Okay this article is weird.

It starts with the conventional "idiots who don't understand science think x-rays damage their electronics". But it quickly switches to the "more likely a static shock" line which is much more feasible. But then why is this a story? Static shock affects all electronic devices, the Kindle is no different.

Then it goes into a "eWeek licks Amazon's balls happily" advertisement about how awesome the kindle is, which has no place in an article like this. Why the hell go this far? And then Amazon out and out denies the problem even exists. They don't say "it could be static shocks which no device is immune from." They use the "a bunch of other people don't have a problem" fallacy to deflect the issue. While it does nothing for me, that's kind of stupid because it will stir up the conspiracy theory wonks like a storm of bees.

Looks like this article was written for eWeek by an Amazon Marketroid, not by Steve McCaskil, which makes sense now that I think about it. Deflect and deny rather than address.

The problem with defining a fad is that those on the inside of the fad rarely want to be considered simply part of a fad, and those outside, for whatever reason often appear bent on making the fad look bad by calling the fad a fad.

So calling something a fad is little more than an ad hominem attack on the device or market itself when you don't list the factors as to why it's a fad. It's also a good excuse for people who look at it and don't like it or don't find it useful to denegrate it, when that specific person is in no way a target for that device.

Reasons why it could not be considered a fad:

1) The LACK of a keyboard is actually pretty useful, because it's far easier to carry around and hold.
2) Businesses like it because it's a generic touch screen, much like the ones you see at restaurants and food establishments that already use touch screens to take orders.
3) It's easy to retrieve information on, and like a PC, keeps all the information at your fingertips. Salesreps like this because they can hold it like a clipboard but yet have even more info, and airline pilots like it because they can manipulate charts with their fingers and review data but only have a single device with everything rather than several pounds of paper.
4) Reading anything or watching anything on a tablet form factor is generally more comfortable than trying to get a laptop balanced on a surface or even your own lap. Holding a book for many people is simple and natural, and holding a tablet is roughly the same thing as holding a book.

So there's plenty of evidence against your idea that they are a fad, but no real evidence supporting that they are a fad, except people who don't find them useful and don't have a reason to buy them. People used to call computers in the 70s and 80s a fad as well so don't use the term lightly.

Okay name me Sony's most recent successes?

Playstation? PS3 was a joke, it adopted slowly, they screwed up security for online gaming and further screwed up by not telling everyone right away, plus the playstation line was simply feeding off the knowledge they gained while working with Nintendo and it's quickly running out.

Blu-Ray? Adoption is slower than DVD, because no one wants to invest quickly in HD TVs because no one wants to replace what isn't broken, Blu-Ray are more expensive and the digital revolution is quickly overshadowing physical media.

Last major success Sony that can be looked at without question was the Walkman. Sony's TVs used to be a symbol of quality but not any more. Sony's successes lately actually look like equivalent failures for Apple.

Indeed, Sony, Apple, *and* the consumer may lose.

I'm praying for the long haul for someone to break down the media hegemony. On the surface this makes sense, but the problem is Sony is part of the problem! Sony is a media company too remember? Creating a TV that doesn't sacrifice their media profits is in their best interest. If anyone, Apple, who doesn't have an interest in media prices and uses them as a value add to make people buy their electronics, and who reported breaks about even on the iTunes store, has a much better chance of breaking the media hegemony than Sony simply because they have no interests within their own company to block them.

If only Apple and Sony are looking into new TVs, well Apple is about to win that race.

Unless you mention that the iPhone ran like horseshit on iOS 2 onward, and the iPhone 3G always ran poorly. now my wife's 3GS runs like butt on iOS 5..

I owned both phones out to the latest operating system they would support, and neither of them ran poorly out to the latest OS they supported. The only thing you were correct about was the fact that the 3G originally had some problems with OS 4 which were later corrected. I even gave my gf my original iPhone before her contract was up and we got her a 3GS, which is on iOS 5 and runs great.

So by my own anecdotal experience your whole argument about "how it ran like horseshit" is simply invalid on it's face.

You sir, deserve teenage feet all over your lawn.

You sent this cold shiver running up and down my spine. Then I realized you weren't talking about the American Stock Market. Thank god!

So I'll end this discussion right now:

Only Hitler would own a smartphone.

Which lawsuits has Apple filed on people who jailbreak their phones?

In fact wasn't it declared that jailbreaking was legal under US law?

Yes.

Next Question: How do we topple it?

Unless of course the email delays cost you $200+ in business.

Except Siri doesn't do translation, it does voice command recognition. This is a fail by the editors, picking a submission that deliberately creates an "Apple vs Google" headline to stir up page loads. It's like comparing Google Reader to Apple Mail, it's nonsensical.

I think you captured the state of Apple's relationship with the media and general public perfectly. Bravo! I hope you get 1 million mod points.

I was a personal acquaintance of his and coworker for about a year and kept in touch for years. I miss our monthly Chinese buffet lunches. Last I heard he was working at IBM as a consultant but that was years ago. I also know that he has two kids in the mid to high single digits. He's working, making plenty of money for his family, and taking care of his responsibilities. It's sad not to see more on his blog lately. However his primary money maker was not his blog or his books.

I too have a blog but it was neither as popular or as entertaining, but the same thing happened to me. I've gotten married, assumed more family responsibilities, and I just don't have time to update it. Right now I'm sure his priorities are elsewhere. It's not infosuicide so much as we all want more and he's simply not giving it to us. I'm sorry to say you'll just have to move on. That's the beauty of the internet.

Mark if you are out there, drop me a line sometime.

This is why everyone gets my Google Voice number now. Robocalling? Right into the blocked callers group you go!