Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Episode 423 – We Think He Really Likes this Keyboard?

In this Week’s TechtalkRadio Show, Andy and Shawn want to find out about Matt’s new studio setup which looks like it came out great! Matt shared his recent transition to a rack-mounted case, which he found to be more efficient and better for airflow. He also discussed his use of a Sony ZV-10 mirrorless camera as a webcam, which he found to be effective for blogging and vlogging. Last weeks show had a listener ask about Mechanical Keyboards which Matt explained and discussed his mechanical keyboard, the Keychron v1 Max, which he found at Micro Center. He highlighted its features, including a 75% keyboard layout, mechanical switches, USB-C and USB-A ports, a rechargeable internal battery, Bluetooth compatibility, and a switch for Mac or Windows. Matt also mentioned the keyboard’s customizable firmware and the ability to change keycaps for different layouts. He noted that the keyboard lights up and has a tactile feel, making it the quietest mechanical keyboard he has ever used. Take a look at the Company Website at https://www.keychron.com

Shawn found a great deal and decided to buy in for a Dji Power 1000, a solar generator that can charge devices and potentially run small appliances like an air conditioner. He bought it at a 48% discount from Amazon, using a code from Dji’s Black Friday email. Shawn plans to use it for camping and when out grabbing photos for astrophotography. The group also discussed other portable power brands like Jackery and Anker, and the possibility of using solar panels to charge the generator. Andy suggested that listeners might benefit from joining Dji’s mailing list for potential deals.

After a listener question from Allan, Matt and Shawn discussed the pros and cons of upgrading to Windows 11. Matt and Shawn expressed their dissatisfaction with the bloat and ads in Windows 11, while the listener sought advice on whether to upgrade now or wait until October when Windows 10 support ends. Matt advised Allan to pull the band-aid and upgrade, as Windows 11 will receive security patches and updates, but warned about the potential annoyance of ads and recommendations. Matt also advised Allan to back up his files before upgrading his operating system and to use a disk cleanup tool to remove previous Windows installations after a certain amount of time. Andy also shared a question from Dave about recovering data from an old IDE hard drive, and Shawn suggested using a USB to IDE adapter to connect the drive to a computer stating they aren’t to bad in price and easy to use. Shawn found one on the Micro-Center Website from Vantec. Another listener question handled the subject of Black Friday/Cyber Monday TV Deals and how to tell differences between some of the screens. All this and more featured in this week’s TechtalkRadio Show,

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Show – Zip Ties, Velcro and a Whole Lot of Cables

For this Week’s TechtalkRadio Broadcast, Andy, Shawn, and Justin discussed various topics related to technology and personal experiences. They talked about Matt’s computer issues, with Justin mentioning that Matt had moved his gaming computer into a rack mount chassis and was experiencing problems. They also discussed the importance of cable management, with Shawn emphasizing the need for flush-cutting zip ties to avoid injuries.

In the Photos, What a Non Flush Cut Zip tie looks like. Matt shared the Rack and then System with componants installed, then the finished product. The conversation then shifted to the topic of retro computer cases, with Andy sharing an article about Silverstone’s retro beige PC case. The team also reminisced about the past, discussing the effects of smoking on electronics and the challenges of cleaning them. The conversation ended with Justin showing off his new camera, The Sony A7 Mark IV camera. Justin explained the camera’s features, including its ability to shoot raw images, 4K video at 60 frames per second, and its built-in eye tracking feature. Justin also discussed his experience with Adobe Lightroom, a software he used to edit the photos he took with the camera. Andy and Shawn praised the camera’s quality and the benefits of using Lightroom for photo editing.

Another Project that Justin recently completed was installing permanent outdoor holiday lights. Justin shared his research on the company Jellyfish deciding to go with EnBrighten, in Justin study a more affordable option. EnBrighten lights come in 100-foot strings and can be individually controlled, allowing for various color effects and preset modes for different holidays. Justin also mentioned hiring a professional to install the lights, which cost him around $380.

A listener question came in regarding a request from the writer’s son for a Mechanical Keyboard. Justin explained the differences between budget keyboards and what can be found with a mechanical. Andy, Shawn, and Justin discussed their experiences with the Tyson-Paul boxing match and the issues they faced while trying to watch it. They shared their attempts to stream the fight, with Shawn mentioning that they eventually found an illegal stream to watch it on Discord. Justin revealed that he watched the fight somewhat legally through a live stream on X, which had 9 million viewers at its peak. The conversation then shifted to social media platforms, with Andy and Justin discussing their experiences with Twitter and the new platform Blue Sky. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the political nature of these platforms and their desire for a more curated feed. Justin mentioned that he has successfully curated his X feed to avoid political content. The team also discussed their presence on Facebook and Blue Sky, encouraging listeners to connect with them on these platforms.

Another listener question is handled, and it involved digitizing old VHS tapes and putting them of DVD. Shawn recommended not burning them to DVD. Shawn recommended using Legacy Box for digitizing old VHS tapes into a digital format, as DVDs are just taking up space. Justin suggested that the digitized content could be played on a TV via a USB slot. Shawn also suggested checking out the service’s website for a sale currently running at $8 per tape. In a segment from a couple of weeks ago, Andy mentioned his experience with the Epson FF680-W photo scanner and has found that Visioneer has a similar scanner and will work to check it out and compare its performance.

Andy TaylorTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , ,

New Segment – KMSB Fox 11 Valentine Gifts or Gifts to Yourself!

From KMSB Fox 11 Segment with Andy Taylor of TechtalkRadio

In this segment from KMSB Fox 11, Andy Taylor from TechtalkRadio shares some great gift ideas for Valentine’s Day. First Featured are products from Logitech such as the very comfortable to use Pop Mouse which is part of the studio collection. The Pop Mouse connects via Bluetooth and features a customizable button for inserting emojis on social media sites or in documents. Also attractive on the Logitech Pop Mouse is the many different color schemes available.

Also featured from Logitech is the Pop keys mechanical keyboard which also connects via Bluetooth and features customizable options for again easy insertion of emojis or other features as a part of this keyboard which can connect to various devices such as a tablet or even smartphone. The mechanical feel of the keys and the sturdiness of the pop keys mechanical keyboard along with the personalization make this great for just about anybody. The smaller form of the Pop Key does not have a 10 key area.

For somebody that would like a slim keyboard that features 10 key, the Logitech K585 could be a great solution! The Keyboard is connected via Bluetooth and has the ability to switch between multiple devices with the simple Press of a button. The K585 is a very slim form factor makes it perfect for just about any desktop and also features a tray above the keys which allows you to place a tablet or smartphone in that area.

Also featured in the segment from SanDisk is the iXpand Flash Drive Luxe, this flash drive line features multiple connections options and the SanDisk software on a smartphone or tablet can allow you to easily back up your photos from the device or even Google Photos as well as your contacts onto this sturdy flash drive. The flash drive then can be connected to your computer to transfer the images as a secondary backup. With the downloadable free App, you can even check out the amount of space left on your smartphone and delete your photos from the smartphone if you wish. The iXpand Flash Drive Luxe that we featured is the 128 GB model with the Thunderbolt connector for using with Apple Devices and a USB C connector.

All of these could make great gift ideas for Valentine’s or as a gift for yourself.

Andy TaylorHardware, Keyboards, Laptops, Logitech, Razer, TechtalkRadio, , , , ,

KMSB Fox 11 Segment with Andy Taylor – A Viewer Request for Mechanical Keyboards

Our segment today actually came as the idea from a Viewer of the Segments on Fox 11. He had mentioned how the keyboards for computers were all smaller and not as easy to use, this focusing on the Older User – Also that they weren’t looking at a Wireless Solution.  So we have gathered a couple of alternatives that are easy to use, corded and a very nice touch when typing.

One of the Products to look at is from Logitech G, the Gaming Division of the company.  Just like Gaming Chairs can be used for Comfort and not always for Gaming, Logitech G has some great products from Headphones to Mice to Keyboards for Gamers AND the Casual User. We look at the Logitech G Pro Keyboard. QA Compact Ten Keyless Keyboard which has a great feel for the user when typing. You know you hit the correct keys and honestly, I found my typing even faster with this keyboard. It is Smaller yet with a Big Key Feel. Many of us don’t need the Extra Real Estate from 10 keys so they are eliminated. It features the GX Clicky Mechanical Switches Full Height and gives a better experience when typing. It is Colorful too, you can program the light pattern with the Free HG Hub Software to suit your taste and the keys can be altered for Linear or Tactile use, I prefer the mechanical feel.   Another great feature, the 5 ft Cable is detachable and can be easily carried in a gaming or laptop bag to use instead of that Laptop Keyboard. The F Keys are Programmable as well great for Gaming or even repetitive typing task. It retails for about 129.00

A little less expensive from another company that carries product for the casual user and the gamer is Razer. They produce the Ornata Chroma Keyboard. This also features a Mechanical Touch Key Switches Mid Height, Backlit keys and can be programmed easily with the  Razor Cortex Software. It is a little larger then the Logitech G Pro but does feature the 10 Key and the Cord is not detachable. The Light scheme can be customized as well and the keyboard can be set up for gamers to get the best use of the keyboard with the layout for that game. The Razer Ornata Chroma sells for about 70.00 You Can check out the line of products at Razer.Com