pixie.stash

So it’s August, and I still haven’t upgraded to the iPhone 3G. I actually waited in line at my local podunk AT&T store on the first day they were released, but after standing in line for several hours, just a few people had emerged with iPhones and I gave it up. We all know about the issues with activation, and even a month after release, the iPhone itself is still coyly playing hard-to-get. Before I expend a lot of energy trying to get my hands on one, I wanted to compile a list of good reasons to upgrade…or not to upgrade.

I’ve been checking out the software releases as they come along, and this week’s 2.0.2 seems to have fixed most of the initial bugginess. I finally got my 2G iPhone to pull in my Exchange email from work, without an Enterprise data plan (shhhh…don’t tell AT&T), so overall I’m still pretty happy with it. There are a surprising number of possible upgrades the 3G doesn’t have, such as landscape keyboard while in email or texting, Flash support in the browser, file transfer and storage, and frickin’ copy and paste ability. Anywho, here’s the list. I’ve left out the tiny nice-to-have improvements like the smaller charger plug - just thinking of the big stuff here.

Pros:

• Faster data speed. This is less of an issue now that I don’t spend 3 hours a day on the commuter bus, but still — when I do want info, I don’t want to wait for the dialup-reminiscent speed of EDGE.
• Larger capacity. I’ve reached the limit with my 8G and can’t fit all my music and apps on it. I currently have zero room left for any photos, podcasts or videos.
• True GPS. Not sure how much I would use this, but I do use the triangulation-based faux-GPS fairly often.
• Improved call and sound quality, a much-needed upgrade. Louder and clearer are better, especially for someone who went to waaayyy too many extremely loud rock concerts in her impetuous youth.
• Improved headphone jack. The new flush jack means I can use my favorite SkullCandy headphones with it.
• The ability to use the internet while on the phone. I’ve been frustrated and annoyed with the lack of this functionality in the past.
• It would make my teenager really happy, because I’d pass down my 2G iPhone to him.

Cons:

• Price. The iPhone itself is not that expensive on its own because I qualify for an upgrade through AT&T, but the 3G data plan is pricier, and text messages are no longer free. Add in the iPhone plan for my son (he currently has a Blackberry, but no data plan) and it becomes an increase of about $35/month.
• Battery woes. Several of my coworkers have the 3G and complain that they have to keep the 3G service turned off or it inhales battery power. What’s a 3G iPhone without 3G? I could always switch it on when I need it, but Apple really has to get the battery issue under control, especially if they continue with the !#$%^&* non-user-replaceable concept.
• The plastic back. There have been some reports of hairline cracks in the plastic, even right out of the box. The cracks seem to be much more visible on the white models, and Apple is OK about replacing them some of the time, but it’s not good.
• Rumors of a 32GB iPhone for the holidays. These rumors are completely unsubstantiated, and I really don’t need more than about 10 GB total, but still…I like to try to avoid The Curse Of The Early Adopter whenever possible.

Why yes, I am catching up on some handbag posts from the past few months!

I’ve coveted the Hayden-Harnett Mercer Clutch for a couple of years now. I have only ever seen one other person carrying this style — a black one — and I was enthralled by the little HH details. When these Mercers went on sale last month, I could resist no longer, and ordered one in Pewter.

This color is, in a word, the perfect metallic. It has a bit of glow and shine, but zero bling. The top handle has a magnetic closure so it snaps itself shut gently, and the shoulder strap is remarkably handy. I wore this bag while standing in line for the iPhone, and the chain elements on the strap made it a little uncomfortable for longterm carrying, but it was good to have the option. While a great little bag for going out to dinner, the Mercer is a larger clutch, measuring 12″x 9″H x 2,” and will easily carry more than just bare necessities.

Unfortunately I suspect this style has been discontinued for the next season. It is still available in Yam at full price, but if you like metallic Violet (pictured above) or Tango Red, the Mercer Clutch is still on sale for a very reasonable $160.

More than eight months after I first wrote about this style, I finally caved in and got one. Its cuteness just reeled me in!

I’d been looking for a small hand-held bag to carry on weekends, when I don’t need to carry all my workday stuff. I have a cute little black leather Cole-Haan bag that I adore for this purpose, but some days (especially in the summer), I want to carry something lighter than black. I saw Ms. Tivoli PM in person one day in June, at the Saks LV boutique…and then it started to grow on me. I thought about it for a couple of months, and then saw it on someone, and was so enthralled that I knew this style just had to be mine - the search was officially ON.

I looked for it on two occasions at the larger LV store, but they didn’t have any in stock. I checked both eLuxury and LouisVuitton.com, and it was continually out of stock in both places. Finally, I called the Saks boutique to see if perchance they had any left…and they had exactly one. Charlie, the nice gentleman on the phone, offered to hold it for me for 24 hours. I happily agreed, and went down there on my lunch break to pick it up. I know this is part of LV’s permanent line, but for the time being, I got the last one available in my city. Yay!

I just adore the detail on this bag - the leaf-shaped handle attachment bits, the soft pleats, the curved shape of the top, the little golden feet. In a practical sense, I am happy to see that Louis Vuitton is finally getting smarter and adding more interior pockets to their bags, and the Tivoli is no exception. This bag visually appears to be about the size of a Speedy 25, but its wide, flat bottom and pleats help it expand to hold as much as a Speedy 30. I may be able to use this as an everyday work bag after all. My only concern about the Tivoli PM is the vachetta leather around the zipper. While it makes it sturdier, I’ll need to be careful so it darkens at the same rate as the handles. I’ve had (and sold or returned) a number of LVs over the past few years, but I think this sweet little bag is a keeper.

Tags: Louis Vuitton, LV, Tivoli

It’s been almost a year since I last posted about Balenciaga. I actually sold all my Bals over the past year or so, including a the Black and Violet/Grape Citys from my previous post, a Box in Rouge Vif, another City in Ink, a 2004 First in Eggplant, and a vintage 2005 City in Bubblegum Pink. Of course, when they came out with a new pink this past spring, I started pining for it all over again. That soft, silky Balenciaga leather, the iconic Motorcycle bag style…it started to feel compelling all over again.

Part of the reason I gave up my previous Bals, though, is that they are so often copied. The first time I carried my black City, I got a compliment from a woman who said she’d gotten one “exactly like it” from a street vendor in NYC. I hate to be a snob, but I strongly dislike fakes of any kind, whether we’re talking about people or technology or jewelry or bags. So I started looking at other Bal styles. I won’t go into the Balenciaga designs I don’t like and why — that’s a whole post of its own. But when I found the Step, a.k.a. Stepping Out, I suspected I’d hit on something good…and when I tried one on in real life, I knew I’d found my style.

Back in March I was looking for a new bag to take on a trip, and while browsing at Neiman Marcus I found the Step in Petal Pink. I tried it on, and it was love at first sight. Fits as much stuff as the City, but the slightly more vertical style and triangular shape make it a little classier and more elegant. It’s like a Kelly with an edge. Unfortunately it was not at all what I needed for my trip, and I wasn’t in a good financial position to buy two bags at one time, so I had to leave it behind. I try not to shop at Neiman’s anyway, because of their pain-in-the-ass policy dictating that I can’t use my Visa debit card like I do at every other store…but I digress. I was in Neiman’s a couple of weeks ago and happened to notice that “my” pink Step was still there. I thought about it for a while, and looked for other places to find one, but the Step is apparently not a big seller and many retailers (including the fabulous Aloha Rag) are not carrying them any more. So yesterday, I finally went back to NM and got her. This bag was not only the only pink Step they had left, but the only Step they had in any color…so it was a combination of good timing and fate. That’s my story, anyway, and I’m sticking to it.

2008 Petal Pink is often referred to as Bubblegum, but that makes it easy to confuse with the 2005 Bubblegum, which was very different IMO. My Petal Pink Step is agneau (lambskin) instead of the ultra-soft chevre (goatskin) used before this year, and the color is a little deeper and the finish a little shinier. Tiny girls can wear the Step as a shoulder bag, but I dislike armpit bags so it will be a strictly hand- or arm-carried bag for me. Part of the reason I sold my Bubblegum City was that the color was so light I was afraid to carry it and get it dirty, and I’m not so concerned about that with this bag. I have a lot of pink clothing and this color is neutral enough to go with almost all of it, but if I want to wear it with black or brown or grey it will really pop. I can carry it in the spring and summer, and in the dearth of winter when I’m craving anything that reminds me that spring is on the way.

Tags: Balenciaga, Pink

I held off on getting anything in Epi for a long time. I love leather, but Epi just doesn’t have that leather texture and smell. However, it is pretty much indestructible — which makes it perfect for travel. In fact, Epi was introduced in 1985 in response to the need to have a good, durable leather for use in modern travel conditions. The surface is embossed with a ridged texture, and the leather is dyed all the way through, making deep colors almost glow.

When I was looking for a new bag to take on a business trip to a snowy climate last spring, Epi seemed like the logical choice — and Passy was exactly the right size, at 12″ x 10″ x 5″. The Cassis color is new this year, and just happened to match my purple luggage. For my trip, I was able to fit all my usual purse necessities, plus my PSP to keep me entertained on the plane, and the tiny Eee PC so I could keep up with my work.

Passy is one of LV’s more subtle styles, with just a small stamped LV logo in the bottom corner. The side gussets are expandable, using little buckled straps, and the hardware is shiny palladium. The clasp at the top helps keep contents secure, but anything really valuable can go in the center zip pocket (I guess I need to take the blue protective plastic off that zipper pull one of these days). As with the Tivoli PM, I just love the leaf-shaped handle attachment bits. The Passy looks classy (sorry) without announcing “expensive handbag,” which is a realistic concern when traveling.

Tags: LV, Passy

Just to keep things balanced.

Tags: Apple, steve jobs

In honor of his retirement, I bring you the sexiest Bill Gates photos ever. I found this first pic on Engadget, the second on Shiny Shiny, and couldn’t resist reposting the geeky goodness. These are evidently publicity pics of Bill Gates at age 30, shortly after the release of Windows 1.0 in 1985. I’m not a huge fan of Micro$oft, but I do have to acknowledge his contribution to gadgets everywhere. Besides, there’s a Mac in the background, and he looks a little high. Yeah, toss another floppy at me Bill, mmmmmhhh…

Tags: bill gates, sexy

Yay! Finally! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning.

What I want to know:

1. Real apps, not just web apps? Yes. The app store will open July 11, and approximately 70% of them will be free.
2. 3G data capabilities? Oh yeah. However, the data plan pricing increases from $20/month to $30. Unlimited 3G data for business users will be $45 a month.
3. Cost and availability? $199 (8G black) and $299 (16G, black or white), with 2-year AT&T contract. Available in the US and 21 other countries on July 11, which gives me time to save my pennies.
4. Upgrade path for existing users? “Customers who purchased a 2.5G iPhone on or after May 27 and want to swap it out for a new iPhone will be able to do so without incurring an additional handset charge for the new device. They will of course need to turn in their 2.5G iPhone.”
5. Support for Flash video? No word on this yet.
6. Removable battery? Nope.
7. Improved battery life? Ostensibly, the new battery provides 300 hours of standby, 5 hours of 3G talk, 7 hours of video and 24 hours of audio. Since my 2G iPhone will handle maybe 1.5 hours of video or serious web surfing, I’m skeptical, but we will see.
8. Games? Please? Yep. See question 1.
9. Copy and paste capability? Nope.
10. Normal (flush) headphone jack, so I can use it with my awesome pink Skull Candy headphones? Yes!
11. Google calendar sync? Nope. Yahoo calendar, iCal, Entourage, Outlook…but no Google. It will, however, sync with Google contacts, so maybe calendar support is forthcoming.

Other features I care less about, but might interest you: True GPS, Exchange support, Bluetooth, SIM ejector, MobileMe service. Also, the back of the case is now plastic. WTF?

I just had to share this picture from Popular Science, which shows the Eee PC in a nice exploded view. I just dropped a Kingston 2GB RAM module ($37.99 @ NewEgg) into my Eee 900, which took about 30 seconds, and will kick multitasking ability into smooth overdrive. Popular Science calls this hacking, but I prefer to refer to it as upgrading, because it doesn’t void the warranty and it improves performance. Bonus: the 900’s Xandros kernel has been updated to recognize the whole 2GB, unlike the 701’s, which was limited to 1GB. Yay for progress!

Tags: Eee PC, RAM

My new Eee PC 900 arrived yesterday from Hong Kong, via eBay. It has an American English keyboard and 5800 mAH battery, as promised, and so far all the software and documentation is in English. I was slightly dismayed to find that the power plug is the UK type and not US-friendly, but luckily I am married to an English guy (an electronics engineer, no less) who fixed me up with an adapter within a few minutes.

There’s been a lot of debate on the intarwebs about this, but I am here to tell you that the 900 really is a big improvement over the 701. It’s every bit as portable (I’m writing this on the commuter bus), significantly easier to use, and slightly more powerful.

First…the screen. Despite what your wife tells you, size does matter! It makes a huge difference to be able to see everything on the screen, and it’s much less frustrating without the horizontal scrolling required on the 701. I’ve heard some complaints about the display quality, but it looks just fine to me.

Secondly, the touchpad rocks. It’s more sensitive to tap-clicking, and the physical buttons are not as stiff as the 701’s. Two-finger scrolling is nice too, but what really makes me smile is the two-finger zoom, like on my iPhone. This is simply fabulous on a device with a small screen, and the Eee is no exception.

The wireless networking works just fine, picked up my router at home effortlessly, and had just as much signal strength as my 701 and my other PCs.

I wasn’t sure if I’d like the white color. I mean…it’s not pink! But I have to admit that the pearl finish really is pretty. It won’t get as hot in the summer (I live in the South), and should lend itself nicely to whatever girly decoration I decide to do. I just hope I can keep it clean; I’ll just have to remember not to use it right after gardening.

As for what’s inside, well, I haven’t really put it through its paces yet. I was pleased to discover that it recognizes all 1024 MB of RAM, but I have already ordered a 2GB module. The 1GB works OK, but I see a little more of that hourglass than I’d like. This was an issue with the 701 that was easily fixed with a RAM upgrade, and it’s quick and inexpensive to do.

I am undecided as to whether I will keep the Xandros OS or install XP. I’m going to give Xandros a try, but suspect I will probably end up switching just to make the interface more easily customizable. Yes, I know I can do a lot of custom stuff with Linux, but I’m not sure I have the patience to fiddle with it.

I have not noticed any of the other common complaints, such as fan noise and a display hum. Admittedly, I’ve only used it for a few hours so far, and haven’t tried out the speakers or webcam yet. Overall, I’m very pleased with the 900 so far. More info and real pics will follow soon…

Tags: Eee PC