Archive for the ‘Hardware’ Category

There’s been a trend towards small, light laptops which have more limited functions and are called Netbooks implying that you will use the web for storing documents and for much of your work. The iPads (both original and iPad2) can be used as excellent substitutes with a couple of caveats.

First, typing on the the ipad is less than satisfying. The “keyboard” is simply a portion of the screen that is displaying an image of a keyboard. There is no real feedback when “hitting the keys.” However, you can by an iPad case which has a built-in regular keyboard. With that you’ve got a pretty interesting device. Below is an image of a case from Targus (about $99).

Second, which iPad2 to get? They basically come in two varieties: wifi and 3g or just wifi. If you’re a student using it just within a university setting you can probably get away without the 3g. However, there are times when you will really appreciate it. For example, you’re in the car a realize you need to get/send an email. You may have no wifi nearby but you’ll probably have access to 3g. It adds to the price but its probably worth it.

Third, and last, is memory size. I purchased the 64-gig version which costs $829 in the wifi-3g version. The least memory is the 16gig version. In my opinion, for most people the 32gig wifi-3g version should be adequate.

Note there are tablets other than the iPad but you’re much more likely to find apps that fit your need with the iPad.

Data Robotics has, for several years, been making a very interesting series of data storage devices.

You can tell from the cable that it is a network device. Further the lights may give you a hint that it stores up to four drives. But that alone is not what makes it so interesting. Perhaps you know about Raid technologies which protect your data by storing it in a redundant format so that you are always protected. The way raid works is that if a drive dies your professional tech support person can relatively easily replace the drive without data loss even if the drive is totally destroyed.

That’s not what Drobo does… well it sort of is<g>. Data Robotics uses its own proprietary technology to add one additional and extraordinary feature. That is, you can do it yourself without the need for a technician. Pop one drive out push another drive in and you’re in business with a new drive replacing your old. Better yet the drives can be of any size and any manufacturer.

Interested? Check it out at www.datarobotics.com.

Recently I’ve been seeing Kindle ads which show people lying on the beach. One ad (the first I saw) shows two people in bright red beach chairs and when I first saw it I could not figure out what it was that bothered me about the ad. The second time I saw it suddenly what was wrong slammed me in the head! The color. Here was this beautiful beach scene with all this color and then the focus on the dull dark-grey and white text of the Kindle screen.

The more recent ad shows two people: one with a Kindle and one with what I suppose to be an iPad and the guy with the iPad asks the gal how she can read in this bright light and she explains that her’s is a Kindle.

For me, somehow this feels like the Kindle folk protest too much. They’re trying to compare the reading experience of the Kindle to the reading experience of the iPad and I suppose they’re correct but I can’t get past the contrast of the dull Kindle screen and the bright scene.

For years I saw ads from Cablevision… “The triple play” which is tv, internet, and phone for “one low price.” I was tempted. But not tempted enough. Then I saw the MagicJack. Interesting but it didn’t work well for me except when I was traveling.

One day I saw an ad for Ooma and I must say I was confused. The part that confused me was the free phone service. That doesn’t seem like a good way for a business to make money. Then again, Google makes money by giving it away. So I tried Ooma.

Telo Connects a phone to the internet.

These days all my business and home phones use Ooma and we love the price.

Here’s how our costs break down. We have three lines. Two are for business and one for home. One line is free. We pay an annual fee ( think about $130) for the other two. All calls within the US and Canada are free. Yep… free!

The phone quality has been great.

What’s the catch?

There are three. First, it depends on you having broadband internet service– either cable or fios. Second, when your internet goes down you have no phone service. That should be obvious but I was surprised to discover that some people didn’t realize that. And third, when you have more than one phone number it can be a bit difficult to setup everything and get it working.

That said, it works great!