December 16, 2011

The desire for techno-toys

I can feel it building. The urge to buy another technotoy, not because I need it, but just because it would be awesome, or I hope it would be.

Last two times I had this urge I gave in. First one was Uiharu, my iPaq. Second was Saten, the Slate 500 tablet computer which runs Win7 Professional.

And the problem is that I didn't really have any use for either one. Over time I've come up with a few things to use the iPaq for, though. I use "notes" on it to maintain my grocery shopping list, which means it's an expensive and high-tech substitute for a piece of paper.

I also run a program called "Simple Timers" on it when I cook a french-bread pizza in my toaster oven, which makes it a substitute for a $15 timer.

As to Saten, the tablet computer, there really isn't anything at all. I turn it on once a day because if I don't then Deneb, the Windows Home Server, starts to complain that it can't do backups. But after that's done, well, Saten gets turned back off again, and usually doesn't get turned on again until the next morning, so it can again be backed up.

There is actually one thing I use Saten for, which does make a difference. It's rare, but Microsoft has been known to release patches which cause trouble. I have a vague memory that the first release of one of the major upgrades to one version of the OS ended up bricking some people's computers.

So when I get around to running Update, I run it on Saten first, and make sure it doesn't get bricked, before I do Alcyone, my main computer. Now they aren't exactly the same; Saten is running Win7-32 Professional and Alcyone runs Win7-64 Professional, but it's close enough to give me peace of mind before potentially sacrificing my main console to the Gods in Redmond.

Arcturus, the old laptop I leave on 24 hours to run uTorrent, runs XP. So how do I eliminate that risk? I use Windows XP Mode on Alcyone and update it first. If it works, then I can risk Arcturus.

Right now I don't have anything like that for Deneb, the Windows Home Server, so for that one I just hope that MS doesn't have it in for me.

So that's a use for Saten. But it's hard to argue that it's an important one, and it sure as hell doesn't justify the price I paid.

Yet the urge rises to buy yet another techno-toy, like an Android tablet or something. But what would I use it for? Fact is, it would be of even less use than the two useless techno-toys I already have. Bummer.

So I'm trying to raise the willpower to not do so. Hear me? I am not going to buy any new electronics this Christmas! Because I don't need it!

Posted by: Steven Den Beste in Daily Life at 09:12 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
Post contains 493 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I picked up a smartphone that, likewise, I haven't used for a whole lot of smartphone stuff.

I spend most of the day in front of a computer, either at home or at work, so why would I need one? So there aren't all that many actual instances where a smartphone is really useful. On the other hand, some of that's just not being used to my options - for example, asking Mom on the phone what's on my brother's Christmas list when I could have just -read- the Christmas list from my e-mail.

That's the real trick - making the connection between "hey, I need to do this task" and "hey, this device can DO that task"...

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at December 16, 2011 09:23 PM (pWQz4)

2 Obviously, what you need is a device that can be remote-controlled from Saten. Sadly, things built with Lego Mindstorms look nothing like CBD Kei, or even Hoihoi-san.

-j

Posted by: J Greely at December 16, 2011 09:45 PM (2XtN5)

3 I use my Kindle Fire to listen to Japan-a-Radio mostly.

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at December 16, 2011 10:22 PM (G2mwb)

4 Ok, you're probably not going to appreciate my sense of humor here, but it occurs to me that the best way we could help you remain strong and not give in to the dark side of crass commercialism...

Posted by: ubu at December 17, 2011 08:32 AM (GfCSm)

5 I'm trying to hold out until next summer, to see if the Windows 8 tablets are any good.

If I could get a tablet with close to the same horsepower as a laptop from 3 years ago, with GPS and optional keyboard, for current tablet prices... yeah.

Posted by: BigD at December 17, 2011 09:26 AM (u0/7E)

6

My Slate (Saten) runs Win 7. Fact is, Windows doesn't really work very well on a system without a keyboard. The on-screen keyboard isn't a satisfactory substitute.

Also, the Slate screen just isn't big enough. It's 1024*600, and when the keyboard is displayed it uses about half of the vertical height.

I mostly use it in landscape mode. It works a lot better in portrait mode, though -- or it would, except that 600 pixels just isn't wide enough.

I can't believe that Microsoft is unaware of all this, and I wonder what kinds of things they're planning to do in Win 8 to make it work better on a tablet?

Also, by next summer the displays will have a lot more pixels, and that will go a long way towards fixing the problems.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at December 17, 2011 01:17 PM (+rSRq)

7 I am hoping that the Win8 bow wave brings with it a bunch of lightweight, portable keyboards (I really like the eee Pad Transformer's form factor).  Sure, while you're on the go, you'll have to put up with the on-screen keyboard, but if you can whip out a physical one that works reliably enough whenever you sit down at a desk or table...

I will say this--I used the snot out of my Droid X on my vacation this year.  I did route planning on the fly, navigated unknown cities in the dark, looked a hundred miles ahead for places to eat, and googled everything from roadside markers to geological formations, all while keeping a close eye on my work E-Mail, just in case something blew up.  I've known for years that all that stuff was possible, but actually doing it was really quite liberating.  The thought of being able to do all that on a machine that is powerful enough to suffice for the other 50 weeks out of the year?  Wow.

Posted by: BigD at December 17, 2011 02:34 PM (u0/7E)

8 There aren't going to be many portable keyboards. They are available now for iPad, which runs UNIX after all. But they are not as popular. What you are going to see instead is a generation of keyboardless, and more importantly, mouseless UIs. Android is an example how it happens (Honeycomb was an adaptation for tablets). There's no reason why Windows can't grow one the same way OSX and Linux did.

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at December 17, 2011 02:46 PM (G2mwb)

9 Apropos that, one interesting trend in Linux UI recently is an adaptation of some ideas pioneered by portables, mostly in Android space, but also iOS. In particular, Ubuntu Unity does some of it. I am not just talking about the removal of the "close" and "minimize" elements. There is a significant amount of OS-level support for so-called "persistent application state" that's necessary to make it work. Unity got a lot of bad rap for using system RAM to retain the persistent state, and the resulting ballooning in memory requirements the likes of which Linux haven't seen ever, I believe (I remember a lot of creeping bloat, but nothing so wholesale). They did it in part because they wanted to experiment with revolutionary UI and deal with the rest of the system later, if possible. Still, the result is remarkably different and Android-like while retaining (most of) desktop usability. I really think that Microsoft is likely to follow a similar path.

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at December 17, 2011 02:53 PM (G2mwb)

10

I have a keyboard for Saten. The Slate has a USB port, and a USB keyboard works fine. (In fact, when it's in its charging stand, there are three USB ports.) But the keyboard doesn't qualify as "portable" in any reasonable sense.

If you really want a keyboard, then you should get a netbook, not a tablet.

Win7 also has a handwriting mode which you can use instead of the onscreen keyboard. But I haven't tried it, so I have no idea how well it works. (And given my handwriting, all my r's will come out as s's.)

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at December 17, 2011 03:05 PM (+rSRq)

11 If I'm sitting at a table or desk, I really prefer a keyboard.  Maybe I'm just a traditionalist, but they're just too darn useful.

And, yeah, USB ports are excellent multi-taskers--one of my big complaints about current tablets (especially Apple and Amazon) is how they refuse to let you plug much in other than headphones.  I want multiple USB ports (ideally, capable of powering devices if I'm plugged in to the wall), mini-HDMI for a TV or monitor, SD slot, etc.  Radios can be o.k. at times--I'm typing this on a wireless keyboard that I've used for years--but, at the end of the day, I like having the option to go EMCON/airplane mode and plug stuff in, if for no other reason then to reduce battery drain.  And yet, I don't really want to have to own (and upgrade/replace) two different gadgets just so that I have something I can carry in a pocket or use in a car.

I suspect that the next big UI thing will be voice; SIRI is dangling Apple's toes in the pool, and given what MS has been doing with Kinect (which ISTR hits PCs next year), I suspect Win8 will do a cannonball into that field.  I find it disrespectful to use voice commands in public, though, and prefer tactile input options whenever practical.  It's also a pain to talk to your computer when you've been on conference calls all day long.

Posted by: BigD at December 17, 2011 06:05 PM (u0/7E)

12 Rather than USB, I think we're going to see increasing reliance on Bluetooth for things like keyboards and mouses. (Which means they have their own batteries, but it also means the tablet maker doesn't have to power them, which from the point of view of the tablet maker is all to the good.)

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at December 17, 2011 07:28 PM (+rSRq)

13 From a portability standpoint, cables are the devil. They tangle and get lost. If I were a tablet hardware designer, my dream would be that the tablet has a power cable, and everything else connects wirelessly and is powered by batteries. Ideally AA or AAA, so people just need to bring one charger to keep all the accessories powered, or use disposable batteries.

Posted by: Boviate at December 17, 2011 07:48 PM (RPpft)

14 I have owned a pair of portable BT keyboards.  One I used extensively with my iPaq, the hx4705.  Uiharu is in many ways the next version of the 4705.  They have shortcomings, such as sometimes not having a dedicated number row.  Mine came with a pair of laptop-style Fn keys, letting each key have 3-4 meanings.  Once you get used to it it works fairly well, although it's not going to be a challenge to full keyboards.  They fold up small--not much bigger than the iPaq itself--and last a long time on a single AAA battery.  I also had an HP I got cheap on closeout, but it never worked right, which was too bad, because it was sturdier than the other one.  Since it was a full-on keyboard, even if a minimalist one, it even works with a laptop (or desktop) with BT.

Posted by: RickC at December 17, 2011 08:16 PM (VKVOz)

15 Kindle Fire actually has an OTG port, so it can drive a keyboard, but Amazon's software does not support it for some reason. More intriguing, their SoC includes BT, but it's anyone's guess if it can be used or enabled in software. Usually such setups use shared antennas with WiFi, but not always. Again, it would be quite useful. Unfortunately, Amazon do not want me using Fire as a general purpose tablet, and OTG and BT are not needed to consume the content bought at Amazon, hence the situation.

Posted by: Pete Zaitcev at December 17, 2011 10:59 PM (G2mwb)

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