Thursday, October 9, 2014
rooCASE Neoprene Super Bubble Sleeve Case for Acer Aspire AS1551-4650 11.6-inch (Black / Red)
Friday, September 26, 2014
Medialink USB Bluetooth Adapter - Version 4.0 (Newest Bluetooth Version Available) Class 2 Smart Rea
I'm an advanced computer user who does a lot of work with computers, so I know how to get around a computer and get it to do what I want.
This device comes in a small box, which is actually quite decent looking for a device this small (I didn't really expect a box even). My previous adapter was a generic one that was super cheap, but it worked. Unfortunately, BlueSoleil (software controls for bluetooth) only got me so far with it and it did not work with my new bluetooth headphones (Nokia BH-905i), so I bought this.
The instructions are easy to follow, and the BEST part about them is that they are in grammatically correct English! That's a novelty these days. The adapter does fit really snugly into your port, so make a good decision as you probably won't get this out without a good yank. It has a blue glow that blinks when in use (slowly), so make sure it's out of sight if you work in low light.
It comes with 2 mini CD's with drivers for 7/Vista and XP. It uses the WIDCOMM stack, and took about 15 minutes to install (which is unusually long).
If your control panel/devices and printers is locking up (Windows Vista/7), here is a solution that seems to work for most people:
I am not sure if it was due to using BlueSoleil (I had a generic adapter that died after like 4 years of use; BlueSoleil is a different 'bluetooth stack') in the past, but I don't really want to go back and check. The issue is that when you do get all the drivers installed, when you go to Control Panel>Hardware and Sound, it totally locks up and shows nothing (Looks like its loading, but never finishes). You also can't add any devices. This is because the "Bluetooth Support Service" is disabled. I don't know why it is disabled. To enable it (and add devices/view any devices (wired/wireless)), go to start, type in 'services.msc' and open the result of the same name. Find "Bluetooth Support Service". Right click it, go to properties, and set the startup type to "Automatic", and click Apply/OK. Then right click the item again and click "Start". Now your menus should load.
I like it, and once I have bluetooth 3.0 devices, I'll like it even more.
Cheers!First, let me tell you that I am a very senior citizen, no techie for sure. This is my first experience with Bluetooth technology, and it couldn't be a more satisfying one. Installing my Medialink USB Adapter could not have been easier. I'm using Windows 7 operating system. I simply followed the directions provided with my purchase. I inserted the the mini-disc and was imediately instructed to insert the USB Adapter into the USB port. Presto! Bluetooth was up and running. I then went to the Hardware and Sound Section in my control panel and set the sound default to Bluetooth. I can now get up and move about with out missing a word. The sound quality is terrific, and I am extremely hearing impaired. I love this product. You will too.This little Bluetooth dongle was so easy to install and use. No issues at all. I have my mouse, headphones and Droid all linked to it now. I've been considering buying a second one for our desktop computer so my husband can use the headphones for gaming. Lack of Bluetooth connectivity was one thing that disappointed me about my new laptop, but this little chip solved that problem for very little money. Don't waste your money on a cheap one that may or may not work, just spend a little more and get this one.In a few months, most distros should have the patch to the Linux kernel driver that makes this a friendly, no-hassle plug-and-play experience. That's when I'd give this product a full 5 stars.
Else, if needed, just create a file /etc/modprobe.d/medialink-btusb.conf and put this one line in it:
install usb:v0A5Cp21E8d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip* /sbin/modprobe btusb; echo 0a5c 21e8 > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/btusb/new_id
Detailed explanation: This device is handled just fine by the stock btusb kernel module. The issue is that the driver does not recognize the exact USB vendor/product ID. However, the driver was fixed just a few weeks ago. It'll just take a little time for your favorite Linux distro update to pick up the fix.I consider myself fairly computer-savvy, and following about 3 hours of attempts to install this adapter onto my Windows7 machine, I've had no luck at getting it to function properly; I've been unable to "discover" the existence of either of the 2 Bluetooth devices that I own. I tried installing the adapter to see if I'd have luck with my laptop, which runs Windows XP Professional, and it installed with no trouble whatsoever(including discovering my Bluetooth devices). For my Windows7 machine I've tried the drivers that come on the Medialink-supplied (WindowsVista/7) mini-CD, the drivers at MediaLink's website (), and the drivers from the Broadcom.com website, all to no avail.
8/14/11 update: I've given-up on this adapter, and tried another (Cirago BTA-6130 together with drivers downloaded from Cirago's website) that is working for me.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Panasonic NI-WL600 Cordless Multi-Directional Iron, Stainless Steel Soleplate, Silver/Black
This expensive little item can be thought of as Cordless Iron v2.0, with some real improvements. Unfortunately, Panasonic missed the sweet price point by a factor of two, but if that's not a problem for you, then this might be the best iron out there. It's heavy enough to be effective, yet light enough to be an all-day tool.
It heats up INCREDIBLY fast, like from dead cold with a full reservoir, it's puffing steam and ready to work in one minute flat. I never understood why irons are iron-shaped, with one sharp end and an awkward flat end that gets caught on seams and pockets when naturally sliding backward. This one is double-ended, solving that problem and allowing for detailed ironing in both directions. (One commenter mentions getting one for quilting: I'll bet he's thrilled with it.) Panasonic claims it's "360 degree" and it is, up to a point: the curl on the edges of the soleplate allows you to effectively move sideways, even over fairly rough seams, but that probably won't feel natural to you, either. The fully-retractable cord on the base is a nice touch.
One concern I had is that the stand for the iron is 95% plastic, with plastic rollers that contact the soleplate directly. I parked the iron on High for a long time (it cycles on and off, naturally). The plastic paid no attention. An iron mostly made out of "Plastics" would have been a punch-line back in 1967 when "The Graduate" was made, but is an actual selling point today.
(This part exclusively for guys.) First, a quick sanity check: Are you thinking of buying this as a present for your sweetie? PLEASE understand that when she is asked why she ditched you, she'll summarize the entire relationship with: "He bought me an iron for my birthday."
Ironing doesn't exactly come naturally to us, but I have several really nice shirts that I never wore because the collars turn into pretzels when washed. A good iron like this takes care of that problem in no time, but is actually so pleasant to use that the entire shirt ends up getting ironed, and then a few pairs of pants besides. I sheepishly admit that I did further research, discovered it's better to use a good spray starch like this one only on collars and cuffs; use spray "sizing" everywhere else.
Very nice machine. Feed it an exclusive diet of distilled water, and enjoy.
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Now for he manual, which is actually useful. I've summarized the important details below, to save you from the usual endless lawyer-noise, like "NEVER IRON CLOTHES ON THE BODY." (No, I didn't make it up: lawyer-noise is impossible to satirize.)
Two obvious buttons, marked well with icons: Extra Steam Blast, and Squirt Of Water. The manual says Extra Steam Blast only works reliably on High, but from my experience it also works fine on Low. Squirt of Water is extremely mist-like, even from cold, so spotting should never be a problem some real engineering went into that little feature.
One three-way switch, clearly icon-marked as No Steam, Steam, Extra Steam.
Less obvious: The water reservoir detaches from the base. There's a little button on the front stem of the handle, allowing you to pull the reservoir and all its controls off. This allows you to fill the iron from a shallow sink, preheat the iron while filling the reservoir, or use the iron as a dry-iron with the water reservoir detached. (The manual doesn't mention that little weight-saving slant.)
You know what I hate most about ironing? The cord that gets in the way, the water that sputters out when you were only trying for steam and the length of time most irons take to heat up and the amount of time it takes to actually do the ironing. This iron solves all of that. It heats super fast, there's no cord on the iron to worry about and it doesn't sputter. It doesn't even spit. It's well behaved, easy to use and does exactly what it's supposed to do, but with much less effort than any other iron I've ever used. Oh, and one other thing, I love that it doesn't have Teflon on the ironing plate. You know, that stuff that's supposed to keep stuff you burn from sticking but after a while always has built up gunk on it? This has a nice shiny stainless steel plate that glides smoothly over every type of material I've used it on.
The other very cool thing about this iron is the shape of the bottom. It's not like the old fashioned irons with the flat bottom plate that moved forward but not backwards very easily. This truly moves in any direction which makes a huge difference in how quickly you finish ironing a garment and get back to fun stuff. And if you want to cheat, the vertical steam feature turns this thing into a steamer so you can get away with not ironing some items at all! If the item isn't too wrinkled you can just hang it up and use the steam feature to "virtually iron" the garment. Because the iron heats up so fast it's much better than using a traditional steamer, most of which take a long time to start producing steam.
I hope this video gives you a better idea of what the iron looks like and some of the features. You can see that it's pretty simple but actually a nice improvement over the old fashioned irons. Since using this iron I'm actually looking at 100% cotton and linen clothing again!
Update 12/20/12 Still using this iron and loving it. It's worked perfectly since day one.
Buy Panasonic NI-WL600 Cordless Multi-Directional Iron, Stainless Steel Soleplate, Silver/Black Now
I was hopeful for this iron, given its unique design and wireless ability. Years ago I had another wireless iron that was bulky, time consuming, and required constant re-charging. Unfortunately, this time around my experience is the same. This iron is receiving a number of reviews in men's magazines as an iron that even men can appreciate, but that's not been my experience. The iron simply does not get hot enough for long enough to do anything but light ironing, forget about ironing the cotton shirt or jeans unless you have 30 minutes to spare per item while struggling with recharging the iron in order to achieve what can only be called intermittent steam. The design and the light weight and the integration of the cord and carrying handle are all terrific, but ultimately even an inexpensive iron at half this cost will deliver better results. However, if you iron, like, one or two shirts a week and want something that looks really cool and don't mind spending the money, then this might be the iron for you. If you want a workhorse because you do the ironing in the family, this is not the iron to buy. First of all, I really, really like the weight of this iron. I've compared it with another iron (no names mentioned) and the other was like lifting several bricks. However, I'd been using it for years. My arm never tires now despite the number to be pressed.Secondly, the flexibility of this iron is amazing only a few days ago I was rearranging the cord so that the point of the iron could go into corners, collars, etc. No more. Also, ironing goes much faster now.
Another plus is the ability to regulate the steam I can regulate the amount of steam and even give a squirt of water. Now, how upscale is that? The iron heats quickly, too.
It's 100% improvement over my former iron. Thank you, Panasonic! The idea of a cordless iron didn't excite me all that much. I didn't think the cord got in my way while using my traditional iron. Boy was I wrong! The lack of a cord makes this iron super easy to use... the iron actually glides, instead of dragging along.
The iron heats up REALLY fast, much faster than my other iron. My biggest concern was that it wouldn't stay hot long enough to do any serious ironing before I had to return it to the base to warm up again. However, I didn't realize how often I set the iron down while working, anyway, usually to reposition the item. Setting this iron on the base is an easy and natural movement and actually feels more secure than balancing a traditional iron on its base, especially on a wobbly ironing board, so I really didn't have any problems with the iron not staying warm. I do think it still would be nice if there was some indication when the iron is in hand that it has dropped below optimal temperature.
The bi-directional aspect, in which both ends of the iron are pointed, didn't do much for me. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't find it useful, either.
I love the little case. I love the retractable cord on the base and that the iron is held in place in a position where any water left in the reservoir won't spill. I currently use a teflon iron "cozy" and coil the cord on my traditional iron so that I don't have to worry about the hot iron when I put it away. This little case is so much more slick, and, really, it's not rocket science. Nonetheless, I think this is my favorite part of this iron.
The ironing works fine. It's hard to get used to just three settings, low, medium and high, but they worked for me. I did have problems with the steam. In the spirit of full disclosure, I generally do have problems with steam, and often get spots with my traditional iron. The instructions on this iron indicate you should wait five seconds between the "jet of steam" and the "vertical steam" features and I'm sorry, but I can't seem to calculate and iron at the same time... I got water spots. I liked the light steam, but it seemed very... light, and not terribly effective. The regular steam was better, but it did shut off fairly quickly because the temperature dropped to low. The non-drip feature *did* work in that case, though.
The detailed instructions for repacking the iron for shipment are a little concerning. I'm hoping I never have it send it away. I have gotten hooked on the cute little thing, and find it perfect for last-minute touch-ups. It may take a bit for this to catch on, as my friends seem to have the same reaction I initially did ("but why?") but I think it is the shape -and glide -of things to come.
LandWare GoType Keyboard for Handspring Visor
- USB port and cable for computer connection
- No cable hookup or batteries required
- Includes 6 user-defined function keys
- Lightweight design includes protective hood
- Compatible with Handspring Visor handheld organizer (not compatible with Handspring Visor Prism)
Buy LandWare GoType Keyboard for Handspring Visor Now
I looked at both keyboards and wasn't as impressed with the Stowaway as much as the Gotype. The Gotype is a better value ($69 vs $99) since it comes with word processing software and a thesaurus, plus fuctions as a second cradle (even includes the USB cable). What suprised me the most was that I can type faster on the Gotype than I can on my PC, even though I have pretty big hands. The other plus is that it is stable and slightly inclined, where the Stowaway sits flat and tends to curl on the ends which causes it to bounce when you really get going. I have also seen/heard of the key caps popping off of the Stowaway, but I am told that in later shipments this was corrected. The only drawback to the Gotype vs. the Stowaway is storage compactness; the Gotype is a bit harder to carry around, though Landware does makes a case that allows you to carry both the Visor and the Gotype together. If you use your Visor the way I do, which is for everything that I can think of, especially extensive note taking, the Gotype is a must. Be prepared to attract some attention the first time you use it in public.Read Best Reviews of LandWare GoType Keyboard for Handspring Visor Here
I purchased 2 of these when I pre-ordered and thought it would be worth keeping both to share in the office. I was wrong. While the GoType for the Visor is faster to use than the stylus for straight entry, it was difficult to master the keyboard buttons that correspond to the PDA. It is also a little large to carry in a pocket, although a woman may get away with carrying it in her purse/backpack. At that point it loses the immediate practicality in my experience.I also bought the Targus folding keyboard for a few dollars more when it was introduced, and that would be my Handspring-down choice. The Targus folds neatly into a suit-pocket appropriate size and has a roomy feel when extended for typing. I would say that the Targus is twice the keyboard for 10% more in price. Borrow a GoType to try and then buy a Targus to keep and use. You will definitely prefer the Targus.
Want LandWare GoType Keyboard for Handspring Visor Discount?
I wish Landware had made this keyboard just a bit larger. Despite my compact hands, the keyboard size is in that region where it's OK, but not great. I would rather sacrifice compact portability for greater ease of use. And in any event, this is an item that will be carried in a briefcase and not a pocket. I also would have liked a Home and End key included on the board.I like the solid feel of the keyboard and its stability. This keyboard can be used on the lap. The key action feels good.
The included software has both a mini-word processor and a Thesaurus. One can import and export documents to and from the word processor. All my existing applications work with the keyboard. The included software makes this board very desirable.
There is no delay between the click of a key and the appearance of the character on the Palm screen. This is the primary reason why I bought the Go keyboard rather than Palm's folding keyboard, which reviewers say has a slight delay. That sort of thing drives me bonkers.I used to have a Palm Vx with a GoType Pro that proved to be more than excellent for light word processing needs. It almost seems that Landware *improved* the action and performance of the keyboard for the Visor model. Yes, it is small, but it is a *much* more solid product that the Targus/Palm keyboard. I have yet to see one of these actually open, extend, and close properly. I found the keys to be excellent for touch-type and not all that difficult to work with. Add to that the fact that it doubles as a HotSync cradle , that it's $30 cheaper, and you quickly see that it's a better value. It would be interesting to see Landware make a PalmOS unit.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silky Silver)
- Intel Core i5 3317U 1.7 GHz (3 MB Cache)
- 6 GB SDRAM
- 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
- 11.6-Inch Screen, Intel HD Graphics 4000
- Windows 8, 5-hour battery life
While it's less svelte than the ultrabooks and the battery life isn't fantastic, it's definitely a big step up in computing horsepower (an i5 processor, 6GB of RAM) from cheaper alternatives. You can also buy the same series and save $150 going w/ an i3 and 4GB RAM instead, which is probably a better deal for most people: Acer Aspire V5-171-6675 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silver). Or, if you don't need a workhorse, you could save even a hundred more w/ the Aspire One/other netbook style notebooks (lots less horsepower, but missing things like USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0, etc). If you don't need Windows at all, that new Samsung Chromebook (Wi-Fi, 11.6-Inch) is $250 and looks darn sexy.
There are lots of reviews online (search for Acer Aspire V5 reviews) that have video and do a good job of covering things. I'll just add a few notes from the perspective of someone's that's used a lot of hardware and software, but mostly uses Macs right now (and a Macbook Air for my primary laptop).
* Build-quality, svelteness is nowhere near the MBA of course, but overall it's well put together. The keyboard feels good and the hinge and overall chassis seems solid, doesn't squeak, etc. The hinge opens to almost 180 degrees, which is sort of nice.
* Screen is decent for the price range (as long as you don't compare w/ high-end IPS screen) glossy, but bright enough, if a bit washed out.
* Keyboard is good overall, but the arrow keys are teeny tiny.
* The trackpad is decent except for one thing that makes it nearly unusable by default the right-click is enabled for the right side, but it responds way too far left (there are no hard buttons, it's all software based) so that if you're right handed, and depending I suppose on the size of your hands and how you use the keyboard, you will end up right-clicking all the time when you mean to left-click. The only solution I could find w/ the included Elan Smart-Pad software was to make the right corner also be a regular click and assign right-click to a two-finger click. The trackpad supports gestures and two finger scrolling works fine but the "inertial scrolling" is complete crap and should be disabled.
* The AC adapter is a bit strange it's a big vertical wallwart. If you are using a powerstrip that is aligned vertically, you'll need to put it at the end.
* Setup was fine for a PC faster and less intrusive than a horrible Samsung Windows 7 Netbook I set up last year. Still, it took about 30min for the "PC Decrapifier" software to clean out the vendor junk.
* Haven't stressed it out, but haven't heard much fan noise.
* This laptop was primarily bought as a Windows testing bench at our office, but one of the reasons I bought this was also to check out Windows 8. Turns out, so far, I don't like it at all and much prefer Windows 7. As a general consumer, you may as well go w/ the latest since that'll be supported better in the future, but if you're happy w/ Windows 7, I'd try to see if you could find a laptop w/ Windows 7.
For the specs I was looking for (11.6", lightweight/compact, decent processing power) I think the V5 is a good value the best option I could find. The other laptop I was looking at was the Sony VAIO E11 Series SVE11125CXB 11.6-Inch Laptop (Black) , but the processor is much weaker (Brazos 2.0 about 2x older netbooks, but nowhere near the i5 on the Aspire V5), it's chunkier, and the battery life worse.
If you have the budget and you're planning to use this as your primary computer, I'd strongly recommend that you at the very least give some of the ultrabooks (Acer Aspire S7, Samsung S9, and of course the Apple Macbook Air) a spin, paying attention to how their screens, keyboards, and trackpads feel you may find that the extra price will be worthwhile for something that you spend hours everyday using.
Buy Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silky Silver) Now
I bought this on black Friday lightning deal to replace my HP DM1Z laptop which is comparable. For reference it's an AMD Zacate E-350 dual core with switching discrete graphics and 4GB ram. Anyhow, the little E-350 was not cutting it when I had lots of browser windows open or when watching videos it would get choppy and annoying.With this new Acer that is no longer a problem. The i5 in here chugs along super fast and has made things very pleasant. The HD4000 is adequate for anything you would likely want to on a 11.6" screened laptop. I don't find myself angry with slowdowns or issues playing youtube videos, or having 30 tabs open with remote control sessions to multiple other computers.
Things I like:
-Size: It's a great, very portable, lightweight package that has the benefit of having real ports. Keyboard is good, touchpad is fine for the most part. It's thin with good hinges.
-CPU/power: It's plenty fast for all the normal business apps, Netflix, youtube, etc. things running with a ton of stuff open. It's great not having a sacrifice in performance to get the small form factor anymore. It seems to run cool too, haven't heard the fan and it's been comfortable to have on my lap for extended periods of time.
-Real ports: I love that I have an actual Ethernet port, HDMI port and VGA. I was looking at the Samsung Series 9 and the like and you have to have dongles and adapters for everything. Having the actual port and just being able to bring the laptop and not worry about 10 different dongles to actually get connected to something is priceless. Having the USB 3.0 is great as well. Ports are well laid out and easy to get to. SD card slot is nice to have as well.
-Price: This is a given, you're looking at 1100 for most of the other ultrabooks that even hit on the specs this has (gen3 i5, 6GB ram)
Things I don't like:
-This is nitpicky but I wish the touchpad was slightly farther over to the right. This is more a getting used to it issue though and it's only been better the more I use it but there were times I'd would right click instead of left on accident when using both hands on the touchpad with left pointer moving the mouse and right hand fingers to mouse button. This is more just a getting used to it thing. The multi-touch works decently well.
As mentioned the power adapter is kinda weird with no power brick in the middle but all the bulk is there by the plug. This can make it difficult to plug in to some places. There are aftermarket power adapters on amazon for 9 bucks though that have a more standard setup to ease this issue.
-Battery: Well, it's pretty close to the 5 hours or so quoted with wifi on doing normal tasks. Which is really pretty impressive for a battery that is so small. I would love the option of adding a 6 cell battery for a bit extra capacity but as of 12/4/12 they don't seem to exist for sale. Battery is fine for what it is for the most part though.
-Hard drive: Reading the reviews on this ahead of time the 500GB 5400rpm HD was said to be a weak point. I put in a 240GB SSD to replace it as soon as I got it so I can't say too much on that. For the hour I used it with the drive it seemed fine. Do note though that if you replace the hard drive with the SSD you want one that is 7MM or thinner. I already had this SSD that I had loaded into the HP and it's a 9.5mm thickness. It works but it was quite tight putting the bottom cover back on and bulges a bit. It's been fine since though so I'm not going to worry about it. If you are getting an SSD, or for anyone getting the laptop really it's a good idea to buy a cheap 16GB SD card as well. The system recovery software from Acer will format an sd card and load all the recovery files onto it in case you ever need to wipe and reload the system. Or in this case put in a ssd and have it reload the system onto that cleanly.
-Windows 8 is frustrating in a lot of ways but I'm trying to force myself to get used to it in the stock form to better be able to support clients once they inevitably get some Windows 8 machines at some point. If I didn't have that then buying Start8 for a few bucks and putting it on here would make Windows 8 great. You can do all the multi-touch gestures on the touchpad so you can get away without a touchscreen for the most part. I don't even want a touch screen laptop as who wants all the finger smears all over the screen all the time. Windows 8 is quite fast though on the bootups and shutdowns. I do give it credit there.
So overall I'm quite happy with the purchase. (Especially getting it for $439 on black Friday). This computer is a much better deal than spending twice the price for a few MM of thickness saved. Definitely a solid choice for anyone who doesn't need a big screen. (You can run multiple external monitors with it with ease for a primary desk, there are some decent USB 3.0 docking solutions.)
***Edit 1/11/13 I have added a little more on the ssd and corrected the sizing of the 9.5mm thick one I have (you still want a 7mm ideally). I've been using the laptop daily now for well over a month and love it. Still nice and fast and it works great. Make sure if you buy this to go to acers website and download the latest driver updates, most namely the driver update for the Atheros wireless drivers. The put out a x.x.x.217-v3 version that you NEED to install. This cures some weird wireless disconnection issues a number of people were having. I'm bumping this laptop up to 5 stars now that that is good.
Read Best Reviews of Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silky Silver) Here
I looked at many laptops before I came across this Acer Aspire V5-171-6422. I was surprised to find that it had the same processor as the MacBook Air which costs over $1,000 and has the same graphics card. The 500GB hard drive is more than enough room. This computer is much faster showing me online content and it picks up the wifi signal right away so it saves me a lot of time. Battery life is approximately 4.5 hours and this computer is slimmer than my 10.1" netbook. This is the best computer around $500 and when you figure the small 11.6" screen, it's the best small computer out there. I run dual-monitor all the time without any problem, everything runs well through the USB port. USB 3.0 port is the future and this computer includes one such port. At this point, I wouldn't consider a computer without a USB 3.0. There are other plugs and battery packs available online and you can upgrade this computer by swapping out the 2GB RAM chip to 4GB, giving you a total of 8GB. This RAM stick will only run you $20 and all you have to do is remove two screws from the underside of the computer. Great computer ACERWant Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 11.6-Inch Laptop (Silky Silver) Discount?
I've owned about 3 different ACER laptops. All of them were great, but this one takes it to the next level.------------------------------------
Windows 8:
This laptop, when I first received it was very good. It worked, keyboard is very accurate, touchpad takes some getting used to. Windows 8 is OKAY. But the changes from windows 7 are a bit disappointing. It just doesn't have that "windows feel" anymore. I think Microsoft should rethink/rework the Windows 8 operating system a bit. It's too much to take in, and quite frankly, I think Microsoft is trying to 'copy' what Apple is doing; they're taking it way too far.
Immediately, I was disappointed with Metro. I absolutely cannot manage without the start menu! As well, with this laptop, using metro is kind of difficult. The touch pad is kind of all over the place sometimes, and takes you some place you don't want to go. Basically, I'd just tap the touch pad gently and end up clicking something in metro accidentally. This caused me so much frustration!!!
Overall, Windows 8 was just a huge disappointment to me. I don't know about anyone else, but I need more leeway when I use a computer.
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Linux Mint:
So after about 2 weeks, I tried Linux. I put Linux Mint on it, and surprisingly, it worked really well!! However, the brightness and touchpad were not working properly. I managed to fix the brightness, but the touchpad was a bit buggy still. The problem with the touchpad was scrolling and right click. Right Click wouldn't work unless you used 'two fingers'. Which meant I had to tap the touch pad with two fingers. It was a minor annoyance. The wireless was another major issue. For some reason in Linux, the wireless card would constantly drop. And it also would take for ever to reconnect. The only way to reconnect fast enough was to restart the whole system.
So pretty much, Linux needs a bit of updates for this laptop. The touchpad really works against you and does what ever it wants from time to time in Linux. And the wireless issue was just a huge turn off.
--------------------------------
Windows 7 downgrade:
And finally, 2 days ago, I downgraded back to windows 7. And guess what? IT WORKS FLAWLESSLY!!! It wasn't an actual downgrade, I had an OEM copy of windows 7 with a key to use. The performance difference between windows 7 and 8 on this laptop are VERY noticeable. Windows 8 kind of lags in desktop mode. But on Windows 7, I get no more lag, and everything runs smoothly.
Acer is such a great company when it comes to drivers. Most companies will not provide Windows 7 drivers. The reason for this is because they want to force you to use windows 8. Acer however, understands a users preference, and offers Windows 7 drivers in case you feel uncomfortable with windows 8. SO ACER GETS MY THUMBS UP!
All the drivers work, and I find the touch pad responds a lot better in Windows 7, compared to Windows 8 and Linux. Windows 7 works very well on this laptop, and I do recommend it if you want to downgrade to windows 7.
All I did was plug in an external USB cd-rom, and installed windows 7 pretty much that way. It's very simple.
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PROS AND CONS
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PROS:
1)Sleek
2)Runs decent
3)Intel HD 4000 can actually run some games. I'm not saying on high settings. Played Guild Wars 2, Left 4 dead, Killing Floor, etc; and they all run pretty well on this on low-med settings. But this isn't a gaming laptop, so don't expect anything like eye-candy gaming experience. This laptop serves it's purpose for me quite well.
4)i5 processor is SO GOOD!!!
5)USB 3, Bluetooth and HDMI
6)Overall Sexy silver look
CONS:
1)A bit flimsy (try not to rest anything heavy on it)
2)Network NIC (not the wireless). For some reason, an RJ45 cable refuses to fit properly in it. Don't know if that is a design flaw, or maybe I need better network cables.
3)Keyboard will betray you a few times. But this isn't a major con, it just takes some getting used to if you have big hands.
4)Battery could be better
5)....Wait stop. There are no more cons!
Yeah this laptop is too good for any big cons. It's a very decent semi-Ultra Book.
Other thoughts:
One more thing I noticed with this laptop, is it cannot get dirty! I usually leave my work spaces kind of messy after use. But this laptop has such a clean feel to it, you can hardly notice if there is a mess on it. I've had dust, pieces of hair, even some potato chips fall on it. It comes off very easily. Also, the Keyboard is fitted in a way, where it is impossible for any mess to get inside the laptop. Acer designed this so well, it's almost Dirt-Resistant!
I don't normally make reviews on Amazon, so please consider getting this laptop. It will not disappoint you, even if you like windows 8!I originally bought this computer because it was small and portable but also packed a little bit of a punch. I have owned it for a couple months and I love it so far. I am not a huge fan of Windows 8 but can't blame Acer for that.
Pros: Very portable, Durable, Quick start up, Keyboard isn't as small as i thought it would, Price.
Cons: Miss a back light beneath the keyboard, Mousepad isn't as responsive as other computers i have used (macbooks). The keys on the keyboard don't have a high quality feel when you hit the keys (being picky)
Overall i would highly suggest this computer if you are looking for a step right above the lower level i3 processor computers. The price is great for what you get. If you are looking for a computer above the lower level $350 computers and the $699 i7 computers this is a great pick.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Antec Basiq BP430 430 Watt 80 PLUS Power Supply
- ATX12V version 2.2 compliant.
- 80mm cooling fan
- Safety protection circuitry prevents damage resulting from short circuits, over current, and over voltage
- Universal Input with Active PFC
- PCI-E graphics card power connector
Later,
Everything is installed and SATA adapters have been added to the older plugs. But this power supply fan is noisy. The power supply that came w/ my Dell was dead silent (yes fan works). So I'll be looking for a quiter power supply.
Good luck.
Buy Antec Basiq BP430 430 Watt 80 PLUS Power Supply Now
Bought this unit at another egg-cellent California seller. Was on sale with a $20 rebate form included for a net cost including shipping of about $35. I've only had it a couple of weeks so far, but will sum up my impressionsI bought it to replace an Antec SmartPower 450 which came in the Antec Sonata case I used to build the PC in Apr '04.. It's been running 24/7 for 5.5 years.
Strong Points
* Adequate to power any pc/ video card combo as long as you don't have 2 video cards
* Has modular wiring.. I personally don't particularly care for this, but will admit it's convenient
* High efficiency and rated at 550w continuous output with very good current ratings as well
* 3 Yr parts/labor warranty
* good overvoltage/overcurrent protection so if it fails it doesn't cook your mobo on the way out.. ;)
* Plenty of plug options including multiple SATA, old 4pin molex, and old floppy type.. had at least 3 options for PCIe
* Cables are sheathed
* Very quiet.. softer than even the stock cpu cooler fan. (and this is in an Antec Sonata case which is very quiet anyway)
My criticizms are very minor..
* The cables are a bit stiff at the ends where the plug is located. This makes it hard if you have to turn it at the connect, say for a sata drive facing the side
* Had to fool with a rebate instead of just cheaper price :)
Any unit can have early failures, but this is rated at >100,000 hours mtbf which is excellent. Antec has always been a company I've had pleasant experiences with.
(edit: Update 8/11: The unit is still working fine. As it turns out it is in a somewhat dusty environment. It has shown no problems of any type, nor does it overheat. It probably would benefit from having dust, etc blown out about once a year .. in fact I expect most people's pc's would benefit from this cleaning)
(edit: Update 6/12: The unit failed last March, so I got only about 18 months' service out of this unit.. rather disappointing for a unit of this price! I have lowered my rating from 5 star to 3 star. edit:9/12: Since the unit was on warranty still, I returned it at my expense, $12.70 no thank you USPS, and received my replacement about a week later... not unreasonable. Raised up to 4 star)
Read Best Reviews of Antec Basiq BP430 430 Watt 80 PLUS Power Supply Here
got this for a super great price.its an antec basiq so its got only 1 fan, but the cables are long enough to reach all the components in the pc.
only con is that the one fan is significantly noisy, so in a quiet surrounding you can clearly hear it.
good thing is that it does the job well. thats what counts for me.
Want Antec Basiq BP430 430 Watt 80 PLUS Power Supply Discount?
I have installed at least 6 of these in 6 different computers. No need to get the higher (500W+) power supplies unless you plan on doing some heavy duty gaming. Easy to install and plug in. Note though that this only has a 20 pin power connector so it cannot be used on DDR2 or DDR3 systems which require a 24 pin power connector.Let's get something straight right off: this power supply is NOT noisy.I just built a machine for my brother using this power-supply, and when I saw all the reviews saying it was noisy, I thought "what are they talking about???" So to be fair, I turned around to turn on my brother's machine (it's sitting on the desktop right behind my head as I type this), because I wanted to hear it run, and objectively re-evaluate whether or not it seemed noisy at all:
Only when I went to power it up it was already on. I just couldn't hear it. And that's NOT what I expected to be telling you at this point! So whatever issues other people have with this thing being noisy, I really can't understand. Maybe they're overclocking and their CPU fan is going nuts or something. Makes no sense at all to me otherwise.
Moving right along: The power supply is not entirely modular, as noted in some other reviews, but the non-modular cables are required for your motherboard anyway. If I had one gripe about this supply, it's that the cables that are provided did not have enough cable between successive connectors to enable me to get everything in my rig powered up with only one of them, something that would have been theoretically possible had they been a little longer runs--but I can't say that other power supplies are any different in that regard, and I was able to easily finish by simply using another cable.
Beyond that, I can't say enough about this power supply. It's quiet as can be (literally inaudible in the machine right behind me, I'm still shaking my head about that one), it provides up to 550W (which works nicely with Core i3/i5/i7 processors which recommend at least 450W, by the way), and it has wide selection of extra modular cables to power about anything you could possibly want to put inside your case. As a bonus it's VERY competitively priced and Antec has a great reputation with power supplies. In short, I highly recommend this thing.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Touch Screen Digitizer for HTC Touch Pro 2 pro2 proII II T7380 Sprint version
- Touch Screen Digitizer for HTC Touch Pro 2 pro2 proII II T7380 Sprint version
- This Dgitizer is Sprint version, will NOT work with Verizon version!
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Bundle Monster Vinyl Skin Sticker For Xbox 360 S Slim Game Console - Cover Protector Art Decal - Gre
- For Xbox 360 Slim only. Skins are made up of ultra thin and superb vinyl material that is environmental friendly. These are NOT hard case or faceplate.
- Our skins have an upscale leather like finish to distinguish your game console. (See Close Up Shot Image)
- Highly durable and prevent abrasions & scratching. Removal of skins will not leave any sticky residual.
- Does not block any vent holes or void your console's warranty.
- Very easy to apply skins to your game console. No cutting necessary. Self-explanatory.
Friday, May 2, 2014
LUX PREMIUM FM TRANSMITTER AND CRADLE FOR APPLE iPHONE, TOUCH, NANO & MORE
- Transmit music from iPhone iPod or MP3 player to car's stereo speakers
- Full FM Spectrum 88.1 to 107.9MHz
- Support iPhone for Handsfree Communication
- Connects to 12v DC and USB Output Voltage 5v DC at 1Amp Max
- Compatible with all iPhone iPod or any MP3 player with 3.5mm outputs
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The item I bought was DOA (the FM transmitter did not work with any radio), but that turned out to be good because it allowed me to return the item for a full refund. The grips would not hold the iPhone in place and the arm is only about 10" long. That was not enough to place the iPhone within reach in my car. Unfortunately, it seems that there is no all-in-one FM transmitter, Hands free, Charger, Holder for the iPhone yet. Instead, I recommend getting a different product for each of those functions.Read Best Reviews of LUX PREMIUM FM TRANSMITTER AND CRADLE FOR APPLE iPHONE, TOUCH, NANO & MORE Here
i think its a good product. i did hear some interference at first but you need to put it at a station where there is just noise. then it should work fine.Want LUX PREMIUM FM TRANSMITTER AND CRADLE FOR APPLE iPHONE, TOUCH, NANO & MORE Discount?
You get what you pay for with this product. Used it for a few days and it fell apart. Terrible setup with your iphone. Awful fm transmission. Dont bother.I bought this for my droid2, basically so I could listen to the music on my phone in my car... the fm transmitter works excdllantly, and the added usb port is nice for charging my phone, but the cradle moves all over the place, it all mounts directly in the cigarette lighter and thus it is free to fall when you hit bumps or whateverThursday, May 1, 2014
New OEM Verizon HTC Droid Incredible Black High Gloss Silicone Case
- Silicone
Buy New OEM Verizon HTC Droid Incredible Black High Gloss Silicone Case Now
I already owned this same case for my Droid Incredible Android phone. My wife loved my phone so much she got one, so I ordered the same product from amazon. Nice buy!Read Best Reviews of New OEM Verizon HTC Droid Incredible Black High Gloss Silicone Case Here
Just as desc Fits nice and snug. Has a honeycomb/carbon fiber reflective design on the back which is pretty cool, and gives it some uniqueness over a regular, plain black silicone case. Slips right in and out the pocket, and offers great protection. Only SLIGHT downside is that it collects a little dust in the corners, but not much at all. Just wipe it down once and your good to go!Want New OEM Verizon HTC Droid Incredible Black High Gloss Silicone Case Discount?
This cover for my phone is so much better than the first one I bought. The first one (different)brand always would pop off on me. This was does not and it looks and feels so much better.I'm very pleased with how slim this keeps the profile while still providing protection. It is a very snug fit, yet easy to put on. It doesn't seem to attract every single dust particle in my purse either. My only possible negative is that the edge pushed my Zagg screen protector off in two corners. Not sure if it is user error or because of the design. If anyone has has luck with screen protectors and this case, please comment.Thursday, March 20, 2014
PDair Leather Case for HTC Titan X310e - Book Type (Black)
Friday, March 7, 2014
Palm Pre / Palm Pre Plus / Palm Pre GSM OEM Sprint Microfiber Cleaning Pouch Carrying Case Skin
- Palm OEM Case that comes standard in the Palm Pre original box !!
- Custom made to fit your Palm Pre perfectly.
- Light weight and durable.
- Lint-free, streak-free clean-ups and cleans without chemicals
This is the exact case that I received with my Palm Pre Plus. I always like to have a backup as just when you lose something, they don't sell it anymore. It actually looks really cool with my Amazon Basics iPad case that is black and orange AmazonBasics Netbook Bag with Handle, Fits 7to 10-Inch Netbooks, iPad (Black) as I purchased the Palm Pre Plus just to use as a wi-fi hotspot for my iPad. I purchased this Palm case from SF Planet that was fulfilled by Amazon. No problems at all. Perfect fit.I ordered a Microfiber case for my small Palm Pre Plus phone and this vendor sent me a hard plastic clip on belt case that would probably fit a phone twice the size of Palm Pre..Fortunate for me Amazon refunded me my purchase price..Because of the cost to return this garguatuan piece of crap vs the price of the item I did'nt get stuck with shipping cost for a refund..I would'nt recommend buying from 11th StreetWireless..I trashed the item..Thanks Amazon for making this refund headache free.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Honeywell Xenon 1900 Handheld Bar Code Reader
- White
- Cable
- Imager
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Genius Colorpage-SF600 Sheet fed Scanner
- Pass-Through Scanner - Portable
- Optical Resolution: 600 dpi x 1200 dpi
- Scanner interface type: USB
- Min Operating system: Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
- Scan mode: Single-pass
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I recently purchased this scanner mainly because it was portable and I do alot of traveling that requires my receipts to be scanned and sent in. So far, so good. The installation was not as easy as they claim, however, I have been known to be computer-illiterate at times. But once I got it up and running it worked great. Be sure to change the settings of where you want your files to be saved in(which folder). I scanned the receipts right in and they did well. It was suggested to tape them to a piece of paper but I did not find that necessary. In addition, the holding dock has an empty bottom so you can store the USB cord inside. NOTEThis scanner also comes with a soft case so there is no need to buy the "recommended" case with it for $16.00. I hope this helps everyone. This was the cheapest scanner with the best reviews and I think it does it's job.Read Best Reviews of Genius Colorpage-SF600 Sheet fed Scanner Here
the Genius Color page sf600 scans in good speed and takes very little desktop space. The image on the page is wrong and this is why the previous customer thought he received the wrong product and had to return it. I can scan jpeg and convert it to pdf format. Pretty handy. Scans letter size document too.Want Genius Colorpage-SF600 Sheet fed Scanner Discount?
Physically seemed like a nice piece of hardware but it simply didn't work. Installed the drivers from the web rather than the disk so I would be sure to have the latest version. Seemed to install properly and asked me to do a calibration after install. Since the calibration ran fine I assumed install was correct. When I tried to scan I got images that looked like digital noise. Tried multiple times with the Digiscan software, omni page, and with the Business card reader. Never got anything but noise. Tried to call tech support but they were closed. Software seemed cumbersome anyway. Decided to just return it. Am going to try the Fujitsu ScanSnap 1300. More money and larger but hopefully will work better. Scanners aren't rocket science and they aren't new so I don't know why they shouldn't just work right out of the box.I looked a while for a sub $100 compact scanner for my desk. (I already have a big expensive bulky flatbed I drag out of storage and use for slide and serious image scanning.) I wanted to use this to get all those everyday loose papers and receipts in electronic format and trash the paper and eliminate paper piles.As described the unit is compact and powered by the USB cable so it has a minimal footprint on your desk and doesn't consume an outlet. Along with the provided software it has two hardware buttons you can preset for one touch scanning. I have one set to scan as OCRed PDFs and the other to scan jpg. You simply press the button and it scans according to the buttons presets. You can also manually scan and use software button presets. It pulls the items right on through at a good pace and they display in the supplied scan/document management tool. From there you can sort your scans as you desire.
I did have to cajole the driver a bit to install on Windows 7 but I finally got it installed (So don't give up)
For under $100 I could not be more pleased with the performance and options.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
OEM Motorola BT91 Battery for Motorola Rival A455, Motorola KRZR K1m, Motorola Q, Motorola Q9c, Moto
- Extended Battery
Saturday, December 14, 2013
BoxWave Slimline Capacitive Stylus for Apple iPad 3 - Apple iPad (3rd Generation) Touch Screen Stylu
- Durable and responsive tip works on all capacitive touch screens
- Conveniently designed in pen form, perfect for carrying around
- Perfect for cold days when you don't want to remove your gloves
- Available in Bold Orange, Crimson Red, Jet Black,
- Lunar Blue, and Metallic Silver color
This stylus fit the bill perfectly. I do a fair amount of typing on my iPad and I use a lot of artistic apps.
This stylus is narrow/thin, so creating fine/delicate strokes is easier than with my fingertips. Its also very precise when scrolling lists and webpages and reduces the frequency of cleaning the iPad screen. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a stylus with a narrow tip, comfortable to use and good weight.I liked the idea of having a thin stylus to take notes with, but unfortunately I believe my tablets screen does not really support continuous pressure. So in short if you have a sony s I don't believe you will have any luck with a stylus and definitely not this one
Monday, November 11, 2013
Lexerd - TomTom VIA 1535 1505 1500 T TM TrueVue Anti-Glare GPS Screen Protector (Dual Pack Bundle)
- Ultra Thin
- Anti-glare
- Guarantee To Preserve Original Color Tones
- Heat, Water Resistance, Against Scratches and Shields Damage
- Not Interfere with Touch screen Technology
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
512MB Expansion Card
- Compatible with the Palm TX / LD / T600 / T650 / T700
BillG, ColoradoI am so glad that I got this card right away. It provides enough memory to get started & not have to worry about filling up my palm right away.

