Gadget-Fest

Seesmic wins (at least on my laptop)

2009-05-20T22:12:00.003+09:00

Seesmic is rocking on my laptop now prompting removal of the original king of twitter clients. I had TweetDeck on there and understand those twitter sites that say TweetDeck has high share of users, even though the twitter web client has the biggest share.

Seesmic does this:

Keeps your place in the Home pane. I like to review tweets from a particular tweeter sometimes by clicking their name or some other kind of navigation only really possible with a twitter client. When I return Home, Seemic knows exactly where I was before.
Groups your contacts in a thematic way, termed User Lists for various reasons including that you may have more than just friends you are organizing, such as news feeds and less "social" items.
The leftmost timeline pane changes depending on what you have selecting in the left vertical menu. Then detaching those timelines is where the fun really begins.
It is one of those few programs that remind me of Mac OX app such as iTunes running on a PC, but seems to suit more.

Go get it, install and use for 10 days. Then tweet me at @lawmanjapan and tell me that I am wrong.

Rolodex Laptop Stand

2007-05-05T13:59:00.000+09:00

You have known the Rolodex brand for years, typically associating it the Rolodex business card organizing system. The brand is extended to cover accessories for your desk. One item that comes to mind is the Rolodex Laptop Stand. For as low as $20.00 (Source: Costco), you can angle your laptop up enough so that the screen is raised up closer to your face. This saves you from keeping your neck bent down all the time to see the screen.

Naturally, typing at this angle is almost impossible, so an external keyboard and mouse are recommended. My ideal use of this is to angle it up to the maximum.

HP Pavillion laptops

2007-02-18T18:03:00.000+09:00

HP has a mission, from what I can see here in Japan. They are out to directly sell the HP Pavilion Notebook PC to consumers by making campaign models that are ready for what 2007 will bring. Windows Vista is here now. We can either complain that the new operating system needs more memory and a better graphics card, or we can meet the challenge by upgrading our systems or buying new hardware that already meets the minimum standards.

Here is the thing, though. If you are a laptop user, your memory can potentially be upgraded to the 1GB memory or better that is needed to enjoy Vista. Let's face it, even Windows XP hummed along a lot better with 1.5GB or 2GB, if you currently laptop can handle it.

Getting back to the point, HP has released the HP Pavilion dv6200/CT and dv9200/CT models at relatively reasonable prices compare to many other makers for the same thing. I can say this because these machines run an Intel Core(tm) 2 Duo processor T5500, have 1G of memory, at least an 80GB hard drive, wireless, and other feature that normally go for more than JPY200,000 when sold by other manufacturers. The dv6200/CV can be had for at little as JPY119,700! They only have a 1,000 of these units in the "Ichiniti Ichi-zen Campaign"

Link: http://h50157.www5.hp.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/ja/-/JPY/BrowseCatalogForConsumer-Start?CategoryName=DPCNotebook

If you start off with the campaign model and price out a better graphics board, slightly higher specification of the Core 2 Duo, larger drive and a web camera, the you may wish to start off shopping for the SAMURAI Campaign model that already has this package pulled together.

The only additional tip I would have is that max'ing out the RAM memory to the maximum 2GB will cost JPY42,000 when buying from HP. I think the street price of 2 X 1GB memory chips will be less than this.

Kohjinsha computers

2007-02-04T12:33:00.004+09:00

Kohjinsha computers
This is cool. They make a small PC/Tablet (SA1F00A) that uses a 12" screen and an optional stand to hold and recharge the unit. Using Windows XP Home Edition it makes a nice second computer for anyone to use at their desk or carry around on the street. The weight is less that 1 kg, even with the battery in place. The price is less that 100,000 yen.

The direct link to the PC is https://www.kohjinsha.com/models/sa/index.html

Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3.0 Wins Personal Acclaim

2007-01-04T12:33:00.000+09:00

It is possible to love a keyboard as you would a pet? This comes pretty close. The Microsoft
Wireless Desktop 3.0 is very nice and they thought of everything.

In my case, I put the wireless optical mouse into the drawer (see article on the VerticalMouse). The goal of this purchase was to get the Comfort keyboard. Read about the features by leaving this page. If you are a little short on cash or desktop real estate, then you might get the Wireless Optical Desktop Pro, it should have a similar keyboard pitch (space between keys) and the angle (keyboard arrangement like a small upside-down V) about the same, though does not include some extra keys. Note also the the Comfort Edition keyboard does not have a gap between the keys in the middle of the keyboard. It looks cool, while still angling all the keys. The Desktop Pro does have a big gap in the middle of the keyboard.

Again, the physical relief of having the left and right right halves of the keyboard at an angle, is my goal. The wireless feature is not a huge plus, but I guess I could put my feet up on the desk and the board on my lap to type long documents.

There are completely programmable buttons along the side and top of the keyboard, you can bring up documents, applications, accessories, or whatever you wish. The IntelliType Pro software does not look so attractive, but who looks at it once programmed? A quick tip is that you might as use the Calculator button to do something more powerful, such as OpenOffice.org Calc or even Excel. The favorites can also be easily assigned to something more practical than just bookmarks.

Am I making this up? I came from the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite, back in 1997 and still on sale today. Purchase reason was the same: The angle of the keys. Check out the space bar that is the size and shape of a banana. Your thumb does not know where to hit the key.

Elecom Zero-Shock case and other favorites

2006-12-04T12:29:00.000+09:00

Elecom . . . you've got to love this company. They have been at it since the earlier days of geek-dom, putting out all kinds of little accessories. Not quick a networking company, not quite a computer furniture company, but a mix of this and that.

I think I even used to have one of their Ethernet switching hubs, though I now favor the space-saving hubs of Planex (PCI).

Anyway, back to Elecom. The products that win my heart from them are each under JPY2,000 and are as follows:

The sliding brush CK-190 is a winner and slips into the pocket as easily as the computer bag. Everything about using a computer is irrelevant if the unit is filthy. It is the smallest one I have seen that is still worth using to clean off my computer keyboard and screen. It is like a switchblade that slides the brush out each time and almost seems to straighten the silky brush "hairs" as it retracts them. This is the only one I know of that has no hooks or eyelets on the outside that would otherwise scratch up things instead a computer bag.

The Zero-Shock inner bag protects my PC. I have been looking a year for something at fit my PC just right. It is just smart to pluck down JPY1,800 to protect an expensive computer. A fellow at the office put me on to this and the decision is a no brainer.
The DimpGel mousepad that cushions the ailing wrist. Probably just a bunch of silicon packed into the thing, but the neon color sure dresses up the desk better than those cheezy square things you see more often than now.

Evoluent VerticalMouse

2006-11-04T12:33:00.000+09:00

What is going on with this computer mouse? It is Evoluent's Vertical mouse, that has been engineered to put the three buttons and scroll wheel on the side of the mouse. This way you break the rule of several decades of mouse makers that put the buttons on top of a mouse, forcing your hand to twist in a very unnatural manner.

As much as I like the concept of wireless mouses, the VerticalMouse happily has me re-adopting wired mouses. You may want to get a mouse pad with a wrist rest built into it, but be careful because this is an optical mouse so typical mousepads will not work.

The price? Well, you will invest about US$75.00 for this unit. Consider it a medical device to save you some pain, and the price is insignificant. I have an issue with charging an extra $30.00 for the left-handed version. Other mouses, simply have you click a setting button to reverse the right and left mouse click buttons. True, they have to manufacture them specially since it is a physical thing. Again, the medical device analogy kicks in. You cannot get repetitive stress injuries fixed for 100 bucks.

The software rocks, too, provided you are on Windows (the unit works with Linux is a limited fashion). A welcome middle-button becomes whatever you wish (defaults to a very useful double-click).

Plantronics M2500 with a ThinkPad

2006-10-04T12:31:00.000+09:00

MAY 4 UPDATE: I did a foolish thing this week. I don't know what I was thinking. I posted to Plantronics trouble ticket system about why the otherwise fantastic looking headset does not appear to work with Windows XP Japanese and/or my ThinkPad T40 with internal Bluetooth. I then forgot about the posting and the answer came back 3-4 days later (e.g., Their system promises an answer in 24 hours so we already have an issue here. I posted on a Thursday night Japan time, so they had a Thursday and Friday of U.S. time to respond). Anyway, I am the proud recipient of a stock, pat answer from the KnowledgeBase saying that they only support supported products that the headset was designed for. Hmmmmm... if it was not designed for Windows then why does their knowledgebase show a Windows XP SP2 issue. So, folks, I am the escrow agent for stock answer #514 and I can save you 3-4 days of waiting.

This really sucks, as I clearly told them the device was already paired with Windows XP. So I am to contact IBM, it would seem, who will then tell me to contact Skype, so that they can tell me to contact Plantronics. I see no Guinness Book record for being in three companies' trouble-ticket system at the same time. Perhaps they would like me to pitch the headset in the river and forget the whole thing?

Here you go:

Response - 05/01/2005 09:12 PM
The Plantronics Bluetooth headsets are designed for use with devices that support a Bluetooth handsfree and headset profile with audio and data capabilities. We cannot guarantee compatibility with any other device. Please contact the manufacturer of your computer, or Bluetooth adapter, to verify it supports a Bluetooth handsfree and headset profile with audio and data capabilities, and for Bluetooth pairing instructions. If you need assistance using a specific application, such as Skype, then please contact the manufacturer of the application for assistance. Thank you.
-----------------------------------------------

Okay, so I'm a skyper. One of those 1.3 million users during the day and one of the 2.4 million users during the night hours (e.g., When it is night in Japan, North Americans are awake and skyping for free like there is no tomorrow.

Anyway, I've got this Kenwood headphones that are supposed to make you feel like there is no headband when in fact it has band that wraps around the back of your head. Ok, so it is like a wrestling dude doing a headlock on your ears, the way this thing hooks on there.

So, what happens? I am introduced to the Plantronics M2500 Bluetooth headset. I suppose I should be impressed by the design, but I am reminded that 25 years ago, my grand-pa had a hearing aid just like this, without the microphone hanging down, and in flesh color. It was probably CDN$2,000 of 80's money back then, compared to the JPY8,000 I dumped for this M2500. Besides, for hearing these days, you can always opt for a Rush Limbaugh cochular implant as an option for hearing loss. But I degress.

The point of the M2500 is two-fold. The wires on the Kenwood are darned restricting when using it. You feel tied to the computer even though there is plenty of slack on the wire. There is the other thing that matters and that it the spontaneity of a skype call. You want to be able to answer the "phone" almost as fast a regular phone.

Anyway, that is the scoop on this. I'd say more, that is if I could get the thing to work with my ThinkPad. I've paired it to Bluetooth devices in Windows XP, but now what? It does jack and does not show up as a audio device in Windows. Guess I need to click off some cycles getting this "easy" product to work. It is definitely a Windows thing. I have manually hardened this OS with BlackViper's suggestions. Perhaps it was the Universal Plug-and-Play service that did it.

Mac OS 10.4 'Tiger'

2006-09-04T12:32:00.000+09:00

This is a no-brainer. If you live on the star known as Earth you will have heard of Apple's new OS nicknamed Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4). What is the significant difference from Jaquar?

A new start: If you are one of the folks that had Panther, then upgraded to Jaquar, well what system do you think you ended up with? If you did a clean install (you did, didn't you?), then you still had legacy Mac OS Classic there as a big drive space hog. It was there waiting for the day you opened up PhotoShop 4.x or some ancient System 7 application. Tiger is not only helping you clean up all the rubbish you stashed on your hard drive all these years, but speeds things up, forces you to clean house, and makes you consider whether you want to bring all that old stuff over into the New Evolution. If you do, there are numerous ways to install including a Mac-to-Mac (Firewire transfer) and other means using the Migration Assistant.
The Dashboard contains widgets: Are these alone a good reason to upgrade? Didn't you always want to have something called widgets? Anyway, look for a cult following for Dashboard items like the weather, stock quotes, clocks and so on. Apple already has these built-in, but why not get more. The Great Ones of the Planet Macintosh have already suggested this was a throw-back to System 6 and System 7 (excuse me...."Classic Mac OS") and the concept of desk accessories.
Safari and RSS feeds: Hmmmm.... NetNewswire Lite rocks, so I agree with dudez that say you do not need a $129.00 browser upgrade if you just want RSS built into your browser. You can always stick with Firefox on Mac OS X. I must admit that Safari renders very fast.
Oh, yah, baby! I can really get hooked on Spotlight. There is no hype here: It just works as advertised. If you have a ton of stuff on your box (hey, why don't you have a ton of stuff on your box?), then searching AS YOU TYPE SOMETHING totally rocks ('screaming' intentional).
Mail: More sexy looking that it did in Jaquar, it pretty much does similar things but better and faster. I have no need to connect to an Exchange server with 'Mail' but I could if I wished.

Okay, you can go ahead and browser all the new features here. I am a better man for upgrading. My old PowerMac Cube had a hardware upgrade to 1GHz in the past few years, and was stuck behind with a pre-Jaquar OS. I can finally clean out all the legacy rubbish in that computer as well thank to the Family Pack.

P.S. I have no association whatsover with Apple, yet am happy to give them this promotion because it is deserved. I have been using Macs since the 128K and Macintosh II days. My migration path has been:

Desktop Path Macintosh SE/30 -> Overclocking the same ->
Quadra 650 -> PowerPC upgrade
PowerMac G4 Cube -> Upgrade to 1GHz

PowerBook Path
PowerBook Titanium -> iBook G4 1GHz