Getac B300

Can You Say Armored Laptop?

This review was originally written by Cisco Cheng. I have edited it bit (as Cisco actually reviewed the V200 model), and added some of my own embellishments and details from my experience and use. Most of the information is still applicable. I had about a half dozen of these for resale. It is a fact that your computer's data is only as safe as the device which you keep it on. For those who work in harsher environments than usual, like an office or classroom, a typical laptop isn't going to cut it. A ruggedized laptop is usually called upon in such situations as a construction site, beach, or military zone. The Getac B300 (over $3,000.00) is classified as a fully-rugged laptop, as opposed to a semi- or business-rugged one. It's practically indestructible, having been subjected to a comprehensive suite of military tests. Inside this fortress is a solid list of laptop components, including a low-voltage Dual Core processor, touch-screen, big battery, and the brightest screen money can buy. But given its price tag, whoever is forking out the money for this laptop had better have pockets as deep as those of the government.

Design
Like many ruggedized laptops, the B300 is shaped like a briefcase and measures 3 inches thick—about the height of three netbooks stacked together. There's no flair or colors to choose from; the design was meant to look like a tank. The thick slab of magnesium metal used to make the chassis accounts for a good portion of its height, as it didn't give way when I parked my 160 pound frame on top of it. It's also the reason why the laptop weighs over 6 pounds, when the average 12-inch laptop weighs half that. Because it's a fully rugged laptop, the B300 underwent a grueling series of military torture tests, which involved, for instance, vibrations, exposure to extreme temperatures, and drop tests at various heights. The 13.3 inch screen is touted to be the brightest of any laptop in the world. It's not meant for heavy multitasking, or gaming, but you're not squinting at it either. Rated at 1,200 nits, the screen is at least four times brighter than that of the average laptop and ideal for outdoor viewing. I didn't run into any problems while using my fingers to navigate in Windows 7 Professional. When it comes time to type up those reports, the keyboard, with standard size keys, is a pleasure to use. The square touchpad isn't very roomy but I didn't feel cramped while surfing the Web. Getac cleverly placed five quick-command buttons in the front bezel, with which you can toggle the screen brightness, lock the OS, turn off wireless, and launch a virtual keyboard or Getac's proprietary settings too. 

Feature

Every single port is covered by peel-off rubber doors that act as barriers against seepage. This includes the three USB ports, one of which doubles as eSATA. This combo port, and its faster transfer speeds, will come in handy especially when you run out of space on the laptop's factory standard 80GB hard drive. A VGA and Serial port reside in the back, but there's no HDMI port. It includes an Express Card slot, media card reader, as well as an Ethernet and a modem jack. Antenna-wise, it runs the gamut: The B300 is equipped with 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth, and GPS.

Performance
The 2.6 GHz Intel Dual Core processor is a low-voltage model, meaning its speeds are slightly reduced in favor of battery efficiency. The B300 is capable of running the most resource-intensive applications (video and photo editing packages, databases, and high-level stuff), yet crank out enough battery life for most of the day. The laptop ran warm on some occasions, like running too many hardcore applications at once, where temperatures got up to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the time, heat was manageable. It uses integrated graphics only, so I would lay off the 3D-intensive stuff (i.e. games, 3D maps, and Autocad).

Because you're paying premium dollars, Getac included the biggest battery available, an 87WH (9-cell) brick that can easily be pulled out from the right side of the laptop. The big battery lasted over 6 hours. A fully-rugged laptop isn't for everybody. There's a lot of money that goes into making a laptop that can be sent to hell and back with all your data intact. For some agencies, the data and a functioning laptop is more important than any dollar amount. That said, the Getac B300 is one of the toughest laptops in the world, as it is subjected to the most stringent of military torture tests. It's one of the faster rugged laptops around, thanks to an Intel Core processor, and with a SSD drive many benchmark numbers jump out at you. I can't recommend anything else for the time being, since I haven't reviewed many rugged laptops recently. But if you or your firm has this kind of money to spend, the Getac B300 most certainly will not disappoint.

 

Dell Inspiron Duo 1090

I purchased a couple of these a while back for resale. Very popular fast seller, but little room for profit. This particular model is known as a convertible laptop. It is both a laptop and a Windows based tablet. A simple flip of the LCD display and voila, it's a tablet. It has dual touch control, meaning you can use a pointing device such as a mouse of digitizer pen, or you can use your fingertip. I found this particular machine to be cute but lackluster at best. I cracked (literally to upgrade with solid state hard drives) them open to look inside. First of all, the apparent brushed metal wrist rest is actually plastic. The design is very cramped (brings about concerns of over heating) and I had to remove the entire top to access the hard drive ... Not too bad since it only took 6 - 8 screws to do this. The digitizer touch screen is very responsive yet inaccurate when using my fingertip. I found it somewhat difficult to select smaller items with my fingertip. I had to actually touch 4 or 5 times before the selection was made. While upgrading and doing research for manuals and such I ran across some information that was a little unsettling. The CPU (main motherboard chip) runs between $30 - $60. Hmmmm ... 90% percent plastic with a $50 CPU. This could be the reason it seemed a little sluggish during multi-tasking. An optional docking bay/port replicator is available with larger speakers and great sound. It automatically switches orientation from portrait to landscape depending on how it is held. A great cute little machine for a kid ... but for the power user I give it a thumbs down. Please don't get the wrong impression. Dell has many very good products, I have 4 of their 17 inch monitors. This product is not a good pick if you are a heavy user. I used it to view digital comics ... awesome. For movie viewing ... again awesome. When it came to editing an animated graphics file (Blender) and reformatting a movie from raw files (DVD Files) to avi ... efficiency and speed went downhill tremendously. If it is any consolation, Dell has beefier versions of this style with Intel's "i" series processors. One of the beefier versions would likely be a better choice for the consummate multi-tasker or geeky heavy user. It is definitely "NOT" a good choice for the gamer.

NEC Multisync LCD 3210

The Best Monitor For The Money

 

Everyone without any exception, seems to be quite impressed when they view my system monitor. I got a great deal for two of these (bought separately) on eBay. These are the very same monitors that are used throughout the airline industry for the arrival/departure screen's information. I figured if they were good enough for the airline industry, they are good enough for me. I reiterated that quote to the USPS guy when he made the delivery. His response, "I like your logic" ... LOL. I have no reservations in saying that this is possibly the best monitor for the money. You can purchase much better monitors with much higher resolution (costing much more) but, standard everyday computer use does not require super high resolution. It is only in gaming, post production graphics, movie editing, and only a few other applications that require high resolutions to be truly effective, efficient, and thoroughly enjoyable. This particular model has a 720p resolution. This is sufficient to view Blu-Ray, and High Definition. The circuitry to view such media does not have to reside in the monitor. The circuitry can also be in the appliance. Hence, I've added a Blu-Ray/3D DVD player with Wi-Fi capability (the new must have appliance). I have both of my monitors set for 1600 X 1200 resolution and the picture is awesome. All you need is a monitor that has sufficient resolution and the "cheap" glasses to view passive 3D (so I thought, more on that in another post). Though I cannot get the highest resolution of some of my devices, the colors are robust and bright. The blacks are deep and solid, not grey tinged. I would not give this monitor up for 3 times what I paid ($100 plus shipping). I'm told it looks like $500 and one of Dell's 32 inch monitors goes for $600. There are also Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) speakers (pictured) available as an add-on but not required. You can add your own speakers. The factory speakers are quite efficient and sound very good. Once you tweak this monitor to get the best picture (many controls), the picture is crisp and clear. This monitor has built-in circuitry that allows you to tile up to 64 of these monitors to create a video wall, they all (NEC's) do. There are a couple of drawbacks though. This is a commercial monitor and therefore is not made specifically for home use. Some of the connectors are BNC. Therefore you might have to buy BNC-to-RCA adapters or cables for some appliances such as DVD players and Stereo Receivers. The operations manual is very thorough and comprehensive. The other drawback, if you want to call it that, is the signal auto-detect function is slow in  detecting my computer's signal. All that has to be done is opening and closing my laptop's lid and it detects much faster. This could be due to my having so many programs loaded which one or two conflicts could exist. This can also can be a pain if you are in the habit of or require regular rebooting. Fortunately my monitor is part of my home server network (I seldom reboot and my system is left on for days at a time). Additionally, some universal remotes cannot sync with this monitors inferred receiver. It is best to use the factory remote. For the record, I don't think that there is any appliance that does not have it's own weird quirks, anomalies, and unexplainable ticks for lack of a better word. Overall ... Like I said in the beginning, the best monitor for the $$$ (that I have encountered).

SO MANY GADGETS!

There are so many esoteric, eclectic electronic gadgets that it is difficult to separate the practical and purposeful from the frivolous and senseless. And when tastes and personal preferences are factored into the mix, it is not as simple as separating gold and tin into two discernible piles.
There are entire personal-communication systems that fit into mobile phones. Sunglasses and wristwatches now are multidimensional communications and entertainment products. Mobile phones not only serve as entertainment centers and GPS navigational systems, the units also are viewed as jewelry and complementing accessories to one's fashion persona.

Apparently, Baskin & Robbins was really onto something when it decided to offer as many flavors as possible and to treat each tasty twist with the same reverence usually reserved for vanilla and chocolate. B&R was among the first firms to grasp that true luxury embodies a wide berth of available options. If something is made well, it will appeal to consumers of discerning tastes. The marketplace for electronic gadgets and games is truly a phenomenon of the 21st century.

We eat blueberries and talk into BlackBerrys. It is difficult to say whether any gadgets or accessories will amaze and enthrall us like the abacus did the Babylonians back in 300 BCE. While, abaci, which are still in use today, have endured for centuries, the eras of eight-track tape players, rotary-dial telephones, and VCRs are already ancient history. Does anyone still remember when mobile phones were as large as one of Shaquille O'Neal's sneakers, or when television sets did not come with remote controls?

The ever-changing landscape of new electronic gadgets and games is a byproduct of modern technology that is evolving faster than ever. The Luxé Electronic Gadgets Review plugs into today's latest wizardry. However, do stay tuned for upgrades, enhancements, and new product introductions throughout the year.

When it comes to mobile phones with intelligence, the BlackBerry line is summa cum laude with its front-row bleeding-edge technology. After all, it is a handheld mobile phone that works like a multi-port personal computer. And if that isn't enough to prompt a wow from the galley, the new BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is smaller and sleeker than its magnificent predecessors. Aside from being a phone that allows international roaming between North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, it comes with multimedia capabilities and 64 MB of memory, which is easily expandable.

Wearable electronics sounds like something movie characters like Batman or James Bond might wear. Although the terminology possesses a futuristic, science-fiction tone, it accurately describes intelligently designed multiuse products, such as the O ROKR. The O ROKR is Oakley's fourth release of a pair of eyewear with a built-in mobile phone and an MP3 player. It is Bluetooth-driven eyewear. The O ROKR is a collaborative effort by Oakley and Motorola. The O ROKRs come in three distinct colors, and there are stylish versions of it for both men and women.

V-Moda presents "hearwear" that dazzles the eyes, perks the ears, and piques the interests of both fashion and music aficionados. The Modaphone Hearwear collection is a series of fashionable earphones with the sparkle of jewelry and the clarity of high-end earphones. There are four models. Each model is made from super-soft silicon with fittings that are offered in three sizes. The fabulous four are individually known as the Bass Fréq, the Vibe, the Remix M Class, and the Modawrap. The earphones are compatible complements to Apple's iPods, Microsoft's Zune, and various other MP3 players.

It is all in the numbers. Escort Radar manufactures the best radar/laser detectors, as the company owns over 85 percent of all radar and laser patents in use. Radar/laser detectors are legal to use in 49 states. Virginia and Washington, DC, are the only exceptions. With all the coupes, roadsters, sedans, and even SUVs capable of accelerating beyond 150 mph smoothly and effortlessly, it is easy to see how even the most responsible driver could err at a most inopportune time. Escort Radar's Passport 8500 X50 circumvents such mishaps from occurring.

Sony's S2 Sports Walkman MP3 Player is a fit gift for any athlete on the list. The two-gigabyte model stores up to 1,350 songs, and it plays up to 18 hours on an embedded battery that provides three hours on three-minute charge. It also contains an FM tuner for alternate listening choices to get through the workout time. The S2 is lightweight and has a bright, easy to read organic electroluminescence display.

It came as no surprise that when Motorola wanted to glitz out its RAZR V3i that a call was placed to the glamorous team of Domenico and Stefano to add the D and G magic. These guys could make cat litter glitter. So, ascending a streamline, renowned luxury cell phone to jewelry-level status would be a golden opportunity for them to leave another mark of distinction.

As long as the road is in North America, getting lost while driving will not happen if there is a StreetPilot in the vehicle. This GPS-satellite-navigational system, which is no larger than a baseball, is guaranteed to always pitch straight info to drivers. Plus it can easily be removed from one vehicle and placed in another, as it securely attaches to windshields with a suction cup. It is a perfect gift for the soon-to-be rich student, or an ideal addition to the classic car of a bygone era.

Having knowledge at your fingertips makes for a great metaphor. Having knowledgeable info conveyed instantly from an easy-to-use handheld device makes for a very innovative and entertaining product. The SkyScout by Celestron, with its advanced GPS technology, can be used during the day or night. Turn it on and its built-in menu provides operating info simple enough that even adults can operate it without muss of fuss.

When hip-hop, country or rock artists put out a song that has universal appeal beyond its anticipated audience, the hit song is a crossover. So, if a cell phone contains 140 grams of solid gold and is studded with diamonds, would it be a crossover into the jewelry marketplace as well as being a cell phone? There are so many people observed daily constantly holding cell phones against their ears. Many of these sleek machines could easily be mistaken for over-sized earrings. The Illusion, which is GoldVish's sparkling collection of personal luxury communication devices, is for real.

The Sony Ericsson Bluetooth Watch MBW-100 is a very practical, intelligent device that hits the underbelly of anyone who has ever imagined being a super sleuth or a suave secret agent like James Bond. The MBW-100 is a wristwatch with Bluetooth technology. When used with its wireless Bluetooth headset, the sophisticated wristwatch manages calls and music as simply as checking the time. This is a must-have for all lovers of bleeding-edge communications technology.

The thought of installing a telephone in one of the most intimate rooms in the house once left us bewildered, but this takes the cake. The iCarta dock from Atech Flash mounts easily onto the wall, charges your iPod while playing music, and features four integrated moisture-free speakers, which deliver exceptional clarity and high quality sound. The cost of replacing the NY Times for some Top 40 runs 100 dollars.

Since so many cell phones come equipped with MP3 capabilities, it only makes sense to make a dock designed with Bluetooth® Technology. The Altec Lansing T515 wireless speaker system features a speakerphone, a headset with a microphone, and a Bluetooth frequency up to 30 feet. Just a touch of a button allows you to easily switch from your favorite song to any incoming calls you receive.

The Altec Lansing T515 is priced at 150 dollars.
From business professionals to aspiring musical artists, the MicroMemo turns your second generation iPod Nano into a portable, pocket-sized recording studio. You can capture audio using the flexible, detachable microphone and import it onto your computer where you can edit it later. With this little device you can record interviews, meetings, lectures, lyrics, or even your grocery list. The MicroMemo is priced at 60 dollars.

The Best Blu-Ray Burning Software

CyberLink PowerDVD 13 Ultra

Touted To Be The Best Blu-Ray Burning Software Available Today!

First and foremost, let me say this: I do not dispute the claim made by whomever made such a comment. I've been using this software for approximately 2 years. It is absolutely wonderful. Not only is it Blu-Ray burning software ... It is also a media player, a media center, and so much more. As a player I have not run across any media that it does not play or burn for that matter (including 3D). It even plays files that VLC Player would not play flawlessly. Another one of the many great features is this: It will sync an iPhone, android tablet, and a Windows based PC. As a matter of fact it will sync all of your devices regardless of platform.

If you like movies & music you will love these features. The media center function (not really a media center) delivers all the trailers for most movie releases. In addition to that bio's on all of the actors and actresses in every movie trailer ... and there are literally hundreds. There is also a music store. You can buy inexpensive royalty free music or some major label artists.

PowerDVD 13 has an enhancement known as True Theater Technology. With this feature you can actually improve the quality of movie files that you play. The aim if you will is to sharpen images, enhance color and lighting, and generally deliver what the CyberLink folks are calling “quality beyond HD”. This feature alone has made it quite enjoyable to watch movies on my computer. Of course my 32" monitor doesn't hurt either ... LOL.

As far as audio is concerned, yep you guessed it, handles that very well also. PowerDVD 13 is capable of playing the higher sound quality files like FLAC, APE, and Lossless without a hitch. Dolby sound on video is as it is suppose to sound ... AWESOME! It has a mini player for music for those times when you don't need all of the bells and whistles of the main player.

Are you a social media junkie? Do you frequent sites like Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites? PowerDVD 13 allows you to "Like" movies, tunes etc... on Facebook directly from the dashboard. You can also tweet you opinion of a song or movie. How cool is that?

The one downside that I and everyone else will encounter is cover art mismatches. That being said ... I don't know of any player that actually gets this right 100% of the time. I guess some technologies still have a ways to go yet. I could go on and on ... there are many more features. I will end with this: It is a fantastic player that provides a ton of entertainment value. A "MUST HAVE" if the primary function of your computer is for entertainment.

Magic Wand Hand Held Scanner

VuPoint Solutions

 

 

Magic Wand Hand Held Scanner

I've used this handy little gadget for some time now ... I am still pleased with it's performance. The VuPoint Magic Wand II is a portable scanner that features three different resolutions for almost endless scanning options. It scans color in about 3 seconds and 2 seconds for monochrome in standard resolution, 8 seconds for color and 6 seconds for monochrome in high resolution, and 12 seconds for color and 10 seconds for monochrome in fine resolution. The VuPoint hand-held scanner can scan on multiple surfaces and works with a variety of different media, including images, documents, and notes as well as old photos, recipes, and fabrics. Pillows, curtains, magazines and more can also be scanned. The resolution is so good that it can pick up the textures of fabric! Items captured by this VuPoint hand-held scanner can be saved as a JPEG or PDF file on a 32 GB microSD card when the device is not connected to a PC. Connectivity is available via a USB port, and this scanner is compatible with computers running Windows XP, Vista, or 7 operating systems or Mac OS X 10.4 or newer. Model number st44-vp (there are a few differing models) has wi-fi for ease of transferring scans. It is a wonderful device for scanning receipts, photos, business cards, and books. Scanning original documents (with signatures) on the spot is not a problem. Imagine for once having all of your receipts on a CD compiled with this little device. Your tax advisor will smile every time he/she sees you ... LOL.

Touchscreen Technology

A New Gateway to Products & Services

Frequent fliers know that checking in for flights is much easier and quicker today thanks to self-serve kiosks that enable users to zip through the process with the touch of a finger. From car infotainment systems to the most advanced communication devices, touchscreens are becoming increasingly popular, converting everyday tasks into fast and fun experiences. Whether they are stopping by the ATM or casting their vote in the latest election, touchscreen technology is enabling people to do so with speed and ease.

An intuitive and interactive quality makes touchscreens appealing to all ages and in a variety of industries. Without the learning or physical limitations of a mouse and keyboard, touch technology is open to everyone, even young children or people with disabilities. Toy manufacturers, for instance, are taking advantage of touch technology to provide entertaining, yet educational, toys for children that are too young to have developed the motor skills required for a regular computer.

At retail outlets, store merchandisers are using touch technology as a new marketing strategy to engage consumers, while delivering product information at the touch of a finger. For instance, FAO Schwarz has installed 17-inch Planar touchscreens as a consumer design center for the Hot Wheels Custom Car Factory in its New York store. Using the Planar touchscreen kiosk, shoppers can customize their own Hot Wheels car with special colors, designs, wheels and rims.

The restaurant industry also is seeing the benefits of touch-integrated POS systems to improve order-processing time. Easy-to-use touchscreen devices enable servers to enter food orders faster and more accurately, enhancing the overall dining experience. Tableside units provide customers with a variety of entertainment and information options, such as playing video games or surfing the Web. Other industries embracing touchscreen technology include automotive (car rental information portals, GPS systems), industrial (ATMs, gas station service pumps) and health care (outpatient information kiosks).

Receptive consumers and falling prices have enabled touch to spread its reach across a wide range of markets. As a result, this technology is making strong inroads as a primary way for consumers to get products, services and information.

Latest Inventions!

  

Check Out These New Gizmos And Gadgets!

 

The Newest Gizmos and Gadgets on the Market:

Ingenuity and technological advances are constantly resulting in new gizmos and gadgets. Gadgets can be both fun and functional and can save the owner time and effort. Below you’ll find descriptions of some of the latest inventions available on the market.

Microsoft Xbox 360

The Microsoft Xbox 360 is one of the latest inventions of video games. Video game lovers everywhere are rejoicing the arrival of the new system. The newest Xbox is still a gamer’s dream, but it is also being marketed as a media center. Not only can the system be used for playing video games, but it can also be used to play DVDs, CDs and MP3s. Digital cameras can be hooked up to it, as well as mp3 players and even personal computers. Video conferencing is also available to other X-Box users.

Irobot Scooba

Anyone who has scrubbed a dirty floor before, take note of the latest inventions from iRobot! The iRobot Corporation has introduced the Scooba, a floor washing robot. Unlike a mop, which uses dirty water to clean, the Scooba cleans only with clean water. The Scooba is programmed to first pick up things like sand and dirt from the floor, then apply clean water and solution to the floor, scrub the floor and clean up the dirty solution. The tiny Scooba is also able to fit into tight spots that are difficult to reach with a mop. IRobot also makes the Roomba, a robot used in vacuuming the home.

Mobiky Genius

A different type of latest inventions is the Mobiky Genius folding bicycle. This bike was developed in response to difficulties encountered by commuters in maneuvering congested city streets and sidewalks. Because it folds up, the Mobiky Genius is easy to carry up and down stairs and can be easily stored.

Philips Digital Photo Display

Another of the latest inventions is the Philips 7FF1AW 7-inch Digital Photo Display. This gadget is a great way to display all those digital photos sitting on the computer that you’ve been planning to print at some point. The display looks like a picture frame, and you can choose to show a slideshow or display individual pictures. The quality of the display is great, not distorted. Photos can be downloaded from the computer or straight from the camera, and up to 50 photos can be stored on the Digital Photo Display.

 

Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition

While many people have digital cameras these days, most of the pictures taken with those cameras will never be printed out. It’s just too much of a hassle to copy them onto a disk, take them to the camera shop, upload them and wait. Fortunately, one of the latest inventions from Epson has made printing those pictures much simpler. The Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition is a portable photo printer. You can simply insert the camera’s memory card into the printer, view the photos on a display screen and select the ones you want to print and print them. You can even make changes to the photos, such as adjusting the brightness, before printing. The PictureMate printer produces pictures with much better quality than most digital printers do.

Feature Overload

Why Are Consumer Electronics So Complicated?

It seems like everything is so complicated these days, especially anything electronic … which is more and more products everyday. Why are they so complex? "Hey, our cell phone takes pictures, sharpens knives, mows the lawn, pays your bills, steers your car, and cooks dinner, all by voice command!" Give us a break!

Unfortunately, the reason so many electronic products are stuffed with features is that it is relatively cheap to add features to them! Do we consumers really want or need those functions? That is an entirely different question. Often, the answer is no. But the manufacturers add them, in many cases, simply so they can advertise that they have more features. It costs a lot more to carefully determine what features are most wanted and to design products so that they are feature-rich, yet easy and intuitive for people  to use. That is why this vital step is often shortcut.

Ever had trouble figuring out how to program your VCR? Did you ever think that perhaps it's not really your fault? It's the fault of the engineers who designed a lousy user interface to the product. And you think they are bad? Try using a combination VCR-DVD player! There is second reason why manufacturers keep cramming more questionable features into products. In the case of products like cell phones, sales have slowed down because most people who wanted one have one. So, the phone manufacturers keep adding features in order to try to find ones that motivate people to buy new phones. They keep looking for that latest cool feature that people will be willing to buy a new phone to get.

Similarly, digital camera manufacturers keep coming out with cameras with more and more megapixels. Two megapixels, then 3.2, then 4.0, then 5, now 6, 7, even 8. Do consumers need 7 or 8 megapixel cameras? Not in the least. For shooting snapshots or sharing pictures online, a 3.2 megapixel camera is more than adequate. Really. Why then, do manufacturers keep extending the capability? It is as we said above: 1) so they can advertise they have it, and 2) to try to get people to stick their old camera in a drawer and buy a new one. Our advise: It pays to look carefully at the features being offered in the products you are interested in. Don't assume that a product with more features (or higher numbers) is the better choice. Often it is not, it is just more complicated to use! And, there is more to go wrong.

BLOATWARE

There is a similar phenomenon in software. It is called "bloatware." Programs that are overloaded with features, especially those not essential to the basic purpose for the software, carry this moniker.

When I was in the software industry and we were working on the next versions of software products, the programmers would sometimes come and say, "Hey I can add such-and-such feature with only 100 lines of code," or some such number. That’s not much, since a software program can have hundreds of thousands of lines of code. But often it was a feature the users of that software had no need for. Playing consumer advocate, I'd ask why such a feature would be needed. If the answer was questionable, I'd tell them to leave it out. Too often, though, those features make it into software products, and they become bloated with unnecessary features. Bloatware.

Why I Buy My Electronics Online

 

I must admit that I'd be absolutely lost without the growing number of desktop and laptop computers, printers, digital cameras and all the other assorted electronic equipment in my house and home office. I know I once got along without all this gear, but that was back in the olden days, in the last millennium. Today I absolutely depend on it. What this means is that I buy a lot of stuff, and I have formed some definite opinions about where I do my shopping and what places I avoid like the plague.

I hate to say it, but #1 on my list of places to avoid are the big electronics chain stores. They are certainly convenient and their prices are usually in the ballpark. And all their glossy brochures have lured me more than once when I quickly needed some RAM, a disk, or a new inkjet printer. Problem is that their sales people are embarrassingly clueless and often only interested in selling extended service contracts. No thank you. It's awfully hard to get me to buy anything out of a brick and mortar store.

When I build a new desktop computer I occasionally buy the parts from a local electronics superstore. Those places are a geek's paradise, or they could be if it weren't for a couple of really annoying deal breakers. First, half of the boards don't work after I bring them home. And second, I absolutely refuse to buy things that are only a good deal after a mail-in rebate or two. I've been burned too many times with rebates. No more.

Office supply stores are stocking more and more electronic equipment. So when I go buy a ream of paper or some other small stuff I often end up looking at their laptops and digital cameras. And once I even bought a notebook computer there, something that I later regretted as there was, of course, no service or support. I actually like the office supply stores and have no problem buying things like laser printer cartridges there, but that's about it for computer stuff.

Another bad practice that's taking over is luring customers with low prices, make them wade through several order screens, and then break the bad news, like some gargantuan shipping charge or that, sadly, the item is not in stock. Do that to me once and I won't be back.

So where do I get most of my electronics gear? Online. I love being able to browse online stores at my leisure, without any sales pressure and usually with all the information I need. I like neat, clean just-the-facts stores that specialize in the kind of gear I want. I don't need useless "reviews" by folks who always seem to have an axe to grind or hate everything. And I don't need long lists of the 99 lowest prices on the web. All I want is information and a good selection. I do expect a degree of customer support in case I have questions, and most of the better online stores can handle that easily.

Had someone told me 10 or 15 years ago that some day I'd buy things like laptops, digital cameras, printers or even desktop computers online from some website far away, I'd have laughed. But that's where I get most of my electronic equipment and gadgets from these days, and I've rarely ever had a bad experience. Those online stores seem to try a lot harder, and that's good news for guys like me.

Finding Hot Deals On Home Electronics

On wish lists around the country, home electronics have bypassed traditional favorites like clothes, lingerie, and jewelry as the most coveted items. But whether you're buying home electronics for yourself and your family, or as a gift, the burning question is always: Where do I find hot deals?

After all, why pay premium prices for LCD flat screen TVs, an iPod, a digital camera, or a cell phone when you can get hot deals at a fraction of the cost? While it's true that the prices for all home electronics are trending downward, it pays to shop around for the best possible prices before you make a purchase.

LCD Flat Screen TVs: Although LCD flat screen TVs for home entertainment systems are massive and relatively expensive, portable LCD flat screen TVs are ultimately affordable - especially when you can find hot deals and discount prices. For example, a seven-inch LCD flat screen TV with a full channel VHF/UHF receiver, built-in speakers, 1440 x 234 resolution and an active matrix display, a detachable and mountable stand, and A/V input jacks might list for $249.99. You can, however, find it for $144.29, a savings of over 42 percent.

iPod: Every family needs at least one iPod, and although the iPod Shuffle lists for $179.99, there are places where you can get hot deals and purchase an iPod shuffle for $109.43, or a discount of 39 percent. Likewise, you can save over 27 percent on an iPod Nano, and pay only $289.77. If you're willing to buy a refurbished model, you can get it even cheaper.

Digital Camera: Let's face it: film cameras are so twentieth century. There's no need to bother with bulky camera equipment and film and developing costs when you can snap all the pictures you want with a digital camera. And, there's truly a digital camera for every budget, with prices ranging from $100 to $10,000 and more. But when you look for hot deals, you can get a lot more camera for your money. If your budget is $150, for example, you can probably find a digital camera that retails for $299, but that is discounted almost 50 percent. Again, if you are willing to buy a refurbished digital camera, the savings can be even greater.

Cell Phone: Everyone in the family needs a cell phone, so it only makes sense to look for hot deals on cell phones. If you buy every family member the same cell phone (or the same cell phone in a variety of colors), you can usually find a calling plan that is extremely cost effective.

There's no question that hot deals on home electronics - and even electronics that double as a car accessory - are out there. Your best bet is to look for an online discount source. Because online stores don't have to pay the overhead that brick-and-mortar stores have to pay, they usually offer lower prices. Online stores also move a lot of inventory, so their hot deals usually surpass those of even the electronics megastores. Always comparison shop, but remember that for the best hot deals, let your mouse do the clicking.

My Rig

~ My Home Computer Network  ~

Command Central – Home laptop/remote terminal allows wireless remote access to network attached storage/media server. Command central hardware consists of: Lenovo ThinkPad T400 (Core Duo Processor, 2.8 GHz Speed, 8 GB Ram, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Blu-Ray Burner, 256 GB Solid State Hard Drive). It has a docking bay/port replicator for versatility and port expansion (VGA & DVI monitor ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports and all other standard ports extended). The laptop has also been upgraded with a PCMCIA USB 3.0 card with 2 ports. Additionally there is a 32 inch NEC 3210 commercial high definition monitor. These are the same monitors used throughout the airline industry for arrival/departure flight information. Good enough for the airline industry … Good enough for me. Google the laptop brand and model number for more detailed specifications information if desired. There is also a Venus T4 external hard drive array. The array has a just a bunch of drives (JBOD) USB plug-n-play configuration 3TB (4 - 750 GB EIDE hard drives). Additional storage includes: A Hitachi XL1000 1 TB external hard drive & A Western Digital Elements 2 TB external hard drive. A generic SATA hard drive docking station is attached for data transfer ease. It has 2 USB ports and several data card slots and accommodate both standard and laptop hard drives. For printing purposes I chose the HP Officejet 6310 Network printer. The printer runs through my router and can be accessed via any Wi-Fi device on my network including my smart phone, tablet, smart TV, gaming console, etc… The router is the standard Verizon Westell Model 7500 used for most broadband installations. For a mouse I chose the Logitech MX Air Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse. This mouse allows for cursor control in the air, i.e. no flat surface is required. This is supposedly NASA technology. It is the most comfortable mouse I’ve ever used and ergonomically designed for the human hand. It can also be used like a TV remote when the monitor is used for media viewing (I have 2 NEC 3210 monitors, one used in conjunction with a 3D Blu-Ray DVD player with Wi-Fi to access my Netflix account and other internet television content).

Network Attached Storage (NAS)/Home Server – I like to call my NAS a super NAS. It’s older and not “really” super but it suits my purposes just fine. I use an Intel Model SS4200-EHW. It comes equipped with a single core processor and 1 GB of ram. It is headless so external peripherals with the exception of external USB hard drives for storage expansion are not permitted without PCI expansion cards (which I also have). I chose to install Windows Home Server 2011 as the OS for this NAS which literally turns this NAS into a Home Media Server. This enables streaming of all of my video media and access to all of my music and photo media to all devices within my network. The NAS unit & software are an intricate and important part of my overall system and allows for tasks that would not normally be possible without such a unit. There are immediate and future upgrade plans to this unit and the system … see “Future Plans/Upgrades” section for details. It may be a good idea to Google the unit for specs and functions or to visit http://www.wegotserved.com/ for more information on the unit, software and its functions. Meanwhile understand this, Windows is Windows … Hence I can install some software/programs called services (not all are compatible). These services are accessible to all whom I give privileged access to use on the network. Additionally, I can go live on the internet via Windows LIVE and have/give access to myself and anyone in the world via privileges to access all or portions my data and services. I can also use my NAS/Server with proper software to host any of my own websites/pages for free (no hosting fees). The server will have an archival aspect which will gather all data download from all networked devices/terminals and store said data in one central place.

Ain’t Nothin’ On TV! – I had a pleasant surprise when setting up the system and testing it out. Not a full push it to the limit, benchmark decimal point specs test, nor did I have specific expectations … just a simple test. I found that my Verizon Ethernet connection was very strong. The signal reaches over to my mom’s house. My Internet Service Provider (ISP), Verizon, has a Central Office right around the corner from me.  I love urban style apartment living. I have the good fortune to have my mom living in the neighboring apartment … I live in 626; she’s in 625 … just enough privacy (wink).  I’m sure a signal booster would accomplish the same thing. I can use a small older laptop as a terminal and have access to all data on the server and literally turn my mom’s TV into a smart TV. I can control my bit torrent service from mom’s house. If it’s out on DVD (I hate bootlegs) … I can download it within a few minutes to a few hours. Additionally I can access my Netflix account and everything accessible to command central given permissions. What I’ve done here is completely eliminate the words “Ain’t nuthin’ on TV,” from my mother’s vocabulary. She may not know how to use it… but she has the patience to wait until her dear son comes over to mash the right buttons to work it.

Immediate & Long Term Upgrades – First and foremost is the upgrade to the NAS/Media Server. Stock is single core. I have managed to acquire all of the necessary components to upgrade the unit to Dual core and double the ram. This should significantly boost performance. I would max out all of the system specifications component performance. Maximum for this unit is 4 – 2 TB SATA hard drives. Expansion is allowed via external hard drives using USB ports. I will be swapping the Hitachi external hard drive for another WD Essential 2 TB external hard drive for a total of 12 TB of storage capacity. This storage will be set up in a software RAID 3 configuration to allow for redundant backups (secured data, little chance of loss). Long term upgrade would consist of an entire server upgrade to a i5 – i7 processing powered machine. Another future consideration if you will might be adding a gaming console.
            Secondly I will be upgrading the monitor setup. I have 4 Dell 1704 17 inch monitors. I soon will be purchasing 2 adjustable dual monitor table stands for these monitors. Positioning will be 2 to the left and 2 to the right sides, while the 32 inch NEC will be the center monitor. I already have acquired the software of choice to accommodate multiple monitor setups. The Dell monitors have 4 additional USB 2.0 ports each. I have not decided whether I will simply use splitters for the monitor’s ports which I now have (cost effective) or convert to a desktop system which supports multiple graphics cards providing a more customizable and flexible multipurpose setup. In the desktop configuration I could attach a black box or mini PC to my television (the other NEC monitor possibly upgraded to a 46 – 55 inch) making it a smart TV /terminal to the network. The NEC has built-in circuitry to tile up to 64 monitors to create a video wall (they all do and are the only ones that I know of that have this feature). The main purpose of this multi-monitor setup is two-fold. For work efficiency first, I can get a lot more work done with multiple full sized windows, (5) working independently in total. Productivity shoots through the roof. For recreation: Aircraft flight and aviation simulation. I have a great joystick and the software of choice is Microsoft Flight Simulator X. In this function the monitors would work as one big group. Note: I am currently looking at a dual core server as a replacement/upgrade. Stay tuned for more info.

Peripheral Gadgets – I’ve decided to add a few interesting peripherals and software to maximize the utility and functionality of the overall system. The Vu-Point Company has a hand held Wi-Fi scanner with a flatbed attachment. This would be a great accessory to my comic book scans for sales on EBay as it provides dual duty alongside my HP network printer. It is small and portable and can be used to scan receipts and business cards with a clear copy holder. Vu-Point also has a portable Wi-Fi printer for photos and smaller image prints. This printer can be linked to Dropbox (like the cloud on steroids) for public photo prints from my smartphone … ready for viewing before I arrive home. The Silicondust HD Homerun, Dual HDTV Network Tuner allows Free Digital TV for any compatible device on the network. This essentially is a digital TV converter for the network. Watch, pause, record live TV. It works with WMP & VLC Player. The Lenovo N5902 Multimedia Remote with keyboard will be used to control the 2nd 32 inch NEC for home viewing. Although Windows has virtual keyboard, it is much more convenient to have a hardware solution that is plug-n-play ready for use. Power DVD 13 is the best Blu-Ray Burner software available in my opinion. It is also a media center which has trailers of all new movie releases and bios of all the actors of those releases. The Samsung BD-D6500 Blu-Ray 3D player is the one I chose to pull things together sort of speak. It has Wi-Fi capability also and as you already know the broadband signal reaches to my mom’s house. This unit can be connected and run through my wireless router where all compatible networked devices will see this unit and its dashboard controls or via Power DVD 13 which links and syncs all networked devices including smartphones, tablets, etc... An older Pioneer integrated amp, a set of Bose 501 Towers, 301 Bookshelf, VCS-10 Center Channel speakers along with a Yamaha subwoofer and Empire Troubadour 598 II turntable rounds out the complete audio-visual aspect of the system.

I will try to add photos of everything soon :) BTW ... The header photo is not my rig. I will change when I add photos.

Nowhere Without Software – I cannot over emphasize the importance of software. It is only with the proper software you can do those things you hear about and wonder how the hell they did it. Most likely … it was the superior software used to do those tricks. Here are some of my other choices. As I have a multiple monitor setup I chose to use several media players. This will allow me to view several movies simultaneously or perhaps view a security monitor in the process. Additionally a couple of these players have web access/attachment and provide a ton of superlative features.

The Players:

1) Windows Media Player (WMP) … the industry standard and quite crappy compared to the others. Industry standard is usually not the best. This player leaves a lot to be desired after my experience with the following others. With the addition of a good codecs files you can play almost anything … key word “ALMOST”. The only saving grace to WMP is the radio stations.

2) VLC Player … Possibly the absolute best all-around player. Does not require additional codecs and plays everything. I haven’t found anything that it does not play including Blu-Ray & 3D. It even plays flash media files has web access for web media content streaming. There are twice as many features and controls as WMP. You can adjust sound synchronization when the sound is out of sync for example. If you only need one media player, drop WMP for this one.

3) WinAmp … I only give this player a slight edge over WMP. This player can now be synced with your android phone or tablet … coolness. Much more and better radio stations than WMP. Custom skins are available … the Egyptian style is pure hotness. Drawback, it is a resource hog so a wimpy computer will not do well.

4) Miro … I cannot say enough to credit this wonderful player. I found out about this player in its infancy when it was quite a clunker. NOW … It is off the chain! Complete web interface including Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Features true television content including PBS and other stations and web media content including Hulu, YouTube, and a couple others. Like VLC Player, this player plays everything without additional codecs. I would not trash WMP for this one however; I would add it as a supplement to my entertainment.

5) PowerDVD 13 … Touted to be the best Blu-Ray burning software in the world. It is also one of the best media players. I put it right up there with VLC Player. If you want the best of two worlds, this and VLC Player will do it. First and foremost this player syncs all devices regardless of platform (Windows, Android, or Apple). Secondly it includes a web based media center. This media center gives trailers of “ALL” new movie releases and bios for “ALL” actors in those movies. Additionally there is a music store for inexpensive purchases for upcoming artists and royalty free music. I could go on and on but rest assured this is one mad player. A must have if you do Blu-Rays.

I Can See It Now:

For my visual convenience I use 2 programs. Zbar & Maxi Vista. Normally with multiple monitors Windows automatically attaches a task bar to each monitor (unsightly and quit a pain). Zbar affixes a global task bar for all monitors on your main monitor. Maxi Vista is similar to the monitor extension function in Windows 7. This option works best for 2 or 3 computers (desktop & 2 laptops, etc…). The cursor and image will ride across all monitors as if they were one. This is great for panoramic visualization. A better option is Display Fusion. With this software you can swap monitor images, customize task bars for each monitor, and have multiple screen savers (one for each monitor). Additionally, you can merge all monitors to make one big image. This software supports up to 10+ monitors.

Additional options can be found here ~~> http://lifehacker.com/5519833/five-best-tools-for-managing-your-multi+monitor-setup

And here ~~> http://workawesome.com/software/multi-monitor-setup/

And yet another software option here ~~> http://www.9xmedia.com/new/products/multi-screen-software.php

The link below will lead you to you to a rather complete list of software items that involve this function ~~> http://mikedixononline.com/multiple-monitor-software/