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"uncrate" style of a few things I don't need

A running list of things I don't need "uncrate" style.

La Marzocco Linea Mini is overly expensive but it sure is nice looking and will make some really good coffee drinks. $5900

Bertazzoni induction range is good looking too. I'd prefer the larger burner at the front left instead of the back but that's a minor issue. $4850

Eiderdown comforter is the opposite of a weighted blanket, the premium is with the high warmth to low weight ratio. The down is collected from nests and is about as environmentally friendly and responsible as can be. $4800

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Wiseman knives

Been looking for a nice pocketknife. These ones are made by Gene Wiseman. Didn't really need much more than a sharp blade, a bottle opener, and a flat edge screwdriver for the occasional tightening of that random screw. And I need all the wise I can get.

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device pricing

Current pricing for the benchmark products versus what I think the price should be in the table below. I'm curious what the actual revenue per device would be if the the price were lowered because there's additional revenue outside of the purchase, e.g. ad and search revenue, subscriptions (iCloud, etc), games, music and movie downloads. With lower initial device pricing, there'd be more devices out there, more downstream revenue, and a faster upgrade cycle. I'm sure they've run the numbers though. Obviously this is just wishful thinking. At some point we'll reach the razor-razor blade model where the razor will be cheap or near free. Right now folks are still making good margins on the razors.

iPhone – $649 -> $299
iPad mini – $329 -> $249
iPad – $499 -> $399
Nexus 4 – $299 -> $199
Nexus 7 – $199 -> $149

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laptop/tablet recommendations

If I were to buy a laptop in 2012 it would be one of these (in the following order):

Spec wise I guess you're supposed to look for Core i5/i7 processors with 256GB SSD hard drives (I'd want 512GB) and 4 to 8GB of memory and 6-7 hours of battery life. SD card slot, back lit keyboards, high res screens, a couple USB slots pretty much rounds things out. Might want to wait for Ivy Bridge processors, "retina display" for the MacBook as well as Mac OS X Mountain Lion or Windows 8 due out later this year.

For tablets, there's really only the iPad, no point in getting anything else at the moment unless you're a developer or want a tablet to just watch movies. For smart phones, either the iPhone 4S or the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and probably the next generation of both, due out later this year, is the safer bet.

My current setup (and will be through 2012 and a good part of 2013/2014) is a 13" MacBook Pro from a few years ago and a Nexus S that I upgraded with a better battery that can last me a day or two between charges. And no tablets yet.

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Roy Denim

Roy Denim are the best jeans out there (for men only right now), might not be able to get them though since they're made by one guy in Oakland, CA and they're limited in quantity. I'm lucky to have a few pairs and they're just fantastic. Roy Slaper is Levi Strauss reincarnated.

Plenty of videos and discussion why Roy jeans are great out on the web but it's mostly because it's about a passionate guy doing one thing and doing it really well. And it's hard to beat that.

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part 3: bikes – carbon fiber

Parlee Z5 stock

My dream bike is a Parlee Z5 — an all carbon fiber bike that can be built as a complete bike at around 13lbs.  My current bike is not heavy at a little over 17lbs and bikes for racing have to weigh at a minimum 15lbs (thankfully I don't race).  Shaving 2 to 4lbs off a bike would be really great though.  I could also just eat less and lose some weight.

Anyway, for the build I'd go with the SRAM Red group with ENVE seat post, stem, and bar, Fizik seat, Look pedals, and TRP brakes.  I'd also go with the Dura Ace 7850 50cm wheels because they're carbon wheels with an alloy braking surface, otherwise would go with Lightweight or ENVE clincher wheels.

If all goes well, maybe in 2012?  I could use the time to think of a nice paint job, though will probably end up with something like the first picture above — a solid blue bike.

I'm in the camp of people believing that carbon fiber is the best material for road bikes.  Carbon fiber just sucks up the bumpiness in roads that it makes for really comfortable riding.  I've ridden maybe 10,000+ miles on my road bike and can't complain — stiff, durable, comfortable, just solid riding.

Above Category bike shop in Mill Valley is teasing me with some of their current bike builds of the Parlee.  Here, here, and here.

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part 2: bikes – titanium

Picture above is from Above Category.  The bike is a Moots RSL titanium road bike with SRAM Red and Lightweight wheels.  If I had room  and money for several bikes, a Moots titanium road, cross, or mountain bike would be one of those bikes.  Titanium bikes are super light, durable, strong, and they're considered lifetime bikes.  They're just pretty looking bikes.

There are lots of other bike companies that make titanium bikes like Lynskey, Litespeed, Seven, and Serotta.  These companies sometimes mix titanium and carbon fiber parts into the frame, it's a cool but a bit frankenstein-ish for my taste.  In any case, if you're shopping for a titanium road bike, this Moots RSL is what I would get.  I'd actually get a mountain bike from Moots, I prefer carbon fiber for road bikes.

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MacBook Air

This 13" MacBook Air is now "production" as the primary home computer as of 12/15/2010.  It's pretty cool, loads up fast with the 256SSD.  Everything was transferred from the Mac Mini which was put in production starting in April 2006.  The Mac Mini held up pretty well, there were some issues with the hard drive and then started acting up again.  I still need to load up some software onto the new MacBook and that should do it.

I have a 13" MacBook Pro that I've been using for work since 6/17/2009.  It has a 256SSD and love it as well but the MacBook Air at under 3lbs is pretty sweet.  I don't think I've used the DVD drive on my MacBook for a long time but I do appreciate the solid 3-4 hr battery life.

*Updated*

As far as PC laptops go, I'd probably go with the Samsung 9 Series

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Daddy-O Ray Bans

I needed a new pair of prescription sunglasses (my prescription changed) for working out and I finally ended up getting the Daddy-O square Ray Bans — very comfortable and great lenses.  It's darker than I'm used to and it's just been a great frame for working out and cycling than what I've had in the past.

I was wearing Oakleys but my prescription got too high and none of their really nice (overpriced) frames would allow my prescription.  The ones I have now lean towards being normal glasses with sun glass lenses versus actual sunglasses.  It's too bad because I really like Oakley.  Thankfully Ray Bans are just as stylish and they're cheaper too.

I did a bunch of research as I usually do and ended up getting the glasses from SportRX Prescription Eyewear.  Rob T. hooked me up and was very patient with me as he made the initial suggestion.  I eventually emailed him my prescription and glasses came in soon after.  It was a very nice experience.

Anyway, it's funny that I'm sporting Ray Bans since it seems like the wayfarers have made a come back.  Maybe us '80s kids are on the attack.

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part 1: bikes – steel

One bike is good but if I could have three, one would be a steel bike from Sacha White of Vanilla Bicycles, their alter ego of Speedvagen, or a Dario Pegoretti bike from Italy.  (The second one would be a titanium bike from Moots and the third one would be a Parlee carbon fiber bike…ok, fine, and a fourth Parlee triathlon bike).

The bikes from these two guys are well built and just pretty — construction, paint job, geometry.  Steel isn't the lightest frame material but can be made pretty light and supposedly the ride is fast, responsive, and fantastic.  Steel is also supposed to be pretty durable and easy to repair.

Oh, well.