Out of the Box

• This is what geeks consider a six-pack: http://tinyurl.com/2o9sxo #
• Elite bloggers reading Out of the Box in droves. http://www.rossrubin.com/outofthebox #

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• Per Acer, 16:9 is the new 16:10. Seems to make sense at least for the 16″ size, where it adds 7 percent more screen real estate. #
• Toshiba’s HD DVD tab for this year? one billion dollars. Avoiding a prolonged format war? priceless. http://snurl.com/21n9s #
• Great to see AA hop on the in-flight broadband bandwagon. I recall when Seamus McAteer said tthis would never be. http://snurl.com/21nyq #
• Microsoft agrees with me that Blu-ray on the Xbox 360 makes no sense, as I’ve previously written. http://snurl.com/21oct #

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• The Canon HF10 may have closed the gap with HDV: http://tinyurl.com/38cvan #
• SearchMe has a similar value prop to SpaceTime: http://tinyurl.com/27g7g7 #
• Fond memories of the classic SNL Newton Post-It notes ad: http://tinyurl.com/2hx2gz #
• New Switched On posted: http://snurl.com/21met #

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Ars Technica writes about an interesting new package being released by longstanding Mac and Windows developer Symantec that is surely a sign of the times. Symantec is bundling Windows and Mac versions of its Anti-Virus protection in one package for Mac users who are running virtualization software from Parallels or VMWare, One can now Seussically say that Norton clears for two.

I haven’t considered the ability to run Windows programs as a functional driver of the success behind in the wake of Apple’s Intel transition, (although the assurance that it can has probably removed some psychological barriers), pinning it down more to price/performance improvements. However, apparently Symantec believes that double-dipping Mac users will appreciate the extra, and perhaps proactive, security blanket even though, as Ars notes:

While we haven’t heard any reports of a virus striking a Windows VM and taking advantage of this Mac OS X directory access, it certainly is theoretically possible. There are also products like MacDrive which can grant read/write access of an entire Mac-formatted volume to versions of Windows from 98 on. Both of these situations could bring a Mac’s OS X boot volume into the sights of a malicious application.

I also continue to be surprised (but only slightly) that Apple has not included virtualization itself in the OS by simply buying Parallels or developing their own solution. Apple has supported other architectures before and advertised the Mac’s ability to run Windows on national TV (in two different commercials). Apple describes Boot Camp as an option that mazimizes compatibility, but the tradeoff in convenience is not worth it for most users. Besides, including virtualization software would allow Apple to make a stronger case for beefier Mac configurations.

Finally, speaking of Windows running on Macs, I seem to remember some statements from Microsoft that it would clarify its OS support of the hardware once Boot Camp became released code, which it now is. I suppose Microsoft has its hands full supporting Vista on machines that it has already certified, even those it perhaps shouldn’t have.

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Sorry, Woz, I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it to Segway Polo camp this summer, but this weekend’s broadcast match reminded me that this month marks the sixth anniversary of the once highly anticipated Segway HT. One reason the device hasn’t broken out much past the tech elite, law enforcement and tour groups has been that its price remains at more than $5,000.

Part of that is likely due to low volumes. According to an article cited in the Segway’s Wikipedia entry, Segway had sold fewer than 25,000 transporters as of September 2006

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Technology retailer TigerDirect seemed to have had its heart in the right place when it rebranded Black Friday "Pink Friday" in honor of a campaign to aid the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer charity. I ordered something from the retailer a few days later and, lo, it arrived today in a pink box in honor of the effort. Even the invoice came on stationery with pink print. Kudos to Tiger Direct for some fun follow-through on the Pink Friday campaign and for supporting the charity..

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I’m going a bit off-topic here; file it under geek culture. The two “beauty and the geek” premieres this fall were Chuck and The Big Bang Theory (TBBT). The former is about an underachieving Geek Squad-equivalent employee who, under a pretty ridiculous premise, becomes a human repository for the government’s biggest secrets and enters into a staged romantic relationship with a CIA agent. The latter is a traditional sitcom about an attractive Cheesecake Factory waitress who moves in next door to two physicist roommates who frequently have their equally geeky friends over for company.

After two episodes of each, Chuck is emerging as the far better show. About the best thing TBBT has going for it is the opening theme song by Barenaked Ladies. TBBT’s main geeks’ buddies are somewhat entertaining, but the “odd couple” scenario has been bludgeoned to death, the writing is often stale and the Sheldon character’s punch line delivery is simply too deadpan; the laugh track is unbearable. Chuck, on the other hand, seems to be effedctively melding elements of a comedy, action and mytharc series, and the triangle among Chuck, the CIA agent, and the NSA agent is dynamic and entertaining. I’m eager to see where this one goes

Incidentally, the blonde “hotties” in each show could not be more different. Chuck’s “Sarah” is strong and resourceful while TBBT’s Penny has been nothing but helpless so far.

Coming up next: pictures of my cat.

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Once again, I have to disagree with the man in the mock turtleneck (or is that fake turtleneck?). Sure, lines at Apple stores can be long, but overall the Apple store provides one of the best PC buying experiences in the industry as the millions of satisfied customers and the incredible success of the stores prove. FSJ is often spot-on, but sometimes you’d think he doesn’t even work at Apple, much less not run it.

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Hey, aren’t those things supposed to go in the ear? I guess this is what happens what art imitates iLife.

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A couple of nifty and decidedly analog gadgets showed up in the blogosphere recently. CrunchGear covers DiscEraser, which scars a CD or DVD surface so that it is unreadable by a drive. This should come in handy for the childless who needs to destroy discs. I probaby wouldn’t use it for NSA materials, but it should be good enough for most casual personal information. As CrunchGear notes, it’s small enough to fit in a desk drawer and results in no plastic shards, which is a good thing. It’s $13 and comes in a variety of pretty pastels colors ideal for dishing out is disc-destroying damage.

Over the weekend Gizmodo featured the Grip Bag Holder to help carry multiple plastic grocery bags. I can see its use but for neighborhood grocery shopping I recommend the Hook ‘n’ Go (pictured) offered by Hammacher Schlemmer for carrying up to eight bags without crushing the eggs.

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