Notes from the Field | Robert X. Cringely®

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-04-03T07:01:01-08:00

It was a busy -- you might even say frantic -- April Fools this year. Cringely notes some of the high- and lowlights. READ MORE

Conficker worm ends life as we know it; film at 11

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-04-01T06:33:56-08:00

Yes the Worm of the Century has struck -- and our lives will never be the same. Right? READ MORE

Chinese spies: Coming to a PC near you?

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-30T08:25:13-08:00

Cyberspies are lurking on government networks in more than 100 countries, thanks (probably) to the Chinese government. Welcome to Cold War 2.0. READ MORE

Too cool to use Windows, too cheap to buy a Mac

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-27T19:27:03-08:00

Microsoft's new anti-Apple ad campaign is already working -- but possibly not in the way it was intended READ MORE

Strip searches, laptop seizures, and other crimes against humanity

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-25T06:35:06-08:00

What does a case involving a strip search at a middle school have to do with you? More than you realize. Cringe has the skinny. READ MORE

Ballmer to Apple: Bite me

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-23T06:42:22-08:00

Microsoft's Big Cheese says in a down economy people won't pay $500 just for the Mac logo. Are Apple fanboyz crazy about logos or is Ballmer just plain loco? READ MORE

Hack attack: All your browser base belong to us

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-20T07:53:00-08:00

IE8, Firefox, and Safari have one thing in common: They're easier to crack than a day-old egg. Is any browser safe? READ MORE

Guilty by Google

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-18T07:28:17-08:00

When a 19th-century era legal system encounters 21st-century technology, the results can be criminal. Cringe has the verdict in hand. READ MORE

Escape from the Twittering masses

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-16T09:12:15-08:00

Tweet much? Our national obsession with self-obsession has hit new lows. Cringely says it's time to get over ourselves. READ MORE

Beyond the Norm: Coleman's data leak disaster

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-12T11:01:11-08:00

Cringely unravels the ugly mess around ex-Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman's data spill and asks, Should this man be handling sharp implements? READ MORE

Google knows where you surfed last summer

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-11T09:09:29-08:00

Are those search ads starting to look a little too personal? Welcome to Google's new behavioral ad strategy. Better keep your nose clean. READ MORE

National Napping Day: To sleep, perchance to dream

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-09T10:05:39-08:00

Cringe is feeling a little drowsy -- and why not, it's national napping day. But he's not about to take the RIAA's latest tactics lying down READ MORE

Want something to worry about? Just look up

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-06T07:18:42-08:00

Forget the economy, your job, or your computer. Space is the place where the real scary stuff happens. Time to pay attention to what's going on overhead. READ MORE

Has Microsoft found the answer to Google? Search me

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-04T07:09:49-08:00

It's quasi-official: Microsoft will be rebranding its Live Search service in yet another pathetic attempt to catch up to Google. Cringely wonders: Why bother? READ MORE

Happy Square Root Day, math geeks

Robert X. Cringely — 2009-03-02T09:16:57-08:00

You may not be aware of it, but tomorrow's a national holiday for the pocket-protector-and-slide-rule crowd. But why settle for just one numerically inspired celebration each year? Cringely goes in for a little arithmetic therapy. READ MORE