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/dev/random: Buying Snake Oil

Author(s): 

Robert G. Ferrell

While I only stood in line for about 45 minutes in order to accomplish it—as opposed to camping for a day or two in a butt-grabber nylon chair on the sidewalk—I got my iPhone 6 today. (Today being September 22, no matter what your calendar says; we’ve talked about publishing relativity before.) I only got the 16 GB version and not the Plus model, either, but announcing this cherry acquisition is not my raison d’être here.

As I was biding my time in the store I wandered over and started playing with a Surface Pro 3. Completely contrary to my expectations, I really liked the feel and functionality of the thing. I may just have to get one if my novels ever start to sell the way my publisher assures me will happen (seconds before the mile-wide asteroid that got by NASA impacts). Of course, if the Surface ran, say, Ubuntu it would be even better (yes, I’ve seen the Geek article on accomplishing this). I fondled it for a while and then in order to express my profound amazement at having enjoyed the experience bought Minecraft for the Xbox 360. I’m sure the logic in this is obvious to you all.

Download Article: 
PDF icon /dev/random: Buying Snake Oil
Article Section: 
COLUMNS
;login: issue: 
December 2014, Vol. 39, No. 6
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