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Category: Computing (Page 4 of 5)

eBook Reader Ripoff

December 13, 2008 / / 0 Comments

Why is it that eBook readers cost more than a whole computer, even more than two computers? One does not need to be an engineer to see that this sort of pricing disparity is, obviously, a ripoff. It’s obvious to anyone simply from the fact that I can purchase TWO Eee PCs for the price of one eBook reader.

An eBook reader is a very simple device, vastly simpler than, for example, an Eee PC. An eBook reader has no keyboard, no hard disk, very little RAM. In fact all it needs internally is an inexpensive microcontroller ($5), monochrome LCD, a $5 SD memory card for storage, and a small battery. Yet eBook readers range in cost from $299 to $650! The prices on eBook readers are a ripoff and until someone comes out with something sensibly priced they are not going to sell as well as they could.

The retail price of a top quality eBook reader with an excellent monochrome display and an SD card memory slot should be no more than $99 to $129. I don’t see why someone does not produce such a device. eBooks can be managed by software on one’s home computer and written directly to the SD card. No cables required. With today’s SD card capacities one can stored hundreds, even thousands of books on a single SD card.

I can’t believe that someone has not designed such a device yet. There’s a whole market here for someone who wants to step up and produce such a product.

EDIT Apr 14, 2019: This problem was solved with the introduction of devices like the Nook.

Unpacking my Asus Eee PC

June 14, 2008 / / 4 Comments

How long does it take to get from sealed box to surfing the net for a beginner who has never seen this machine in person before? I thought I’d video the process and find out. It would have gone quicker had I known that the Eee connects to WiFi automatically and gives no obvious indication of this. I spent time trying to establish a connection when one already existed. Of course I have that locked down now so it does not go fishing for open access points but only connects to my own WAP secured access point.

Geek Gang Signs

June 3, 2008 / / 0 Comments

A fellow named Joey deVilla created a chart of LA gang signs and while he was at it he created a chart of Geek Gang Signs. I nearly died laughing. The original is here.

Geek Gang Signs.

Geek Gang Signs.

Switch Inventor Honored

April 1, 2008 / / 0 Comments

After decades of controversy over inventorship, the inventor of the switch was recognized and honored at a recent awards banquet of the International Organization of Electrical Engineers. Professor Turnonanof (1871-1929) was posthumously awarded the Inventor of the Year Award and inducted into the IOEE Hall of Fame. The professor’s son, Clarence “Click” Turnonanof, was present to accept the awards and give a moving presentation of his father’s achievements.

In the early days, Turnonanof’s invention was embodied in an open frame style like this:

Knife switch.

Knife switch. Click to view larger.

Later, he developed a more advanced and miniaturized form of his famous invention:

Toggle switch.

Toggle switch. Click to view larger.

A spokesperson for the IOEE said that the organization was exploring the possibility of setting up a Turnonanof scholarship.

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