#205 - 2011 Tech review

As the year 2011 ends, I thought I would look back at the year in technology and the significant items that occurred.


For us at PCSS, the biggest technology change was the addition of our Asus Transformer Tablet PC. It only took a few weeks and we were convinced that tablets are the wave of the future. Other then heavy duty spreadsheets and word processing, you can do it all AND more on a tablet. We use ours for Weather, Internet, Stock market info, email, games and reading books. The latter being the biggest change in our life. We download e-books from our library and read them on the tablet. The format of the tablet - 10" size with back lit color screen - makes it ideal for book reading. Also the use of touchscreen also has changed how we do things. When I get on one of my notebook PCs, I have to stop myself from touching the screen. Goodbye mice and touch pads! The Kindle Fire and new Nook from Barnes & Noble are too small for my eyes, but they sold a ton of them this past holiday season!


Microsoft actually almost led a technology with the advent of Office 365 - the cloud based version of Office. Well almost is giving them something since Google introduced Google Docs several YEARS ago. The problem with Google Docs is simple. Its not Office! We have all been trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint to an extent that anything else just won't work in the business world. We had several clients change over to Office 365. Our warning to them was to have backup Office on their PC. And sure enough Microsoft had SIGNIFICANT outages of the Office 365 product after introduction. Start up problems I'm sure. The US still isn't totally covered by the Internet so you can't have a completely cloud based product, yet. Its coming though.


The big cell phone providers introduced the 4G network. Although we don't have it yet in Covington (coming soon!) we did try it out in the BIG cities and the speed is significantly better. I'm hoping when my cell contract runs out in 2012 that 4G will be more available. Faster is usually better when we are talking Internet. With my use of the new tablet, I don't use my phone for much Internet. Just email and some basic sites. Ideally for me would be a 4G powered tablet (android!) and a phone that just does email, calendar and calls.


The tragedies in Japan and Thailand had significant impact on technology availability. It makes us much more aware of the global nature of technology manufacturing. I wonder if any of the big technology companies will bring back manufacturing to the US to ensure a safer product channel? Right now hard drives are in very short supply and many laptops are getting that way. Solid State drives were not affected by the Asian disasters, but their prices are still too high to be put in all laptops. Apple is putting them in many of their smaller laptops.


The passing of Steve Jobs certainly had much of the press looking back at a remarkable career. If I were giving Steve a totem animal it would be the Phoenix. He resurrected Apple 3 times and that is amazing.


Google tried to get in the social network business with Google+. We joined but don't understand the interface and there just aren't enough people on it to get traction. Facebook rules and everyone else will fail in that area. Of course there were changes to Facebook that made all the users mad. The latest Timeline change will go forth in 2012. Let the social network whining begin!


We look forward to great things in 2012. One that won't be so great is Windows 8. Mark it down as another Microsoft problem child. Also coming out is the new Android operating system "Ice Cream". It has the potential to keep the Android (read that Google) system on top and beat back any Microsoft chance to get into the phone/tablet business. Have a very Happy New Year friends!

#204 Holiday Gadgets

So what are the hot gadgets this holiday season?

Tablet PCs are very hot. iPads and Android talblets are in short supply and selling well. Inexpensive (less then $70) digital cameras are also hot. I have some customers that buy an cheap camera and just leave it in their car to have just in case. Flat screen TVs are very hot. The price of LCD, Plasma and LED TVs have come down and are available everywhere from Kmart to Walmart to any appliance store.

How about the Spynet Laser Trip wire? For $39 you can protect an area just like in the movies. Anyone that crosses the invisible laser light sets off an alarm. Pets will drive you crazy with this one, but kids love it "protecting" their rooms.

Want to know where your kid or pet goes? Garmin has the GTU 10 tracker. Just attach it to your kid or pet and you can go online and follow them around in real time or at your leisure.

Digital storage is also Big. We have 8GB flash Drives for $10 (a great stocking stuffer). External Hard drives to back up everything were hot, but are no longer available due to the Thailand flooding of most major hard drive makers. Solid State drives are now under $100 for 64GB sizes. These have no moving parts and are great for laptop replacement hard drives.

Last the ereader craze has been raised to a high level with the latest kindle and nooks. They are small (7" screen) but you really do get a lot for the cost. Just make sure you are getting complete Internet access with the ereader.

Wireless printers that let you print from anywhere in the house and from anything (phone, tablet, laptop) are also a very nice gift. You can also print to these printers from anywhere in the world with the e-print feature (HP exclusive).

Need help this Christmas? Just drop us a line for suggestions!