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March 2006 Archive

Loving Low Market Share

posted by DL Byron on March 31, 2006

As predicted, a quick scan of RSS feeds and I’m seeing tech writers trying really hard to diss Apple and the coverage of their 30th anniversary. What the writers never get is that us Apple fans love the fact that we’re only 10% of the market. It’s a badge of honor. I remember before the iPod Halo affect, reporters would progressively report lower market share until at one point, Apple had negative market share. Now, with Apple’s phenomenal success, the writers don’t know what to do except make wild accusations that iTunes will become a niche and perpetuate the Apple Death Watch.

My anecdotal evidence

  • Every time I go to the local Apple Store the place is bumping
  • I see lots of Powerbooks at every conference
  • The old adage “that BMW has a small market share, they sell a lot of good cars” still applies

With Vista being delayed, you can bet we’ll see more and more FUD articles and press that’s all to quick to dismiss Apple, as they’ve done for 30 years.

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Life After Authoring

posted by DL Byron on March 29, 2006

Cycling Fantasy On the eve of the all-in date for the book, I’m starting to have “life after authoring” fantasies. First in the stream of fantasy thoughts is this scene from the Italian countryside, then a night watching back-to-back Law & Order episodes, and then cashing sponsor checks with a splendidly monetized blog like this!

I’d also like to drink some Arrogant Bastard Ale, use a veggiepipe, eat fried food, and drive my Volvo too fast.

After all that, I’ll have to reconnect with the scene, cause like at most of those SXSW parties I attended, I had no idea who the companies were, what they did, and what consumating was.

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Calm like a bomb

posted by DL Byron on March 27, 2006

Finally, caught up sleep and rest from all the travel, bike racing, and book writing, our last chapters are due this week. Like that RATM song, I’m Calm like a bomb (iTunes). The most work I’ve ever done, hardest project ever, and I hope the most rewarding hits the final milestone with the delivery of chapter 9 this week. Then we review the finals, write the acknowledgments, and Publish & Prosper: Blogging for Your Business is in stores this May. The book has been doing very well with pre-sales and we’re feeling good about it.

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Cycle Passion Calendar

posted by DL Byron on March 23, 2006

There has never been a better calendar made ever than one made for the passion of cycling. Oh yes, too bad I just read about it now! Queen’s Bicycle Race comes to mind, really loud, “Bicycle bicycle bicycle, I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle,” with skinny, long-legged models.

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More urban coyotes

posted by DL Byron on March 22, 2006

And this time it’s New York!. Our neighborhood coyotes have been quieter these days and we haven’t seen one since they moved in a few months ago.

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An unpleasant and painful moment

posted by DL Byron on March 21, 2006

I was taking Ryan to the doctor for a follow-up appointment for an infection he had. He was going to have an ultrasound on his kidneys, I could tell he was nervous, and I told it was going to be “fun! and great!” Responding to my encouragement he says, “well, no, cause last time I went to the hospital it was an unpleasant and painful moment.” I couldn’t argue with him on that (they drew blood and he was not feeling well) and he totally cracked me up. I then changed the subject and tried to convince him that ultrasound was done by sharks with laser beams. I surmised that, “they lower you into a tank of water and these sharks swim around pointing the ultrasound laser at your belly.” He didn’t believe me for a second, but thought it sounded funny and asked the nurse where the sharks were when we got there.

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Old iMac DV SE

posted by DL Byron on March 21, 2006

At the time, when we bought the iMac DV Special Edition it was the shit, the best iMac you could get and it really was (and is) a good computer. Wiping the hard drive last night and packing it up to sell on Craig’s List or donate to the good will, I recalled all the good times we had together.

Back in the day, when Textura Design was about net.art and creativity on the web, that’s where it all was created. And for a 6-year old computer, that iMac is still running fine with Panther. One of my long-standing criticism of Windows, is all the CPU sucking it does. Here I had a computer with a 400 mhz chip and it ran Panther just fine for email and web browsing.

I do hope the iMac finds it’s way to a good home and not just the recycling heap. I didn’t really want to let it go, but it’s rotating out as we upgrade our computers and got the Costco deal on the 20-inch iMac. Earlier in the year, I got rid of the even older Centris 610, the first computer I owned, and that was still running fine as well!

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IMac 20" G5 at Costco

posted by DL Byron on March 20, 2006

The mac community emailed, posted, and lots of forums commentary about the iMac 20 inch G5 at Costco. We’d been thinking about giving the kids the iMac 17 (iSight) and at the Costco price, we decided to do it. It’s $1479.99 plus AppleCare (169.00) and an iLife 06 DVD in the box. The savings are about $400.00 and the bonus of Costco’s warranty and 2% cashback on our Amex. A very good deal!

I’m running the Setup Assistant now and can tell you having the 17 and 20 inch next to each other, that the 20 looks massive! Also, I hadn’t seen this posted about yet, but Costco also has the Mac Mini for $699.00 with AppleCare.

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Geek pick up lines

posted by DL Byron on March 13, 2006

As noted by Jason, the powerstrip is powerful at conferences.

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Another Fine Day for Riding

posted by DL Byron on March 12, 2006

I joined a local team ride today and rode from Austin to Creedmoor, Texas and beyond. We passed a road sign that said, “Population 211”, noticed a cactus growing out of a tree, and later I saw a lamb being born as we turned a corner onto another windswept road. The lamb was wobbling, covered with afterbirth, and the pace picked up, as the wind caught our backs. It was another fine day for riding.

I’ve found team rides to be the same everywhere and take comfort in that. Each ride has the same personalities with different roads, climbs, descents, and sprints to city limit signs.

Today’s ride had the leader/mom who told us where to turn, reminded others how to ride, and I bet he tells them the same thing every ride. There was the narrator that talks the entire time and off-the-front guy that’s always pushing the pace.

Mostly on these rides it’s the camaraderie. We’ve got a lot in common, us cyclist, regardless if we race and ride in different states and at different levels.

Riding in Austin was part of a different approach for SXSW this year. I brought my bike, have been riding, not really drinking, and spending more time in the halls than in panels.

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Convertible Pants and Comfort Shoes

posted by DL Byron on March 12, 2006

It started with comfort shoes and now I’m wearing convertible pants — the kind with detachable legs that zipper on and off. Last year, nearing 40, I decided that I was going to wear comfort shoes to be, well, comfortable and I got various pairs of Keens. This year, with all the traveling I’m doing, I took another step towards being comfortable and purchased travel clothes (the kind that don’t wrinkle, dry fast, light, and cool) from Kuhl and SmartWool. The convertible pants work great and have also been the source of amusement for Jason, as seen in this flickr photo.

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Even Freshier

posted by DL Byron on March 10, 2006

While I’m at SXSW working the book, the crew is working on a redesign of the Clip-n-Seal website. The goal is to make it even freshier, updated, and of course sell more Clip-n-Seals! We’ll roll it out soon.

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I get around at SXSW

posted by DL Byron on March 06, 2006

With the exceptions of

I’ll be on the no plan plan at SXSW this year, which means I just “flow,” sorta like hustle and flow minus the pimp part. I’m also bringing my bike and will ride the roads of the Texas panhandle and race The Primavera At Lago Vista

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Handbuilt Bicycles

posted by DL Byron on March 05, 2006

In our global economy, with mass production, and consumerism, you’d probably be surprised to know that the handbuilt bicycle industry is thriving. I train, ride, and tour on a Davidson and I’m having another one built specifically for traveling. The main benefit of a handbuilt, custom bike is the fit and riding a bike that’s built for you, but more importantly it’s that they’re built by artists, with personal touches, and spec’d with parts to make the bike bombproof, incredibly light, or a mix of both.

My new Davidson will be built to the same dimensions as my rain/touring bike, but lighter without fenders, and newer components. For more on handbuilt bicycles, see the coverage of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show by Cycling News.

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Getting drowsy on the panel at NewCommForum

posted by DL Byron on March 02, 2006

Ok the Claritin drowsiness hits me, mid thought (I think it was a brilliant thought, not sure) and I lose what I was saying. Thankfully, the audience reminded me where I was and I was able to finish the thought.

Thanks audience!

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The Boogie that -b-

posted by DL Byron on March 02, 2006

I dropped off a set of wheels at my local UPS stop for shipment back to the factory and the UPS driver was delivering a set of wheels to another customer — a wheel coinicidence.

Concluding a call with a client, while walking through the D concourse at Seatac, I heard a familiar voice and it was Al Gore. I got a photo with my Beastie Boys Crappy Camera Phone (requires an RSS reader). Al Gore’s head is the bluest one, which is what I’d expect. You’d think that Al Gore’s head would show up as blue on a Beastie Boys filter.

Palo Alto was like a suburban dream driving in. We passed a school with kids riding bikes, squirrels eating nuts, and then I had the best quesadilla I’ve ever eated. It was a gourmet quesadilla. Damn it was good.

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NewCommForum Good, Mold Bad

posted by DL Byron on March 02, 2006

I just had to quickly exit a meeting room here at the NewCommForum because of an allergic reaction to the mold in the rooms. I’d smelled it earlier, just a whiff, but being in the meeting rooms was too much. I’ll have to hang out, outside of the room, survive the panel, and then get out of here.

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@ the NewCommForum with Samples and Discounts

posted by DL Byron on March 02, 2006

I’m at the New Communications Forum today on a business blogging panel and not only do I have free Clip-n-Seal samples with me, but also discounts on Publish & Prosper: Blogging for Your Business and the Essentials of Business Blogging Seminar in Los Angeles March 16th.

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