gadgetblog

mini Laptop wars

gman — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:36:06 +0000

Bigger is not always better and the heated mini-laptop wars are definitly on! I mean, with our need to be constantly connected, who wants to carry around an 8 pond laptop just because it has nice graphics. Leave all that heavy equipment at home, get yourself a real network, and then interface with the world through a mini. Sounds so much better to me.

This laptop has some decent features:

1 Gig of RAM
80GB Hard drive
3 USB interfaces
Ethernet ready
Bluetooth enabled
1.3kg in weight
4-in-1 memory card reader
1.3-megapixel webcam
10 inch display
1024×600 resolution
built in speakers
Windows XP or SUSE Linux

Now I might question if the hard drive is solid-state, the version of XP, or the skimpy 1GB of RAM. But all in all this little should work quite well.

Hook two computers to a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse

gman — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:46:36 +0000

Do you have multiple computers in your home that you continually switch back and fort to. Do they take up additional space on your desk. Or maybe you are a consultant and you find yourself shifting in your cubical to type on the client machine and then on your personal laptop. The solution is here. A two port KVM switch will hook those two computers together through a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse. With the use of a simple “hot-key” you can switch from one system to the next. Setup is a snap, just plug in each system with the cables extensions and then plug in the shared monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Now you have a real workhorse of a solution that makes you more efficient.

There are many models for hooking different USB/PS2 systems. Check out IOGEAR

Wireless Eye in Your Home

gman — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:34:06 +0000

I just think this is a really cool device for home monitoring. Its wireless, allows you to watch whats going on around your home from you PC, and has configure options to let you stream this to the outside world and any browser. This unit is able to be mounted on a wall, or just keep it in the stand provided. There is also an option to tell the camera to send a short video in an email attachment whenever it detects motion in its field of view. Quite a unique feature so you don’t have to continually monitor your Web browser to see if anything is happening. This way you won’t miss a thing, it notifies you when there is activity, then you just open a browser and start viewing. There is also a recording utility that enables you to record the audio and video to a local hard drive.

Check it out at Linksys Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera

Handy Wireless Travel Router

gman — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:34:05 +0000

Everyone wants to be wireless these days. Unfortunately there are many situations where this is just not possible. Many hotels I go to make you hard-wire into their network. I’ve even been to client sites that make it near impossible to roam the floor because they have you tethered to a Ethernet line.

Step in a travel router. This little guy simply plugs into an Ethernet line, configures itself (or you can do this), and immediately you have a wireless hotspot. While there are many features with this router, enabling you to create a temporary, personal, wireless connection quickly is, in my opinion, its strong point. This last week, I moved my home office from the basement to the second floor. While I do have wireless throughout my home, I still have some servers and printers that are hardwired. Not wanting to leave them in the basement I simply plugged in my travel router, hooked in a Ethernet switch, and was up and running in no time at all.

Check Linksys: Wireless-G Travel Router with SpeedBooster

Kickaroos - Gadget-kicking-deadly-fun

gman — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:26:13 +0000

Now you know when CNN has this toy on its Most Dangerous Toys list it just has to be a kick. I’m almost thinking if I they had those lists when I was a kid, I’d ready it just to know what toys to buy.

Seriously now, we should all be careful when purchasing what could be dangerous toys. And just remember to always wear protective gear. Just because the kid on the box doesn’t have a helmet on doesn’t mean you should too.

Ok, warning done. These look like fun, never tried them, and there is no indication on how high you might go. It’s nice to see that these come in different sizes for a snug fit, have rubber high-traction tread, and they are a bit pricey so most kidos just won’t go out and buy them without parental knowledge.

So, as the website reads: get out there and bounce like a gazelle, BUT BE SAFE.

Roll’n Roll’n Roll’n Laptop

gman — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:49:46 +0000

It’s that time of year again where the sun comes out and we just don’t want to stay glued to our desks. We want to roam around, free spirits, and will do just about anything to get out of our cubicles, inner offices, or in my case an office in the basement. This little furniture gadget will mobilize the best intentioned office worker. Free to move about, get that picturesque site, or just have your laptop with you where ever you roam off to. I’ll agree that furniture isn’t the coolest of gadgets to buy but with this one you just might roll yourself out on the patio. The next time I think of gadgets, I just might think of comfort as opposed to something I can plug into my computer.

Sprie messenger bag – for all your gadgets

gman — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:44:19 +0000

How do you carry your laptop around with you? Better yet, how do you carry your gadgets. I have done quite a bit of traveling and was often stuck with the laptop bag that came with the computer. Often times these looked like cloth briefcases, and were not meant for much more than the laptop and some paperwork. These briefcases often got un-sightly when sticking in a power cord, let alone a few of my gadgets.

Well this messenger bag from Sprie was a blessing when I purchased it nearly 5 years ago. Now the picture here looks nothing like mine, models do change, but I can honestly say it is one of the best purchases I have made for my laptop. Sturdy, big enough for my 17 inch display, and plenty of pockets for everything you would want to carry. There is a lifetime warranty on these bags, the construction shows it, and I doubt I’ll ever need to use it

Man -n- Bag ; Get over it!

gman — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:34:38 +0000

I’m going out on a real limb here to let you know I’ve been carrying a man-bag for about 8 months now. Ok, call it a purse if you like but I love it.

Take a leap here. I ask. How many of you men carry a laptop case or messenger bag? I carry a messenger bag (I’ll post that one tomorrow) and really love mine. It is so functional. Plenty of pockets for all my gadgets. I personally found myself taking my laptop all sorts of places, ready to go online at a moments notice AND to carry all my extra stuff.

I got to thinking. Hey, I wasn’t carrying my messenger bag for my laptop. I WAS carrying it for the other stuff. So I took a leap of faith and started carrying a man-bag instead. I cut down on some of the stuff I carried but still have a place for all the essentials. AND my pockets are not stuffed with all kinds of gadgets.

Give one a try. You’ll be glad you did.

Motorola Cell Phone Charger

gman — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:25:10 +0000

Being out on the road without any way to recharge your mobile phone is a near nightmare. I mean, aren’t mobile phones just an extension of our bodies. We go no where without them and feel almost lost if we lose connectivity with the outside world.

An today, with everyone chatting through our phones, it is even more important to have a backup power supply or battery source. The Motorola Cell Phone Charger is just that. It’s quite cheep, I actually picked mine up at a hardware store, and easily does the job. And, for the cost, you won’t mind loseing it or breaking it. Just pop it into your purse, glove box, or back pocket and you’re ready to go.

Gadgets on Mars

gman — Sun, 25 May 2008 15:09:46 +0000

When we play with gadgets they are typically fit in the palm of our hands. Can you imagine playing with the Mars Lander? I don’t know any gadget boy or girl that wouldn’t like to just touch the Lander for a few moments.

Well, I’m actually writing this post one day before the Lander is supposed to land on the northern polar region of Mars. An area that is supposed to have a large amount of underground ice. I didn’t know this, but less over 50% of the attempts to land on Mars have failed. Not quite like trying to maintain cell phone coverage in the Rocky Mountains. Which I can tell you could use a few of NASA scientists to figure out and GET RIGHT.

Anyway, if anyone is watching this landing, write back to this post and let everyone know your feelings about the whole Mars kick. I think it’s very cool, obviously high-tech, and surely gadget freeks dream come true.