September 27, 2005
Bad Ideas Dot ComPosted by Bryan
CNet has put out a list of the 10 worst tech gadgets.
I own a cue cat. Never used it. I think the store actually gave me two, in case the first wore out from a plethora of cue-catting. Not only was the tool basically useless, but it didn't co-exist well with my Dell Mouse. I value domestic tranquility too highly to let an atmosphere of techdork anarchy thrive in my home.
I knew Microsoft Bob. He was a friendly-enough guy. Not very helpful, though. On a totally unrelated note, I saw last night on Arrested Development that Charles formerly in Charge Scott Baio will begin a guest stint as the replacement lawyer for the formerly cool Fonz Henry Winkler. Baio's character's name? Bob Loblaw. Go ahead. Say it once. If you do, you'll be saying it a half-dozen more times. Hats off to Opie Cunningham (who ironically rarely removes his own ball cap) for casting his fellow Happy Days alumni in this always-funny underwatched comedy.
I knew Microsoft ME. Never installed it. I was told it was not very helpful. In fact, after our house fire in 2000, I bought an entire computer piece-meal, mostly through Ebay (live and learn, I know. Not my best decision ever.). And the PC came with ME. And a tech friend told me that installing it would be an even bigger mistake than the whole buy-a-PC-thru-Ebay decision. So, now it sits, boxed within a box, unopened and unwrapped. My only hope is that one day I'll discover an image of the Virgin Mary on it, so I can sell it on Ebay and recoup the loss.
When we lived in Florence, CO, at the home of some church members who wintered in Mexico (while our home was being built), they used the Pocket Mail system. I remember her complaining that it cost like $14 per minute, so we shouldn't send them email. I love it when you can buy a product that you tell people to not force you to use it due to expense. That really makes the perceived value of the item skyrocket. Kinda like a Faberge Egg, only not as pretty.
The only other item on the list with which I have interacted is the Furby*, and that was when I briefly picked up one to consider as a gift for the child of someone who I don't remember. I thought the critter looked a lot like a Gremlin with a third eye, so I thought maybe Hoyt Axton** had a legitimate trademark gripe if he wanted to press the issue. Like the Gremlins, there are three rules to owning a Furby: 1. Keep your receipt. 2. Demand cash and not store credit, and 3. Only regift a Furby to someone you do not like. I put the toy back on the shelf, only slightly concerned that the varmint's mind's eye was reading my brain, like on Scanners.
Have you interfaced with any of these doodoohickeys?
*You'll be sure to want to follow this link, to meet the "New Furby" that laughs a la the Teletubbies and occasionally farts like my brother's dog Rollo. That's a toy every parent would want for their kiddoes.
**Still alive, according to reports as recent as 1997.
September 27, 2005 7:38 AM