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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Wednesday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week 03/03/2010 10 things you’re not
supposed to buy this year according to the Wall
Street Journal’s Smart Money column , which states: “As
we prepare to ring in 2010, consumers should expect to see more revolutionary
products supplanting old mainstays.” I saw a
Google article on this a few weeks ago - about things that are
technologically challenged this year, so I thought I’d go over it. DVD-s – we’re not supposed
to buy dvd’s – but they mean dvd’s of movies – not
blank DVD’s of which I go through many of regularly. And I do think all
video stores are threatened, and we should be able to just download the
movies we want to our computers. But we need much faster consumer internet
service to do that still. Home telephone service – also called a landline.
Neither of my kids had a landline - they’ve just had cell phones for
years. I actually replaced my 2 landlines with a cellphone a couple years ago
too. But I think a lot of older Americans still prefer the traditional
landline, and some companies like Comcast are trying to get you to hold onto
your landline in their home packages. External hard drives - of which I have 3 - one on each of my computers. This article says
you should use an online backup service instead. I’ve
felt for many years there should be a driving license type test for owning a
computer, and if you can’t backup your own computer – you shouldn’t
be allowed to have one. Also I’d have some logic questions, like
“If you can guess how many chickens I have in this bag, I’ll give
you both of them ....” A few of
these online backup companies have disappeared in the middle of the night,
but I know my backup drive is always there. Dell has offered this as a free
service with the last 2 computers I’ve bought, but I don’t use
it. Smartphone also ran’s
– they recommend buying just a blackberry or an iphone.
I have a very simple very dumb cellphone and am waiting for a usable combination
cell phone/netbook to come out. Compact digital cameras. I’m on my 2nd
digital camera, it’s 4 years old and still
works great. There’s a new generation of digital cameras out but mine
does the job. Newspaper Subscriptions – this is the hard one for
me. As an ex-paper delivery boy, the paper newspaper is an important part of
my life. I subscribe to the Review, and I need to have the real paper paper in the morning with my coffee. Reading news off the
computer monitor doesn’t do it for me. CDs - When was the last time you
bought a CD or even walked into a record store? Uh, yesterday
...
New college textbooks – thankfully
I’m past that part of my life, but I do remember how expensive college
text books were.
Gas-guzzling cars – my
current car is officially a beater but the 5 speed gets almost 50 MPG. I actually can’t find a new car
with the space that comes anywhere close to that mileage .
Energy-inefficient homes and appliances –
I’m hoping to snowbird next Winter in Arizona,
so that’s my plan to reduce my heating bill.
Actually this Wall Street Journal article does has
a lot of valid information and there’s a link to it in my online Raw
Bytes Transcript on my website.
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For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2009 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html PO Box 31522 Spokane, Wa 99223-1522 (509)624-7230 |
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