The Web is Dead?

Such a pity. Eighteen years old and it is dead already? Such is the title of Wired magazine (sep.2010). But don't believe everything you read. I was interested in this particular issue because of the bold cover.

On page 141 it recommends 5 shows to watch while you Set up Your PC For TV. Looks easy enough if you know what these gizmos are (and how they work): Access your Internet connection. OK. Then assess your computer. You'll need at least a Core2 Duo and 4 GB of memory (mine doesn't qualify). Next, get a thumb-sized USB tuner dongle (huh?) like the Eye TV Hybrid from Elgato which will allow you to watch live TV, record shows (in HD!), excise commercials (whoopee), and even port stuff to iTunes for synching with your iPhone/iPod/iPad.

Download and install an aggregator like Plex, Boxee, or XBMC (huh2?). Unplug your TV and a daisy chain of M-80s is suggested (huh3?). Now you can watch those shows recommended like Spartacus, Ultimate Fighter, Penn & Teller:BULLS--T, Over the Limits and Stag. None of my favorites, really.

For now, I'll stick with cable and our TV with a hundred channels we never watch. Maybe more. Ironically, a full page ad followed these pages of how to scrap your TV: YOUR TV JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT SMARTER. Sponsors of Tomorrow (Intel Atom inside). Lead articles and commercials don't always compliment each other.

I could go on and mention other additives like TiVO, PlayStation3 (what happened to 1 and 2?), Sony Bravia XBR HX909, Mac mini and Logitech Harmony 900 but I won't. I won't even mention Blu-ray or Vudu or Hulu. Enough is enough.

Now, I just read that more and more seniors are visiting the Web, Facebook and the like. Years ago it wasn't so. My first computer was a portable Zorba which weighed almost 50 pounds. My five-year old Toshiba laptop weighs six. So, if you're wondering why I discuss this stuff with seniors, it's because they know how to access the Web in order to read Senior Moments.

My senior moment, and maybe yours as well, is the peace we get allowing our grandkids to get miles ahead of us. Who else but Sara, aged 8, can get us out of a computer bind? Or Sammy, Jr. 10, who whispers, “Gramps, what's a senior moment?” Sometimes we actually may be a step ahead.