Category: Mobility
Android Phone Tips from PCWorld
Posted by Scott Bassett in Mobility Friday, 19 February 2010 07:07 No Comments
If (like me) you are a recent convert to a smart phone powered by Google’s Android operating system, you may be struggling to harness its substantial power. The current (March 2010) issue of PCWorld magazine and its on-line counterpart have a nice article by JW Raphael that will get you started with tips on customizing the Android user interface and suggestions for downloadable apps that will make your phone more productive.
One of the most interesting apps for security-conscious law firm users is Mobile Defense. This free app allows you to use a PC to track your phone via GPS, remotely lock it, and then back up and wipe all of your data.
External battery for your 3-cell netbook
Posted by Scott Bassett in Good Deals, Hardware, Mobility, Uncategorized Friday, 5 February 2010 07:16 No Comments
If you messed up and bought a netbook with the low-capacity 3-cell battery and are now stuck with just three hours of battery life instead of 6, 7, or even 9 hours you could have gotten from the optional 6-cell battery, all is not lost. Starting Sunday, Feb. 7, Staples has the Energizer Xpal XP8000 external netbook battery on sale for $79.99, a $20 savings. It is about the size of a smart phone and can give you up to three extra hours of netbook power. It is also versatile enough to charge your iPod or cell phone. It comes with 6 cell phone tips, 9 Net Book Tips, iPod / iPhone tip, AC adapter, and carrying case.
End of an Era – Palm OS Devices Discontinued
If you are like me, your first experience with a truly useful handheld PDA or smart phone was a Palm device. That device ran the Palm operating system. From the original PalmPilot to the Treo Pro, the Palm OS was simple and intuitive. More importantly for lawyers, Palm OS devices synchronized with most practice management and time/billing software. But with yesterday’s dropping of the final Palm OS device, the Treo Pro, the Palm OS is no more. The only Palm devices now available are smart phones running the webOS operating system such as the Pre and Pixie.
This does not mean your existing Palm OS device will suddenly stop working. But it does mean that when it is time to upgrade, you must opt for a device running a different operating system (Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Android, webOS, iPhone, etc.). You may want to begin your research now rather than waiting until your Treo Pro, Centro, or other Palm OS smart phone breaks or wears out. When that happens, you will be too time-pressed for a replacement to thoroughly research your options.
The Utility of Netbooks
Posted by bcluxton in Blog, Hardware, Mobility Friday, 22 January 2010 13:19 No Comments
Like a lot of people, I work frequently out of the office. Almost always, an internet connection is required, but many full speed laptops (including my own) are heavy and bulky and I don’t need all that power for many tasks. About 6 months ago, I bought an ASUS EEE Netbook and love it! It only weighs 2.4 pounds but the keyboard is still a good size and while the screen is not large enough for some functions (such as working on a complicated Word document) – it is perfect for email, browsing the internet, simple documents and remote connections to other computers. It’s also great for iTunes, watching TV on sites such as hulu, Facebook, twitter, etc and the battery life is excellent. Very few people could use a netbook as their primary computer because they are not powerful enough for many applications. But if you have a desktop already or a larger laptop, take a look at the netbooks.
More recently, I received a new Dell Latitude E6500 laptop for work. It was purchased using Dell’s “On the Go” deal which included an option to add a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook for $55. Yes, $55 – that’s it. As of today, they are still running that special deal. The Mini 9 is great so far and my wife is also happy as she can now use the ASUS netbook. Because of the low cost, netbooks make sense for a lot of people.
About the author: Brian Cluxton is the Vice President of Affinity Consulting – Columbus and manages the hardware installation and Managed Services departments. bcluxton@affinityconsulting.com
Highly-Rated Netbook $100 Off
Posted by Scott Bassett in Good Deals, Hardware, Mobility Friday, 8 January 2010 18:23 No Comments
One of the better 10″ netbooks is now heavily discounted at NewEgg.com. It is the Toshiba NB205, which received Editors’ Choice awards from both PC Magazine and Laptop Magazine – an impressive feat.
This netbook that has been my travel companion for the last 7 months. The keyboard is very good for this class of netbook and the screen is bright and sharp. I especially like the built-in Bluetooth radio. It lets me use a variety of wireless peripherals (mouse, stereo headset, cell phone headset) without a USB dongle. It also lets me wirelessly tether my cell phone for web access when there is no Wi-Fi available. But my favorite feature is its six-cell battery that provides up to nine hours of run time on a charge.
Why the large price drop? Toshiba introduced an updated model with Windows 7 Starter Edition. The model discounted by NewEgg has Windows XP Home, which I have found to run well on this hardware in my frequent trips between Florida and Michigan to argue appellate cases. With the long battery life, I can work at the airport while waiting to board, again on the plane (especially with several carriers now offering in-flight Wi-Fi), and also after I land – all without looking for an electrical outlet.
Using my NB205 with Microsoft’s free Live Mesh sync/backup service has been great. Anytime I can get on-line with my netbook, I have access to the most recent versions of all my client files. Changes I make to files and documents while traveling automatically sync with my primary desktop computer back home via the web. If I create new documents while on the road, they are waiting for me on my desktop PC when I return. For details on my use of Live Mesh, see my prior posts.
