I receive a LOT of emails every day that are usually from PR agencies pitching products that they want us to write about or review, people with new crowdfunding campaigns that they want us to write about, people asking for tech support for products that we’ve reviewed, people asking how to buy products that we’ve reviewed, and people complaining about articles we’ve posted or problems with the website. It’s not often that I receive an email where someone isn’t wanting something from me or not complaining about something unlike the thoughtful thank you email that I received this morning.
My name is Aaron Blair, and about 15 minutes ago I remembered the-gadgeteer.com and decided to see if it was still around…
I first bookmarked the gadgeteer somewhere around the year 2000… Which inadvertently resulted in causing my parents many nights of anguish, listening to my constant pleas at dinner for WinCE and palm devices….I vividly remember asking you to review a Casio be-300 at the time. It was all I could afford and I spent months modding the interface and patching for full wince compatibility…Which didn’t exactly succeed.lol
It is almost unbelievable how many things have changed since then. I miss the times of my childhood. It seemed that every day, I could read about a new device. That was unique and innovative.
I am 28 years old. I ended my career in electronics engineering before it even began. Stopping to take care of my sick mother…I am a caregiver now, employed by the state of Washington..doing my best to give my mom a more fulfilling, better life.
The sense of wonder, and interest in tech/electronics that I hold today was fostered and fed by your website years ago.
I want to say thank you, I didn’t end up where I wanted to specifically. But I wouldn’t know half of what I do now if I hadn’t stumbled on this site back around the year 2000.
Glad to see that it’s still going,
Aaron Blair.Also, I still have my old Scott-e vest.. ;p
After more than 20 years of running The Gadgeteer, I still get a little misty-eyed when I read emails like this one because it makes me realize that even though this is just a gadget website and we’re not changing the world, what we do here can make a difference and help people. Thanks Aaron for energizing me to keep The Gadgeteer going hopefully for many more years to come.
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That’s pretty nice! He took the time to write it! Kudos!
Yes, thanks Aaron for writing to the Chief and supporting her and her family for what they do. And for your example in caring for your mum. Every act of kindness make this a better world for me and my family to live in.
Nice one Aaron!
Spoken like a true Geek.
Julie, keep up the good work, I think I’ve been following your posts since the beginning, I’,m just trying to work out if that is Last Mi;lenium or not 🙂
Rob
Here’s why I come here DAILY.
You give good reviews, you have fun and you keep the politics OUT of the site!
It’s one of my daily stops and will continue for years!
Keep up the great site!
Julie, for years you have fed my inner geek and stoked my secret fetishises…the perfect flashlight/pen/backpack/wallet…!!! YES!
And then you share a glimpse of something personal–your life, your health, your travels–like this email. So, I keep coming back, because in your own manner, you nourish me. Keep it up.
Thanks!
Thanks Cyrano!
I am a senior citizen techie, and I am ashamed of myself. I have been reading your column for a long time. And never thought to send a thank you. Mea Culpa. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Richard! I wasn’t angling for kudos though 🙂
One of the things that sets this site apart from most others is that it’s both more personal and more personable. We see snippets of Julie’s life through some of the reviews, and that makes it that much more human.
🙂 it seems that what is missing today is variety. i loved webos and cried when it died, i saw it as the last vestige of weirdness and being unique in today’s world. This is why i hold my memories of reading here in such high regard. I wish that i still could see competitiveness and actual reasons to buy a device now, instead it is only convenience that i consider.
For some reason i still find myself drooling over a psion hpc and trying to justify how i could use it day to day.lol
thanks for the kind words. ill be around
Aaron B
Agreed. Everything feels the same. I guess that’s what draws me to Android devices over iOS devices. I can customize Android much easier than iOS 🙂
I know my email was not as robust as this one below, but I really did enjoy working with you for 7 years at Sena Cases /Targus, we were a good team, and I remember you were always honest, helpful, and professional! Thanks Julie
Thanks Kris!