Netbooks, Notebooks and Laptops

The LG R590 3D Notebook

RT Cunningham — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:24:57 +0000

The LB R950 3D Notebook isn't available anywhere right now except Korea (South Korea, that is). I spotted it over at SlipperyBrick's post, "LG unveils its first 3D notebook", and thought it might be worth mentioning. Take a look at the picture and I'll tell you what I really think.

Okay, this thing has this: 15.6 inch display, Intel Core i7 processor, SRS Tru-Surround HD, Nvidia GeForce GT335M graphics card, TriDef software that converts 2D video to 3D in real time, optional a Blu-ray drive.

My Opinion

Don't waste your money. I've been told by people who've already bought 3D TV sets that it isn't worth the extra cost. The 3D part is just a novelty that wears thin pretty quick.

Now, I watch movies on my PC and on my netbook. I've watched them on notebooks in the past, but I don't own a regular notebook anymore. Even if I did, I wouldn't want to put on a dorky plair of glasses every time I wanted to watch something in 3D. It would be a feature I'd rarely use.

I don't know about you, but every 3D movie I ever watched gave me a headache. Most of the time, the 3D aspects aren't worth the trouble. The filmmakers have to add things to emphasize the 3D when all I want emphasized is a good story.

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The Keyboard PC is Nothing New

RT Cunningham — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:42:35 +0000

The ASUS EEE keyboard PC was shown off at various trade shows for electronics last year (2009) and people were in awe. If you don't believe me, search for "ASUS EEE keyboard PC" at YouTube and watch some of the videos. Of course, this is nothing new. In fact, it means that home computers have come full circle since they started as integrated keyboards with the Commodore and Apple computers in the 1970s.

Detachable Keyboards

One of the reasons I moved from a Commodore 64 to Commodore 128D in the late 1980s was due to the detachable keyboard. Even though the keyboard was still a proprietary item, it would be cheaper to replace the keyboard than replacing the entire computer.

Standard PC keyboards these days are incredibly cheap and easy to replace. It's a good thing, too, because things like hair, dead skin dust and other particulates can get between and under the keys and cause specific keys to stop functioning (requiring some severe cleaning). I won't even go into what happens when you spill water or coffee on a key or two by accident.

With the old Commodore and Apple computers, companies started developing custom key covers that allowed you to use the keys while protecting them from contaminants. Again, it was much cheaper to replace the plastic key covers than it was to replace the proprietary keyboards. This is exactly the same problem that needs to be addressed for the new keyboard PCs or the companies making them are going to be in for the rude awakening of more than average warranty repairs.

The New Commodore Keyboard PCs

ASUS didn't invent anything new with the ASUS EEE keyboard PC. I don't believe a touch screen designed with a mobile browser is worthwhile considering this isn't a mobile computer; it's a desktop computer replacement.

Curiously, I checked Commodore USA and they have three new keyboard PCs in the offering, with each being a little different. The Commodore Phoenix looks promising as a 64-bit keyboard PC. I like the fact that you can add a removable HDD to the system.

Alas, I will never own a keyboard PC unless it comes with a key protector or you can buy them separately. This is why I use a desktop computer from day-to-day and only use a laptop computer (a netbook, actually) when I absolutely need to be mobile (unless my desktop PC craps out and I decide to use my laptop as a desktop computer).

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Will the new All-In-One Computers cut into Laptop Sales?

RT Cunningham — Thu, 13 May 2010 06:03:05 +0000

After seeing photos of various all-in-one computers for sale, I'm almost convinced that these kinds of computers will eventually outsell laptop computers. I could be wrong, of course, so I won't go out on a limb and say I'm totally convinced.

What are All-In-One Computers?

How each one looks and operates is as different as the brand names producing them. Basically an all-in-one computer consists of a desktop-type LCD monitor with the computer attached to it. Everything except the keyboard and mouse is included.

If I were to "scrunch" my computer case into a piece that would fit onto one side of my monitor, or onto the rear of it, I would have an all-in-one computer. The new all-in-one computers use components that would fit into a laptop computer, so it makes sense that the computer part of it would be fairly small. It also does away with the use of an extra power cord and a monitor cable.

What about Laptops?

Let's use some common sense. A lot of people use laptop computers just like they use desktop computers. Even those that go mobile with them plug them into external power sources when the opportunities present themselves. For the less than mobile, the all-in-one computers are attractive choices.

If you consider that an all-in-one computer, including a keyboard and a mouse, can probably fit into a decent-sized briefcase, it looks especially attractive to people who move from office to office frequently.

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing one type of computer over another and the all-in-one computers have just been presented as another choice.

But would I buy an All-In-One Computer?

Well, my desktop computer still has a lot of life in it. If it dies on me, then I'll have to consider an all-in-one computer as well as another desktop computer as a replacement.

I see drawbacks to all of the all-in-one computers in that the parts aren't interchangeable with other all-in-one computers (from other brands), unlike most of the components contained in desktop computer cases. If I could get one at a reasonable price, however, I probably buy one.

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Desktop Computers and Power Supply Units

RT Cunningham — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:58:32 +0000

Sometimes just called a "power supply", a power supply unit (PSU) converts AC (alternating current) power to DC (direct current) power in desktop computers and distributes that power to the internal components. While power supply units are present in laptop computers, the power conversion is usually handled by an external transformer (usually called an "adapter") between a laptop and a power cord while the PSU simply handles the distribution. Of course, that's only when the laptop battery isn't being used.

Power Supply Units and Wattage

The PSU wattage output usually isn't a problem for laptop computers because the internal components are matched in such a way that normal usage won't go beyond what the PSU is rated for.

People like to add stuff to desktop computers, however, and this is where the problem lies. If you build your own computer, you'll know to get a PSU with a lot of wattage (450 watts and above) simply because you know you'll be adding more to it than most pre-built computers.

People with pre-built desktop computers don't usually add enough to their computers to make much of difference, unless the PSU is low wattage to begin with.

A Case in Point

A friend of mine owns a Dell desktop computer and is thinking of getting a Dell Mini as a netbook. After his recent experience with the desktop computer, he may be reconsidering.

When I bought my desktop computer, the first thing I checked was the power supply unit. I was happy because it was a 500-watt unit. I knew I could add an additional hard drive to it and it wouldn't cause any problems.

My friend didn't do that, obviously. He probably wasn't allowed to do so since opening the case would probably void his warranty. I guess it doesn't matter now because his warranty expired. Anyway, he added a hard drive to it and didn't pay attention to how sluggish his computer became because, after all, it was running Windows. It always seem sluggish to him anyway.

A couple of weeks ago, his PSU died. He was lucky in that it happened at the end of his work week and he had the entire weekend to replace it. He was also lucky it didn't take out other components at the same time, as faulty PSUs are known to do. When he pulled the old one out, he discovered it was a 350-watt PSU. No wonder it blew – it couldn't handle that extra hard drive if he started using other peripherals at the same time.

Needless to say, he replaced it with a beefier PSU and the computer isn't as sluggish now as when he first got it. He's happy with it, but I still think he's going to think twice about buying a Dell in the future.

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The Google Chrome OS Netbook – What's the Big Deal?

RT Cunningham — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:28:09 +0000

According to Google, netbooks sporting the new Google Chrome OS are supposed to hit the shelves at major stores before the end of the first quarter of 2011. It sounds quite ho-hum to me, considering the plethora of netbooks already available.

The Google Chrome OS

There isn't a lot of information available about this particular operating system, but I'm willing to bet it will be another UNIX-based OS, with a GUI front-end designed around the Google Chrome web browser. This is exactly what Apple does with OS X, so it would be nothing new. It would be something new if it's based on the Android operating system instead of UNIX.

The only thing that would set this apart from any other operating system is that it would be centered around the Internet browsing experience as the first and foremost option. Anything else would be secondary. This is completely opposite from the way previous operating systems were designed.

The Price Factor

According to the CEO of Google, the price of a new Google Chrome OS netbook would be in the $300-$400 price range. Another ho-hum moment. You can already buy netbooks in that price range. You want to make me sit up and take notice? Make it available for under $300 without skimping on features.

Of course, Google has no plans to build netbooks. The OS would be licensed to netbook manufacturers and they're the ones who will set the price. It's just that Microsoft charges for the OEM Windows versions bundled with netbooks and Google Chrome OS will probably be free. That alone should make the price point cheaper, although I don't think the netbook manufacturers want to miss an opportunity for a profit margin.

The Internals

The operating system may be important, but the internals of the netbook are just as important. Since Acer, among others, is now building netbooks using AMD processors that are supposedly faster and better than the Intel processors a lot of netbooks have in them, it's going to make a world of difference if it's true.

Netbooks with fast processors, capable of holding more than 2 gigabytes of memory, will make them preferred alternatives to the pricier notebooks. I don't use my desktop computer for much more than what I use a netbook for – mostly Internet-related work. I think a lot of people are that way nowadays.

Will a netbook with Google Chrome OS be better than what's available already? I don't know and if someone says it will, I'll believe it when I see it with my own two eyes.

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Should I Buy an IDE/SATA USB 2.0 Adapter or a Hard Drive Enclosure?

RT Cunningham — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 08:36:38 +0000

After making several trips into downtown Olongapo City, I found that I could not buy an external hard drive enclosure locally. Even the places that could order one, could only order the kind for SATA hard drives. I'm starting to think external hard drive enclosures for IDE hard disk drives are no longer being made. What the retailers had in stock were the kind of external hard drive units I don't want, with hard drives already in them.

An IDE/SATA USB 2.0 Adapter

After looking at hundreds of hard drive enclosures online, and finding very few for IDE hard drives, I almost ordered the Vantec Universal Storage Adapter for SATA and IDE to USB 2.0. That was before I realized there isn't an enclosure involved.

As careful as I am with my computer equipment, dust and humidity are the primary enemies of electronics in the Philippines. My hard drive needs an enclosure to protect it from those elements.

A Hard Drive Enclosure

Despite being difficult to find, I can still find IDE to USB hard drive enclosures online and that's what I intend to do. I'll order one and have it shipped to my wife, who's currently in the US. She'll be shipping a balikbayan box (a box a little bigger than what you can take on an airplane) within the next month or so anyway. The box will arrive here a few months before she returns.

I'm going to become an external hard drive case collector, for all kinds of hard drives. I may still buy the adapter I mentioned because it works with all kinds of drives and flash cards, but only for temporary use. At around USD $30.00, it's not a major purchase that's going to set me back. The hard drive enclosures, on the other hand, are even cheaper at $10 to $20 each.

With USB 2.0 ports available on almost everything electronic now, and with USB 3.0 in the works, it makes sense to have everything I can geared to work with them. I can't have enough hard disk drive (or solid state drive for that matter) enclosures in my possession. It beats the heck out of opening and closing computer cases and fiddling with internals.

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The External Hard Drive Case has to Match the Hard Drive

RT Cunningham — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:17:58 +0000

Right now, I can't look in the mirror without calling myself stupid. I finally got around to removing the hard drive from my dead notebook computer and discovered I made a mistake when I bought the external hard drive case.

My Ovation External Hard Drive Case

What stupid mistake did I make? Well, before I tell you, I have to tell you that I only spent about $10 for the external hard drive case. It even comes with RFID security.

I knew the external hard drive case was designed for a 2.5 inch hard disk drive (HDD). What I didn't check was which kind of 2.5 inch HDD was required. You have the older IDE HDDs and the newer SATA HDDs and I just happen to have the older IDE version. Guess what version the external hard drive case requires?

It wouldn't be so bad if the case was big enough to hold the HDD along with an IDE to SATA adapter cable, but it isn't. It's a snug fit for the drive itself and I wouldn't even attempt to put the top of the enclosure on for fear of bending a bunch of pins.

External Hard Drive Cases and Hard Drives

I have plenty storage room in my house. In fact, I have empty wardrobe cabinets waiting to be filled with stuff I can't fit anywhere else. That's where this external hard drive case is going. I will have to buy another one and make sure I get the right one this time.

Actually, I have a choice. I can buy an external hard drive case to match the hard drive or I can buy a frame so I can mount it in my desktop computer, which already has a spare IDE cable slot. Since I already have two hard drives in the computer, totaling a terabyte in drive space, I really don't want to do that. I also don't want to deal with the extra heat it will generate.

No, I prefer an external hard drive case. I can use a USB flash drive (the thumb drive kind) to move a lot files back and forth between my desktop computer and my netbook computer, but the space is limited. There's much more space on any modern HDD and in this case, I probably wouldn't be moving files; I would probably use it for storing things that can be used on both computers (at different times, of course).

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A New LED Monitor known as "The Panel"

RT Cunningham — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:25:45 +0000

A company by the name of MEDL Technology is preparing to launch the first LED monitor in its product line. The company recently did a demo of this new LED monitor in Palm Springs, California, at the IDG demo conference. What makes this newsworthy is that it's a monitor that doesn't necessarily have to be connected to a computer.

The Important Technical Specifications

I'm picking the specifications that I think make this product, which isn't even available to the public yet, stand out from traditional LCD monitors. Yes, this is an LED monitor and the price tag is probably going to be higher than expected. Actually, it's a "TFT active-matrix LCD, LED-backlit" monitor. Don't ask me what that means.

This first one is going to be a 13.3 inch diagonal widescreen display. That's a bit smaller than the 19 inch monitor sitting in front of me right now. I'm sure the company will eventually roll out larger monitors. Companies like this always do.

The maximum resolution is 1280 x 800, which is just a little less than my 19 inch monitor and sounds to be just about perfect for a 13 inch display – not too tiny for older eyes. It connects to other devices with multiple interfaces including USB, VGA and S-video. This is the first monitor I've heard of that can connect to a computer by USB.

The most important specification, in my opinion, is that it contains its own rechargeable battery which can last up to five hours. This is probably what makes it device independent.

Devices

The Panel connects to a wide range of devices, not just computers. According to the press release, The Panel can be used with portable video players, cameras, DVD players, iPhones, iPods and gaming platforms such as the Xbox and PS3.

The one thing I found amusing when I was reading the company's blog is that they don't believe netbooks are worth looking into as a product line. They think the netbook is nothing more than a fad. The Panel, nevertheless, will work as an external monitor for just about any netbook currently in existence. By having the two devices running from independent battery sources, the netbook battery will last a lot longer.

But would I buy one?

I wouldn't buy a 13 inch model unless I was buying it to specifically work with my netbook. I've been spoiled by larger monitors for too long to "step down" to a 13 inch monitor for anything else.

Even if a larger display model becomes available, it will still depend on the price. If it costs much more than the affordable LCD monitors now available, I'll stick with what I already have. If it's cheap enough, it may end up replacing what I already have (when what I already have needs to actually be replaced).

I see The Panel as something that people using small screens will find more useful than anyone else. I'm talking about things like the iPhone. As cool as some of these mobile gadgets are, they can put a serious strain on your eyes if you try to use them for long periods of time.

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What to do when it's Time to Replace your Netbook Monitor Screen

RT Cunningham — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:44:24 +0000

I hadn't thought about what to when it gets to the point where I have to replace the monitor screen on my netbook. That is, until I read an article about it. Because laptop components fail when they shouldn't, and when you least expect it, knowing how to fix or replace them can save you a lot of money and trouble.

Warranties and Extended Warranties

Most computers and peripherals come with a limited 1-year warranty with an option to purchase an extended warranty. Netbooks come with the same warranty options. The problem with any warranty is the ability to get the service under the warranty, provided you need the service within the warranty period.

Needless to say, most computer components fail after the warranty has already expired. Is an extended warranty for a netbook even worth buying, considering how little they cost? What if you live in an area, like I do, where getting warranty service would be more trouble than it's worth?

Thinking about how affordable netbooks are to begin with, it seems to me that when a component fails and isn't easily fixed, the old netbook will end up getting replaced by a new netbook with the old netbook being set aside for other uses in the future or discarded as trash.

Some enterprising folks out there are figuring out ways where you can fix things yourself, without being a computer whiz, and save on extended warranties and other headaches.

Replace Your Netbook Monitor Screen

According to the folks at Pixel Qi, changing a netbook monitor screen is slightly more difficult than changing a light bulb. You remove 6 screws, the bezel, replace the screen and then do everything in reverse and can be done with it in under five minutes.

Well, if you've done it before, it might take five minutes. If it takes a bit longer, it really doesn't matter. The benefit is that you can do it at home using common household tools and you don't even have to get the replacement from the manufacturer.

Pixel Qi demonstrated an "ePaper" enhanced netbook monitor screen at the 2010 computer electronics show (CES) and it received great reviews. They're in the process of preparing kits to be sent out within a month or two. I don't know what the cost of one of their netbook monitor screens will be, but I can assure it won't be as expensive as replacing a netbook. Also, given that power consumption by the new screen is one half or less of the screen you have in your netbook now, it's a winning proposition to replace it. Hopefully, the major netbook manufacturers will take notice of this and start using this new technology in their netbooks.

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Laptop Computer Speakers

RT Cunningham — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:09:35 +0000

The worst feature of any laptop computer I've ever encountered is the sound quality and volume of the built-in laptop computer speakers. Except for applications where sound isn't very important, they're practically worthless.

External Computer Speakers

External computer speakers have been around a long time. Most external computer speakers are designed with split-signal speakers, where the single audio jack from a computer is split between the two speakers. You can't get better computer speakers without investing in something that augments the built-in audio jack, like an audio card. Also, most external computer speakers require a separate power supply.

USB-driven computer speakers for laptops can be used for desktop computers as well, but good offerings are slim. It doesn't do much good to replace junk with junk.

Laptop Computer Speakers

Paired laptop computer speakers, completely USB-driven, are available from several manufacturers. The better they are, the more expensive they tend to be.

I recently came across two companies that produce relatively inexpensive, specialized laptop computer speakers. These speakers are single units, containing stereo speakers, which sit atop the monitor and take up very little space. Because they sit near eye (as well as ear) level, they don't require as much volume to produce the same effect as paired speakers which sit lower.

The first one I spotted is made by Logitech and is called the Logitech Laptop Speaker Z205. It clips securely to most notebooks and netbooks and would probably clip on my desktop LCD monitor as well. It sells for about $39.95 and if I look hard enough, I can probably find it somewhere in the Philippines since a lot of Logitech products are already available here. If you browser their website, you'll see they carry several paired USB-driven laptop computer speakers as well.

The second one I spotted is the AQ Amigo Laptop Speaker. It doesn't appear to be distributed in the US and the UK price is Â£24.95 (about USD $37.79). It would probably do the trick, but it's something I wouldn't ever be able to obtain here without having it shipped in. The price and the cost of shipping doesn't make it better than what Logitech offers, even if the product is better (which I doubt).

I'm currently using a cheap computer speaker pair when I need to hear the audio on my netbook. The Logitech laptop computer speaker is what I'm going to be keeping an eye out for from now on.

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