Who’s on Crack in tech: 03.06.09

This week’s list is dedicated to the march of technology that continues to screw me over. I’ll show you the things I’ve finally coughed up actual cash for only to have the gadgets eclipsed and rendered obsolete by updates. Faster, cheaper, better; these attributes are only available on the product they are waiting to release right after you buy the previous generation. Grrrrr. I hate you tech companies!

My list of things they are updating right after I bought mine:

• iPhone
• Eye-Fi
• Storage
• eBooks
• stupid Ikea furniture

Give in to the iPhone, so they can release a new one

Yes, I finally shelled out for the iPhone. My touch lasted me a year, then I decided it was time to get off the Wi-Fi crack pipe and get rid of the WinMo Samsung BlackJack. So, I march down to AT&T and pony up. Then whammo – Apple signals an event at the end of this month. No doubt they’ll be talking about a new iPhone. Damn you, Apple.

Eye-Fi, fling your stuff around like a monkey at the zoo

Possibly the greatest invention since carpet skates, this card flings my pictures from my camera to my computer and to Picasa as fast as I can take them. I love that. I finally bought one, thanks to Robert’s post on their deal with Evernote. I thought I was so smart, outlasting their pricing scheme for early adopters.

Then ooof, they I read Natesh’s post on how the company is now going to offer up a new card that will fling videos, too. I take lots of videos and feel like a cave man taking the SD card out now to get the videos off. Thanks a lot Eye-Fi.

Sublet-ing storage space?

I just installed a 500GB Buffalo external drive and feeling pretty good about the security blanket feeling that comes with that much space. Then, Iyaz points out this Western Digital 8TB drive. Whoa! That is like me showing off my cool new Smart car only to see it crushed by Iyaz in his heaving monster truck.

I know 1TB SDXC cards are coming. I take solace in the fact that those shelling out $1,700 for the 8TB must be hiding risque photos.

eBooks

Technically, I’ve not bought one, but I’ve bought into the idea. I’ve been using the Stanza app for the iPhone for a bit but am now mid way through The Count of Monte Cristo (spoiler alert: it is not about a sandwich) and am loving it. Besides being free, it can catch up on all those great novels I Cliff Noted during high school and college. Sweet!

Now I’ve got tons more options. Sue Walsh’s post tells us about the Amazon Kindle app for the iPhone while Iyaz yammers on about a touch-Kindle. Many many choices that could put libraries out of business. With e-ink just around the corner, this is only going to become a more crowded marketplace. I can’t wait.

My coffee table is just stupid now

I am sucker for flat-packed minimalist designed furniture spit out by Ikea. I was pleased with my new coffee table as it met my two criteria: black and wood-like. Seems I had the question wrong as Sue Walsh ruined my day by telling me I could have crammed in a HTPC. A smart-table blows doors on just one that holds my drinks and feet.

Yes, some lucky fool figured he could one up me and pack his computer into an end table no less, clearly a show-boater. Now I sit and stare at my coffee table, asking it fruitless questions like, “what widgets can you run?” and “I don’t hear your disc spinning, are you ok?” Stupid thing.