Tag: Electronics

A Night to Myself: ASUS, TOSHIBA, and Xbox One Thoughts

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I have to admit that I haven’t been up this late in ages. I’m not going to say that work is tiring or anything because it’s not stressful enough to be tiring. It’s just the that fact I enjoy going to bed earlier nowadays. Tonight, I’m waiting for a certain program to finish and I don’t feel like sleeping, setting my alarm for five in the morning and having to drag myself back on the computer. My notebook is downstairs, uncharged, and yet I am too lazy to even consider charging it.

I just finished my nighttime ritual of taking out my contact lenses and washing my face. I can literally feel my thick moisturizer being soaked up by my skin. I got Peter’s older Nokia Lumia 900 to use until the Note 3 comes out. At this rate, I think I’ll get it although the Galaxy S4 is never far from my mind. I checked out the two new Nokia Windows phones and I’m adding them to the list as well. I got to play with the Toshiba’s KIRAbook yesterday. The Microsoft Store has it for $1999 and I must say it seems almost worth the price. At the end of the day, you have to pay premium to get premium, you know? I’ve played with a lot of notebooks, tablets, ultrabooks, etc., and not much has really caught my attention other than the KIRAbook and the ASUS Vivobook. Originally, I’ve been looking for an extremely light and portable notebook. I have thought about the tablets but I figure I just get a touchscreen notebook that is perhaps 11″ more or less, I’d be set with the stability that a notebook provides with the portability of a tablet. I work with a 27″ monitor (and sometimes a 32″) on a regular basis so I wonder how well I’ll transition if I get something that small.

ASUS Vivobook

The ASUS Vivobook X202E provides the quality I’ve come to expect from ASUS which is just about always decent. I would much prefer Samsung but the one they currently have at the store is just not cutting it for me. It essentially was an updated version of my current Samsung Chronos 7. 8 GB of RAM, check. A dedicated AMD graphics card and a third generation i7 processor, check and check. Just about the same except instead of 1 TB of hard drive space which my current has, the new one come with a solid state (not sure what the amount of storage it came with, I’m guess 128 GB). Anyway, so the Vivobook comes with a 1.80 Ghz i3 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 500 GB hard drive at 5400 rpm which is a bit slow compared to what’s in other machines these days. It’s going for $399 and at 2.86 lbs., I can’t really beat that. It has a 11.6 LED LCD touch display which makes life a whole lot easier for me. So when it comes down to it, I’m really considering getting it and I’ve been thinking about it for about a month now.

Toshiba KIRAbook

The Toshiba KIRAbook on the other hand, I actually just got to play with it on Wednesday. Man, it is so fast and snappy. It actually makes me want to stay on the computer and not do anything else all day. Everything about this ultrabook screams “PREMIUM” to me. From it’s extremely sleek finish and design, to the Harmon Kardon speakers, to the 256 GB SSD, and its i7 processor that overclocks from 2.00 to a 3.10 Ghz. It has 8 GB RAM (DDR3). It does not have a dedicated video card and I admit that the battery life is on the low to average end compared to the 11 hours I get with my Samsung while the KIRAbook gets a measly 6 hours. Toshiba isn’t new to the industry but they been floating by and have been off the radar for the past couple of years. I have to say that my opinion is changing slightly due to my recent experience but we will have to see. Further testing is required. :) At 2.97 lbs., it outweighs the Vivobook by .11 lbs. I’m not trying to exclusively compare them because they are in completely different classes of their own and it would be stupid for me to compare a $400 computer with a $2000. However, I do mention them together just because there are the only two I have been debating on purchasing. I’m sure I’ll check out a few more notebooks on the way.

At the end of the day, I’m probably more comfortable losing a $400 notebook over an overpriced $2K ultrabook. Oh yes, I forgot to mention earlier that I would be using this for work. I could technically bring my Samsung, but I wouldn’t feel great about losing that either. I liken my Samsung notebook to a workhouse as it carries most of the workload although I am making the effort not to neglect my desktop. My Samsung is kind of like my spouse … so I may look at other notebooks and ultrabooks, but at the end of the day, I know that my 700Z is perfect for me and has the capabilities that I need and want. Not saying I wouldn’t but=y the KIRAbook on a whim though ;P. I think a lot of new products will be introduced very soon so it would be wiser for me to wait lest the Vivobook drops even more on its current price. At that point, I would use my student discount and “BAM” I’d be in heaven.

Random Thoughts and the Xbox One

How in the world did I end up talking about technology and electronics again? Anyway, I am quite tired but I’m glad nevertheless that I got to sit down and get some of my thoughts out. I’m looking forward to my day off and of doing absolutely nothing. So much has been on my mind and I have to say that the Xbox Reveal on Tuesday has gotten me really hyped up and I usually don’t get hyped up for anything. I’ll probably be one of the first ones to buy it though because unless it’s such a failure of a product, I can’t see why not. I think a lot of people are worried about the wrong things such as how it looks, and whether or not it will still be a good gaming console, etc. Some people did not get the impression that it was a “gaming console” and that’s because it’s not just a gaming console anymore. It’s an all-in-one, an entertainment center. Xbox Reveal was more of a trailer and a strategic move on Microsoft’s part.

First off, who cares if it looks boxier, inorganic, etc.? It seems a lot sturdier to me, uniform, and better ventilated to me. I’d rather my Xbox One not overheat or topple over because someone prioritized form over function. Secondly and continuing my thoughts about it being an entertainment center, this is going to be the product for the next ten years. Microsoft had to make such dramatic changes to the architecture that it would be a step backwards to play it safe and make an Xbox  360 sister product. If you really think about it, you won’t need a Roku or an Apple TV, six different remotes, or even a Smart TV anymore because you will have it all if the Xbox One works they way they’re intending it to. I think the Xbox One really simplifies it and they weren’t kidding about that at all. For all the people concerned about how it’s no longer a gaming console, hold your horses and wait for E3. It wouldn’t have made ANY sense to reveal most (or any) of the Xbox One’s gaming capabilities before E3.

My thoughts are that Microsoft already has the info and details on the PS4 and put out the Xbox Reveal only a month before E3 for two reasons possibly: one, to hype up consumers and therefore invoke a lot of discussion by the media, and two, to put Sony on their toes because Microsoft knows that the Xbox One is going to trump the PS4 (and the fact that it’s too late for Sony to change anything). From the responses and prompt actions of Sony following the Xbox Reveal last Tuesday, I’d sat Sony is pulling their hair out right now. So this is why I think it was more of a strategic move for Microsoft.

As E3 approaches us, only time will tell. Maybe Sony has a card up their sleeve, but regardless of whether it’s Sony or Microsoft, we’re all anticipating.

Enough about technology. I’m going to head off to bed and hopefully blog about make up tomorrow. Also, if there are any typos or grammatical errors, it’s way too late for that right now so just deal with it. :)

Unboxing the Google Nexus 7 Tablet

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I’d write a thorough review on the technical aspects of the Nexus 7 but I’ve really been too tired so I’ve opted to do a first looks/first impressions instead.

I’ve been waiting patiently for the past two days since ordering the Nexus 7 late that night. It came by earlier in the afternoon yesterday and I was honestly doing my best to not unbox it, but after a few hours of crazy discipline, I cracked it open. Can I say that of all the smartphones, computers, and tablets I have had the pleasure of unboxing, this has got to have the most snug packaging ever … Peter and I like to keep our packaging in mint condition so ripping off the wraparound cover was not an option.

We opted for 16 GB of internal storage as opposed to the 8 GB version because when it comes to a set amount of storage, you never know what you may end up needing. The 8 GB tablet costs $200 while the 16 GB (flash storage by the way) is reasonably offered for only $50 more. Not bad.

After loosening the outer cover with a ruler, the cover gave me some room to push the box out of one end. And I thought my old HTC Thunderbolt was hard to unbox.

After the main box is dealt with, the Nexus 7 is easily lifted out by pulling the tab. Removing the plastic film, we find this:

It has a 1.2 MP front-facing camera and no physical home button.

The power/lock key sits above the volume rocker on the right side of the tablet. The topside is clean and the left side has two microphones, one on top and the other on the bottom, while the bottom side of the tablet has a micro USB port, a standard 3.5 mm audio jack, and the speakers.

The Nexus 7 has a 7″ HD display which has taken a few minutes to get used to. Remember, I’ve been using the iPad for over two years now and although I would prefer a larger display to play Magic Piano with, but reading a book is perfect with the Nexus 7. Although the mere size of the tablet seemed to dampen my interest, the Nexus 7 tablet’s clean and uncluttered interface quickly made up for the mildly impractical design. This is probably the cleanest I’ve ever seen anything Android-related be all because of Jellybean (Android 4.1), the fastest and most fluid version of Android yet. Did I mention this is the first device to have it?

The volume keys and the power key are placed more towards the back of the tablet of the curved side, seemingly hidden from view. While placing the buttons on the curved edge further away from the screen, it prevents issues such as accidental screen locks or the lack of volume control. However, I found it difficult to locate the keys quite frequently as I found myself groping around for the keys. This problem is lessened if you are holding the Nexus 7 in your hand or if it is on a dock but poses a steady annoyance when placed on a flat surface because you would literally have to lift and tilt the tablet to the side in order to find the keys.

The brushed aluminum sides, I suspect, are plastic but that only means no dents just scratches unless you Ghost Armor it (honestly that’s a must for all devices these days). The tablet has a plastic backing that is slightly rubberized providing a decent amount of non-slip support. The rubbery back feels smooth and dimpled and feels very much like suede or leather if you’re paying attention.

I am very much a fan of the choice of material they chose for the back piece. The  unibody piece of an iPad may rank high in aesthetics but the material is notorious for denting easily.

The set up for the Nexus 7 felt simple and intuitive. Setting up the tablet was probably as easy as setting up an Android phone. 

The Nexus 7 comes without the annoying and excessive apps that most users want nothing more to do than remove. When it comes to Android devices, you can’t help but expect the excessive crap apps that can never seem to be removed. A consumer bypasses all of that with a Nexus product. Consider yourself a premium consumer to Google whether you have a Nexus phone or tablet. You won’t find Skype here unless you want it, of course.

The tablet is pre-installed with the typical Google-esque apps such as Maps, Navigation, Google Earth, Chrome, the Play store, Books, Magazine, etc. The Nexus 7 comes with Wallet installed and the great thing about that is you can finally go out without your credit cards, gift cards, and key fobs because Wallet keeps all your information organized and presentable when you need it. And, you can pay with your Nexus 7 at a compatible tap to pay device to pay for your purchase. Stores such as Rite Aid, CVS, Petco, and BP are a few of the many places that support Google Wallet.

I am a fan of the Kindle software from Amazon so although you won’t get the typical perks of having a Kindle, you can always download the Kindle app. I’ve had a lot of fun reading on the Nexus 7 and the Books and Magazines apps provide a lot of customization options. There is an option to keep your Nexus 7 turned when you are reading so I look forward to a dock accessory so I can read in bed while the tablet is on my nightstand. If you’re a fan of real books and are trying to immerse yourself into the digital world of reading, the Nexus 7 equips a realistic feel of a book and it’s especially fun to experiment with the responsiveness of the reading apps. Bookmark your pages, highlight words, and shuffle through pages as slow or fast as you desire.

The widget screen. Just slide to the side to the side to close your background apps.

I decided to run a few light benchmarks as well.

Vellamo 1.0.6:

Am3DNenchXL:

Speedtest.net

Final Thoughts

I am quite impressed although I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first. I can live with 720p and the fact that it’s a Nexus device makes it the ideal Android product to have since you’ll always get the updates first and you shouldn’t expect your operating system to be outdated any time soon.

Although it’s equipped with Corning scratch-resistant glass, the makers of Gorilla Glass, I’m careful regardless. You won’t ever see me doing the key test on any device.

The graphics are sharp, vivid and immersive. I haven’t experienced any hiccups or lags so far but I will update in a few months.

I don’t do much gaming on tablets unless you consider The Sims 3 Free Time gaming. I had an LG G2x (Optimus) smartphone (it was the first dual-core smartphone) with NVIDIA Tegra 2. All I can say is that it included aesthetically pleasing hardware with class-leading performance with a minimal amount of battery consumption. The Nexus 7 tablet comes equipped with a 1.2GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor and 1 GB of RAM.

Overall, I’m content with this purchase. I don’t feel like I overpaid at all and it’ll come in handy when I need entertainment on the run since it only weighs 12 ounces.

The Nexus 7 tablet is snappy, smooth, and a true competitor in the $200 range of top-notch tablets. The prices of tablets will only continue to drop while the quality gets better. It is definitely something you want to buy. It’s light, discreet, weighs less than the Kindle Fire, and isn’t even half of an inch (0.41 in.). If you’ve been eyeing a tablet and particularly Android tablets, go for it.

There is a 15 day return policy and the Google Play customer service is fast and you never have to talk to a machine. The direct line for all Nexus related issues is 855-83-NEXUS (63987). The website is as uncluttered as Jellybean is and Google is working hard to fine tune and tweak every aspect of the current website to bring you a more fluid experience so don’t be surprised if you go to the website and find that it’s changed overnight.

The 16 GB version was made available earlier this week and I really suggest you get it. It’s truly an amazing package.