Written by I’ve noticed (and complained about) several issues with the current crop of tech blogs. Since I’ve always been of the opinion that complaining about something is much less useful than trying to do a better job yourself, I’m going to try my hand at tech blogging. If nothing else, I’ll be in a better position to critique other tech blogs. Speaking of which, I have an open request to Gawker Media: stop trying to defend the new layout and fix it!!!
My first pet peeve is unvarnished fanboyism. (I’m looking at you again, Gawker.) Do I like some Apple products? Yes. Am I writing this post on an iPad? Yes. Do I think The Great Jobs walks on water? No. There isn’t a single tech product on the market today that’s without flaws. Tech blogs need to stop pretending that their favorite gadget is the second coming and report on the good and the bad in balanced fashion. Flaws are a way of life and talking about them helps the industry improve its products. More importantly, the consumer needs to know about these issues in order to make informed decisions.
My other big problem is the assumption that each and every technological advancement or new gadget is a good thing simply because it’s new. There is a difference between wanting something because it’s new and shiny and seeking out something to improve your life, health or workflow in some measurable way. (*cough* 3D televisions *cough*) Have I bought gadgets because they are new and shiny? Oh yeah! Do I eventually regret many of these decisions and wish I had spent my paycheck on other frivolities like food, shelter and clothing? Often, the answer is yes. Shiny is fleeting and expensive. Useful lasts… well… the reality is that, in the tech world, it should last at least a year or so.
Finally, my biggest pet peeve is slogging through an article riddled with poor grammar and spelling. I don’t want to read a post over and over, trying to translate it from some thoroughly mangled attempt at English. I’m reading the post because I want to understand something. I will make mistakes in spelling, grammar and punctuation. Please call me on my mistakes in the comments. I want to be a better writer. This will involve screwing up and being mocked. I can take it.
So, after all that, why am I writing this blog? What is it all about? I’m writing it because I love gadgets and technology. I love to see how our clever machines can make our lives better and I hate to watch as they make our lives worse. I also want to set a standard for objectivity, practicality and readability and learn a few new things in the process. Eventually, I would like my voice to be heard above the noise. I want to help as many people as possible identify the things they can actually use and distinguish them from the pile of shiny gadgets that rabid fanboys want everyone to buy so that they can validate their own investment.
