Comments on: A Short Break From Political Rants

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:28:06 +0000

I have a wire rack designed to stack dishes in a cupboard that I use in a similar fashion.

The only “feature” I use other than those on my landline is the “phone book”.

By: Steve Bates

Steve Bates — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 03:18:56 +0000

For work in my office at home, I rigged a stand for the laptop out of an old plastic stacking tray (total immediate cost: $0.00), so that the bottom of the laptop is always exposed to air. Of course I have to plug in an external keyboard to use it, but it places the display at a better level for the eyes, and I haven’t had the overheating problem again.

I actually use a few features other than the plain old phone in my cell phone… notably the calendar, timer and alarm clock… but the iPhone appears to be for the “too much is never enough” crowd.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:24:41 +0000

I had a laptop that could only be used in front of an air conditioner until the warranty was up and I could add some more ventilation. It worked okay with the floppy installed, but putting anything else in that bay shut off a needed source of air to the inside.

Lithium ion batteries heat up in use, adding to the heat from the electronics.

I want less in a phone than I already have, not more.

By: Steve Bates

Steve Bates — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:18:55 +0000

It’s not just pocket-sized, high-priced toys, either. In one continuous 36-hour manic work session during my last contract, I managed to overheat a nearly brand-new name-brand laptop. Granted, it didn’t overheat until near the end of the session, and I try very hard not to put myself in situations like that, but it’s true of just about any electronic device that is not cooled sufficiently for the context. What works in ambient 65°F air might not work in 85°F air. Think, folks, and touch-test the case occasionally.

I actually saw an iPhone last weekend. It had been purchased by a friend of a friend, the sort of guy who… well, the sort who would want a first-day iPhone. Forgive me if I did not immediately want one myself.