“Many creative writers keep journals; the sociologist’s need for systematic reflection demands it.” -C. Wright Mills

My advisor and I have been talking here and there about getting netbooks and the netbook he got (Samsung, I think, because it had a full-size keyboard). As a consequence of his purchase, I have just come into ownership of a Thinkpad X40, which weighs in at 3lbs 14oz with the plug. This is a 1.5 pounds lighter than my Toshiba Portege 4005. It’s also twice as fast. And it’s half the size.

And that makes me think that Peter’s decision to buy a new netbook a negative consequence of Page’s Law. I spent most of today trying unsuccessfully to update the BIOS and install Linux from a USB. After dinner, for some reason (new wireless adapter driver, completely new install of XP that removed all the programs that had accumulated), everything went swimmingly. The only thing left are a few updates, an installation of awesome wm, and some file transfers.

But what is Page’s Law? Gawker’s Valleywag has the answer.