The Problem of the US Gadgethead

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I am a gadgethead. Unfortunately, I am a somewhat pathetic gadgethead, because I don't make enough money to truly indulge my passion.

Now, that should not be construed to suggest that I don’t have a fair number of gadgets. Let’s see…cellphone, PDA, UMPC, MP3 player (though I gave it to my son), DSLR camera, laptop, and desktop computer. Sure, I could have a few more, but it isn’t the number of gadgets that get you the label of gadgethead. No, it is the yearning in your heart that marks you as a gadgethead.

Can you identify all the following acronyms without looking them up?

PDA, UMPC, PMP, MID

If you answer yes, then you might be a gadgethead.

So, I have a new gadget that I lust after. If you are a follower of this blog, then you might have seen this post…I Think I'm in Love. Well, this post is a good example of the problem of the US gadgethead. Please note the date on that post, February 2009. It is now late December of that same year, and the Toshiba TG01 has not yet reached any US cellphone carrier.

It’s enough to make me cry.

Well, maybe not. See, I found a new love.



This is the HTC HD2. It has an even larger screen than the Toshiba, 4.3 inches. I still haven’t managed to replace my PDA and Cellphone with a smartphone, and if I had my wish, it would be this one.

Of course, that is if the darn thing ever reaches a US carrier. I would prefer that it be Verizon, since I am already with them, but I might consider switching for this phone, and a CDMA version isn’t out yet (bonus points for knowing what CDMA is).

I have waited nearly a year to see the Toshiba on these shores and now there is something new I would rather have. But, of course, I cannot afford to buy an unlocked one, so I have to wait to see who gets it and when.

And, it isn’t just cellphones, UMPCs, PMPs, and MIDs are also in the same boat. There are these incredible gadgets being built out there, in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and elsewhere, but it takes forever for them to reach the US, and when they do there is usually something even better that has already been released elsewhere. You would think we were some backwater country, based on how devices get delivered across the world.

Makes me wonder if I wouldn’t be happier living in Europe.

What Do I Really Want for Christmas?

What Do You Really Want for Christmas?

Though I doubt it was intended, this Gizmodo contest got my mind wandering down an old path. What do I really want for Christmas? Now, in keeping with the intent of the contest I started to think about things like a larger wide-screened iPhone on a different carrier. And yes, I want that but I find it doesn’t really come close to what I REALLY want for Christmas.

When asked what I want for Christmas, I always think of my childhood, which is longer ago than I really want to lay claim to, but what I always remember is the toys.

What I really want for Christmas is toys.

The problem is that the toys I like now are way too expensive. They require lots of planning before the purchase and that sort of destroys the idea.

Several years ago, my wonderful wife found a way. She made me a robe. It was a tremendous robe. It was heavy, thick terry cloth. It was like wrapping yourself in an enormous towel. I wore it until it literally fell apart.

But, as great a gift as the robe was, my wife took it an extra step. After putting the robe on I reached into the pockets and found something. I pulled out several tiny die cast metal airplanes.

I am not sure that I can adequately describe how it made me feel. Even now, as I write this I am tearing up. It was as if I was suddenly ten years old again. I still have some of them. A few got into my son’s hands and did not fare too well, but even that was okay because he got as much fun out of them as I would have at that age.

So, what do I really want for Christmas?

I want to be ten years old again, with a pile of Matchbox and Hot Wheels and Legos under the tree, and to be on vacation from school without a single bill to pay and or deadline to worry about. Even just for one day.

That would be my perfect Christmas gift.

What's Wrong...

Page Two: Not Rocket Science

This voices an opinion that I have felt for a long time. There are others that have said the same or similar things, and if I can find them, I will link them here. I thought about writing my own version of this, but I doubt I could do better.

In case you are wondering why I put this under technology...

It is my opinion that part of the problem is the internet. We sit in our little cubicles and read everything and then spout venom that we would never do face to face. The internet gives us a degree of anonimity behind our usernames and avatars, and so we say things we would fear to give voice to where others would see our faces.