Hey Commodore! Nice touch on your site with the Weekly Wringer! 

I only discovered your site last week and I must say that you guys do a great job!

I just wanted to add a comment on your subject last week about the PSN Crisis. What  I liked was the way you pointed out FACTS instead of easy opinions on the matter. What I mean is that you looked at both sides of the situation (hackers vs Sony) and talked about the fact that there is no winners nor losers: it is a conflict that is complicated and there is lots of things that we don't know. You handled the rant with intelligence and I respect that.

The reason why I say that is because lots of people on the internet will shout before thinking and the result is what is the Internet right now: a great chaotic storm of insults that goes nowhere with, unfortunately, not enough well though comments.

Anyway, hope you guys go on for a long time and keep up the good work!

I don't mind the twenty minutes long videos, time goes by fast and you have a few things to cover.

As for the hug my cat received it since he likes to sit between me and the monitor. (And no matter what I do he still does it.)

While been looking up Nettop and I am not finding useful information besides specs, so going by what was said in the video I do not like the future. I like my data stored in my procession where I can unplug the Internet cable so no one can get it, and something else to think of now since the PSN was down besides security in other people hands what would you do when service is down?

Naw Commodore, you're not getting rid of us that easy. It'll take more than one rant to do that. 

On the nettop. It supports latest web standards, Adobe, and Flash. I'd assume Java is in there as well. I think it can do well, esspecially if you bow to google, since they offer all the main office style applications through their site. Personally though I don't think I'd go in for it unless they were to find some way to bring in support for some form of remote Desktop. Be it through websites like LogMeIn, or through something google whips up on it's own.

I think this Net top argument hearkens back to the discussion we had about proprietary ownership. Although we cannot physically hold our applications, most people want their applications on the computer.

Personally, I don't want to have to depend on the internet for my applications. I want to know I physically own the program I'm using. The moment you surrender your ownership of something is when companies like Google will tell you what you can and can't do with the programs. It will kill a segment of personal creativity. That's why I won't use Google Docs as it is.

Secondly, what if, like yesterday, the site goes down like Sony's password relaunch site did? Too many people trying to use it at once killed it.

Netflix is already taking up half of the internet's space. Is Google determined to monopolize the rest?

Keep the programs on your computer.

I think that the Nettop design IS the future, but I doubt that the "native" platforms are going to die very easily.  I think the tech is there but the reasons are solely money-related.

1.  Companies pay a lot of money to put pre-installed software on computers.

2.  There are still licensing questions if all this work is done online.  Where are these works saved, and will companies start to charge bandwidth costs to get a cut?

3.  Current free programs may remain free, but perhaps there are premium add-ons (i.e. MS Excel will only let you run PivotTables if you upgrade to a $10/month plan)  In that case, is it worth it?

I dont care for the term nettop, i think a web based os better defines netbook beyond its current definition. I have multiple old, or underpowered laptops running Joli Os. Which is essentially in function an open source chrome os that is freely available today. for the majority of tasks i perform on any given laptop this suits well.
Also i think the big name pc providers (hp, acer, dell) actually get paid to load their pcs with bloatware, essentially offloading them at cost.

I only get one hug a week? Damn. Should I open with it, close with it, stick it in the middle. Hmmm I'll need to think about this... Maybe something new every week.

I don't care for the term nettop, I mostly just use desktop and laptop, for there obvious meanings. However I do run into Netbooks a lot, they are the laptops at my school, a friend of mine has one, etc. Since I am a PC gamer I do not want my app based system to go away. Video Games, Music, and Movie Software, all would have to change. Video Games are allready on their way to using internet based programs, with Flash games getting more advanced (Quake 2 can be played in a web browser now, google it) but it will still change very much, and everyone is afraid of the change, but we have to embrace it and change with it. All of our great games will still be with us, just in a diffrent format. Besides video games will probably all go to Onlive styled sytems if computers go only internet based. As for music and movies, it won't be as simple as putting a disk into your Nettop, but it will probably just mostly be on Ipods/phones/pad things. Not a big deal. Besides if the change really screws something up and the market dosen't want to revert to normal, we could still buy a PC with windows 7 and do whatever we want, even if Microsoft stops supporting it, you'll still be able to connect to the internet and play all things compatable.*HUG* Whatever comes will change things very much, will we like it? Probably not, an internet based computer sounds like a step backwards, we might as well have command lines.

As for your 20 minutes, I don't mind, you got plenty to talk about, I do honestly daze off sometimes, but that was mostly because I had a kick ass bag of Classic Lays Chips while watching.

First thing i am glad you enjoyed my story (yes you did say my name right) and thank you for haveing this so we can share stories and thought on whats going on

This is the first time i have heard of this idea so i did have to read up on it but quite frankly this is apert of ( for me anyway) a distrubingly growing trend fact is they want to stream line the laptop since alot of people are just cruise the web a side result of this is makeing it smaller to be honest i do not like lab tops as is ( im a large person and whenever i tried to use a laptop i feel like i am going to break it) so the net top os no gonna work for me either. what is funny is our cell phone aleady can check the web so i can not help but wonder if the only diffence between a net top and a blackberry is one has a bigger screen and the other you can call out on .

I don't have an answer this week as I'm not really into mobile platforms, but I just wanted to say that I do actually enjoy the longer format.  I'm always pleased to see each installment clock in at around the 20 minute mark as it's though-provoking material.  I think I would actually be disappointed to find episodes ending up being around 6 minutes or so because I think it would feel rushed given the size of the conversations.

Anyway, just my two cents on the matter.  Keep up the good work!

Yes, I can see a big and bright future for the "nettop". But, not today, maybe in 5 or 10 years. Eventually these nettops will "rule the world". But right now, there are too many applications that don't run via browser.

For me as a Software Developer, I can't see a future for those things. If I buy any kind of computer, I want the freedom to install Linux (or whatever I like). (Btw, I just read a news about some web-based linux distribution [1])

Speaking of my job, all this technology that makes things smaller and easier to use, kind of hurts the industry. Back in the 80s or 90s there were more things to take apart which drew interest to education based around technology/science. With alle these things being so complicated today (cars, computers, radios, ...) it seems they are more seen like something "magic", that just works. The curiosity of how things work isn't satisfied, so other interests are followed.

However, the users will always demand computers that are easier to use, so in the end, the nettop or something similar will win.

[1] http://bellard.org/jslinux/

I don't think the Nettop has much of a future. It's product that tries to fit inbetween the laptop and smartphones market, and unless it manages to cost a good deal less than the cheapest smartphone, I just don't think that's viable. As smartphones keep getting better, carrying around a larger portable device with less features just isn't going to be convenient, which is one of the worst things you can say about portable tech.

And for comments on things other than the question, you pronounced my username correctly and I like the longer videos.

Yah I feel quoted, appreciate the shoutout as a new poster, shows you do care about your fans/watchers.  

And on to the chrome dome book (better name for it), I could definitely see this being the next wave of development for the way we interface with technology.  In fact, I was just watching Rin (anime) that spans 100 years (the last episode being set in 2052),  you forgo the need for a interface device and through implants (not explained, but presumed), you are able to log in from anywhere, at anytime, for any reason.  Granted it sounds a little high-tech and sci-fi, but this could definitely be a step towards that direction.  A Laptop that doesn't have any need for personal storage, but access through a cloud to run all your needs. Cool idea.

As I stated in the PSN discussion (glad its back btw, hate running netflix through PC), the next technology waves are aiming for a sense of inter connectivity, being able to access your all your networking devices from anywhere in the world.  Next step will be to advance the processing power of cloud and online applications to mimic what you can do from your PC. 

All in all, definitely think Google, once again, is thinking ahead of the curve, and starting to cut out the middle man.

hey commodore thanks for bringing me up did not expect to get instant results so thanks :)

and as for the weekly wringer, i actually think that google  nettop or whatever its called is kind of a good idea cause they are absolutley right now adays i rarely am accessing anything on my desktop that couldnt be done on an internet based app, so if it were really cheap and a reasonable price compared to an ipad ( where i would just be sitting there browsing the internet while watching tv anyway. it might seem like a decent option, but knowing the way most companies operate it will be way too overpriced and it will be instantly shot down with comments comparing it to the ipad. and how its not as good, and the ipad has the added advantage of being a portable console essentially and allowing the use for apps that are constantly being updated and created for the huge install base that the ipad has at this point.  so nice try google but i think this will fail.

I just recently became aware of "chrome" but didn't know what it was aside the fact a friend tells me they're switching to Chrome as their web browser. Ahh the idea of a net run computer... lots of potential both good and bad.

I have a problem with cellphones doing everything under the sun these days. I just need it as a device to communicate with, and using it for navigation on long trips is a very useful application. Honestly, I like the idea of Chrome for mobile devices now that I am getting more used to the idea that your phone does about everything else these days. I'm wondering when we'll all just skype each other on our phones instead of having numbers - user name assignments instead.

That said, there is a lot of potential both good and bad for this. Specifically, this becomes a problem where hacking is concerned. The PSN incident being fresh in people's minds is a reminder that on the web, anything you post is out there for the general public or the in-theknow hacker. I do like that software updates and patches things, and a compact OS like Chrome is again, ideal for a small mobile device. But, it also leaves itself open as a standardized OS to being a target of hacking and other misuses. Not to mention potential spying software - possibly even from Google itself.

I'm not trying to be conspiratorial here. I do like the fact that when I visit certain websites, the adds tend to tailor themselves to my interests. I think that creates more effective marketing. On the other hand, who gets this info and how is it used? Information is a double edged sword, and probably the most promonent player in this generation of technology.

Now to sound like an old fart here... my first computer was an Amiga 200. Our second home computer ran Windows 3.1. My uncle taught me some of DOS. I still use a lot of the applications and techniques I learned for using a computer way back then. At one job I had, we had to use a DOS based program that did not support a mouse - I was the only new hire that didn't reach for a mouse every two seconds. Over time, many improvements have come along, like being able to give files names longer than 8 characters in length. I still have a midi collection with titles like "FF7Aeris.mid" or "ctyama.mid" etc. Multitasking has really boomed so that multiple applications can run simultaneously and not interfere with one another (though crashes do still occur, the Blue Screen of Death [BSoD] is less recognizable to modern users). I'm hardly anti-technology, but I've never been first one out of the gate to buy a Droid or a terrabyte drive.

My point now is that I like having an OS with domestic software. It doesn't have to be bundled with tons of extras, but a web browser, word processor, and installed devices are nice to have. There are things I won't ever use on this system sure, but I can't see running a system without the basics on it. Overcrowded systems can be a problem too - See VISTA. Windows 7 is the apology for that fiasco and everybody knows it.

I could see Chrome becoming standard for mobile devices, phones and such, but I can't see them so much for home systems. Not sure  if that answers the question exactly. Ah, as for laptops, I don't think it'll replace standard OS like Windows though, simply for the factor of compatibility. If it can communicate with a home system or network, then it'll do. Compatibility is always a big issue with me and technology.

I don't care enough to look to see what "The Cloud" actually is or how it works, all I have to know is it involves not having my stuff in my hot little hands.

I trust it about as far as I can throw the physical infrastructure of the Internet.

is  is is         A "Nettop" just does not sound as versatile as I would like my computer to be.  I mean, if my internet connection goes down, I'm screwed if I have a project I am working on in a web-based application.

^^^

Do I think webtops might be the future? Sure. Do I want to be a part of that "future?" No. Using a webtop means relying on a cloud or network, and I actually value my privacy and independence. And really, some of this goes back to what I mentioned in a previous article. Want to write a paper on a webtop? What if you subscription ran out on MicrosoftWord.com or whatever? What if they got hacked? Out of business? Etc.? If I just had the application I could avoid all of that hassle. And really, I can't think of any applications that would be so much better if they were internet-only that I don't already use today. Wikis are great, and there's E-mail, etc., but those really can't be done without the internet.

I do think webtops could be cheap and ubiquitous enough to be very useful in public spaces, though.

Nice Wringer as always Comodore.  I will say that I Found it mind bogiling that your parents would let you have computer games but not Consoles.

I would also like to state that I am a fan of the Wii for the motion controls and the fairly innovative ways it could be implemented..  Unfortunitly, I didn't see the innovations that I expected to see.  The idea of using the Wiimote for something like an RTS never came to be and there were only a handfull of Shooters on the Wii that were worth playing.  The games nintendo did make were wonderful and innovative.  I'll be it anything with Wii in the title was mediocre at best though, with the Exception of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and, Resident Evil 4 Wii edition (wich is just a port but I count it anyway cause it uses the Wiimotes Motion control).

As a side note, I dont mind the 20+ minute videos.  I have too much free time on my hands and this helps fill the day and gets me thinkings and communing for a change.

My problem with Net Tops stem from the Cloud aspect.  It's a nice idea in theroy... However, for someone like me who has a figidy internet connection (Sometimes its slow, sometimes its fast, and sometimes it just likes to kick me offline randomly.) it just causes things to become delayed.  Another problem that seems to creep into some of the comments here (and I agree with them) is the idea of privacy.  You put your information onto the net for all to see.  Say you have some private files like documents containing credit information and other sort of valuable info.  Yeah, its ocnvieniant to see that infor from any other device as well, but, that means that someone else could find the information and see it as well.  Suddenly that feeling of privacy leaves your doorstep and we enter the world of 1980's style paranoia where the only differense is, instead of big bad Corperate stealing our data, some 30 year old hacker in his moms basement is.  I see this and I think back to the Play station network being hacked.  What if something similar happens to the web based app and it gets hacked, or shut down?  Im a huge fan of inovative and new technology, but, when it comes to something as Excitingly scary as the internet...I have to say, find another way.