THINGS THAT DON’T SUCK: So when I bought my new MacBook Pro a couple of weeks back, it was obvious that there was a recession on — not only did I get a discount for being UT faculty, but they threw in a free 8GB iPod Touch. The MacBook is fine, though I kind of prefer the keyboard on the old one, but the iPod Touch has turned out to be a useful and cool gadget indeed. For music, I prefer my iPod Classic, but it’s the WiFi Internet access that makes the Touch really cool. It’s not an iPhone, but it lets me check up and make sure my scheduled posts are appearing OK on InstaPundit — I’m always afraid I’ll turn the whole page italics and won’t notice for hours — as well as check email, etc. You can even blog from it, kinda. I installed the free Kindle App and read a book — Robert Heinlein’s Double Star, which I hadn’t read in ages — and I almost prefer it to the Kindle. The screen is very bright and clear, and the page-turning seems faster and better.

It’s had me thinking a little about an iPhone (probably Apple’s goal!), but I talked to one of the computer guys at the law school and he said the lousy AT&T service made him wish he had a Touch instead of an iPhone, so now I’m not sure. But it’s a nifty gadget, especially for free . . . .

UPDATE: Oh nooooo. . . “The free iPod Touch is an annual Apple back to School promotion- not an indicator of the recession. . . . Reynolds, who is also a digital photography enthusiast, may find himself disappointed on September 9 when Apple announces the new iPod Touch that includes a camera.”