新玩具:AlphaSmart 3000 键盘

Hello, world, again.

This is a small article I typed with the AlphaSmart 3000. What term I should use to describe this machine? It looks like a full-size keyboard. But it comes with a four-line black & white LCD screen on top. On the top right of the machine, there’s a USB port labeled “Computer”. On the top left, there’s a PS/2 port with a “Printer” label. The machine could be powered by three size AA batteries. People say these batteries can last one full year. It does have the third port on the right side, a standard DC power supply. All the features here make me believe this machine is a poor man’s personal computer, or anyone’s electronic typewriter.

When you connect this machine with your Mac or PC. This machine will be identified as a standard “Keyboard”. You can type to your computer with this gadget. Look at the layout carefully. You will find it is almost identical to your Mac. It even has the famous Command key which could be found on every Macintosh.

AlphaSmart 3000
AlphaSmart 3000

So it is a computer, a typewriter, and a keyboard.

Continue reading “新玩具:AlphaSmart 3000 键盘”

《音乐是如何免费的》读后感

每周五 IT 公论的会员通讯是一篇书评,这本《音乐是如何免费的》正是来自他们上上周五推荐。如果你愿意花一点时间来阅读 IT 公论的书评,其实我这个流水账版本完全可以跳过的。

最近音乐产业大事不断,这本书出的时间太巧了,不得不买来看。我当然也盗版过音乐,在学校的时候就在各大校园 FTP 里搜刮各种 MP3 格式的音乐,也追逐过一阵子 0day 小组。那个时候电脑里绝大多数的 MP3 都是各处下载而来,我也想知道这些文件到底是谁生成的。

How Music Got Free
Stephen Witt 作品《音乐是如何免费的》

既然有人推荐,又可以方便地在 Kindle 上买到,于是花了一个周末把这本书读完了。这本书只有两百多页,而且文字不难。

Continue reading “《音乐是如何免费的》读后感”