Meet Your Next Computer

I have been watching the CES conference closely from afar; a few things impressed me (the wireless battery charger, and, surprisingly, Windows 7...but only if it's truly not the resource hog they claim it's not, and will really run on NetBooks), but only one thing truly amazed me: the Eee Keyboard from Asus.

For years, people have been trying to push the computer into the living room (most notably Microsoft), but it's never really caught on. I think the biggest reason is it's just not simple enough. And, no one wants to have some clunky desktop sitting next to their TV. Media centers are a great idea, but never, in my opinion, been very practical.

What makes the Eee keyboard so different is everything is built right into the keyboard...including the wireless HDMI (so no cords going from the monitor to the keyboard)! I currently have a Mac hooked to my TV, and one of the biggest problems I have with it is the mouse; I can't lay in bed and comfortably use the computer, because I need a hard surface for the mouse. This keyboard has a touchscreen mouse built in.

Asus also has a history of making cheaply priced products (albeit with sometimes cheap parts), and if that is true here, then I really see this catching on.

Unfortunately, it's all a prototype right now so it might not ever come to life; my guess, however, is Target and Walmart will have them on their shelves in time for Christmas next year.

As for the biggest disappointment...Windows 7; they promise a great product and then release the Beta with Vista as a system requirement! So they promise the GUI will run faster then Vista on machines that Vista ran too slow on, and then they say, but you'll just have to take our word on that.

Should the Internet Be Free?

If lawmakers have it their way, it might very well be the case...I doubt it would happen anytime soon, because of the filtering issue (some want pornography blocked, some think it violates free speech).

It's Not That I'm Anti-Google...

I don't know why I've been on a Google kick lately; I just enjoy pointing out the flaws of a major corporation, I guess. The latest? Somewhat old news, but perhaps it's news to you? Apparently, Google has had data (they don't say how much, but I'm guessing it's a quite a bit) stolen from one of the outsourced companies that keeps Google records.

The most important piece of information stolen was social security numbers of many of their employees (again they don't say how much, but I'm guessing it's a lot). None of this is funny or even unusual. But here's the kicker...the company that stored this highly private and sensitive information was not using encryption software to protect their information.

How does one of the largest and wealthiest companies of modern day America store sensitive information about their employees with a company not using any kind of encryption to protect that information?

I just hope the NSA isn't using the same company....