Ephemera

iPhone

First impressions, in no particular order:

1. The device and OS are great.
2. The network is not great(no surprise there).
3. It pairs seamlessly with the Prius hands free system.
4. It lacks MMS.
5. The SIM is removable with a paper clip.
6. It doesn't seem to recognize and properly configure GAFYD accounts (at least it did not work with mine).
7. Battery life is as claimed- great.
8. Irony: the GSM radio interferes with my computer's sound system. If the rebuttal to this is a suggestion that consumers need to understand RF shielding, it's a miss (to be fair it's an age-old issue).
   
9. It represents a huge breakthrough, not in technology but in product. Industry pundits will rightfully suggest that a lot of the technologies in the iPhone have been around for a while. This is true, but Apple has artfully combined them, in conjunction with their own IP, to create something that will have a much more interesting legacy that a Wikipedia article.  I recommend that everyone (who reads this blog) spend some time playing with an iPhone.

Oh, I thought it was "carbon fiber" footprint......

Charlie touches upon the situation leading to the renaming of my blog here. The Prius has become a badge of good intent for some who would otherwise not suffer inconvenience for the sake of the environment. It's also part of a more serious series of life changes for many of us.

Lest we forget, for some it's a car that gets essentially the same mileage as an '86 Honda CRX. For others it's a way to buy into the carpool lane. I'll take the intent.

Prius Continued

I recently came across an amusing review of the Prius. Now that we've added the one of these to our fleet, it's becoming a favorite. Not that I don't still enjoy driving a German car up and down the 405 or 101, which, when either is not a parking lot, is a joy. The problem is that these arteries are parking lots much of the time, and this is where the Prius shines, getting 50 mpg and offering a great hands free experience to boot (my Treo 700p pairs perfectly and even syncs the address book).

On the highway at 80 mph efficiency and fun give way to the feeling that, no matter what the appeal at slower speeds, you're still driving a compact Toyota in the midst of long-haul truck traffic. That said, for local driving and commutes, the car is noteworthy.

Prius

Well, I bit the bullet and bought a Prius. Magnetic Gray. I'm taking her up to SFO this afternoon on an inaugural cruise. Pictures and road report to follow.