Gadgets and Gewgaws
 

Since they first came out, I've had a Palm Pilot.  At first it wasn't all that useful, more a toy or electronic version of a franklin daytimer.  My problem seemed to be dropping the little gizmo, or sitting on it, or causing it some trauma or another the result of which was a shattered screen.  The broken screen would cost about $100 and a couple days downtime while my Palm was sent back.  Then, I discovered RhinoSkin and their amazing Titanium case.  Sure it cost about the same as repairing the screen.  But once I put my Palm in the case, I've never had it damaged.

In fact, it was only recently that I replaced my ole Palm Professional-upgraded-to-Palm-III to a new Palm IIIxe.  And that was mostly because I was running out of memory with the 2M limit.  (thanks to www.mapopolis.com I was sucking up the space left and right)

Some other palm os places to go:

  • www.handango.com a good collection of applications and information
  • Handspring's Visor with it's Visorphone and other clip-on accessories is making me seriously consider the Prism or Platinum
  • This place is the logical segue to the next section, it has all you need to know about running Linux on a Palm.  Yes I did say that.

 
 

Hugo Altman was the first in Miata-dom to put a Linux based MP3 player in his Miata.  He later went on to help create Empeg, a company devoted to producing the box.  They were recently bought by S3.  I've got one of the early models installed in my 1957 pickup.  The mix of high tech and low tech really appeals to me.  Now if I could only figure out a way to combine the Empeg machine with a Palm.....

 
 

One of these days I'm going to get organized with respect to my metal fabrication skills.  In the meantime, I can dream about plasma cutters, tig welders, and nc milling machines with the help of some of these web pages:

  • The Mini-lathe:  you might think its too small to be of real use, but it can really whip out some neat things.
  • This is about the level of my metal fabrication capabilities.
  • This is what I aspire to have.
  • My new favorite show on tv:  Junkyard Wars   If you have to ask, there is no hope.

 
 

I love tools.  I have a huge shop, and its filled with a couple of large toolboxes as well as drill presses, table saws, and air tools.  But I can't take it with me.  Fortunately, Tim Leatherman solved that problem with his multi-tools.   While I've had most of their product line in my posession from time to time, currently I like their wave model.  It solves the old problems of both having a comfortable handle, and being able to open a blade one handed.

The swiss have always been makers of fine things: watches, chocolate, and army knives.   I found that Victorinox has finally come up with a design especially for the compter-geek.  The Cybertool has everything you need to dismantle your computer.  Really.

I think with both the wave and the cybertool on your person, not only will you look approprately geeky and techno-nerdish, you will be able to fix just about anything thrown at you.