Multitasking

I never really gave much thought about the specs on the computers. If they can load the office suite and access the internet, then it's sufficient. However, there are days when I want / need to do 10 things at the same time under a deadline and I wished I had a computer/os that worked.

Here are the things that I needed to do in 20 minutes.

1. Burn a catalogue on cd.
2. Confirmation emails.
3. Final checks on documents.
4. Print documents.
5. Internet for sending packages.
6. Back up information before powering down for the day.
7. Photo upload from camera
8. Touching up / processing photos / while being uploaded from camera.
9. Final adjustments on website using a lightweight application
10. Update information on a database.

I completed 9 of the above tasks.

It wasn't the CD burning that let me down, it was printing the documents which seemed to take forever, when under normal circumstances, there was no problem whatsoever.

I don't mind the disk activity, or the pauses between the application, or the crammed look on my desktop, I just want something that works.

Things I have pondered.

• Switch to a mac - Not possible. since some of the applications / net services require a pc / iexplorer.
  
• Bootcamp - Not possible, since I would be running into the same problems.
• Parallels - Cutting and pasting between the two os? Sharing data?
  
• RAM/CPU. Started with 512mb, then 1gb and now 2gb - dual core. I refuse to believe I need 4gb of ram for general office duties!
• Have a second PC / Laptop - Do I have to fire up 2 computers just to do my general office duties?
• Linux - See switch to a mac. Oh and which version or flavor! The manuals gave me a headache.
  

Libretto - Size matters. Not what you can do with it.

Toshiba has recently launched their new netbook. As usual, it looks quite similar to other netbooks and being Toshiba, it's a little bit more expensive.

I appreciate the fact that the standard size of netbooks seems to accommodate a usable keyboard, but I prefer the ones that are really small.

More than ten years ago, Toshiba released this fantastic Libretto 50, a small mini notebook. The keyboard was too small to touch type and the screen is very small.

If it was released today, with specs updated to run XP and priced in the same range as the Asus, I would buy it within a heart beat.

Specs to ponder.

• Pentium 75 Mhz
• 16MB Ram
• 6.1" screen
• 810MB HDD

Sharp PC6200 - Netbook?

The netbooks remind me of similar sized notebook that Sharp came out with a long time ago. My mother used to upload her blogs to a local BBS.

Specs to ponder over.

• MS DOS
• Intel 80286
• 12MHz
• 1 MB RAM
• 20MB Hard disk
• VGA Graphics - Mono

Asus Eee PC S101 - Gorgeous, Quirky and Overpriced

When the first Asus netbook came out, it was fantastic. What was fantastic? The price. Cheap enough to buy on impulse. You can really throw the small thing into your bag and type something at the coffee shop.

With the S101, it just makes me think about the macbook air.

Gorgeous points to ponder.

• Less than 1 inch thick.
• Shiny body.
• Luxurious mocha-copper brown coating.

Quirky points to ponder.

• The logo is somewhat cheap looking.
• XP almost makes anything gorgeous look dull.
• Bigger than 901.

Overpriced pointed to ponder.

• The original Asus was so cheap, it made netbooks fun.
• The price for the S101 is not fun.
• 20GBs of included online storage floating somewhere.