Tech Talk

Hi.

About every four years, I reach a point of considering if my laptop will last, or if I should look for some kind of replacement.

This year, however, came just a little early and with a few more electronics/accessories than usual.

The Computer

Just for a little background, my laptop before the "upgrade" is a 15" widescreen laptop from back in 2011. Now I didn't actually purchase this computer, it was actually purchased by my brother to temporarily replace his dying HP laptop for a few months - all I had to do was approve the laptop.

Personally, I like the computer, and I found out just how convenient it is to have a number pad on my keyboard and the widescreen fits for any wide format movie I watch. Most importantly, I get enough real-estate for several windows and any gaming.

The downsides are that it isn't quite travel friendly, and it isn't easy to access the fan for any kind of regular cleaning - which is why I have a lap fan to cool it down for those extreme gaming times. And occasionally, the battery was down to 30min and inclined to slip out - loose fit which meant the latch would slip sometimes (both problems were fixed with a battery replacement)

Now, as I was reaching the 4 year limit, I found that there wasn't anything major that required I replace the laptop. I had both HDMI and VGA ports for presentation and large screen viewing, along with an ethernet port for hard line internet connection. In fact, other than the updated laptop harddrives, screen resolution and a few sleeker specs (such as the wireless), I realized that my next solid computer purchase should be a desktop computer, not a large screen laptop.

But as I started work and had to actually carry my computer around with me, I started to very keenly feel the itch to get something more portable grow bigger.

The initial itch I'm talking about started back in say 2010-ish to purchase a tablet of some kind. I recognized that having a laptop was great, but at that time was more on the heavy/clunky side, and I did not have a smart phone.

But since upgrading to my HTC Droid DNA, and the subsequent acquisition of the iPad Air by my mother, I've found that my urge to purchase a tablet-only device has quailed. In fact one of the main reasons I don't want a tablet is because I would never be able to do any serious typing - I can't stand
typing on the touch screen keyboards for the life of me. I would need a tactile keyboard where you press the keys.

That of course takes me to the several ultrabooks available in a range of brands and computing power.

I knew I wasn't going to chose the Macbook Air from the get go - it's just too expensive compared to it's competitors. But on the other hand, I wasn't going to pick one on the lower end of the spectrum, despite the under $300 price tags on many of them. If I was going to purchase an ultrabook, I wanted it to be slim, medium to high processing power, and ultimately act as my Samsung laptop on the go (which means it didn't need to be equipped for gaming).

Honestly, I'm not going to lie, there are way too many computers in this range of products and I realized I needed to narrow down my requirements just a bit. Considering I wouldn't mind having a touch screen/tablet, so my search took me back to tablets with keyboard accessories and hybrid notebooks (btw there are just too many names for laptops these days...).

From the start of that search I rejected tablets with keyboard accessories. The surface 3 by windows was rated well - but the keyboard was not. Plus the pen accessory is separate. Too many gadgets that have to be bought on the side. For other tablets, the keyboard was either a flimsy plastic piece (making the combined set top heavy) or clunky and heavy piece.

On the other hand, with the hybrid notebooks, there was a clear lead in my opinion: the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro. There was a while where I was considering the plain Yoga 2, but after seeing the computer in person, there was no way I would chose it over it's slimmer Pro version. And I was correctly influenced that an 11" screen would be too small (thank you brother).

What drew me was the fact that I had the convenience of a laptop, but the flexibility to set the screen at whatever angle I wanted (there is a certain point laptops don't open beyond) and it could be a tablet with an inborn stand (the keyboard side). I wanted the version that had an i5 processor - but unfortunately, the only ones available were more expensive than the ones with the i7 processor during black friday sales.

So this is where I kinda jumped the gun on the four years per laptop plan. I had a plan to save up the money (would have taken about 7-8 months) to buy the computer when the price dropped - I was fine purchasing the older model (yoga pro 3 has a better wireless, slightly thinner and less heavy dimensions). Parentals offering to put up the money upfront - and I could pay them back later on - combined with my excitement to get a portable computer = I got the computer maybe a little more expensive than I was planning.

I don't regret it. Ok, maybe it rubs just a little raw since I was paying as much as the Yoga Pro 3 would be by the time I saved up. But let's not dwell on it and talk about the actual computer itself.

From a design stand point, I love the computer.

It is light weight in a way that's kind of shocking. For those of you with 13-15in computers that are about 6lbs will know what I mean when I say that I can lift it with one hand with absolutely no strain. And it's so slim that finding a cover that didn't bulk up the thickness was a challenge. (Since the width is less than the Macbook Air, I find that you have to expect to accept there will be half to a full inch of extra room in most generic covers.)

Oddly enough, it's the most un-black piece of tech I've purchased. The inner surfaces are all black but the outside is all a matte silver.

Frankly, I love the ease of typing on the keyboard. With the slim thickness, it's comfortable on my lap or even on a single leg (when crossing them) and doesn't slide - I'm now a pro note-taker at all of our company meetings. The first few weeks of posting were strictly from this laptop. It also comes with a whole bunch of quick buttons like volume, brightness, airplane mode, refresh, close app, app shuffle, etc. A perk is that the keyboard has a back light you can turn on and off. It's so easy to type with low illumination - no more finding keys in the dark (I feel so spoiled).

Since this laptop has a newer touch-pad, the scrolling is more like that of a Macbook than the traditional Windows computer. There is the option to change it back, but I kinda like the newer scroll and it's easy to get used to since it works pretty much in the same way as the touch screen motions. I actually only really get in trouble when I switch back and forth between my Samsung.

The SSD is wonderful for speed and I will have to watch out for filling it up, but I still keep most of my heavy files and downloading on my Samsung (which in a way is now my "desktop" at home). It works so well that I'm sure AVG has run scans while I use the computer and I barely even notice it - and that's really quite convenient.

I have 2 USB port (3.0 and 2.0), micro HDMI, SD card reader, volume rocker, autorotation-lock, headphone jack, microphone at the base of the screen, power button and indicator, and a Lenovo backup button (which I don't know how to work just yet...) in addition to the touch screen. I purchased a converter for the HDMI port so that I can still connect to VGA cables, but I think this is pretty sufficient.

The only thing I would have wanted is an ethernet port since I had a bit of trouble with wifi connection (which apparently is a thing people have a problem with) but I get that it would be too large to fit. I do wish that it was easier to tell that the computer is fully charged (it only signals that the battery is charged more than 80%).

Speaking of the battery, it's a shock that sometimes the battery says it will last for 7+ hours. Considering what I was working with before, I'm still hesitant to walk off without my charger - though I can easily do that. It's definitely a convenience for portability. But since there is no obvious battery, I don't think I'd be able to replace it when it runs out (maybe I'll try to use the Geek squad coverage to fix it up at some point).

I definitely recognize that twisting from the laptop to the tablet is a definite potential break point, but otherwise it's pretty easy and has a magnetic clasp to hold the halves of the notebook together. I especially like that I can set it up to stand on it's own (either in the "tent" or "presentation" modes I think they're called). I know some people get worried that the keyboard will be compromised since there is no cover, but at this point I'm not too worried, and since the keyboard is disabled I'm fine with it.

The screen resolution is quite nice and definitely one of the improvements you notice from older laptops.

The biggest adjustment using this laptop was getting used to Windows 8.1. I could get into this but it would just be easier for both me and you if you just look up reviews. I might sound confusing.

As for some highlights, there is the newer start screen that you need to get used to - and it's definitely easier to use as a touch screen on a tablet. It's also a different format than Android or Apple tablet interfaces, so for me it was definitely an adjustment. It was a bit of a hassle setting up the laptop, with making a Microsoft account (weird issues with Skype log-in in tablet mode) and figuring out how to adjust settings - it can be a bit convoluted. On the other hand I love Google Chrome's tablet mode - way better than the mobile version and as it's own app uses the full screen.

With respect to the desktop mode, depending on the program sometimes the font is really too small and can't be adjusted.

An odd thing to realize with this computer is that since there is both a desktop and tablet mode, apps work just a bit differently. I can download desktop apps like I normally do (or through the windows app for it) and I can download tablet apps through the windows store. My biggest issue with the windows store? People don't like making apps for Windows. A lot of the typical apps that are advertised just aren't available on Windows. It's definitely disappointing, but since I also have the desktop mode, it mitigates some of the need for the tablet app.

So in the end, I'm definitely looking forward to the free upgrade to Windows 10 (maybe a month or so after the release so I don't have to struggle with downgrading).

A problem I've found with just the Yoga Pro 2 (which I didn't notice in reviews until after I purchased and specifically searched for it) is that when the screen brightness is reduced to the low end, the screen tends to flicker. Now usually, I keep my brightness levels on the low side, which means I don't unless it's actually a darker environment. But considering that the range of the brightness, I actually don't keep it on the lower end as much - the min brightness is actually too dim to use in normal indoor lighting.

All in all, I definitely like using this computer and I'm very happy with the purchase, and I tend to carry it around with me even if I don't need to, well just because it's so easy to ^_^.

The Mouse

Computer mice are not necessary on my list of necessary accessories. But considering my main computer is a laptop, it's a little more necessary/convenient when you like to game and for any kind of image/presentation editing.

So my first mice purchases were definitely on the low tech side, like free ones at career fairs or the basic wireless ones. Of course my latest version had broken down - in the sense I just couldn't get any computer to recognize it.

But I've also dipped a toe into the world of gaming mice.

My first experience was with a Razor Naga mouse handed down from a friend. You definitely realize that there is a different technique to use these mice especially because most of them are designed to be ergonomic. I definitely liked the Naga because it was on the smaller side (I am not known for having large hands) and for the 10 extra buttons that came with it. I definitely had fun gaming with the mouse until I had issues with it not connecting to the computer.

Recently, my brother decided to explore that world, and he got way more into it - like the drivers and other specs. I'll admit straight up that I just don't understand those things. But since he was looking, and I was looking to purchase another mouse (especially since the WoW expansion came out) he decided to purchase one for me.

I ended up with the Logitec g502. It's a bit awesome because I can use weights to affect the balance, though I still have to play with it more to figure out what works for me :P. The mouse is a bit longer than what I'm used to so there is definitely going to be a learning curve for when I use it for prolonged times.

It definitely looks cool and I look forward to testing it for long term usage in the near future.

The Headphones

In my recent travels, I've found that airlines are finally more understanding of technology, because they finally don't insist that you remove your headphones/earbuds when the plane is taking off and landing. I guess it's because enough people now have phones/tech that have an airplane mode. And with the increase in mobile devices in general, people are less content to not use them for the extended periods of time.

Which means I can finally look for a good set of headphones.

I mean, there isn't anything wrong with my earbuds - they don't fall off my ears when I'm working out, and because of their shape, I could get away with wearing them without people realizing I'm wearing them (which was great in the no electronics on planes thing I mentioned). But they aren't the greatest with respect to sound quality. And I staunchly believe that no earbud, regardless of quality/price, will match the sound you can get from headphones - the drivers just don't compare at this time. And that's why I refuse to pay more than $30 for a pair of earbuds.

Now I've owned a series of different headphones - I mean I had headphones before I had earbuds. Growing up there were no earbuds with my CD player until high school, which I only got with my first iPod purchase.

I then upgraded to my first pair of gaming headphones with a mic. They looked pretty cool and the band sat being the head instead of over it. Unfortunately I damaged them on a trip to India, so they didn't last very long.

My next pair was a gift and a matching pair to my roommate's. They also had a microphone that tucked into the head band when not in use. I have never owned a pair that connected via USB preferring for the ones with separate pins for microphone and headphones. I still own them and they are in good working condition. I used them frequently even if I wasn't gaming because my Samsung laptop mic was near where I rest my left hand while typing - so you heard everytime I used the touchpad and the keys.

So now we come to my current search.

These days I'm looking for something that really lets me hear the music I'm listening to. And because I listen to a wide range of music, it can be a bit of challenge. Fortunately, even though I had no real idea where to start, I did know what I want - definition and quality of the music and sufficient bass with a headphone that could be used for travel and doesn't get tangled into my hair.

With my initial research I had a lot of terms thrown in my face that made it quite difficult to understand - I did not realize how evolved this area is, though if you think about it, it does make sense. And good quality headphones can be split into several categories, some overlapping. These are some of the more general terms I came across.

On ear vs. Over the ear
This is one of the first things you learn needs to be distinguished and many brands have headphones in both versions. On-ears are definitely newer and meant to be more portable. They definitely lower the cost, but the only way to know what you want is to try them out. I found that I'm more likely to prefer an over the ear.

Open ear vs. Closed ear
This refers to the way the ear cups are designed. A closed ear is what you usually thing of when you see headphones - it's the hard solid covering over the ear cup. Open ear is a specialized design that allows sound to travel to the ear with the ambient sound around you. For example, the people next to you are likely to hear what you're listening to - which means that it's not meant for travel. However, because of the way the sound travels, you end up getting a higher quality (If that doesn't make sense, I recommend trying them out).

.25in plug vs 3.5mm pin
Some headphones, believe it or not don't come with a 3.5mm pin - which usually works for most mobile devices. Some only have the 1/4 inch or stereo plug, which is the larger and longer pin that goes into mixing decks and amps and the like. As you get into the higher end headphones, you can use an adapter for mobile devices, but you're likely to sacrifice any of the improved sound quality. That is one of the reasons I'm not looking at the higher end of the spectrum.

So back to the search. Considering how I could only mildly understand any of the headphone reviews, and the advice to try them out, I was at a bit of a loss at figuring out what/where to do this.

Fortunately a coworker directed me to an audio store where I could try on any of their stocked headphones for as long as I needed to. So I set up a playlist with a broad range of music and finally took the time one Saturday to test them out. I expected to really only decide if I wanted on-ear or over-the-ear but I ended up discovering so much more.

After mentioning what my price range was and roughly what I was looking for, I started out trying a few. The first I tried were a closed ear Shure and on ear Bowers & Wilkins. I found that I liked neither, but a combination of parts. The Shure had great clarity, but it felt a little too airy for my taste (the music didn't seem grounded). The B&W wasn't very comfy, but it had the bass I was definitely missing in the Shure.

So next I was handed the Grado SR325 and another that I just don't remember, and I fell in love. The Grado headphones were absolutely amazing detailed quality. Ponder if you will the ability to hear every line in the lower registers. It was something out of my understanding of what headphones can do and I was blown away - I even discovered new parts of songs I've listened to hundreds of times (sometimes on repeat). It was so good that I don't even remember what the other set of headphones were, because they just couldn't compare. The only disappointing factor with respect to the sound was the imbalance. The sound was a bit top heavy and though you could hear all the bass, for some songs I need to feel the bass.

I also tried a Sennheiser and an open ear Shure, but I didn't particular enjoy them. The Sennheisers are supposed to be known for their "natural" sound, with no adjustments to the sound. Compared to the Grado, it sounded flat. The open ear Shure felt the same.

I got the chance to try the Grado 2 levels up (the 500 series I believe). And I discovered that my imbalance issue was pretty much corrected at this point (if I went any higher I wouldn't get the full experience with the 3.5mm pin). I swear it was like I was listening to my music for the first time and getting lost in it all over again.

So, what did I learn? That I love Grado headphones. Amazing sound quality.

Now why am I not getting a pair?

Grado only makes open ear headphones. Though the 500 series was the better out of the two, it's just about $400 out of my range (let's not get into the $900+ versions). There is no way I'd be wearing that walking down the street, especially since they don't even come with a sturdy cover case. I'm a little heartbroken over it. I guess I'm not that much of a super audiophile.

On the other hand, my coworker has the RS1 series that is priced between the two I tried, so I can't get an idea of what the 1 step up from my budget is like. It's supposed to have wooden parts that make the sound richer.

So what is my plan? After going back to my pre-trial research, I decided to try out the V-Moda Crossfade M100. It's rated well as a DJ headphone, so I'm hoping it has good sound quality and enough bass that I'm can at least settle for. It's also supposed to be one of the sturdiest things out there and comes with a 2 year warranty and the headphones have been super durability tested. It comes with a hard case and additional cables (you can even have 2 different feeds of music at the same time). As a side perk, one of the cables comes with an in line mic and volume rocker that works with smart phones.

I find myself leaning towards the white/silver version instead of the either of the black versions as more of a fashion standpoint (who would have thought considering I tend to prefer black and red for most of my tech).

Once I get a chance to try them out I'll share what I think.

The Phone

So my family's phone contract is ending this spring - which means I'm searching for an upgrade for my phone.

I'm not planning on getting rid of my current phone, the HTC Droid DNA, since it's still chugging along and already has an unlocked sim card. Unfortunately the HTC Butterfly 2, follow up to the international version of my phone - Butterfly S, isn't available with any US provider right now >.< (it's considered a traveler's best friend kinda phone).

Essentially I'm looking for a phone that has a replaceable battery that has a good battery life, a higher end camera (considering what's out there these days, I might as well embrace it), a good screen size without being bulky, is waterproof, and preferably a 2.5GHz processor at least (like I said, rollin' with it).

At first I was set to get the Samsung S5 without much research. But now that I've started looking, there are a decent number of options I could go with. There's the Motorola Droid turbo (I think you can even use or the Sony Xperion X3 (though Verizon only has the X3v which is a little clunkier). LG has finally come out with a comparable smart phone in the G3. I'm not impressed by HTC's phones this time around because I've not really been a fan of the "One" series - my heart lies with the Butterfly series. The newest Google Nexus seems interesting, but the screen might just be a bit to big to be comfortable in my hand.

It would be cool if Verizon could take any of the new Asian phones that are finally popping up on the US market. Hopefully they'll start to bring a lower priced competition to bring down the price of smart phones. I dislike spending more that $100 on a phone that I'm likely to replace in 2 years (I'll go up to $200 if forced, but no more). I personally don't see why a phone has to cost more than a portable mp3 player when it seems like they are pretty similar all things considered.

I haven't mentioned either the iPhone or any Windows phone, because frankly I prefer Android.

I personally don't have anything against Apple products. In fact I am a fan of MacBooks and most of their portable devices. But I just don't think the phones are worth it. With the way they keep "updating" the phones it makes me feel like they are advertising that their phones don't have the durability of their other products. So I'm just not an iPhone fan.

With Windows phones... Well until the mobile OS and apps start to get to a comparable level of GooglePlay or iTunes, I'm not interested.

So it'll be interesting to see what happens with the Samsung S6 slated to come out this spring (one of the reasons I'm hesitant to go with the S5) and how the other phones compare. It'll definitely require an in person visit at some point.

Now that I've finally gotten to the end of a very long post, here's a funky tune to liven things up a little ^_^