Tuna Can Org - totally irreleveant stuff

Computers!

Chronicles of a computer geek

Enter the computer geek...

I've grown to accept the fact that I'm a computer geek. I know, people chuckle when they hear me say it, but I say it proudly. I've been a computer geek since my parents bought our first family computer. It's all been downhill since then. *grins* You can learn more about my computer history here at TunaCanOrg.

Along the years I've taught myself a lot of cool skills, and along with the occasional computer college class, I've amassed quite a variety of tech skills that makes me comfortable using a computer. This means that I'm not a single area type of user -- I am quite comfortable doing a lot of things with the computer.

Anyways, I can tell you that I will always be working on something technology or computer related. It's just hardwired into my brain. Here are a few things that I'm currently learning about Linux operating system, the GP2X handheld, database systems (specifically SQL for cross platform flexibility), web application programming, and Cisco IOS (working on CCNA certification). One of my all time favorite projects was an operating system called BeOS, but sadly Be Inc. is no longer around. You can learn more of what I enjoyed about the BeOS at my BeOS page here on TunaCanOrg.

Cool gadgets....

I'm also a gadget geek too, so I love playing with new and exciting computer technologies, things that push the current state. A clear example of this is my current laptop, an Acer TravelMate C200. It's what I call a "convertible" laptop; it changes from a regular laptop to a tablet computer. Tablets use a stylus and touch screen to do things that you would use a mouse or keyboard for. I've long wanted a tablet, but being restricted to just the touch screen was limiting for a keyboard jocky like myself. The convertible laptop was the perfect marriage of the conventional and the unconventional. I purchased my C200 in January 2006 and I've never regretted it.

Cool gadgets that didn't make it....

I've long held a fascination with interesting and unique electronic devices. This particular applies to things that take a fresh new look on accomplishing a common task, or something that makes everything convienent. I want to share some of those things that didn't quite make it, for whatever reason.

Psion 5 series - Psion Series 5 This palm-size system was one of the most underrated technologies I've ever used. The Psion 5 series featured a sliding keyboard, touch screen, internal flash memory storage, a CompactFlash slot for increased storage, numerous prodcutivity applications (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.), and a pretty diverse collection of free and commercial software.

In fact, I'd still be using mine everyday if only it featured wireless ethernet and a good web browser. If it had those two features, along with a large (4GB or larger) Compact Flash card, you'd have one really nice portable computer for everyday use.

The downsides of the Series 5 was it's size and it's price. The retail price for the Series 5 at the time was roughly $500. The PalmPilot PDAs of the same time period were a fraction of that price, but they weren't as expandable. I'm a big fan of the Palm too, I even owned one (a IIIXE), but the Psion was my favorite

My mother bought one shortly after it was featured in PC Magazine. She took part of her income tax refund check one year and bought one. My mother was an elementary school teacher and she liked to use it to keep track off notes about her students and observations of their behavior.

Years later I bought one on eBay for about $100 and used it off and on for the next couple of years. Unfortunately the Psion platform is longer sold in the PDA market and the manufacturer has moved on to more specialized upscale products.