Rick's Review of the iPhone

I'm sure most Americans who have watched even a little TV know the launch date for this product.  June 29th!!!  It will be a big day.  I have no doubt that the iPhone will be a huge success.  It almost has to be.  This phone is a first-of-its-kind mobile handset based entirely on a touch-screen design.  AT&T has repeatedly called the iPhone a "game changer."  And let's just face it, Apple's "got it" right now.

 

Will the iPhone be the best "phone" from a technical stand point?  Will it make sense for everyone to have an iPhone?  Is it the most logical choice of phones for most?  I would have to say "no" from a logical stand point.  But what does logic have to do with anything!

Read more: Rick's Review of the iPhone

Parenting - The Baby Shower Gifts

The other day I talked about getting the baby room ready!  Well, we are getting the painting all finished up so we have began the process of sorting through all these baby gifts!  Wow! 

 

{mosimage}baby_shower_great_gifts_new_parent_observations.jpgI am really grateful for all the gifts we have received through a few baby showers.  I don't really understand (YET) some of the gifts we have received but I appreciate the fact that we will not have to buy all these things.  It is a neat tradition we have with baby showers.  I don't think I ever realized just how much "stuff" goes along with having a baby.  It is a lot of things especially when you are starting from scratch on the first child.  So baby showers certainly are a blessing to new parents. 

 Baby clothes were the number 1 gift we received from the showers we had.  It doesn't seem like our little boy will be able to wear them all but who knows.

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Traveling Deals with Hotwire

Summer season is coming our way.  You know what that means?  Time to take that summer vacation.  This is the time of year when many Americans start getting excited about taking some time off and getting away. 

summer_travel_deals_resource_hotwire.jpgMaybe you have already decided where you would like to go for vacation this year or maybe you haven't decided yet.  But chances are you haven't got everything booked just yet.  As I have said in other Rick's Reviews, times have changed in my twenty-something years.  It is even true when it comes to travel.  I remember it wasn't long ago that if you wanted to fly any where, there was a certain person you would call - your travel agent.  That is not the case today.  Most Americans don't look to travel agents like they used to do.  What changed all that?  The Internet is really what changed that industry as it has changed so many others.  There are still travel agents out there but their businesses and the services they offer have changed. 

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New Parents - Operation Baby Room

{mosimage}new_parents_new_baby_room_resource.jpgOk, so I am about to be a first time parent.  It seems like yesterday that I heard the news that my wife was pregnant.  I was very excited when I found out but at the same time a bit overwhelmed.  As a husband and soon-to-be dad, your mind begins thinking of all the things that must be done before the baby comes.  You have mixed emotions (or at least I did).  On one hand you are ready for the day to come so you can meet your little one and on the other hand, you want more time to get things ready.

 

I waited a little longer than I should have to really get all the things done.  After hearing other new parent stories, I have found it is not uncommon for parents to be rushing to get things done at the last minute.

 

In our case, we decided to move out of our condo in to a house with some more room.  And we purchased our new house just about 3 weeks prior to the expected due date.  So we are really getting moved and doing things at the last minute. 

 

We are working on the baby room.  We wanted to have it all done prior to our baby boy being born.  So we made the list of what needed to happen in that room because we needed to get it done quickly.

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The Microsoft Surface - Milan Project

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Sometimes I start to think that technology can not keep improving so fast like it has in the past.  When you look at the things we have and can do today that we couldn't do a few years ago, it is mind boggling.  We talked about the advancement in golf clubs recently.  Or the way cell phones have changed.  Technology just seems to continually change faster and faster. 

You want to talk about change.  Microsoft has been working on a new project.  It is called the Milan project.  It was kept on the DL for sometime but it is out in the open now.  It could just change the way we know and think about personal computing.  We have gotten used to the two attachments to all desktop computers, the key board and the mouse.  I remember the first wireless mouse and key board I saw.  Remember that.  I think it was only a few years ago that I first typed out an email from a wireless mouse.  Well, the project Milan has taken this to a whole new level.  The product is called the Microsoft Surface.  Say good bye to the mouse and key board.  There is no need for those things from the past. 

Read more: The Microsoft Surface - Milan Project