What tech did you enjoy in 2008? Here’s my list and some predictions for 2009.
1. Macbook
I actually forgot my Macbook. It’s been a year with the Macbook as my sole computer – fantastic. This has to be the nicest machine I’ve had.
2. Digital Camera
Top of Second on the list has to be my Canon IXUS 90 IS. I purchased my first IXUS in 2003 when going on an overseas holiday. With Sarah arriving this year, it was time to upgrade. The IXUS 90 was a great upgrade. 10 Mega Pixel means the photos are ready to print. The ease of the camera and many features make it ideal as a happy snapper. Want to see what a camera you’re thinking of purchasing is capable of? Flickr stores Camera information, so here is the information for the IXUS 90 IS.
3. Wireless Broadband
Number 3 on the list, yet I only used it for a week: Telstra Pre-Paid Wireless Broadband, very handy for email and photo uploads from anywhere.
4. 24” Monitor
After my trusty old 19” Mitsubishi CRT died this year, a Dell E248WFP 24” Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor replaced it for a few hundred dollars. Stunning.
I can have two big application windows side-by-side both with readable text.
Worthy of mention
Time Capsule
The absolutely easiest way to backup two Macs, one wirelessly. The Apple Time Capsule just works.
Digital Television
I’m not an early adopter, a bit slow actually, Full HD television is a big step up from our old TV. I’m not a big sport watcher, but I usually watch the Boxing Day Test. It’s quite incredible the difference between the Standard Definition version and the High Definition version with 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. But is Digital TV worth it for the rest of the time? Well, I’m planning on writing something about this later, but I don’t think free-to-air is the reason to upgrade your television.
A place to share pearls of wisdom like this.
2009
What will I be talking about at the end of 2009?
Apple TV
Santa brought me this. Our music collection now on our real sound system. Renting movies (instead of going to the DVD rental store).
But more generally, I think Tivo will be the big thing in Australia – particularly if they offer movie downloads/rentals.
Netbooks
I predict that I will not own one of these by the end of 2009. Netbooks have been the big item of 2008. Personally, I don’t see what space they would fill for me, I’d rather use my Macbook. Will everyone that has purchased one of these work out that they are actually useless?
I do predict that I will talk about Netbooks in 2009, mainly because my employer has decided to spend the Federal Government’s computers for students money on giving every student in Year 9 and up a Netbook like device. Besides being a tech issue, a class full of Netbooks is going to be a massive teaching, learning and classroom management issue.
Wii
Ok, this should have come under 2008, but I’m not really into gaming. So, I played with a Wii on Christmas Day – wow, a whole different gaming experience. That HD TV we bought comes with a free Wii, so when that’s delivered, 2009 may be the year of the Wii.
Well, that’s it, a rough summary of Tech in 2008. What stood out for you in Tech in 2008? Predictions for 2009?