Netbook computing

If you are like most of us, you haven't yet noticed that there's a quite new phenomen going on out there that is changing the way we can get information. It is called a Netbook (even the spell checker can't find the word).

A Netbook is a laptop computer designed for wireless communication to the Internet. Primarily designed for web-browsing and emailing. Netbooks rely heavily on the Internet for remote access to web-based applications and are targeted increasingly at cloud computing. It is much smaller than a normal lap with some devices below 5 inches in width and typically weigh just a couple of 3 pounds. They cost around $300.

I've had something similar for about 3 years now before it was called a Netbook. Sony and later Acer can out with full-functional mini-laptops but they cost around $2,000 then and they are the size of a book.

Starting from essentially zero market penetration in late 2007, roughly 10 million netbooks have shipped, according to IDC. Netbooks now account for seven per cent of all portable PCs. That is extraordinary growth rate in a short time.

So what we have a new computing structure. I think it goes something like this from handheld to Servers:

iPhone - Netbooks - Laptop - Desktop - Server

Cool Beans

It's early evening July 4th, and we're driving to our favorite fireworks spot when my stomach informs me I haven't eaten since our cookout hours ago. I got this urge for a pizza - a Papa Johns pizza. But I don't know where one is and I don't want to wait for one.

For as much as I have a ploblem witht how much time it takes to keep up with technology and information, I found a techinical solution to my hunger problem.

Using my iPhone I bring up the Papa John's website. They're on top of things as they already have a moble web site designed just for me (so it seems). Using my GPS it finds the nearest store. Then I order my pizza online using the online special.

By the time I get to the store my pizza is ready and waiting for me. How cool is that?

For tonight I just love technology!

Finding Time

Well, it's been over a week since my last blog. Either I can't find the time to add one more thing to my list or I haven't put a high enough priority on blogging. Maybe both.

But the time for social networking is still my number one concern. I find the opportunity to share information with the world exciting - no make that intriging. But to tweet and blog and email and etc., am I being productive. If its social then productivity doesn't matter. But my goal in not gabb and be social but rather to provide something of value. If I can provide value then I can justify the time part a little better.

Now if I can provide value for our customers, that's a bonus and I'm happy. That then is time well spent. But with just two followers it just isn't worth while. However, what comes first the Chicken or the Egg? I need a little more time to think about this!

Gosh - times are a changin....

Have you ever seen technology move as fast as it is today? Phones are turning into computers, newspapers are going online, wireless everything including hand tools, social networks are changing the way we communicate and the Internet is growing at a lighting pace. How do we manage all these changes? What should we do? And how do you fit in?

These are all questions we all need to address at some point. Sure there will be those that just stick there head in the sand. But, for most of us we will get caught up in this new whirlwind of information exchange that is going to change our lifestyles? Do you want that?