bloghttp://jpkang.com/blog/en-US2010-07-31T04:11:45ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.5 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Birthday for a causehttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/7/15/birthday-for-a-cause.htmlJ. P.2010-07-15T00:08:42ZCulture PersonalDear readers,

I hope you are well and enjoying the summer! Today is especially beautiful here in Seattle.

I have two requests and an update:

ODW.jpg

First, I am inviting you to join me in making a difference in the fight against extreme poverty. I support a Seattle-based non-profit called One Days Wages (launched in October 2009 and has received national attention) and am trying to raise $5,000 to fund projects around the world that have an outsized impact on the needs of the world's poorest.

One of the things that I love about One Day's Wages is that the basic idea of many ordinary people giving a little bit each to make a big impact is so simple and powerful. For my upcoming birthday, I am donating my one day's wage, and am inviting my family, friends, colleagues, and you to consider giving a small amount (like $10) to help me reach my goal. If this sounds interesting to you, please check out my "birthday for a cause" page.

Please share this if you think it's cool!

Yelp

Second, we owe much of our success to word of mouth and especially the phenomenal Yelp reviews that clients have written about our support (we've got some gifted writers as fans!). If you have written such a review, thank you! If you Yelp and would like to post a review, our page is http://www.yelp.com/biz/my-mac-hero-llc-seattle

Our update: we are moving at the end of the month to a new house two miles south from our current location in the Central District. Our address will be updated on the Yelp page when we do.

Thanks for reading!

J. P.

]]>Reasons why, more than ever, I'm going to wait for a future iPadhttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/6/8/reasons-why-more-than-ever-im-going-to-wait-for-a-future-ipa.htmlJ. P.2010-06-08T16:23:28ZAppleIn the wake of yesterday's WWDC keynote introducing iPhone 4 and iOS 4, these are the features I think I will most look forward to in a future iPad revision:

1. Retina display

2. Camera

3. More application RAM. 256MB seems positively anemic.

]]>Newer is not better (except when it is)http://jpkang.com/blog/2010/6/3/newer-is-not-better-except-when-it-is.htmlJ. P.2010-06-03T06:30:33ZApple nostalgiaBecause newer is not completely better, here is a short list of things I miss (and things I don’t) about various Apple laptops I’ve used since 1995:

PowerBook 5300cs (1995–98)

5300.jpg

  • the internal magneto-optical drive from Fujitsu that I had, which felt (and still feels) seriously futuristic
  • paying nearly $500 for a 16GB RAM module
  • the flaming battery recall
  • SCSI
  • the lap-singing heat

 

PowerBook G3 (Lombard) (1999–2002)

Lombard.jpg

 

PowerBook G4 15” (Titanium) (2002–2005)

Titanium PowerBook G4

  • the minimal bezel around the screen; the integration of the iSight camera has made every bezel since seem unnecessarily wide
  • the lap-singing heat
  • the hinge design, which invariably cracked after a few years of use
  • the trim paint job that flaked off

 

PowerBook G4 12” (Aluminum) (2005–2007)

PBG4-12.jpg

  • the compact footprint, so satisfying to tote around (the lighter MacBook Air, by contrast, feels too thin)
  • the lap-singing heat

 

PowerBook G4 15” (Aluminum) (2007–2010)

PBG4-15

  • two Firewire ports (400 and 800)
  • ExpressCard slot; seriously, I still don’t get why this was ditched in favor of a card reader in the Unibodies
  • the lap-singing heat
  • 3GB RAM limit

 

Surveying this crowd, it’s clear to me that the 12” was my past favorite. But I also have to say that my 2010 MacBook Pro Unibody is the best portable computer I have ever used, except for the fact that it doesn't have a true expansion slot and skimps on Firewire ports.

]]>Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 reviewhttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/6/2/microsoft-wireless-desktop-3000-review.htmlJ. P.2010-06-03T00:55:09ZAppleNewImage.jpg

In my never-ending quest for useful and well-designed input devices, I recently snapped up a deal at Fry’s ($39) for Microsoft’s Wireless Desktop 3000 keyboard and mouse set.

I’ve been using it for a little over a week at work with an identically colored black-with-white trim Dell LCD connected to my MacBook Pro, and I think it’ll be my main set at work for the time being.

Pluses:

  • One USB transmitter/receiver dongle for both keyboard and mouse (standard for sets, I know, but if you’ve ever mixed USB-based wireless mice and keyboards it’s a little inconvenient to have two separate dongles, especially when ports are at a premium).
  • The USB RF-based approach automatically means it is more responsive than Bluetooth, which is characterized by an annoying latency for almost all input devices I’ve tried.
  • An abundance of (too many?) configurable keys; I like that the Aero Flip 3D button is automatically mapped by the drivers to OS X’s Exposé “All windows” F9 keyboard shortcut)
  • The full-sized mouse uses the newer and supposedly better BlueTrack optical technology
  • The battery indicator LED (upper right corner of the keyboard and apparently on top of the mouse)
  • Relatively compact profile (if size weren’t a consideration, I’m sure I’d find the Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000 more comfortable)

Minuses:

  • The keycaps use decals, which will surely rub off in time.
  • Above said configurable keys are flat and harder to depress (similar to the function keys of the very compact Arc Keyboard).
  • Construction looks and feels cheap.

If you’re on a Mac, you’ll definitely want to download the latest drivers.

p.s. checking out this keyboard for possible use with a future iPad.

]]>Clearwire 4G reviewhttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/6/1/clearwire-4g-review.htmlJ. P.2010-06-01T20:18:00ZApple CultureA quick note to share my positive experience with Clearwire 4G WiMax service in the 98144.

I picked up a Clear Modem Series-G on Friday night at a kiosk at Northgate Mall and was up and running right away and experiencing (at home) about 3 Mbps down, which is only about a sixth of the Comcast cable connection we have, but boded well for my office where DSL was barely delivering 0.5 Mbps (not a typo!), and the other options we had investigated promised to disappoint and cost a lot.

Brought it in and set it all up this morning and found that with the antenna next to an east-facing window (vs. north), that we were consistently getting almost 5 Mbps down/1 Mbps up. TEN TIMES faster than DSL for downloads and noticeably faster for uploads as well... for likely less than half the price what we are currently paying!

So, the pluses:

This service makes great sense when you are in an area which is underconnected and has good exposure to 4G towers. We basically are leapfrogging conventional and more expensive connectivity options. Bottom line: much greater bandwidth for less money.

Very simple pricing structure and friendly policies (so far as I can tell; I was quoted a $40 early termination fee--the cost of one month of service--for the standard two year contract).

The minor issues:

Since the Clear modem is in gateway mode and I am using an AirPort Extreme (Late 2009) router, I end up with the less-than-desirable double NAT situation when I have a guest network turned on. I will have to play with this a little more; I may end up using an older router to share a "public-on-my-LAN" IP to guests.

It's too bad that Clearwire won't send a rep out to a location so that you can measure signal strength and bandwidth prior to signing up, but I guess that's why they have the 14 day trial period. In my case not an actual hassle since it appears to be working out.

]]>Sakura in bloomhttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/4/19/sakura-in-bloom.htmlJ. P.2010-04-19T20:51:37ZCulture PersonalUeno Park: ]]>First thoughts on the iPadhttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/4/19/first-thoughts-on-the-ipad.htmlJ. P.2010-04-19T20:26:56ZApple PersonalUniversity Village the afternoon we landed.

My first impressions were largely positive except for the on-screen keyboard, which I expected to be more usable (basically, I can thumb-type in portrait mode, but in landscape mode I'm pretty sure I would have to learn a new wrist posture for typing with any reasonable accuracy—I do have the Bluetooth Apple keyboard which will suffice for entry-heavy uses, but I was really hoping for a more usable experience without it).

I also had an immediate question about how comfortable it would be to hold for longer periods when reading, given its heft (1.5 lbs).

I am not sure either of these factors will change significantly with a second gen model, so it's still an open question if and when we will get one. But I do believe for certain kinds of media consumption and especially when travelling, it will provide the best user experience.

p.s. I was pleased to see the new MacBooks Pro announced the day before I flew back. If only there were a Core i5 option for the 13"... three months, maybe? UPDATE: Ars has the reasons why not.]]>Off to Asia!http://jpkang.com/blog/2010/3/28/off-to-asia.htmlJ. P.2010-03-28T02:54:02ZPersonal
I'm taking a long overdue family trip to Japan and Korea and will be back April 14.

J. P.

p.s. I'm anticipating the iPad reactions come April 3, and I'm also holding out hope for new MacBooks while I'm away.]]>iPhone apps short listhttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/3/17/iphone-apps-super-short-list.htmlJ. P.2010-03-17T16:14:01ZApple apps iPhone recommendeda long time. If anything, I've become more conservative about what I keep on my iPhone. So here are three apps that have stood the test of time and consequently live on my home screen since I use them so frequently:
Simplenote. If you take notes, you need this app.
Instapaper. The most humane way to read any web page that is otherwise hard to read on the iPhone's browser. The Pro version is worth it but you can start with the free, ad-supported version.
Things. My to-do manager. Especially compelling for Mac users, since Things iPhone syncs with the Things Mac client. Not cheap, but so useful.
All three of these generally help me be more focused and productive, which is why they are so valuable.]]>Microsoft Arc Keyboard impressionshttp://jpkang.com/blog/2010/3/15/microsoft-arc-keyboard-initial-impressions.htmlJ. P.2010-03-16T15:02:58ZApple Microsoft USB hardware review wirelessIt’s a funny thing: my favorite Microsoft products have been their input devices. I still remember how much I liked the Intellimouse Optical (ca. 2001, which credited HP on the battery door).

In my quest to try something new, I picked up a Microsoft Arc Keyboard at Best Buy (currently the only place they’re available) on Saturday. The naming suggests that the keyboard complements the older Arc Mouse, but numerous differences suggest that they don’t represent a conssistent design philosophy.

I downloaded the latest drivers for Snow Leopard and rebooted.

It’s not a true ergonomic keyboard like the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (my current favorite), but the slight curvature does make for a slightly more comfortable typing experience than traditional “flat” keyboards (including the Bluetooth-based Apple Wireless Keyboard [A1255]).

I’m actually not planning to move the keyboard much, but to leave it docked at my office along with the wireless mouse, both attached to a USB hub that I connect to my MacBook Pro.

Good:

Key action was generally good; I did not experience the mushiness of the spacebar as other reviewers appear to have. The feedback from the function keys at the top was not as pleasing.
The nano USB dongle stores in a magnetic compartment on the underside of the keyboard. Note: with the exception of the Apple Wireless Keyboard, I have generally been dissatisfied with Bluetooth input devices because of their sluggishness (especially on “waking”). USB wireless devices have been much more responsive in my experience.



Bad:

The four-way rocker in the lower right corner for the arrow keys is definitely not as smooth or comfortable as having the traditional inverted-T with separate keys for each direction. It might be a dealbreaker for me.
I wish that a single Microsoft wireless USB dongle could be programmed to pair with more than one peripheral (as it is, I have a separate, identically sized dongle for my Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000)

Bottom line? If you’re looking for a wireless, compact keyboard, it's worth consideration.

]]>