Archive for category Computers

iPad

Jan 28

Posted by Luke in Computers | 2 Comments

I came across this well-placed ad during a hands-on video of the new Apple iPad.

The e-book reader application looks pretty interesting; it’s much prettier than the Amazon Kindle, though navigation doesn’t seem 100% yet. It’ll also strain your eyes after a couple of hours, unlike an e-ink display. Check out the video here. The iPad is basically a bigger version of the iPod, but seems to be missing some crucial features such as multi-tasking and Flash (Steve Jobs goes on about how great it is for web… but doesn’t support Flash?). I guess with future iterations they will fix these issues, but I’m sure it will do well anyway – people will buy just for the brand. The iPad seems to be a jack of all trades, master of none. It seems as though Apple is trying to fill a gap in the market that doesn’t really exist!

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Top 5 Online Stores

Nov 9

Posted by Luke in Computers, Ramblings | 13 Comments

Possibly the first in a series of “Top 5″ posts. This one is about my top 5 rated online stores. These are sites I’ve found useful or regularly visit to purchase items (usually electronics).

  1. www.digitalrev.com - DigitalRev is an online store selling photographic equipment. I buy most of my camera equipment there – they sell cameras, lenses, filters and accessories both at their online store, and also via eBay. I’ve found the eBay store is usually cheaper, but doesn’t always have the items I want. Packing, shipping, price and service are all top notch (though repairs can take a while compared to a local store), and they actually have a couple of points of presence in Hong Kong I’d love to visit.
  2. www.betterworld.com – Better World Books is another online store, selling… you guessed it – books! They collect and sell both new and used books, with part of the money used to fund literacy incentives worldwide. The price and range is a million times better than even the biggest book shops here in Brisbane, and you can use coupons to save even more! Not only do I love a bargain, but it’s good to know that it’s also contributing to a good cause (they also offer carbon-neutral shipping for 10 cents!).
  3. www.ozbargain.com.au – Not strictly an “online store”, OzBargain is an online community where users post up great deals and coupons in Australia. Great for pizza vouchers and electronics amongst other things :)
  4. www.ebay.com.au – Yes, that’s right, eBay! I find eBay quite useful for purchasing items, just make sure you check the seller’s rating and feedback before making the decision to purchase. Use Paypal for added buyer protection.
  5. www.catchoftheday.com.au – This website offers a new deal at 12pm each day. The items are usually quite crappy, useless things but occasionally a great bargain will pop up when manufacturers are trying to clear stock.

Other worthwhile shopping-related websites that didn’t make it into the top 5…

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Ninite

Oct 25

Posted by Luke in Computers | 4 Comments

Wow! I just came across this awesome program which installs all your essential Windows apps automatically. You simply choose which applications you want installed (browsers, PDF software, office apps etc) and it queues up, downloads and installs them all for you! No longer do you have to go to each website and download them all yourself. A great time-saver for anyone who is installing a new OS :) Check it out at http://ninite.com/

ninite

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I am a PC

Oct 21

Posted by Luke in Computers | 8 Comments

I’m posting this firstly to share some views of mine, but also to get feedback and other points of view on the topic. While my views may seem very biased, I’m not trying to insite a flame war; rather, simply to find out some other reasons why you prefer Mac or PC. Please share in the comments!

5 Reasons I won’t buy a Mac
  • Compatibility – Of the top 100 consumer applications, only 32 work on the Mac OS, but 100/100 work on Windows (Source: the NPD Group / NPD Retail Tracking Service (Q3, 2008, based on unit sales)). Sure, you can run Windows on an Intel-based Mac, but what’s the point?
  • Value – Macs are typically much more expensive than their PC counterparts. Often referred to as the “Apple Tax”. You can buy one of the higher-end MacBook Pro models for around $3,000. The equivalent specs in a Dell laptop is around $2,000.
  • Latest Technology – Not only are Macs more expensive, but they use old technology. At the moment you can buy a Dell laptop with the new Intel Core i7 processor for just $1,799. In a MacBook you can’t even get a Core 2 Quad processor, let alone a Core i7! Another example would be the RGBLED screens. Dell, HP and Sony have had RGBLED backlit screens available for quite some time, while Apple has failed to include it on their MacBook Pro series. RGBLED provides a much wider colour gamut and is ideal for colour-accurate work such as photography. Hmm… Core i7 with RGBLED screen vs Core 2 Duo with regular LED. Who said Macs were better for photographers and graphic artists???
  • Support – Apple only provides 90 days phone support unless you extend to their 3 year warranty for an exorbitant price. Most PCs come with at least one year, some with 2 years phone support as STANDARD.
  • Learning Curve – I know Macs are supposed to be user friendly, but having used the Windows OS in-depth for many years, I don’t want to learn a new operating system. Yes, I have tried using a Mac before and I found it quite hard to work out how to use it. I put this simply down to the fact that I’m so used to Windows (not necessarily a good thing). When my housemate bought a Mac, it took 3 of us to work out how to burn a CD, and even then we had to consult Google.

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