There’s a new column in town for those that need practical and down-to-earth tips about the world of tech and gadgets. Check out Common Sense Tech, a CNET column by Danny Sullivan. Known for being the Editor in Chief of Search Engine Land, Sullivan breaks news and puts out insightful commentaries about search engines. In my opinion, he’s one of the few people out there that can be rightfully called an SEO “guru.”
In his new column, Sullivan takes a few steps away from the land of search engines and decides to cover gadgets and tech in general. In his first piece, he writes, “Search hasn’t been the only thing that I’ve covered, however. Like many, I love technology. A new gadget, a new Web service, a great app–any of these things can make me happy. As a writer, what makes me even happier is sharing my experiences with new tech.”
With that said, expect a lot posts on how gadgets works (or don’t work) in his column. Sullivan will be writing reviews on the various devices in the hands of consumers nowadays, and he’ll be comparing various electronics out there.
So what makes Common Sense Tech unique from the heaps of tech writing in the web right now? According to Sullivan, he noticed that gadget reviews “often focus too much on product specs and benchmark performances rather than how well the products work in real life.” He aims to take gadget commentary a step further by writing about how devices work after weeks or even months of use. After all, reviews, no matter how comprehensive, can’t really capture how a device REALLY works after it lost its “newness”.
According to Sullivan, his column “will appear anywhere from once to three times per week, Mondays through Fridays”, so be sure to watch out for it. So far, he’s published three pieces: The first one is his introductory post which tells users what to expect in Common Sense Tech, and in his second post, he writes about the superiority of the iOS email app to that of Android. He actually makes an excellent point, stating that Android should “have a consistent, native app that rivals the iPhone.”
In his third Common Sense Tech post (my favorite so far), Sullivan addresses the fanboys (trolls in my opinion) who take the concepts of “Team iPhone” or “Team Android” way too seriously. He writes that fanboys shouldn’t throw a fit every time someone criticizes their beloved devices, and tells them that “When non-fanboys criticize one of your favorites, it’s doesn’t necessarily mean that we hate it. We might actually like it. We just might have more perspective that you could use. Understand that, and you might come across as less annoying. You might also help the products you love get better.”
Indeed, Sullivan does a great job in putting gadgets into perspective, not just spec wise, but at a practical level as well. Be sure to check it out once or twice a week. You’re bound to get some tips about your favorite gadgets, or the very least, pick up a few common sense insights along the way.
Image credit: Sipper Photography
