Tablets, tablets....everywhere.

The annual Consumer Electronics show was recently held in Las Vegas and there was certainly one theme -  tablets.  The success of the iPad has attracted newcomers to the market and in 2011 expect to see a smorgasbord of tablets.  What exactly does that mean to you the techno geek?  It means a couple of things.  One, you’ll be able to pick up an nice laptop or netbook CHEAP because all the pundits are telling us the laptop is dead (I do not believe this.)  I’ve stated before, the tablet footprint is excellent for absorbing information, but not so good at creating it.  They are hard to type on and the “apps” environment is limiting because there is no real file structure to speak of, so keeping files on your device will not be easy.  There are applications like DropBox which bridge this gap, but it will certainly be interesting at the least to see how competitors try to carve out their niche by concentrating on things like easy peripheral connectivity (read this USB files for example) and FLASH video (a BIG limitation of the iPad).  Data plan pricing and the actual look, feel and functionality of the tablet will separate the products I’m sure.    

Here are a few of the different vendors and architecture they will be using in the tablet niche.

1.)    Dell Streak.  T-Mobile will offer this with a 4G connection.  It’s a 7 inch screen (smaller than the iPad but twice the size of the average smart phone).  It will be using the Android (Google) operating system.  There is also going to be a 10 inch version, but later in the year.    I don’t see the 7 inch version being a winner as there is just not enough real estate on that size screen.  I often wish my iPad was bigger.

2.)    Toshiba Tegra 2. This is a working name.  It’s a 10 inch screen.  It will ship with Android 3.0 O/S.  They will be hanging their hat on a feature that upconverts video to high definition.  It will have a panoply of connections.  Mini USB, front and rear cameras (Skype , Video chat), USB, HDMI, and microSD card slots.  It looks to me like they are going to try to make this a “mobile TV” with the emphasis on video and all the connections, like HDMI which all modern TV’s have.  I see you streaming Netflix to this device, upconvert to High Def and then plugging your device in to your flat screen to watch a streaming movie.  It makes sense since Toshiba is a big TV producer.  I also predict an app that makes this a Super Duper remote control for your TV – so long as it’s a Toshiba!

3.)    Motorola Xoom.  First off, I’m not a big fan of using an X for a Z, but oh well.  The Motorola Xoom will be on the Verizon network and it will use 4G LTE.  It’ll have two cameras, front and rear, and HDMI.  It’ll be using the Android Operating System as well.  Motorola is known for making devices that are rugged and well built.  I suspect this device will be as well.  A good choice probably if you are a Verizon customer.

4.)    RIM Playbook.  This might just save RIM.  Blackberries are getting long in the tooth, although I still recommend them for heavy enterprise emailers.  Their push email technology is best in class.  If they can port this feature over to the Playbook, they have a winner.   This product will also allow you to tether your blackberry so that you can share contacts, data, emails and web connectivity.  RIM’s strategy seems to want to convince you that you need both the blackberry device and the Playbook.  In some ways it makes sense because I carry both an iPhone and an iPad.  Maybe they are banking on the fact that tablets just don’t make good phones and that since you’ll be carrying both, it might as well be a blackberry.  I suspect they will take advantage of Verizon’s network, but could also be available with other carriers.

5.)    Lenovo IdeaPad.  Lenovo  has been in the tablet PC business for years and has never been able to get the convertible swivel screen laptops to take off.  They were heavy, cumbersome to convert and I never liked them.  The Ideapad Slate is going to change this.   Its claim to fame, it will be running Windows 7.  It’s also a netbook.  The screen detaches.  I’m not so sure I’m sold on this either.  It’s basically a full fledged laptop with a detachable tablet portion.  The tablet portion, can however, be purchased separately.  The tablet is around $500 bucks, the whole shebang is $1300.  There may be a market for people who are married to Microsoft.

6.)    Vizio Via.  An 8 inch Android O/S entry.  Vizio makes beautiful HDTV’s and now they make a nice tablet as well.  Their TV’s are always at a great price point, and some in the business speculate they will try and price their tablet under the competition as well.  Its shortcoming is that it’s only available as a WI-FI device and cannot connect to cellular networks.  Future models are supposed to remedy this situation.  They also have a mini HDMI connection and have a built in IR (infrared remote) so all the things I said about the Toshiba tablet doing double duty as a media remote, go for this device as well.  It makes sense.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see this device included as a remote to their higher end tv’s in the future.

7.)    NEC LT-W.  This is an odd device.  It has two screens and opens like a book.  Can you say e-reader?  This device is WAY off as far as production and I only included it because it had a unique two screen design.  It may never see the light of day, at least until battery technology gets to a point to where you can power two screens without the device weighing 20 lbs. 

This list is not comprehensive and the real take away from my article is….. “if you are going to buy a tablet anytime soon, wait”.  Why?... it’s soon going to be a buyer’s market on this product sector and it will be interesting to see which devices end up on top.  My prediction is that one of the Android devices will rise to the top because of a yet unknown consumer “like”.  Maybe even a couple of the Andriod devices will make it.  One thing is for sure, the tablet is really here to stay.  I can’t wait to see the cool things creative people have figured out to add to this format and experience new functions and new features that make these products stand out. 

Rates this market niche .... a "Well Done"

Best Family Friendly web Content Filter

In an earlier post, I stated that there is no “free lunch” on the internet.  That is a good rule of thumb for the most part, but if you find a source you can trust (MeatMeter.com J ) and you know where to look, there are still a few gems to be unearthed out there.  One of my favorite tools, especially if you have kids with new laptops or other devices that are going to connect to your household network, is OpenDNS.   DNS (Domain Name Service) is the internet’s phone book.  Every computer or website on the web has what is called an IP address (Internet Protocol).  To put it simply, DNS takes the address you typed into your browser,  looks up the DNS entry for the IP address and then serves up that page to you.   

OpenDNS was launched in 2006.  It uses its own “phone book” to block or filter content categories.  Quite simply, it makes adult and objectionable content sites unlisted.  Companies like Burger King, Fuji Film and Century21 use their paid services.

OpenDNS is free for personal use and in July they also launched Family Shield (http://www.opendns.com/familyshield) which is also free and is has a few less bells and whistles when compared to their Basic product.  If you like a bit more control, you might like the Basic product better.  

If you connect directly to your cable modem or DSL modem on one PC, you'll only have to set the DNS setting on that one PC.  If you use a router, you'll set up the DNS setting on your router, and it will protect every PC or device that connects to your network (wired or wireless.)  There are step by step instructions on the site for almost every kind of router on the market.  They also have an easy step by step guide on getting started.  Their knowledgebase is huge as well and very helpful.

Caution: 

Be careful when changing settings on your router.  Make sure you copy down the current settings (the DNS addresses) before you make changes as you can render your internet useless.  Keep the info in case you need to roll back if you have an unsuccessful installation.  All you need to do is google “how do I change the DNS settings on <insert your router make and model number here>.

Most of the time you connect to your router through your browser by typing  192.168.1.1 in your address bar.  If you don’t know your router’s username and password, try the defaults. (find your default here http://www.phenoelit-us.org/dpl/dpl.html).  If you don’t know the router password, you’ll have to reset your router.  To be honest, you should know your router’s password and if you don’t, that’s a good reason for you to reset it.  Consult your router’s manual on how to do this.  Every router I’ve ever set up has an online manual.  Be sure to find it and save it locally should you lose internet use while playing around, and trust me, you probably will. 

Protecting your kids from the dark side of the internet is definitely worth a little inconvenience and wrestling with your router’s settings.  Check out OpenDNS at OpenDNS.com.  Well done OpenDNS, well done.

Gives OpenDNS a "Well Done"



Virus, Spyware, Malware...oh my!

Why do people write and spread viruses?  What is the difference between a virus, spyware and malware?  Why doesn’t my antivirus stop this stuff?  All great questions.  Let me try and answer these questions one at a time.

First, why?  Why are viruses spread and why do people spend their time writing viruses?  The answers to this question are many.  Sometimes, someone has an ax to grind and they are putting out a piece of software that might exploit a weakness in a piece of software like Windows.  Whole groups of people feel vindicated and even vigilante-like and victorious when they make Windows send out a hotfix or a patch due to a piece of software they may have written and spread in the wild.  It’s simply for sport.

Next, there are people who write this stuff because there is money in it.  Countless numbers of people click on balloons and windows that pop up (and many look like an official notice from Windows) and tell you that you are infected and need to spend $19.95 to “renew” or remove your infection.  Most of these are bogus, but many are so strong in their kung-fu that your computer becomes unusable.  You may even release the offending software by  clicking on what you might think is the “Cancel” “X” or “No” buttons.  The programs are written to make you think you are clicking “no” but in actuality you are clicking “Ok” even though the button says “no”.  See how sneaky they are?

So there is incentive from a sporting nature of underground programmers and there is money to be made, so that explains why these things keep popping up (pun intended).  I am also not a conspiracy theorist, but if you sell an antivirus, malware, or spyware removal product, you probably like these infections.

Malware, Spyware, Virus?  What is the difference?  In general, all of these types of programs can do harm to your computer, so I’d like to coin a term “nuisance-ware”.  This term incorporates all three of these types of programs. 

In general, a virus is much like its health care counterpart.  It is a program that replicates itself and is programmed to spread in the wild.  I can cause hard drive damage, or even render your PC unusable.  There are worms, Trojan-horses and other types of viruses in this category.  Typically, a good antivirus program will work on these types of threats, although you must keep your virus definitions up to date since there are many different iterations and “strains”.  Operating system updates also help with these types of threats and should be performed regularly.

Spyware is a different animal.  Typically, spyware will install itself and you’ll never know it is there.  This is the kind of software that will steal passwords and find banking information and send it to someone behind the internet curtain and then that person can use your information for malevolent purposes or use your email program without your knowledge to spread itself.  If your computer suddenly starts running VERY slow but otherwise seems ok, this is probably your issue.

Malware is a kind of virus-spyware hybrid.  It uses techniques used by both.  It tries to spread itself in the wild and it also tries to get you to buy a product or spend money to get rid of a problem your PC may have.  This is probably the most active kind of program I usually see.  They usually have very important sounding names like Antivirus2011, VirusWareUpdate, or even official Windows sounding names like WinVirus etc.  (I might also add here that most viruses, spyware and malware do target Windows based computers for reasons I mentioned above and the fact that they are 90% of the installed base - Mac's and Unix based systems are far less susceptible.  They have their share of security issues, but are targeted much less frequently.) 

Ok, so how do you mitigate your exposure?  There are a few simple things you can do to minimize your risk.

DO NOT click on links in email or on facebook (unless it is meatmeter.com:) )

DO NOT view videos in emails or on facebook  (videos spread more problems than anything)

If you get a link to a “cool” video and can’t stand it, go to YouTube first and then search for the video.

DO NOT click any balloon or pop up window that says “Your Computer is infected, click here to…” Even if you click the “NO” “Cancel” “Close Window”, “IGNORE” or the “X” in the right hand window  part of the pop up, you will release the virus.  JUST DON’T CLICK.  A great way to close a potentially offending window or pop up is to hit the CTRL + F4 button.  This will close the active window without clicking.

DO NOT install any toolbars

DO NOT go to Coupon Savers, FREE SOFTWARE, or any other sites that promise savings and/or free stuff.  (Coupon sites will say things like “Click here to install the print drivers so you can print coupons”)  DON’T DO IT.  If you want a coupon for your product, go direct to that product’s website and look there.

DO NOT search for “VIRUS SOFTWARE REMOVAL TOOL” or any iteration thereof.  These programs, are almost ALWAYS viruses or malware themselves.

DO NOT download free music , free software, or free movies from the internet.  They are rife with malicious code.

Just remember, there is no such thing as a “free” lunch, so stay away from any free content and/or any “amazing” new links in any emails or on facebook and you’ll be much safer in your surfing.

Ranks ALL Virus, Malware or Spyware a great big "RARE"

STEER CLEAR (mooooo!)

What is "Cloud" computing?

The technology field is second to none when creating jargon. The nomenclature used in my business never ceases to amaze me. It’s a rite of passage to learn the lingo and then use it in a meeting where nobody knows what you are talking about. There is nothing like watching Board members’ eyes glaze over when you begin to talk about IT and start throwing out acronyms and other technologically coded phrases during a meeting. All during my career, when people ask me what I do, I tell them I’m an interpreter. A walking, talking Technology to English, English to Technology dictionary. Today’s entry in my lexicon is “Cloud”. My mission, and I do choose to accept it, is to not sound condescending to you while simultaneously trying to demystify this common technology usurped nugget of a word. Want to sound knowledgeable in your next IT meeting? Look your CTO straight in the eyes and say, “So what progress have we made with evaluating moving our software and services to the cloud?” It’ll get your IT guy all excitedy. Ok, I admit it, I made up excitedy, but the rest is gold I tell ya! I also promise you, that if you read the rest of this, you’ll know exactly what that means. If you already do, you can stop here, unless you have five or six minutes to kill.
What is cloud computing and where exactly is the cloud located and is there a chance of scattered showers? Simply put, the cloud is the internet. It gets its name because on the schematics of IT infrastructure that no one ever updates, documents or looks at, the symbol for the internet is a cloud. If you bank online, you are using the infamous cloud. If you use Google mail, play online poker, or use Facebook (gotcha!) you are cloud computing. Heck, entire Universities like Phoenix and Shopping Malls like Amazon exist out there in the cloud. Your photo album is probably in the cloud. Here’s a good way to think of it, if it runs in a browser, you are in the cloud.
I’ve just finished converting my office to GoogleApps. Guess what, no more Microsoft Exchange server to use and care for and no more backup tapes to take offsite every night. Viola’, I’m in the cloud. I am much more secure with the infrastructure and support of a $330 billion dollar company than my 5 year old Microsoft Exchange email Server back in the closet running on bubble gum and bandaids. Buy a new server, 100 new seat licenses, Microsoft Server 2008 or move to GoogleApps for free? Guess what, no more gifts that keep on giving to Bill Gates – so long sucker. My entire career has been a shotgun wedding with Mary Microsoft and as an IT professional, I’ve wanted a divorce from her because she never works right and you just can’t talk to her. I have had to, reluctantly, learn to just push her buttons and hold on and hope for the best. Well guess what, cloud computing offers me that chance to end this relationship! Are you beginning to get the picture now as to why this paradigm shift is getting the business world’s attention? Can you see why you should be buying Google and selling Microsoft stock yet? Well, hang on, it gets better. Application Service Providers or ASP’s (I’ll save this one for later) are beginning to roll out productivity, collaboration and even communications suites that run from the cloud. Gone are the days when you buy a big server, load up a giant application, dole out seats to the dance one by one to users and manage everything in between. No, now, if you can browse, you’re in. Players like Salesforce.com are already putting a dent in the sharing, meeting and collaborating over the web market. Huge shift in business travel expenses as tele-presence gets better and cheaper. Salesforce.com will “cloudify” (ok, I made that one up too) any application and host it for you over the web. If you think all this is saving big money on IT expeditures, business travel expenses, long distance, you name it - you’d be right.
Too good to be true? What happens when you lose your internet connection? Have any of you ever been to McDonald’s during a power outage or if their computers were down? That’s pretty much what you’d see in your office if you lost internet connectivity, everybody would be looking at each other wondering how much a big mac costs which wouldn’t matter because they couldn’t sell you one or make change anyway, …. You get the picture. Some companies are not ready, either, to allow some server farm in Iowa to house all of their data and not be able to put their hands on a buzzing server in the office with blinking lights. I say these folks will be holding on at their peril. The cost savings are going to be too enticing not to look at this model and with the extra savings you can buy dedicated redundant internet connectivity.
Imagine a world, in the not too distant future where all of your info is in the cloud and you can reach it by ipad, iphone, android, laptop, notebook, mac, windows, apple snow leapord – who cares what kind of system.. and you are no longer tethered to your desktop PC in the office cube….all that stuff in the cloud doesn’t care where or what you use to look at it, it only cares that you can run a browser. Think of how that might change the notion of how you produce and how it will ultimately redefine the office environment. This is all exciting stuff and perhaps now you can see, at least from my perspective, why my job is fun. Innovate or die in this environment.

Well, that’s all for now. It’s clear today, but this guy sees clouds in the forecast.

Says that "Cloud Computing" rates a big "Medium" for now.

Best Apps for iPhone and iPad

Santa brought you your new iPhone, ok, so now what?  How does this iTunes thingy work?  What applications are the most popular, and which ones can I get some actual use out of?  Ok, whether its iPhone or iPad, applications will run on both.  There are some applications or “apps” that have an iPhone and iPad version.   Any app that runs on an iPhone will run on an iPad.  The iTunes store will show you whether there is a specific iPad version.

 I am no big fan of iTunes.  You will have to initially marry your i-device to a PC through iTunes to activate it.  iTunes will back up your phone/tablet for you too.  You can also use iTunes to subscribe to podcasts and download other fun stuff.  I find it cumbersome to say the least.  I tried out a couple of podcasts and found it awkward to plug up my device every day to download the podcasts.  As a result, I just found the content I was subscribing to available on demand via website and gave up on podcasts.  Some of you might be more diligent, but not me.  I prefer to get my content – apps, songs, podcasts – direct from over the air.  I don’t often tether my devices to my PC and just use a standalone charger and dock to charge my devices.  Rarely do I use iTunes.

Ok, what about apps?  Here’s my list to try out.  Most of them are free.

Angry Birds - It goes without saying that you’ll have to download Angry Birds.  Its a simple game in which you shoot birds at well protected pigs who have stolen the birds’ eggs.  It’s a physics game, and as such, every game is different.  Try it, it’s addictive.

Google Search -  Google’s voice recognition is beyond the pale.  I’ve used this application often while driving.  You pick up the phone, activate the Google search and then just speak into your phone.  The recognition is very accurate.  Sure beats typing on the tiny keyboard, which I wouldn’t advise while driving anyway. 

Flipboard.  This application is just beautiful on the iPad.  It integrates with Twitter and Facebook in a whole new way and displays your social media websites as a magazine.  It was voted application of the year by Apple.

Zinio – another application that looks incredible on the iPad.  Zinio is for magazines what iTunes is for songs.  You can subscribe electronically to e-versions of magazines. Consider it your electronic magazine newsstand.

Dropbox – you should use this even if you don’t have an iPad or an iPhone.  Dropbox is a virtual folder.  Up to 1gig of storage is free.  It works just like a network shared drive.  Installing a small application on any PC or device connected to the internet joins your network and makes your file available on any number of PC’s, phones or tablet devices.  No more emailing to yourself!  Saving and moving files around on a PC get a bit cumbersome using iTunes.  Dropbox makes it much easier.

Skype – you can put Skype on your iPhone or your iPad and anywhere you have internet access, you can make phone calls free to any other Skype users.  If  your iPhone or iPad includes 3G and you have a SkypeOut option on your account, you can make free phone calls.  It’s about 3 bucks a month for SkypeOut.  SkypeOut allows you to call any phone from your Skype account.  They also have international rates and versions too, but Skype is a whole other column.  For now, add Skype to your i-device.

Pandora – Pandora is internet Radio.  It is a nice concept.  You create your account, log in, and then create your own “stations”.  Pandora then begins to choose and stream music from that Genre.  It’s a great app.  I plug my iPhone into my car radio and listen often.  Who needs XM?

NightStand – Night Stand is an app that turns your iPhone or iPad into a clock radio.  The reason I like it, is that my charging dock is next to my bedside table and using this app as my alarm clock reminds me to charge my iPhone.  It works great too, as a travel alarm clock.

MyLite – A simple flashlight application that turns your phone or tablet into a flashlight.  It simply makes your touch screen light up.  I have used this application on my iPad during a power outage.  I started the application and laid it down on the coffee table and the entire room was well lit.  5 – 10 hours of battery time too.  I have also used this application when working on PC’s or servers in tight spaces with dim light.  With this app, you’ll always have a flashlight in your pocket if you carry your phone everywhere like I do.

Facebook – this one is self explanatory if you are a Facebook user.  There is no Facebook app yet specifically for the iPad, but it should be out soon. 

DoodleJump – a great, fun game.  Trust me.

Mobile Talk -  If you are a big talk radio fan, you must download this application.  It streams talk radio 24-7.

The Weather Channel – maps and videos look amazing on the iPad. 

Epicurious – simply the best looking cookbook I’ve seen, and it’s free.  It also will create a shopping list for you based on the dish ingredients.  Great app if you like to cook and have a culinary inquisitive side.

Zillow.com – real estate finder.  In the market?  You must get this app.  It can even use GPS to show you available houses in your area.

Well, those ought to keep you busy for a while.  Hope you enjoy your new i-device.

Ranks all of the applications above as "Well Done"

Am I a Kindle, a Nook, or an iPad?

E-reader, what to do, what to do?  The purpose of this column is to try and cut through the gazillion different charts and graphs and technical mumbo jumbo and help you make a decision on your e-reader purchase. There are really only three options to choose from.  The Kindle, the Nook, and the iPad.  All others, are also-rans.  There are competitors out there that are cheaper, but they are no-names and I doubt they will gain the market share that these products have.  Remember HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, never heard of HD-DVD?  My point exactly.  

Ok, let’s talk Kindle.  The Kindle e-book reader was put out by Amazon.com.  If you are an avid reader, this is your choice.  The display is monochrome (ok black and white/ grayscale) and the image is crisp and clear.  The image truly looks like ink on paper.  This device is for reading, that’s it.  Its other advantage is that you can download a book anywhere you can get 3G service and the 3G(mobile internet connection) is included on the $189 model. The DX model is larger and clocks in at a much higher intro price of $389. (both with no 3G gift that keeps on giving like other devices, more on that later).   You can also read outdoors, for those of you who like to go to the beach, sit in the park, or go out on the deck to read.  

Next we have the Nook.  This is the offering by Barnes and Noble.  They have monochrome devices, but let’s skip right to the latest – the Nook Color ($249).  This thing is an iPad-lite.  It’s an e-book reader with a web browser.  The display is beautiful and it runs on the Android operating system from Google.  Don’t think you are getting a giant Android phone though, that’s not the case, and its capabilities are limited.  There are a couple of Apps like Facebook and Twitter, but not much more. The price point is higher than the Kindle, but lower than the iPad.  In other words, right on target for a device that isn’t just an e-reader, but also isn’t a full- fledged tablet computing device either.  The Nook Color does not come with a mobile everywhere (3G) internet connection, it relies on a Wi-Fi hotspot connections or your wireless home or office network. Think Starbuck’s, internet cafes or airports.  A couple of cute extras thrown in by B & N - you can loan a book for up to two weeks to a friend who has a Nook .  You also can read any book B & N has by going into their store and using their Wi-Fi signal (up to an hour a day).  If you want a middle of the road tablet/e-book reader, then this is your device.

This brings us to the iPad.  Fair warning, this gets complicated with gobbledygook - in a Steve Jobs sort of way.  Once upon a time, lots of people – me included – thought the iPad was an e-book reader killer.  Why would anyone buy a Kindle or Nook when they could get an iPad?  Price points and marketing have kept this market competitive, plus some people ONLY want an e-reader.  The iPad is a full- fledged tablet device, supported by hundreds of thousands of apps which will do other things like play games, surf the web, “ding dong” when you get an email, locate a restaurant, you name it.  You also are not going to get an iPad for under  $500 bucks either.  They have Wi-Fi only devices and devices that will run on 3G, however, you’ll have to pay AT&T each month for the privilege of using 3G.  You cannot “add” 3G to a non-3G iPad, so make your decision carefully up front.  The full blown iPad 3G + WiFi 64 Gigabyte version will cost near $1000 with a case and taxes plus the $50/month to AT&T for 3G.  You can see how if you’re just going to use this thing to read books, how it gets expensive.   You can still get a non-3G middle of the road iPad (32 Gigabytes of storage) for $599.  Apple is really good confluxinating you with mumbo jumbo and floating the $499 price tag to get  you in, and then having you leave the store by buying the $1000 model and  you saying to yourself "what just happened?"  Hopefully, reading this column will prevent that, or cause it, whatever the case may be.  Also, if you're a reader, see how you could buy a Kindle or Nook at their pricepoint and load it up with $700 - $800 worth of books for the same price as a top of the line iPad?   

Ok, so which one.  Well, you come here for my opinion so here goes.  If you like long walks on the beach and enjoy sitting in the sunshine while reading Tolstoy, you’re a Kindle.  If your idea of reading includes Soap Opera magazine and People (magazines are beautiful on the color Nook by the way), and you occasionally read best sellers like “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” or ”Hunger Games”, while checking your email and surfing Facebook, you’re a Nook (color) ($249).  If you are a First Person Shooter or Angry Birds person (you know who you are) who likes to get a “beep” when they get email and look cool by pulling out your iPad at Starbuck’s, you’re an iPad all the way. ($499-$829).  Furthermore, there will be times you’ll wish you opted for the 3G, but my advice is don’t.  As for me, I’d much rather keep the $50/month in my pocket and find a WiFi spot at McDonald’s or Chick-Fil-A.  You could be different, but I don’t see this as a $600/year luxury I need, especially since I already give blood every month to AT&T for my iPhone account.  I’d only go with the 3G on the Kindle since it’s free (the non-3G version sells for $139, go for the 3G version which is $189 and includes lifetime 3G coverage).  The hardest part of making your choice is going to try and figure out which kind of reader you are.  Good Luck!

In short

 Voracious, outdoor reader who thinks Twitter is a sound a bird makes  – Kindle  3G

($189)

e-Magazine, Best Seller, Facebook, Twitterer – Nook Color

($249)

Mobile Gamer, emailer, app user, techie who loves reading and looking cool at Starbuck's – iPad

($499 - $829 plus $50/month if you want 3G)

Rates e-book readers a "Well Done" I like 'em all, but choose wisely

3D TV, Should I buy it?

This article is not about which 3D TV is the best, which has the best picture and which TV is the best buy.  This article is about why I think 3D TV is a gimmick and why I don't think it will take off.   3D TV and movies have been around for ages.  They come and they go. The technology has gotten marginally better.  3D works because your eyes recieve two different pictures slightly out of sync and your brain puts them back together again and it results in a three dimensional effect.  This effect will always require you to wear kooky glasses.  The glasses are VERY expensive - for now - and I am afraid that is reason one as to why the 3D experience won't take off - we all look funny in weird glasses.  Some of the glasses I've seen should come with a funny moustache attached.  You'll never be able to enjoy a movie shot in 3D without the glasses.  Lose or sit on the glasses and break them and your DVD or movie becomes useless.  (I am sure they'll box DVD's with both formats as they do now for Blu-ray movies.)  For my money, Blu-Ray DVD is the better experience and you don't need glasses.  Reason two - our brains are just too smart for their own good (well most of us anyway). Because of the way your brain works, the 3D effect is minimized after the first few minutes of watching.  Sure, the picture is still in simulated 3D, but our brains have a tendency to minimize and adjust for the effect soon after watching. Don't get suckered in in the showroom.  Watch for about 15 minutes, no matter how long the line is behind you to try it. After about 10, you'll strain to see the 3d effect and you'll then begin to get a headache.  Frustrating for me, at a 3D movie, which usually costs significantly more at the ticket booth, this desensitization usually occurs right around after the credits finish rolling.  Usually not worth the extra price of admission for me.  This brings me to reason three, size does matter.  In the movies, a larger than life movie does, in fact, appear to leap off the screen.  48 Inch LCD at home from 15 feet away, not so much.  So in summary, glasses make us look kooky,  our brains are just too smart and size does matter.  Here's the meaty take away for now.  NON-3d flat screens have been way overproduced and there are 3D versions out, or coming out which would make the TV's now in the supply chain, obsolete.  Not so fast, this results in great prices right now on non 3D TV's.  Buy yourself a bigger nicer, non-3D TV for less money.  I would even opt for a Samsung or other internet connectable tv as very soon Apple, Google, Netflix and Hulu will be delivering our content, not Time Warner or Comcast.  That's my recommended cut -o- beef for now.

rates 3D TV a big "Rare" - steer clear.