When I worked for HP, a co-worker showed me how to gain access to the harddrive from the keyboard – a trick HP uses for most laptops.  There’s usually a key that slides over or a tab to switch.

I was also trying to find a low-cost external CD/DVD-ROM, but the cheapest one at Best Buy is $89… I suppose I could go buy one and take it back afterward.  I hate to do that, but don’t really see an easier way.

I’m going to work on installing VS 2008 after lunch today, I’ll have the ISO downloaded and copied to my jumpdrive (all 3.4 GB!!)

I also came to the conclusion that the Netbook, if it catches on for middle- and low-income households, will be the death of CD/DVDs.  With iTunes and the Amazon Music Store, the only reason to spend $30 on a movie or $20 on a CD is so you can have the plastic.

Since anyone can treat themselves to a specific tune, a cheaper iTunes flick or Netflix download without having to go to the store, battle crowds, wait in line, or worry about if the store will even have the movie or cd you’re looking for… I think we might be nearing the end of the CD/DVD era.  Portable external harddrives (and jump drives) have the capacity to hold almost everything you could want or need.  There’s not really a market for massive, unchangeable storage besides video games, home-movies and permanent backups.

Disney is already feeling the pull – they’ve started adding digital copies (codes for iTunes downloads) into their new DVDs.

On the other hand, ultra-affordable PCs include DVD/CD-RWs in them, but they are also cheaply produced and easy to break.

BluRay also faces this challenge – not only is BluRay ridiculously expensive, but it has a very cheap, readily available competitor in internet media.  And – the previous format, DVDs, are still good enough for the majority and half the price, most of the time.  The only real positive BluRay has over downloaded content is that it’s tangible, you can touch a DVD or CD… you can’t touch a download.

I’ve seen a BluRay movie side by side with an up-converted DVD and then with a high-def stream on identical TVs.  There’s hardly any difference.  I’d think most people would be okay sacrificing a little bit of quality to keep a ton of cash.

The only viable BluRay option I see is the PS3 – because then at least you get something good for your $399 (unfortunately, you still have to buy the movies to go with your player – and the peripherals for games!)

Technodamus has spoken!

- 1.6 GHz
- 60 GB (4200 RPM) HD
- 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM
- XP3 (I have my puppylinux usb drive ready to go if needed)
- Webcam
- 2x USB ports
- 10.2 ” Diagonal 1024×600 display (which looks amazing)
- Integrated B/G Wireless
- Integrated Intel 950 Graphics
- SD card slot
- 3-cell Li-Poly battery

The only downside is that it doesn’t have a CD/DVD drive… so I can’t just load VS2008 on there like I’d planned.  Instead I have to download the iso tonight, put it onto my handy 8GB USB drive, and then install it from there.

I didn’t want an out-of-control crazy machine.  I wanted one that could do three things: run VS 2008, podcast, and do video chat on skype.  That’s it.

I’m going to play around with this for a while, and I will most likely upgrade to a 2GB memory chip… then I’ll see about upgrading the harddrive (currently at 60 GB, with Office 2007, VS 2008, and SQL Server, it will probably get down to 30 GB) although I might just carry around my 320 Western Digital Passport – it matches nicely with the finish and wouldn’t take up too much additional footprint or add too much weight to a proper case.

Anyway, that’s all for now – I’ll update again on how well it runs VS 2008 – I’m excited to get it working!!!

-Nick