Cybertough Industries » People

Could I go NO-PC at home for a month?

cybrfrk — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:29:27 +0000

This is a question I pondered during my six hour drive home from Anaheim yesterday. While I was there my smartphone (Motorola Droid-X) kept me connected and gave me sufficient features to fully work online. There are restrictions but I’m wondering how close we are go just dumping the desktop. This is not the same NO-PC initiative that some companies are backing for developing countries (or is it)?

Do you have thoughts on this?

What do you see as challenges? I think if I could generate a mostly-complete list of my challenges, and identify solutions (or potential solutions), it may be something I can work with.

Some items I’ve found to be limiting:

Video
- Watching Video
  - For limiting eye strain, I would need an HDMI television and to carry my HDMI (with a mini adapter) around, so I could output to that device.
- Editing Video
- Video upload (web)
  - Requires WiFi connection, which I setup in the room but on in the park
- Transferring photos/video from my camera to my media server
  - Use the computer as an intermediary, to connect to camera and transfer to Raid device
Photo
- Editing
- Transferring photos/video from my camera to my media server
  - Use the computer as an intermediary, to connect to camera and transfer to Raid device
Typing
- Yes, even with swype, I still end up using the wrong word, and get in such a rush I don’t spell reread before post
- On second read, this is really a human issue, not a tool issue
Printing documents

What I’ve been able to successfully do so far:

Photo (take, edit, post)
Contact Management
Navigation (map and turn-by-turn)
- Motorola has a nifty dock, which makes it nice to just drop and use while driving
- Replaced my separate GPS for our last trip
- Also used to stream music (with Pandora), while traveling to Mexico2
Web Browsing
- Buy/Sell items (ebay)
- Email
- News
- Social Networks
- Plane tracking, reservations, pre-boarding
Social Media (chat, blog, stream)
Phone (so simple, but overlooked when compared to a PC)

I am a bad blogger

cybrfrk — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:14:13 +0000

My zest to spend extra time documenting all the useful and interesting things I run across has diminished greatly. Most of it is due to a new job that that keeps me very busy. The rest is from traveling and a new game called Halo:Reach that takes my time. This may not change anytime soon.

What “The Office” character is this?

cybrfrk — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:43:37 +0000

I recently downloaded a document posted on Schneier on Security, detailing the World War II sabotage field manual for the OSS. While I was reading through it a sad and sick feeling that I’ve seen a character on my favorite television show, “The Office”, that must have used this manual as the model for his acting approach.

The specific section is (12) General Devices for Lowering Morale and Creating Confusion:

Give lengthy and incomprehensible explanations when questioned.
Report imaginary spies or danger to the Gestapo or police.
Act stupid.
Be as irritable and quarrelsome as possible without getting yourself into trouble.

At this point you have to be asking yourself, which one is he talking about?
How about you answer me that question?

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How do you relax?

cybrfrk — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:39:33 +0000

After no vacation for the last 8 months, the wife and I finally took some time to completely remove ourselves from our environment, travel to Iowa (the source of all fun), and decompress. Usually when we take vacations like this we end up bringing a laptop or two. Based on activities, this time those suckers stayed home.

Heck, I didn’t check email, voicemail or really watch television. Only once did I find myself texting a co-worker to find out what was going on with stock, after hearing a news report on the radio.

John in Iowa

What I failed to realize was that I was wound tight. If you have never owned a clock that you wind then the imagery will not bring to mind what happens when you over-wind a clock. The internals explode in a cacophony loud enough to make you take a step back and quickly withdraw your hands.

What did I do?
I went fishing, camping, shopping; simply relaxed.

Take the time to take care of yourself or you will not be able to take care of those around you.

Catch and release
Private ponds and lakes only
Yes, the camouflage helped me to sneak up on the bass (the crappie and blue-gill were less intelligent)