I have written in the past about my Surface RT. I have been using it for quite a while and simply love it. It's so easy to use - I find I reach for it before almost any other device. I read and respond to most of my personal emails using it, I read the news every day using the Bing news feeder, I play games on it, watch Netflix, order pizza on it. When we need to find something - we use the Surface to Google it. Yes, it doesn't have the full-blown Windows OS - it uses the RT version of Windows 8.1. But the RT version is elegant in it's simplicity. I rarely find myself going If Only. It does everything I need it to. Well, almost everything.
I have only been able to find two things it can't do that I wish it could do - both software related. Because it doesn't run the full version of the Windows OS I have to use the Windows Store as the single source for any application I might want. There are two applications I would love to be able to run on my Surface - Adobe Elements (a photo organizing and editing tool that I use all the time on my laptop), and Minecraft (a game that Walter and I love to play). For Adobe Elements there are work-arounds ... I just need to play with some of them to decide what might work the best. For Minecraft, there is Discovery and Block World - unfortunately, neither of them compares to Minecraft. The only other issue I've had is that I can't use our current printer with the Surface - it's a few years old and the Surface RT doesn't have the driver for it and the Windows Store doesn't have anything Canon driver's on it. So I either have to use my laptop or break down and buy a new printer that the Surface can communicate with. I haven't gone there yet.
When I first got the Surface RT I bought the touch keyboard - an accessory that was used for both keyboarding and as a cover to the screen. The touch is OK in a pinch, but for long sessions of typing it is a bit of a pain - you have to remember to press, not push, the keys. I recently bought the Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard - a small Bluetooth keyboard that comes with it's own cover, making it extremely portable. As an added bonus it has a little switch that allows it to pair not only with Windows devices but also Android and iPad/iPhone devices. The keyboard is small, but it's far easier to type on it for long periods than the touch keyboard. Along with the keyboard I also got the Microsoft Wedge Touch mouse. Also a Bluetooth device, it's small and yes, wedge shaped. Despite it's diminutive size it actually feels quite comfortable in your hand. The two are a great travelling pair. I'm sure I will be taking them to meetings and when we go on vacations. Why didn't I get the Microsoft Type cover and the ARC Touch mouse that they always show paired with the Surface tablets? Because the Type cover costs $129.99 and the ARC Touch mouse costs $59.99. That's over $200 with taxes. My little set cost me just half that. And I can use them with my ASUS Memo Pad HD 173 Android tablet (it's a 7" tablet that I use to play Minecraft on!) which is a total bonus in my books.
If I were on a tight budget and wondering how best to get setup up with some kind of device that I could write on, be creative on, and connect to the world with ... I think this combination I've put together would be it. The long battery life, the build quality, the size. It's not buggy - I'm not worried when I press the power button ... I know it will work. It's simple to use - Walter and Manuel don't have any difficulty using it. It's portable and with the long battery life I can go all day without it dying on me.
Would I love to have the Surface Pro 3 and all it's cool accessories? Of course, but I don't need to spend that kind of money to enjoy what I've got here.
I typed this whole blog post using the Microsoft Universal Mobile Keyboard and Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse. No hassles encountered.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Friday, December 05, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
My Microsoft Surface RT
You may wonder why I recently purchased a Microsoft Surface RT. I have an HP Pavilion g7 laptop as my main home computer for writing this blog, paying bills, doing work from home, and surfing the net. It's what I use to edit my photos, and to email friends, family, and colleagues. It's been my go-to device for a couple of years now. It does it's job well and I have been, in general, quite happy with it.
It really all started with Manuel getting a new laptop to replace the old Toshiba laptop we'd had since 2006. The one that accidentally got beer on it's keyboard within the first week of ownership (which would have been OK except that Manuel and his friend Rick decided to use some special product that Rick used at work to help dry electronic parts ... except it literally melted the keyboard, making the down arrow obsolete from that point on - a bone of contention for me throughout the years we used the Toshiba). Manuel's new laptop was a fairly low-cost piece that came loaded with Windows 8. It's one great feature was a touchscreen monitor that everyone liked. But in the early days I was uncomfortable with the whole modern Metro User Interface (UI). From my Windows 7 experience it just felt all wrong. As the resident IT person for our house it was me that had to learn how to deal with it. I managed, but I didn't use it much in the beginning. But as time went on and I had more time with it I began to understand that Metro UI. I began to realize it was just brilliant. I could touch the screen for some actions and still use my mouse or touchpad for other actions. They co-mingled perfectly. There even came a point when I would be at my HP and accidentally touch the screen when I should have been using my mouse. I became frustrated that I only had a mouse and touchpad. I was ... jealous. The modern Metro UI that frustrated me so much in the beginning I now loved and longed for. It was simple and elegant. I loved that you could build the desktop to reflect your needs and design style. I wanted it for myself, but I had a perfectly working laptop. Sigh.
Now into Fall 2013 Manuel's old cell phone was barely working. That's when I started toying with the Windows phones. After much deliberation I bought myself a pre-paid cell phone - the Nokia 520, a basic entry level Windows phone - so that I could test it out to see if it would work for Manuel. I liked it enough to encourage Manuel to buy one. He did and we became of family of Windows cell phone owners.
Those two cell phones were the beginning of my true infatuation with the Windows 8 eco-system of cell phones, tablets, and PCs. I started using my cell phone all the time - reading my emails, keeping our calendars up-to-date (I loved the family room concept that allowed Manuel and I to share not only conversations and photos, but to keep a synchronized calendar between us). It was the place I went to when I wanted to read the news (Huffington Post, Flipboards, Bing News, etc.). It came out at meetings at work, was in hand during weekly grocery shopping with the Simply Shopping app I had downloaded for free. I liked the Windows Store - it wasn't as over-crowded as the Google Play Store. I was able to find everything that I needed to make the phone useful, and fun. And, of course, those Nokia off-line maps. Wonderful.
I was so into the Nokia 520 that I started to fantasize about using it to maintain my blog. I tried ... but with only 4" of screen and no solid keyboard I came to the conclusion that it really wasn't a real option. Close - I could just manage to create a brief text based entry, but not sustainable.
At the same time, my old trusty Archos 43 tablet wasn't doing well. I'd had it since 2008. It had served me well. But it's aging 2.3 Android OS was clearly showing it's age, and Walter had banged the screen in his eagerness a few too many times.
I was thinking about something to replace the Archos 43. I toyed with getting an Apple iPad, but just didn't want to fork out that kind of money knowing that Walter would be using it. I considered just getting a cheap Android tablet that he and I could share. I so wished that Nokia had a tablet since I really liked the Nokia 520 cell phone. Although there were rumours while I was researching my options there wasn't anything available in the Canadian market at the time. That's when I started thinking about the Microsoft Surface. I had initially read such bad things about it. It seemed everyone thought the RT OS was just a bad concept, and the initial cost for the Surface made it as expensive as an Apple. But, by the end of January 2014 the prices were dropping on the Surface, and I was starting to find some people who like the RT. I also found out there were two styles of Surface - the RT/2 and the Pro/Pro 2. Because I was thinking about sharing it with Walter I liked the idea of the RT - a closed OS that didn't allow users to simply download and install anything they wanted. It meant I wouldn't have to worry so much about Walter did. And, just like with the Nokia 520, I wanted to see what I could do with the lowest level model - the Microsoft Surface RT. I was able to purchase the 64G version at an educational discount for under $300. I knew I wanted to get a keyboard with it - I wasn't sure whether to go with the touch or the type. Again, I figured I would go low-end (touch) to see if I could make it work. The touch and type keyboards act as a cover for the screen which makes them wonderful double-duty devices.
There were posts complaining about the quality of the Surface RT screen (something much improved on the Surface 2) - I haven't had a problem with it. The screen resolution is just fine. Others complained that it could be sluggish in rendering websites - again, I find it just fine (and I work with some fairly high-end computers at work, so I know what fast should look like). I love the built-in kickstand which makes it a wonderful stand-in for a laptop.
The keyboard that I was worried about is an interesting experience. You don't slam the keys with the pads of your fingers - you press them. The keyboards come in multiple colours - Walter asked me to choose white. I like that it can be easily pulled away (it's held in place with strong magnets) when you just want to hold the tablet - so versatile.
Not only am I fine with typing on the touch keyboard, I actually enjoy it, and find that my carpal tunnel pain is less of a problem with it.
The Surface RT/2 comes pre-installed with Office. With the update to Windows 8.1 it even gets Outlook. So, I'm able to keep up with my work, as well as maintain content for my blog. I use the included OneNote to maintain notes and ideas. Since I keep many of my OneNote notebooks in the Microsoft OneDrive (nee SkyDrive) I have up-to-date content that's accessible at work, on my cell phone, on my laptop, and on the Surface - WOW!
When I'm done working, I can also enjoy Netflix or any number of games ... many free for download from the Microsoft Store. I can easily connect my Surface to our TV HDMI connectors, and with an Xbox PC controller we can have large-screen play time. I love that I can monitor Walter's access time with the Family Safety feature - it even sends me weekly reports to let me know how he spent his time.
If we were replacing our old Toshiba laptop today I would totally by-pass the laptops for Manuel and get him a Surface. It's just so practical for so many of life's everyday needs. When my HP laptop goes I will likely replace it with a Surface Pro (you do need the Pro level if you want to load software beyond the scope of the Windows Store). The Pro would allow me to install Photoshop Elements and Lightroom - two software packages I use quite a bit. Yes, I could definitely see us becoming a three-Surface family in the future.
It really all started with Manuel getting a new laptop to replace the old Toshiba laptop we'd had since 2006. The one that accidentally got beer on it's keyboard within the first week of ownership (which would have been OK except that Manuel and his friend Rick decided to use some special product that Rick used at work to help dry electronic parts ... except it literally melted the keyboard, making the down arrow obsolete from that point on - a bone of contention for me throughout the years we used the Toshiba). Manuel's new laptop was a fairly low-cost piece that came loaded with Windows 8. It's one great feature was a touchscreen monitor that everyone liked. But in the early days I was uncomfortable with the whole modern Metro User Interface (UI). From my Windows 7 experience it just felt all wrong. As the resident IT person for our house it was me that had to learn how to deal with it. I managed, but I didn't use it much in the beginning. But as time went on and I had more time with it I began to understand that Metro UI. I began to realize it was just brilliant. I could touch the screen for some actions and still use my mouse or touchpad for other actions. They co-mingled perfectly. There even came a point when I would be at my HP and accidentally touch the screen when I should have been using my mouse. I became frustrated that I only had a mouse and touchpad. I was ... jealous. The modern Metro UI that frustrated me so much in the beginning I now loved and longed for. It was simple and elegant. I loved that you could build the desktop to reflect your needs and design style. I wanted it for myself, but I had a perfectly working laptop. Sigh.
Now into Fall 2013 Manuel's old cell phone was barely working. That's when I started toying with the Windows phones. After much deliberation I bought myself a pre-paid cell phone - the Nokia 520, a basic entry level Windows phone - so that I could test it out to see if it would work for Manuel. I liked it enough to encourage Manuel to buy one. He did and we became of family of Windows cell phone owners.
Those two cell phones were the beginning of my true infatuation with the Windows 8 eco-system of cell phones, tablets, and PCs. I started using my cell phone all the time - reading my emails, keeping our calendars up-to-date (I loved the family room concept that allowed Manuel and I to share not only conversations and photos, but to keep a synchronized calendar between us). It was the place I went to when I wanted to read the news (Huffington Post, Flipboards, Bing News, etc.). It came out at meetings at work, was in hand during weekly grocery shopping with the Simply Shopping app I had downloaded for free. I liked the Windows Store - it wasn't as over-crowded as the Google Play Store. I was able to find everything that I needed to make the phone useful, and fun. And, of course, those Nokia off-line maps. Wonderful.
I was so into the Nokia 520 that I started to fantasize about using it to maintain my blog. I tried ... but with only 4" of screen and no solid keyboard I came to the conclusion that it really wasn't a real option. Close - I could just manage to create a brief text based entry, but not sustainable.
At the same time, my old trusty Archos 43 tablet wasn't doing well. I'd had it since 2008. It had served me well. But it's aging 2.3 Android OS was clearly showing it's age, and Walter had banged the screen in his eagerness a few too many times.
I was thinking about something to replace the Archos 43. I toyed with getting an Apple iPad, but just didn't want to fork out that kind of money knowing that Walter would be using it. I considered just getting a cheap Android tablet that he and I could share. I so wished that Nokia had a tablet since I really liked the Nokia 520 cell phone. Although there were rumours while I was researching my options there wasn't anything available in the Canadian market at the time. That's when I started thinking about the Microsoft Surface. I had initially read such bad things about it. It seemed everyone thought the RT OS was just a bad concept, and the initial cost for the Surface made it as expensive as an Apple. But, by the end of January 2014 the prices were dropping on the Surface, and I was starting to find some people who like the RT. I also found out there were two styles of Surface - the RT/2 and the Pro/Pro 2. Because I was thinking about sharing it with Walter I liked the idea of the RT - a closed OS that didn't allow users to simply download and install anything they wanted. It meant I wouldn't have to worry so much about Walter did. And, just like with the Nokia 520, I wanted to see what I could do with the lowest level model - the Microsoft Surface RT. I was able to purchase the 64G version at an educational discount for under $300. I knew I wanted to get a keyboard with it - I wasn't sure whether to go with the touch or the type. Again, I figured I would go low-end (touch) to see if I could make it work. The touch and type keyboards act as a cover for the screen which makes them wonderful double-duty devices.
There were posts complaining about the quality of the Surface RT screen (something much improved on the Surface 2) - I haven't had a problem with it. The screen resolution is just fine. Others complained that it could be sluggish in rendering websites - again, I find it just fine (and I work with some fairly high-end computers at work, so I know what fast should look like). I love the built-in kickstand which makes it a wonderful stand-in for a laptop.
The keyboard that I was worried about is an interesting experience. You don't slam the keys with the pads of your fingers - you press them. The keyboards come in multiple colours - Walter asked me to choose white. I like that it can be easily pulled away (it's held in place with strong magnets) when you just want to hold the tablet - so versatile.
Not only am I fine with typing on the touch keyboard, I actually enjoy it, and find that my carpal tunnel pain is less of a problem with it.
The Surface RT/2 comes pre-installed with Office. With the update to Windows 8.1 it even gets Outlook. So, I'm able to keep up with my work, as well as maintain content for my blog. I use the included OneNote to maintain notes and ideas. Since I keep many of my OneNote notebooks in the Microsoft OneDrive (nee SkyDrive) I have up-to-date content that's accessible at work, on my cell phone, on my laptop, and on the Surface - WOW!
When I'm done working, I can also enjoy Netflix or any number of games ... many free for download from the Microsoft Store. I can easily connect my Surface to our TV HDMI connectors, and with an Xbox PC controller we can have large-screen play time. I love that I can monitor Walter's access time with the Family Safety feature - it even sends me weekly reports to let me know how he spent his time.
If we were replacing our old Toshiba laptop today I would totally by-pass the laptops for Manuel and get him a Surface. It's just so practical for so many of life's everyday needs. When my HP laptop goes I will likely replace it with a Surface Pro (you do need the Pro level if you want to load software beyond the scope of the Windows Store). The Pro would allow me to install Photoshop Elements and Lightroom - two software packages I use quite a bit. Yes, I could definitely see us becoming a three-Surface family in the future.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Catching Up, and Choosing a New Cell Phone
It's been awhile since my last post. At the beginning of November I got the flu shot, went away for the weekend and came back with .. the flu. Ugh. I ended up being off work for a week, and then spent several more weeks with a rough cough. It really put me behind at work and I spent a fair bit of time getting caught up on projects, and coming home bagged at the end of each day. Just as the cough was nearly gone I got a cold and spent this last week again at home. Recovery has been much easier this time, but once again I'm behind with work projects. All this to say my life has been trying, and tiring, and busy, busy, busy.
It's only a few more days before Christmas and I'm off work for a couple of weeks - a chance to rest and recuperate. I love Christmas and hope to enjoy this time home with friends and family. It's going to be our first Christmas in our new home - a chance to build on family traditions in a new setting.
Before I got my flu shot and subsequently got sick (not, of course, from the flu shot - that was just a weird coincidence), I was doing research on replacing our cell phones. This research had it's origins almost 2 1/2 years ago, shortly after Manuel and I signed up for corporate cell phone plans with Telus. We both received Nokia E72 cell phones - we'd decided having the same phones would make it easier to share chargers, and make it easier for me to support Manuel (I'm the techie in this household). I really like Nokia cell phones - they work well, the quality is quite good, and I love-love the world-wide maps that are free and don't require data plans to use. Unfortunately, Manuel's cell phone took an untimely swim which damaged it enough to make it inoperable (within a couple of weeks of ownership). Luckily, we had several older cell phones that he managed to use for the next couple of years. Fast forward to this fall when the last available extra cell phone died. Now, we were paying for a cell phone plan that didn't come due until April 2014 and no phone to use for Manuel. I started researching. I learned we could re-new our contracts early and get upgrades. I also learned we could buy cell phones from almost anywhere as long as they were capable of communicating with the Telus network. We weren't sure we wanted to go for another contract (we are considering going pay-as-you-go). That meant we could buy used, buy a pre-paid, or even buy outright a contract phone. I was a little leery of buying a used cell phone. I've noticed a general trend with cell phones of good usage with a sudden, quick degradation before dying. I didn't want to buy something used that was almost at the end of it's life cycle. Buying a contract phone outright was expensive. If we could avoid data plan requirements the full cost was sometimes worth it ... still, $400-800 was a lot of money. That left pre-paid. With pre-paid you aren't getting the top of the line. These are either older models or entry level phones. If you don't need the latest, zippiest, wow-level they can be a great option. Next, I needed to consider the operating system (the OS). I really didn't want an Apple phone. They are too expensive, with built-in obsolescence, and require you to commit to iTunes ... another money grabber. I just didn't want to go there. That left Android and Windows as possible OS choices (I didn't even consider Blackberry - there just wasn't enough positives to consider it a serious contender). Manuel has a Samsung Galaxy S3 at work (Android OS), and I have an older Android tablet (Archos 43). Manuel has a Windows 8 touch-screen laptop at home while I work with Windows 7 at work and on my home laptop. The more I learned about the Windows cell phones the more intrigued I became. Manuel was ambivalent ... but it seemed he'd accept whatever I decided. Telus was selling the Nokia Lumia 520 pre-paid for $150, so I decided that I would try it out and if it seemed OK we'd get Manuel one. It was very simple - the London Drugs person simply cut my SIM card down (most SIM cards have now become micro-sized), and I was ready to go. I even used Bluetooth from my old Nokia E72 to copy over all my contact information and text history in less than a minute. Amazing.
The experience with the Nokia 520 has been incredible. I was a little worried that the entry-level display would leave me wanting, but my old eyes haven't had a problem with it. I'm loving the tiles - I've organized everything exactly the way I like to work with things. I've downloaded free apps (although there's a complaint that the Windows Store doesn't have as many apps as Google does for Android, comparing 200,000 to 900,000? How many does any one person need?). I've set up a Kid's Corner with games and applications that I feel are appropriate for Walter - this means he can play on my phone without inadvertently calling the Queen. And those Nokia maps? Better than ever. I don't need a data plan or even WiFi access to use them. They work from my cell phone - using triangulation to find me. And it's way faster than my old Nokia E72. I downloaded maps for several Canadian provinces, US states, as well as a couple of European countries. Not only do I have regular map viewings, but also satellite views.
Manuel now has his own (bought on sale for $89), and a co-worker got one too after seeing mine. We're all happy Nokia Lumia 520 users now.
It's only a few more days before Christmas and I'm off work for a couple of weeks - a chance to rest and recuperate. I love Christmas and hope to enjoy this time home with friends and family. It's going to be our first Christmas in our new home - a chance to build on family traditions in a new setting.
Before I got my flu shot and subsequently got sick (not, of course, from the flu shot - that was just a weird coincidence), I was doing research on replacing our cell phones. This research had it's origins almost 2 1/2 years ago, shortly after Manuel and I signed up for corporate cell phone plans with Telus. We both received Nokia E72 cell phones - we'd decided having the same phones would make it easier to share chargers, and make it easier for me to support Manuel (I'm the techie in this household). I really like Nokia cell phones - they work well, the quality is quite good, and I love-love the world-wide maps that are free and don't require data plans to use. Unfortunately, Manuel's cell phone took an untimely swim which damaged it enough to make it inoperable (within a couple of weeks of ownership). Luckily, we had several older cell phones that he managed to use for the next couple of years. Fast forward to this fall when the last available extra cell phone died. Now, we were paying for a cell phone plan that didn't come due until April 2014 and no phone to use for Manuel. I started researching. I learned we could re-new our contracts early and get upgrades. I also learned we could buy cell phones from almost anywhere as long as they were capable of communicating with the Telus network. We weren't sure we wanted to go for another contract (we are considering going pay-as-you-go). That meant we could buy used, buy a pre-paid, or even buy outright a contract phone. I was a little leery of buying a used cell phone. I've noticed a general trend with cell phones of good usage with a sudden, quick degradation before dying. I didn't want to buy something used that was almost at the end of it's life cycle. Buying a contract phone outright was expensive. If we could avoid data plan requirements the full cost was sometimes worth it ... still, $400-800 was a lot of money. That left pre-paid. With pre-paid you aren't getting the top of the line. These are either older models or entry level phones. If you don't need the latest, zippiest, wow-level they can be a great option. Next, I needed to consider the operating system (the OS). I really didn't want an Apple phone. They are too expensive, with built-in obsolescence, and require you to commit to iTunes ... another money grabber. I just didn't want to go there. That left Android and Windows as possible OS choices (I didn't even consider Blackberry - there just wasn't enough positives to consider it a serious contender). Manuel has a Samsung Galaxy S3 at work (Android OS), and I have an older Android tablet (Archos 43). Manuel has a Windows 8 touch-screen laptop at home while I work with Windows 7 at work and on my home laptop. The more I learned about the Windows cell phones the more intrigued I became. Manuel was ambivalent ... but it seemed he'd accept whatever I decided. Telus was selling the Nokia Lumia 520 pre-paid for $150, so I decided that I would try it out and if it seemed OK we'd get Manuel one. It was very simple - the London Drugs person simply cut my SIM card down (most SIM cards have now become micro-sized), and I was ready to go. I even used Bluetooth from my old Nokia E72 to copy over all my contact information and text history in less than a minute. Amazing.
The experience with the Nokia 520 has been incredible. I was a little worried that the entry-level display would leave me wanting, but my old eyes haven't had a problem with it. I'm loving the tiles - I've organized everything exactly the way I like to work with things. I've downloaded free apps (although there's a complaint that the Windows Store doesn't have as many apps as Google does for Android, comparing 200,000 to 900,000? How many does any one person need?). I've set up a Kid's Corner with games and applications that I feel are appropriate for Walter - this means he can play on my phone without inadvertently calling the Queen. And those Nokia maps? Better than ever. I don't need a data plan or even WiFi access to use them. They work from my cell phone - using triangulation to find me. And it's way faster than my old Nokia E72. I downloaded maps for several Canadian provinces, US states, as well as a couple of European countries. Not only do I have regular map viewings, but also satellite views.
Manuel now has his own (bought on sale for $89), and a co-worker got one too after seeing mine. We're all happy Nokia Lumia 520 users now.
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