Happy ‘09, everyone. Hope yours is a good one.

It is tradition in the United States that people make what’s called their "New Year’s Resolutions", i.e. a  to-do list of things they want to get done. This can be things such as losing a few pounds, paying off a few debts, getting some housework done, etc.

These are my tech resolutions. Will they happen? Maybe.

1. Switch to 64-bit computing.

This is all dependent on whether Windows 7 gets released this year or not. The cost to go 64-bit is roughly the same as 32-bit. Granted, I could go 64 now with Linux or Mac OS X (both have 64-bit releases), but what can I say… I’m a Windows guy.

(Edit: Yes I know there’s 64-bit Vista but I want 7 specifically.)

2. Get better at that whole social media thing.

Social media works. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Bebo, YouTube, Flickr or whatever you use, it does work if you put effort into it. And when I say "effort" I mean creating relationships OTI that translate into IRL. You can have as many OTIs as you can muster but it matters more when human contact is achieved.

3. Host more PCMech Live shows.

There hasn’t been a live show for the past 2 weeks because of the holiday stuff. In addition to getting back into the swing of every Wednesday 8-10pm EST there will also be other shows added in there.

This isn’t a "maybe" on this list. It will happen.

4. Get a netbook.

The netbook is a super-small factor laptop with an 8 or 10-inch screen. These are the ultimate in portability, I really like them and their cheap. I haven’t bought one yet because the specs are not up to par in my opinion. If I’m going to get one it has to have at least a 256GB hard drive on board, 10 to 12-inch screen and a few other things – of which they don’t have yet.

But maybe by 2009 year’s end they will? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

For those that ask why I’m so hot on netbooks, it’s because they encompass what portable computers are all about, that being portable. Not "desktop replacements", not "chuck everything in there under the sun" and so on. Laptops are supposed to be small, light and portable, and nothing does it better than a netbook.

For those that say "iPhone!", you can take your touch-based scrunched keyboard and shove it. No thanks. I want a real computer with a real keyboard and trackpad that DOESN’T REQUIRE ME TO SUBSCRIBE TO A SERVICE just to use, thank you very much.

5. Backup more.

I do backup now but I really should backup more.

I will have to invest is some more USB sticks. Particularly 4GB ones. I’d rather use those over optical media any day because they’re far more reliable.

How about you?

Do you have a tech to-do for 2009?