It has been a couple weeks and I am still holding on to my i780. Without a doubt I must admit that this is truly a most amazing device for what I need and I can honestly be content to own this device permanently...if I could get over my temptation from upcoming tech toys. At around 100AM I am currently typing this blog entry onto the qwerty of my trusty Samsung i780 as music plays from the Windows Media Player app courtesy of Ana Moura, a most amazing fado singer, and I couldn't be happier. Though there are quirks with any device, a part of me just feels connected with this particular model for some apparent reason. I am guessing it is due to a perfect blend of certain characteristics attributed to only its form factor. Not too big, too wide, too flashy, too cumbersome or too cheap, this Samsung model really has trumped my expectations of its parent manufacturing company. It is hard to imagine that long ago I hardly considered Samsung for anything mobile related...snubbing the likes of the popular BlackJack when it debuted on the AT&T network. In the midst of this contentment I am shocked to realize that my TyTN 2 has been totally forgotten and I don't regret this one bit. It looks like another phone is due to go on sale with my Nokia E90! :-)
TRENT
Sent from my Samsung i780
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Expectations for new iPhone (if there is one)
The WWDC conference is coming up for June 9th and I am certainly in a mode of anticipation for what I hope will be the unveiling of the new iPhone! Even though I currently cannot see myself with any device other than my trusty Samsung i780, I still find the thought of a new iPhone very intriguing. At the same time I am still not too hopeful for any new functionality to be introduced with the second generation. If this announcement turns out to be nothing more than a glorified overhaul of the iPhone's form factor then I would not be surprised. At the end of the day I think that I would still prefer to keep my qwerty bar for factor over a multitouch platform. My current iPhone that I sometimes use for nostalgic purposes reminds me of a toy instead of a full-fledged smartphone, so it is likely that I would end up keeping my Samsung i780 after all.
Off the top of my head I think that 3G support on AT&T would be the leading anticipated feature for the new iPhone, but this really isn't of any use to me. Speaking as a former owner of the Nokia E90 (which did not have American 3G) I can confidently say that I am fine in regards to living without 3G connectivity. After owning a TyTN 2 for a while and having a BRIEF test run of the iMate Ultimate 9502, 3G really doesn't strike me as an essential part of a well-rounded mobile user experience. In addition to providing fast downloads which were enjoyed by me whenever I got the chance to do so, 3G would also quickly drain the battery's power. An extreme case of mine would be for a charged battery to go for at least half a day and then show a little under 40 percent charge after moderate use. Unless I was into downloading podcast episodes through my carrier network or regularly surfing the web extensively, I really wouldn't get much use out of 3G that I couldn't already get with EDGE. Mastering the art of power management is what this new iPhone would have to do if it is to have the masses pleased and swooned once again under the spell of Steve Jobs. I am very interested in seeing THAT, for the Apple iPhone isn't exactly running the Palm Garnet OS or some hacked version of Symbian UIQ.3.
Next on the expected features list would be built-in GPS. While this is not exactly a necessity for me, it is nonetheless something that is worthwhile and can come in quite handy with apps such as Google Maps.
Another rumored addition would be a front-facing camera for video calls. While I wouldn't put it past Apple to do this as AT&T works to enhance its 3G network, I am still not entirely sold on this notion. Video conferencing is a capability that has long been enabled overseas but not here...yet. If Apple can single-handedly debut this feature in this US there would be definite cause for me to be impressed beyond belief!
Those three things are basically what I think will have a better chance of showing up on the new iPhone, but one can only wait at this point and continue to count down the days. I wonder if I will be as captivated on June 9th as I was with the first iPhone or highly ticked off for having wasted my time. My main concern for the current iPhone is that it doesn't have PIM syncing as detailed as Windows Mobile 6 or an email client as mature as Outlook. The lack of a physical qwerty is another, but that can easily be overlooked via the futuristic multitouch screen. Mentioning the lack of video recording capability is worth a shot as well in addition to lack of MMS and copy and paste functionality. Other than these few things I believe the iPhone to be the prime choice for any smartphone buyer who doesn't mind being like everyone else.
I am truly hopeful that Apple has some more tricks up its sleeve come June 9th, but I won't be disappointed otherwise since that would mean no spending money. It isn't like Apple hasn't dropped the bomb before, look at the overrated AppleTV and that overpriced iPod HiFi boombox! :-)
TRENT
Sent from my Samsung i780
Off the top of my head I think that 3G support on AT&T would be the leading anticipated feature for the new iPhone, but this really isn't of any use to me. Speaking as a former owner of the Nokia E90 (which did not have American 3G) I can confidently say that I am fine in regards to living without 3G connectivity. After owning a TyTN 2 for a while and having a BRIEF test run of the iMate Ultimate 9502, 3G really doesn't strike me as an essential part of a well-rounded mobile user experience. In addition to providing fast downloads which were enjoyed by me whenever I got the chance to do so, 3G would also quickly drain the battery's power. An extreme case of mine would be for a charged battery to go for at least half a day and then show a little under 40 percent charge after moderate use. Unless I was into downloading podcast episodes through my carrier network or regularly surfing the web extensively, I really wouldn't get much use out of 3G that I couldn't already get with EDGE. Mastering the art of power management is what this new iPhone would have to do if it is to have the masses pleased and swooned once again under the spell of Steve Jobs. I am very interested in seeing THAT, for the Apple iPhone isn't exactly running the Palm Garnet OS or some hacked version of Symbian UIQ.3.
Next on the expected features list would be built-in GPS. While this is not exactly a necessity for me, it is nonetheless something that is worthwhile and can come in quite handy with apps such as Google Maps.
Another rumored addition would be a front-facing camera for video calls. While I wouldn't put it past Apple to do this as AT&T works to enhance its 3G network, I am still not entirely sold on this notion. Video conferencing is a capability that has long been enabled overseas but not here...yet. If Apple can single-handedly debut this feature in this US there would be definite cause for me to be impressed beyond belief!
Those three things are basically what I think will have a better chance of showing up on the new iPhone, but one can only wait at this point and continue to count down the days. I wonder if I will be as captivated on June 9th as I was with the first iPhone or highly ticked off for having wasted my time. My main concern for the current iPhone is that it doesn't have PIM syncing as detailed as Windows Mobile 6 or an email client as mature as Outlook. The lack of a physical qwerty is another, but that can easily be overlooked via the futuristic multitouch screen. Mentioning the lack of video recording capability is worth a shot as well in addition to lack of MMS and copy and paste functionality. Other than these few things I believe the iPhone to be the prime choice for any smartphone buyer who doesn't mind being like everyone else.
I am truly hopeful that Apple has some more tricks up its sleeve come June 9th, but I won't be disappointed otherwise since that would mean no spending money. It isn't like Apple hasn't dropped the bomb before, look at the overrated AppleTV and that overpriced iPod HiFi boombox! :-)
TRENT
Sent from my Samsung i780
Microsoft Zune experience
I am sitting here right now with a Zune once again and am pretty impressed by its performance so far in conjunction with my HP TX2110 tablet laptop. I am listening to a podcast entitled "This American Life" and it is absolutely spellbinding and really helps me to take the time to evaluate life from a different perspective. Anyway, during all of my time with my MacBook Pro and iPod I never once imagined that I would ever give a Windows machine the time of day...let alone a Vista model! On top of that I now find myself captivated by the allure of my 80GB Zune in red as it lures me away from the familiar silver lining of my 80GB iPod Classic.
There are some interesting characteristics about this particular player that immediately become apparent out of the box: its slimmer profile from the previous version, its larger screen, its glossy finish that's reminiscent of bathroom tile and its distinct non-iPod stance that silently declares "Apple can kiss my *** and take that click-wheel and shove it!" :-) After coming out onto the world's stage behind its long forgotten predecessor, this fashionably late incarnation of Microsoft ingenuity can easily raise the question, "Where have you been?"
While the unboxing experience doesn't exactly reflect that of the Apple iPod, it is nonetheless worhty of a second glance in regards to typical electronic packaging. My first day with the Zune was basically a usual run through of the interface menus and settings as well as a test run of the audio and video quality. Upon hearing the first WMA song I quickly noticed a great amount of audio detail in comparison to the AAC files on my iPod Classic. I am by no means an experienced audiophile, but I assume this finding has something to do with the size of the format compression. Basically I figure that a smaller AAC file at a certain bitrate on the iPod is going to have a little less detailing on a song versus a larger WMA or MP3 file at the same bitrate, but I could be wrong. Either way I did hear music from the Zune that was much more richer in sound quality even though the lack of EQ and weak bass proved to be annoying. I was even more surprised to see that Microsoft stepped up to the plate and provided worthwhile headphones instead of following Apple's lead on those horrible earbuds!! Album art was a pleasure to see blown up on the Zune screen in the midst of music playback, and the three button system didn't take long to get used to...after I turned off that useless touch pad feature.
The second generation Zune proved to be very portable like my iPod Classic and I especially liked the scratch resistant back of brushed metal. All things aside in regards to audio quality and screen size, this is really no different from my current iPod and therefore is not a necessary purchase.
Such a shame since I even experimented with purchasing Zune Marketplace points and got a few items from the online store. The transaction of each media file was an easy situation with a couple steps of online point purchasing added whenever enough points weren't available, but I still prefer the direct method of iTunes. I admit that the music on my iPod Classic may not be as rich as the Zune, but it is good enough for entertainment and fulfillment...especially with the EQ and bass! So long Zune80, it has been great while it lasted.
TRENT
Sent from my Samsung i780
There are some interesting characteristics about this particular player that immediately become apparent out of the box: its slimmer profile from the previous version, its larger screen, its glossy finish that's reminiscent of bathroom tile and its distinct non-iPod stance that silently declares "Apple can kiss my *** and take that click-wheel and shove it!" :-) After coming out onto the world's stage behind its long forgotten predecessor, this fashionably late incarnation of Microsoft ingenuity can easily raise the question, "Where have you been?"
While the unboxing experience doesn't exactly reflect that of the Apple iPod, it is nonetheless worhty of a second glance in regards to typical electronic packaging. My first day with the Zune was basically a usual run through of the interface menus and settings as well as a test run of the audio and video quality. Upon hearing the first WMA song I quickly noticed a great amount of audio detail in comparison to the AAC files on my iPod Classic. I am by no means an experienced audiophile, but I assume this finding has something to do with the size of the format compression. Basically I figure that a smaller AAC file at a certain bitrate on the iPod is going to have a little less detailing on a song versus a larger WMA or MP3 file at the same bitrate, but I could be wrong. Either way I did hear music from the Zune that was much more richer in sound quality even though the lack of EQ and weak bass proved to be annoying. I was even more surprised to see that Microsoft stepped up to the plate and provided worthwhile headphones instead of following Apple's lead on those horrible earbuds!! Album art was a pleasure to see blown up on the Zune screen in the midst of music playback, and the three button system didn't take long to get used to...after I turned off that useless touch pad feature.
The second generation Zune proved to be very portable like my iPod Classic and I especially liked the scratch resistant back of brushed metal. All things aside in regards to audio quality and screen size, this is really no different from my current iPod and therefore is not a necessary purchase.
Such a shame since I even experimented with purchasing Zune Marketplace points and got a few items from the online store. The transaction of each media file was an easy situation with a couple steps of online point purchasing added whenever enough points weren't available, but I still prefer the direct method of iTunes. I admit that the music on my iPod Classic may not be as rich as the Zune, but it is good enough for entertainment and fulfillment...especially with the EQ and bass! So long Zune80, it has been great while it lasted.
TRENT
Sent from my Samsung i780
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Nokia E90 Software Update is HERE!
I am currently sitting in anticipation of receiving my newly updated Nokia E90! The software update from Nokia has finally arrived and it is being downloaded right now. One huge addition that I have read online from AllAboutSymbian.com is that the E90 will be able to play online videos via FlashLite!!
I shall write back on how everything operates with my E90 once the download is complete.
TRENT
Sent from my HP TX2110
Friday, May 16, 2008
New Samsung i780: Day One
I am sitting here with a phone that I think has overtaken my Nokia E90, Apple iPhone and HTC TyTN 2 and I am really amazed with this device so far. The Samsung i780 combines all of the favored elements of the Treo 750 and the TyTN 2 into a slim and compact qwerty bar form factor that practically has the same dimensions as the iPhone. Running Windows Mobile 6 Professional with a 320 x 320 2.55inch touchscreen, this model weighs in at 120 grams and offers a full qwerty, a trackpad mouse, wifi, bluetooth, tri-band GSM with Euro 3G, built-in assisted GPS, preinstalled Opera Mobile 8.65 browser and a long lasting 1480 mAh battery! While I believe this is very well attributed to the lack of American 3G and maybe even the 850 GSM frequency band, this is the first Windows Mobile 6 Professional smartphone whose battery meter has remained INTACT after one full day of usage!!! Even though this model is only running on the 1900 GSM band I haven't noticed anything different in call quality or network reception from my TyTN 2. Volume on voice calls is adequate but the speakerphone is a bit lacking with some minor distortion. There is a sturdy feel to this phone that doesn't feel cheap in any way as I hold it comfortably in my hand, and its front face exhibits a glossy finish over the screen, trackpad keys and the qwerty. If there was a chance to be nit-picky about something I would have to mention the back of the phone. While its black, rubbery feel provides a reassuring grip it is still very prone to showing fingerprints and smudges.
This does have a 2 megapixel camera with no autofocus and no flash and I assume it is like any other Windows Mobile camera at this point: lukewarm and lackluster. Picture quality is typically average depending on the lighting and the video is not even worth addressing. After all, the main draw of this phone for me comes from its efficiency in operating as my PDA/phone with the very reliable and versatile Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS platform and I am still hooked after day one.
At first glance the Samsung i780 will immediately remind people of the famous BlackJack II (i617) from AT&T with its outward appearance, which is no surprise since they were released within a month of each other in late 2007. But the distinct difference is that the i780 adds a touchscreen with trackpad mouse/stylus navigation and wifi while taking away the 850 GSM band and American 3G. Operating the OS in daily activities has proven to be just as reliable as always, but I am finding a little more functionality from the trackpad mouse! This is definitely a first for me with any device that I have come across and I have actually grown to like it very much...definitely more so than than the scroll wheel on the BlackJack II. The slim profile of the i780 is a much welcomed departure from the bulky Nokia E90 and substantial TyTN 2 and it feels great to finally be able to carry my phone in my pocket without a beltclip holster!
Initial setup of the device took a while since this was previously geared towards the overseas market, but with the help of copying the settings from my TyTN 2 I was able to begin using email and Internet with no trouble at all. Starting the bluetooth syncing relationship with Missing Sync was equally flawless and all PIM information from my Mac successfully transferred over to the i780. Navigating the Net with Opera Mobile 8.65 has its limitations with the squared screen, but unlike the Treo 750, the i780's slim form factor and sturdy build quality makes up for that. One different aspect about this model is that there is a proprietary port instead of the ubiquitous mini USB, which makes an adapter necessary if I want to use a accessible other than the OEM.
Another day is coming around as I type this blog entry on the qwerty of this Samsung marvel in the early hours of the morning. The rounded tops of these small buttons harken back to the times I had spent with my Treos, and they do not disappoint in their performance as my fingernails tap away incessantly.
Being that I got this unit from mobileplanet.com at a reduced price of $525, I am EXTREMELY satisfied with this unit in comparison to the hugely overrated iMate 9502! At this point I am surely looking forward to getting more use from this device and would not be surprised if it replaces all of my other gadgets, but that could just be the honeymoon period talking. :-)
TRENT
Sent from my Samsung i780
This does have a 2 megapixel camera with no autofocus and no flash and I assume it is like any other Windows Mobile camera at this point: lukewarm and lackluster. Picture quality is typically average depending on the lighting and the video is not even worth addressing. After all, the main draw of this phone for me comes from its efficiency in operating as my PDA/phone with the very reliable and versatile Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS platform and I am still hooked after day one.
At first glance the Samsung i780 will immediately remind people of the famous BlackJack II (i617) from AT&T with its outward appearance, which is no surprise since they were released within a month of each other in late 2007. But the distinct difference is that the i780 adds a touchscreen with trackpad mouse/stylus navigation and wifi while taking away the 850 GSM band and American 3G. Operating the OS in daily activities has proven to be just as reliable as always, but I am finding a little more functionality from the trackpad mouse! This is definitely a first for me with any device that I have come across and I have actually grown to like it very much...definitely more so than than the scroll wheel on the BlackJack II. The slim profile of the i780 is a much welcomed departure from the bulky Nokia E90 and substantial TyTN 2 and it feels great to finally be able to carry my phone in my pocket without a beltclip holster!
Initial setup of the device took a while since this was previously geared towards the overseas market, but with the help of copying the settings from my TyTN 2 I was able to begin using email and Internet with no trouble at all. Starting the bluetooth syncing relationship with Missing Sync was equally flawless and all PIM information from my Mac successfully transferred over to the i780. Navigating the Net with Opera Mobile 8.65 has its limitations with the squared screen, but unlike the Treo 750, the i780's slim form factor and sturdy build quality makes up for that. One different aspect about this model is that there is a proprietary port instead of the ubiquitous mini USB, which makes an adapter necessary if I want to use a accessible other than the OEM.
Another day is coming around as I type this blog entry on the qwerty of this Samsung marvel in the early hours of the morning. The rounded tops of these small buttons harken back to the times I had spent with my Treos, and they do not disappoint in their performance as my fingernails tap away incessantly.
Being that I got this unit from mobileplanet.com at a reduced price of $525, I am EXTREMELY satisfied with this unit in comparison to the hugely overrated iMate 9502! At this point I am surely looking forward to getting more use from this device and would not be surprised if it replaces all of my other gadgets, but that could just be the honeymoon period talking. :-)
TRENT
Sent from my Samsung i780
Thursday, May 15, 2008
31 Days of the Dragon Contest posting
I recently heard about an going contest called 31 Days of the Dragon where people can enter to win one hell of a machine: the HP HDX "Dragon" 20inch laptop. I took the time to enter at one of the participating sites and ended up telling my whole life story as to how winning the Dragon would "rock my world." If anyone is interested feel free to check out this site:
http://www.31daysofthedragon.com/
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=clyCeze93BU
I entered through the site DigitalHomeThoughts.com(http://digitalhomethoughts.com/) and posted this reply to the forum:
As a current Mac user, the Dragon would surely rock my world from its foundation. For the first time I would be able to tap into the full potential of the PC to create and edit my short films and shoot review videos for my YouTube channel. Using the huge screen and keyboard to write new poetry via MS Office and make new blog entries for my blogsite would be amazing. The Dragon would give me the ability to completely make the switch from Mac to PC...and possibly even iPod to Zune!
For a few years I had been a full-fledged supporter of Apple from purchasing my first iPod 3rd generation player and my first 12inch iBook. This was a result of my not-so-remarkable PC experience with an IBM ThinkPad running Windows 98 with a 7GB harddrive and hardly any RAM for functionality. In order to use iTunes I had to install an updated OS that was at least Windows 2000, so I purchased the XP Home Edition upgrade. After the install I quickly learned that my IBM could barely handle XP let alone iTunes, but this was my first laptop and I simply didn't know any better. For a couple months I had become accustomed to waiting at least 2 minutes to download ONE song and I really thought this was normal for iTunes!! To make matters worse, I didn't have any space on the harddrive to store any downloaded music so I decided to manually update my iPod and then delete the original song from the computer completely (idiotic...I know)! To make this even better, I actually thought that nothing bad could happen to my beloved 3rd gen iPod to where I could lose ALL of the $500 worth of music I had bought via iTunes...I was so wrong. I learned the hard way the second time I dropped my iPod onto concrete and then found myself spending the next few days in vain to try and get rid of the "sad Mac" icon on the flickering screen! That was when I went online, bought a new 4th gen ClickWheel iPod and my first iBook and was BLOWN AWAY by the performance of iTunes and the laptop! I was a Mac fan for life and no one could tell me any different...this was in 2003.
It is now 2008 and I have been through a lot in my Mac-crazed years from the introduction of the color screen iPod, the Nano, the Shuffle, the video iPod, the IntelMac lineup, the Mighty Mouse, the iPhone, the AppleTV, the iPod Touch, the MacBook Air and other gadgets. I even worked for a few months at the first Apple Store at my local mall in Downtown Norfolk and had a great time, but that was when things began to change for me. Working for Apple was not the enlightening life-changing epiphany I had expected, it was simply another part-time job where sales numbers and figures seemed to be more important than the overall customer experience. The realization that not everyone is satisfied by the Mac really hit home as I would talk to potential switchers who would eventually decide they were better off staying with their PC. After eventually leaving the company to persue other interests I never thought that I would ever consider a PC for anything in my life, but I was wrong.
I currently attend a technical school which is of course dominated by the PC, and I learned early on that my MacBook Pro, even with Parallels or Boot Camp, was no all-in-one saving grace for my computing needs. To gain efficient access to school data offsite from school I needed to run Internet Explorer instead of Safari or Firefox, and to ensure software compatibility in my completed assignments I needed MS Office instead of iWork. As a result I recently purchased my second PC laptop, a HP TX2110, and I am simply amazed at the functionality I got for the money I paid ($930)!! If one was to walk into an Apple Store with $930 for a laptop they would be sadly mistaken, and this notion really began to make me angry as I compared my HP to my 15inch MacBook Pro. To think that something so expensive could be justified by simplistic form factor design and a single brand name really caused me to feel jipped after all these years.
I was willingly blinding myself to the fact that there are worthy alternatives for different customers when it comes to personal computing, and this was a real shame. What is even more sad is that people are often caught up in heated Mac vs PC debates that are endless and non-productive. As of right now I go between the Mac and PC worlds with my laptops and feel that it grants me a substantial advantage as I continue to attend school for my degree in Wireless Communications. But eventually I will have to settle with one side and I think that the PC will have to be the final choice.
I am using my MacBook Pro right now for multimedia purposes (music library managment and video shooting/editing) since I do all of my office and school work on the HP TX2110, but the Dragon will surely give me a chance to make the full switch to PC. As a powerhouse model it would certainly provide a welcoming and worthwhile environment where I could efficiently manage all of my personal data once it transferred from my Mac. At that point I would be able to permanently say goodbye to my MacBook Pro and cut the ties to Apple. I guess times really are changing for me.
TRENT
YouTube member - absolon3
http://www.31daysofthedragon.com/
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=clyCeze93BU
I entered through the site DigitalHomeThoughts.com(http://digitalhomethoughts.com/) and posted this reply to the forum:
As a current Mac user, the Dragon would surely rock my world from its foundation. For the first time I would be able to tap into the full potential of the PC to create and edit my short films and shoot review videos for my YouTube channel. Using the huge screen and keyboard to write new poetry via MS Office and make new blog entries for my blogsite would be amazing. The Dragon would give me the ability to completely make the switch from Mac to PC...and possibly even iPod to Zune!
For a few years I had been a full-fledged supporter of Apple from purchasing my first iPod 3rd generation player and my first 12inch iBook. This was a result of my not-so-remarkable PC experience with an IBM ThinkPad running Windows 98 with a 7GB harddrive and hardly any RAM for functionality. In order to use iTunes I had to install an updated OS that was at least Windows 2000, so I purchased the XP Home Edition upgrade. After the install I quickly learned that my IBM could barely handle XP let alone iTunes, but this was my first laptop and I simply didn't know any better. For a couple months I had become accustomed to waiting at least 2 minutes to download ONE song and I really thought this was normal for iTunes!! To make matters worse, I didn't have any space on the harddrive to store any downloaded music so I decided to manually update my iPod and then delete the original song from the computer completely (idiotic...I know)! To make this even better, I actually thought that nothing bad could happen to my beloved 3rd gen iPod to where I could lose ALL of the $500 worth of music I had bought via iTunes...I was so wrong. I learned the hard way the second time I dropped my iPod onto concrete and then found myself spending the next few days in vain to try and get rid of the "sad Mac" icon on the flickering screen! That was when I went online, bought a new 4th gen ClickWheel iPod and my first iBook and was BLOWN AWAY by the performance of iTunes and the laptop! I was a Mac fan for life and no one could tell me any different...this was in 2003.
It is now 2008 and I have been through a lot in my Mac-crazed years from the introduction of the color screen iPod, the Nano, the Shuffle, the video iPod, the IntelMac lineup, the Mighty Mouse, the iPhone, the AppleTV, the iPod Touch, the MacBook Air and other gadgets. I even worked for a few months at the first Apple Store at my local mall in Downtown Norfolk and had a great time, but that was when things began to change for me. Working for Apple was not the enlightening life-changing epiphany I had expected, it was simply another part-time job where sales numbers and figures seemed to be more important than the overall customer experience. The realization that not everyone is satisfied by the Mac really hit home as I would talk to potential switchers who would eventually decide they were better off staying with their PC. After eventually leaving the company to persue other interests I never thought that I would ever consider a PC for anything in my life, but I was wrong.
I currently attend a technical school which is of course dominated by the PC, and I learned early on that my MacBook Pro, even with Parallels or Boot Camp, was no all-in-one saving grace for my computing needs. To gain efficient access to school data offsite from school I needed to run Internet Explorer instead of Safari or Firefox, and to ensure software compatibility in my completed assignments I needed MS Office instead of iWork. As a result I recently purchased my second PC laptop, a HP TX2110, and I am simply amazed at the functionality I got for the money I paid ($930)!! If one was to walk into an Apple Store with $930 for a laptop they would be sadly mistaken, and this notion really began to make me angry as I compared my HP to my 15inch MacBook Pro. To think that something so expensive could be justified by simplistic form factor design and a single brand name really caused me to feel jipped after all these years.
I was willingly blinding myself to the fact that there are worthy alternatives for different customers when it comes to personal computing, and this was a real shame. What is even more sad is that people are often caught up in heated Mac vs PC debates that are endless and non-productive. As of right now I go between the Mac and PC worlds with my laptops and feel that it grants me a substantial advantage as I continue to attend school for my degree in Wireless Communications. But eventually I will have to settle with one side and I think that the PC will have to be the final choice.
I am using my MacBook Pro right now for multimedia purposes (music library managment and video shooting/editing) since I do all of my office and school work on the HP TX2110, but the Dragon will surely give me a chance to make the full switch to PC. As a powerhouse model it would certainly provide a welcoming and worthwhile environment where I could efficiently manage all of my personal data once it transferred from my Mac. At that point I would be able to permanently say goodbye to my MacBook Pro and cut the ties to Apple. I guess times really are changing for me.
TRENT
YouTube member - absolon3
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Update: So Much in So Little Time
It has been a few days since I had purchased my new HP TX2110 laptop and I am enjoying the heck out of this functional tablet convertible! For the amount of money that I paid for all of these features in this HP, there is almost a certain amount of guilt I feel…ALMOST! J
Over the past couple days I have been experimenting more with my first PC laptop and am finding things to be mostly positive with only a couple of newly discovered pet-peeves in regards to software performance. While MS Office, Nokia PC Suite and Internet Explorer have been practically flawless in exercising every command asked of them, I have not been impressed with either the Zune software or the Media Center application. Zune suite and Media Center were captivating at first as viable alternatives to the iTunes library and Front Row suite on my MacBook Pro, but numerous delayed responses in system navigations and media playback proved to be an inconvenience I am not willing to rely on for everyday usage. As a result I have decided to remain steadfast in my current plan to keep my MacBook Pro as my main machine for regular laptop use and my HP TX2110 for mainly schoolwork and occasional home use.
I EVEN TRIED THE ZUNE 80GB!! Upon getting the glossy red model and syncing it with my Zune library I found the sound quality to be excellent and MORE so with the included premium headphones! The user interface did remind me of the Toshiba Gigabeat I had owned a long while back, but overall it was a different and refreshing departure from my trustworthy iPods. Although having an onboard FM radio tuner wasn’t much to write home about, I did like the bigger screen for larger album art and video viewing. At the end of the day I just have too much invested into my iTunes library to go through the hassle of switching it entirely over to the PC, and the interfacing experience of iTunes and iPod is much more reliable and practically perfect. I ended up returning the Zune for a refund. While the Zune does offer better sound quality than the iPod in terms of minor details in playing back a song, my familiar Apple product has been all above adequate in maintaining my media content. Another point is that the iPod is also more compatible with useful third party products such as the Nike Sport Kit which I use very often.
The compact size of this 12inch HP laptop in comparison to my 15inch MacBook Pro is indeed a huge benefit for the sake of portability and I am enjoying every minute of it. Even though this small marvel may seem to be just as heavy as my bigger Mac, it can more easily blend into the coziest of spaces around the house with no trouble. I really am enjoying the slick texture of the keyboard as I am typing this message via MS Outlook and I also do not think that Windows Vista Home Premium is at all as bad as what the public has made it out to be. On the other hand this PC is definitely not my main computer and I have been limiting my use of it to only school and occasional emailing and web surfing. I wonder if my judgment would be different otherwise. Anyway, I am certainly glad to have gotten my hands on this full-fledged tablet laptop for the price I paid and I figured I should not have a want for anything more in the tech toy department…but I was wrong.
To be quite honest in this instant I have to admit to giving in to my addiction for the latest and greatest technological toys. Over the past couple days while using this small HP my mind began thinking about other alternatives for mobile word processing and eventually narrowed the choices down to two models: the HP 2133 Mini-Note and Lenovo’s IdeaPad U110. Before I go further into detail let me start off by saying that I am fully aware of the fact that I have NO business looking into ANOTHER laptop when I have just purchased this HP machine, but whenever I open my Mac or PC it seems like something keeps pulling me back to the CNet review sites and the Google results of “HP 2133 vs Lenovo U110”. Oh well, I guess we all have our vices.
After looking online I find that there are benefits to both machines when looked at from a distance. Both the HP and Lenovo appear to be extremely portable with their small form factors and offer WiFi and Bluetooth with an adequate qwerty keypad, but this extra mobility comes at a price: no optical drive. While the more expensive U110 comes with an external optical drive I assume that one can be found for a good price to be paired with the Mini-Note, so lack of an optical drive may not be too big of an issue to address. So far the HP Mini-Note has been regarded as the best mobile device for worthwhile typing with its nearly full-sized keyboard, but I haven’t really seen much on the typing potential of the other machine. As far as looks are concerned the IdeaPad easily wins out with a very slim profile, an elaborate outside appearance and keys with a glossy piano finish. The Mini-Note on the other hand appears to be nothing more than a MacBook Pro copycat, albeit a very compact and sleek copycat with rounded edges and a professional stance with the overall aluminum finish. While I hear rave reviews of the U110 from James Kendrick of the MobileTech Podcast and read glowing reviews on CNet, there appears to be a concern with a screen that is too reflective, a keyboard finish prone to smudges as well as a lack of customizable models. HP’s model seems to bear the brunt of the harshest criticism in regards to the sluggish performance of the VIA chip with Vista Business and the tendency for high temperatures in addition to a reflective screen. One solution that may be a saving grace for the HP is that on the official site there are certain models available for a downgrade to XP Professional which could possibly be more stable. Another factor in this matter is definitely cost and the Lenovo quickly fades to oblivion in this regard when compared to the HP.
In the midst of all this debating between these two devices I am starting to come to an absolute conclusion: my HP TX2110 is exactly what I need at this point and I am especially realizing this as I continue to type this message on its keys. Another issue that I really didn’t think about is the resolution of the Windows OS on such a small screen. The 12inches on this TX2110 model is plenty small for the tolerated resolution and I believe that going to anything smaller may prove to be non-productive in future use for school. Wow! It looks like in the time it took to write this blog entry I successfully talked myself out of getting either the HP or the Lenovo!!
As all of this continues to unfold I can at least say that I am truly feeling much more well-rounded as a computer user. At this point I never think that it is wise to put all of one’s eggs into a single basket and I am extremely grateful to have learned this from my computers as well as my smartphones. A preference of one operating system over another is never an issue as long as there is an open-minded understanding and acceptance of the benefits of each competitor. We are all different customers with various needs and there is rarely a one-stop shop solution for every technical situation. In my case I find the PC to be much more reliable in managing office duties while my Mac is stellar in managing multimedia duties, and to this day I still switch my SIM between my iPhone , Nokia E90 and my TyTN 2 for their different benefits. It is so amazing to be going through all of this right now, for I know that it can only benefit my growth in the long run as I work towards my degree with ECPI.
TRENT
Sent from my HP TX2110
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Not Getting What You Want, But Wanting What You've Got
In recent days I am finding myself less impressed with upcoming smartphones that are due to be released into the mobile industry. After my recent trial with the iMate Ultimate 9502 I was honestly reminded of just how handy my HTC TyTN 2 is. The iMate is nothing more than an overrated and expensive duplicate of what I already have and really gave me no good impressions as I used it for a few days. For an $850 premium, a VGA screen is not a worthwhile feature to have in any smartphone whether it's a high-end iMate or any other brand.
I have spent many a time with smartphones from various manufacturers with different form factors and build qualities, and as a result I am coming to one conclusion: there is hardly anything innovative about any of the upcoming models. From the recent iMate 9502 to the upcoming Nokia E71 to the anticipated Sony Ericsson Xperia and even to the HTC Diamond, I sense no genuine initiative for form factor innovation that can take the mobile industry by storm. It seems that while software is starting to come out of the box in enabling features on current devices such as online flash for web videos, smartphone hardware is becoming boring and almost downright predictable...or I am getting too picky for my own good! :)
As I take a look at the grand spectrum of devices out in the mainstream society that have been released, there appears to be a constant duplication of standard features in typical form factors. Manufacturers appear to be passing the time away by updating the overall design of a device and not addressing its entire identity. Of course it's easy to add a couple of curves to soften harsh lines or to even add a VGA screen or change some colors or overhaul build materials, but it takes a great deal to really make a good impression in designing a product. Having the talent to create a captivating model that shines from its complex innards to its attractive outer form is indeed a rarity as the industry is saturated with typical model types. Within the confines of these tried-and-true designs such as the everlasting flip, the long-standing qwerty slider and the well-known candy bar and qwerty bar, manufacturers seem to have hit a dead end in regards to drawing major customer interest...or maybe just my own.
As much as I am intrigued by the upcomings devices that are scheduled to debut later on this year and in the far future, a part of me can't help but be dissatisfied...or REALLY satisfied with what I've already got. At the end of the day a certain smartphone model may have a brand new design fresh off the assembly line, but in all actuality it could be nothing more than a copycat of what is already on the store shelves. No mattter how it looks it is only another "smart" device with the standard "smart" features such as bluetooth, wifi, quadband GSM, American and/or Euro 3G, microSD card slot, mini USB port, secondary video conferencing camera, qwerty keypad, onboard mobile office suite, full-fledged PDA functions and maybe even GPS. So what else can be added to this typical mix to really make a Holy Grail of Mobile Technology? This all depends on the companies making these devices, and I am certain they are not in an easy position to be in by any means. Having to face-off with fellow competitors in striving to reach the pinnacle of critical and financial success is a mission that very few businesses can be successful at, so there is definitely much credit due to the major corporations that dominate the market. But at the same time there is some room for improvement.
If there is one thing that I have learned in all of my time spent with these gadgets, it's that there is no such thing as a perfect all-in-one device that can fit everybody, everywhere, all the time. Every product has its faults, limitations and quirks that must be tolerated by the owner, so the best way for me to solve this is to incorporate variety into my daily smartphone usage. Amongst the monotony of the typical features practically available in ALL mobile devices there are only three that currently capture my interest with their unique traits: my Nokia E90, HTC TyTN 2 and Apple iPhone. While all of them can do the basic functions of PIM synchronization, web surfing and qwerty email/text messaging, they all have different features that attract me to using them. The E90 stands out with its stereo speakers, high-resolution widescreen, communicator form factor and reliable PC Suite software. The TyTN 2 offers excellent word prediction, touchscreen and stylus, and the AMAZING Internet Sharing application. The iPhone has its unique multitouch screen, Mac OS X interface and EXCELLENT iTunes/iPod integration.
All three of these phones are certainly different from one another and are perfect altogether for my needs. While I do have the luxury of being able to switch my SIM between them all whenever I wish, a part of me is a bit interested in what the new iPhone is all about. :)
TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90
Monday, May 5, 2008
HP TX2110: The Honeymoon
It is late on a Sunday and I am sitting here with my HP TX2110. It has been such a long time since I was first smitten by the wonder of Apple via my 12 inch iBook after dealing with a horrifying IBM ThinkPad, so it is truly a new experience to be with a Windows machine that actually WORKS! So far I am taking baby steps in getting to know this little laptop as I remain blown away by its capability in comparison with both my previous iBooks and even my current MacBook Pro. I never thought that I would ever come across such a loaded laptop: a 250GB harddrive, 3GB of RAM, a touch screen digitized with WACOM technology, a credit card remote, WiFI AND Bluetooth, a webcam with dual microphone and all with a convertible tablet form factor from a swivel display! Having to run Windows Vista Home Premium has not been too much of a problem at all, but I assume this is because I have only been using this laptop for school.
This brings me to the matter of my taking baby steps with this HP machine. Although this new tech toy has been a LIFESAVER in regards to getting schoolwork done, I am still not convinced that it can totally replace my MacBook Pro for multimedia management. Maintaining a media library and video editing on my Mac is definitely much more reliable and I am not ready to let that go too soon, so the HP will have to be a PC dedicated to only schoolwork. At the same time I do believe that since I do have a sense of caution in giving all of my trust to Windows Vista at this point, keeping my MacBook Pro as my main machine is the best thing to do in the meantime.
One HUGE benefit of my new HP is being able to have access to all of the files from ECPI’s website for studying and homework purposes and I am thoroughly pleased with this!! Having trouble on my Mac in opening a PowerPoint file really left a bad taste in my mouth, so being the owner of this amazing, compact tablet PC is truly a proud moment for me.
TRENT
Sent from my HP TX2110
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Pictures taken with iMate 9502
Here are some pictures taken from the 3.0 megapixel autofocus camera on the iMate Ultimate 9502.
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