I better get busy ...

I'm not meeting my goal of writing at least one post per day! We made a weekend trip to Chicago to visit my son. But that's not a very good excuse...

Wherever I go, I've been letting people know about this journal, so if I write it, they will come (at least that's the theory -- please, comment, so I know you're there). And if I don't write it, they'll stay away (:

Here's [sic -- here are] some of the topics coming soon:

• the rest of So, what will I learn?
• Going to Chicago ...
• Big City, Five Bars! (except in apartments)
  
• Transit, Chicago (RTA=CTA+METRA+Path=easy & cheap)
• Chicago is Tasty
• MLS is on Fire -- not so much ...
• the Garden of Hilton (no, not Paris!)
  
• a Lula of a breakfast
• rolling home thru the Is / service on the Is
• In search of signal strength
• Accessorize
• [my] best iPod ever!

So, while watching Kevin & Alex (Diggnation) on the small screen, I'll try to type fast on the big one...

iPhone vs Treo

Why buy an iPhone when you already have a Treo? This is an excellent question, but like a lot of things, it repeats history in some interesting ways. As time marches on, gadgets keep changing, and sometimes, improving (not necessarily both!). I've lived through many of these "revolutions" and many of the busts.

I like my Treo a lot. I lusted for the 600, which I codenamed the "360" as soon as I heard Jeff Hawkins describe the earliest Treos 90, 180, and 270. As a v2.2 guy, I figured the next version would be called the 360 (a tip of the hat to the iconic IBM mainframe computer of "the '60s", which lasted well into the '70s). As soon as I was out of contract with my clunky Verizon handset, I got a Treo 600 a set aside my Palm Vx (in fact I had TWO for awhile, as I compared the Verizon and Sprint data services). One gadget to replace both a phone and a PDA -- Nirvana! And, as soon as the Treo 700p was available, and my 2 yr contract had expired, and I could get the appropriate discount, I satisfied my desires and upgraded.

But the Treo requires a commitment to function over form, and there are some limitations. Maybe the design geniuses at Apple could do it better, and it would be truly a new device -- with the multi-touch screen, and a different style of interface -- geeky, but cool, and easy to use as well. I've been unsuccessful in convincing my wife to use any kind of PDA. Maybe the iPhone would work for her (or both of us?).

So, I had to try it. And I was willing to invest $50 or so to try it out, even if I took it back. And the hype and the line-waiting, etc, might be fun. I've heard it all compared to Woodstock. And, Cali, [assuming political put-down voice] I was AT Woodstock (well, actually "Goose Lake", a Michigan knock-off festival in '70), and having stood in line and tried out the iPhone, it ain't nearly as "far out" as that was ... but it is "way cool"!

Wow! Emotions are running high ...

Chris Pirillo went on an extended rant of "20 Reasons why I'm NOT buying an iPhone now" on his podcast, The Chris Pirillo Show. Cali Lewis at Geek Brief TV couldn't stop gushing. I'm really interested to listen to Leo Laporte and the gang on This Week in Tech as they react to their initial experiences. And Alex and Kevin were shouting at each other last week on Diggnation, before either of them had even seen an iPhone (I couldn't even finish watching all of that...).

[assume Walter Cronkite voice] But, here on iPhone Lansing, we intend to take a more measured, sober approach: bringing you honest reaction and reporting on actual experiences devoid of hyperbole.

[assume Jim Cramer persona] And, BOO-YAH, we'll also SHOUT OUT the pure JOY of the iPhone -- it's thrills, chills, excitements, and its woes, failures, and despairs -- it's BETTER THAN SEX, and it's a worthless piece of crap!

If you like rollercoaster rides, stay tuned ...

Q: "So... Who ARE you?" A: a V2.2 Guy

Robert Scoble starts all his interviews with the question: "So... Who ARE you?". Although, the question (& he) are kind of geeky, it's really a brilliant question. (If you don't know Scoble, just google "Robert")

It's a brilliant question because all of us can talk about ourselves for hours [nay, days!] so, as I answer the question, I'll try to be brief. If anyone wants to know more [not bloody likely], post a comment, and I'll respond there...

So, a "Version 2.2 Guy"? What the heck is that [still channeling Scoble here]?

I have literally grown up with technology (I'm 56.7 yrs old), and have tried many new things in my life and career in computers. I also tend to be cautious about being too far onto the "bleeding edge". I've created a lot of software, designed a lot of systems, and built a bit of hardware, too. So, I am VERY aware of the many things that can go wrong with a version 1.0 product. Thus, I tend to wait for the 2.0. And then I procrastinate a bit, and end up with version 2.2. Now any product that gets to 2.2, usually works pretty well, so it will be pretty solid, satisfying, if a bit stodgy. That's what I usually buy.

I've been blessed with the opportunity to work with an IBM 1440 and a Burroughs 5000, while still in high school in 1967, programmed in over a dozen languages, tried out early online systems in 1969, used an early version of the Internet in 1972, CDC 6500 and IBM 360s in the '70s, built an IMSAI kit personal computer in 1978, tried out a Lisa (the proto-Macintosh) in 1983, owned (and loved) an Amiga 500 in 1988, and used (and sometimes cursed) a series of Windows computers (some home-built), from 1993 to the present. I also traveled along a path of Casio wristwatches and Digital Diaries, through the wonderful Palm Vx, that led to the Treo 600 and 700p smartphones.

All in all, I have a bit more perspective on new technology than many, many of the current generation of technology writers and commentators. But I also like a shiny, new thing. To get my hands on it and see how it works. Most of all, I like to learn new things.