I am still on the fence about buying a Kindle; I've asked friends numerous questions about their likes / dislikes about the Kindle? I've checked book titles for Kindle compatibility. I've amassed Amazon gift cards from a previous birthday and Christmas gifts.
I've tweeted about my indecision and borrowed my neighbor's Kindle for a day, she keeps a very tight grip on it! I've even toyed with the idea of listening to Audible books on the Kindle but I never get close to ordering it.
I don't know why either since I have yet to read a physical book in a year. I have a bag filled with new unread books that I fantasize would be read if only they were on a Kindle.
Do you have a Kindle? Has it changed your reading habits?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Border Books Closure
Announcement of the closure of four Border Books that I frequent hit me hard.
I wasn't the least bit surprised that they were in financial crises.
I was surprised by the number of store closures in my area.
Today I visited a Border Books, the last one standing in my area, and it was busy. People were queued in line waiting for the next register.
Teens were perusing the diary and board game selections.
Folks were decked out in the coffee section sipping Seattle Best branded coffees, lattes and cappuccinos frantically pecking away on their keyboards.
And here and there I spied a dog-eared book that I knew no one would buy.
So you're wondering if anything was different, right? Well yea, gone were the over stuffed comfy chairs that flanked the entrance.
Gone were the chairs and tables dispersed among the aisles.
Gone were the throngs of teens spread out and overflowing in the aisles as they shared chairs, talked, texted and giggled over dog-eared books.
I could walk the aisle and browse the magazine and book sections with ease. I could navigate the store without tripping over someone's backpack.
Shopping at Border Books was a pleasant experience again. I found fewer dog-eared books and a neater, uncluttered, welcoming experience.
Heck, I even took the time to browse the DVD and music sections - I hadn't done this in years. I made my purchases after shopping for 25 minutes and, provided Border Books maintains a neat, clutter-free store, I will return.
I wasn't the least bit surprised that they were in financial crises.
I was surprised by the number of store closures in my area.
Today I visited a Border Books, the last one standing in my area, and it was busy. People were queued in line waiting for the next register.
Teens were perusing the diary and board game selections.
Folks were decked out in the coffee section sipping Seattle Best branded coffees, lattes and cappuccinos frantically pecking away on their keyboards.
And here and there I spied a dog-eared book that I knew no one would buy.
So you're wondering if anything was different, right? Well yea, gone were the over stuffed comfy chairs that flanked the entrance.
Gone were the chairs and tables dispersed among the aisles.
Gone were the throngs of teens spread out and overflowing in the aisles as they shared chairs, talked, texted and giggled over dog-eared books.
I could walk the aisle and browse the magazine and book sections with ease. I could navigate the store without tripping over someone's backpack.
Shopping at Border Books was a pleasant experience again. I found fewer dog-eared books and a neater, uncluttered, welcoming experience.
Heck, I even took the time to browse the DVD and music sections - I hadn't done this in years. I made my purchases after shopping for 25 minutes and, provided Border Books maintains a neat, clutter-free store, I will return.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Home Computer
Before Black Friday I tweeted if anyone had a must have item they were scouring the BF ads for? Pretty much it was great deals on cellphones or an iPad. Me, I was looking for a new desktop computer, my current one sounded like a jet engine and talking on the phone prompted listener’s to ask if I was running the fan!
In August or September of 2010 I received a new Dell desktop at work and it was so quiet. I couldn’t believe how silent it was and then to return home and hear the jet whirring just made me yearn for a Dell desktop. I really didn’t think Boo would go for it since the jet computer was still kicking away with no problem, but when I mentioned desiring a new desktop Boo said “Man, that thing sounds like we’re at the airport!”
So we checked Costco.com (which seems to have a wider and better selection of computers period) and when Cyber Monday arrived Boo found a Dell with Intel 5 processor (faster processor than Costco.com’s dual core) that matched all the features Costco.com offered and at the same price. Boo ordered it and now that more than two months have passed I have to say I love it!
It’s as quiet as my work computer, blazing fast and its footprint matches the old one. I like the way the ports are configured on the back and it has four USB ports in the front with built-in card readers that include a Compact Flash card, which I still use in a digital audio recorder and digital camera I carry in the trunk in case I need to document an accident. Set up was a breeze and the provided chart made it simple for even a novice to setup.
Dell’s keyboard took some adjusting to as it angles lower to the actual desktop, a level I’m not used to. I’ve tried using wrist rests which seem to accentuate the lower angle without helping. After a month of continued use I couldn’t adjust and opted to use my old Logitech keyboard. I don’t use Dell’s wired mouse either opting for Microsoft’s optical mouse. Aside from the odd keyboard angle everything else has been fine.
I used PC Decrapifier prior to connecting the computer to the Internet. I wanted to uninstall junk software I neither needed or wanted especially McAfee’s anti-virus suite. I use Eset's Nod-32 anti-virus software and have been very happy with it. Nod-32 offers a Smart Security Suite of tools which I feel is overkill and don’t want bogging down my system so I use the basic anti-virus software.
This computer's been great so it's ironic that it has received the least use of all the systems I've owned. Why? Well, the HTC Evo is compact, convenient and with its sharp, legible screen I use it for everything that doesn't require an optical drive!
Friday, February 11, 2011
HTC Evo
I haven't shared how Boo bought me the HTC Evo Android phone back in November 2010. I was totally shocked because it's an expensive phone, we'd been Verizon customers forever and the Evo was on the Sprint network.
Now I'd been wanting this phone for awhile and Boo stressed how we'd need to leave Verizon, which I said I was prepared to do. For me the hindrance was the price of the Evo not so much parting ways with Verizon, I had tired of Verizon's nickel and diming me to death when using a phone's features.
I hadn't anticipated Boo buying the Evo just because and surprising me Thanksgiving weekend! I mean who does that? I was really surprised and still am!
After owning it for three months now here's my experience:
I love the Evo.
It is the most complicated and featured phone I've ever owned and it has changed the way I use my cellphone.
I mainly use it for tweeting, monitoring Tweetdeck (it's always running), sharing photos, logging in to Facebook, reading websites, checking email, reading RSS feeds, texting and interacting with friends in real time.
I rarely talk on the phone because I'm not a talker. I prefer to write so friends / family contact me via email or text. I haven't carried my netbook since receiving the Evo, there's no need.
I've used Google's GPS Navigation on a trip to Santa Barbara and it did a fantastic job of getting us to our destination. We purposely went off route and it redirected us without getting us lost or adding miles.
The GPS has been very accurate when inputting a destination and seeking directions from the point I am at. It has never steered us wrong or taken us out of the way. Also the estimated mileage has been accurate.
I've installed apps (Tweetdeck, Angry Birds, Magic Gems, Red Laser, Yahoo! Mail, Kindle for Android) just as I do on a regular computer with no hanging or slowing the OS. The Android OS has been stable and reliable with many apps updating their software monthly.
If I'm reading feeds in Google Reader or tweets on Tweetdeck and a call does come through, I am alerted by the caller's name flashing across my screen and asking if I want to Answer or Decline the call. I normally keep my phone on vibrate as I don't like being interrupted by ringing or a vanity tune. I think this is a great touch and I never worry about missing a call.
Having been with Verizon's CDM network forever I didn't know it is possible to talk on the phone and surf the web, read email, text, etc. while the phone is engaged! I never knew what I was missing so being able to look up a phone number in my contacts as I speak to someone has been a huge "wow" factor.
The Evo's screen is also very crisp and legible and I do not experience eye strain when reading a Kindle book. I have four books saved and appreciate the convenience of reading one when I have the time which not surprisingly is in waiting rooms.
The screen's 3" X 6" size is perfect for game play again usually when waiting and the Evo's clarity makes it easy to have fun and enjoy Angry Birds or Bejeweled. Oh the sound is very good an added bonus when angry birds are well, being angry!
Now I'd been wanting this phone for awhile and Boo stressed how we'd need to leave Verizon, which I said I was prepared to do. For me the hindrance was the price of the Evo not so much parting ways with Verizon, I had tired of Verizon's nickel and diming me to death when using a phone's features.
I hadn't anticipated Boo buying the Evo just because and surprising me Thanksgiving weekend! I mean who does that? I was really surprised and still am!
After owning it for three months now here's my experience:
I love the Evo.
It is the most complicated and featured phone I've ever owned and it has changed the way I use my cellphone.
I mainly use it for tweeting, monitoring Tweetdeck (it's always running), sharing photos, logging in to Facebook, reading websites, checking email, reading RSS feeds, texting and interacting with friends in real time.
I rarely talk on the phone because I'm not a talker. I prefer to write so friends / family contact me via email or text. I haven't carried my netbook since receiving the Evo, there's no need.
I've used Google's GPS Navigation on a trip to Santa Barbara and it did a fantastic job of getting us to our destination. We purposely went off route and it redirected us without getting us lost or adding miles.
The GPS has been very accurate when inputting a destination and seeking directions from the point I am at. It has never steered us wrong or taken us out of the way. Also the estimated mileage has been accurate.
I've installed apps (Tweetdeck, Angry Birds, Magic Gems, Red Laser, Yahoo! Mail, Kindle for Android) just as I do on a regular computer with no hanging or slowing the OS. The Android OS has been stable and reliable with many apps updating their software monthly.
If I'm reading feeds in Google Reader or tweets on Tweetdeck and a call does come through, I am alerted by the caller's name flashing across my screen and asking if I want to Answer or Decline the call. I normally keep my phone on vibrate as I don't like being interrupted by ringing or a vanity tune. I think this is a great touch and I never worry about missing a call.
Having been with Verizon's CDM network forever I didn't know it is possible to talk on the phone and surf the web, read email, text, etc. while the phone is engaged! I never knew what I was missing so being able to look up a phone number in my contacts as I speak to someone has been a huge "wow" factor.
The Evo's screen is also very crisp and legible and I do not experience eye strain when reading a Kindle book. I have four books saved and appreciate the convenience of reading one when I have the time which not surprisingly is in waiting rooms.
The screen's 3" X 6" size is perfect for game play again usually when waiting and the Evo's clarity makes it easy to have fun and enjoy Angry Birds or Bejeweled. Oh the sound is very good an added bonus when angry birds are well, being angry!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
OTT
I previously shared how buying the Western Digital Live TV Plus and Roku XD Streaming Player 1080p have improved my viewing experience of video podcasts like the Paranormal Report, London Landscape, Tekzilla, Alaska HDTV, 30 Odd Minutes and GeekBeatTV.
I don't think I've mentioned how instrumental these devices have been in ensuring that I watch these shows sooner than later. It used to be I'd download them to an external hard drive where they'd sit for months.
The podcasts that remained on my iPod weren't being viewed because I didn't like watching a small screen or having to hold the device when viewing. Oh and I can't forget that the sound quality through ear buds isn't so great. I prefer the sound system on my TV.
Now I'm wondering how viewing shows on these devices affects the podcaster's stats? Since I do not subscribe to these podcasts via iTunes, how does the podcaster quantify the numbers for advertisers?
After experiencing the joy and convenience of viewing video podcasts on the TV, if I had to revert to watching them on the iPod or computer screen I wouldn't bother subscribing again.
My household isn't considering "cutting the cord". We're cable TV subscribers who want to view a show when it airs not after the season's ended and it's released on DVD. I'm not advocating cutting the cord but simply sharing the value the Roku and Western Digital Live TV Plus add.
I am a Netflix subscriber and we do watch both DVDs and stream movies, but for me the OTT devices are a great value for viewing video podcasts. I guarantee that once you try it you won't go back!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Streaming Battle
NetFlix chart shows Charter Cable as the #1 ISP with great speed when streaming flicks yet, I've had dropped connections when streaming a movie. At times I've had to stop watching and try again later.
If you're thinking I'm exhausting the bandwidth by streaming a movie and surfing the Net, I'm not good at multitasking like that. I do one or the other and no one else in the household is surfing.
My coworker has Time Warner Cable and her son's experiencing major problems streaming Netflix mid-day when most folks are at work. Her adult son works nights and likes to stream content during the day and can't because the stream dies or becomes pixelated with dialog out of sync. Of course, calls to TWC customer support resulted in her being told it's not their problem but Netflix.
This comes at a time when Netflix is under siege by major telcos who say “Show us the money!” The telcos / broadband providers allege that streaming movies taxes their networks costing them more money to deliver gigabytes of movies / tv shows to our homes. They want Netflix to pay for this, as well as you and I.
I'm reminded of the old days when I was sucker punched into paying $17.99 plus for a compact disc of music. Sometimes the CD had only 10 songs with less than 45 minutes of music, but there I was dishing the $$$.
Consumers are much savvier now and we understand that costs are minimal once the infrastructure is in place. The telcos alone have been subsidized by you and I in creating and stabilizing their networks. The greedy telcos still want more.
We are not users of the eighties.
We are unwilling to pay a 150% mark up.
We want to enjoy the media when and how we want.
The barn doors are open and the cows are in the field grazing.
Wake up telcos / broadband providers we're not going to be cheated!
If you're thinking I'm exhausting the bandwidth by streaming a movie and surfing the Net, I'm not good at multitasking like that. I do one or the other and no one else in the household is surfing.
My coworker has Time Warner Cable and her son's experiencing major problems streaming Netflix mid-day when most folks are at work. Her adult son works nights and likes to stream content during the day and can't because the stream dies or becomes pixelated with dialog out of sync. Of course, calls to TWC customer support resulted in her being told it's not their problem but Netflix.
This comes at a time when Netflix is under siege by major telcos who say “Show us the money!” The telcos / broadband providers allege that streaming movies taxes their networks costing them more money to deliver gigabytes of movies / tv shows to our homes. They want Netflix to pay for this, as well as you and I.
I'm reminded of the old days when I was sucker punched into paying $17.99 plus for a compact disc of music. Sometimes the CD had only 10 songs with less than 45 minutes of music, but there I was dishing the $$$.
Consumers are much savvier now and we understand that costs are minimal once the infrastructure is in place. The telcos alone have been subsidized by you and I in creating and stabilizing their networks. The greedy telcos still want more.
We are not users of the eighties.
We are unwilling to pay a 150% mark up.
We want to enjoy the media when and how we want.
The barn doors are open and the cows are in the field grazing.
Wake up telcos / broadband providers we're not going to be cheated!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Broadband 2 Go
I haven't used the Virgin Mobile $40 unlimited Broadband2Go for awhile because I haven't needed to. Since Boo bought me the Sprint Evo with web connectivity, I haven't needed to carry my netbook with me.
Also, I haven't been playing FarmVille as I once did so I don't need to login to Facebook to harvest, plow and seed my crops. Sadly, this is one thing that I cannot do with the Evo. It would be rather difficult and tedious to farm on the Evo, nevermind navigate FV.
Still I was surprised when Virgin Mobile announced they were discontinuing the $40 unlimited Broadband2Go option. It scarcely lasted four months and, while the other telcos long ago discontinued their offers, I wondered why Virgin Mobile offered theirs?
Marketing.
Positioning.
Yep, that's why Virgin Mobile offered it. So they could stand out for a few months and hopefully attract new customers who, after being disappointed by the other telcos, would flock to the White Knight that Virgin Mobile positioned itself as.
Well, I'm glad I don't have a need for mobile broadband. I'm glad that I've stopped playing FV. I'm glad that I'm not committed to a 2 year contract with Virgin Mobile or any telco. The no contract or ETF is all they have going for them now.
Virgin Mobile will offer a $40 plan with a 5 gig cap. It may not be clearly stated but once the implied 5 gig cap is exceeded they begin throttling your speed.
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