One thing I could tell is that keyboard looks like partly from zenith guts but I kinda can tell it's not exactly wooden, it's more of computer graphic generated?

BTW, " :) " is an extremely rude and nasty way to insult somebody by stating that they are too stupid to know what is or isn't a joke :-)

On Sat, 6 Feb 1999, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote: Well, I used to absolutely hate the stupid things, and refused to use them, until I realized that yes, sometimes people ARE too stupid to know what is or isn't a joke. See? Now I have to use a smiley :) or else

> BTW, " :) " is an extremely rude and nasty way to insult somebody by stating > that they are too stupid to know what is or isn't a joke :-)

Well, I used to absolutely hate the stupid things, and refused to use them, until I realized that yes, sometimes people ARE too stupid to know what is or isn't a joke. See? Now I have to use a smiley :) or else somebody will be offended by that last line (hint: learn to read between the lines).

Computers of the future will have what appears to be a keyboard on them to be comfortable for old farts like us. They will respond to voice commands, AND to hand gestures. In addition to Chuck's ASL, they will readily support using 8 fingers to input raw ASCII. But, ... when anyone other than the primary user attempts to use them, Windoze 1900 will fail, displaying the woooden screen of death. Actually the whole thing will go wooden, not just the screen! (Based on Microsoft's invention of multitudinous new ways for computers to go dead.) There is some concern that their use of zero-point 3-phase power sources may occasionally cause some of them to move through time, and possibly even end up in pre y2K time periods! Fortunately the "go-wooden" security failure system should be sufficient to prevent anyone finding one from realizing what it really is. (unless they offer it up as a RARE PROTOTYPE on e-bay). Ever have a neighboring passenger on a plane be exceptionally annoying about your laptop? Wooden ones are great for that situation. BTW, " :) " is an extremely rude and nasty way to insult somebody by stating that they are too stupid to know what is or isn't a joke :-) -- Grumpy Ol' Fred On Sat, 6 Feb 1999, Doug wrote: > On Sat, 6 Feb 1999 jpero(a)cgocable.net wrote: > > > One thing I could tell is that keyboard looks like partly from zenith > > guts but I kinda can tell it's not exactly wooden, it's more of > > computer graphic generated? > > The keyboard is just about the only "real" part. It probably looks > computer generated because of the jaggies I introduced when transforming > my messy workspace background into a blue screen. > > It's a work of art. I've seen mock-ups before, but not this detailed. > Really the only way I could tell it was a fake was from a very small area > where the wood is exposed. It looks like somebody tried to pry it open > along one of the seams (only to find that it was a single block of wood > with fake seams). > > The hinges really work, the screen is a sheet of dark reflective plastic, > the touchpad is another sheet of plastic, the mouse buttons and latches > are fixed position, there are fake connectors embedded in it, and > carved PCMCIA, port, and battery covers. > > I've always wanted a wooden laptop to go with my metal GRiDs and acrylic > Headlands prototype. If I can find a glass subnote and a stone PDA, I'll > be all set.... > > -- Doug

Great comic writers, such as Douglas Adams, manage to convey the concept of what is to be taken seriously without using them;