THE UNQUENCHABLE THIRST FOR HARDWARE
I AM SELF-ADMITTED EMAIL was in my freshman year of college in I AM A SELF-ADMITTED hardware addict. I
1988. I attended Dartmouth, and love hardware. I obsess over hardware,
we had a system named BlitzMail. and I’m always chasing the cutting edge.
Every student was granted an email I’m also an early adopter, and that can
address and access to the system. be a problem at times. Some things just
Like most students, I didn’t use it at don’t work the way they’re supposed to
all. It’s hard for even me to believe, when they’re new. For the most part, I
but back then I was in the habit of haven’t had too many issues with being
writing letters and postcards. on the edge. There have been times when
I vividly recall the tipping point, I’ve tried to convince myself to slow down.
though. In 1re years and my first job “There’s no need to keep upgrading,” I
in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually told myself. The self-hypnosis doesn’t
start using it. Like a lot of corporate seem very effective. workplaces, email was commonly
What we’ve done this issue is put used for interoffice communications. together a list of the very best gear of the
But the volume wa989 in the middle year. Only products we think are badass
of my sophomore year, I was eating make it on to this coveted list—the kind
lunch with a few freshmen who were of gear you’ll routinely find the staff here
talking about how great email was drooling over. for chatting up women. I remember
There have been countless times in being shocked at the notion that my hardware life that I’ve lusted and
these guys didn’t have the courage to drooled over hardware. The first time
pick up the phone. Little did I know. I got a CD-ROM drive was amazing.
I’d be lying if I said that I took to Optical technology, on an ultra-thin
email the next day. I didn’t. It took spinning disc? Want. A soundcard was
three more years and my first job an incredible piece of kit, too. For a long
in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually time, I had been hearing the musical
start using it. Like a lot of corporate horror that was the “PC speaker,” so
workplaces, email was commonly having something that played realistic
used for interoffice communications. sounds was pretty mind-blowing. But the volume was manageable; I
Two of my next all-time favorite pieces remember going two or three hours of gear were the 3dfx Voodoo card from m
without new email. That sounds Diamond, and then the Rendition Verite te
absolutely crazy now, but this was 1000. A company called Canopus made ea a
the era before SPAM even existed. custom 3dfx Voodoo 1 card that had 6MB MB
As more friends started working of VRAM, instead of the standard 4MB MB
and came online, the postcard- and of every other card. That Canopus card rd
letter- writing days ended forever. would definitely have made gear of the he
( That lab job was also awesome year if we were doing it back then. because after four years of using
Nostalgia aside, there are all sorts a Mac in college, I was able to get of goodies this year that you can get your
back to PC gaming— after hours, of course.)
I’ll be honest; I still love checking hands on. We obviously can’t put all the
my inbox and discovering email— best gear into one issue, so I’m going to
from friends, family, writers, sneak in a few myself. Here are some of
readers, PR people, whomever— even my personal picks for best gear of 2017:
if it has become a bit overwhelming.
• Devialet Phantom Gold speaker— Between re years and my first job because I’m an audio nut. in PC Week’s lab in 1992 to actually
• AMDRyzen Threadripper— because start using accounts, I’ve never had challenging Intel is good for consumers. trouble keeping up. Until now. This is
• HGST He1212TBhelium harddrive— partially what inspired this month’s because you really can’t ever have cover story. Over the last 18 months, enough storage. I’ve begun to notice that my ability to
• DellS7 18QL Advanced 4K l aser quickly parse, read, and respond to projector— because lasers. email just isn’t fast enough anymore.
• Mr Speakers Ether Flow— the best I need to develop new systems and headphones I ever had. shortcuts. I need to change my ways.
• Verta gear Triigger chair— if you’re I’m curious— are you finding going for a gaming chair, this is the one yourself in the same boat as I am? to get. If so, what have you done to better Lastly, I want to give a quick mention manage your email life? Let me know to Microsoft, for bringing back the at George@maximumpc.com. much-loved Intellimouse, now called the Classic Intellimouse. This was the mouse that defined a generation, and continues
Finally, the winners of last month’s to have an influence to this day. The
challenge to identify the fake Google original Intellimouse came out in 1996—
app icon. For those scoring at home, that’s 21 years ago—but it still feels
the correct answer was Google great today, if you can get your hands on
Storage. Here are the winners: Keith one. Thankfully, the new version is here
Lucas ( who was the first correct now, complete with tastefully integrated
response), Andy Man, Chris Brush white glow, and the same famous shape. I want one! Gordon Mah Ung is Maximum PC’s deputy editor, senior hardware Tuan Nguyenis Maximum PC’s editor-in
expert, and all- around muckraker. chief, also known as“the pointy end of the stick .” He’ s been writing, marketing, and raising hell in the te chi nd us try for 20 years.