The Four-eyed Journal » Laptops

Buying a new computer – laptop or desktop?

jhay — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:22:21 +0000

A cousin of mine, who’s currently a Computer Science freshman student has been meaning to buy a computer in the coming weeks has asked me a crucial question:

“Kuya, should I get a laptop or desktop PC?”

My answer was, “It depends on your needs.” Allow me to elaborate basing on my many years of using the personal computer, having started on a desktop PC and using a laptop computer at present.

Keyword is: Mobility

If you need to have a computer on-the-go whether be it for accessing email, writing, blogging, creating presentations, spreadsheets, doing some graphics work, etc for most of the time you’re awake then you go buy a laptop.

This could be broken down into what you’re mobile for?

If you need to have easy internet access for doing email, writing, blogging, listening to your mp3 collection where ever you are then get a netbook. The Asus Eee PC, Acer Aspire One, Lenovo IdeaPad S9/10, HP Mini Note and a host of other netbooks out there would do just fine. The price would easily fit your budget and your body would be spared from lugging around a heavier full-sized laptop.

For heavy graphics works, sound or movie editing, desktop publishing on-the-go, then get one of those full-sized laptops, like the Compaq c756TU I bought last May. Be prepared to shell out a lot more cash for this class of machines and don’t forget to get a nice bag to carry it around with you, something that will not take a lot on your body and provide good protection for your laptop.

If your needs are the opposite of those mentioned above, meaning you don’t need to do all of those where ever you are in the world, right there and then, go get a desktop PC instead. You could set it up any way you can, as long as you can afford it, and you don’t have to worry about carrying something valuable with you where ever you go.

I know you guys have an answer for this question as well. Do share them and help out not only my cousin, but anyone else who is also grappling with the same question.

Laptop Accessory: Bluetooth USB adaptor

jhay — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:04:20 +0000

Though the Compaq c765TU is a good laptop with mid-range specs it doesn’t come with a few bonus features that extend the mobility and utility of the portable computer.

Such feature is a built-in Bluetooth capability which you can normally find in high-end laptops with higher price tags. Though Bluetooth capability is not that essential today, it will be in the very near future as more and more development in communication technology is pushed towards the mobile platform like cell phones and PDAs. Though some would argue that the PDAs days are now numbered because of the increasing power of mobile phones in which the latter is being integrated in to the former. Any one care for a Nokia E-series or the Sony Ericsson P1?

Of course the portable computer would still be around. The trend today are those ultra-portables or UMPCs like the iconic Asus Eee PC and it’s various competitors. So the gap between the notebook computer and the mobile phone must be bridged. Sure there are cables but these are clumsy, bulky and so yesteryear’s trend. Today It’s wireless connectivity baby!

Okay, enough keyword-rich blogging and let’s get straight to the point. Buying a laptop is like buying a new car. You will eventually buy accessories for it that will enhance the performance or boost it’s “oomph!” factor.

Though I lean towards usability even if it means sacrificing some aesthetics, I try to find accessories that has a good balance of both.

Facts:
My Compaq c765TU laptop is, over-all, a pretty decent portable with respectable specs.

I use a Sony Ericsson K800i as my de facto point-and-shoot camera for blogging and taking occasional videos. It can also function as a modem for me to connect to the internet over the air.

Problems:

The Compaq c765TU doesn’t have a built-in Bluetooth device that allows me wirelessly connect the K800 for file transfers or using it as a modem.

I don’t like to use the phone’s cable because one; it will take up another USB port on my laptop, and second; it’s clumsy, bulky and I don’t want another cable to clutter my workspace.

The solution:

A Bluetooth USB Adaptor

Bought this for roughly Php800.00 at Octagon Computers in SM Dasmariñas last May and it’s made by Toshiba though it’s not branded as such.

It’s quite simple to use and operate, just pop-in the installer disk for the device software and driver then plugin the device itself on one of the USB ports and viola! My laptop is now Bluetooth capable allowing me to wirelessly transfer files mostly photos, from my phone for a quick editing then using it to compliment my blog posts.

It’s a Bluetooth Class 1 device which gives me a range of up to 100m (328 ft.) with it I can do the following:

Synchronize data between my mobile phone and laptop
Connect to an office or home network if it has a Bluetooth access point
Connect to my mobile phone and use it as a modem for internet access
Portable wireless file transfer to any other Bluetooth-enabled device.

I’ve done most of the things above save for two things; connect to a network that has a Bluetooth access point and lastly, use my phone as a modem for web access. Since I’m in the provinces the latter would next to impossible to do so I’m now working on how to setup my K800i phone to function as a modem and finally try out Globe’s 3G/HSDPA internet services. And that would be another blog post for another day.

Ergonomics and proper posture in using a laptop

jhay — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:26:32 +0000

Okay, so it takes a little while to get used to Firefox 3′s new “Awesome bar”, and now I’m beginning to agree with the remark of commenter minor‘s wife that the new address bar in Firefox 3 could cause some added eyestrains because it spits out huge chunks of text every time you type in a URL. Still, congratulations to Mozilla and to all Firefox fans, it’s reported that we reached 8 Million downloads for Firefox 3 on Download day.

Which means there are now 7 Million users who will have to grapple with the new address bar of FF3, it’s a usability issue that I hope will be addressed in the next versions of Firefox.

Speaking of usability, ergonomics and health issues with regards to using computers and laptops, today I’d answer what friends have been asking me every time they see me using a full-sized mice with my laptop. The trend is that with desktops you should use full-sized mice while if you’re going to use a laptop and not bother with its track pad, you would use one of those mini-mice which is half the size of the regular ones, hell there are even micro or pocket-sized mice that could easily fit in one’s underpants. Case in point, Carlo’s new mini-mice for his Asus Eee PC. Cute but not for me.

I for one did not follow this convention. Simply because my right hand is too big to comfortably use a micro-mice. See the photo below?

That wireless mini-mice given to me by my uncle could easily be hidden underneath my hand, if my hand were a lot hairier it would look like a tarantula that has caught a small mice (the animal) for dinner. So I went out and bought a full-sized Optical Mice by Logitech. It’s twice the size of most mini-mice but it saves me a lot from painful wrist and finger strain or what’s properly called as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Asides from taking care of our hands and wrists, which I think are one of the most important parts of a blogger’s anatomy, Manav of Technospot.net reminds us of the importance of using good posture in using our computers, especially if your work or lifestyle involves using it for long periods of time.

By my reckoning, it’s written for those who use desktop computers as these are much more common and configurable because the monitor and keyboard could be adjusted separately for greater comfort.
On the other hand, for laptop users like, our situation is a bit different thus our setup is also a bit different.

A set of good ergonomic tips in using a laptop can be found in the website of The University of Ontario:

Shoulders should be resting at your sides, elbows bent to 90 degrees and wrists straight. Tilt the screen to reduce neck bending and any glare.
Make sure you use a light touch while keying and mousing.
The armrests on your chair should not obstruct arm movements as seen in the picture to the right.
Can you use secondary function or short-cut keys instead of the mouse
Consider the tasks you will be working on. Raise the screen to eye level when reading lengthy documents (consider using the mouse for scrolling) or lower the keyboard to elbow level for intensive keying.
Consider using the laptop as a stand alone CPU with an external keyboard, mouse and monitor. If the notebook screen is large, raise the entire computer to eye level and use an external keyboard and mouse.
If you are working at a table that is too high for proper keying, try tilting the laptop towards you using an empty binder. Reclining your seat slightly will help to improve arm postures. Tilting the laptop will also help to raise the screen closer to eye level.
Take a break from your laptop. Do you have other jobs you can work at for a bit that don’t involve using a computer? Several short breaks, where you can change your posture, is recommended over one long break.

Other sites offer more tips in proper and healthy laptop usage but I don’t have the luxury of having a secondary LCD monitor to plug in to my laptop to achieve that eye-level setup recommended when reading documents from the computer. For now, I’ll just adjust the height of my gas-lift chair when needed.

Quick Tips on Choosing a Laptop

jhay — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:31:54 +0000

Though I only have used a laptop for less than three weeks, the fact that I’m the resident “geek” at the Lasallian Community Development Center has led me to being asked by one of our faculty members:

“What laptop should I buy?”

Since, I’m no expert, I based my answer upon my years of tinkering, repairing and upgrading desktop PCs, the guides I’ve read all over the net, the advice given by my fellow geeks and common sense.

Laptops are getting cheap nowadays and there are various ways of getting one, legally I mean. But that’s another story altogether, to help answer the question, I asked her another set of questions:

“What are you going to use the laptop for?”

As with desktop computers, the answer to this question will greatly influence your choice of which laptop computer to buy. If you’re going to use it for office or paper works, as the faculty who asked me would, then an entry-level to mid-level laptop would suffice. These laptops would be running on Celeron/Centrino/ Pentium M processors with 1GB of RAM, 60-120GB of hard drive space, shared video memories plus the standard compliment of both wireless (Wi-Fi) and wired LAN adaptors, dial-up modem, USB ports etc.

Most major brands* like HP-Compaq (Presario C573, C702TU, V3120, C765TU), Asus (A3A, A8H, X51R), Acer (ASPIRE 3624NWXCI, TRAVELMATE 2423N, TRAVELMATE 2428 NOTEBOOK, ASPIRE 3683NWXMI, TRAVELMATE 2441NWXCI) have these kind of laptops for under Php30,000.00

If you’re a “power user” doing heavy graphics manipulation, audio/video editing and gaming, going up to the level of laptops that run on dual core Pentiums and their AMD counterparts, 120GB hard drive space should be standard with 2GB of RAM is the way to go. Of course a dedicated graphics card is a must.

However, be prepared to shell out not less than Php30,000.00 on these notebooks.

“How big do you want your laptop to be?”

Gadgets are getting lighter, smaller and more compact with each new generation. So laptops with screens bigger than 17 inches is HUGE. Common nowadays, as I’ve observed, are 12-14 incher’s. Of course there’s the latest craze of UMPCs or ultra portable notebooks with screens as small as 7 inches, yes it’s the original Asus Eee PC 701 with all of its newest bigger sisters like the Eee PC 900 and from the competitors of Asus. However, these UMPCs are designed to be “secondary” or backup notebooks not really for everyday work.

Size does matter because lugging around a huge, bulky and heavy laptop is no different from dragging your desktop computer complete with table and chair where ever you go.

“How much is your budget?”

This is ultimately, the deciding factor when it comes to buying a laptop, or any other gadget out there for that matter. Especially in these hard-pressed times of rising costs of living (fuel, food, electricity etc), getting the most value out of your hard earned money is a must. Unless you really could afford it. Why not go for a MacBook?

If you don’t have cash, you could always use your credit card or as I’m seeing to be getting quite common nowadays, ask a friend of yours to card it for you. Just make sure you’ll not run away with it, else you could face some lawsuits.

Others who have relatives outside the country ask them to buy the laptop instead and just ship it over or hand-carry it when they return home. It’s much cheaper compared to buying one locally plus they have a wider selection of brands and models abroad.

Other factors

Additional questions like, “brand new or second/third-hand?” also comes to mind. Nothing beats a shiny brand new laptop so be extra careful when choosing to buy a second/third-hand notebook. Getting it cheap doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth it. Worse, when the thing proves to be in a bad shape, you end up spending more for repairs plus the hours of frustration and disrupted productivity. That’s if you don’t get scammed in the first place.

Another question would be, “a MacBook or not?” Of course the question, “Can I afford it?” immediately comes to mind. I admit that MacBooks are cool and sexy, heck I drool for one. These machines are also top of the line. But besides the price factor, you also have to consider switching to a new working environment, because it’s stupid to replace OS X with any version of Windows just so you can power it up and start working on it right away. Because 99% of the time, just like my elder faculty friend, you grew up in a Windows world where everything literally starts with the Start button.

Linux as your OS would be a good alternative, and nothing else could beat that FREE price tag. Ubuntu and its flavors are getting hugely popular nowadays and it will continue to do so. However, just like opting for a MacBook, or once your budget allows it, switching from a Windows-based environment to a completely different one, though it has its own set of unique rewards and advantages, could really take its toll on you and your workflow. So really think about it.

In the end, each of us would have our own set of reasons, needs and preferences which will guide our choice of which laptop to go for. Whatever it is that rings your bell, I hope I have helped in any way to fine tune that bell so that you’ll end up with the laptop that will meet most of your needs, satisfy your wants and not really punch a hole in your wallets or empty your bank accounts.

*Units cited were based on available models for sale in the Philippines via PC Corner.

Keep private files secure with My Lockbox

jhay — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:55:18 +0000

Yesterday, was so to speak, the unveiling of my new Four-eyed Notebook to my friends and fellow student volunteers at school. I used it to take down notes during day one of our planning workshop for the SERVE Volunteers and while I was doing so, I cannot help but get some eerie and uncomfortable feeling whenever one of them goes round my back and takes a peek at my screen.

I’m no snob but this is my very first time to own and use a laptop in public so typing away and doing work on a computer outside the sanctity of my bedroom is a new experience for me. Somehow, it felt like I was using a public bathroom whose walls are made of clear glass, all the world could see what I was doing. Being mobile has its trade-offs, privacy being one of them.

Besides that, I have a strong feeling that this laptop of mine would be one of the regulars at the SERVE volunteers’ office, my fellow volunteers borrowing it to do their schoolwork and myself volunteering this notebook for official activities if the need arises. Of course I’ll share this to anyone who really needs it, but I can’t help but be worried that every time I do let others use my laptop, my personal files containing private and sensitive information would be open for unwanted and unintended exposure.

I want to add a layer of privacy on my laptop not only to protect my sensitive personal files but also to lower the risk of exposing my notebook to viruses, worms, trojans and other badware that is so abundant in campus thanks to hundreds of infected pen drives my fellow students have.

Thankfully, Tina of makeuseof.com has written a very good post about adding some layer of privacy that would do both: provide privacy for my files and keep nosy and uninvited folks from using my laptop. One of her advice that I really followed is cleaning up my desktop, getting rid of any icons I don’t really use. She wrote:

You wouldn’t believe how many people are stunned by an empty desktop. They’ll rather leave it alone than mess with the start button or some funny looking menus.

So now my desktop is almost empty with a single column of shortcut icons I use regularly. But I plan to move them to the Quick Launch menu to really achieve that “No desktop icons” look. Tina also suggests other tricks like changing the user interface into something not everyone is accustomed to like using transformation packs to use Ubuntu Linux or Mac OS X’s UI since these are not so familiar to most users. Other tricks are to change the icons into something of your own choice to the extreme solution of using apps that lock out everyone else except you who knows the password. So these tips have made my laptop less inviting to uninvited guests next is to protect my actual private and sensitive files.

This time, thanks to every-reliable GTD gurus at Lifehacker who has a nice guide on the best free ways to protect your private files. I opted for the simple yet effective My Lockbox which is a free a security software enabling you to password protect any folder on your computer.

The protected folder (lockbox) is hidden from any user and application of your system, including Administrator and System itself. It is impossible to access the lockbox not only from the local computer, but also from the net.

The program is extremely easy to use. You can set the lockbox location and the password during the setup procedure. After the setup is done, lockbox will be hidden and locked until you enter the valid password.

My Lockbox Control Panel allows you easily change basic lockbox parameters: lockbox location, protection status, password.

Downloaded and have it already installed in my notebook and right now, I feel much comfortable and secure once I go back to day 2 of our planning workshop in a few hours’ time.