John Spahr

Hi, everyone. As you may know, laptops really started to gain popularity in the early 90s, and at the forefront of this new clamshell computer craze was none other than Apple. Indeed, their innovative line of PowerBook laptops pioneered many of the things we take for granted on laptop computers today. So, when I brought home a free PowerBook 520, I was thrilled to try it out. Here’s my experience with this classic notebook over the last few days! Hardware To begin, I want to make it clear that this is a very chunky laptop. It's incredibly heavy, and it’s obviously not as portable as we’re used to these days. Regardless, some things do feel very familiar, like the built-in stereo speakers and trackpad technology these 500 series laptops first introduced. However, some features of this laptop are long gone now, such as its dual battery bays, array of ancient ports hidden behind a folding panel, and 3.5 inch floppy drive. It definitely looks its age, but there’s no denying that this P...

Hi, everyone! As I somewhat diverge from the traditional purpose of this blog, said purpose being project updates, I feel that it is a good time to start writing about some of my other hobbies that I enjoy. One such hobby is watch collecting, and this post is the first of potentially many in a series I call “John’s Watch Box.” Today’s watch is one that watch enthusiasts will likely not appreciate, but more casual wearers like myself will enjoy for the most part. This is a Fossil SK-4928, a 1990s skeleton quartz watch that I inherited with a retro and eye-catching design. An Important Note Before we begin, I want to make it clear that this is very much a watch that prioritizes form over function. While this may not fly for a more expensive watch, these vintage Fossils tend to go for very little on sites like eBay since they lack the craftsmanship and brand prestige that you’ll find from some alternatives. That being said, if you ask me, the only issue with these so-called “fashion watch...