a bunch of cookies Jean made just for him, a pound of good quality coffee beans (I bought him a burr coffee grinder last Christmas), a bunch of videos, a small bottle (12oz) of Grand Marnier, one of his favourite drinks, some odds and ends, a James Bond novel (Goldfinger, I think), and Jean added in some other goodies and a letter she wrote. He got it the other day, and I think it made his year, especially since he didn't know it was coming. It's nice to surprise the old fart once in a while! :-)

An online friend of mine told me my last rant made it seem like I'm going through a midlife crisis. He's not the first to tell me that either. Weird. I don't think I am, since I'm not riding around in a red sports car (though I lust the not-yet-available Beetle convertible that's coming in 1999), but I do seem like the grumpy old man at times. Oh well, part of my nature.

And lastly it looks like a site I've been developing for a client since LAST SUMMER might actually be wrapped up this month! I hate having projects drag on and on, so I'm really looking forward to launching this site. I do have some time off for the next week or so, so that work would be welcome, and I have the time to dedicate to it. And what's extra cool is the job is for an American client, so I get that goody goody American $$$. After a rather hectic March, it looks like I have some time to relax a bit.

Anyway, that's about it for now. Sorry for the gloating, but hey, you'd probably do the same thing if you got a new toy ooooofff - I mean business tool like this!

Next time around, I just might put the more sizzling rant I've been cooking online. I dunno yet... maybe too many people will think I'm just a grumpy old guss. Thanks for stopping by!

So till next time.... thanks for stopping by!

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Mixelania

Photos from Algonquin Park
Photos from my trip to Algonquin Park this fall with my Mom and two brothers.

War Stories

Making Snow for the Fortress
One of the worst jobs I ever had... till I got out.

Webiffied

Tools I Use
The tools I use to build websites and lead a tech life.

iPod and iTunes Offline

iMark's iTunes and iPod isn't iPlaying anything right iNow.

Most Recent Songs

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

In the News

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