I was fortunate enough to live in the world as computers changed from room-sized boxes of blinking electronics costing millions of dollars, to tiny, personal wireless devices that people carry with them everywhere.  It’s been wonderful and exciting to work in an industry that moves so quickly and effects people’s lives so deeply.

Countless engineers and programmers have worked to develop computer technology to point where it is today, but no one has had more influence and impact than Steve Jobs.  He saw so clearly how things should be and he got everyone to make it so.  Life will go on without Steve Jobs, but his leadership and vision pointed the way for all of us and changed the world for the better.

In his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford, Steve Jobs discusses our mortality and inspires our next generation:

• Google TV
• Boxee Box
• Apple TV
• Roku Player

His pick is the Roku Player.  I would also recommend reading Paul Thutrott’s reviews of the Roku Player, Apple TV and Boxee Box for a more in-depth discussion.

I’m somewhat surprised that Roku doesn’t support YouTube yet, but apparently it’s still accessible through a 3rd-party app.  Google TV may show the most promise, but a lot of content is currently blocked.  I’m attracted to the Boxee Box’s unusual shape and the remote with built-in keyboard (and it’s possible to try out the Boxee software on a PC for free).  As an iPhone user I have a soft spot for the Apple TV, a tiny box that also allows streaming from iTunes and an iPad/iPod.

Maybe it’s too soon to jump on the Internet TV set top box bandwagon since these devices are so new and the content providers are still sorting out how they want to support them.  But the Roku Box starts at $59 and that seems like a great deal, especially with today’s Cyber Monday deal of 20% off.  At that low price, you get a nice holiday present and won’t feel too bad when some wonderful new device comes out in a year or two.

Apple is offering a small selection of cases in addition to their black bumper.  I like the simple, clean design of the iPhone 4, so I opted for Apple’s bumper because I think it looks the best.  However, the bumper doesn’t offer that much protection and iLounge prefers the Speck PixelSkin HD.  I figure I’ll go this the minimalist approach and if that doesn’t work out, I’ll wait for a wider selection of cases as they become available

The iPad has certainly gotten a lot of hype.  Some praise it while others proclaim it’s a poor alternative to a netbook.  I’ve been working with computers since the first microcomputers were available (even before the first IBM PC).  Many people would say the iPad brings nothing new to the table.  And those people are correct — however I do feel the iPad is a groundbreaking computer device.

While an iPad is essentially nothing more than an iPod Touch with a large screen, that large screen makes it much more useful device.  You are able to browse the Internet, read books and watch movies on an iPad Touch, but the small screen is less than ideal for these activities.  The iPad does not fit in your pocket, but it is much more portable than a laptop.  It’s the easiest way to access the web.

The iPad is much more responsive than my 3G iPhone.  Pinch-to-zoom goes as quickly as I can move your fingers.  Surfing the web is more natural than using a mouse.  The screen size is perfect for reading e-mail and viewing pictures (in fact, it can double as a digital picture frame).

The virtual keyboard is usable, but I wouldn’t want to use it to write a computer program or start a novel.  The iPad should be compatible with any BlueTooth keyboard (something I haven’t tried yet) and that might make more appropriate for tasks that require a lot of text input.

My big complaint is that you have sync it with iTunes to transfer any files.  That’s fine if you already have a computer, but makes it difficult to use an iPad as your primary computer or Internet device.  I know a lot of people who are afraid of computers, but want something simple to browse the web and do e-mail.  The iPad might be a perfect solution for them except that Apple wants it to be synced with a PC or Mac.  Perhaps Apple will get around to adding more features to MobileMe so that iPad users with simple needs could sync everything to cloud.

Another minor, personal annoyance is that I have been using my old Mac Mini to hold my iTunes library.  It’s running Tiger on a PowerPC and I hasn’t been any strong need to upgrade it to Leopard.  Except now an iPad cannot be synced to a Mac running Tiger.  It just seems a little strange to me that Apple supports syncing to a Windows XP machine but not to their own machines from that time period.  Ah, well.. that’s not going to be an issue for most people.

I am not usually one to run out and buy the latest gadget sight unseen.  I waited over a year until the second iPhone release before jumping on that bandwagon.  Since then, I’ve become a big fan, so much so that I’ve become an app developer (look forward to a release later this year).

It’s too soon to say if the iPad will be the success Apple thinks it will be.  Even though the iPad is essentially just a large version of the iPod Touch, the larger screen opens up wonderful possibilities. I anticipate a big hit — we’ll have to wait and see.

I’ve been watching the set of iPad guided tours that Apple just released and it has renewed my excitement.  Unlike a desktop, users can browse the Internet and manipulate the display directly with their hands. People love using their hands — it’s the natural way we manipulate the world.  It should make using a computer a lot more fun — I can’t wait to get my own hands on one.

There is a lot of speculation on what an Apple tablet device would offer.  Many disregard the need for a handheld computer with no keyboard.

In some ways, the iPhone is the ideal portable computing platform — it easily fits in a pocket and always has access to content on the web.  The trouble is there a plenty of tasks where the screen is too small.  Sure it’s possible to use an iPhone to read a book or watch a movie, but those applications are a better experience on a large screen.

While laptops have the advantage of  a large screen and keyboard, for Internet and media browsing you do not really need a keyboard.  In fact, the keyboard can get in the way — a tablet is always open and ready to use with a touch.  It’s true you wouldn’t want to write a term using  a virtual keyboard, but that problem could be solved if an external keyboard can be attached.

I’d like to see a tablet that includes a built-in stand that allows the screen to be laid flat or propped up for easy reading.  Apple may have devised some special way to input text, but an old-school Bluetooth keyboard would be nice option.  If Apple also provides an inductive charger, the entire computer experience could be wireless.

Apple is likely to introduce more than just a handheld computer.  Apple knows how to deliver content and provide a pleasant user experience.  Their new device should make it easy to watch video, play games and download books.  Video on demand may be more attractive than cable to some customers.  A tablet could be a better a better book reader than the current e-ink devices and provide more functionality. If Apple includes a touch version of the iWorks applications, they will have a device that provides most of what students and business users need in a slim and attractive package.

This Week in Google mentions that phone will be called the HTC Passion — another TechCrunch article says the Nexus One is almost identical to the Passion without the HTC branding.  I am looking forward to the release of what should be the definitive Android device.

I heard about this man-in-the-middle vulnerability listening to Steve Gibson’s Security Now podcast.  Steve plans to go into the details in the upcoming episode.  I am not sure that it is time panic, but a fix for the problem is a high priority.  According to Computerworld, the attacker must be on your local area network.  That means anyone who wants to perform secure transactions should avoid open Wi-Fi hotspots or use a VPN to secure their traffic.  Keep your browser updated — fixes are sure to be coming soon.

Earlier today, NASA released their findings: there is solid confirmation that water does indeed exist on the Moon.  The poles of the moon do not receive much sunlight and thus are very cold — not much above absolute zero.  This forms a “cold trap”, that preserves volatile chemicals that might otherwise heat up and escape into space.  So here we have an opportunity to learn more about what the Moon and Earth were like billions of years ago.

Beyond the scientific curiosity, water on the Moon means future astronauts may have a source of drinking water.  In my favorite Robert Heinlein novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, future Lunar colonists revolt, primarily so they are no longer forced to ship their limited water resources back to Earth.  The premise that water could be actually mined on the Moon now seems to be a possibility after all.