Barbie sat on the periphery; a known entity, but not one I was very interested in getting to know better. I was aware of her spectacular outfits and handsome boyfriend Ken, but at the end of the day I was far more interested in my Crash Test Dummies set or my Micro Machines.

My interest in technology, I feel very strongly, was incubated in part because I grew up in a house that encouraged it. I was allowed to tinker with my toys (usually destroying rather than enhancing) and to spend hours playing with my Nintendo or Game Boy. Kids are always going to make their own decisions about what they like or don’t like (and clearly not all of them have the advantage of a surplus of toys around the house), but I believe that one of the main reasons more girls don’t become interested in technology and IT is because they’re taught (or shown) that this is the realm of the boys.

Now, getting back to Barbie. Despite her physically unattainable body shape (which has probably caused more than one case of body dismorphia in a young female), she’s had a lot male-centric jobs in her day: an Air Force fighter pilot, a firefighter, NASCAR driver, and President just to name a few. Her latest endeavor, computer engineer, is interesting for several reasons: it was voted upon online, and won largely due to a campaign on (male-dominated) link-sharing site Reddit; computer engineering is one of the final frontiers where women are still hugely underrepresented; and finally, there’s just not a lot of romanticism involved with the profession. How many 5 year-old girls out there say they want to be computer engineers when they grow up?

Barbie’s popularity could have helped in that last area. When I say, “could have,” I mean that had this happened 10 years ago, when Barbie was still relevant to a young girl’s development, it could have had a lasting effect on the number of women involved in that career path further down the line. While Barbie sales have seen an uptick in the last year, she has a lot of new competition: there are far more interesting and flashy things for young girls to latch onto, like Bratz, iCarly, Moxie Girls, Hannah Montana, etc.

The Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering worked with the Barbie designers at Mattel to make a model that fit the “look” of a female computer engineer. I don’t know too many women in IT rocking the sparkly leggings and white leather vests to work at the office (unless… she’s from the future). Clothing choices aside, I think this is a good move. The fact that something as quintessentially feminine as Barbie is out there showing little girls that IT and computer engineering isn’t all for the boys is encouraging. It’s a small step, but hopefully one that leads other toy manufacturers to follow.

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Crazy Cat Lady Hour
WoW for Fun and Profit
Find the Right Cable!
I’m on a Larp!
CSI: Hartford (Nothing ever happens)
America’s Next Top Shaman
Man vs Wild vs Belmont
Chuck’d (Each week a dumpster dive reveals what gadgets V threw out to make room for her new ones)
Deadliest Glitch
The Cat Whisperer
Bacon Today
Homemade Hipster Ham… and Friends
Devo’s Bird Watching Hour
The Awkward Situation Room
Mr Littlejeans Goes to Washington But is Tricked into a Bath
Connecticut Shore

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In the most recent episode of Tekzilla, you’ll learn that I have incredible… eye-mouth coordination? Something like that. Stick with it through the credits, there’s plenty more where that came from.

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Is Roxxxy the kind of thing that will stay very niche, or are we looking at the future of sex toys?

Roxxxy is expensive and the bar to entry (ahem) is too high for most consumers insofar as access, acceptance and maintenance, not to mention it’s made as a boutique item from a single inventor. For any sex toy to go from niche, obscurity and cult status, it must be affordable, widely distributed, mass produced, have name brand recognition, be easy to use, and achieve mainstream acceptance; the Rabbit Habit vibrator (popularized on Sex and the City) is a perfect example of this. Roxxxy in its current form will most certainly remain niche, especially as other ’sex robot’ manufacturers worldwide have already surpassed Roxxxy on many levels. And we shouldn’t forget that RealDoll has already cornered the lifelike sex doll market while Roxxxy is little more than a cross between RealDoll and a Tickle Me Elmo.

Why are people so obsessed with the idea of sex robots?

People have fantasized about sex with robots since at least 1886, thanks to science fiction, when the first female android mate was made popular in French author Auguste Villers novel “The Future Eve” (“L’Eve Future”). In it, a fictional Thomas Edison creates a human female android for a despondent male friend who hates his real-life fiancée so much he wants to kill himself. Edison kindly offers to make him a robot replica of the fiancée, but without all that bothersome personality. Sex with robots is the ultimate manifestation for our fantasy of having sex with things that have no feeling, free of consequences.There are many advantages to sex with a human, and many things you will not get — yet — from a machine, like skin touch, smell, eye contact, tenderness, etc. Those things that humans alone can provide (so far) are only part of the sexual experience, but they are so fraught with intensity that they can often dominate the experience. Since we are socialized to not be blatant about physical pleasure, even if we’re blatant about sexuality, engaging in that kind of physical expression, and focusing on the purely penetrative and rhythmic, is liberating for many, including women.

I think it’s important that we reconsider calling an item with no robotics and no movement (or actuators) a robot. There are no robotics in Roxxxy, save for sensors that only transmit feedback for audio responses.

Would a male version of a doll like this ever work for women?

Yes, absolutely. Probably even more successfully than for men, provided she’s handy with tools and has rudimentary programming skills when her Robert PattinsonXXX Love Doll has a system crash. What’s fascinating is how openly and unquestionably women have embraced sex with machines: whether vibrators, or large-scale sex machines such as those seen as infamous machine sex websites where it’s only women, machines and authentic orgasms. According to “The Technology Of Orgasm” by Rachel Maines, women have been having orgasms with machines since at least 1860, and the first at-home self-stimulation device was widely marketed to women in 1918 so it’s proof positive that on our own, women have no inhibitions about having sex with machines. We’ve been doing it much longer than men. It’s true that a machine enables huge variations in how one conjures an orgasm, as in speed, stroke, size, vibration, steadiness, how long it all lasts — things that wouldn’t be possible with a human.

Should real women be worried about being replaced in the bedroom?

Not at all. In the same way that men joke — sort of — while buying vibrators for their girlfriends and wives that they’re worried it might replace them, it’s an ungrounded anxiety that simply isn’t true. By 2010 we’ll see toys that realistically mimic certain human elements of the sexual experience. But people will always have to suspend an element of disbelief to complete the fantasy; you can’t fool all of the senses, and sex with another person is a sense-reliant experience. For some people, and only some (not most), they are more than happy with having a fantasy lover than a real life companion or mate, but because their orientation does not suit them for intimate human relationships. These people will be happy to have a sex robot to manifest their fantasy instead of a human being, but again, these aren’t the people you’ll see at singles’ bars or dating meetups in the first place.

Despite the creator’s claims, there have been lots of sex robots out there. What makes this one different? Better? Creepier?

Yes, worldwide there have been many sex robots, and his efforts have been exceeded by many companies and manufacturers (First Android, Zoltan and Alice + Kiri, Le Trung’s Project Aiko, Kokoro/Actroid). What makes this one different is that a) unlike First Androids the body does not move, and b) also unlike First Androids, it has programmable personality programs. Roxxxy is not a robot. I’m not sure how advanced the AI is, if indeed it is a genuine ELIZA-style (AIML) AI (artificial intelligence computer entity, a program that is a natural language chatterbot). Or if it’s just a canned response ‘bot, that reacts to certain stimulus with preset phrases. We don’t know what he’s running, so we don’t know if the programming is as advanced as a ‘virtual girlfriend’ like KariGirl or A.L.I.C.E. So in many ways, it’s one step forward and many steps right in place. It’s definitely creepier, as it’s so clearly based on the face and body of one particular girl. It’s no better than a RealDoll (a high quality item), not by far, but it is a different experience. Roxxxy certainly has more hype than any other sex “robot” innovation standing — or not.

Further reading on Asylum

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With that simple statement of “Hello, I’m Jim Donnelly from The Internet!” he quickly became a sensation:

After reading the story, I decided to post it to my Facebook page. After all, it’s not every day someone promotes their Facebook account via newspaper. Lo and behold, Jim paid me a visit in the comments, and so I decided to ask him a few questions to learn more about why he decided to reach out to people in this particular manner, and how the attention this week has been. The interview (and his extensive answers) are after the jump.

Tell us about yourself! What do you do for a living?

For the past 33 years, I was a TV Producer and manager of a regional Cable TV studio in New Bedford, Massachusetts under a succession of corporate banners. We produced local news and sports programs, talk shows, cooking shows, etc. My run there ended suddenly in the summer of ‘09. No hard feelings. It was a good ride while it lasted.

I’ve been a tech early adopter, enthusiast and evangelist. I’m guessing you don’t remember when a spreadsheet was something made of paper that covered half a conference room table. When you changed a single budget number with an eraser and a pencil, you had to recalculate across and down, using an old-fashioned calculator with a paper roll. I helped the Cable TV company build its first computer payroll budget using BASIC code on a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A with data storage on standard cassette tape. It was thrill after thrill over the years, as the first IBM-compatible PC arrived with two floppy drives, then one with a 10MB hard drive, then a Novell token-ring network, and so on.

People today are spoiled, you hook peripherals up and they work! We used to have to send “strings” of gobbledygook characters to printers and modems to coax them to work properly.

Among the TV programs I produced was a series that ran from 1995 through 2006 called “world@your.pc”. If I may alliterate, I think of myself as a “Low-Level Leo Laporte”. Let’s be clear, I’m not worthy to shine Leo’s shoes, but I participated in the same “sport”, if not in the same league. If my data is correct, in 1995 about a third of homes in the U.S. had a computer in them and about 5% had a connection to the Internet, so “world@your.pc” was geeky cutting-edge for its time here in New Bedford.

“world@your.pc” consisted of two-minute segments within news programs, and standalone half-hours, playing in several regions of Massachusetts, as well as the Atlanta area, upstate New York and some areas in California. I dispensed computer operation tips, keyboard shortcuts, and explored useful and entertaining websites. You can see a small archive sampler of world@your.pc segments on the YouTube.

I’m unemployed now. I need to write the next chapter.

Since 2001, I’ve been posting restaurant menus on a website called Menu Joy. Now I’m trying to make a real business out of it.

Local print newspapers are screwed. Local radio and TV stations are screwed. What will take its place?

I own TV shooting equipment and editing software costing relative peanuts that can do what cost a quarter million dollars just a short time ago. And I have a connection to the Internet. Anybody with those things can create a TV channel. I’m looking to carry on what we did on the the Cable TV local channel by producing local videos and posting them on Menu Joy, with links on Facebook, to draw traffic. I recently produced a video shot entirely with one of those pocket “Handy Cams”, the Zoom Q3, one of the first with a decent built-in microphone. The video, “Free Parking”, is about a seasonal parking meter amnesty deal to coax shoppers to downtown New Bedford.

I believe Facebook is poised to be an amazing phenomenon, more so than it is already. I’ve been calling it the “Second Coming of the Internet”. I see it drawing in scores of people, including my spouse, who previously had minimal interest in Internetty things. It makes connecting with a lot of people so much easier, and fun, than ever before, from close family to acquaintances, co-workers, clients, etc. It’s so much easier than composing an eMail to keep the back and forth, keeping-in-touch going.

Facebook could become the communications grid for everyone for everything.

When you first open a Facebook account, you’re looking at a blank page. It’s empty. Nothing there. You are now like a newspaper editor, you fill your blank page with content. First you connect with your family and friends, they’ll populate your page with bulletins about their lives, ranging in significance from what they just ate to what they just gave birth to. Then you subscribe to “pages”, and “groups” that align with your interests to further fill your custom newspaper with a constant stream of content. If and when it gets to be too much to keep up with, you can use the tools, like “Lists”, to filter the content to specific things. It’s amazing how sophisticated Facebook is getting.

What made you decide to post your initial ad?

Before the “Hello, I’m Jim Donnelly from the Internet!” newspaper ad, I’ve placed a few other print ads and a YouTube Video positioning myself as a “New Media Specialist.” As a result I’m helping a few small businesses establish their Facebook pages. I’ve also asked in another ad “Do you want to be Mayor in 2012?”, advising of the need to start a Facebook presence now, as campaign season will be too late. I think I’ve intrigued a few City Councillors. We’ll see how that goes.

I’m really rolling the dice with Facebook. I’m inviting everyone I come in contact with around town to be my Facebook friend. So far, everyone’s been pretty nice.

On Facebook, I’ve developed a routine of posting the typical chatter mixed with computer tips, Facebook tips, and restaurant promos, every time Menu Joy has a new menu or a video of a restaurant opening, etc, I post it on the Facebook.

Right here I’ll share a great Facebook tip: if you want to spread a message, let’s say a charity fundraiser event that you’d like people to attend, if you do a normal Facebook “Status” post, your friends list will see it, and it will probably end there. But if you can post your promo message on a website somewhere, along with a square-shaped graphic at least 90×90 pixels somewhere on the page, and then post a link on Facebook, you have made a Facebook post with a nice attractive “thumbnail” image and a “Share” button under it, so it can be more easily spread to several levels of friends.

I want to develop a local organized network of Facebook message spreaders. You “Share” my messages and I’ll share yours. The reach could be phenomenal. That’s why I took out the newspaper ad inviting people to be my Facebook friend. Some purists might object to using Facebook for commerce like this. But there’s lots and lots of commerce going on there. Best Buy has a fan page, as do TV shows, cable news networks and every conceivable type of merchant. Musicians are using Facebook to “connect” with their fans. (Connecting = marketing.) In my case, I’m supporting the local economy by promoting the restaurant industry. I’m OK with it.

I mentioned rolling the dice. Facebook is a potentially dangerous double-edge sword. For every person I find to be a Facebook enthusiast, there’s another who’s Facebook-phobic, citing privacy concerns, Big Brother, etc. They may be very correct!!! Especially in light of what Facebook did recently, nudging users into unwittingly making lots of their content available to “Everyone” instead of “Friends-only”, and making it Google-searchable as well. I thought it was a bit disturbing when I saw the Facebook notice and its default choices, my concerns were confirmed when I listened to Leo Laporte’s “This Week in Tech” podcast that weekend, Leo, John Dvorak & Co. thought Facebook might be shooting themselves in the foot. I defied the Facebook default “suggestions” and kept my Facebook settings as they were, and I deleted some family pictures that I wouldn’t want anyone to be having fun with in Photoshop or otherwise misusing.

And who knows what Facebook will do next, what will continue to be free, what they will charge for, and how they’ll change how things work. They’re in control. If they burn their users too badly, there could be an instant exodus.

Tell me about the response so far from the ad, and how you’ve reacted.

About the opening line in the ad: my sons and I are fans of Jon Lajoie. He makes hilarious music videos and puts them on YouTube. If you’re new to Jon, start with Everyday Normal Guy. (Warning: course language.) We went to see him perform live in Boston. The first thing he said was “Hello, I’m Jon Lajoie. (pause) I’m from the Internet.” So I really just copied the concept from Jon.

The local response to the ad was a little disappointing. I made about a dozen new local FB Friends. I had hoped for a hundred or so.

Then I started getting requests from much farther away. It was confusing. One responder told me he saw it on “The Daily What”. Oh No! I only wanted local friends. Not this! I asked The Daily What to take it down, and they did. But it was too late. It had spread to other sites. Like Buzzfeed.com. My image was seemingly in the public domain. The Photoshop jockeys now had control of me. And they went to town. A lot of it was hilarious. Even the “molester” stuff, complete with local references. But the “beady eyes” thing stung a little. Maybe my eyeglasses cause distortion. I have regular eyes!!

The Internet can be pretty brutal. Has the response changed your opinion of the web in any way?

I know that people on the Internet can be very brutal. I’ve posted videos on YouTube in the past several years, and the comments range from supportive and complimentary to downright mean and nasty. I’ve seen “Epic Fail” plenty of times, (as if it’s clever to say that.) It’s “Keyboard Rage”, in the solitude of their homes, people say the ugliest things they’d never say to someone’s face. I’m comforted thinking that most people who’ve accomplished things in their life, creatively or in any endeavor, would be unlikely to engage in this type of behavior.

It’s been just about a week since the original ad ran, so I don’t know if it’s peaked yet or if this is just the tip of the iceberg. I got my first crank call yesterday, from a fellow who sounded learning-challenged, asking for help setting up his Facebook account so he could see his nephew’s pictures. It got sillier and sillier, and when he repeated his pleas for help with “Bookface” on his “toplap”, I knew I was being had. The voice sounded very familiar, and upon reflection, I swear I think it was one of The Jerky Boys, or someone imitating one of their characters.

I decided I better figure out how to ride this wave rather than drown under it. I created a Facebook fan page called: “Hello, I’m Jim Donnelly from the Internet!” Now when I get Friend Requests from out of my geographic area, I invite them to connect there.

What kind of information do you hope to give people about the Internet who respond to your ad? What are these “amusements?”

I have several sub-pages on Menu Joy for the sole purpose of creating Shareable links on Facebook, among them: Computer Tips and Facebook Tips. There are a lot of Facebook newbies, and computer newbies on Facebook. People don’t know that you can delete a post you just made if you regret it or misspelled something, or how to use the chat system in the lower right. People don’t know you can send a private “Inbox” message to someone, instead they’re posting phone numbers and extremely personal exchanges right on people’s walls where everyone else can see. When I see someone in need of help, I put the info in a sharable post, knowing that others need the same help.

The mediaman54.com page has Observations, Tips and Amusements where I can post whatever I think may be useful, informative or entertaining, whether it’s original or just a link to something I found on the web. I’m not breaking any ground here, but if people laugh or otherwise appreciate what I post, they’re happy, I’m happy.

The goal is to serve and to entertain, and to ask people to do things, like attend an event or try a new restaurant.

Anything else you’d like to add or clear up? Just making sure… you’re not a performance artist, right?

Most of what I do is clear and straightforward. I’ve made a few videos for YouTube that cause some to scratch their heads.

And if any restaurant owners want their menu on the web, check out MenuJoy.com. Cheers!

Thanks to Jim for answering my questions! For more, check him out on Facebook, or his personal website.

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I mentioned that I was going to guest on an episode of The Gloomers, and here it is! I had so much fun recording with them, and I love how my animated-self turned out. I also did a behind-the-scenes interview with Moses the day we recorded, which you can view below:

For more Gloomers, become their fan on Facebook and subscribe to the show on YouTube!

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I loved doing the voice-acting for a character, hopefully I can work with them again sometime. The Gloomers are also on Facebook, so if you like what you see become a fan.

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Trending Topics: The New Internet Chat
Trending Topics: Single-Serving Websites
Trending Topics: Plan Your Travels Like a Geek

Subscribe here!

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If The Venture Brothers and Aqua Teen Hunger Force came together and had a little lovechild with No Reservations, I have a feeling it would look like the newest project from Anthony Bourdain and The Travel Channel. The aptly-named Anthony Bourdain’s Alternate Universe is a completely animated series that delves deep into the twisted mind of the celebrity chef (and it looks like there will be more than a few Rachel Ray jokes).

Anthony is one of my idols, not only because of his on-air persona, but because it’s so obvious that he loves what he does (even when he’s frustrated during a shoot, which I find especially hilarious and relatable). In the spirit of Tony, I’ll say that I’m looking forward to his new project almost as much as he looks forward to a new, exotic pork dish.

Via Eater National

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And…

Thanks, Newegg. You sure know how to make women feel special!

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Revision3 definitely represented big time in this video, can you spot them all? Thanks for the mention, brentalfloss!

On a totally unrelated note, I forgot to tell you guys that I blacked out during District 9. As a fear response! It’s not even scary! Can you imagine what would happen to me in a real horror movie? Anyhow, I’m a weirdo, and I was fine after 5 minutes or so. Go watch it if you haven’t already, it’s passing out good!

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Revision3 (where we produce Tekzilla) just announced a new show called AppJudgment, which also covers BlackBerry, Android and Palm Pre applications alongside the more familiar iPhone apps. Here’s the most recent episode:

My friends Scott Johnson and Eric Skyhawk have also launched a new podcast called AppSlappy, which is quickly making it’s way up the iTunes charts. They cover what’s new in the App Store, hot deals of the week, and also give us their take on what apps they’ve been using lately.

Last but not least, Sean Bonner (along with a huge cast of well-known names in new media) is hosting a new show called iPhun. It’s honest, quick-paced, and sarcastically funny in the best way. They also have more in-depth written reviews on the blog, so check that out as well.

On a slightly different note, fellow Emerson alum Jared DiDomenico has a music project called Nuclear O’ Reilly with his friend Brad Naprixas, and they created their new album entirely on the iPhone application Beatmaker (iTunes link) by Intua Software. It’s called, very appropriately, Phoning It In. Worth a listen just to hear how much effort went into it, but it’s pretty damn catchy as well. Here’s their “making of” video:

As applications (and the iPhone itself) become more advanced, users will continue to find new ways to be creative with them. Time for me to go download some new ones!

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The next time someone sends me a costume to wear on Tekzilla, I should probably think about all the possible implications of that act.

Thanks to Joël for the amazing cartoon!

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In case you didn’t hear the news from Comic-Con, I’m going to be hosting the RiffTrax LIVE event on August 20th! Now, this is way bigger than just the typical internet streaming event: it’s going to be broadcast to over 400 movie theaters across the country! The guys will be riffing on the classic Ed Wood film Plan 9 from Outer Space (thought by many people to be one of the worst films ever made). In addition, the wonderful Jonathan Coulton will be performing, along with a special segment by Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka of Something Awful.

We’re going to be recording the show in Nashville, TN, but unfortunately that theater has already sold out. So make sure you get tickets while you can from the website!

In other news, the RiffTrax panel at Comic-Con was a blast. Not only did the guys do a live riff of a video short called “Shake Hands with Danger,” but we also had the crowd plead their case for the next full-length RiffTrax feature! The selection was for one of my favorite bad movies, Dragon Wars.

By the way, here are all my pictures from Comic-Con. I got to meet so many awesome people (like Phil Plait from Bad Astronomy), that was probably the most fun I’ve ever had a convention. Although, Tom and I are heading to Dragon*Con in September, so that might come close… more on that one coming soon.

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It’s Friday, so I wanted to share a little indulgence with you that I recently came across! Foodzie is an “online marketplace where you can discover and buy food directly from small passionate food producers and growers.” What that means to me is that I can browse the site for all kinds of amazing treats that satisfy the food cravings I didn’t even realize I had until I saw them.

You can search by category (my personal favorites being cheese, sauces and salsas, and chocolates) to see what seasonal and artisanal favorites are listed. It appears that a Gift Guide is also in the works, which I’m assuming will have some deals and packages that will make for great gift ideas.

As a diehard fan of all of the ingredients contained within, the Single Malt Scotch Bars are already a favorite of mine. The fiendish development of Nina over at BonBonBar in LA, the bars come in packs of 3 and 6 — just enough to enjoy and share with a friend (if you’re feeling charitable). But for those savory cravings, I have my eye on the Peppercorn Bacon from Pork on a Fork. Which, by the way, is the best name ever.

In a city like San Francisco, we have a lot of readily available specialty and high-end food products from local producers, but it’s also nice to have a resource like Foodzie that makes browsing and picking food items (especially for gifts) a breeze!

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Yup, this is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. Also, that ranger has some nice dual-wielding skills! I’m looking forward to seeing what other nerdy songs Vacant Manifesto have up their wizard sleeves.

Via BuzzFeed

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Despite losing my voice yesterday, I rallied for an appearance on CNN.com this morning with MG Siegler, Ben Parr and Mark McClusky. We spoke about the new iPhone 3G S and if now is a good time to upgrade, our favorite apps, and if Blackberry has a chance to win hearts and minds with their new offerings.

And why am I the only lameass with a headset on? Seriously, Veronica. Get with the program.

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You can check out other presentations on all sorts of amazing and geeky topics at the Ignite blog over at O’Reilly, or subscribe on iTunes!

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According to their webpage:

Inside, the gamer finds him/herself comfortable seated in front of the computer screen with easy-to-reach water, pre-packaged food, and a toilet conveniently placed underneath his/her custom-built throne.

When hungry, the gamer selects a food item (‘Crunchy Spider Surprise’, ‘Beer Basted Ribs’, etc.) and a seasoning pack. By scanning in the food items, the video game physically adjusts a hot plate to cook the item for the correct amount of time. The virtual character then jubilantly announces the status of the meal to both the gamer and the other individuals playing online: “Vorcon’s meal is about to be done!” “Better eat the ribs while they’re hot!” etc.

But…. would you use it? Would I use it? I think it could be an interesting experiment to try for a few days, but I’m pretty sure Ryan wouldn’t let me have one at home (I’m at the computer enough as it is).

The WoW Pod, created at MIT, will be on display until September 2009. Hopefully I’ll get out to the Boston area to see it!

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Last week my brand new Kindle 2 arrived, and for the past few days I’ve been blissfully downloading books and reading them every chance I get. Then, I started seeing reports of a rumored new Kindle, and I became nervous: “A new one? Already? But the Kindle 2 just came out in February! Who would do such a thing?”

When the announcement of the Kindle DX happened on Wednesday, I was besieged with Twitter messages asking if I was pissed that I just paid $359 for a brand new Kindle 2 when Amazon released a new one that next week. Instantly, my mind went into defensive mode: “No, of course not! This one is huge, and more expensive! I don’t even read textbooks!” But a the same time, the early-adopter bug was chittering in my ear that I now owned an inferior product. Lets take a look at this handy graph on Amazon:

OK, so it has its pros: PDF support without conversion and the rotating display would be pretty sweet, plus the larger display. But are those features really worth the uptick in price, which I already believe to be quite inflated? Not for me!

Side note: I talked a lot of smack about e-book readers on the iPhone on last weeks TWiT, but I’ve had a change in heart. While it still hurts my eyes after a while, the Kindle iPhone app (iTunes link here) is really cool. I read almost an entire book on it yesterday while I was between takes at a video shoot, and it was great.

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