After a couple months with the iPhone 3G, I thought it was only right to take a look back at what it has meant to me.

And as always, drop me a line or follow me on Twitter!]]> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10034182-17.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:29:00 GMT Don Reisinger http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10033667-17.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDigitalHome Everywhere I turn today, I find a story by colleagues or comments by readers saying that the new Microsoft ad with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates fails on almost every level. Some complain that it doesn't mention Vista at all, which makes it useless, while others say that watching Gates' derriere waggle at the end of the commercial was just a bit too much.

Either way, Microsoft is getting killed from all sides by people that think the ad was nothing more than a waste of time and money. "Apple's ads are so much better!" they say until their hearts are content. "Who would want to buy Vista after watching that ad?" they exclaim.

Do me a favor: sit down, put your MacBook Pro away, and be quiet.

"The first phase of this campaign is designed to engage consumers and spark a new conversation about Windows--a conversation that will evolve as the campaign progresses, but will always be marked by humor and humanity," Microsoft Senior Vice President Bill Veghte said in an e-mail to employees.

That logic seems perfectly acceptable to me. The way I see it, Gates & Co. have been looked at for years now as the evil tech company that bullies others and tries to form monopolies. And yet, when it tries to put a human face on, it's heavily criticized in the media?

I don't get it.

Did you know Microsoft fanboys still exist? They're not as powerful as they once were, but they do.

And as always, drop me a line or follow me on Twitter!]]> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10033415-17.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:23:00 GMT Don Reisinger http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10032602-17.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDigitalHome I've oftentimes thought about why gaming is such an important part of my life. Is it because I grew up with it? Possibly. Is it because I love tech and it's an extension of that? Maybe.

But I don't think either characterization really captures why I love gaming and why anytime I have some free time, I immediately push my computer aside, turn my HDTV on, and start playing with my Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, or the countless consoles that have littered my past.

In reality, I love gaming because it's an escape into a reality that can only be possible in the world of video games. It's not just a place where I can be entertained--though I am quite often--and it's not even a place where I can waste the day by immersing myself in a virtual world.

Video games create a world that's free from stress, and although some like to say they ruin our children and will ignite a wave of violence unlike anything we've ever seen, they're not nearly as violent as the "real world." If I wanted to look at the horrors of our society and see the worst human beings for what they really are, I wouldn't play a video game. Instead, I'd do a simple Web search and learn anything I've ever wanted to know.

There are too many frivolous lawsuits against Apple and it needs to stop.

And as always, drop me a line or follow me on Twitter!]]> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10032246-17.html Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:02:00 GMT Don Reisinger http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10031977-17.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDigitalHome In this episode, Don chats about Apple's upcoming press event and whether or not TV studios really "get" the Web. After that, he chats with Fancast and wraps up the show giving advice to podcasters about frustration.
Listen now: Download today's podcast

EPISODE 31

...]]> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10031977-17.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:56:00 GMT Don Reisinger http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10031824-17.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDigitalHome Apple announced yesterday that it will be holding a press event that most believe will discuss what the company has on-tap for the future of of its iPod.

But as soon as that announcement hit the wire, Apple zealots and pundits alike were speculating about what the company would possibly announce. A new iPod? An enhancement to iTunes? Maybe a new iTunes song purchasing system that would see Apple dump per-song purchases and affix a monthly fee instead? The list goes on.

And while I can understand where everyone is coming from and Steve Jobs is able to captivate an audience unlike any other CEO in the business, I'm not so sure it's going to be as wonderful as everyone seems to think.

If this event will surround the iPod -- and most think it will -- how important will it really be? Let's face it -- an iPod event may have a few big announcements that will make some swoon, but by and large, it's nothing more than another run-of-the-mill day at the Apple office.

In today's episode, I discuss what I just don't like about Microsoft Excel..

And as always, drop me a line or follow me on Twitter!]]> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10031056-17.html Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:42:00 GMT Don Reisinger http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10030266-17.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheDigitalHome Microsoft announced yesterday that it has dropped the price of its Xbox 360 considerably in Japan to help fend off Nintendo and Sony and try to cement itself in the single country that has practically forgotten about Microsoft all these years.

According to the company, the Xbox 360 Arcade will cost just $183--less than the Wii and Playstation 3--and 120GB model will come down to $368 from $442.

Bringing the Xbox 360 down to $183 is an important move for Microsoft. It not only brings it down to that magic price point where the mainstream would finally take notice, but it gives Microsoft a much-needed competitive advantage over Sony and Nintendo--pricing.

And while that sort of move was needed in Japan because Microsoft is so far behind, I think it needs to do that worldwide. As it stands, Nintendo still reigns supreme in the video game market and Sony is gaining ground much faster than Microsoft is willing to admit.

With that in mind, I simply don't see how Microsoft can gain ground in the U.S. and Europe without dropping the price of its Xbox 360 to a more suitable level that would appeal to the mainstream. At this point, pricing is the only way to differentiate the Xbox 360.

In today's Friday episode, I go hands-on with the Heil PR-40. Check it out.

And as always, drop me a line or follow me on Twitter!]]> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10029178-17.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:27:00 GMT Don Reisinger