From My Keyboard

From My Keyboard –
Post Macworld 03

BY BILL CHACHKES

9.2003
Issue No.12

Welcome back to the back page. While it wasn’t the same type of show we were used to in past expos, there was plenty to talk about. You have to love the new G5 towers. Once again Apple has another droolworthy product. In addition to the greater processing power, the addition of new technology standards like USB 2.0 and the forthcoming Panther release will surely keep Apple in the news if not add any market percentage.

In my show review, I mentioned a micro sized DV camera that caught my eye. But there were several products that showed how everything is getting smaller, not just the show itself. Soon they will be able to have the expo out of two trailers. The continued practice of only a few vendor sales locations at the show kept me from making any major purchases for the first time.

I also got to see and use for the first time iSight and iChat AV. This has so many great possibilities that I can’t even begin to describe. I get flashbacks of Bill Shatner talking to James Dohan on the original Star trek TV series “Kirk to Engineering-Scotty, what’s our status?” If the New G5 commercials along with the new iPod Commercials are any indication, I would say Apple’s status is A-OK right now. I don’t really watch that much TV these days, and I have seen the G5 commercial at least 15 times in the last 10 days.

Because Annrose (my S.O.) works in Media planning for Cablevision, she was able to explain to me why some commercials get aired more then others at different times(after she reminded me that this was her job, and she went to college to learn how to do it). When I manage to get an English translation from her, I’ll be glad to fill the rest of you in on it.

Could it be that IDG might be listening to me after all? More likely they are looking at Apple’s deep pockets walking away from their trade show. A recent Boston Herald article reports that “Macworld Expo” might not be back in Boston. I truly feel sad for Boston(yeah right). IDG moved this show to New York in the first place because it had outgrown Boston years ago. What don’t they see? Did they add another Airport I don’t know about yet?

I finally finished unpacking most of my stuff from our move, and finally set up my home network. With my new Netgear Router (review forthcoming) I was able to put all four of our Macs on a Home network and share the internet too! Let me tell you, there is nothing like surfing on your iBook while you are cooking on your gas grill on your deck. Especially when you are on the Food Network’s website looking for that side dish to go with the Chicken breasts you are burning at this very moment. Let me put some more Lemmon pepper sauce on my chicken.