Tag Archives: design

Reviews

Why my Dell Inspiron can't go to sleep

I’d been having problems getting my Dell Inspiron 8500 to go into suspend and hibernation modes lately, and attributed it to yet more glitches in Microsoft software. I had been installing and uninstalling various software, and I figured the OS had gotten out of whack, although things were functioning just fine otherwise.

It wasn’t until I decided to unplug my Apple MightyMouse from the USB port that I discovered the problem was with Apple hardware, not Microsoft software… I had to smile… Here I am, an avid Apple fan, and the hardware’s failing me. Granted, I am using it with PC hardware… But it is funny nonetheless, and I wanted to share this in case any of you out there are having the same problem. What I do now is very simple: every time I need to put the laptop into hibernation, I unplug the mouse, and things work just fine.

Updated 5/9/2006: I’ve found out since that just about any external mouse plugged into this thing will cause it to stay awake. Unless the mouse is unplugged, it’ll stay on through the night. Not very good design…

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Thoughts

The next iPod?

I have a hunch the next generation iPod will have a widescreen. I just don’t think the current 4:3 screen is going to be around for long. Obviously the videos on iTunes are a success. The next step is to deliver them in 16:9 format, and then possibly deliver full movies as well. This could happen as early as next year.

Updated 2/4/2008: Well, it didn’t happen in 2006, as I’d hoped. Appled started selling movies through iTunes in 2007, and now, in 2008, has started renting movies online, in both HD and regular formats. They also started selling a widescreen iPod in 2007, not 2006.

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Thoughts

A truly portable cellphone

I think we have the capability of building a cellphone that is the size of a credit card, and about as thick as 3-4 credit cards put together. If we would use strip batteries plus an OLED, that could make it work. And I wouldn’t be interested in fancy games or the capability to customize the ringtones or to chat with my friends, etc. I just want a cellphone that’s thin enough and light enough to slip in my shirt pocket without seeing any bulge. I want a cellphone I can slip into my wallet or into an executive brief. The case could be made of magnesium allow or brushed aluminum. Now wouldn’t that look pretty cool?

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