S!ickLeave a commentTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Windows notebook to compete with Chromebooks?

It’s being reported that specifications for a Windows competitor to Chromebooks, for around $200, have been found…

I feel a strong need to comment on this issue. I’ve owned a Chromebook. And many “low-end” notebook computers. And have tried to use outdated computer hardware (notebooks and desktops) with various operating systems. Before you spend your money, I want to try to help you with your decisions about what to buy…and what not to buy.

The information about the possible upcoming HP Stream Notebook PC was publicized by http://www.mobilegeeks.de/hp-stream-199-dollar-notebook-kommt-mit-14-inch-display-amd-plattform-100-gb-onedrive-alle-details/

It should have a 14-inch screen. Anything less, and I have felt a bit cramped…as I do when using a netbook, or a large (10-inch) tablet with a keyboard. The keyboard on my Asus C7 Chromebook was smaller than a standard one. I was not comfortable using it over long periods of time.

The processor in the HP Stream is expected to be a quad-core AMD A4 Micro-6400T. When using Chrome OS, AND Windows, I have no complaints about the performance of dual-core processors…UNTIL:

I am trying to watch video, or stream something from the internet (including YouTube)…
I use multiple applications/programs and browsers…
I have multiple tabs open in a browser…
and I try to use some websites where they are heavy with whatever it is they feel the need to bombard me with (video/graphics, “dancing baloney”, etcetera).

I will never invest my money in any computer (or tablet) with less than a quad-core processor, and expect it to be able to reasonably render multimedia content. I’ve been very, very disappointed. (I have a notebook computer with Windows 7, 8 GB RAM, and it has a quad-core processor which I have no complaints about. I don’t like using my other computers that have Windows 7 and 8, 8 GB RAM, and dual-core processors in them: they lag and drag when I am using them with the internet.)

The HP Stream will probably come with only 2 GB RAM, that cannot be upgraded. We will all need to wait to find how this configuration might perform. There are Chromebooks available with 4 GB RAM, but none I’m aware of with quad-core processors.

If, as expected, it has at least a 32 GB drive…this will be a great incentive. I read a report from someone who was trying to download content from Google Play Movies & TV to his Chromebook ( https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-play-movies-tv/gdijeikdkaembjbdobgfkoidjkpbmlkd?hl=en ) but could not, because it had only a 16 GB storage drive.

A screen-shot of the specifications that were found is at http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www.mobilegeeks.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/605x1165xhp-stream-specs.gif.pagespeed.ic.YcCSaefr99.png

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I found a review that gave me answers to some questions I have about the more “powerful” Chromebooks…and I want to warn you about them:

“…Samsung…Chromebook 2 uses Samsung’s latest Exynos 5 chip…along with 4GB of RAM…It does fine as long as I’m only doing one thing at a time, but as soon as I open a bunch of tabs in rapid succession or try to stream music while I power through my RSS feeds, the Chromebook 2 starts to chug…

“…A number of manufacturers are working to put Intel’s latest chips into similarly priced Chromebooks, and every one I’ve tried works faster than this one. These devices don’t need to be exceptional, but before we’ll ever get any work done on Chrome OS they must keep up; the Chromebook 2 feels like it was running two steps behind me all the time, red-faced and breathing heavily.

“…I can’t imagine ever recommending a Chromebook without an Intel processor…

“…I can’t work on a laptop that can’t keep up with me — and I wouldn’t recommend anyone else do so either…”

http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/10/5788934/samsung-chromebook-2-review

 

 

Andy Taylor1 CommentConsumer Electronics, Featured, Legal, Media Center

MONKEY GRABS YOUR CAMERA – WHO OWNS THE COPYRIGHT?

Monkey With a Camera
Our Own Monkey with a Camera

There’s a story we checked out about a guy whose camera was taken by a monkey. The Monkey snapped some pics including some pretty good Selfies. The guy that owned the camera is according to sources going after WikiMedia in a Copyright Infringment Suit saying they didn’t have the right to republish the photos however Wikimedia claims that the Monkey or Nobody at all has the rights!

Read the Full Story here on Business Insider Australia

 

Andy TaylorLeave a commentMobile Apps, Smartphones, TechtalkRadio, , , ,

How does the new Amazon Fire phone stack up?

We wrote this column for Tucson News Now on our First Look at the Amazon Fire Smartphone, It seems that almost every time we turn around we find a new ground breaking App for our Smart Phones or a new version of a Smartphone that is packed with features to help us in our daily lives. With the newest smartphone on the market, we get both. (READ MORE ON TUCSON NEWS NOW AND SEE THE VIDEO)

How does the new Amazon Fire phone stack up? – Tucson News Now.

Andy TaylorLeave a commentConsumer Electronics, Safety, TechtalkRadio, , ,

Selfies Can Lead to Death

We hear the warnings all the time! “Be careful when texting!” It’s pretty darn obvious you shouldn’t text when driving, sadly – many states and cities had to create laws to stem the flow of dingleheads texting while hurtling down the road at 70mph!!

This morning we learned of a couple of deaths while taking Selfies, another issue using the camera while doing anything!!

A Husband and Wife recently fell to their deaths while taking a “Selfie” of themselves while Vacationing in Portugal at the Cliffs at Cabo Da Roca, the couple had two children that were there and were taking into protective care until relatives could come take care of the kids. Tragic. It’s not the first time this has happened with death during selfies but hopefully with awareness, the last.

Andy TaylorLeave a commentComputers, Consumer Electronics, Mobile Apps, TechtalkRadio, , , ,

KMSB Fox 11 Daybreak Segment from 07/14/2014

In this Segment from Daybreak on Fox 11 KMSB Tucson, Andy Taylor of TechtalkRadio visits to talk about an easy to setup and use the Belkin Wi-Fi Netcam for Home Security/Monitoring. Andy loves the ease of use for downloading the App from Belkin and easily setting up the Netcam to give the user a connection when away to monitor and with the WeMo devices adjust and give the impression of somebody at home. The Wi-Fi Netcam features Motion Capture, HD Capture to an available service and of course the ability to view on your smartphone.