Last week I posted a quick intro and my first hands-on post, which was a look at the super-green Sony VAIO W mini notebook. In that post, I told you that I’d follow up with more detail on who I am, what this blog is all about, why I think it’s important, and what to expect out of my posts.
First, a bit about me. I’ve been in technology for most of my career, starting off in biotechnology and then spending a number of years in the virtualization space working on software for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. That experience helped me become well versed in just about every OS you can imagine (hello, Plan 9 and eComStation!) and the hardware it runs on. My tech background is complimented by an Art History degree, so I’m just as interested in good industrial and aesthetic design as I am with raw tech specs.
So why am I writing? Unfortunately, millions of customers view their PC the same way they do their toaster – a useful but boring appliance. I’m working to change that view by bringing to life the colorful, powerful, and beautiful world of PC hardware, explaining the technology that powers them, and serving as a friendly, objective advisor to help you find a PC that is a perfect match for who you are. Basically, I’m out to show the world with a new Windows 7 PC, you’ve got a toaster that doesn’t just make toast – you’ve got a toaster that’ll make you breakfast, get the morning paper…and make your friends green with envy, too.
Over the coming months, you’ll see posts that fall into a few buckets:
OEM partner news: If one of our OEM partners launches a new, exciting PC, you’ll hear about it here first.
Hardware hands-on: I’ll be writing short hands-on posts about new Windows PCs, and whenever possible, shoot an accompanying video so you can actually see what I’m talking about. I’ll dig into what’s under the hood, scenarios it makes possible, and how the PC looks and feels to use.
“Tech trends for dummies”: What the heck is DDR3 memory? Do I want an SSD or an HDD? I’ll cut through the techno-babble on these topics and more to educate you about the latest technology so you can make a more informed buying decision.
Feature & Capabilities videos: Along with my partner in crime Ryan Asdourian, we’ll find some of the most unique Windows PCs and use them to test a common concept (like shock resistance, or video output) in an unconventional way. Laptop trebuchet, anyone?
“Ask Ben Anything”: Sometimes, you just need to ask an expert before you make a big-time decision like buying a PC. Starting soon, you’ll be able to email me your questions, and I’ll choose 3 questions to answer publicly in each post.
The most important part of this blog is, of course, YOU. Like or hate a certain post? Want more in depth looks at hardware, more videos, or think I’m headed in the wrong (or right) direction? Tell me! The more feedback I get, the better this blog will become. Speaking of, you can leave a comment for me here, find me on Facebook, or hit me on Twitter @BenThePCGuy.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you on the blog soon!