Brave Creatures

Around 10 years ago, Steve Jobs returned from the wilderness, regained the helm cf Apple Computers, prising it from the cold, near dead fingers of the evil, careless regencies of Gil Amelio and "Prince John" Sculley.

In a fit of typical, and fairly predictable, Jobsian peak he ran through Apple cancelling programs and product lines left and right. In most cases he was absolutely correct. Apple was over extended, with way too many product variants. It had strayed far from it's base as the alternate to the beige boxed rampaging normalcy of windows. Jobs return was the start of a substantial shift by the Cupertino based computer maker, and with the inclusion of Jonathan Ive as the head of design a legend was (re) born.

I may not have the personal credentials to be able to judge Jobs but as I sit here in a cafe writing this on my Apple Newton 2000 I have to wonder if that at least one product line that he killed a little too quickly.

Granted it's a little boxy, and not THAT much lighter than my Macbook Pro, but there is something very satisfying writing this by hand. As l watch it transform my really very messy handwriting into its quirky digital ink, with a remarkable level of accuracy, it strikes me that given most  people have trouble reading my handwriting, this 10 year old doohickey is doing a bang up job.

For the last few days I have been battling with what, in Newton circles, is referred to as the  "Bootstrap" problem - namely needing to have something installed on the Newton before you are able to install any thing, synchronise or get any thing off. Lets face it, a Newton unconnected is, quite frankly, an curiosity not a usable tool so this was an important battle to win .

Last night, after a few days research and a purchase or two of connecting hardware things suddenly took a very Mac like turn-namely it all just worked. So now l sit cafes, writing my blog and getting somewhat puzzled looks from people and loving the experience of actually writing.

Anyone who has owned a Newton, loved it. Aficionados are constantly talking up rumours that Apple might be about to reintroduce the product, and I have to admit that I am very hopeful. But even if they do not do so, I will keep my old greeny black box because using it is a remarkably beautiful and nontechnical experience. I love it.

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I have had a serious case of the coverts for the last week or so.

For some reason I am all wet over the Apple 23" Cinema displays and I am really not sure as to why.

I have always had quite the thing for screen real estate, and because my household got a new baby MacBook late last year, I am all aware of the sort of peripherals it might need or want.

And they are so damn beautiful.

The 30" feels like gilding the lily, and I am concerned I might pull a neck muscle turning my head far enough to see all of it. Can you say IMAX screen. Also I feel that at AU$3,200 its not something I will prioritise anytime soon.

Still its nice to dream. 

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Hello and welcome to the Mental Health Hotline.
If you obsessive-compulsive, press one repeatedly.
If you are co-dependant, ask someone to press two for you.
If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6.
If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want - stay on the line and we'll trace your call.
If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mothership.
If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press.
If you are depressive it doesn't matter which number you press as no-one will answer you.
If you are dyslexic, press 69696969.
If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the hash key and wait for the beep.
After the beep, please wait for the beep.
If you have a short-term memory loss, please try your call again later, and if you have low self-esteem, hang up as all our operators are too busy to talk to you

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I am really ready to leave Melbourne. I am working on some opportunities and when the time is right I will be heading off, but int he meantime its nice to recognize that the place I have spent the third longest in my life has some wonderful parts to it.

Check out the web cam this came from for the latest image. 

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