Christos Kalantzis’ Blog

I am often asked to comment on which major computing category one should invest in, and for what reason.  It used to be easy.  Desktop or Laptop were the 2 options.  However, with the recent success of the Netbook market, and the upcoming tablet market, which is poised to launch in 2010, the rules have changed.  This post will take a look at what to buy, for whom and for which use-case.  Please note that this article is biased towards home users.

In the beginning

A desktop used to be the traditional way of computing. However, with the cost of laptops falling in the mid 2000’s, their increased computing power and wifi proliferation, laptops have now overshot desktop sales.  Then the recession hit in 2008.

The Rise of the Netbook

Asus gambled and won with the netbook (EEE PC), a category they created.  Soon Dell, HP, MSI and others followed.  This new category of low powered, conveniently sized machines, along with cloud applications such as Google docs and streaming video, opened our eyes to choosing machines that were “powerful enough” for what we wanted to do, on the go.

Tablet, Anyone?

2010 is poised to be the year of the tablet.  The iPhone/iPod Touch, N97 and Android phones have whet our appetite for touch based internet devices to consume electronic media.  Those devices, although the perfect form factor for a phone, aren’t ideal for long term use.  Enter the slates!

Lenovo, Dell, HP all showed off tablets at CES this year.  Apple is even rumored to be working on a tablet.  It will probably be overpriced and Steve Jobs will be praised as inventing the tablet, even though three weeks earlier five other vendors showed off tablets….don’t get me started!

The Breakdown

OK so here is my take on these 4 form factors and when each one makes sense.

• The Tablet is a luxury item for consuming electronic content and surfing.
• The Netbook is a cost effective, small form factor machine, useful for those who want to create written content and surfing.  Great for students.
• The Laptop should be considered a mobile workstation.  Surf, write and do things that require more muscle and a bigger screen like sketching, sound recording and some simple video editing and programming.
• The Desktop is a workstation, in the old sense of the word.  A powerful computer used for complex computational tasks or gaming.

The winner?  The Laptop is the sweet spot.  However, if you are on the go alot, and live in the cloud, one could get away with just a Netbook.  Get a Tablet if you have some spare cash lying around.  Got to play Crysis?  Then the desktop is for you.

There you have it!  That is my take on the different form factors.

Happy computing!

I was driving to work the other day and paid attention to the carpool lane, since I was rolling along at 10 mph in morning traffic.  I was annoyed to see a few cars go by with what clearly seemed like one person in the car.  I thought about chancing it, but I already got one ticket in the last 6 months and got it cleared through traffic school.  Besides, the early morning meeting I was headed towards was going to be a snoozer.

As I approached my exit I noticed a minivan merging away from the carpool lane and headed towards the same exit as me.  We ended up side by side at a red light.  I rolled down my window and actually asked her if she gets nervous about driving alone in the carpool lane.  She had a confused look on her face and pointed my attention to the back seat.  “I have my baby in the back seat, so I am carpooling.”  The light turned green and she drove off leaving me there with my mouth wide open.

Since when does a baby count for carpooling?  It doesn’t, right?  Carpooling should be the pooling of 2 potential drivers.  A baby doesn’t count, because it would never drive on its own, in the first place.  One would think with California’s budget issues, police (CHP) would be out in full force ticketing to fill the deficit.  So watch out lady.

So I bought this bottle at a recommendation from Gary Chevsky and the gang at Vineyard Gate Wine Sellers.  So I opened it on Sunday night, and had a small glass to figure this wine out.  It had a black pepper nose, which I liked.  I took a first sip and immediately tasted dried berries which, I am told, is classic for a Grenache.  It also has an earthy tone, its a little acidy and has some fruity tannins.

I immediately thought it would go with meat, but not a strong meat like beef and especially not anything gamy.  I didn’t want to pair it with chicken or pork.  Then my favorite meat jumped into mind.  Veal!  Veal would have been great but unlike Montreal, veal isn’t easily found at your local supermarket.  Then I found out pastitsio was on the menu tonight.  Pastitsio is oven baked pasta and meat sauce, with a bechamel sauce on top.  It was a great pairing and worked great.  For around $8 ~ $10, its a great buy.

Although my Greek background makes me a little biased, its a bouquet of exotic fruit, grapefruit and traces of beeswax. Its mouth is fresh and balanced, with the aroma of exotic fruit prevailing, with touches of oak wood and a lengthy palate.

Another piece of home that cannot be found in the Bay Area is ketchup flavored chips.  Chip flavors have always been regional.  The south likes things sweet and spicy.  The mid-west likes savory flavors.  The east coast likes vinegary flavors.  Salt & Vinegar flavored chips can be found all over the east coast.  However, Ketchup is where it is at!  I have only been able to find that in Canada.

The lack of Greek pastry shops in the Bay Area means that one cannot get some classic Greek deserts, such as a Bougatsa.  Its a sweet, cinnamony custard wrapped in philo dough and topped with powdered sugar.  Its was originally a peasant dish.  Like all peasant dishes, today they are considered delicacies and are highly regarded and sought after.

This is a taste of Greece that one can only get in a heavily populated Greek area, such as Montreal, New York or Chicago.

I flew back to Montreal last Saturday (April 4th, 2009) to visit my family.  This is the first extended trip back since I left last year.  So what do I think?

The weather sucks!  However, I didn’t come here for the weather.  What really sets Montreal apart from Silicon Valley is the grittiness.  Silicon Valley prides itself on its vast diversity.  What it misses, is the grittiness that characterizes each culture.  Greeks are loud.  Italians are full of themselves.  The French are rude.  In the Valley each culture is a mere shadow of themselves, conforming to socially acceptable behaviors of that area.

Of course, this is a personal choice.  I prefer experiencing a culture to its fullest, instead of just getting a whitewashed version of it.

Stay tuned for tastes of Montreal.

One thing that is great about the US, is the lower tax rate.  However if you are there on a TN, and are Canadian, then that advantage doesn’t apply.  A Canadian has to report his universal income.  So although the US doesn’t tax me a lot, Canada wants the difference.

So here is the bottom line.  Every penny paid in taxes abroad receives a credit towards the Canadian tax man.  As long as one is on a TN, taxes need to continue being paid to the Canadian Government.  The only way around it is to stop being a Canadian permanent resident.  However, there is no dual intent with a TN Visa.  Although you can begin the process from the US, you have to eventually go back to Canada to fulfill the process.

The only way around it is to either have the company get you an H1-B so that you can stay in the US while you apply for a Green Card, or go home.

In the meantime, at least you can go see a doctor for free back home.

It Works!

During installation you have to make certain BIOS changes identified on the EFI-X webiste to get this thing installed.  The forums are a great resource if you are stuck, and they answer questions within 24 hours.  I had reseated some drives, which made me loose the EFI-X chip in the BIOS.  I was quickly told to reset the CMOS, and it came back.  Thanks Forum guys!

I am now rocking my new MacPro!

Cheers!

Parts

So the EFI-X website has lots of  parts to choose from.  I have settled for the following:

• Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.40GHz)
• Radeon HD 3870 Video Card
• 2×2GB 800Mhz RAM
• LG DVD Burner (SATA)
• 2X500GB Hitachi HD (SATA)
• Cooler Mater 550W Power Supply
• Cooler Master Case

I hadn’t assembled a computer in a while, and it was fun to get my “hands dirty” again.

I got the hardware from  various sources.  At the time I purchased them, Amazon, Fry’s and NewEgg where my friends.  Look around for the best deals.

Next Step….Installing Mac OSX.