Technology Archive

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Netflix, Best Buy: “HD DVD Bad, Blu-ray Good”

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on February 11, 2008Posted in: Movies, Technology

My, how fast the machine works.

Both Best Buy and Netflix gave the ol’ press release one-two punch today by announcing plans to phase out support of the HD DVD video format in favor of Blu-ray. Best Buy’s press release basically says that starting in March, they will give better product placement for Blu-ray discs and players while also having salespeople recommend the format to prospective consumers. They still say they will sell HD DVD discs and players, but it’s quite obvious that come this time next year we probably won’t be seeing much of our red-boxed friends. Netflix’s press release has more decisive language, with definite plans to stop buying new HD DVD immediately while also removing existing HD DVD titles from circulation by year’s end.

So is this why they didn’t ship me Gone Baby Gone on HD DVD today? I was kinda pissed about that. As a recent new owner of an HD DVD player, I can say I’m a little surprised how quickly things are shaking out in this format war. I’ve watched enough movies via Netflix in the past month to justify my purchase already, but I didn’t expect Netflix to drop the format completely so quickly.

Oh well, I guess the next step is to wait for the blowout clearance sales for HD DVD titles so I can grab some titles before we inevitably get gouged by monopolistic Blu-ray prices.

Netflix goes Blu-ray exclusive [hi-def digest]

Best Buy recommends Blu-ray [hi-def digest]

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God Announces Macbook Air

By
Andy Yen
– Posted on January 15, 2008Posted in: Technology

Today’s big Apple product announcement at the Macworld keynote was the Macbook Air, an ultraportable Mac notebook.

Key Features:

  • 1.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
  • 0.76″-0.12″ thick chassis
  • 3lb weight
  • 5 hours of battery life
  • 13.3″ LED display
  • 2GB memory
  • 80GB 4200-rpm PATA hard drive
  • Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • No optical drive
  • iSight camera included

Theres also an option to replace the 80GB hard drive with a 64GB Solid State Drive (flash memory) for $1300 (!).

 

My initial take:

  • Shit, this thing is thin
  • Price fits squarely between Macbook and Macbook Pro lines – would have liked to see $1500 price point, but still very competitive with high end ultraportables (e.g. Sony TZ series)
  • Lack of optical drive not a big deal, we usually don’t use discs as much as we think we do
  • Software to use any computer’s optical drive wirelessly with the Air as a “virtual optical drive” – very cool
  • Disappointed the external optical drive is not included ($99 option)
  • How the hell did they fit a 1.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo processor in there – that is an amazing engineering feat
  • No ethernet jack? come on, that could have fit
  • 1 USB port is going to be REALLY annoying – you attach a mouse and you can’t put anything else on (iPod, iPhone, optical drive, etc.)
  • Full-size keyboard is awesome for an ultraportable
  • Lol @ $1300 option for solid state – I guess we’re a few years away from this replacing real hard drives on notebooks

All this said, I may be picking one of these up.  I’ve never owned a Mac before and this may be the right product for me as I own an iPhone and have a screamingly powerful PC desktop already.  It may be one of those things where seeing it in person puts you over the edge, but as of now it’s merely a modestly compelling product on its own.  Not as mindblowing as the iPhone was last year, but something that makes sense to add to your gadget fleet if you are a tech geek or really need the ultraportability.  I couldn’t see this as my primary computer, though.  It just lacks the features and power for my needs as a content creator or gamer.

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