Life of a Tech Support Agent

Did Intel Just Leak the New MacBook Pro Design?

2011-02-17T17:46:00.000-08:00

I think Apple's on the verge of updating its MacBook Pro line of notebooks, but Intel may have let the cat out of the bag early with an image in an ad.

Intel's just popped up with a new advert for "the 2nd generation of Intel Core processors" and among the visuals is a much slimmer notebook that has an unmistakable Apple-esque design. Last year Intel did something very similar, teasing the upcoming release of Core i5 chips with an ad that included a MacBook:Intel quickly adjusted the ad, but it was actually indicative of an imminent MacBook refresh. In early 2010 the tweak was merely a processor upgrade.

So what does the advert show? It seems to display a super-slim laptop that has a flat-rectangular profile, not like the wedge-profile of the Air. See that IR port on the front right of the keyboard segment? Classic Apple design, and similar to the placement on existing Pros. See the lid with its glossy black bezel, and the radius of the curves that provide a more elegant visual. I'm not saying this definitely is a new MacBook... but I believe it to be the case.

We also know that rumors say an Intel Sandy Bridge-powered MacBook is en route in around "two weeks" and there are "additional" adjustments to the design that go beyond a new powerful CPU. Apple's even thought to be ramping up orders from manufacturers despite the chip manufacturing error that plagued Sandy Bridge's arrival on the market.

The one thing that makes us doubt this is a new MacBook is its color: Black. Apple's been focusing on aluminum unibody design a lot, touting its advantages, and left black plastic casings for its MacBooks behind a while ago. But another MacBook Pro-related rumorsuggests that along with an innovative new battery tech for longer life, the Pros will get a "stronger, lighter, more scratch resistant" aluminum material. Could this new alloy be colored too? Apple did license advanced alloy "liquid metal" tech from the Liquidmetal company just last year, so ...

Self Encrypting Hard Drives or SEDS.

2011-02-14T13:42:00.000-08:00

In the new millennium many people have opted out of desktop computers and have entered into the realm of notebooks to handle their computing needs. Most of those people use notebooks for their mobility, but there is a growing segment of the population who have purchased notebooks due to space requirements in their homes. If you are one of those people in that growing segment then you probably don't need to worry about drive encryption and protecting your data as much as someone who is always on the go.

Up until recently I have preferred Western Digital hard drives over other brands because I have had fewer failures with them than I have experienced with, say, Seagate. However, that is changing. If you'll remember, last year I purchased a Seagate Momentus XT (500 gigabyte) hard drive and wrote a review about it, well that drive is still up and running and performing its job admirably, and now I'm thinking it might be time to purchase an SED for my Dell XPS 15, and it looks like I will be turning to Seagate again.

There are a host of software applications out there such as TrueCrypt, DiskCrypt, Microsoft's Bitlocker, etc, that will encrypt entire drives or just certain files and folders, the issue with these software applications is that they are prone to data corruption and in the case of Full Disk Encryption (FDE) they often cause a huge hit to performance due to the CPU overhead that they require. So this rules out software as a possibility for encryption.

That leaves hardware, and more specifically that leaves the ST9500422AS Seagate Momentus Self Encrypting Hard Drive now with FIPS 140-2 certification. It's been approved by the United States and Canadian governments for use in their laptops and is the first SED to receive it. It runs a little more than a standard hard drive, but you have to ask yourself how important your data is to you? Especially when approximately 10% of all notebooks are stolen in any given year.

So even if you just use your notebook to pay your bills, isn't it worth it to you to encrypt that data? Especially with the huge rise in identity theft?

It is to me.

Kingston SSD for 1 dollar a gigabyte. Get it quick

2011-02-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a late entry at buy.com 128 Gigabyte Kingston SSD for $125.00 after mail in rebate, expires 2-17-2011. While performance isn't great (when comparing to other SSDs) the price is phenomenal.

Industry Analysts have predicted the price of SSDs should be down into standard HDD price ranges by now, but that obviously hasn't happened yet. Pricing still remains extremely high so this is a real find. I'll wait this one out as I need more storage space than 128 gigabytes can give me, so let me know how this Solid State Drive works out for you!

The Xoom, Android, Microsoft, Everyone else, and Apple

2011-02-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

So, Motorola's Xoom is being renamed Doom before even leaving the gate. The tablet running Android 3.0 has been labeled over-priced for what you get, and I tend to agree with this. Also, there seem to be rumors running around that in order to enable wifi on the Xoom you'll have to pay for at least one month's worth of 3g data usage through Verizon.... What are they thinking???

Microsoft and Google seem determined to make up in quantity what they lack in quality when competing with Apple, and yet they continue to fail. They have a multitude of devices out there running their respective operating systems and yet Apple products are still the "must haves" of the industry.

I begin to wonder if Apple's closed ecosystem is really the way to go. Create a product, or even a line of products from the ground up, not just hardware, but software too, make it look stylish and throw it out on the market and watch it fly off the shelves. Oh, and it doesn't hurt if you can put a groovy picture of an Apple on it too.

Sometimes I get so disgusted with how HP, Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, Sony, Acer and all the other manufacturers lag two to three years behind Apple in design that sometimes I just want to throw in the towel, replace my 4 notebooks with Macbooks, set up a NAS, and be done with Microsoft and the PC manufacturers for well and good.

I would be lying if I said I have never gone to Apple's website and perused a Macbook Pro or two, but usually once I get a look at the price, and the generally outdated hardware, I remember why I continue to buy PC's with Windows on them.

Comic Relief.

2011-02-07T18:29:00.001-08:00

I know it's been a little serious around here lately and since I've spent the last few days studying for my Cisco Certified Network Associate certification so I can exit my current job and enter one that doesn't require Xanax, I thought a little comic relief would be in order.

Tech Support - watch more funny videos

Unbelievable iPhone 4 tech support call recorded!! - watch more funny videos

Dropbox and Printing From Your Smart Phone

2011-01-31T09:29:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the look out for a better opportunity (Read: Job) and I like to keep a lot of my documents synchronized between my phone and my computers and have found Dropbox an invaluable tool for getting this done, but Dropbox can also do more than just keep your files Synchronized.
Using Dropbox, you can also send documents, attachments, spreadsheets, and naked pictures of your co-workers to be printed at home for perusal at a later time. All you need is is this VBS Script, a Dropbox account, a computer and a printer and you are good to go. Just download and run the VBS Script on the computer with Dropbox installed and it will create a Print Queue folder that you can drop files in which will then send them to your printer (or queue them up to be printed when you get home and turn on your computer).

There are other programs out there like PrinterShare that you can use for a nominal fee, but why bother adding another one-trick-pony background process when you can use Dropbox to do both?

The only downside I have found to Dropbox is that large files seem to time out a lot when downloading to your phone, but hopefully a resume feature will be added at some point to resolve this issue.

If you don't already have a Dropbox account you can sign up for one right here and also boost my storage space by 250 megabytes in the process. Don't worry, Dropbox is free.

Farmville Automation Style?

2011-01-30T17:35:00.000-08:00

For those of you addicted to Farmville but never have enough time to do everything you want in the game, such as visit all your neighbors, there is a new product out there by BOTOHOLIC.COM that will bring your Farm into the new age by automating all your Farmville tasks in the background while you do things like, work (shyeah right) or watch Youtube videos and chat with your friends.

While I don't agree with it, I know there are a ton of you out there who are just dying to automate your game of Farmville, so have at it.

V.Reader, Kindle for the Kids?

2011-01-30T16:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a month since my three and a half year old girl opened her V.Reader and began using it. It's a great little device and at first she was hooked on it for hours a day, but as time has passed she doesn't seem to be as interested in it as she used to be. (This could be because we had to remove it from her possession as a punishment at one point and she is afraid we might do it again).

I think her biggest problem with the V.Reader is her lack of patience with it. My daughter, God Bless Her, has very little patience for things such as load times and lag... And there are times when the V.Reader does lag and does take a while to load the software for her. She will incessantly tap the on display to get it to register because she doesn't want to wait the few seconds it takes for the V.Reader to catch up with her, but I think with another month or so of time and some teaching, she will get the hang of it and it won't be an issue.

My biggest complaint with the V.Reader is that the cartridge slot is too tight for her little 3 year old hands to manipulate. She always has to come to myself or mommy to help her change out cartridges, and that gets to be a real hassle when she wants to change them out every 5 minutes or so. Part of the idea behind purchasing the V.Reader for her is that she uses it to occupy herself which is something my daughter is not very good at. Up until recently she relied on us for all her entertainment needs and my wife and I found ourselves being run ragged until we managed to take back control of the situation.

Another, smaller, issue is that the device will eat double A's like gangbusters. She went through 4 double A Duracell batteries in an 8 hour time period on her first day (I'm really glad I bought the Sanyo Eneloop batteries for her V.Reader. These batteries are perfect for her V.Reader because they will hold a charge for up to 3 years. So, should she decided to set the V.Reader down for a couple weeks, she can come back to it, turn it on, and still have plenty of charge time left. Other rechargeable batteries tend to lose their charge over the course of a few weeks whether they are being used or not. Keep this in mind when purchasing any battery powered device like this for your child or you may find yourself on constant recharge duty at the most inconvenient of times.

On the upside, this device is truly quite rugged, my daughter has put the V.Reader through its paces and it has survived splendidly. While she has yet to finish a book, she has gotten 40% to 50% done with several of them and it has become (or will again) her main source of entertainment when she is tasked with occupying herself while we do things like clean, cook dinner or otherwise need to use the bathroom without her banging on the door asking us what we are doing.

There are other devices on the market similar to the V.Reader but they require so much interaction from the parents that sometimes it's like the parents are having to learn how to read all over again, so if you want your child to get a head start on learning how to read and perform simple arithmetic, then I highly recommend the V.Reader.

One last thing, with a 2 Gigabyte SD card you can also purchase and download books to the V.Reader directly from the www.vtechkids.com web site. This is a great way to keep your child learning and entertained in between those runs to the store to pick up more books for them.

Also, always remember that your child needs other forms of stimulation too, old school items like coloring books and puzzles are great for teaching your child to be creative and problem solving skills.

Verizon Wireless Customers: Beware the iPhone 4

2011-01-29T15:39:00.000-08:00

The mostly glass iPhone 4 may not be as strong as Apple contends. Recently, California resident Donald LeBuhn filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, claiming that the iPhone 4 is not as strong as Apple claims it to be.

Popular smart phone insurer Square Trade has also released a report that the iPhone 4 is 68% more likely to be damaged in an accident than the iPhone 3GS, and they also report an 82% higher rate of damaged screens.

Start saving your pennies now, as not only do the apps tend to cost more, it looks like the cost of insuring the iPhone (and the high deductible) may be in your future as well. It is a steep price to pay to have a phone with an Apple on the back of it.

According to Apple, the glass found on the iPhone 4 is '20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic.' Apparently none of this matters when you drop the device from about 3 feet up as the glass tends to shatter on impact. Something my wife's plastic Blackberry Bold has managed to avoid (and she drops it about 2-3 times a week) for the last several months.

It's no secret that my wife is hard on her phones, and she likes the cool factor of the iPhone 4, however she will be the first to admit that the iPhone 4 would not stand up to her abuse, and she is now looking to a more durable Android phone to use her upgrade on.

Writers can publish their works on the Kindle, did you know?

2011-01-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

This isn't exactly news, but a lot of writers who might have missed the boat are probably sitting around wondering how they can self publish without incurring a great deal of cost. Maybe you've shopped your novel around and haven't found any takers, or maybe you just want to go straight to eBook with your new novel, in any case, feel free to grab this eBook on how you can directly publish your works to the Amazon's
Kindle.

Official Playstation App for iPhone and Android users.

2011-01-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

If you're located in the United Kingdom and own an iPhone or Android smart phone, then you've probably already gotten a hold of the official PlayStation app released by Sony. (It allows you to play PS1 games). Right now there is no app for the U.S. market, but I ran across the .apk out in the wild. You can download it here: Playstation App for Android.

Please remember that many features available in the app are U.K. specific, so when the U.S. version is released, make sure you remove this one and grab the official U.S. version.

Android 2.3+ is required for this app to work and you can check out the official press release here: Sony Press Release

Enjoy!.

Verizon's iPhone 4 is imminent, some things you should be aware of.

2011-01-26T16:36:00.000-08:00

With the impending release of the iPhone 4 on Verizon's network, there are a lot of questions to be answered. I recently called in and spoke with a customer service representative about several different things and I walked away from that conversation with very little information.

What I have found out is that the unlimited data plan for the iPhone 4 may be temporary. Meaning, Verizon may decide to switch to a tiered pricing plan for iPhone 4 users at some point in the future. I could not get a straight answer from the representative as to whether or not the unlimited data plan (29.99) pricing was a promotional offer or if it would be permanent for the length of the 2 year contract. I was left with the vague sense that it would be permanent, but you should call and get your representative to document his or her answer in your account just in case it turns out later that he or she was wrong.

Next comes the insurance. Verizon currently has no idea if Asurion will even offer iPhone insurance or not, and if they do, at what cost it will be and how much the deductible will run (Through AT&T the deductible is $199.99). Fortunately for us, there is always Squaretrade insurance for the iPhone*. It's relatively inexpensive ($99.00 as of this writing) and the deductible is $50.00 for a repair. If they can't repair it, they'll cut you a check for $600.00 so you can buy another one.

AppleCare doesn't cover damage, it only covers the device from manufacturer's defects so it's not really a viable option here.

Remember to get all the facts before you order that new iPhone 4 on Verizon's network or you could see your monthly bill skyrocket. (Asurion charges $11.99 a month on AT&T's network for iPhone 4 coverage and the deductible is $199.99)

Last but not least, before buying your case or other iPhone 4 accessories, verify that it will work with your Verizon iPhone, some reports suggest that the devices may not be built exactly the same and AT&T iPhone 4 accessories may not fit your new Verizon iPhone 4.

*Squaretrade insurance does not cover loss or theft.

Search Amazon.com for iphone 4 accessories

IRS2GO App let's you check your refund status using your Android smart phone.

2011-01-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

Apparently the Internal Revenue Service has decided to get into the app game for Android by offering the IRS2Go mobile app. For the first time ever you can check out your tax refund status using nothing more than your smart phone.

Not only can you get updates on your filing status, but you can also sign up for email updates and follow the IRS on Twitter as well. (why you would really want to, I have no idea). I guess all we need now is Turbo Tax for our phones....

While I am a little skeptical about the security implemented for this app, I know most iPhone users and a good portion of Android users won't really care, so for Android users I've created and posted the QR code. Have fun...

*Non-Electronic filers need not download, as it will take 3-4 weeks for your filing status to be updated.

**Apple users can also grab it from the App store.

IRS2Go Official Website

Tablet devices, their price points, and how they measure up to notebooks

2011-01-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

So what's the deal here? A Motorola Xoom is going to run $699.00 at launch, but it still has the functionality of a smart phone. You can get a full sized and powered notebook for at or less than that these days and that includes a keyboard.

Tablets are destined to take over the netbook and possibly the low end notebook segments, but until I can sit down and write a full 450 page novel on one, it's not going to happen. These devices are in their infancy and they are extremely limited in what they can do, but companies like Motorola seem to think that it's ok to price these devices well into the notebook range, and they expect to sell a LOT of them. Maybe someday, but not right now.

The fact of the matter is that the O.S's being offered, and the applications being offered, do not give you the full notebook experience. They suffer from exactly the same limitations as the apps on our smartphones. Currently, even a netbook can do better than what these devices offer.

If Apple and Motorola want to see these devices push out the netbook and low end notebook, then they need to get to work on a full range of productivity applications that are just as good, if not better, than what we can get on our notebooks.

Don't get me wrong, I've been intensely interested in a tablet/keyboard combo so that I can sell a couple of my full sized notebooks and further slim down my electronic clutter, but I need applications for those devices that will allow me to use them as I would my notebooks, and unfortunately we're just not there yet.

When I can tap out a novel on one of these things, complete with illustrations, then we'll see. Until then, I'm stuck with my notebooks.

Why do the cameras on phones still suck?

2011-01-24T11:06:00.000-08:00

For 2011 I have decided to slim down on the "stuff" that I have accumulated over the years, and this includes the Flip I am currently charging to make sure it still functions. I tested it out earlier by taking some video and then viewing it to make sure its only function still works.

What I immediately noticed upon viewing the video I took of my cat snoring is that the Flip's camera is really good in low light conditions, and it made me wonder why, in 2011, can't smart phones produce the same kind of quality that this little Flip can?

I used my Droid X (Motorola) to take HD video of my daughter opening up her Christmas presents this year and I was more than a little disappointed with the grainy quality that I got back and I thought to myself that if this is a top of the line smart phone, then why is the video quality so poor?

The real answer seems to be that a lot of manufacturers also sell cameras (though I don't believe Motorola does) and they purposely put low end cameras in these phones to keep costs down and to push people into buying cameras and video recorders to obtain better quality pictures and video, even so, this bugs me because I know they are capable of doing better, the manufacturers just choose not to.

Another problem that arises is that the manufacturers of these devices still seem to be stuck on megapixel count even though it's been debunked over and over again. Megapixels do not equal a better quality digital image or video and I think the majority of consumers realize this now (unless they're stuck back in 2004), so why do these companies continue to push megapixel count and forget about quality all together? Do they really think that consumers are not aware that a higher megapixel count can actually cause more hot spots (grain) on an image than a lower count and better quality camera or video recorder? Or are Americans still really stuck on the idea that a higher pixel count means better. Are we as consumers still this uneducated in this day and age?....... Ok, I work in Tech Support so I know the answer to this is a big YES, but c'mon, why can't some of these companies start breaking from this pattern and start producing and selling a better quality camera that can be integrated into our smartphone. My carrying case that I have to lug with me everywhere I go is only so big, after all.

Am I the only one that feels this way? Aren't we all tired of carrying around a multitude of devices to do a job that we know for a fact could be performed quite well by a single device?

Review: Mobile Edge Notebook Bags

2010-11-20T15:06:00.000-08:00

For about 6 years now I've used Mobile Edge bags, and for the most part I've been extremely happy. These bags are rugged, durable, and do a great job of protecting your gear from damage. (They're quite water resistant as well, I know this because I had a bottle of water in a side pocket and it leaked, luckily my electronics were kept safe because it did not seep through as I had feared).

my one instance where I was not happy was an Alienware branded bag made by mobile edge that I purchased (I was in desperate need of a bag and it was the only one by mobile edge that was both available at the time, and fit my DV9700 17 inch notebook) I found it to be rather lacking in storage space.

I currently use the Mobile Edge MEV17P 17" bag (it happen to fit my 18.4" HDX 18T quite nicely), and love it. It has enough pockets and side spots to store a lot of my electronics gear and books as well. Here's a look:

Whether you do a lot of traveling and need a checkpoint friendly bag or you're a fashionista and are tired of the typical offerings that most notebook bag manufacturers have available, Mobile Edge more than likely has a bag that will fit your style and your needs.

Are you an Environmentalist? No problem, they have a line of bags and backpacks or you as well.

Just do yourself a favor and stay away from the Alienware branded bags as mine was rather limited in storage space, though it too has held up quite nicely. Oh, and did I mention they offer a lifetime warranty?

Do you need the government telling you what to do? I don't.

2010-11-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

Click here, Sign the petition, retweet on Twitter and Share on Facebook! Get the word out http://demandprogress.org/.

Dell is no longer offering Recovery DVDs?

2010-11-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

Quite simply, this is not true. Dell is still offering recovery DVDs/CDs, but you have to request them now. If you are buying a new Dell this holiday season and want those backup disks, you can trot on over here and fill out the request form to get your disks. It usually takes between three and ten days, depending on who you ask, where you live, and what time of year it is.

You can also make your own backup disks as well, but why bother when you can spend two minutes filling out the form to get yours?

Is that what the U.P.S. man has?

2010-10-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

Speaking to a customer today, she informed me that her touchpad was no longer working on her notebook. I asked her if she had reinstalled the touchpad drivers for the unit. She asked me if that's something she had to get from the U.P.S. man....

This kicks off the start of the Holiday Season in the world of Tech Support, where every goofy person that usually closets themselves away for the rest of the year decides it's time to come out of the woodwork.

Tech Tip: Tired of lugging around a bunch of adapters to keep your electronics charged on the go? Check out this Cooler Master Slim 95 Watt USB Notebook Adapter, Dell owners beware, it won't charge the battery but it will power the device.

has the white iPhone 4 finally arrived?

2010-10-26T07:19:00.001-07:00

Not yet, but the latest app store update has it listed. So if you were waiting for that fabled white iPhone, it appears as if the wait may be almost over. If I had to guess, I would say that this might drop in February or possibly March.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

For those expecting Google's Chrome O.S. to replace Windows, think again...

2010-10-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

If you were expecting Google's Chrome O.S. to take over the world and put such popular distro's of Linux like Ubuntu and Microsoft's Windows down for a permanent dirt nap, think again. When the O.S. is finally released, it will be available not as a free download but only on Netbooks that hardware manufacturers will make specifically for the O.S.

Google wants to tout quick boot times, and why not, since they are asking hardware manufacturers to include Solid State Drives on any units sold with Google's new O.S.

I know when Google made the announcement last year that they were getting into the operating system game, a lot of people had high hopes that this would be the operating system to bring down all others, but that is just not going to happen anytime in the next decade. As it is, there has been nary a peep about any new netbooks coming this holiday season with the new Google Chrome O.S. which means it is more than likely going to be delayed until sometime in 2011 or 2012. Of course if you know how long some of Google's beta's can take, this time frame won't surprise you at all.

Google fans can rejoice or at least breathe a sigh of relief though. Google will not be attempting another dip into the hardware market like they did with the Google branded Nexus One (made by HTC). Umm, good call on that one Google.

So I bought this Android phone, what can I do with it?

2010-10-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

Most people use their phones for making calls, texting, recording video, and taking pictures, and they use a notebook for everything else. Well, I work in a building where notebooks aren't allowed, but I've managed to get around the Nazi regime that I work for by using my Android phone to do most of what I need to get done during the day.

I purchased a Motorola Droid X (upgraded from a Crapberry) for the purpose of having a slightly larger screen so I could control my Notebook (HDX18t, affectionately known as Monster) while I am at work or otherwise on the go.

I utilize three basic apps on my phone to do this. I have an App that allows me to Remote in to my PC, I have an app to sync files between my phone and my PC, and I have a remote torrent app for adding torrents while I am away from my PC.

PhoneMyPc --- $9.99 while in Beta
Dropbox --- File Syncing between my computer and phone (Free)
Torrent-Fu --- Used to add torrents (need a client such as uTorrent for this to work) (Free)

These three apps allow me to do pretty much everything I need to while I am away from Monster during the days. Eventually PhoneMyPc will have file transfer capability, but in the mean time Dropbox works great and does the job nicely, so if you are looking to do more during the course of your day but can't carry a notebook with you, try these three apps, I think you will find them well worth your time and productivity.

Note: The Dropbox link is a referral and boosts my storage space by 250 megabytes per click through.

Apple and Dell New Releases for the 2010 Holiday Season

2010-10-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

New Apple Macbook Air for 2010

I'm too sexy for my shirt, I'm also too hot to play video smoothly. Kernel Panic Mode!

So, Apple has finally refreshed the Macbook Air for all the Mac zealots out there, now in four flavors, two of which house 11 inch screens and two with 13 inch screens. All I can say is be careful which one you purchase if you are going to take the plunge because those aren't Solid State Disk Drives in the Macbook Air's; It's a NAND memory chip embedded in the logic board and it can't be upgraded. So when you fill up your storage space and need more, you either need a more expensive Macbook Air or an external drive.

What does this mean to you? It means you can't upgrade the Solid State Memory. As every refresh of an apple product comes out, they take away more and more upgrade-ability from their products.

Oh, and if these Macbook Air's are anything like the last generation, expect to encounter slow-downs due to heating issues. Apple has not yet been able to figure out how to get rid of heat and keep their devices running cool despite their claims to the contrary.

Apple's motto should be Form Over Function, but they're sure to sell at least a million or more of them just because it has an Apple logo on it.

New Dell XPS Notebooks

Look at me, I'm plain and boring!

Dell's announcement is a little more interesting, They're putting out some new XPS notebooks this holiday season with aluminum lids and packing NVIDIA's Geforce 400M GPU, it looks interesting. Unfortunately if you were a victim of the last batch of Dell's XPS and Studio notebooks you might remember the freezing and hard lock issues you or a friend suffered through, so be wary before taking the dive.

Another interesting note, these new XPS units that Dell is putting out on the market for this holiday season are still lacking USB 3.0 ports. That's a real shame since this is supposed to be a premium notebook under the Dell brand name.

Pro's

Leading edge NVIDIA® performance graphics bring your media to life
High-fidelity JBL speakers with Waves MaxxAudio® 3
First Skype™ -certified laptop — video chat with HD Webcam

Con's

Design is not very sleek
No USB 3.0 ports on the XPS 14 (it is supposed to be their premium notebook right?)
Pricing is high

OFFICIAL DELL PRESS RELEASE

DELL RE-IMAGINES HIGH-DEFINITION ENTERTAINMENT WITH NEW FAMILY OF XPS LAPTOPS

Turn the Volume Up to 11 with JBL and Waves Sound Design and Catch a Cinema-like Experience with High-Definition NVIDIA Graphics
Stay Close to Family, Friends with the Industry's First Skype-Certified Laptops that Support HD Video Streaming
Watch Eye-popping 3D Movies, Games and Photos on Big-screen 3D Televisions1

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Oct. 21, 2010 – Providing the ultimate mobile entertainment experience, Dell's family of new XPS laptops deliver pulse pounding JBL and Waves sound design, a cinema-like HD video experience featuring cutting-edge graphics from NVIDIA, and the industry's first Skype-certified laptops with HD video streaming webcams so you can stay close to friends and family.

In addition, the new family of laptops -- which come in 14-, 15- and 17-inch screen sizes -- are all 3D TV ready and include NVIDIA's 3DTV Play software which allows users to connect their Dell XPS notebooks to new 3D HDTVs and play hundreds of popular PC games in 3D, watch Blu-ray 3D movies, and browse 3D photos and videos in immersive, stereoscopic 3D.
Featuring exceptional sound, video and now 3D-capabilities, the new premium systems mark the return of the highly regarded XPS brand, which blends classic style, world-class features and premium performance in products that stand up to rigorous standards. The XPS brand joins the Inspiron and Alienware families in rounding out Dell's overarching consumer portfolio -- just in time for the holidays.

The XPS laptops were designed for creative explorers -- individuals who are passionate about art, film, photos, and value an immersive entertainment experience. Their daily lives are multimedia experiences that they share with each other, whether it's uploading photos, watching streaming video or listening to their favorite band play a concert on the other side of the world.

The stylish laptops come standard with silver anodized aluminum display back and palmrest, or can be personalized with one of more than 200 original designs from Dell Design Studio, including the new Susan G. Komen collection, which generates a $10 contribution in the fight against breast cancer.

"We're pushing the limits once again -- this time with our new line of XPS laptops, which offer pulsing audio from JBL and Waves, new high-definition screens driven by NVIDIA technology and the industry's first Skype-certified laptops with the first webcam allowing HD video streaming," said Sam Burd, vice president, Dell Consumer, Small and Medium Business Product Group "The XPS brand has always been the standard-bearer for outstanding performance from Dell, and the new line of laptops is no exception. No laptop PCs have ever sounded or looked so great."

Turn It Up to 11
Built-in JBL designed and certified speakers with integrated Waves MaxxAudio® 3 processing technology rock the loudest, clearest and best laptop sound Dell has ever produced, including best-in-class bass with 12-watt subwoofers on the 15- and 17-inch models. Boasting up to 22W peak audio performance, this incredibly clean and clear sound helps deliver a superb audio experience.

A Cinema-like Experience
High-performance 1GB to 3GB NVIDIA graphics options power eye-catching HD video capabilities on the 14-, 15- and 17-inch High Definition LED displays. For the ultimate entertainment experience, the new Dell XPS laptops are all 3D-capable with NVIDIA's 3DTV Play software. With the available Blu-ray Disc drive option families can enjoy immersive 3D Blu-ray Disc movies on a big 3D HDTV screen in their own living room.1

Video Stream in HD
The XPS laptops boast the first integrated webcams capable of HD video streaming. The webcams are designed to provide crystal-clear full screen video chats and are also the first laptop PCs to be Skype-certified.

The Dell XPS brand is renowned for delivering the latest, world-class technology, and that legacy continues in the new models, which feature Intel Core i processors and the latest NVIDIA GeForce 400 series graphics with Optimus technology. With more performance capabilities than many desktop PCs, XPS laptops are the perfect choice for people who demand high performance, premium technology and the best entertainment experience. Over the years, Dell has incorporated many evolutionary product refinements to its XPS models, including some that are the result of customer suggestions. For example, customer feedback has helped Dell improve heat dissipation, power supplies and chassis strength in this new generation of XPS models, making them among the most reliable and durable XPS laptops Dell has ever offered.

Dell is an industry leader in delivering a great shopping experience, featuring an online concierge shopping service that helps ensure you get exactly what you want: the latest technology designed for your needs. Dell is committed to delivering reliable products that you can count on, with access to immediate and reliable support anytime, anywhere you need it.

Dell Design Studio
Dell Design Studio is an immersive online shopping experience similar to touring an art gallery. Shoppers can interactively view and select from hundreds of designs, artists, colors and patterns that can turn a Dell Mini or Dell laptop PC into a personalized accessory. Individuals who want to personalize their laptop can choose from categories that include unique, eye-catching designs representing popular OPI shades, bold Major League Baseball team designs, community favorites Threadless graphic art, special (PRODUCT) RED™ signature artwork, and a variety of edgy designed-for- Dell artwork.

Availability & Pricing
The new Dell XPS laptops are available beginning today directly from www.dell.com. Models, configuration and options may vary by global region and retailers. Starting prices for the new XPS laptops are: $899 for the XPS 14; $849 for the XPS 15; and $949 for the XPS 17.

Links Dell's New 2010 XPS Notebooks
Skype Video Calling
Waves MAXX Audio 3
Dell Design Studio

Mac or PC, and when should you buy your child their first computer?

2010-10-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

In the United States children usually begin learning how to use a computer towards the end of elementary school and the beginning of Junior High. Up until that point our kids are too busy learning the basics like reading and writing.

What people in America do not realize is that learning how to properly use a computer has become a basic necessity. Countries like Japan and Korea have been educating their children on the use of such devices in the second grade and sometimes earlier.

It's no secret that we as Americans have slipped down the list in almost every category you can think of, whether we're talking about education, infrastructure, or quality of living standards Americans have fallen behind.

So when should we start teaching our children about computers and their proper use? Well that really depends on how much you care about what kind of life and career your child will have when they grow up and move out into the world. I have started taking the time to teach my 3 year old rugrat about using the mouse, and what computers are for (such as homework, work, email, writing, learning, etc.). Granted, my rugrat doesn't know anything about term papers, but ask her what email is, and she can give you a better answer than most kids three times her age. Will she be programming by the age of four? I seriously doubt it, but by the time she reaches the first grade she will be two jumps ahead of all her peers.

Starting children when they are young is the only way to go and you don't have to be a taskmaster about it either. Just wait until your child shows interest or asks what you are doing and then use that opportunity to teach them a little bit about the computer and what it can be used for. Your kid will get a kick out of it, and learn something new. For practical reasons I would wait until around the age of 3 (or around the time they enter into preschool) just because this is usually the age where they begin to become very curious about things more complex than when is their next bottle and why did they just pee on themselves.

Your child's first computer probably won't come until much later, maybe five or six at the earliest and more than likely they will be twelve or thirteen before they really need one (and is usually around the age that they get their first computer), but which platform and what type of computer should you choose and does it matter? Absolutely!

It matters because you have to think of your child and where they are at when it comes time to purchase a computer for them. My big thing is to tell people to stay away from desk top computers. We live in a mobile world and that world is moving towards doing away with the desk top pc. Every year companies see desk top sales drop a little more over the last year. These days our kids are more mobile than ever, and a mobile kid needs a mobile computer. So I always recommend to my friends, family, and clients, to stay away from desk top products like the iMac or their PC counterparts and instead focus on a notebook.

Now that we have decided on a mobile computer, what kind should you buy? I know netbooks are enticing because they are cheap, however I don't like the idea of having my kid's eyes ruined at a very young age because they were staring at a very small screen, and most netbooks do not have 12 or 13 inch screens, which is the smallest I would recommend. Also, a netbook's keyboard is smaller than what your child will encounter in school, and it may actually do more harm than good. I recommend a notebook with a good 13.3 inch screen and a resolution of no more than 1280x768 (That's equivalent to a 720p HDTV screen). Any higher and once again, you risk seeing your child in glasses before they make it out of their teen years.

The platform or operating system choice is going to be a little more difficult. The reason why is that teachers tend to gravitate towards Apple products and at a lot of high schools and especially universities they will push students towards Macs over Windows machines just because that is what they use, and they know how to use them. The issue I have with this however, is that once they get a job they will be staring at windows based PCs all day long, every day. Apple has not broken into the business world in any meaningful way, and Apple isn't interested in doing so either.

If your children is not interested in a career that is technology based, A Macbook is probably the best route to take. The main reason is technical support. Apple has invested heavily in it's technical support infrastructure. If your child has an issue with their Apple computer, they can call tech support and get help not only with the hardware, but the operating system as well. They won't be told to call Microsoft, for instance, if the tech deems it a software issue and not a hardware issue, but the best reason to get a Macbook for your non-techie child is the Apple store.

So let's say your child has some issue with his Macbook, and he needs to have it looked at. If it were a Windows based notebook, it's going to have to go in for service in most cases. however, with a Mac, all you have to do is take your kid and his or her Macbook down to the Apple store, and let them worry about it. This saves you time from having to deal with the issue, and it also teaches your child to be more independent. It's a win-win situation.

And the final reason to buy a Mac over a Windows based PC? Most games are made for Windows.

However, if your kid is the type (like myself) who spent his or her days growing up dissecting their Christmas and Birthday presents to see how they worked or if they just like technology and figuring out how stuff works, stick with Windows based notebooks all the way. Windows based notebooks have a huge support base out here on the Internet, and most of your child's issues will normally be resolved with knowing how to do a search on Google, it will give them an opportunity to further their education, get them familiar with the machines and operating system that they will be using in the work place, and satiate their natural curiosity for how it works by allowing them to break things and then fix it themselves.

Apple Recommendations

Now, I'm not totally heartless, for most kids, the base model Macbook will do everything they need for school and personal use. It's inexpensive by Apple's standards and unless your rugrat is going to be running a lot of CAD programs for college prep or college courses, it's got more than enough power. To make things easier on you, the parent, over the long haul, I highly recommend the AppleCare Protection Plan - For Portable Apple Computers 13 Inches and Below.

If your child needs more power for heavy computational tasks, then the Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-Inch Laptop should do the job, but whichever Apple computer you buy, go ahead and figure in the price for Apple's extended warranty protection plan as well. The plan covers up to three years which will cover them for seventy-five percent of their high school or college years.

If they want a bigger screen, the next step up is the Apple MacBook Pro 15.4-Inch Laptop.

Under no circumstances do I recommend the 17 inch model. You and your child will regret it when they start having to lug the thing around to study sessions and classes.

Windows Based Notebook Recommendations

This is a little more complicated mainly because of the brands. So what I will do is recommend a general screen size of 13.3 - 15.6 inches, 4 gigabytes of ram, and a Core 2 Duo or better CPU. For the child's school work needs, everything else is just gravy for most children.

My choice would be the HP Envy 14.5-Inch Relic Laptop. I like this particular notebook, it is as close as you can get to modern style queue's, has a metal-alloy chassis, and a larger track/touchpad, also consider HP's 3 year extended warranty as well, if this is not to your liking than any of the Toshiba, or Dell notebooks that best fit your child's needs will work fine as long as you stick to the recommendations I made. Though I will say I work on a lot of Dell's in my spare time, doing repairs, and I find their warranty tech support to be even worse than HP's (and there's is really bad).

If you plan on buying a new notebook through HP this Christmas, wait for the Black Friday deals that HP will inevitably offer. A couple of years ago they were giving out 30% off coupons for Black Friday on any system they had. For 2009, the deals weren't quite a nice, but they still had 25% off coupons for many of their products on Black Friday. All you have to do is use Microsoft's Bing search and look for the gold dollar signs.

On The Cheap Recommendations

This notebook fudges my recommended specifications, however, I'm all about saving your child's eyes even if you aren't. For the price of most netbooks, this Acer Aspire AS5251-1805 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) has a single core processor but a 15.6 inch screen, and it retails for under $400.00 at the time of this writing. Slightly more expensive is the Toshiba Satellite LED TruBrite 14-Inch Laptop (Black) for under $500.00 as of this writing. Both of these notebooks will get the job done, and they won't break the bank!

Note: Remember to stay away from netbooks and even tablets. These items are not meant for heavy work loads and are more of a novelty. They can actually harm productivity potential and can cause eye strain due to their small screens.

Tech Support on the Frontierville.

2010-10-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

I would like to take a bit of time to answer a question Tech Support agents get asked a lot, the question comes up often for I.T. staff working in a PC world with customers who may have a Linksys router, an HP printer, a Dell notebook with Microsoft Windows 7 on it.. The question is "Why can't you help me with X issue if fixing X issue will get my product working?"

The short answer is liability. If you can't get your HP printer working wirelessly because you don't know the encryption type and password, you've probably heard HP tech support tell you to call Linksys. This response may piss you off and make you feel like HP tech support sucks. And HP tech support DOES suck, believe me. But the fact of that matter is that even if you got lucky enough to get an agent like myself, with years of experience in the Information Technology field, you're still going to be out of luck because we aren't allowed to help even if we can in these instances. The company just won't let us for liability reasons.

I actually had a co-worker, who was very knowledgeable, break this rule from time to time, and would go in and change router settings to get the product working, but it eventually came back to bite him on the ass when an astonishingly stupid customer called back because he had changed settings my co-worker had NOT told him to change and his router ceased functioning all together. It is people like this that have caused the whole liability issue to come up and it is why these companies don't allow their Tech Support agents to go outside of their boundaries to fix these issues.

A select few of my co-workers have years of experience in the field and can fix just about any hardware, networking, or software issue, the problem is we're just not allowed to do it. If the heart of the issue lies with Microsoft's O.S., then you have to call Microsoft. If it lies with your Linksys router, then you have to call Linksys. That's just the way the world works if you are part of that segment of the population that relies on Tech Support to solve all your problems.

What we will and won't do for you, depends on you!

We as Tech Support agents, no matter the tier, do have some leeway to help. I can guarantee that if you call in pissed off, cursing, and generally being an ass, you will get the minimum amount of help we are required to give you. After all, why should we run up our call times to deal with a customer who is an ass? Most companies require Tech Support agents to do very little, it is then up to that agent to decide how much more help can be given within their boundaries. Think about that the next time you are looking to take out your general hatred of life on someone who is just trying to make a living.

I don't know what Best Buy policy is, but regardless, any experienced tech would have released the call when the customer chose to continue using expletives and personally attacking the agent. By the way, the Agent gave the customer the correct answer for this issue. He, however, spent way too long giving the customer way too much time to continue being abusive.

Frontierville

Tip of the day

I have been playing Frontierville off and on now for a little while, and the weeds issue is really starting to bug me. Apparently the only way to get rid of them and keep them from coming back is to basically fill up every empty square on the map with something. Some use crops, some use decorations. It's really annoying. What's even worse is that the tips and tricks I have seen for the game are all pretty much common sense, and don't need to be posted about. If you've got a site that has some REAL tips and tricks for Frontierville, let's hear about them as I'm sure we would all be interested to check them out.