
The incredible innovations, like drone swarms and perpetual flight, bringing aviation into the world of tomorrow. Plus: today's greatest sci-fi writers predict the future, the science behind the summer's biggest blockbusters, a Doctor Who-themed DIY 'bot, the organs you can do without, and much more.


Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email
Contributing Writers:
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email
you're not going to mention the fact that an Apache weighs about 59,000 times as much as a Blackberry?
An empty Apache weighs 11,400 lb: a lot of which is armor and structure, with electronics and moving parts in between, whereas a blackberry is a mere 88g, packed with individually manufactured electronics: microchips, LCD, compact transceiver etc, not to mention its consumer-oriented markup (though I'm not sure what kinds of profits are involved in Apache manufacture).
So a microchip costs more per unit weight than a hunk of steel. Am I the only one not surprised?
Well, the tactical datalink in the Apache allows you to exchange information with other Apaches and units on the network, and the millimeter-wave Fire Control Radar could certainly find the burger joint, but I don't think that's what the author had in mind.
Can you take a picture of the person next to you in the helicopter and send to another helicopter?
I don't think the author was actually trying to say your Blackberry is more technologically advanced than the Apache. :)
"Crazy set of stats" indeed. Cost per pound measuring should only be applied at a fresh fish market.
In terms of cost density versus real value, I think the space shuttle is clearly a rip-off. I have a sub-laptop Viao computer that gives me the computing power I need in an easily hand portable package. Its retail cost is $1800 and weighs 1.1 pounds (500g). That gives a cost density of $112.50 per ounce or 2.25 euro per gram. The next question is, "Is it worth it?" My answer, you bet. Your answer is entirely up to YOU! It's slow, has limited drive space and wastes too many resources being a Vaio for my tastes, but in the final analysis it accomplishes what no comparable product can and keeps me looking VERY good!