About Me

PBX I'm Paul Bissex, and e-scribe.com is my consulting business. I build web applications using open source software, especially Django. I teach photographers web design and professional skills. In the '90s I did graphic design for newspapers and magazines. Then I wrote technology commentary and reviews for Wired, Salon.com, Chicago Tribune, and lots of little places you've never heard of. Feel free to email me.

Book

I'm co-author of "Python Web Development with Django", an excellent guide to my favorite web framework. Its strong points include an introduction to Python, and better coverage of Django 1.0 than nearly anybody else. Published by Addison-Wesley, it is available from Amazon and your favorite technical bookstore as well.

Colophon

Built using Django, served by Apache and mod_wsgi. The database is SQLite. The operating system is FreeBSD, on a VPS hosted at Johncompanies.com. Comment-spam protection by Akismet. Vintage topo imagery from the Maptech archive. The markup engine is Markdown.

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Stuff I Use

Akismet, del.icio.us, Django, dpaste.com, Emacs, FreeBSD, Freenode, jQuery, LaunchBar, MacPorts, Markdown, Mercurial, OS X, Postfix, Python, SQLite, Subversion, TextMate, Trac, Ubuntu Linux, wmii

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At least 67556 pieces of comment spam killed since January 2008, mostly via Akismet.

Best feature of the new MacBook Pro

In case you missed the news, there's a new laptop in town. It's supposed to be really fast and stuff. But my favorite feature is the new MagSafe power connector.

On Tuesday morning, before the keynote, one of my students happened to stop by my office to show me what had happened to the power adapter on his PowerBook. His roommate tripped over the power cord while he was working on the couch. Here's the damage (not covered under warranty, naturally):

old plug bad

A few hours later, the MacBook Pro was introduced. Here's the new power connector:

new plug good

Apple explains: "...tripping over a power cord won't send MacBook Pro flying ... the cord simply breaks cleanly away, without damage to either the cord or the system."

D'oh!

Thursday, January 12th, 2006
apple + fun + hardware
4 comments

Some related posts: iPhone, youPhone, weallPhone • Obsolescence • MacBook Pro speed bumps • ExpressCard: what it is • Evolving a new keyboard • Kaypro model numbers • Mining Monday: the hardware collection • Hizzitachi • Project idea: G5-style Mini • Hard life for hardware

• Comment from xian , later that day

I'd just be happy if it keeps a constant seal over time. My Mac powercords always end up getting "mushy" and loose.

• Comment from Paul , later that day

Yeah. I'm guessing this will solve that problem, because the cord no longer depends on friction to stay in. The third-party adapter makers must be freaking out!

• Comment from Ian Holsman , 1 week later

I think I have gone through 3-4 power adaptors and at $150 a pop damn pricey as well.
I look forward to the new cord design, but wish the whole industry could just come up with a standard interface

• Comment from SK , 20 months later

Yeah, but then notebook manufactures couldn't make money selling replacement power adaptors for a fortune. A new one for my dv2000 cost me $70. Anyways, you have to consider the difference in voltages and such, at least some manufactures (Lenovo, HP) use the same adaptors across all their notebook lines, with only a difference in wattage.