n_maher

So I got to try one of these this weekend at the Apple store in Boston. While cool I didn't find it magical or particularly revolutionary. I still think that there's a certain type of user for which this is the perfect device, I'm just not it. If I spent any significant amount of time on a bus, train or plane it'd be a no brainer but for casual web surfing on the couch I greatly prefer my macbook. I also found the aluminum chassis to be very slick and imagine that most will use a case simply to have something more tactile to hold onto. The screen is also (as already reported) a finger-print magnet which in the insanely bright lights of the store was pretty distracting. Conclusion - I doubt I'll own one any time soon unless I come into more money than I know what to do with.

Agreed, the mix of metric and standard (mm dims, 4-40 screws) doesn't seem likely to be found on a shelf.

W5000, good lord I did not like them. Seriously though Dinny, perhaps checking out the D7000 would be a good idea. I think they can often be found in the 5-600 range and Tyll spoke pretty highly of them.

Congrats!

Not really, no. I have one has well and its functionality is pretty much limited to PCBs with those big jaws although as Chris said you can buy other heads for it.

The model 301 has served me well for many years now. PanaVise Products, Inc. One thing that might be worth adding would be the 312 base, which adds a lot of stability and a place to stash a few parts while you're working. PanaVise Products, Inc. And you might find both cheaper with a little searching, I can't remember where I ordered my stuff from in '04.

Where there's a will (and sufficient stupidity) there's a way, Mark! What is really epic about the thing is that the 1/2" diameter tool holder works perfect for the wood router bits that I have. The wood bits not surprisingly cut much better than the end mills that I have on hand. And of course things like this really are a sickness, just dropped $130 on accessories to make it more "useful".

Yup, it has two digital scales hard mounted to the table. I just tested the first use case - precision wood router for recessing thick wood front and back panels. It rocks. This should work equally well for aluminum and will be tested in the very near future.

I got a screaming deal on it Steve, $300 with a (semi) crappy stand, the tooling and some aftermarket tool holders. Just the two DRO scales cost a third of that at least and the tool holders another $50+. And Stretch, while I could, I won't, we're still going fancy with yours and I promise progress next week.

I was getting anxious waiting for the big mill to show up (still weeks away) and spotted something interesting on Craigslist, which I went to pick up this afternoon. It's a well worn Grizzly G8689 that came with a bit of tooling and DRO's on both the X and Y axis. I've already made some wood chips with it and it won't be long before I throw some aluminum on the table and get serious.

I doubt it, as useful as it may be given that I think my MB is just slightly too small a viewing surface already and my penchant for multitasking while I browse I have yet to find somewhere where the "bulk" of the MB is a problem. I'm not saying I don't get it, but I also get why some people don't want it.

I have a harder time figuring out what I'd use an iPad for than I do a MBP.

Indeed. My dad is a wood hound, he's got a storage shed out behind the house with 500 board feet of various types from Oak, to Cherry, Ash, Maple and a few others I think. I hope to add a new dimension to the hilarity of my shop today, pics to follow later tonight.

I would not say that a USB-SPDIF converter that colors the sound is a "good result".

Sweet Mark, that stuff looks nice whatever it is. Looks like it's hard enough that we could machine it. I'm currently waiting to hear back from a client who is trying to sell his house, part of which is an old barn where he kept a bunch of wood that he used to build boats. There are some huge planks there, some 2" to 3"+ rough sawn and 10' to 15' in length. I'd love to get even a little of it to use for various projects and it sounded like he might just want to have someone come haul it all away.

Apologies to the international folks, you're fooked. Apple Delays iPad Global Deliveries -- Apple iPad -- InformationWeek

Agreed. I downloaded it, tried it, deleted it. 2 level zoom, massive fail. Rendering everything through proxy servers, security fail.

Jenny Owen Youngs - Transmitter Failure I really like this album and not just for the cover.

Eff those places are never near me.

Assumption is the mother of all fuckups. A good friend of mine growing up, who was well trained in firearms use, assumed a hand gun that he was cleaning was empty and shot the fridge in the kitchen. Thankfully it and a bottle of milk (I shit you not) were the only casualties.

Agreed. Although with Lost I more feel like they should have skipped a couple of the middle years and just brought us to this season sooner.

Caprica - I'm enjoying this quite a bit. Also Chuck - can't help but feel like they are positioning this show to be done after this year.

I've heard at least some rumblings of display issues with the 27" series of iMacs but they were also allegedly addressed with two firmware updates about a month ago. Apple claims iMac display issues are fixed | MacFixIt - CNET Reviews My 2

I really want to sell our Win based laptop, give my wife my 13" macbook and get a new 15" MBP. Ugh.

I'm assuming some sort of celebration is in order?