Why my $150 Flux-core/MIG Welder is better than your $700 iPhone 5S

There isn't much of a comparison going on. A phone is a communication tool, a welder is a tool for repairs and construction. However, the technology of electric welders hasn't changed greatly in the past 40 years, and much like wood working tools, the future of a welder isn't going to come to an end anytime soon.

While I would love to have the opportunity to walk into a Starbucks and let my creative side come out by welding something like some people bring out their sketchbooks or laptops to write, the scenario is unlikely for health and safety reasons. Regardless, a welder is a far better investment than a piece of disposable consumer technology.

As a note here are some projects that I have in mind :

• Repair the muffler hanger on my car
• Make a pair of snowshoes with EMT tubing 
• Build a greenhouse
• Build a sled for winter
• Adapt the sled for a bicycle trailer
• Build a wood stove
• Make a sculpture with various pieces of scrap metal 

Tools cannot be replaced : a plum bob, a level, a tape measure, a hammer, and of course a pencil will all outlive the latest HDTV projector or smartphone.

 See also

http://toolmonger.com/2008/08/29/cheap-ass-tools-chicago-electric-90-amp-flux-core-welder/

Why I went from Windows Phone 8 Lumia 520 to BlackBerry 8350 with BBOS 5

Going back to a flip phone isn't that uncommon. Many people find flip phones adequate : 99% of the apps are useless, cell phone cameras are ok, but don't expect to make big printouts of a 5MP sensor. The GPS feature is nice, but SAT navigation is overrated if the maps are not up to date.

Before getting into the details of why I switched phones, let me expose my insensible nature with regard to the consumption of technology. Over the past couple years, I have owned and used :

1. Sony CMB1207CNT0 - Phone and not much else. Instead of getting a land line. (1998)
2. Motorola V505 - Excellent but the speaker died (2006)
3. Motorola VE538 - Very durable, a few bugs, but I will keep it as a GSM backup (2009)
4. LG Chocolate KG800 - good design, but the touch controls leave somewhat to desire. I needed Internet on my phone, but it had to be a branded phone from the provider- I got it used for $15 (2010)
5. Huawei u8350 - Unlimited internet with the provider made me get another phone ! (2011-2012)
6. LG LG230 - Good flip phone - basics. I got used for $25 as my area did not have a GSM network (2012)
7. Nokia Lumia 520 - The LG230 was locked with CDMA to a carrier that made in country roaming prohibitively expensive : 50¢ a minute. The Lumia was the second cheapest on the list of phones, and I have to admit that I like Microsoft produts. (mid-2013)
8. BlackBerry 8530 - The Lumia 520 did not work in a CDMA only zone.  (Late 2013 -  present  )

From point #7 the most obvious reason is connectivity :  travel in regions that only have CDMA coverage.

The next reason the certainty of the keyboard. Although you do not type much faster on a BlackBerry than on touch screen which has predictive text, it is far more pleasurable. When using a friend's iPhone, I would have to type and retype words to get them to be typed correctly. Autocorrect wasn't that straight forward either. As I am still getting used to the BlackBerry, it is takes more time than I would like it to, but it is still more accurate than using the Windows Phone.
 

I could not find any reason to play games on my phone. I tried car racing, RPGs, shooters etc. but none were any fun. Apps don't make or break a phone.


What the BlackBerry Curve and other feature phones do have right are dedicated buttons. I see people taking out the iPhones, Android phones etc to change track on whatever they are listening to. I like the feature of pressing a button to pause, play, back, forward etc... The same goes for the camera. Simple buttons do most of the work.

Another thing that I realised that the BlackBerry got right was the keyboard shortcuts. Anything from deleting a message to page down, my thumb knows where to go without having to move the screen.

The BlackBerry is also very well behaved : I can control the notifications for the accounts, the hours that I get notifications and it is discreet with the light to remind me of a missed call or message.


What does the Lumia do better?

There are some things on the Windows phone that are far better : document opening and navigation, a big screen and of course integration with Windows tools such as Lync, Office and Skype.

Well it being about 3 years newer, the browser is faster, so is the connection  ( 4G vs CDMA is not a big surprise).
Surprisingly, the WIFI reception on the BlackBerry is better than the Lumia.

The screen size is a compromise. I think a small screen is fine. I glance at the emails, see what I need to see and it is done. I have read some articles, but it takes a lot of patience to read anything on a screen. That being said, I am sure that no one in the right mind will printout anything from this blog!



When and if this Blackberry Curve 8530 dies, I hope to be able to replace it with something similar which includes a trackpad, keyboard and dedicated media buttons.

Why I feel sad for those who get the latest and greatest

The other day, someone showed me his iPad. I have seen and used tablets before, however I know that they fall short of the utility of a desktop or notebook computer. Portability is nice, but the ergonomics of a touchscreen are lacking.

Computers haven't changed that much in the past 20 years. We use:

• e-mail;
• instant messaging or chat;
• write reports;
• read the news;
• search for articles (yes that was possible with Lynx);
• work with media such as compose music or edit videos;
• play music and videos;
• play games; 
• etc.

When we hear about the latest smartphone, or tablet, with the highest resolution, fastest processor or something else, there is in fact very little to be excited about. Most functions were possible with phones about 7 or 8 years old including a camera, voice recorder, synchronize contacts and e-mail. I look at my phone and find only a few apps that I installed. Most of them have never been used.

Smartphones are not good for the environment

Print out a page of where you want to go. Print out 1000 pages. Still it will take less resources than manufacturing many of the components of your touchphone.

Take a regular "feature phone", drop it on the concrete floor. Pick it up, keep on using it. Try that with a glass screen iPhone.

I can access e-mail, google maps, etc, on my 2006 phone, why should I pay 4 times as much for a limited data plan and get no real additional functionality.

An FM radio has a longer life than 64 GB of music or podcasts etc. There is something nice about having someone else do the programming.

If your current phone only needs a new battery, that should be no more than 5$. At least you will be able to change that battery.