The Lexar Jump Drive S73 8 GB, The new Lexar 32 GB Platinum II SDHC UHS-...

For those seeking SD Cards and Jump USB Flash Drives

If you have been looking for a good SD card for your camcorder, camera or even expansion for other devices like laptops and netbooks, LEXAR makes some really great products.
I have had nothing but good luck with them, and the price points are great.

For those that want a card that can record HI DEF video, Lexar has worked closely with major companies to produce cards able to store data efficiently and quickly.  Camcorders often require faster cards, so you cannot go wrong with the SD cards I have found.  As for USB drives, theirs are the best, and the new S73 works with the much faster USB 3.  If you do not believe that there is a difference, there is between USB 2 and USB 3.

Often in picking SD cards for camcorders, it can be confusing.
This should help out, plus when you have this much storage, making vids becomes a lot easier.

IRIS NOTES EXECUTIVE TWO A Practical Digital Pen That Works on Regular Paper

The notion of being able to turn handwriting into editable text has been perplexing.  The biggest obstacle to being able to making handwritten notes word processor friendly has been the technology.  The caveats have been limiting, and the primary one has been paper.

                There have been on the market a number of devices that offer the capability of making handwriting transferrable to the digital divide.  They have usually involved using some form of dotted paper.  The problems become truly problematic when you factor cost and convenience.   When most people write notes, they are not concerned with locating special papers that are not that easy to find, or with decent price points.

                If that problem was not a deterrent, some of the pens were huge and rather cumbersome to use and carry.  Then, if this was not enough already, accuracy was a  problem as well.  

                Where IRIS notes enters the arena of note taking pens is that the Executive Two works on any paper. The need for specialty papers has vanished.

                Another area that IRIS has address is the pen itself.  Roughly about the size of a high end fountain pen, the IRIS note pen is neither awkward to handle, or unusually shaped.  In terms of convenience, IRIS has addressed the huge hurdle of requiring special paper and large unwieldy pens.

                But the big obstacle to making notes easy to work with is accuracy.  To help improve in this department, the pen comes with training software that allows the program to attempt to “understand” the way an individual writes. 

                Requiring roughly an hour time, one is required to write a few sentences and symbols that are saved as profiles that are intended to improve the ability of the software to recognize your handwriting so that it can be turned into text that word processors can process.

                As long as your writing is neat and legible, you may see a rather high degree of accuracy.  However, if your handwriting resembles scrawled text, you may be in for a less that ideal experience.

                The problem of accuracy and ease of use has plagued digital pens since the concept was made consumer friendly.  Even if one is careful, there are moments where you will have to go back to the wordprorcessor to do a little clean up on the occasional missed word.

                The big thing is that if you can accept some limitations, write well and have some patience, the program is the best of its kind on the market. Removing the need for special paper and having a pen that actually feels  higher end are two major problems that IRIS has produced a reasonable solution.

                As far as the software enclosed, it does install well, but may require a more astute user to use.  I would not say it is bad, but it could stand to be a bit more user friendly, particularly when it comes to downloading and loading from the base station to the p.c.

                Regarding actual use and set up, the pen size and convenience are decent.  In actual use, the pen does not demand any odd or strange procedures.  Simply write and the information is recorded.  Again, the big point to keep in mind is that the neater your notes, the more likely your results will be better.  While it is not perfect, IRIS has produced a device that is much more practicle than what anyone else has produced thus far.

                For those using iphones, windows desktops, laptops, and ipads, the IRIS pen is cross platform friendly.

                Should note taking be your focus, and you need to digitize and record those notes, IRIS has offered what is easily the best of the breed.  One simply has to be reasonable regarding expectations.

               Compatible with Windows® 8, Windows® 7, Windows® Vista®, Windows® XP     Yes         Yes         Yes

Compatible with Mac OS®X Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion or Mountain Lion (earlier versions not supported!).    

Product name IRISNotes™ Executive 2

Box size (H x L x D) 20 x 15 x 3,5 cm  (7.87 x 5.90 x 1.37 in

Box weight 320g (0.70 lbs

Pen weight 16g  (0.035 lbs

Receiver weight 26g  (0.057 lbs

Box languages Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian

Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

®Box content Digital pen and USB receiver • USB cable • Apple

30-pin connector • Ink refill • Software and drivers for Windows® and Mac® on CD-ROM • P&T

• catalogue •     Discount voucher for next purchase

Quick user guide 

IRISNotes Executive Two

This is a unique piece of computer hardware. It is a digital pen that records your handwriting and then allows it to be made it text that is editable in a wordprocessor. What makes this device more appealing than others is that it does not require special paper to function. It uses any paper you can write on and records your notes via a docking station that clips to the top of the page.  This version recharges via USB ports and works with PC's Mac OS systems and the iPhone.  I am not sure if it will work with the new iPhone 5, but it does come with a 30 pin Mac adapter.  It does work provided you write neatly and train the program.  What is also great is the enclosed pen feels solid, not plastic like, and has about the same dimensions as any standard pen. This is a far cry from the cumbersome first generation pens.

IOGEAR Spill Resistant Keyboard and Mouse Combo

IOGEAR Spill Resistant Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Model: GKM513

By: Kurt von Behrmann

 

A keyboard for the discerning who want comfort and performance

What you get out of the box:

• 1 x Spill Resistant USB Keyboard
• 1 x USB Optical Mouse
• 1 x Quick Start Guide
• 1 x Warranty Card

From keyboards that light up, to keyboards that add usb functionality, there are a plethora of options when it comes to what the market has to offer.  All of this is great in terms of choice. However, if you are simply looking for decent keyboard that offers a nice touch, basic functionality and do not want to “break the bank,” Iogear has the kind of keyboard that writers will like, and everyone else may appreciate.

Common wisdom has been the ultimate in keyboards are wireless models. The advantages of not being tethered to large computer case are obvious.  What is not so clear is that wireless means batteries, and that means  having to be concerned with recharging. 

The big problem with anything involving batteries is replacing them.  Almost invariably, when you need the keyboard and mouse the most, that is when the power runs down.  This immediately means replacing the battery.  If you are running short of time and extra batteries, that means frustration.

The other problem with wireless keyboards and mice is the issue of connectivity.  Depending on what models you are working with, even the best wireless device can run into that odd moment when the connection between computer and mouse goes south.  Naturally, this always seems to happen when least prepared.

For those reasons, not even factoring expense and the cumbersome fact of having to stop, replace batteries and go back to business, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits for some users.

This is where a wired keyboard and mouse combo makes sense. 

This is where Iogear offers up a solution that is elegant in its simplicity while providing a lot more that its modest $ 19.95 price point might indicate.

For those who have used a variety of keyboards and mice, it becomes clear that not all keyboards are equal.   Some keyboards and mice that ship with computers can be very good.  Others can be just average.  The same holds true for third party companies that offer up keyboard and mice combos.  Some can be very good. Some can be mediocre at best.

            If you believe that price is an indication of quality, be prepared for a shock.  There are some pricy models that simply do not work that well in the real world. There have been some very “avant-garde” mice that look good. So good they would do well in a museum.  But in practice, they are about as much fun to use a brick.

            There have also been some unique “twists” on the design of keyboards that are intriguing and look as if they may be a real move forward in design.  Then when one uses them, the problems emerge. 

            As with something like this, designs that are too forward thinking can become impractical.  When usability takes a back seat to aesthetics, problems quickly arrive.

            Iogear avoids all of that by creating a basic keyboard. It is not unattractive.  It is not obtrusive or prone to drawing attention to itself.  This design is about pure function.

            While the looks are subtle, the real pros of the Iogear GKM513 are in the use. 

            Put simply, the keyboard has a great feel to it.  While something like this is subjective, the responsiveness of the keys make typing a real pleasure.  It is one of those qualities that is hard to quantify.  When you work with a lot of keyboards and mice, the feel of a keyboard, the way the keys feel to the fingers, all of those little things add up to a big difference. 

            Something that maybe as trival as spacing and size can make a huge difference between a keyboard that is a pleasure to use and one that is anything but pleasant.  Iogear hits all of the right notes here.

            Another area that is well worth looking into is the mouse. Too heavy to handle, and you feel as if you are working with a tool from the Stone Age. Iogear hit an excellent balance between weight and feel with a mouse that feels as if it were not tied to your usb port. Much lighter than most mice, but not feeling insubstantial, the IOGEAR mouse has a more premium feel without the added heft.

            Again, what makes this combo work is not a beavy of features. The high points that this combo is centered around is  being billed as a spill resistant combo.  This is great.  However, the real “high” point here is that the GKM513 is about providing a very high quality typing and mouse handling experience without exorbitant price points.

            If your needs are a great feel, and low price up keep in this case no batteries to replace, IOGEAR has produced  real winner that puts some of it more higher priced competitors to shame.

Key Specs Below:

·         Operating System Support	Windows 2000/ XP/VISTA/7; MAC OS X (10.2.x or later)
Operating Temperature	For Keyboard: 0~40°C (32~104°F) / Mouse: 0~40°C (32~104°F)
Storage Temperature	-20~60°C (-4~140°F)
Humidity	0-95%
Connectors (Output)	USB
Interface	USB 1.1 /2.0
Resolution	800 dpi

Dimensions	GKM513
Unit Dimensions
Width	Keyboard: 17.625 in (44.77 cm) Mouse: 2.41 in (6.12 cm)
Height	Keyboard: 1.125 in (2.86 cm) Mouse: 1.625 in (4.13 cm)
Depth	Keyboard: 5.50 in (13.97 cm) Mouse: 4.29 in (10.90 cm)

Two Speakers from Logitech, the Z 5300 and the Z 623

The Logitech Z 623

The Logitech Z 623

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Logitech Z 623

Listed on the Logitech Site for $ 149.00

www.logitech.com

Either as a cost cutting measure, or as a means of offering options, when computer makers include speakers they are usually a lot less than what most people would want,  and sometimes a lot less than anyone needs.    The solution has always been looking elsewhere for sound, one of the elements that makes computing unique, and video conferencing possible.

                When it comes to peripherals, Logitech has set a high benchmark.  Their mice and keyboards, wireless or wired, have had a huge influence on nearly everyone making them.   One arena they have excelled is in computer audio.

                Having been accustomed to the small sounds of satellite speakers from the days when the desktop was beige and  software could fit on a few floppy disks, things have changed in sound.  

                With computer speakers, you can break the bank.  High end ones, like one name maker, can start at $ 80 for the most basic, which is what no one wants, to $ 350.00 and beyond.  At  the higher end,  $ 500.00 is not an exotic  figure.

                On the positive side, Logitech’s offering of the Z623 comes in at a much more price friendly version tipping the scale at $ 149.00, and that is not bad when you factor just what your computer dollar gives you.

                While some have been critical of this model’s  short comings, in my informal experiences, I have found the criticisms to be a bit “picky.”  For a 2.1 system, you are getting a substantial bass and precious little distortion when you push the proverbial envelope on sound. 

                On the spec side,  the 200 watt amplifier sends 35 watts to each satellite and 130 watts to the sub.  Each satellite has one driver, a 2.5 inch dome with an aluminum phase plug .  The subwoofer uses a seven inch pressure drive with a bass port in the cabinet.   Let me add the cabinet is solid, not some flimsy plastic structure  that  looks as if it would  break if touched.  The words substantial come to mind immediately when lifting it. 

                One feature some consider limiting is that the speakers have cables that are hard wired. The fact that replacing defective cables becomes problematic;  this is not a huge deal breaker.   Many similar priced units are configured in this way.   Again, factoring price and durability, to many who select this system,  hardwiring is not going to be an issue since the time that it takes for the wires to wear, the system would be so old as to be past its prime. 

Now, if this were a $ 500.00 and up system, then a hard wired solution would feel as if corners were cut needlessly.               

                This gets to the whole concept of cost and value.  When you examine what you get, the equation becomes a favorably one to anyone looking for something more robust than a simply satellite system sans the sub-woofer.

                A big selling point with Logitech has been the THX certification. Exactly what this means is really difficult to discern.  Even pc makers are including that as a strong point.  While not a feature itself, what THX amounts to is that you are selecting a system that has had to meet certain guidelines  regarding sound.  It makes some degree of sense.  It  provides some assurance that a technical benchmark was set and that those devices designated so meet those criteria.  If nothing else, it certainly doesn’t hurt to be THX certified.

                Adjusting  sound on the Z623 means doing so on the satellite itself.  Base, volume and balance are the offerings available to adjust.  While some have lamented the loss of a dedicated remote, wired or wireless, this is not a make or break deal for most users.  Considering the use, and what wired remotes offer, there is little here to find fault.  One has to keep in mind with a system like this you are not going to get everything.   If  you want the bells and whistles, those things come at a higher cost, and often add little if anything to the quality of the sound.

                Where Logitech has made wise choices to focus on sound and not on those things that do not improve the experience. 

                Aesthetics are not inconsequential.   As utilitarian and practical a computer maybe be, that has not stopped designers from crafting rigs that are more than just boxes to store cpu’s, hard drives and motherboards.  Logitech has gone a little further than most in terms of crafting elegant speakers that look neither garish nor cheap.  The design principle employed here is to be understated, not over cooked. 

                For those seeking the best possible sound from a 2.1 rig, Logitech has again done something few peripheral makers seem to be able to do, and that is keep the price reasonable while keeping the quality level very high.

IOGEAR Spill Resistant Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Review of the Gateway FX 6860 Desktop PC: by Kurt von Behrmann

The New Gateway FX 6860 Desktop PC

As much as we all like portable computing, nothing replaces the power storage and software you can use on a PC. As powerful as smart phones and tablets are, when the "heavy lifting" of computing is involved, the Desktop is the deal.

Back in the day, the newest would run two grand just to keep up with what was current. That did not give you the top tier of hardware and software.

For those that want power, but do not want to "break the bank,"  Gateway has a really solid value packed system that does not skimp on the basics.

Running Ivy Bridge, Intel's latest process--new construction process and all-- along with a 1 TB hard drive, a new AMD Graphics Card Radeon HD 2 Gig 7700 card and 8 gigs of DDR3 Ram, this is a solid deal.

Featuring tooless hard drive expansion,  you do not need to crack the case to add hard drives, this racks up to a decent respectable system for graphic designers, students, business pros and artists looking for the best "bang for the buck" system, this is a hard system to pass up on any day

Working with it, and start up times are about 30 to 50 seconds running anti virus and firewall.
Programs run very fast and video rendering is great.






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Inkling from Wacom

A video that explores Inkling. A way to draw and then edit into a program like Illustrator, Photoshop or Corel Draw.
This is a tool that allows you to draw on any paper, special paper not required, stores the drawings for later downloading.

Another feature is that you can use it to draw on paper and have the image you draw appear in programs like the aforementioned.

www.wacom.com

More vids coming up, including my "pic" for the best value desktop pc.