jvlgato

iDepends?

Wow! Just found out the electronic medical records web site I was interested in ONLY works on Internet Explorer! No Firefox, no Safari ... So, no iPad. That's a deal breaker, don't you think? Shows you how prepared the medical community is for the big electronic records transition ... So I've been researching other sites, and most of them have their demos done in Flash, which I believe iPad will not support. Is not supporting Flash a big problem in your minds? I hate compatibility wars - I'm still watching videos on my HD DVD player and I think I still have a DBX cassette player in my closet. Still think DBX was better than that darn 'Doubly'! )

Yup, I think this is exactly right, and is this what the iPad is all about. I keep reading about how tablets are used so much in health care, but I don't have one. I've thought about it, but they're big, clunky, quirky, you have to boot up, and they're just expensive. All my drug reps carry them, I ask how they like it, and ALL of them hate it - 'they're big, clunky, quirky, and you have to boot up all the time' is what they say. So I don't want to spend thousands on this thing. I also keep reading about how healthcare is moving toward electronic health records (EHR). I fully agree that it is, and I am seeing this occur in the hospitals, but as a solo practitioner, I'm not spending thousands on EHR software that's big, clunky, and too complex for my old office computers to handle. Plus it'll be obsolete in a few years, anyway. I AM using online faxing services, and that's really great, but these middle aged eyes are squinting (even though I already look like I'm squinting all the time!), and I'm constantly scrolling, when trying to read it off my Blackberry. (I know, iPhone has a bigger screen - but trust me, I'd still be squinting.) Well, I am now planning to switch over to EHR using an iPad some time in the next year. I have 15 years worth of patient records I'm trying to figure out where to put. I have 8 boxes of old insurance records in my home waiting to be shredded, 8 boxes of patient notes I have to keep somewhere probably forever, my helper is always complaining about thinning the cabinets, I need to thin the charts etc ... Plus, when I'm on the road, I can't access the charts. There are some online companies finally developing some reasonably functioning and reasonably priced (monthly subscription) EHR software which would keep all the records in the cloud. There are great scheduling services becoming available in the cloud. Broadband is cheap and reliable now, mobile data is becoming cheaper and more available... I think in the next year or so, I'll be typing all my patient records into the cloud via iPad. I'll have access to every record that would otherwise be stuffing my 16 boxes of paperwork, I won't have to worry about storage space, I can access my work and personal schedule, my faxes, and maybe play a game, listen to some tunes or watch the Browns lose and the Cavs win, all on this small, easy/fun to use, light weight device. In the next 5-15 years, (hopefully) all the labs will connect into the system, and maybe the hospitals and other doctors, too, and I can also access all labwork and other doctor's info (with patient permission, of course - Dusty can decline!). I can also envision something similar happening in many other fields. A worker in the field needs a blueprint or diagram, calls the office, and it's emailed into his hands. Need the schematic of that amp? I'll send it right over. Why bother running up to the computer, booting up, logging onto your email, downloading, then printing? Just 'instant on' the iPad, a couple of clicks, and there it is on your table next to you. I can imagine 90% of applications running on a remote supercomputer/large storage, with local access via a simple, networked 'computer' equipped with a friendly OS. So I really agree with Grawk's statement here. Didn't Sun's Ellison say a long time ago that we'd all be working on a networked dummy terminal one day? (Could be wrong, but seem to remember that ...)

Nice article! I've always felt that the best technology is the kind that runs so seamlessly in your life, that you hardly even notice it, other than the fact that it gets something done and works great!

Oh dang! Wasn't there something about Tmo on both 1700 and 2100Mhz or was that just a wet dream I had once?

I wonder the same since I am on Tmo. I know att and tmo both use GSM and you can swap SIM cards, unless one of the companies goes out of its way to block them (which they do). Here are the specs for the Tmo Bold 3g off Cnet's site: WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Sure seems like it should work, plus why go out of your way to say 'all iPads are unlocked' unless there was a reason to? I sent off an email to a friend who might know more ...

Plus I wonder how easy it will be to set up service and backup and restore personal settings? What has been the experience for iTouch and iPhone users? Can you get the replacement in before you have to send in the old one? If not, no iPad for a week or more every time your battery dies.

Regarding being locked into AT+T - I've read a couple of places that the iPad is 'unlocked'. But can't find anywhere at what frequencies the built-in 3G receiver operates. I wonder if one could either insert a T-Mo (micro?) or other network's SIM card and have the 3G receiver work, or if one could use the built-in dock or Bluetooth to tether to a Blackberry?

I have a half time job for the gubment, and they have a pretty strict firewall. Luckily, it hasn't blocked HC yet! But I do keep two internet windows open and a quick alt-tab if anyone walks in does the trick. Last year, one of the computer support guys got fired for surfin' porn at work. HE doesn't seem too bright to me ...

Huh, weird. It doesn't seem too bright to me at all ...

Right, forgot that one. Although that's usually really obvious when I turn bright red. Happens to a fair number of us Asians, ya know. Defects us, missing an enzyme to break down alcohol all the way. Doesn't stop me from drinking, though.

Although I do wonder now if everyone thinks I'm always half asleep or suspicious of them ...

LOL. Responses all appreciated. I know there's lots of Asians here. And if it wasn't clear, I was being sarcastic ... although looking back, I don't see any of the smiley faces I input. Maybe a victim of the smiley module problem? I'll do it manually this time )

I finally got the spikes last week! http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu166/jvlgato/utf-8BSU1HMDAyOTEtMjAxMDAxMTEtMjIxM.jpg Trying different sized bolts was excellent advice, it was 3/8" 16 thread, and nothing else fit, of course. But that's important, because this size turned out to be really rare. In fact, I called about 5 places, and two speaker parts places said they only had 24 thread, but that's close enough, shouldn't be a problem. I would have bought those, thinking they know what they're talking about and they wouldn't have fit. I finally got a special order from Oregondv - Audio Equipment, Audio Video, Speaker Feet, Home Theater and they did a really nice job. Early returns are good - much more precise imaging, vocals seem cleaner, bass tighter. And when I painstakingly place them in a spot, they stay there. My son has his marbles back , and I didn't have to level my floor! Thanks for all the help!

Hey! And with that post, I am now a 'Limited Edition Bronze Participant'! Cool!

I knew it ... they say you're only paranoid if you're not actually being followed ...

Does the Head Case icon at the top look more slanty eyed, or am I just being sensitive? I was the only Chinese guy in my school growing up, so I don't need HC teasing me now. Just be straight with me - the HC icon is teasing me, right? Make it stop!

Nice article, HPA! Makes me think: 1. I am an audio zombie, substituting audio consumption for consumption of human flesh. (Anyone else?) 2. This is why I never eat brains. (Refer to 'bizarre foods' thread). 3. I wish I could have gone to Harvard for my residency. The psychiatry of zombies?! They do all the best research ...

Makes sense, got it. But, I thought Hannibal Lechter preferred liver, fava beans, and a nice chianti (slurp, slurp) ... ?

Bluetooth or wired dock would be great, although I'd be perfectly happy with either option paired with an iTouch. I've read theories that Apple disallows this with the iTouch in order to not steal sales from the coming tablet. So maybe there is hope? I'd love a fold up portable version of this keyboard! Yikes! I thought we were talkin' $500-ish here:?! Oh, and can anyone clarify ... do zombies HAVE to eat the flesh and bowels of living people or do they just do it for the fun and pleasure of it?

Great article! I'm very interested to see what this device will be like. I am still using an old Palm TX for scheduling, contacts, notes, and medical programs. Its screen is getting old and less responsive, and the battery starting to die, but I don't want to buy an expensive new Palm TX or pay $299 to get it fixed since it is a dying (or already dead) OS. I lust after an iTouch, but I MUST be able to use a physical keyboard because I routinely enter quick sentences here and there as I update patient info while I'm on the phone or after a patient encounter (I touch type very quickly, but thumb type horribly). I also work at two offices, and sometimes enter info from home or on the road, so need it to be very portable. I still write paper notes in the office, but in the future will likely switch to electronic health records kept in the cloud. I have a colleague who as of a year ago still carried around a Newton, he loved it so much! Most of the med students carry an iPhone/iTouch, but they don't need to type on a keyboard like I do. Nothing that I know of quite fits the bill, but I am hoping this will!

Happy belated Birthday! Hope it was a good one!

Adding that I was made aware of this by a friend, who said it was re-posted for its historical interest.

http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/193/# Interesting read of Stereophile's first review of the new technology called 'Compact Disc'. Esp interesting to read about the incredible potential which was not quite fulfilled, but will be, the costs involved, and Doug Sax's and The Absolute Sound's concerns for poor sound quality. And of course, RIP, JGH ...

My recollection (and my memory is getting old and feeble, mind you!) is that Magnepan went after them for patent infringement. Apogee's ribbons (or pseudoribbon or whatever) were too much like Maggies, and Magnepan owned the patent for the technology for this type of speaker driver. I don't recall whether it went to court, or if Apogee realized they had no case, I'd need to Google this and I don't have time at the moment. But in any case, shortly after that, Apogee went out of business. When I have time I'll look it up, or maybe someone else has better memory or more time? In any case, it was heart breaking! But I'm pretty sure there was more to it than they just got old or couldn't make enough money ... sorry for being so vague for now ...