I’m noticing a not-so-subtle change in the force. I spent the better part of the week listening to Barack Obama, and I’m a moderate-to-conservative guy. Policies aside, he’s a persuasive man. Anyhow — I’m also a Windows guy for the most part, but have been known to ride (and occasionally cross over) that fence, as well. Recently, a new business/work venture has me experiencing the need to be ultra-portable from time to time, meeting and working potentially from who-knows-where. So, given the current tax situation and the “workability” needs, I broke down and dropped by the Apple Store last night and — after having visited the store four times and carefully considering the available options — I bought a MacBook Air. My friend Matt patiently watched while I substantially delayed our arrival at the movie theater. Good sport, that Matt.

In case anyone’s keeping track, the current game score in the Hughes household Windows vs. Apple system showdown is: Windows 2 (technically 3 if you count the roomie’s machine), Apple 2 (or 3 if you count the iPhone). I’m not a Switcher, but I am an Adder.

VMWare Fusion, a very cool app that will let me run Windows apps on the Mac, is coming soon. I will write up my experiences at some point with that process, with a focus on how it works from the perspective of an IT guy. There are — plain and simple — certain apps that are only available on Windows that I need to use, so it will provide me with both worlds, at the same time. You can learn about Fusion here.

Everyone and their brother have already posted reviews and articles about the MacBook Air, so no point in me rehashing the obvious. Here are my initial highlights:

• Keyboard — Backlit, brightness auto-adjusts, nice keys, quiet typing.
• Screen — Excellent backlight, also auto-adjusts, bright and contrasty.
• Thin — Well, duh. And light, too. That was what got me to look in the first place.
• Battery — Not going to get the advertised 5 hours, but I have pounded it pretty hard for about 2.5 and its still advertising an hour left on the battery (first charge)
• Close-lid-sleep-wake-up drill — Nice and quick. I like that.

Also, I picked up the “incase” brand neoprene sleeve case they had at the Apple store, which is really very nice. I am already liking it. Great protection and hey, it’s all black. :)

I got home, opened it up despite being very tired, ran through the setup (nice, easy, and cool), eventually climbed into bed and watched this past week’s episode of Lost in HD on the ‘net. The Air is a great computer for that, too. I like.

Stories at CNN, Ars Technica, and CNET are covering the fact that Apple is working on a plan that would allow unlimited “free” access to the iTunes music library — if users paid more up-front for their iPod devices.

This sounds interesting, but it seems like an up-front charge (when you buy the device, as a one-time fee) might have some legal (not to mention business viability) challenges associated with it. Now, if they were to go with a Zune-like monthly subscription model, that would be a whole different story. It would actually make a lot of sense.

Group-think/conventional wisdom seems to be that since the average iPod/Phone user spends about $20 total on music through the iTunes store, it would make sense to charge everyone that much up front. Others say something more like $80 is more reasonable. I think they’re all wrong: Charge me $20 up front, and I will do everything I can to maximize — in a big way — that mandatory investment. People only spend an average of $20 because they have to keep paying. Charge that up front and grant them unlimited access, and they’ll download more music than you can possibly imagine.

That’s where the Zune Pass idea is a better one. Recurring monthly revenue of a predictable, fixed amount (which is great from a business standpoint) and a happy customer base. I just don’t see a one-time fixed fee model holding water for very long. But then again, if your intent (hypothetically) is to launch a firestorm campaign to (further) monopolize the market and then dump it as unviable… well, you might actually succeed at one goal by failing at another. Just a thought. :)

Saw this coming a mile away. It’s always fascinating when people - or companies - show their true colors.

Apple Computers is sending cease and desist letters, apparently, to a number of companies and organizations that are using the term “pod” in their positioning or names, claiming it causes confusion in the marketplace. Podcast Ready is the latest victim among several.
(more…)

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that there is power in numbers. Usually, when people only rely on themselves, they miss out on a vast community of knowledge that is just waiting to be explored. How many times have you told yourself, “You know, I wish I would have asked for some other opinions before I made that decision.” I’ve done that a lot, and I’m willing to say that you probably have, too. Even if you don’t actually base your final decision/opinion off of what you’re told, at least you were open enough to consider other ideas. Thankfully, the Internet has unified people across all walks of life, and with Tezaa, you can benefit from this wisdom of many.
(more…)

Yesterday I was in Seattle and had a couple extra hours between appointments, so I headed over to Kirkland to check out the Smart Cars being sold at the Green Car Company. I climbed in a few of the ones they have on the lots there, and then I took one for a test drive.

Obviously, there’s something appealing about a small two-seater that the EPA states will get 42 MPG, but which real-world people say they actually get anywhere fromSmart ForTwo demo car at Green Car Co. 45 to 60 or so MPG. Seriously - 60 miles to the gallon. For someone like me, which commuted 80+ miles a day in a full sized pickup that gets about 15 or 16 miles to the gallon, that’s a big difference.
(more…)

Maybe I should head to Chicago for a week.

According to Reuters, the Sheraton Chicago hotel’s general manager, Rick Ueno, has devised a rather unique informal program for CrackBerry addicts. Check in, hand your BlackBerry over to Ueno, and detox for the rest of your time there.

Ueno… said the program which began Wednesday grew out of his own personal BlackBerry addiction. His one-step recovery was switching to a regular cell phone.

“I was really addicted to my BlackBerry. I had an obsession with e-mail,” he told Reuters. “Morning and night. There came a time when I didn’t think it was healthy … I quit cold turkey.”

Ueno said he would take personal charge of any BlackBerrys or related devices guests want to surrender and place them in his office locked up until their return is requested. There is no charge.

“I run a hotel with over 900 employees and thousands of guests. I think I’m more effective. I feel better. I sleep better. My family likes it,” he said of his post-BlackBerry life.

He might be onto something…