But which of them is better from a general point of view?

Apple TV and Mac Mini - different and yet the same

To begin with, one has to know that these products, although looking similar, have targeted different parts of the market.

The Apple TV is a home multimedia center in a box. It has a 160GB hard drive with the possibility of storing movies, video clips or music on it as to fully enjoy the quality of an HD television with the versatility of a Mac. It also has possibility of connecting to the internet as to get access to YouTube videos so as far as one can see this product pushes the limits of the normal TV to its max.

Turning to the Mac mini, this small device is a big computer in a small box. As with nettops, the Mac mini has everything you need from a computer: Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and a good NVIDIA graphics card so it is perfect for anyone wanting to get rid of that big and bulky desktop PC. The software that comes with this product is the Mac OSX Snow Leopard which means that the Mac mini is ready to start firing on all cylinders from the start.

Moreover, when comparing these products it is clear that one has its eye on TVs and the other on desktop PCs, but isn’t there a way to have all in one? Is it possibleto use the Mac mini as an Apple TV?  The IR remote with which the Mac mini comes with is perfect as to make it an Apple TV but when it comes to the user interface, there is a lot of fuss about which one to use. Some say that Front Row is the default choice for this but with other products such as Media Central or Myth TV on the market, the choice belongs to you, the user.

To conclude, it is obvious that both the Mac Mini and the Apple TV are great products which have their own particularities, but with the possibility of transforming the Mini into you own home theater it is arguable if the Apple TV is worth the money. Especially since the Mini gets more and more affordable these days. What do you guys think?

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Gaming laptops can be affordable

It is widely believed that a laptop built for gaming is the perfect combination between a lot of RAM and a powerful CPU, plus some powerful graphics. Such devices can face every modern game,  but with current financial insecurity and component prices going higher every day, many potential buyers are trying to find a good price/performance ratio in the laptop they are acquiring. Thus, they are turning more and more towards the cheaper gaming notebooks available on the market.

Many producers, including Asus, HP or Dell offer top of the line laptops with Intel processors in excess of 2 GHz and some even over 4GB of RAM, thus making them able to run more than the Solitaire game Windows comes preloaded with.

Furthermore, the best gaming laptop attribute is given by the graphical card it comes equipped with and its price. Ranging from a couple of hundreds of bucks to a couple of thousands, manufacturers offer video performances from Ati or NVidia in single unit or crossfire configuration.  Also, for budget configuration there are integrated video cards from manufacturers such as Intel. The graphical card gives the computer the rendering speed it needs in games and multimedia activities, but is a big battery consumer, so autonomy will be affected by this component.

Thus, if you’re looking for a good gaming netbook, here’s what is should have inside it:

• at least a dual core processor, and try not to pick something with ULV CPUs (low voltage ones built for autonomy and not for performance). Top notch options even come with quad-core processors, and those are a good options if you can afford them
• at least 4 GB of memory
• at least a 250 GB hard-drive, because games these days get bigger and bigger. If you can get a 7200 rpm one, it should be even better, as it’s known that the slowest component of a laptop is the HDD
• dedicated graphic card is a must. The more powerful the better. And you shouldn’t care too much about autonomy, you’re looking for a gaming notebook not a travel companion with huge battery life
• good ergonomic keyboard is a must
• try to read reviews of the laptops you’re looking at and see if it doesn’t have temperature problems. Because gaming laptops have powerful components and you might even want to overclock them, some might have problems with heat.

In the end, from such machines you should expect performance, but, in compensation, you’ll have to deal with the bulky body, extra weight and reduced autonomy.

The Alienware M11x is definitely cool

Many powerful laptops are not only bought by gamers, but also by graphical designers which need power at a decent price and more than often opt for a good performance but do not go for expensive devices such as the Alienware. Most of the time they pick Asus or Acer devices, which are have good components but with lower price tags.

All in all, cheap gaming laptops can easily be found on the market. And by cheap I mean devices around the 1000 bucks mark, although the cheapest can go to around $500 and less.

One of the best options is the small Alienware M11x, a portable gaming rig with decent performances and prices starting from 800 bucks. You get a dual-core processor, 4 GB of memory, fast 7200 rpm storage drive and hybrid graphics (as in an integrated GMA 4500 from Intel and a dedicated Nvidia card). All these in a compact and light (for the gaming laptops standards) 11.6 inch mini laptop. See the video for how it performs in Napoleon: Total war, which is a pretty resources hungry strategy game.

Another good one that runs for less than 500 bucks, making it perhaps the cheapest gaming laptops available right now, is the Asus 1201N EEE PC. A 12 incher with dual core ATOM processor, 2 GB of memory and Nvidia ION graphics, this one can play titles like WOW. Call of Duty, NFS, etc. However, graphic performances are limited. But, if you need an affordable solution for light gaming, this is definitely one you should count. See the clips below for some gaming performances of the 1201N.

I will update this post with some of the models i would recommend, so stay tuned .

Also, it is important to get a proper gaming mouse for your laptop if you want to benefit of a pleasant gaming experience.

In the end though, final choice is made by you, the buyer. Gaming notebooks with affordable prices can run most of the recent games decently and won’t have any problems with all types of multimedia content. However, if you want to run the latest titles on full details and in native resolution, well, then you’ll have to go for something more expensive than the devices presented in this post.

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Anyway, even before buying such a device or maybe even creating a homemade wireless signal boosting system you should make sure your Wi-Fi connection respects a few things. Be sure your wireless router is centrally positioned and is away from walls and metal objects. These kinds of objects interfere with the signal and tend to weaken it. Also, be sure you are in range of that router when trying to connect wirelessly to the network. While your router may be good, be sure your computer Wi-Fi kit (on the laptop, computer or phone) is also good enough. Sometimes the signal problem may come directly from your computer rather than from the router. Another thing you can try is changing your Wi-Fi channel. Sometimes some channels are clearer than others. You should also install the latest drivers for your hardware.

Signal boosters come in many shapes, but they are all built to expand you wireless network's coverage

And last but not least, probably the best solution for improving your signal remains the laptop wireless signal booster. Here, again, there are a variety of solutions. For example you could buy a Linksys wireless signal booster or simply search the net and manufacture your own homemade booster (this is kind of complicated and results might not prove efficient. Thus i only recommend it if you’re on zero budget). It’s all up to you. However, i for one would advice you to buy one. In this case, you should:

• consider buying a signal booster recommended by the producer of your router, and preferably one made by the same producer
• look for the device that provides the best for your budget
• look for reviews about the device before getting it. Big stores like Amazon provide reviews from regular buyers who already bought those signal boosters and used them, and those are in my eyes the most trusted opinions you can find. See this link for a list of recommended and popular wireless signal booster in the US (also i’ll update this post with some models, so check back for those in the next weeks).

How signal boosters work

These boosters work as signal repeaters, receiving signal from the router and then repeating it with amplified power in the area it covers. This way, you can expand a wireless network served by a single router over a much wider area.

Another important thing is that improving your wireless computer network is not the only thing you can do with these boosters. You also have the choice to improve your wireless phone signal if you like moving around in your house while using your phone and don’t have a strong signal. You will easily find a wireless phone signal booster that does the job. It basically works in the same way the device for your computer network works.

And one more thing: an important tip for you would be to try and take care that the two wireless networks (computer network and phone signal) do not interfere with each other. This is another thing that significantly weakens the signal.

So first check out if you respect the tips I have provided you for a better signal for your wireless network connection and then, if you are still in need for a stronger signal, decide what type of wireless signal booster you want to have. Like I’ve said, I’ll do add some recommendation of top quality and cheap such wireless signal boosters in a soon to come update, as I am currently gathering more info and opinions on a couple of targeted models. So stay tuned for that update soon.

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Buying refurbished laptops is a smart way to save some money

Maybe you haven’t even heard about these refurbished laptop computers and are now wondering what they are. Well, basically this is not a new concept. At some point in the past, typewriters were also sold as refurbished with large discounts. The rather old concept of refurbished product can also be applied today in the IT industry. A refurbished product is a device already used in various circumstances (by regular users, in showrooms, as test unit, etc) that undergoes a specialized evaluation, is restored, and then sold with a large discount.

Although at first the idea of a refurbished notebook might not seem that great I suggest you carefully consider the advantages. If the first idea that comes up is that you are buying a used, inefficient second hand laptop, you are most definitely wrong! Refurbished laptops are as good as new in terms of functionality and do come with warranty (which varies from 30 days to 1 year). Remember that they have been tested and restored by experts and are as functional as a new product would be.

You will find refurbished laptops for sale from both specialized companies that only sell refurbished computers, but also from mainstream companies such as HP or Dell who sometimes offer cheap batches of refurbished laptops with very large discounts. Also, you can check out for such products on big online stores such as Amazon . I would add some suggestions, but such laptops usually sell very fast and are only available in limited numbers, thus an offer available to day might be already gone by tomorrow.

Refurbished laptops can be good picks for kids or traveling

All in all, what you should expect from a cheap factory refurbished laptop is to get a device that works as well as a new one, but might have minor usage marks, like scratches, bumps. Some might not even have those. In fact, each offer for such refurbished devices comes with explanations in case the product has any problem, and if you buy things online, you can always return them in 30 days and get your money back, just in case something goes wrong.

In the end, refurbished IT devices are a great idea. Refurbished laptops can actually be as good as new ones with a bit of luck, so don’t hesitate to think about buying one if you are low on budget, as you can get discounts from 10 to 50 % and even more sometimes.

A good idea would be to check out both new and refurbished products and then decide if it is worth saving more money for the new product, or if you would rather use the refurbished model. For kids or as a computer meant for live on the go (so facing tough conditions), saving money and getting a refurbished product will be a good idea. Just don’t be afraid of making a compromise and choosing the refurbished models, they are in most cases as good as the new ones, but come with less warranty time and some minor marks (not all of the time though).

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Wireless headphones can be a lost more practical

Are you sick of wires everywhere? You have had all sorts of headphones but the same central problem every time: the wires. Some wires are simply too long while others have wires that are too short. Both cases are very annoying: as these wires entangle, and become impossible to untangle.

But don’t worry! We have the perfect solution for you: go out and find the best wireless headphones in town!

There are all sorts of ways you can use them and you will finally get rid of the wire problem! You can use them as wireless TV headphones when other people in the room do not want to hear the noises from your TV set, or just use them as wireless iPod headphones. The same jack can be used in multiple ways and will now ease your life. No need to untangle your headphone’s wires anymore. You will at last be at peace with your MP3 player.

So, there finally is a solution for all the people annoyed by wires. If you are not sure which are the best wireless headphones, check for reviews online or on big stores like Amazon, where regular buyers give feedback to the products they’ve bought and used. Best sold wireless headphones in the US can be found in here, for instance. Also, you will then be able to see specifications for each headphone set and commentaries from hundreds of users.

All in all, there are is variety of such wireless headsets available. You can end up with a pair of high-end heavy wireless headphones with noise canceling, multiple speakers and all kind of controls. Or you can just get a simple and light pair of headphones that will come pretty cheap. It is your choice.

I’ll also update this post with a couple of words on the headphones I’ve used (I’m a big fan of such devices and owned quite a couple in the last years) and also the ones most popular right now. Check back for it soon.

Wireless headphones come with the “no wires” advantage and have very few real disadvantages. First of all, since these devices are wireless, they are battery powered, thus will offer a limited autonomy, unlike standard headphones. battery life carries from 5 to 30 hours though, according on the model you pick and the conditions you’re using it (autonomy tends to get lower in extreme weather conditions, either hot or cold). Also, there’s the price matter. Because of the extra technology, wireless headsets are more expensive than their relatives with wires. And, one more thing: cheap units might not have the option to adjust audio settings, but the better options don’t come with this problem.

Just becasue they have no wires

Once you are through with the wireless headphones you will probably be annoyed by all the other equipment in your house that has wires. Don’t worry, step by step you will be able to solve this and have a house full of electronic devices that do not have any wires. Think of how neat will everything look. The first step though is to go buy the best wireless headphones for you. And hopefully, this post can give you a helping hand with this task.

Photo via Flickr

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Laptops can be helpful to your kids

There are many reasons why you would want to buy your kid a computer. Being part of our grown up lives everyday, these devices have evolved so much they can be useful for children too. They can help them learn more things easier, in an interactive way, and also give a hand in solving homework and school assignments.

However, there’s a very thin line between helping your kids by giving them a computer and destroying their future. Read the following lines and find out why and most importantly, find out what you should know in order to pick the best laptops for your kids.

From what I see around me everyday, kids these days are so different from what we were 15 years ago. They no longer read, no longer listen to stories on old vinyl records, no longer play hide and seek outside with others their own age. No, they rather stay inside, watch TV, play computer games and eat fast food junks. And this is entirely their parents’ fault.

I’m not saying you should not get a computer for your children. You should, but you have to monitor their activity on the machine and also make them a tight schedule for using computers during each day.

Assuming we’re talking about kids between 5 to 13 years old, if i were a parent, here’s what i would do:

• first, make sure the computer i get for my kid is robust and sturdy. Also, i wouldn’t go for something expensive, kids don’t need the extra power unless they plan to spend a lot of time gaming, and that’s not something i would want ;
• I’d go for a little laptop (or even a netbook), this way the computer will be more compact, lighter and easier to carry around by a kid if needed
• use a parental control software to monitor activity and block access to certain sites and applications. Internet these days is full of sickos, i wouldn’t want my kid to get in contact with anything like that
• only allow a limited number of hours on the computer each day, probably something around 2, 3 at most.
• I wouldn’t give my kid Administrator rights on the computer, thus i can only allow it to play the games or run the apps i previously acknowledge .

This might sound harsh, but i guarantee it’s for the kid’s sake and he’ll thank you later by.

Now, with the above in mind, let’s see some of the top options for laptops and notebooks for kids, available on the market these days. I divided them in three distinctive groups, once again based on age.

Laptops for 5-10 years old kids

Most important attributes I’d have in mind when picking one of these would be weight and parental control software. This way, you can go for devices built specifically for kids, like the Asus Netpal made with Disney, that is in fact a small 9 inch netbook with a  personalized interface and lots of useful applications, games and learning software. You can get it in pink (for girls) or in blue (for boys) for around $330.

If you don’t want a regular laptop, but a laptop like learning gadget, some of the most appreciated are VTech’s Grade School Learning Notebook or the Oregon Barbie laptop .

You ca also pick some of the regular small computers and install the required software and configure it on your own. Some good cheap options would be this 9 inch Asus netbook or this 10 inch one made by Acer , plus some software like CyberPatrol Parental Controls .

Notebooks are used by kids in Elemetary schools these days

First choice is definitely more time efficient, while the second one could get somewhat cheaper.

Laptops for 10 to 14 years old kids

Does your kid like to curl in bed with his laptop?

At this age you can go for a more standard laptop. I’d go for something not too big, with decent performances, that can  provide good connectivity and autonomy . That’s because at this age, kids would need the laptop for school, but also for their leisure time, when they’ll probably go online or listen to music/watch movies etc. And they might even want to play some games.

Thus, i would go for any of these options, according to your given budget:

• a cheap everyday netbook with display from 10 to 12 inches (these are the most popular at the moment) ;
• a standard 13.3 inch laptop, slightly better in terms of performance than the above, but also more expensive .

Laptops for teenagers (14+)

Last but not least, picking a laptop for your teenage boy or girl is the most difficult of all. We already know how difficult it is to satisfy a teenager anyway, this won’t be any easier. Still, I’d go for the characteristics mentioned above, but I’d emphasize more on performances and looks (teenage children like cool stuff) .

Stickers can be a great gift for a teenage child

You could still pick one of the 13.3 inch laptops presented above, or go for a mainstream 15 inch one. This last option would get you something more powerful actually, for less money, but the device will be bigger and heavier.

Of course, if you can afford it, there’s also the 13 inch Macbook option. Or maybe a MacBook Pro? I’m sure your kid would love one of these, i know I still do even now, as a grown up. And you’ll definitely go for parent of the year award with such a present, that’s for sure Oh, and one more thing, teenagers like to personalize their notebooks with stickers, those too would make for a nice and cheap gift.

At this age however, I doubt you’ll still be able to install parental control software on their laptops without resulting in huge fights. They’ll always bring up their privacy rights . I guess it’s up to you as a parent to find a good compromise and convince your kids that spending too much time online or on a computer is wrong. Encouraging them to follow sports or any other outside free-time activities is probably the best way to do it, this way they won’t have too much time left for the computer. Devious, but brilliant at the same time!

You might have noticed i said nothing about computers for kids younger than 5. That’s because i can’t see any benefit from it, a kid that young has better things to do than spend time in front of a laptop or PC. Don’t you think?

In the end, these are all the best advices i could offer. I really hoped i was able to give you a helping hand in picking a proper notebook computer for your children.

Feel free to comment if you have questions or need any help, have anything to add to the post or don’t agree with some of the things I’ve said above.

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Mini netbooks are growing wild

In these last years, there’s a real tendency towards smaller and more portable netbook computers all around the world. A couple of years ago people gave up desktops for laptops, not they are giving those up for what are now called netbooks.

What are these? Well, mini notebook computers, usually with screens between 7 to 13 inch, good battery life, low size and weight and affordable price tags. Here you can find more specific details on what a netbook is. In fact, these are out-of-the box ready to use sub-laptops, less powerful, but still good enough for standard everyday activities (web-surfing, chatting, watching movies, listening to music, etc ). And since most people don’t do complicated stuff with their laptops, no wonder these types of machines have seen quite a boom in the last couple of years.

I for one have been an IT editor for some time and had the chance to seen many such sub-notebooks in action. That’s way I was able to understand them at their full potential and, even though I was very reticent at first, I currently own such a Toshiba mini notebook PC.

In the next paragraphs I’ll try to share with you some of my experiences with mini laptops and offer you a list with what I consider to be the best mini netbooks on the market at the moment (late 2009). I won’t make a top, because I’ll include devices for different types of users and it would be quite unfair to say that a 2000 bucks laptop is better than a $300 one. Still, remember that these are only my recommendation, based on:

• my previous personal experience with these portable laptops
• features/price rapport
• reviews received by these products from their owners on forums and shops

Of course, some statements could be considered subjective, but I will still try to keep the list as objective as possible in order to make it really useful for you folks reading it. I musty add that I mostly chose gadgets with 13 inch screen sizes, because I for one find anything below that very hard to use for a longer period of time. But enough with the yabady yabada, let’s get to business.

Small and affordable mini notebooks

Asus 1005HA – probably the best 10 inch netbook

Asus 1005HA

The Asus 1005HA is one of the most popular 10″ netbooks on the market right now. I for one like it a lot, because:

• it houses standard netbook hardware (1.66 GHz Atom CPU, 1 GB of RAM, 160 GB hard-drive)
• is well built and good looking, comes in different colored versions
• brings Wi-fi n, Bluetooth and even 3G on some versions
• is small and light (around 2.8 pounds) enough to carry around, but still big and powerful enough for you to do your job with it
• is cheap, as it costs somewhere between $350 to $380, according to features and shops.

And of course, there would be many things to add but you’d better read this detailed review of the Asus 1005HA for more info.

Dell Inspiron 11Z – 11.6″ inch mini laptop and a little bit more power

Dell Inspiron 11z

Small netbooks are usually quite sluggish from time to time, that’s why many will enjoy the better hardware on the 11.6 inch Dell Inspiron 11Z mini notebook. A device that also looks quite good, as you can see from the picture, being available in many different colors.

There are lots of customization options offered by Dell for this laptop, and even if the base model starts from $399, by adding a dual core CPU, 4 GB of RAM and Wi-Fi n/Bluetooth can easily take you to around $700.

Of course, the extra performance is greatly appreciated, by I for one am not that sure I’m willing to pay that much for a netbook, especially since, for a somewhat similar price, I can choose a laptop from the next class.

But, if you want a smaller laptop capable of running well Windows 7 and almost any standard application, without that awkward lag seen on Atom powered devices, than this Dell Inspiron 11Z is surely one of your best choices.

Portable mini laptops for regular buyers

Asus UL30A – my favorite 13.3″ notebook under 1000 bucks

Asus UL30A

I had the chance to test the UL30A for a couple of days and I’m almost 90% sure this will be my next portable mini notebook PC. And that’s something, because I for one am extremely picky and rarely like a product as a whole without finding some negative aspects. Of course, the UL30A for Asus is not perfect, it heats a little bit, screen is quite glossy and the 0.3 MPx webcam is very poor. But, these are down-points I can live with.

Cause there are also lots of strong points:

• high end hardware for a portable device: dual core CULV processor, 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB hard-drive
• slick looking with a nice brushed aluminum cover, while being also pretty slim
• top notch connectivity: Wi-fi n, Bluetooth, 3G modem
• up to 12 hours battery life
• good keyboard, decent keypad, good sound system

Prices are somewhere between $599 to around $899 . This laptop is fresh on the market and there aren’t many versions available yet, and especially not the high end ones. More details you can read in my thorough mini notebook review of the Asus UL30A .

And like I said, I’m just waiting for the winter sales period and hopefully I might get a Cyber Monday Deal and chip one or two hundreds of bucks from the current price.

Acer Aspire 3810T – almost everything you’d want in a mini notebook laptop

Acer Aspire 3810T

If I didn’t had a fixed (and nowadays wrong) idea about Acer laptops (because of some experiences with Acer devices 5 or 6 years ago), I could say the Acer Aspire 3810T is as good as the Asus above. They are acutally like twins: similar size and weight, similar screen size, similar hardware.

In fact, the Aspire 3810T has a keyboard I find a little bit more comfortable than the one on the UL30A with independent metallic feel keys . But, battery life is poorer and I can even say the speakers on the Acer are not a match for those on the Asus.

However, the Aspire 3810T is fierce in terms of prices, being cheaper than the UL30A, but not by much. It had the advantage of being one of the first in his class of affordable and performance 13.3″ inch ultra-portable mini notebooks and customers received it very well.

The high end version of this Acer mini netbook, the Aspire 3810T, a model that brings the U9400 dual core CPU and only lacks 3G, retails right now for $799 on Amazon and has a 5 out of 5 mark from previous buyers. What else can I say… ?

Upper class devices for upper prices

Macbook Air – Steve’s thin ace

Apple Macbook Air

If you’re an Apple fan or if you just want a stylish and very thin portable 13.3 inch laptop, than you should take a look at the Macbook Air. In terms of aspect and build quality, there’s not much you could not like on this Apple toy. However, in terms of features and price…

Hardware specs are pretty good, at least those of the top version: an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.13 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics and a 128GB SSD storage drive. Wi-Fi n and Bluetooth 2.1 are present, while the entire system uses the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system.

However, I for one am not satisfied at all with battery life, that runs around 4.5 hours. And also, available output options are rubbish: only one USB port and a mini Display port . That’s just not enough for me, as I use a mouse most of the time and an external hard-drive, plus the VGA output to connect the mini notebook to a projector in the conference room.

In terms of price, the high end version with the above features starts from $1799 on Apple store (but costs only $1700 on Amazon), while there is also a cheaper model from $1499 . Still, quite expensive for what is has to offer, especially considering that even though the device is very slim (0.76 inches on its thickest point), it’s not at all low-profile but actually quite as big as an ordinary 15 inch laptop. But hey, this Air is just a classic Apple product, so if you’re a fan, go for it.

Sony Vaio Z – my portable dream

Sony Vaio Z

Like the Macbook Air above, the Sony Vaio Z is no ordinary mini netbook computer for ordinary people. But unlike Steve’s product, this Vaio really brings the best you can get on such a device, but of course, with a price. You’ll just see in the rows bellow these are not just plain words, because here’s what the Vaio Z has to offer:

• Intel P9600 2.66 GHz CPU, which is in fact one of the most powerful CPUs available for portable devices at the moment. This is not a Low voltage processor from the SU series, but a high performance P one.
• 4 GB of RAM, 320 GB hard-drive or 256 SSD storage drive
• hybrid graphics: integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD and Nvidia 9300M GS
• internal Blu-ray optical drive
• 13.1 inch screen LED lit (with XBRITE-DuraView technology) – and there’s no point in talking about how good this screen is. You just have to see it live and you’ll surely love it.
• Bluetooth, Wi-fi n, 3G, they are all here.
• brings one of the best chiclet style keyboards on a portable device

You might wonder if you would need such power on a portable device. I wonder that too, especially since the high end version of the Sony Vaio Z retails for a whopping 2800 bucks. There are some cheaper versions of course, but they still start from around $1700.

But, if money are not a problem and you want perhaps the most powerful portable device on the market right now and not an ordinary device, but a Vaio, then the Z is definitely a choice. For me (and perhaps many others), it’s just a dream, as its predecessor Sony Vaio SZ was and its follower will probably will still be.

And the final words

And that’s about it. Of course, there are some other mini notebook computers that could make it in this top also. The low priced Acer Aspire One AOD150 , the high tech Nokia Booklet 3G or the stylish Dell Adamo are just some of them. In the end, it’s hard to say what’s the best mini netbook because there’s no such thing, there are just mini laptops that better or worse fit your needs, tastes and budget. So, when shopping for such devices, just make a list with must haves and optional features you would like and then, according to your budget, choose one from the mini notebooks that met the requirements.

Don’t forget to check reviews on forums and even shops (Amazon or Newegg have customers reviews on products, and those are very helpful).

And of course, you can always ask for any advices regarding these mini notebook PCs here, by leaving a comment bellow. I and maybe some of the other readers will gladly give you a helping hand.

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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iPod Touch - great for leisure gaming

Since iPod Touch is one of the hottest gadgets right now and everyone seems to have on, i thought it might be a good idea to show you a couple of games for this Apple gadget. After all, they are one of its best aces .

Actually, it’s my top 5 favorite iPod Touch games; they will all cost cost you a couple of bucks, i couldn’t find any free game good enough till now, but will also help you spend some quality fun time with your player.

They work on all iPod Touch versions launched so far and also on all existing iPhones, just in case you were wondering.

I won’t get into details, like telling you how to install games on your iPod; I assume you already know how to do this, right? If not, just leave us a comment and I’ll add that info later on. Now let’s just see these cool games for the iPod Touch.

Tap Tap Dance – $4.99

Since I’m a big “Guitar Hero” fan (and so are you , right? ), I got this game on my iPod Touch too. And it rocks.

The game consists of tapping the screen as the dots move along 3 lines, in order to play some tracks. Song are divided in 4 categories.

You can’t play your own songs however (that would have been awesome though), but the game includes lots of good tracks from artists like Moby, Tiesto, The Chemical Brothers, etc

Trism – $4.99

The puzzle game that was the most popular iPod Touch/iPhone game for many weeks in 2008, Trism is one of my all time favorites. Although it might seem odd at first, it is very catchy: the whole idea is to group together similar elements and make the most points possible. There are three different game modes (Classic, Time and Puzzle) and you can get your scores online and compare them to your friends’ performances.

Check out the video below for more details on gameplay.

Let’s Golf  – $5.99

I always loved to play golf on my phone. I remember having some mini-golf 3D games on my old Nokia, a game I used to play during classes in high-school.

As time passed and i got an iPod, i started looking for a similar golf game for this gadget and found “Let’s Golf”. I believe this is the most advanced such game ever made for mobile devices. Comes with lots of settings, game modes, control types and courts; it’s also fairly nice in terms of graphics. And for $5.99, although not cheap, i consider it fairly priced for what it can offer.

See the video below for more details.

iBlast Moki – $1.99

I’m a big fan of games that require me to think in order to solve them. That’s why iBlast Moki is part of my list, a complex game that needs you to move Mokis (some funny little characters) from a point to another by using different elements (bombs, ropes, balloons, traverses, etc).

You have 6 different worlds and 70 levels to go through, and although the first ones are quite easy, i guarantee you’ll really struggle towards the end, with some levels being very difficult.

Also, consider that this game only costs $1.99, so if you’re into such types of fun, iBlast Moki is really a must have. More on the gameplay in the video.

Bobby Carrot forever – $7.99

Like i said, I enjoy smart games. Thus, you shouldn’t be amazed you’ll find this one as my personal best game for iPod Touch or iPhone.

Bobby Carrot forever is a level based puzzle game that takes you through 60 pretty challenging maps, ensuring tens of hours of play. Price is a little bit high, but I for one didn’t regret any second paying the money for it.

You’ll learn more about the game from the clip below, but the idea is simple. You have to complete each level by unlocking the exit gate. In order to do that you’ll have to collect a number of carrots. This sounds easy but it’s not actually, as these carrots are protected by lots of tricks and traps. Really a mind blowing (literally) game.

Of course, there are many other games available for your iPod Touch. The above are just my top 5 favorites. Some of them are quite old and don’t benefit from the graphic improvements the new players bring, but for me, gameplay and idea are a lot more important than design.

I’m sure there will be some good titles developed this year, thus i’d advice you to stay tuned and bookmark this post, i’ll try to update it with new top iPod Touch games as they come out. And i might even add a couple of free games to the list, if i find anything worthy.

And if you happened to play some interesting iPod game and really consider the game worth mentioning, don’t hesitate to leave your opinions and comments via the form below.

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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Bluetooth headset - a much needed phone accessory

I consider my mobile phone just a normal everyday gadget i have to carry around with me, along with my Mp3 player and sometimes my laptop. I’m not a savvy talker and i don’t even get on the web from the phone that much. But, i do consider one accessory a must: a Bluetooth headset, especially when driving or when i have to use two similar phones in the same time (like when you have an personal and a work phone).

Thus, in the last days I’ve looked for such a device, a standard Bluetooth headset that could satisfy my needs. I’m quite picky and also have some experience with electronic devices (have a couple of IT related sites, i just finished an IT related college and i even used to work as an IT editor a couple of years ago) so I believe i can share an objective view on these gadgets and I can really pick the best of the best. Anyway, I gathered the interesting options i could find online (i always shop online) in a list, with pros and cons. And since I’ve made this list I decided I’d also share it with you, in case anyone needs an advice for buying such a Bluetooth headset in the near future.

And what better way to share the list then a top, ay?

Number 6 – Motorola H710 Mono headset

Motorola H710

We have here a Mono Bluetooth headset from Motorola, the H710 model. It’s a pretty basic mono headset, but excellent at its job.

It’s universal so it works with almost every Bluetooth compatible phone on the market and has a fast pairing technology. Of course it can pair with multiple devices simultaneously so it can connect to your business and personal phone in the same time. Other basic functions like remaining talk time indicator and easy On/Off are available too. But it lacks features like a noise canceling mic for example.

Unfortunately if you look for looks or somekind of special design, you won’t find that in the Motorola H710. Because we have just a basic Bluetooth headphone for the regular customer. Price is OK (around $30 bucks on Amazon, although the normal retail price is $100) considering it’s a Motorola device and not a no-name. And the fact that it has a 4.3 out of 5 mark on Amazon from real customers speak a lot of it’s overall quality. But there are better Bluetooth options on the market though, with better prices also.

Number 5 – Jabra BT125 black headset

Jabra BT125

This is definitelly one of the best priced brand named headsets out there. Jabra is a famous name in this domain and they make durable well built accessories.

This Jabra BT125 has most of the features a basic Bluetooth headset would need except noise canceling and automatic volume adaption according to the external conditions . Has a talk time of up to 8 hours and a stanby-time of more than 150 . Except that, it’s basic, built out of normal plastic, but still comfortable and easy enough for everyday usage.

The best part is that this jabra BT125 is cheap: you can get it online for just $12 bucks at the moment . Of course, it’s not the best equiped or the best looking, but for this price, you couldn’t ask more.

Number 4 – Aliph Jawbone II Bluetooth Headset

Aliph Jawbone 2

Unlike the previous headsets in this top , the Aliph Jawbone II is from an entire different class. First of all, it comes with features you won’t find on most such devices: military-grade noise elimination technology, multi devices pairing and a patented Voice Activity Sensor for your mic . All these translate in an easier usage and better sound quality.

Besides features, the Aliph Jawbone also looks very good, perhaps the best of all the other headsets in this list. Producers payed such attention to details that they even concealed the commands so they won’t disturb the artistic harmony of the whole product. And what’s also great about this headset is that it comes with a couple extra ear loops and earbuds, so you can replace the old ones in time .

So, if this headset is so great, why isn’t it higher in the tops? Well, because it has a couple of minor faults. And all starts from the difficulty of making this Jawbone II  fit the ear and stay there comfortable, even if you are provided with different size ear loops. And, if you won’t get it to fit tightly, the noise cancellation technology won’t work that well and you’ll also end up with a low sound volume in your headset, making it hard to use in noisy exterior conditions. But if you’re lucky enough to make it fit, all these problems shouldn’t bother you.

Of course there’s also the price matter, as this Aliph Jawbone II is the most expensive headset in this list, with a regular price tag of $129.99 . Of course you can get it online cheaper, for around 90 bucks, but that’s still a big price for a Bluetooth headset, a price that most of us (and i Included) might not be willing to pay.

Number 3 – Motorola S805 stereo headset

Motorola S805

Unlike the regular mono Bluetooth headsets in this list, the Motorole S805 are stereo headsets. So, as you can see in the picture, they look like ordinary headphones, but they connect to your phone via Bluetooth and have a mic included also. So, they can be used for wireless conversations, but this is not really their main purpose.

Because these stereo headset is meant for multimedia usage: listening to music, radio, etc. They do require a phone or Mp3 player with a Bluetooth AD2P profile (most of the modern ones have something like this, except the iPods or the iPhone) and they have an autonomy up to 17 hours. And that’s good, considering a have a pair of Logitech Freepulse headphones that can only allows me 5-6 hours of continously usage.

So you get all these features for a very good price: just around 35 bucks if you get them online. And that’s great considering this product has good reviews from customers on Amazon andother regular stereo headphones would cost you at least twice as much.

Number 2 – Samsung WEP200 black

Samsung WEP200

This Bluetooth headset is the one with the best price/performances mark in this list, considering it has almost everyhting you would need, looks great, a good brand in the back and a price tag below $20 . What much could you want? But let’s see a little bit more details about this device.

This Samsung WEP200 is first of all light and good looking. Then, it can fit both the left or the right ear, and that’s a big plus. As for functions, you have almost anything you need via the multi-function control on the side (volume, call waiting and holding, mic muting, voice calling, etc). Some of this functions depend on the phone though: if the phone don’t support them, they won’t be accessible via the Bluetooth headset.

The single down point would be the lack of a noise canceling mic technology, but Samsung implemented and omnidirectional mic that does a really good job at recording your voice, so the noise cancelling part might be compensated somehow by this feature.

And like I told you in the beginning, the Samsung WEP200 is not only good, but affordable also, with a price tag of just $17.99 if you buy it online from here, via Amazon . You’ll also get a travel charger and a travel chase in the package too. So, if you’re looking for a device with a great price and very good capabilities, this Samsung is just the one for you. But if you’d be willing to pay a little more for some extra features, take a look at out top winner below.

The winner – Plantronics Voyager 510

If you were wondering why there was no Plantronics headset in this top before, well, it simple: because we have it here, on the first position: The Plantronics Voyager 510 is the winner of our top. Because it simply is the best out there.

It combines a classic yet stylish look (see the picture for details) with an exceptional build quality and with great features. In fact, this one has everything you would want from a Bluetooth Stereo, from pairing with multiple devices and switching between them automatically to easy access to all the main features and to a mic with noise canceling technology. In fact, it’s similar to the Aliphs Jawbone in terms of specs, but lacks the faults that model has.

And also is wayt cheaper, cause the Plantronic Voyager 510 will cost you just $37.99 .

Plantronics Voyager 510

Besides that, there’s not much we can say. After all, we have here a Plantronics with tons of positive reviews on Amazon and a 4/5 mark there. And it’s also the best sold Bluetooth headset on this particular famous site, with tens of thousands of buyers. All these speak for themselves, so there’s no wonder the Plantronics Voyager 510 is our recommendation for such a device.

What do you guys think about our top with the best 6 Bluetooth headsets on the market? Do you agree with what we’ve said before or do you believe there are better versions we should have included here? Please don’t hesitate to leave your comments below.

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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iPod Touch 2G - accessories make it even better

The iPod Touch is a great device, that’s for sure. Whenever i get my hand on either the first or the second generation of iPod Touch I enjoy browsing with the help of that great touchscreen, play some of those games specially built for it or enjoy the audio quality it provides.

But, even if we’re talking about a good gadget, there are quite a bunch of accessories that will make it even better. That’s why i thought I’d write this little post where I’ll show you what i consider to be some of the best accessories for the iPod Touch 2G and actually the ones i’d want for my gadget.

The Altec Lansing T612 Digital Speaker set – usually $250, now only $185

Sound quality is very good on the iPod Touch, so good that if you combine it with a proper set of speakers, it can become the best road trip music source. That way, when you go on holidays, you can bring your music with you a get the party ready asap.

So, as I consider this accessory a must for every iPod Touch owner, i’m going to present you two options in this top. First of all we have the best price/performances solution: The Altec Lansing T612 . First of all, this device is compatible with nearly all the iPods on the market and the iPhone. It’s made by Altec Lansing, and that’s a big name in this industry. The 4 speakers (2 full-range drivers and 2 tweeters) provide the perfect balance between acustic performance and volume. Also, the device is pretty compact and good looking, as you can see in the picture bellow.

The Altec Lansing Speakers set for iPod Touch 2G

For more details just check out this page.

iTrip cor iPod Touch

The Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter - now only $31.99 (usually retails for $49)

This is an FM modulator for your iPod Touch, that can easily broadcast the music on your ipod to you car’s radio, so it can be played via your vehicle’s audio system. It a very cheap and useful accessory. Also, is very use to set up and use and it drains the power needed from the gadget.

You might need a car charger for your latest generation iPod Touch too if you plan to use it for a longer period of time, but that won’t cost you more than a couple of bucks either.

Apple USB power adapter + USB cable

This set that contains a standard power adapter + an USB 2.0 cable for your iPod Touch comes in handy when you must charge your gadget but you have no computer around. Thus, you will have to use a standard power outlet. Both things won’t cost you more than 3-4 bucks. Here you can find more details about these things.

Harman Kardon Go + Play – great ultra-portable speakers

This one is the second speakers set in this top. Also made by a very big name in the industry, Harman Kardon, the Go+Play model has the advantage of being durable and portable ( 20 x 9 x 9.5 inches and 4 pounds). Looks like in the picture below and comes with lots of settings and tunnings. Also has a remote so you can control the music easier. Sound quality is incredible and i believe this Harman Kardon piece can even replace your home stereo system if needed.

Harman Kardon Go+Play - my favourite speakers set for the iPod Touch 2G

The price tag on the Go+Play is a little high though, around $500. You can get it on Amazon for around $345 now. You can read more about the specs and about what can this device do here, and you can even see the buying conditions.

The 14 piece accessories set

Last but not least, you can find an accessories set with no less than 14 pieces, that include a leather case, a silicone case, a couple of protective screens, a tiny speaker, an audio kit, etc. All these for just $19.99 . I can’t say I’m a very big fan of sets, but this one provides good value for the money and might be the good and cheap way to get a bunch of useful things for your iPod. Here you can read more about this pack . And you can also find some other cool and hot iPod Touch covers in this post.

Of course, there are surely other accessories for the iPod Touch on the market, and lots of them. The above are only the ones I like , so, if you have something you consider mentioning, please leave a comment.

©2010 Mike's Quarter - the internet blog. All Rights Reserved.

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