Bicycle Computers.

Let's face it. They suck. It's like a cell phone. Sure it does the job for you, but is anyone really really happy with their bicycle computer? Do people know every mode that availible to them? every feature? Do you know this instant how to access it? I highly doubt it.

For years I had a Cateye Enduro, but it was fairly cryptic with secret dual modes and cryptic messages like "Av" or "Dst". Why can't computers speak real English?

And don't get me started on Heart Rate Monitors. Does anyone really use them for anything more than displaying their heartrate? Do you actually setup your training zones? Do people really know how to train with an HRM? Not to mention integrating them with a cycling computer is a UI nightmare.

Right now, I'm using the best I could find of the bunch - a Sigma BC1200. Tho they don't make it anymore.

My ideal computer:

- Speed
- Max Speed
- Average Speed
- Distance
- Stopwatch
- Clock
- Odometer
- Trip Up

other features:
- easy to read
- makes sense
- 2 buttons to go forward and backward
- waterproof
- Used for 1 bike only (if you want a computer on another bike, just buy another one)
- stem or handlebar mount
- wireless
- looks nice.

Mattress Blues...

I was thinking about buying a loft for my room. This way, I could keep my futon, and roll it out when guests stay over. But I'm sorta stuck on what size mattress to get. Really, I want a full, but it's only 75" long. And being 72" tall, I think that's going to be a bit too short for me. So I suppose the only options are a Twin XL or a Queen. Who wants a twin these days? But I most definitely don't want a Queen - it's waaay too wide. So I'm stuck.

I'm left thinking, I'm not even that tall. What do the people who are 6'3", 6'5" do? I guess California King, but really, isn't that super overkill for a single person?

Nice Strap.

I bought this watch a couple weeks ago, and I gotta say, that the elastic wrist strap is awesome. Super comfortable. lightweight. easy to put on and off. It doesn't click and clack on the table when you are typing on the keyboard. Sure it's a woman's watch, and it's purple, but I wanted a small watch anyways. Being purple is just icing on the cake. Timex, bring more of these elastic bands out. They rock.

Of course, the watch itself, isn't the greatest in terms of usability. Oh well.

iPhoto '08

Finally! iPhoto will actually be usable now! Why? Simple. Events.

While people laud Apple for it's UI and usablility, bollocks, I say. Apple is just as guilty as any other software maker in making unusable products. iPhoto, pre '08 is the shining example. Before you could only sort by date, or manualy create albums, which were a pain. Who remembers that their camping trip happened June 30th thru July 5th 2001? I don't, and I'm too lazy to manually add every file into an album. Also the other annoying thing was that all your photos were in a single blob on the right hand side. There was no separation saying a photo taken on this day, is separate from a photo taken on the next day, which made it confusing to figure out where albums start and end, if you were to manually add them.

I don't understand how it took people 5 years to figure out that people sort photos by events. It make me wonder whether or not Apple employees actually use their own apps or not. Apple totally replaced iMovie this year, because an Apple Employee found out he couldn't make a movie in 30 minutes or less. The employee got so frustrated, that he made a new tool that became iMovie '08.

For my (free) money, Picasa was 10x more friendly and usable than iPhoto was. Is it any surprise that iPhoto '08 is totally mimicking Picasa?