MPG Changes

One of the most important technological improvements that must be made in the next decade is an improvement in automobile fuel efficiency. Because car companies can make money by producing the largest cars and the biggest/baddest engines possible, many companies feel that good fuel efficiency is not always necessary to be able to compete in the market. Dodge, for example, has been pushing muscle cars like the charger and camero, which satisfy their target market, but consume gasoline at a very high rate. Last thursday the Obama administration unveiled a plan to bump up the US mpg average up to 35.5 mpg by 2016. I am hoping that this plan will help to push an industry to "wake up an smell the coffee" when it comes to producing cars. I feel as though we got a brief experience of the issues that result from the high cost of gas guzzlers when the gas prices rose to all time highs a few summers ago, but there needs to be more action to push the industry to make changes. I am hoping that this policy at least forces companies to be more environmentally responsible and help fund research to find future sources of energy in automobiles. From the mindset of a chemical engineering student, this issue will be paramount for the industry until it is solved.

The Future of the Laptop

On the day of the introduction of the Ipad and maybe the beginning of a shift of the computer market, I am beginning to wonder what is in store for the future of the laptop market. It has not been long since Apple changed the smart phone market with their app friendly Iphone. It seems to me that Apple seems to have a leg up on the competition in terms of innovation and the Ipad, although eerily similar to an Iphone, may just have the potential to change a market that has been pretty consistent for the last decade. Besides the shrunk down laptops, or "netbooks," which have been on the market for the last few years, laptops have all contained a material keyboard and monitor. The Ipad is trying to integrate the two and make a user friendly computing device that you can stash away in your briefcase. I like the idea of a touch screen computer, but I think that market share that apple will get on the laptop market will be rather small with this device. I see it as a useful computer for viewing textbooks and surfing the web on the go, but only as somewhat of a novelty. I cannot picture students in the next few years trying to type up term papers on an on screen keyboard.

The Electric Car

I just finished reading up on the new Nissan Leaf, which is expected to hit dealers later this year. After reading about the ability to only drive 100 miles on the tank, I cannot help but wonder if the $32,000 price tag is actually worth it. Granted, the US government has established a $7,500 rebate on the purchase of the car, but I cannot see the car being worth the extra expense. If you average about $1200 a year on gasoline, which is pretty common for a daily commute, you would have to drive an equivalent nissan versa (which is the base that the Leaf is designed around) for nearly 8 years. Mind you, that is 8 years that you would run the risk of having to purchase a new battery for the leaf and have to consider the fact that electricity, although cheap, is still going to cost you in order to power the car. I like the idea that nissan and other car companies have with producing all electric cars, but I do not believe we are at the point where these kinds of cars are economical, and everyone knows how important money is these days. I wish Nissan luck, but a car where you can only go 100 miles a day (which would prevent you from taking any road trips) just does not seem to fit in this economy.

The Movies

Sure, everyone loves to go to the movies and see their new "favorite" flick on the big screen. I cannot see any drawbacks of taking some time out to enjoy the best that the industry has to offer on a screen that can truly handle the special effects and sound. Well, that was until I got a look at the price on the ticket that I had to purchase to get into the theatre. Maybe its because I remember just 10 years ago saying that 6 dollars was high, but my 13 dollar ticket to see Avatar in 3D was approaching my breaking point. I had the pleasure of reading an article in USA today this past week and I have to say, I do not see the industry stopping at the price that i just paid. When I can now purchase the movie on DVD from a legitimate outlet - as opposed to just downloading the movie from the internet like I have heard of happening far too often this decade - for just 2 more dollars, I am having trouble rationalizing the pricing. I understand that the theatre has an awe about it with the surround sound and HD quality picture, but I would almost rather put up a few bucks for my own surround sound and just enjoy the movies on my own time. I think it is time the movie industry wakes up and realizes that people have a breaking point on movie pricing, and that constant price increases are keeping people from enjoying all of the theatrical greatness that is out there today.

Start of a new month

Hey,

Now that January has concluded and the groundhog has informed us of the 6 more weeks of winter that are ahead I am starting to look more and more forward to the promise of spring. Idk about you, but this cold weather is getting old. Spending a decent chunk of the last few weeks selling hot chocolate for ENGR 407 has driven me to look forward to summer. What is better than the sound of a baseball cracking through the air off of the bat of Ryan Howard?? With all of the promise of the 2010 Phillies season - acquiring Roy Halladay, Placido Polanco, and locking up a majority of the core through next year - I cannot wait until april 5th. In the mean time, I am going to have to deal with the cold and hope for some warm days here and there to quench my desire.