READER INPUT
Where makers tell their tales and offer
praise, brickbats, and swell ideas.
I just inherited a friend’s old Sony Clie (PEG-
SJ20/U) and it got me thinking: this thing is basically
useless now. With all the phone/PDAs, iPods, and
iPod-esque devices out there playing songs, video,
and taking pictures, what is to become of all the
countless older gadgets (like mine) that serve
strictly as personal organizers? I’m wondering if it
might make a good story to offer suggestions for
hacking these older machines into something that’s
still useful. Hell, the thing’s got a memory stick
expansion slot. That’s got to be good for something.
It even has an IR sensor; maybe it could become my
next TV remote? I’m praying to the über-nerds to
resurrect this relatively inert technological artifact.
Any suggestions?
Thank you very much. I now understand addiction.
Just like a crack addict, I get a hint there is something
around. Frauenfelder posts on BoingBoing. My adrenaline
surges a bit. The new issues are sent!
Then, like a kid waiting for the Sea-Monkey packets to
—Russell Meyer arrive, I check my mailbox every day. Is it here? Is it here?
Lies, I tell myself lies. When it comes, I will ration it
out. I will only read an article or two every day. I’ll try to
Post your suggestions at
makezine.com/07/input. make it last as long as I can. Total lies.
Is it here yet? Denial. I look in the mailbox, but no,
not here yet. I pretend I knew it would not arrive. I deny
my excitement.
Just a little — you won’t get addicted. Good stuff, pure!
Then one day, today for example, I get home from
work, and there it is. In the mailbox. Wrapped up and
shiny. Virginal. Untouched. Yet.
I will ration it out. No, seriously, this time, I can do it.
The plastic bag comes off and goes into the recycling
bin. I smell the fresh paper. I examine the cover. I close
off all my work. I make sure “She-who-must-be-obeyed”
doesn’t have anything for me to do. Really, one article,
only one.
I go out to the garage. Move the motorcycles around,
clear the model airplanes off the bench, clean up the
electronic speedometer I am redesigning from minivan to
motorbike, oh, and put away the MIG welder that has been
out too long. While I am at it, clean up the oxy-acet rig.
Last. I have to make it last. Maintain boy, maintain.
Brush down the bench. Turn on that fluorescent over-
—Chris Turvey head, sit on the shop stool, and it is all over. Four or five
hours later, my mind is reeling. I have a million different
I cannot possibly rant enough about how fine ideas, six more top-of-the-list projects, two people to
email, a trip to OSH is coming.
your magazine is, so I’m a bit reluctant to even I’ve polished off two liters of lemonade and a quarter
begin, for fear of not doing it justice. To help me out, pound of chips. I have read every page. Some pages
please imagine at least an hour of effusive gushing. twice. My eyes are bloodshot, and my butt is sore. Hey,
Now then ... I must add that it’s simply priceless to that is not a comfy shop stool.
But I am reveling in the wondrousness of MAKE. There
find out one is not the sole member of some bizarre, is something about paper. The internet just isn’t the same.
mutant species of über-geek/tinkerer/amateur I have the boxed set. I’m working on the second year. I
mad scientist. MAKE readers are my people (sniff)! love your magazine. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
And if I could somehow retire, live another
100 But Hellfire and Dalmatians, I surely feel like an addict. —Charles Statman
years, and have enough money to dedicate to the
My recent MAKE magazine showed up at my
house yesterday, and I love the fact that I can share
information provided in your magazine with people,
but the magazine I received was more than slightly
damaged and obviously thumbed through. The
plastic was open and the pages bent. The first five
magazines I received were flawless, but now
Volume 06 is damaged.
I know this is an odd request, but can MAKE be
shipped like it is porn? The plain brown packaging?
The nondescript label?
It might save me from having the next issues of
MAKE not make it to me in good shape. And then
me having to write a letter and request it be shipped
like it is nondescript porn.
