Category: Computers (Page 33 of 33)

      SLAPPA Ballistix PTAC Matrix Laptop Shoulder Bag: There is no spoon…but that’s the ONLY thing it’s missing

      March 17, 2009 /

      I don’t even know if kids today will get the “Matrix” joke in the subject line, but, seriously, the Ballistix PTAC Matrix Laptop Shoulder Bag has got just about everything you’d possibly need in a bag. Let’s run through the bullet points, shall we?

      It’s made of water and tear-resistant nylon, so your computer’s safe if you get stuck in the rain again; it has a quilted inner lining with what’s described as “super-cush laptop padding,” so it can handle some bumps and bruises without doing any damage to the machinery inside; it fits both 15.4″ and 17″ notebooks (which is a little unfortunate in my case, since my lowly little 14″ baby doesn’t need nearly as much space as has been provided for it); most importantly, though, it’s loaded with compartments, though the nicest is clearly the one for your electrical cord, which is located at the top of the bag rather than on the sides. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been poked by the cord…but no more, my friend! The mirror-plated alloy clasps may feel like a bit much for those of us who don’t need their bag to look all shiny, but the adjustable shoulder strap is certainly more than comfortable enough.

      As a writer who finds himself traveling around the country for business on occasion, the best bit about this particular model is the amount of space that’s available for you to carry items other than your laptop. I’m a TV critic, and I can’t begin to tell you how many press kits and DVD screeners will fit in this thing, but, y’know, whatever your line of work, if you you travel often and regularly find yourself picking up new materials along the way, this model may well keep you from having to carry a second bag on your next trip.

      Computers

      SLAPPA Ballistix Aura and Stealth laptop sleeves: the on-the-go solutions

      March 16, 2009 /

      Throughout the week, we’ll be posting reviews of several different full-size SLAPPA laptop bags, which work well when you’re loaded down with your laptop and a bunch of other gear. But what if you’re just heading down to the coffee shop and only need your laptop? SLAPPA’s laptop sleeves will do nicely. First and foremost, sleeves like the Ballistix Aura and Stealth offer additional protection when you’ve got your laptop stored in a bigger bag. Just slip your computer into the sleeve and slip the sleeve into your bag. When you attach an optional shoulder strap to the sleeve, though, it becomes its own small laptop bag. The downside here is that there is precious little extra room in the sleeve once you put the laptop in. The zipper pocket on the back works well for papers, notebooks, magazines, mouse pads and other small items, but that’s about it. And while I was able fit my laptop’s power chord in the pocket after some finagling, it was a very snug fit, so much so that I wasn’t comfortable zipping the pocket shut. The bag itself is high quality, though the padding doesn’t seem sufficient enough to protect a laptop from a substantial blow. All of which is to say that the Aura and Stealth sleeves aren’t everyday solutions for your laptop portability needs, but they definitely serve a very convenient purpose for those traveling extremely light or looking for extra protection on longer trips.

      Computers

      Sweet Gadgets That Fell Short

      March 11, 2009 /

      Interesting article by popularmechanics.com this week. Here they explore “5 Design Flaws that Ruined Otherwise Smart Gadgets.”

      Storm

      In order for a touchscreen to be successful, the user needs to feel that he is in constant control, and for this, responsiveness is key—even small lags can prove immensely frustrating. One recent offender of this rule is the Blackberry Storm, RIM’s first touchscreen phone.

      Some history: Before the Storm was released, there was a lot of buzz surrounding its supposedly ground-breaking touchscreen, which depresses like a button, giving users a satisfying “click”.

      But when users and reviewers actually got their hands on their device, the real shock was how buggy the whole thing was. The touchscreen suffered from long delays—often a second or more—that made users yearn for their old button-based Blackberry. And completing simple tasks took an unnecessary number of steps. For example, inputting the letter “C” involves putting one’s finger on the letter, waiting for the phone to respond by highlighting the letter, and then pushing down. All that for a simple letter.

      I can definitely agree with some of this. BlackBerry, for instance, had a good vision when designing the touch-and-click function in the Storm, but the execution was less than stellar. Have you tried this thing? Press and hold, press harder, wait for it… wait for it… and click. Are you kidding me? That’s the ultra-innovative touch-screen we’ve been waiting for? Please.

      I can’t agree too much with the Wii Remote. After all, they did include a wrist strap with every Wiimote. If you choose not to use the wrist strap, that’s at your own risk.

      I’ve already touched on the Kindle vs. the Kindle 2 here, so I won’t go there right now.

      Check out the article and let me know if you know of any sweet gadgets that have a clear miss in the design.

      Apple, Computers, Gaming, Mobile, News

      Browser Wars

      March 7, 2009 /

      Browser Wars

      I’m an avid Firefox user. I have been for years. And there are many reasons for my love affair. First, I enjoy the ability to install add-ons like “Adblock Plus,” “All-in-One Sidebar,” and especially “Foxmarks.” Also, Firefox gives me the freedom to tweak settings inside the browser’s core which can change my interaction with it, as well as its overall speed. Finally, I definitely notice that the browser uses less of my PC’s memory and always releases it properly when I close it. What’s not to like about Firefox?

      So, it might surprise you to know that I am always willing to try the next new thing in web browsers. I’ll install Opera and try it out for a few weeks then go back to Firefox. What’s that? Google came out with a new browser called Crome? Sure, I’ll install that too and see what all the hubbub is about. Since everyone on the planet seems wired to think anything Apple does is great, I end up installing Safari as well. Sadly, even though I installed all those browsers, I still end up using IE to check my work email. I’m sorry but for some strange reason Microsoft’s webmail client works better inside Microsoft’s web browser. Crazy, I know.

      For those of you out there wondering what the current advantages and disadvantages of each of these browsers are, maximumpc.com has put together a great list comparing all the browsers. And they even took it one further by comparing what the future releases will look like.

      Anyone who may have thought the death of Netscape would signal the end of the browser wars, boy were they mistaken. In fact, it could be argued that it was at that point it all began. It didn’t take long for Mozilla’s Firefox to emerge from Netscape Navigator’s ashes, and over time, Firefox would win over enthusiasts with a potent combination of speed, security, and an unprecedented level of customization.

      But what started as a two-man battle is quickly growing into all-out warfare. Prepare to be overwhelmed by an onslaught of new browser releases in the coming months as Microsoft, Mozilla, Apple, Opera Software, and Google all vie to provide your vehicle for navigating the web. Each one brings something new to the table, whether it be blazing fast performance or a unique feature-set. Don’t worry if you haven’t been paying attention – we jump in the trenches with whole lot of them and get to know each one on a personal basis.

      So there you have it. Read it and make your own decision. Don’t just use IE because it comes installed with Windows. Try something new on and see if it fits.

      As for me, I’ll be constantly trying whatever is the latest and greatest thing to come out in the browser wars. And then, well… in all honesty… within a week going back and using Firefox about 95% of the time.

      Apple, Computers, News, Websites

      Apple’s iMac is Updated and Affordable

      March 4, 2009 /

      Apple iMac

      Exciting news out of Cupertino yesterday. The iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro were all updated with much improved all around specs. And surprisingly, at affordable prices. Top of the line hardware specs and affordability have been missing in Apple’s Mac line of products recently but we’ll get into that later. For now, let’s focus on the updated iMac.

      Here’s what Apple has to say about today’s developments:

      Available today, the new iMac line includes a 20-inch model for only $1,199 and the flagship 24-inch iMac which is priced more affordably than ever before. For the same $1,499 price as the previous generation 20-inch iMac, the new 24-inch iMac delivers a 30 percent larger display, twice the memory and twice the storage. It features the Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at speeds up to 3.06 GHz, 4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, a 640GB or 1TB Serial ATA hard drive, and several options for graphics processors.

      Now that’s music to my ears.

      My biggest complaint about Apple over the last few years is that the hardware specs didn’t live up to the price. I know, I know… you get a solid operating system and virus free computer. And yes, I know that “everything just works.” But realistically, when compared to a PC with similar hardware specs, the difference in price for a Mac was substantial. Well, not any more.

      Take the baseline 24-inch, 2.66GHz iMac. For $1499 you get 4GB of 1066MHz DDR SDRAM and 640GB of storage to go along with OS X and iLife ’09. Up the memory to 1 TB and add iWork ’09 and you’re out the door at $1648. Not bad at all.

      All-in-all I can definitely say I am proud of Apple today. While $1500 may not be affordable for every family, what you are getting for the money is well worth it. You can now safely buy an iMac knowing that you got a machine with very strong hardware specs, at a fair price.

      Apple, Computers, News

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