Stylish with Substance

This new Mac Book looks great, mix the Mac Book green with pro and make it small (13" width, widescreen would be nice) and it could be my next computer.

It's a good thing the economy is the way it is though, because there is no mention of this machine on Apple.com whatsoever. Or any sign of it being purchasable in the near future. No "Froogle" or news jumps out at me. (And I'm demanding and require that for it to count as marketed.)

The worst thing is that Apple.com's search doesn't make any sense, they promote random movies when I search for what should be Apple products. Is this some lame iTunes tie-in? That's just what it is, lame.

Add a page for every product and/or ad you serve to TV Apple, god, I thought you were smarter than that!

At least(???) we can enjoy the above ad, but it's kind of like the fairy tale that is the rest of our hopes for bettering our planet. It's not like I don't trust Barack Obama, it's just that well, it's lame duck season, and unfortunately that doesn't mean hunting.

A foot note, kudos to YouTube for their new video embed. Not only does it work well with WordPress, but it matches almost any site, which is so tempting now that there are so many other embeddable video sites! I just wish the Google affiliation with it could fit into my layouts (sidebars) like these vids do my posts!! (However we can go straight to YouTube to get Google code for single videos or multiples, so although it won't fit most sidebars, it's a great step!) (Of course, getting revenue from embedding YouTube videos into posts is also huge incentive!)

*Update* Vote for this story on these social / "green" sites here:

• @Digg


• @ PlanetChange


• @ MindBodyGreen


• @ Care2

Apple Computers is giving us working proof that environmentalism fails in the face of business. If a company produces things made of solar power, we think that's green, as in environmentally-friendly, right? But if that company attempts to patent this technology, therefore not wishing to share/spread/encourage all competition to do the same (we're not in competition when the Earth's life is at stake though!) - that's not about saving the world at all, it's about getting the edge = getting the green, but not lush leafy green; dark, dirty dollar signs green.

Dirty is right! And it's not sexy. Sure, sitting out on my back patio un-plugging away on my fully wireless-ness until I can't take the global Florida heat anymore sounds like an attractive prospect, but this - it's not "hot". In fact, I find it rotten.

*Update*

We don't regularly post eco blogs, so I'm going to list here the green social bookmarking sites we've submitted this post to, and actually link to the permalink there. Vote if you agree, and/or comment if you do or don't!

• @ Plant Change


• @ Hugg


• @ Mind, Body, Green


• @ Green Voice


• @ Care2


• @ NewsLadder (progressive politics / causes)
  


• @ Mixx *This site just has a green category, and I'm probably about to add it to our links here.

When I bought my laptop, Dell was (unbeknownst-to-me) about to debut laptop skins---with custom "you-designing" available (see next post), and I was bummed I missed out on THAT. (I did get my skin later though.)

And just recently Dell put out the XPS laptop available with a "flamingo" pink actual body, shiny metal and all - also (Product) Red, blue and black.

Now after checking out the "Build Your Dell" features, I don't feel so bad at all.

I mean: Should I/you get a computer/laptop just because it's pink??!!!

Pros

• Pink available


• Good, powerful options


• Matching bags, sleeves and accessories available.

Cons

• It's only the XPS machine, whereas I bought the special "media" (good for recording sound, video display and high storage, etc.) Inspiron. My machine suits me best! (And that is the most important thing, we must remember.)


• It's not available in anything smaller than 15.4" size. No matter the color, that won't do for some!


• Windows XP is no longer offered, only Vista can be purchased with the PC (at least online).


• They're really hawking the stupid product offers, it's quite annoying and could be really confusing to the lesser knowledged.


• If you get a stick-on skin, it will fit the machine A-OK-Enough and you can put your own artwork on it! Plus this adds protection. What good is a shiny pink gadget with scratches? Huh? Huhhh???!

Well, I'm satisfied. Stay tuned for more on those skins (oh it's probably spelled "skinz" if I know the world we live in now well enough!)... But if you're still intrigued by this machine or need a new laptop anway, check out the Dell XPS online now - and if you'd prefer a different notebook, remember the skins/z!

PCs with fingerprint sensing technology marketed to make computers more secure may not quite do that job as well as hopefuls assume.

Hackers can scan what your fingerprint looks like and skilled techies can copy it. Could this then open a Pandora's box of identity theft? If fingerprint identification becomes bigger in other areas of life & business, watch out.

This means in terms of Internet hacking, it's not safe at all.

Which does also mean that password protecting your PC may just leak your password out, so be careful which characters you choose. Although, a tough one to type will make it annoying to boot up, and especially annoying for closing and opening notebooks. I say forget it.

These may just be opinions, but I've discussed with knowledgeable people (I do admit, I'm just one of those "dummies").

Read more about fingerprint scanning PCs on SmallBusinessComputing.com (image credited to them).

HP has a new campaign called "Personal." They aim to make computers, well, more personal. I haven't seen much that relates to real life in their heavy-affects ads, but one thing struck me: the apparent ability to design really rockin' fashion and other design items. Yet I couldn't find that in one of the computers' listed features (even though the capability was a strong element to the ads).

I conducted multiple searches of HP.com and didn't find anything. This is an example of really poor marketing.

I'd love more info on this, though, if this software or whatever really does exist. Many in this fashion blogging community will be very interested in this, I think.

Check out HP Personal for yourself.

I just received my new laptop, and I was struck with this thought: there should be slide out mini-mouse (he he) trays on every one (where the CD drives currently are)! Like this idea? Good, let's get this made, people!

Oh, the stories to tell about my new laptop .... *tangent*

I'm a big designer. Ella and I became friends designing online. Oh, I mean graphic/web designing, not L's beloved fashion illustrating.

Anyway, I helped design this layout. I design various things online and Ella was stuck at how to create this vision. I loved that vision and realized it would actually be quite easy. (From that, she lured me into this blog, actually into being very, very excited about this blog.)

But I was stepping into something bigger than I realized. We use templates because of the blog being on a script with its own "classes." Well, this causes problems when the designer doesn't understand every nook inside the code. And I'm now here to help.

This brings me back to my laptop, which I wasn't going to mention, even though I've been wanting to, until my big reveal with a big review (and apparently, we need to reapply to Dell (yeah, no Mac) affiliates (no monay, no link) ...

I spent the last few days since receiving it setting up all my settings And I spent most of today [yesterday, now] setting up the wireless Internet (note that for later). Throughout the process of setting things up, I kept playing with resolutions, because it is a widescreen (benefits and downsides, but I'll work it out so that it's the best choice, trust me, I know) it's different, and because it's so tiny at 12".

Once I got online this afternoon, I further played with the resolutions. Then I logged on to Lipped Media sites. And I noticed ...

They do not work in 800 x 600 resolution. I know they were supposed to be optimized for it.

So Ella worked on it, got really stressed, hurt her eyes from switching back and forth and decided she needed help. Well, I'm here! (Darn it.)

And I jumped back and forth between two machines, 'cause I ain't using 800 x 600 on a large monitor! (And I didn't have enough design tools on the laptop, yet.)

So we pulled all-nighters. Now you see that most of the sites (I lost all energy with only Pet-Pet left. I'm so bad, they get few hits, I'll "hit" 'em, tomorrow) are working fine.

So, all afternoon it was annoying computer stuff, then all night it was frustrating CSS. What. a. day.

And that's probably why I'm writing this rambley post. No good. Should I even publish it? I'll ask Ella to work her editing skills on it. ;-D!

*Snooooozzzz*

[* Ella: Cute story---not sure what more to do with it. I'm afraid of cutting too much. I'm not sure how publishable it is, but I know we both worked so hard, we kind of want the story out! ]

As someone recently searching for a light-as-can-be mobile computer, this tablet-sized, 1.7 lb PC by Samsung is very interesting. As someone who's light, herself, I can't lug something huge anywhere. But the reviews for the Samsung Q1 are not good.

It has a great concept, but is very buggy, so the useful factor is moot. Yes, that's a virtual-keyboard on the screen. And it only appears when called up. But yes, it must be typed on with thumbs. There's also the option to write with a stylus pen, á la a tablet---but the computer savvy generally whiz along on keyboards, while handwriting becomes a labor (and obsolete). (But hey, you can doodle!)

Read more about its bugs at the Journal Gazette's review and find out more about its specs and features at Samsung.com.

The Samsung Q1 can be purchased now (too bad about those bugs) at Best Buy .com.

(Loooooooook! Best Buy's website is opened up in the mobile PC! Cute! Woah, trippy.)

[Via Chip Chick] Look! It's the laptop user's version of a Balenciaga, with a $1,375 price tag to match.

Oh, please. Studs are so 2005. It ain't that cute, with no feminine details (or spot of pink in sight). Wait, though, the "Mahogany" is beautiful. But it's still not for me. And I'm not just mad at it because of the cost. Not just.

(Buy Begeren's Tribeca Laptop Bag)

The new Mac ad (I call it, "The Hot-Guy Mac Ad") has really impressed me. (Mostly 'cause that Mac dude is hot!) The more obvious--and sensible--reason is that PCs get many viruses that Macs are immune to.

This ad is part of a whole new campaign, "Apple Switch: Get a Mac -- Campaign to encourage users to switch from PCs to Macs."

The campaign's website shows more reasons to switch:

1. Macs don't crash and everything works---fast. Boys like that, but a lot of us tech less-savvy girls need it.


2. Macs do. not. have. to. re. start! Omigod!


3. Intel is now inside (which means speed).


4. Great new fun software with advanced technology; by Apple, for Macs.


5. Sleek and chic design (and cute icons!).


6. More...

Plus, Macs must be young and hot! View more of Mac-Guy and Lame PC in all the new Mac ads on Apple.com.

Now, why don't their iBooks still come in colors? That was the coolest.