13" Mac Book Pro and iPhone4 Hotspot

The relatively new hotspot function that was added with IOS4.3 on the iPhone has made the 13" Mac Book Pro and my iPhone4 perfect traveling companions, with one exception.  Lets focus on the good first.

For me, the hotspot function on my iPhone has sealed the deal with utilizing the laptop over the iPad2.  With my secure connection I'm up and running in no time while traveling.  While I'm not an everyday rail commuter, I did recently travel to the big city and found myself on a few rails utilizing my laptop and iPhone.

I find the little 13" Mac Book Pro the perfect travel size.  Its small enough for any of my briefcases or backpacks, with plenty of room left over for paperwork and accessories.  Up until the hotspot option, I had to rely on an air card.  I don't consider myself lazy, but it used to drive me crazy having to start up the computer, then plug in the air card, then after it loaded, click connect etc etc.  That is the old way now.  I've streamlined everything and I'm practically going instantly with the hotspot on my side at all times.

The one exception I mentioned above is when collaborating on projects on the road where I need to talk on the phone and utilizing Google Docs online; Houston we have a problem. Maybe one of these days I'll be more comfortable with Google Talk and that will solved the problem.  For now though I will find hotspots like Starbucks to utilize both the phone and computer at the same time.  

iPad2 is Great, But...

Well,  I finally got around to testing and utilizing the iPad2. I've now used it on the road, plane, and one foreign country.  I tried it as a replacement to my laptop while on the road, a business tool, a means of entertainment, and reader.  I can say it looks cool and makes me even look like a cool techie (okay maybe not that cool).

If you think you are concerned with breaking the glass on your iPhone, just imagine worrying about the iPad screen.  I had hoped that Apple was going with the gorilla glass we had seen so much about the last couple of years.  I did like the new case/stand/cover that Apple came up with, but when spending that kind of dough, I only trust OtterBox. No, they have never given me anything, but their cases have protected my and the family's iphones; and their warrant is outstanding.

With all of the above considered, for me, the iPad2 makes a great net book replacement.  The price is competitive, the picture is wonderful, Netflix is great with it, etc.  I really enjoyed the entertainment aspect, especially watching Netflix over the free wifi while staying in hotels.

There always has to be a "but" and here it is. I can say that while it is fast, convenient, and easy to use, it is not a replacement for my Mac Book Pro while on the go.  As a matter of fact, having an iPhone4 in conjunction with my 13" Pro is actually easier to travel with while conducting business.  This became even more the fact with the iPhones ability to become a hot spot (but thats a later story).  Over the course of my testing, I found myself in need of my laptop more often than not; and when I didn't need my laptop, the iPhone would have worked just as well as the iPad.

I enjoyed the experience, but the iPad2 was not a keeper for me.

Microsoft Office, Iwork, or Google Docs; Which one do you use?

Microsoft used to be king in the office documents area.  As king, they could charge a premium for their office product.  They even worked out a deal and moved into the Mac market with Microsoft Office for Mac.  Microsoft has worked hard at being and keeping the title of king.  The only good thing, in my opinion, that has come out of this is compatibility.  Everyone else that has created office software has made theirs compatible with the king.

This has allowed people to save money on less expensive software options.  Inter Google Docs! Free is a very good price, if it works; and work is does.  I have been testing Google Docs for a couple of weeks now and have moved documents back and forth from Office XP, 2003, 2007, Iwork09, and Open Office.  All have worked well. It helps to save as a word document in Iwork!  There are times when you had whistles and bells in one format that doesn't always translate well in the other programs.  So keep it simple if you're sending your document out to a wide audience via electronic means (which seems to be the norm these days).

NOTE: Open Office is another free office program that allows you to down load the software on your PC for free.

The benefit of Google Docs is that its online and available on any computer as long as you have internet access.  This also allows for multiple people to collaborate on projects especially utilizing Google Wave. And did I mention its free!  Of course if you need more space than what Google provides for free, then you can always buy more space from Google for a very low price!

Microsoft is starting to feel the heat, as their office prices seem to be coming down. I do believe that as some of these new contenders take a bite out of the market, we will see Microsoft adding more options while also lowering their price.

Give Google Docs a try. I'm betting you will feel right at home.

From PC to Mac

With the natural transition of hand-me-downs, it was time to replace the kids' computer.  The Dell desktop that they were using had been a faithful device since 2000.  A couple of years ago I upgraded the memory and operating system, but with the recent crash of the hard drive, it was time to move on.  We ended up sharing my laptop, Dell Inspiron circa 2005, for a couple of months.  As they had practically taken it over, I decided to hand it down to them and buy a new laptop.

After reading reviews from Consumer Report, Cnet, and others, I decided to do something I'd been wanting to do for some time; I bought a Mac; more specifically I purchased a 13" Mac Book Pro.  I'd looked and read about Macs for years but had been held back by the price.  Upon comparing the PC to Mac, I found that we really weren't talking about that much difference in price. I decided it was time to make the investment.  Before the purchase, I spent some time on the Apple web site and then in the Apple store.  Both places convinced me I would get a good bang for my buck and the transition should not be too difficult.

That was approximately six months ago, and I've never looked back! The transition to Mac, I'm happy to report, has been very easy. Basically I ended up putting my documents on a couple of DVDs and then loaded them into documents, photos, etc. on the new Mac.  It worked, no issues what so ever.

The only program I purchased for the Mac was Iwork09. I had debated purchasing Microsoft Office for Mac, but decided to save a few dollars.  (In the next post I'll talk about some options that might save you some money regardless of PC or Mac.) For 99 percent of the time, I'm happy with Iwork09, but there are some times when work and home intermix and things might have been easier with Office (and thats just really with the work coming in, as I have the ability in Iwork to save in word format for documents going out).

In conclusion, I'm glad I made the leap to Mac.  The change was even easier than I thought it would be.  If I were to be asked whats the basic different between the two, I would have to say that Mac is more of a common sense approach to freedom computing, while PC tries to do more and doesn't let you off the path.
In the words of mothers everywhere, "try it, you just might like it."
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Laptop or Desktop ?

For many of us, the after Christmas sale and/or new year is the time to get that good deal on a new computer. Obviously the first decisions to make is do I buy a laptop or desktop. This decision has to be made even before you decide whether your a “PC” or a “Mac;” because lets face it, at the end of the day both systems do the same thing, just in a different way. I make that statement based on using both systems on a daily basis (Can you tell which system I used to type this?).

This decision used to be easier than it probably is today. Today we are in a market full of choices and options that will come with either selection. So basically you can get the exact same features regardless if you go with the desktop or the laptop (just not at the exact same cost).

The decision comes down to three questions: 1)Are you going to be computing in a single or multiple locations? 2) What are you going to use it for? 3) What can you afford?
Without a doubt, if you are on a limited budget, as I am, you will have to make some sacrifices if you decide to go with a laptop. The good news is that if you make the right choices when picking processors, memory, etc., you might not notice those sacrifices that much. (In my next post I’ll talk about choosing the processor and memory) The bad news is that a year or two from now, if you chose the laptop, your updating/upgrading choices will be somewhat limited.

Today we have become more of a mobile society with our computing. The advent of WiFi has enabled us with the opportunity to take computers into more places without being tethered to the network cord or phone line. From the classroom to the local coffee shop, WiFi is available and in most cases free!

I know for my family, WiFi has allowed us the freedom to type at the kitchen table or on the couch, bedroom, back porch, etc. My wife loves the fact that we were able to get rid of the “hideous” looking desktop and hide the printer from view. I’ve even installed a wireless system at my aunt’s house, where she now enjoys utilizing her laptop while sitting in her recliner, watching tv.

Of course if your purchase is based on the need to program, data entry, and/or accounting type activities, a single location may work best for you. If that’s the case, getting a good desktop with a nice big flat panel screen might be just the ticket (most bang for your buck as well). This might also be the case if your a big time gamer; especially on a limited budget. As mentioned earlier, the desktop will also provide more upgrade/update options down the road.

Whatever your final decision, the new computer will be an exciting purchase and will come with options you never dreamed of just a few years ago. Take your time, shop around, and get a good deal. There are good deals to be had. Take a look at: www.frys.com , www.newegg.com , www.apple.com , www.macmall.com , www.dell.com , www.overstock.com , www.bestbuy.com , and www.walmart.com . For a little extra bang for our buck, Apple and Dell do sell refurbished, scratch/dent, and returns at a couple of hundred off the regular price with as new warranties. Oh yea they also offer some education pricing, which most families will qualify for one way or another. Have fun and happy computing!

Holiday Electronic Nirvana with 5th gen. Ipod Nano

Well here’s hoping you enjoyed and/or survived the holidays as much was we did. Santa was right on track with a few new Ipod updates and upgrades. The 5th generation Nano was a welcome upgrade to my son’s 3rd generation predecessor. Now if we can find a pair of ear buds that will last and work as long as the old Nano did, we will be in business.

The previous ear buds have had a life expectancy of anywhere from two weeks to a month. We usually start out with the buds that come with the ipod, but once those are gone, the Walmart specials for usually 10 dollars are temporary solutions. Right now I’m betting the new internal speaker will get more use because of it.

Speaking of new upgrades for the nano, the video camera, for which most of the hype has been about, has definitely received the most attention. The surprising part has been not so much for regular video recording (indoors does require every light on in the house at a bare minimum), but for the technicolor type effects that can be applied ( I believe this effect is called Thermal) or the search and destroy feature (Cyborg). My son has also found that utilizing these features does not take near as much light to have a pretty neat result. He has used these features to show his friends that his sister is not human, just like he had always expected.

The great thing about the new Nano was the fact he was able to master all the new features the first day, but boredom has not followed! He also did it without any upgrade/replacement issues. This is a big deal regardless of age or experience, as I’ve seen many programs and electronic devices that have left even the best IT experts scratching their heads on initial startup.

All things considered Santa got a great deal on this new Ipod considering he just paid $130.00, and that included a $50.00, Itunes card! Santa thought the store made a mistake with the price; turned out it was one of those unadvertised specials.