Samsung Chromebook 11" - 2 GB RAM - 16 GB HDD Review

The first thing I want to say is " Don't compare this device against a laptop of any make." Essentially it is not really a laptop, is a hybrid thin client.

Yes it does have a processor - not much of one, you won't be creating any graphical masterpieces on this machine nor will you be scoring orchestras mixed with dub step.

This device is a convenient on-line device that is hooked into the Google network. Your main GUI (graphical user interface) is Chrome browser. You can download Apps from the Chrome Store as well as add more functionality with extensions.

What about the drive space ? well think of it now as a tablet. Drop box, Goggle Drive are available to you for drive space, there are two USB ports for use 2.0 and 3.0 , as well as HDMI and SD ports. You can use a thumb drive or external USB HDD or SD for expanded storage.
There is a port for headphone/mic and power plug, as well there is a pretty decent webcam with mic in the expected position on the screen forehead.

There is a bluetooth too.

Battery life is 6 hours. The trackpad is sensitive and works well, and the chiclet keyboard is reminiscent of well you know who ;).

You can not compare it to a notebook of any kind. I have seen people comparing it to the Apple Airbook, silly rabbits !

The Airbook is @ the 1000 $ price point, the Samsung is @ the 250 $ price point .  HELLO!

As with most things in life and especially with electronics YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

I am writing this blog using it, and with ease I will add.

So to sum up my thoughts, don't compare it to a laptop 'cause its not one. If you are using Google you will love this light airy device for productivity using Google. Don't think its extremely limiting cause there is no skype ' cause guess what .... you can dial for FREE to a landline using Google+ Hangout ... Yup FREE.

Oh I forgot to mention, youtube Yup, netflix Yup, audio via Google play and more may be released in the future but its really not a multimedia device.
There is remote desktop ability, ssh, VPN and some other admin stuff this further extends its usability.

I think there is a pretty good bang for your buck here, if you have a couple a hundred bucks you want to blow on an interesting and different gadget consider this one.

Score A for Goggleability
Score B for price point
Score B for build
Score B for expandability

over all I give it a B.

Here are some other reviews that may interest you:

http://liliputing.com/2012/11/samsung-chromebook-review-249-arm-based-model.html

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/10-things-google-should-fix-on-the-chromebook-1165837

Its sunny today and fall is definitely on it way.

Nexus 7 2013, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 low tech review

Good day ! Its been a while I have been busy starting a new venture, and will review that soon.
While as all this is going on I have decided that it was time to check out two new small slates on the market.

First let me say that I love the new smaller size. Yes I have the iPad 4 with retina display - big and beautiful. Yes I have the iPad mini - that's another review? Hmmm as I write this I will review it here too.

OK, so I will be low tech about this ... the Samsung is attractive, has an IR port so you can use a nice remote feature for your t.v.
It is also chunky and heavy for its size. It is a brick
 as well in operating, slow to respond and the display is disappointing.

iPad  mini is larger, familiar OS, which frankly is quite dull, but keeps us content. Display is disappointing, considering the price point. Touch screen not as responsive as its parent product.

Then there is the Nexus 7 2013. Pure android. Awesome display, excellent response, super battery life, comfortable form factor. Affordable @ 230.00 excellent bang for your hard earned buck.

I wrote this entire blog using my Nexus slate and to perfectly honest I can't put it down. It's very engaging.

The camera is fun too. The panoramic capture is nice and as far as mobile device cameras go I am satisfied with the result

All my mobile devices are 16 GB, and have never required more, for some there is a small draw back it lacks expandable storage. This is taken care of with cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive to name two), just like the iPad mini.
 Samsung however does have micro SD slot. I still returned it the next day.

It performs auto backup end easy restore, similar to is apple counterpart, you only have to re-enter you credentials.

Enough yap... Just try one of these sleeper tablets. You will not be disappointed.

To check out a very good review click here.

Its an A in my humble opinion.

Its hot today... Muggy.

Soda Stream Water Carbonator

Hi,

I have been using the Soda Stream Water Carbonator for a week now and love it.
I love that I can carbonate my water at an affordable price.

The initiation is pricy but you get everything you need to start saving. The CO2 cylinders recycle @ ~ 17 $ at Canadian Tire ( or other outlets ).

I did however find on-line an adaptor that will allow for even cheaper refills from lets say a scuba shop, or paint ball POP's.

This adaptor is 60.00 $ as the cylinders give you about 60 Litres of carbonation, it will take about six months to make it pay for itself.

I was using the  "Twist and Sparkle" carbonator, what I still love about this gadget is that you can carbonate juices... seems there was a recall regarding this product, I suspect it was not used correctly as I have carbonated at least a100 times with no issues, or maybe I am just lucky.

You can not do this with Soda Stream, the back pressure reacts with the sugar when you release the bottle and it volcanos.

So this is the model I got ( it was the last one on the self at Canadian Tire as a starter kit )

Soda Stream Source. It was priced @ 149.99 Canadian Tire so I got a deal.

It came with 9 sample syrups which are good, but not too exciting. They are low on calories as sugar is used in conjunction with Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose @ 35 calories for 1 Litre. As well as completely sugar free using only Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose.

I am not excited by the recipes ingredients but what the hell try em out. They are on the average OK.

I prefer the citrus combinations as it masks the artificial sweeteners, and will start making my own syrups in the future or simply add all natural fruit juices @ 1/4 cup per Litre.

I use tap water, that is chilled over night and use high carbonation. Yup, you have a choice of 3 carbonation levels, that are indicated by a LED light on the front of the dispenser, so its nice to have that choice.

Its an Old World Type product brought into the 21 Century .... YEH !

So I give the hardware an A. Easy to use, quick simple very little setup, convenient and cost efficient. 

The Soda Stream flavours a C for convenient flavour.

BTW, the recipe for 1 Litre of carbonated water is 52 ml of syrup, just in case you were wondering ;)

It's Cherry Season, Zylizz Cherry Pitter

Hi,

really brief today ... my mother did the testing today on the Zylizz Cherry Pitter.

" ooooh this one is good you have to review this one ", with no complaints a quick easy effort my mother pitted a pint of cherry in minutes, they are not squished and look quite lovely still just no pits :)

It has a splash guard and a small easy to empty pit repository.

I rate it an A for looks, A for functionality = A for pretty awesome gadget.

I purchased mine from HomeSense @ 6.99 $, compare @ 14.00 $. Sweet. Also, we picked up the Juicy Lucy Filled Hamburger patty maker... thats another day ... ( my to-do list is starting to add up )


Have a great day, its stormy here.

Mosquito protection Off! Clip On

Hi

so I am starting to spend more time in the garden, specifically the berry patch. The black raspberries are starting to peak and so was I !

No more then 5 sec. in the patch when I am attacked by a cloud of mosquitos. It has been a damp hot season so far and thus many many blood suckers. (Not to mention the possibility of disease ... West Nile and Yellow Fever).

So after I picked my first half of my freezer jam requirements and Canadian Tire was open, off I go ...

I picked up what I needed for my canning and proceeded to shop.

I found in the main isle the Off! clip-on Mosquito Repellant. It attracted me mainly because I would not be drowning myself in stinky poison that left my skin feeling oiled and dry at the same time. It is
touted for use during patio and bbq activity - so mainly slothing about.

It requires two AAA batteries, and has a smallish fan that creates a shroud of protection in your vicinity.
It is supposed to work for ~ 11 hours.
It comes with 1 refill.

It works.
It was great for berry picking, cause you are not moving around too much and are able to keep the shroud of protection. I suspect it will be good for gardening as well.

For any other activities that involve more movement then a slow walk it is not for you.

I give it an A for functionality, and a C for appearance, but what else can you expect you are wearing a fan.

Just a quick mention I also picked up a Soda Stream and will post at a later time.

Have a great day, its cloudy and humid today.

Mint Raindrop Wireless Stereo Speaker - Bluetooth Gadget

Hi,

so during our bi-monthly trip to Costco my ma pointed out these speakers for bluetooth.

Pushed the test play and they sounded pretty good in Costco - which we all know is not exactly acoustically ideal.

Priced @ 39.99 (compared to others at around 50.00 $ for 1 single cheese speaker - have seen these speakers priced @ 150.00 - 250.00  $  around the NET) I said YUP !

Currently (like right now) I am successfully streaming audio via bluetooth from my iMac at about 20 feet distance (limitation @ 30 feet)  with very little chop, and quick response. I set them up in my kitchen. Set-up on my iPod nano was easy, and worked at the same distance with same results.

The sound is bright and airy, pleasant enough for me at this price ... Bach harpsichord sounds lovely, if your looking for pounding bass move on.


I maxed the output from the computer and no distortion and good n loud enough for me ... you probably will not be able to carry on a comfortable conversation at this level. I suspect there is a limiter in the speaker design (I hope so as it will extend the life of the product).

Ok so that was with Apple, what about Microsoft ? No problem, I had to do a reset cause I had attached several different devices to it - if you do the same you will encounter pairing issues.

Once I performed the reset - bam ! Pleasing sound - Bruce Cockburn - Dancing in the Lions Jaws - sounds good to me.

They have a nice appearance, small footprint and stereo - 2 speakers. They are powered and the A/C power has a generous amount of cable, and they are connected by a ~ 2 foot cable. It also accommodates AUX input and supplies a cheesy but out of the box experience with a two sided male 3.5 mm stereo jack.

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In conclusion I am very pleased with these speakers, they are at an excellent price point @ Costco, I am considering purchasing another pair.

I give them a B+ for overall bang for yer buck.  Ease of install and performance.

Have a great day, its raining here.

Update: the connection code is 0000 

To reset the device there is a reset button on the main speaker ( the speaker that has the power and second speaker connection ) you need a paper clip -  I use a toothpick ;) to push it down for approx. 7 to 10 sec to reset the device.

Nike+ Fuelband

Hi

ok so I have been interested in this fitness gadget since I first saw inklings of it from the States.

( I live in Canada)

It was a black band with flashing LED lights that displayed, Nike fuel points, calories burned, steps and the time.

Thats it. So by the time it reached the Apple Store (which I honestly loath, but continue to give my money too ... sadist)
 I was already reaching for the Jawbone UP (another post, another time).

I passed it up and moved on. Fast forward a year and my housemate announced that she ordered the Nike+ Fuelband.

Oh really ? hmmmmmmm. So I have noticed it at the STORE and also saw the two new styles - Black ICE and White ICE (translucent polymer, so you can see the board work - cool).

So I pondered it, looked at it on line ... at you know where and decided what the hell, took 200 bucks from rent and drove me and roomie to the MALL.

She got what she required from Target and I dragged her to the STORE. At her urging I purchased the White ICE, and a pair of Jaybird Freedom Bluetooth earbuds.

Ok so I set it up, using my facebook account cause its quick and simple - getting really tired of creating singular unique accounts for all my online schinanigans. Connects via bluetooth to my iPad mini and off to collecting points and Kilometers, and hopefully reducing calories.

I used the product for two days then promptly returned it disappointed.

I give it an A for style and desirability. Super sporty status symbol, comfortable to wear and stylish.

I give it an A for motivation (however short is was, better then none at all), it really did make me want to make that red LED line reach the green, and see the GOAL animation - cool.

But unfortunately it is a F in regards to functionality. It actually really sucks. It would be a fantastic and very inspiring product if I did believe that 6700 steps burned 909 calories - HA ! I WISH, boy do I.

Sitting and typing for 1 hour burned 121 calories - not sure how they can get away with these numbers while being stationary and no heart rate monitor. hmmmmmm. Its the accelerometer.

Back it went. Fortunately, the STORE has a good 14 day return policy - I got my cash back and I put it in the bank.

So over all its an AAF = C+, conclusion its an interesting and stylish watch (price @ 149.00 CDN) does more then the Swatch Touch at the same price ... although inaccurate ... but there is ALWAYS a price for fashion.

ROCK IT IF YAH GOT IT !

Have a nice day, its raining here.

Day One Entry - short introduction stream of conscious - ness

Day 1 yes just one more in the millions of electronic gadget bloggers, doing this for my own sanity and to remind me ... of well really to stop senseless spending and wastes of time, as I have many times gone back and re-purchased objects of my desire.

 And be disappointed yet again - its an odd sadistic kinda gadget torture.

 Anyway, I am just in from a workout cycling and testing yet another pedometer/heart rate monitor gadget and will start my review in earnest - tomorrow. with pictures too.


 SportLine
 Step 12886
Calorie 1961
Time 4:14
7.12 Km (most was cycling though so approx. 16 Km)