AOL Tech

witewater

Member since: Dec 10th, 2009

witewater's Latest Comments

Blog Activity
Blog# of Comments
ParentDish1 Comment
Gadling2 Comments
AOL TV1 Comment
Slashfood1 Comment
AOL Radio Blog1 Comment
Switched1 Comment
Politics Daily6 Comments
Inside TV Blog2 Comments
Fanhouse Soccer Blog1 Comment
AOL Jobs2 Comments
AOL Small Business3 Comments

Recent Comments:

Video of the Day - Extreme kayaking around the world (Gadling)

Apr 18th 2011 10:58AM Always nice to see another extreme Whitewater Video! I could never manage anything remotely close to what these folks do bit I am glad that SOMEONE can do it!

Yes, Even Apple Screws Up Sometimes (AOL Small Business)

Mar 31st 2011 4:46PM VisiCalc was the "killer app" that resulted in lots of sales of all PCs- not just Apples. By the time I was becoming entranced with personal computers, it was my impression that the IBM Personal Computer was regarded more as the computer for business and Apples were carving a niche in the education market. As such, I might suggest that VisiCalc helped sell more IBM-PC(and the MicroSoft Operating Systems that users were required to buy in the process), and not so much a factor in selling Apples.
To their credit, in addition to courting the Education market and making Apple II's relatively affordable for educators, Apple had a few other inherent advantages to the adventurous new computer users. First, the Apple II family was an open architecture design. It was easy to "get under the hood" and it had 6 or 7 expansion slots that third party manufacturers soon figured out how to fill up with cards that made the computers do a huge variety of things. Secondly, Apple bundled their operating system and a version of BASIC computer language with the computer. This enabled Apple users to gain as much control over their machines as their inner geek could desire.

So, did VisiCalc "make" Apple Computers? Perhaps to a small degree, but I think that the abilities to understand who makes up their market and to design products that push the edges of technology have played a larger role in their success.

Yes, Even Apple Screws Up Sometimes (AOL Small Business)

Mar 31st 2011 1:43PM my compliments, PotentialKEN, on your well presented comments. YOU should have been the one writing the original article. I reluctantly also agree with your assertion that the link between commercial failure and Commercial success is better represented by the evolution of what started as Newton technology. Much of the iPhone's functionality had its roots in the Newton Message pad; even the abilities to play music(with some hardware hacks) and to wirelessly connect to the internet . I think that the Newton technology was regarded to be a PDA OS when in actuality, was far more versatile. And in that perception were sown the seeds of economic failure.

Yes, Even Apple Screws Up Sometimes (AOL Small Business)

Mar 31st 2011 1:29PM Much as it is fun to bash Steve Jobs, it is good to note that line of Macs that was sold in retail stores (and looked vaguely like toasters) were not the spawn of Jobs. I'd have to agree with Rick that the Apple III was probably one of the biggest doorstops that Apple produced- you've never seen another Apple product with a "3" of any sorts in its name. The Newton was promoted by John Skully, the Pepsi Exec that Jobs brought in to manage Apple- and who forced Jobs out, according to many. I think you'd get a lot of debate from Newton users. "Newton" evolved into more of an operating system and some of its advocated developed a hacked version that ran on a PDA. I've worked with a Newton Message Pad for a few years and appreciate its versatility and the robustness of it's features. Although Jobs continues to disavow the product, in many ways the Newton was more of a computer than a PDA and can be construed as an early vision of what would become the iPad.

Top Beers of 2010 (Slashfood)

Dec 30th 2010 8:33AM There are lots of delicious beers out there. My recent favorites have been Founders Brewing Company's Milk Stout and Backwood Bastard. Also like Erie Brewing's Rail Bender and Cease and Desist Ale although the Beer advocate folks don't like them so much. One of the best beers I've had this year was consumed in a brew pub in Kutztown Pa and was a bourbon stout.

The moral of the story is that there are delicious brews throughout the country that may be known to but a relatively small group of beer lovers. Thanks to Pioneers like Fritz Maytag and Jim Koch, craft beers have become available throughout the country and we "beer snobs" are all the better for it. Anchor Brewing, Sammy A, Stone, and Flying Fish, to name a few, might not always his home runs, but they sure hit the mark WAY more often than they miss.

Dani Jarque Tribute Written on Iniesta's Shirt in World Cup Final (Fanhouse Soccer Blog)

Jul 12th 2010 7:41AM I agree with you that the message on the shirt was a nice way to honor his friend. Had he not scored the goal however, would anyone be talking about it? Especially in matches where there is a large media presence, goal scorers are noticed and as such, can have a moment of "free speech" at the game's expense. This is all well and good, in my opinion, provided the message is not hateful or does not bring the wearer financial gain. I remember before the ban was in place at an MLS game, the goal scorer removed his shirt to reveal a derogatory message aimed at a team that, the week before had seriously injured the team's Goalkeeper. Perhaps the rule is a little over the top, but I also think that FIFA tries to exercise some diligence in trying to maintain a spirit of sportsmanship in the game.

Top 100 Classic Rock Songs -- Part Five of Five (AOL Radio Blog)

Jun 10th 2010 7:02PM This survey, or what ever the heck it is, does not indicate any methodology but I surmise that it might be based on requests for certain songs. If so, it proves that the general aol listening audience: a)has little album oriented listening experience, b) has no perspective of the music movement of the 60's and 70's, and c) deserves the disco and hip hop tripe that has been served up to them by the profit oriented, ship as many tons of cd's as possible, music "industry." If the listeners to aol radio had ANY ability to listen to music discriminatly, they'd be listening to Wolfgangs vault

Elena Kagan's Fashion Sense: Robin Givhan and the Nominee's Legs (Politics Daily)

May 26th 2010 6:47AM Responding to the comments by einsdsmith
7:53AM May 25th 2010
"The American People haven't a choice on Kagan ,Our government doesn't listen to us under this socialistic administration..The majority of the American people thinks this a bad decision by Obama.."

This may come as a revelation, but Supreme Court Justices are NOT public elections. The Constitution, which so many of you are fond of touting as a basis for your "liberty," stipulates that it is the President's responsibility and privilege to nominate Supreme Court Justices which are then confirmed by the Senate. Perhaps when you vote for administrations and Congressional Representatives, you should consider this when you pull the levers. As it stands, the Duly elected President is exercising his CONSTITUTIONAL authority. THIS IS NOT SOCIALISM. In fact, if you are inclined, you can lobby your Senators to vote against the nomination. Just remember that your voice is mostly tied tot he political influence you have with your Senator. This is especially true since the Supremes decided that Corporations have freedom of speech rights equal to those of individual citizens. Of course, since Corporations can buy and sell the likes of us on a daily basis, you can imagine the influence that individuals carry. The abrogation of our individual rights has been brought to you by a Supreme court with activist justices appointed by both the Bushes. So when you talk about things being stuffed down your throat, I would ask, where were you when Bush was doing it?

FOX Picks Up Four New Series, Renews 'Lie to Me' and 'Human Target' (AOL TV)

May 17th 2010 7:09PM I am thrilled that Human Target was renewed!!!! This show has high production values, interesting scripts and great actors. It's not Masterpiece Theater but it is incredibly enjoyable; like watching a new James Bond Movie every week!!

'College and Career Ready'? Education Reformers Need That Defined (Politics Daily)

May 15th 2010 8:12PM Yep! The Federal Government should keep their fingers out of the Educational Pie, just like Ol' Georgie Bush did with "No Child Left Behind" and his unfunded Mandates. That certainly did nothing to raise the cost at the local level for education. OH! I forgot!! It's ok when Republicans stick their fingers everywhere