Best Places To Buy Tech

Some of my friends, neighbors and coworkers are always asking me "Where do you get all of your gadgetry from?"  And I tell them from reputable retailers on the Internet.  "You do?"  "Yes, I do."

Now I don't always buy everything from the Internet.  Sometimes I do like to see things hands on.  However, by and large, I don't shop at local stores anymore.  Not unless it's a mom and pop neighborhood establishment.  I love to support those guys for local business economy.  But there aren't any stores like that selling electronic gadgets.

I have some of my favorite Internet retailers right here on this blog.  Newegg and Amazon.  But I cannot forget Ebay as well.  I think I need to get them advertised on here as well.  Oddly enough, one retailer that I've purchased from is Apple themselves.  I had carefully chosen two items from their refurbished department, which carry FULL ONE YEAR APPLE WARRANTIES just as if you bought them off the shelf in the store.  I purchased two iPad 1's from there which saved me $400 at the time that I got them.  I put them in Otterbox cases and have never looked back.  They have worked flawlessly the past 2 years and have now been handed off from me and my wife to our two youngest kids, 6 and 10.

My wife now has an iPad 3 and the rest of us are using Android Tablets alongside our Android phones.  I also recycled a few phones in the past couple of weeks.  I have quite a few more to go.  But it's nice to be able to know that I'm doing something (recycling) that may actually help our environment in the long run.  You should always look at the different opportunities to trade back old technology gadgets and get some sort of trade value for your next purchase, or at the very least to help protect our environment.

I'll be writing some more information on ways to save with your tech purchases very soon.

A Virus Attack Right Before My Eyes

Last night (7/14/13) I went to neighbors house to try to fix a multitude of problems. It appeared as if the Machine had not been updated in quite sometime.  In addition it had a lot of excessive software installed.

The virus basically takes a photo of you and uses some official FBI looking logo, freezes your computer and tells you that you have been caught downloading child pornography.  Yep.  A rather disgusting and very sick thing to say or do to someone who's trying to erase a virus from a computer.

Needless to say, I was unable to get rid of that virus off the computer.  We did figure out that the virus warning was a hoax.  We tried one of the online solutions, but the virus is too persistent to allow you to get to take it off.  I'm suppose to give this computer another try this week.  It's going to either be me or a much superior techie.  All of this happened because they handed over their computer to their kids, teenagers, who downloaded everything - including a virus onto this machine.

But this does bring me to this point, we are the adults, we spend a lot of money to purchase these tech items for ourselves and our families.  If we really took say...15 minutes here and there to learn about the devices we use everyday.  Don't start bellyaching that it's too hard to learn this stuff to me.  I personally think that learning about today's computer's is 1000 times more easier than it was 5 or 10 years ago.  With just a little time spent, anyone can get a good working knowledge of the machines that we use in our everyday life.  Had my neighbors taken some simple steps in regards to their laptop use, they would not have this problem today.  Sit down and learn a little something folks...because the computer age is here.

Busy Gadget Summer So Far

Hellooo!

It's been a busy three weeks.  First, I broke my samsung Galaxy Note2. I dropped it from my waist at Dave and Busters and the screen broke. Luckily I had a phone contract renewal coming up. So I use the renewal to purchase a galaxy 4 and it is great. I am actually using it to dictate and type this post. At the same time friends have come to me for advice on cell phones.

Getting them to look at Androids is usually the same process. At first they are overwhelmed. Then they learn what to do. They see that it is much easier than I thought earlier. And then you can't stop them. They literally fly through the phone.

IPhones are great.  Androids are extremely flexible. Windows Phones and Blackberries are nice follow ups. I have used them all and in my humble opinion I still believe the Android to be a superior machine to the competition.  Each his or her own.  Let us consumers enjoy this high-tech battle in front of us.  The world around us has clearly changed.

End dictation.

Me And My Smart TV

Within the last month, I have purchased a "smart" TV.  It's a 60 inch plasma TV made by Panasonic.  I had searched extensively for the right TV to replace my 2002, HD ready projection TV.  That TV worked fine and held it's own for well over a decade.  But it was time.

Now there has been extensive talk about the LCD and LED televisions.  They use less electricity, are thinner and are much lighter in weight than plasma TV's.  However, the plasma TV's still produce an excellent picture, cost less and their life spans are equal to most LED/LCD televisions - at over 100,000 hours of use. One added bonus - they have faster refreshing rates and therefore capture action motions much, much better than the lower and mid-level LED/LCD's.  For those of you who already own and LCD TV, like  I do in my upstairs bedroom, then you know what I'm talking about, when you have a slight picture breakup on action scenes.

As far as power consumption goes, I have florescent lights all over my house.  I have energy saving appliances, fixtures and electronic devices everywhere.  I just got rid of a projection style TV, which used a lot more power.  So no matter what - I know that I will still be seeing less electricity use with this energy star rated plasma TV.  The picture on it is nothing short of spectacular.  Deep blacks and bright contrasts.  I feel sorry for the modern actor or actress who skin blemishes can now be clearly seen...even past some of the makeup attempts to cover it.  Nothing like the TV I grew up watching movies and TV shows on.

The "smart" part of the TV comes in when I can watch Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Amazon Prime on it.  In addition, it has Internet based games and about 2 dozen other apps (and growing) that I can fiddle around with.  I can also synchronize my smart phone with the TV screen and watch my favorite YouTube videos, or wirelessly share my pictures or videos from my phone to the TV screen.  Amazing.

When I was growing up, being the youngest person in the house, I was always drafted to go stand by the television and move the "rabbit eared" portable TV antenna around to get better reception.  Today such family sacrifice has long been a thing of the past.  I guess there's nothing wrong with smartening up with modern times?

"Samsung Galaxy 4 Active IS NOT A Sony Xperia ZR Ripoff" (update 10/31/13)

Okay...I have a short comment for yet a new Samsung Galaxy that has entered the smartphone competition. That phone is - the Samsung Galaxy 4 Active.  I saw it being advertised on AT&T and wanted to look up some information on it.  But as soon as I did that, I began reading some negative commentary by potential buyers who dropped their thoughts in the comment section of various tech blogs.  I honestly think that this rise in arguing in comment sections of blogs, videos and news articles has gotten out of hand.  But that's a discussion for another day.  My thoughts here will pertain strictly to the new Galaxy 4 in the Samsung Galaxy family.

First off, I read someone's criticism of the phone as a knock off of the Sony Xperia ZR, an Android phone that is waterproof for up to five feet of water.  The Samsung Galaxy 4 Active that shows it submersed in a glass of water and is "IP67-certified" and can stay submerged "in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes".  Well, immediately the negative comments start in the comment section.  "It's a Sony ripoff" "It's this, it's that."  It's crazy!  Quiet honestly, who cares "if" Sony came out with the first waterproof phone?  Does it really matter?  It's NOT for consumers/users to judge whether or not something is a ripoff or not.  It's up to us to reap the benefits of advancing technology.  These companies have very well paid lawyers and attorneys who are quite capable of representing their clients best interests.  I feel quite secure in letting a judge and jury DECIDE on who's ripping off who.

Second, this Galaxy 4 Active, is just the latest in a line of water and dust proof, shock proof phones that Samsung has been building on for several years.  Long BEFORE the Sony Xperia line even started.  Apparently those online commentators had no idea that Samsung has been developing their "Rugby" phone line for the past few years.  Those phones include three flip models and now two Android models.  The Rugby 1, 2, 3 and now the Rubgy Smart and Rugby Smart Pro, have evolved a line up of phones that could take falls, water splashes and submersion.  This latest Samsung Galaxy 4 Active, is simply now the apex in that evolution of this particular lineup of rugged phones.  It's built for those people who want the high tech app level of a Galaxy 4 in a phone as rugged (if not more so) than the Rugby Smart Pro (which is technically slightly inferior to the SG4).  Some folks need to read a little first, before they burst out with comments about a company.

Third and last, I can see the other side of the coin.  I can see how Samsung appears to be knocking off some subtle ideas from the other competitors.  Hmm...I wonder if during the automobile booms of this past century and the tech boom of this century OTHER companies aren't sort of feeding off of one another?  Hmm...I wonder?  Some of Microsoft's and Blackberry's (formally Research in Motion) histories are filled with complaints about tech ripoff.  Hey...there aren't any angels anywhere in the tech industry.  They've either been bought up, ripped off, or crushed, or a combination of all three.  Doesn't make it right, but it's been happening since the Industrial Revolution.

We as consumers BENEFIT from this tech competition.  It drives prices down and allows us all to be able to embrace the advantages of the technology while enhancing our lives.  It doesn't really matter whether you use an iPhone, Android, Windows or Blackberry.  Just learn to use the devices properly and secure your private information and identity.  We are the audience in attendance   Let the giants fight it out in the ring with their high tech breakthroughs.  When both sluggers fail to answer the bell for the next round, then we get to go in and reap the rewards!

Don't fight folks.  Just...enjoy...

Update:  Sales for the Samsung Galaxy 4 Active have drastically fallen off due to the negative testimony of some purchasers.  It appears that the phone does not have equal the performance of the Galaxy 4 and has had complaints about it's camera, water leaks and overall function dysfunction.  Who knew?

"Another Smart Phone Convert"

I know, I know, this "news" is starting to actually get old, but yet another person at my job has purchased a smartphone.  He's another older guy - that is he's in his 50's - has purchased an Android phone.  More specifically, he's purchased a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (just like mine) after he has observed me working with my phone the past few months.  What's so funny is that he gave up his old flip phone that he swore that he would never give up.  He couldn't see himself spending a few dollars more a month on a smartphone, while he had his flip phone and netbook.   He was happier than a pig in mud with his simple flip phone to make a phone call.  I told him that once he had a smart phone, he would drop his netbook like a bad habit.  Lo and behold, he now admits that I was right.  He leaves his netbook home now.  Instead he sits on his breaks and doodles on his phone.  He is absolutely marveled at all the apps, maps and information that he has access to now at the tips of his fingers and in the blink of an eye.

Well, it appears that he too has joined the Smartphone Darkside.  He stopped by and asked me to do some initial set up for him since the salesman in the store didn't do much to set him up, other than sell him the phone and upgrade his phone plan <snicker>.  The screen time out was still at 30 seconds, hardly enough time for an older man trying to learn a new trick to operate his phone.  I set that to several minutes and stopped the battery wasting "ripple" effect on his wallpaper.  I told him that wasting his battery on something like that will come back to bite him one day when he wants to make a phone call and can't because he wanted a special effect running on his cell phone.  Me and another coworker (who also has a smartphone) assured him that no matter how fast or brilliant the smartphone is - it will be as useful to him as a paperweight if the battery runs out of power while he's just driving/walking around.  He looked at us all (three of us) and said "Okay, take that off then". <we all cracked up>

I hope that what I put out here is helping you - or helps you steer a loved one to this blog and that this information here will help them.  Please do feel free to write a comment or question if you have one.

This smartphone evolution is pretty amazing. Whether you chose Android, iPhone, or Windows 7 (and yes, Blackberry is finally back in the game) I hope you do choose according to what not only works, but what also helps you in your life.

There it is...the 21st century...right out there in front of us.  Up, up and away...

UPDATE:

This post was originally written two months ago but not published.  Since it was written three other coworkers have purchased Android smartphones and one an iPhone.  Many others have already have Androids or iPhones.  Very few are holding onto their old Blackberries and the newer Blackberries have yet to be seen.  I've seen several Windows phones show up too, being used by people who I never would have even imagined would have even wanted a smartphone.  So the only debate here isn't if smartphones are here to stay.  The only debate is which one works for you?  That debate still continues as the smartphones and their user interface platforms evolve. 

Goodbye Apple! Hello Windows!

I made the switch!  From my iPhone 4 phone to my Nokia Lumina 920 Windows 8 phone.  I also have an Android.  Gone is the over pricing of Apple products and their developer apps, and I'm still getting an incredible device.  I don't need 500,000 apps to run my phone.  The apps I that it came with and the additional that I've installed work perfectly on my Nokia.  It is a "quick" phone by it's OS set up and hardware (1.5 ghz dual core).  Although you couldn't tell here, the picture quality is sharp and bright.  It's hard to believe that I use to get happy over a monochrome flip phone just 10 years ago, when compared to this.  This is a perfect phone for people who want a smartphone, but do not want to deal with the complications of setting up your Apple or Android screen/folders/access to applications.  Quick and easy is the Window phone motto.  Well done MS!