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 research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Friday, December 05, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
And the Winner Is ...
The Bosch Universal Plus.
I bought it just after I finished writing about all the different stand mixers and how I really didn't need one. I guess writing just made me want one enough that I took the leap of buying it on-line, sight unseen. The order went in on December 30th and I got it the next morning - wow.
I have to send out a big thank you to Healthy Kitchens, the Cowichan Bay based company that I ordered from (that's on Vancouver Island for all those wondering where Cowichan Bay is), and a big thank you to Canada Post for such a speedy delivery.
And what do I think of the Bosch Universal Plus stand mixer? I'm in love - sigh. The first day we made smoothies with the blender attachment, cookies, potato pancakes with the shredder attachment ... oh, and bread! Since then I've made pastry dough, more cookies, cakes, cupcakes, scalloped potatoes, French fries, sweet potato fries, carrot slaw, and sliced apples for two pies. It's just so easy to do ... everything in it. The days have been short so I haven't had a chance to photograph it during daylight hours, but envision it sitting on my kitchen counter ready for action.
Right now I'm compiling a ton of recipes that I I'd like to try. I'll have to write out some of these recipes for you to try ... but you'll have to get your own Bosch 'cause I'm not sharing mine.
I bought it just after I finished writing about all the different stand mixers and how I really didn't need one. I guess writing just made me want one enough that I took the leap of buying it on-line, sight unseen. The order went in on December 30th and I got it the next morning - wow.
I have to send out a big thank you to Healthy Kitchens, the Cowichan Bay based company that I ordered from (that's on Vancouver Island for all those wondering where Cowichan Bay is), and a big thank you to Canada Post for such a speedy delivery.
And what do I think of the Bosch Universal Plus stand mixer? I'm in love - sigh. The first day we made smoothies with the blender attachment, cookies, potato pancakes with the shredder attachment ... oh, and bread! Since then I've made pastry dough, more cookies, cakes, cupcakes, scalloped potatoes, French fries, sweet potato fries, carrot slaw, and sliced apples for two pies. It's just so easy to do ... everything in it. The days have been short so I haven't had a chance to photograph it during daylight hours, but envision it sitting on my kitchen counter ready for action.
Right now I'm compiling a ton of recipes that I I'd like to try. I'll have to write out some of these recipes for you to try ... but you'll have to get your own Bosch 'cause I'm not sharing mine.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Dreaming of Stand Mixers
I have been baking by hand since ... forever. We do have an old Betty Crocker hand mixer that I sometimes break out, and my Mom gifted me a Bamix that likely sees more use than the hand mixer. But mostly I mix up ingredients with either a wooden spoon or with my own bare hands. This has worked, but there are recipes I avoid because they would either be impossible or just too difficult. Lately I've been lusting for a stand mixer. You know, those contraptions that sit on your counter, taking up enormous counter real estate. With a flip of a switch they stir your ingredients for you, usually much more efficiently and much quicker. Of course, there's a price to having this luxury which has made me think about if I really need one. While I ponder that, I started researching the various stand mixers available on the market. You know, just in case.
At the stores around my area I have access to Kitchenaid, Cuisinart, Breville, Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, Bodum, Kenwood, and Ankarsrum stand mixers. There is also a local distributor for Bosch stand mixers (although these must be ordered on-line). A few of these stand mixers have fairly limited use - if all I want to do is whip some egg whites or mix a cake the Sunbeam, Hamilton Beach, or Bodum would work, but for more difficult tasks, such as heavy cookie batters and bread dough, they would fail. So, I immediately excluded them. The Breville should work, but several tests have shown they can't handle bread dough. Another dropped from the list. That leaves the Kitchenaid, Cuisinart, Kenwood, Ankarsrum, and Bosch to consider.
And, of course, do I need one? No, I don't. I can bake with what I have. My reasons for considering one are to let me make more healthy, homemade products for us to consume while freeing up more of my time. I'm thinking I can save us money by making our own baked goods, and letting me process more of those fruits and vegetables we get in such abundance. I think I could recover the cost of one of these machines within 1-2 years ... maybe even less time if I plan carefully.
Do you have a stand mixer? Which one? What made you choose it and would you choose it again?
What Do I Need a Stand Mixer to Do?
Since I'm capable of making cookies, cakes, muffins, pie and bread dough by hand, in these areas I'm looking to see a time savings. Instead of working on dough for one loaf of bread I want a stand mixer that can let me do 3-4 loaves at once in a shorter time frame. I want to be able to whip up egg whites or whipping cream without the walls around me (along with myself) getting splattered. I'd like a stand mixer to have a shredder/slicer attachment so that I can make coleslaw, French fries, hash browns, slice vegetables and fruits for the dehydrator, and slice apples for pies. It would be nice to have a machine that was strong enough to mix batters smooth - a velvety cheesecake would be a dream.At the stores around my area I have access to Kitchenaid, Cuisinart, Breville, Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, Bodum, Kenwood, and Ankarsrum stand mixers. There is also a local distributor for Bosch stand mixers (although these must be ordered on-line). A few of these stand mixers have fairly limited use - if all I want to do is whip some egg whites or mix a cake the Sunbeam, Hamilton Beach, or Bodum would work, but for more difficult tasks, such as heavy cookie batters and bread dough, they would fail. So, I immediately excluded them. The Breville should work, but several tests have shown they can't handle bread dough. Another dropped from the list. That leaves the Kitchenaid, Cuisinart, Kenwood, Ankarsrum, and Bosch to consider.
Kitchenaid
You see Kitchenaid stand mixers everywhere. They have so many different models (and colours) that it can be difficult to know what you are seeing, and what each might be capable of doing. I learned that the Costco Kitchenaid was a slightly different size and most of the extra attachments that Kitchenaid offers wouldn't work with it ... so even though it's a good price it wouldn't be a good choice. I learned from the many articles and reviews I read that Kitchenaid stand mixers aren't great for lots of bread making - bread making really taxes the motor and often will shorten it's life considerably. There are many stories of people fixing their KAs several times before moving on to different makes. Price range: $189.99 (on sale) for the Classic, a 4.5 quart 275 watt machine to $699.99 for the Professional, a 6 quart 575 watt machine. All come with whips, paddle, and dough hook. Some come with bowl shields. Other attachments cost extra.Cuisinart
Another make you see a lot of in the stores is the Cuisinart stand mixers. Not as much variety as Kitchenaid - there's a 5.5 quart and a 7 quart. The 7 quart only comes in silver, the 5.5 quart comes in silver, white, and black (for some reason the white is always priced the highest). Both provide 800 watts of power. Although they seem to handle dough-making better than the Kitchenaid, some say it likes to dance across the counter while doing so. Also, not as many attachments. It does have a timer which many say is useful. Price range: $279.99 (on sale) for the 5.5 quart (silver) to $444.99 for the 7 quart. Both come with whips, paddle, dough hook, and bowl shields. Other attachments cost extra.Kenwood
There are two models - the Chef (KMC010) and the Chef Major (KMM020). The Chef is a 750 watt machine with a 4.6 litre bowl while the Chef Major is a 800 watt machine with a 6.7 litre bowl. They come with a glass blender and a 5-cup food processor as standard. There are additional attachments to get. People who have them say they last. Price range: $499.99 (on sale) for the Chef to $799.99 for the Chef Major. Both come with whips, paddle, dough hook, bowl shields, glass blender, and food processor. Other attachments cost extra.Ankarsrum
This is a Swedish made stand mixer that has been around since 1940. They have that hip factor, but perhaps a bit too unique for North American sensibilities? They come with 600 watts and a 7 litre bowl. Price range: $799.99 for the standard package which includes lid, dough roller, dough knife, scraper, spatula, cookie whips, dough hook, and a double beater/whisk with a 3.5 litre extra bowl; for $1,174.99 you also get a meat grinder, blender, citrus press, grater, strainer, cookie press, and pasta discs. Other attachments cost extra.Bosch
This is a German engineered, built in Slovenia machine that has been around for a long time. Although Europeans and Asians have access to a wider selection, we North American's only have two choices - The Universal Plus and the Compact. The Universal Plus (model MUM6N10UC) is a 800 watt machine with a 6 1/2 quart bowl capable of handling 15 pounds of dough (this series has been in production since 1950). The Compact (model MUM4405) is a 400 watt machine with a 4 quart bowl capable of handling 6 pounds of dough. Price range: $199.99 for the Compact and $439.99 for the Universal Plus. Other attachments cost extra.Which Would I Choose?
I'm drawn to the Ankarsrum and Bosch stand mixers. Quality, longevity, and the hip factor are big drawing points for me. The Ankarsrum is just too expensive ... which makes me lean towards the Bosch. But which one - the Universal Plus or the Compact? I've been reading lots of reviews and watching the videos. I'm really struggling here. I love the size factor of the Compact. It would fit so easily on almost any counter top. But the bowl size? Slightly too small. If it had been 5 quarts I'd buy it immediately. 4 quarts means doing more work for extra batches of baking. I'd like to be able to get through more batches quickly so that I can have time with Walter and Manuel. The Universal Plus is so big, but perhaps it's the more sensible choice?And, of course, do I need one? No, I don't. I can bake with what I have. My reasons for considering one are to let me make more healthy, homemade products for us to consume while freeing up more of my time. I'm thinking I can save us money by making our own baked goods, and letting me process more of those fruits and vegetables we get in such abundance. I think I could recover the cost of one of these machines within 1-2 years ... maybe even less time if I plan carefully.
Do you have a stand mixer? Which one? What made you choose it and would you choose it again?
Monday, December 23, 2013
Craigslist - Final Results
Back on November 15 I posted about how I create a Craigslist post, and even gave an example to hi-light some of the points I made. Then, a week later (on November 23) I gave you an update on how things were going. I think it's a good time for a final check-in to see how things have gone.
We've put $1000 into our household account to pay for the upcoming yearly city utility bill. Walter got $90 (I'll try to build in some spending/saving lessons with it). The remainder we split between us adults to do with as we see fit. I'll likely use mine for Christmas groceries and last minute stocking stuffers.
I have to say selling on Craigslist isn't always so successful. It can take a lot of patience and waiting before you see results.
I'm actually feeling a sense of loss for the Honda. It was the car Manuel drove me in on our first date. I guess I was more attached than I realized!
- Triumph Bike Trailer Holds 2 Children - $55
- Sold in 7 days, sell price $30 (54.5% of asking price) - Summer Extra Wide Extra tall Bedrail - $20
- Sold in 7 days, sell price $15 (75% of asking price) - Combi Stroller - $55
- Sold on December 19, 25 days - sell price $45 (82% of asking price) - Wooden Radio Flyer Rocking Horse - $75
- not sold, no emails/calls - dropped price to $45 since there are a lot of wooden horses for sale at Christmas time - 1989 Honda Prelude - $1750
- lot's of interest, several people have come by, continued to get intermittent calls and queries beyond the initial two weeks, and finally sold today after 29 days - sell price $1750 (100% of asking price)
We've put $1000 into our household account to pay for the upcoming yearly city utility bill. Walter got $90 (I'll try to build in some spending/saving lessons with it). The remainder we split between us adults to do with as we see fit. I'll likely use mine for Christmas groceries and last minute stocking stuffers.
I have to say selling on Craigslist isn't always so successful. It can take a lot of patience and waiting before you see results.
I'm actually feeling a sense of loss for the Honda. It was the car Manuel drove me in on our first date. I guess I was more attached than I realized!
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.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Selling on Craigslist
On my last post I ended with a few things that still needed selling. These included:
Let's try these steps out with the first item on my list - the bike trailer.
OK, so what did I pay for it new? I bought it at Walmart for around $109 ... say with tax $120. It now sells for $104 with a current pre-Christmas sell going on for $50. Ouch! Looking at e-Bay I see a price range of 54-200+ ... but the 200 plus ones are way swanker than mine. The 54-74 range are closer to mine. On Craigslist the swanky ones are going for 200+ also. Not much under 100. Despite the sale at Walmart I'm thinking $55. This will give some wiggle room for potential buyers to negotiate (everyone likes to shave off a few dollars). I did do a couple of photographs of the box. I confess to not taking it out and setting it up. So, I copied the photo from the Walmart website (something many people do). If I have time on the weekend I'll set it up and take some more photos to make it more authentic.
So here would be my ad:
TITLE: Triumph Bike Trailer Holds 2 Children - $55
PICTURE: I usually take a few photos, including the box, manual, and an overall photo
DESCRIPTION:
When our son was younger he wanted to ride in this bike trailer every day! Although it can hold two children, our son always had his stuffed toys, snacks, and water bottle taking up some of the space. Still, we could likely have put a few bags of groceries in there too!
Now that our son is older we've outgrown the bike trailer ... time for our son to have his own bike.
Our loss is your gain.
Bike trailer has been kept in pristine condition, in a no-smoking, no-pet household. We have the original box and owner's manual.
If you are interested call, text, or email Louise (cell ###.###.####)
... cash only
That's it. I made the ad personal - which tends to draw people in. I'm a person, not a crook. The item being sold is mine, it wasn't stolen. I included details that made it seem spacious (it is), and that my child liked it (which was true). Having the original box and manual makes it sound like I looked after it (which I did).
I'm going to put it up now. I'll let you know if my strategy works!
- a bike trailer
- a bedrail guard
- a foldable stroller
- a digital baby scale
- a folding dolly
- Put together as many facts about the items as is reasonable. Who makes it, model #, year made/bought/age, original price, dimensions (not everything needs this, but if you'd want to know others will too - especially true with furniture that people will need to place in their homes), weight (if important), materials it is made from. You might not need all these details, but it's good to have them on hand.
- Do some searching on-line to see if it is still sold new - if so, what's the price like now? Does it seem popular? Amazon reviews will give you a good idea what people think about your product. Key phrases might pop up that you can use when writing your ad.
- Next, e-Bay. If you don't have an account with them consider getting one because this gives you access to some information that the average person doesn't get to see - what things sold for (and what didn't sell). This is known as Completed Listings. These completed listings often give you a good idea for a price range. It will also give you an idea of which ads work better - style, layout, descriptions used.
- Now, Craigslist. See if your product is being posted by others. What are they asking? Is it similar to e-Bay prices? (Note: You could also look at Kijiji - I use Craigslist so I'm more comfortable remarking on it.)
- Take a few photos. Yes, you need them. Would you buy something without seeing it? If there are multiple ads (and there usually are), do you go for the ones with photos first? Me too. So, take a few minutes to take some shots of what you want to sell - a few overview shots, some close-ups. Try different angles. The most important point I can make here is to get rid of as much personal background/detail as possible. You don't want people thinking "Gross, that stuffed toy looks like it's been kept in the filthiest garage I've ever seen!" ... you want them to focus their attention on the item you are selling. I've even used bed sheets to create a plain backdrop. If all else fails try to find an image from the store you bought it from and copy that into your ad.
Let's try these steps out with the first item on my list - the bike trailer.
Bike Trailer Ad
I bought this trailer a few years ago thinking I would bike around with Walter in tow like all the other parents seemed to be doing in town. Except ... it didn't really happen all that much. Maybe three times? I just felt really nervous with my precious little guy behind me and all these vehicles rushing past me. At the time we lived in an area nearer to secondary businesses which meant lots of truck traffic - these made me even more nervous. Suffice it to say the idea was a bust (although Walter loved it - he asked to go out every day!). I kept the trailer thinking that when we moved I would use it. Our new neighbourhood is very hilly, and there are no nearby bike paths. I'd have to drive with the bike and trailer, park, hook up the trailer, get Walter and myself all geared up and then finally start biking. Ah, nah. Instead, I traded my bike - which I never really liked - for a DSi for Walter.OK, so what did I pay for it new? I bought it at Walmart for around $109 ... say with tax $120. It now sells for $104 with a current pre-Christmas sell going on for $50. Ouch! Looking at e-Bay I see a price range of 54-200+ ... but the 200 plus ones are way swanker than mine. The 54-74 range are closer to mine. On Craigslist the swanky ones are going for 200+ also. Not much under 100. Despite the sale at Walmart I'm thinking $55. This will give some wiggle room for potential buyers to negotiate (everyone likes to shave off a few dollars). I did do a couple of photographs of the box. I confess to not taking it out and setting it up. So, I copied the photo from the Walmart website (something many people do). If I have time on the weekend I'll set it up and take some more photos to make it more authentic.
So here would be my ad:
TITLE: Triumph Bike Trailer Holds 2 Children - $55
PICTURE: I usually take a few photos, including the box, manual, and an overall photo
DESCRIPTION:
When our son was younger he wanted to ride in this bike trailer every day! Although it can hold two children, our son always had his stuffed toys, snacks, and water bottle taking up some of the space. Still, we could likely have put a few bags of groceries in there too!
Now that our son is older we've outgrown the bike trailer ... time for our son to have his own bike.
Our loss is your gain.
Bike trailer has been kept in pristine condition, in a no-smoking, no-pet household. We have the original box and owner's manual.
If you are interested call, text, or email Louise (cell ###.###.####)
... cash only
That's it. I made the ad personal - which tends to draw people in. I'm a person, not a crook. The item being sold is mine, it wasn't stolen. I included details that made it seem spacious (it is), and that my child liked it (which was true). Having the original box and manual makes it sound like I looked after it (which I did).
I'm going to put it up now. I'll let you know if my strategy works!
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Lightroom - Being My Own Teacher
I do a lot of on-line researching for my daytime job, so perhaps what I'm about to say won't resonate with everyone.
As you know I recently purchased Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 to help me improve my post-photography images. Nowadays when you buy software you are very likely not going to get much more than a CD/DVD and the packaging that disc came in. Perhaps a piece of paper encouraging you to register, but rarely will you get any kind of user manual. This means you have to find your way around the software on your own. This is where my on-line researching skills come into play.
Now I love manuals. I'm the kind of person who reads the user manual on everything I buy if it's provided. So, if it doesn't come with it? I start using Google to search for on-line content to read and view.
This is what I did with Lightroom. One simple source I found was probably the most obvious: AdobeTV. This is where I found Learn Lightroom 4. Simple videos that are generally less than six minutes in length - perfect for watching, learning, and applying in short bursts.
Today I learned the basics to touching up photos in Lightroom.
BEFORE
AFTER
The great thing with Lightroom is it is non-destructive to your digital images. It uses a metadata system to record everything you do to the photo and stores that information separately. The original image allows remains as is.
As you know I recently purchased Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 to help me improve my post-photography images. Nowadays when you buy software you are very likely not going to get much more than a CD/DVD and the packaging that disc came in. Perhaps a piece of paper encouraging you to register, but rarely will you get any kind of user manual. This means you have to find your way around the software on your own. This is where my on-line researching skills come into play.
Now I love manuals. I'm the kind of person who reads the user manual on everything I buy if it's provided. So, if it doesn't come with it? I start using Google to search for on-line content to read and view.
This is what I did with Lightroom. One simple source I found was probably the most obvious: AdobeTV. This is where I found Learn Lightroom 4. Simple videos that are generally less than six minutes in length - perfect for watching, learning, and applying in short bursts.
Today I learned the basics to touching up photos in Lightroom.
BEFORE
AFTER
The great thing with Lightroom is it is non-destructive to your digital images. It uses a metadata system to record everything you do to the photo and stores that information separately. The original image allows remains as is.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Camera Hunting - Part II
Continuing on with my camera hunting ...
When I was a teenager I got my first 35mm SLR - a Chinon CS. It was a great camera to learn all the intricacies of photography. This was in the days of film. You took your photos, you hoped you got it right, but you didn't know until you sent the film in to be developed. It was a lot of money for a teenager to spend and crushing when mistakes were made and photos didn't turn out the way I had envisioned them.
Fast forward to 2003. Manuel and I meet and fall in love. He has a 35mm Canon ... I still have my Chinon. In 2006 we borrow my Mom's Nikon Coolpix to take with us on a European trip. We fall in love with digital photography. We get our own - a Canon PowerShot S3 II. It was incredible to not be tied to film ... to be able to snap and view immediately. To know that the picture you had just taken wasn't a dud. Wow! After Walter was born we got the Canon Powershot A1000 as an additional camera - a pocket camera to have with us when we were out and about.
Still ... I missed the control of the 35mm SLR. I just didn't want to go back in time and be tied to film. Also, film was getting more expensive to develop. Besides, it was just too inconvenient - you had to bring the film in and wait for it to be developed.
This brings me to the present. I really feel that I need something better than a point & shoot (P&S). I just can't get the right images for this blog. I'm constantly struggling with the lighting. I hate flash. Of course, there are just too many choices ;)
Which would you go for? Why? If you have a DSLR or CSC why did you pick it? Do you like it or do you wish you'd picked something else?
When I was a teenager I got my first 35mm SLR - a Chinon CS. It was a great camera to learn all the intricacies of photography. This was in the days of film. You took your photos, you hoped you got it right, but you didn't know until you sent the film in to be developed. It was a lot of money for a teenager to spend and crushing when mistakes were made and photos didn't turn out the way I had envisioned them.
Fast forward to 2003. Manuel and I meet and fall in love. He has a 35mm Canon ... I still have my Chinon. In 2006 we borrow my Mom's Nikon Coolpix to take with us on a European trip. We fall in love with digital photography. We get our own - a Canon PowerShot S3 II. It was incredible to not be tied to film ... to be able to snap and view immediately. To know that the picture you had just taken wasn't a dud. Wow! After Walter was born we got the Canon Powershot A1000 as an additional camera - a pocket camera to have with us when we were out and about.
Still ... I missed the control of the 35mm SLR. I just didn't want to go back in time and be tied to film. Also, film was getting more expensive to develop. Besides, it was just too inconvenient - you had to bring the film in and wait for it to be developed.
This brings me to the present. I really feel that I need something better than a point & shoot (P&S). I just can't get the right images for this blog. I'm constantly struggling with the lighting. I hate flash. Of course, there are just too many choices ;)
DSLR Choices
In the DSLR arena I've focused on two models - both Nikons - the D3100 and the D5100. The D3100 is really a beginner's entry DSLR. It has a great guide menu that takes you through everything, yet it still allows you to go totally manual when you're ready. The D5100 is a better camera - more controls, better features ... but it costs about $130 more. That would almost pay for a prime lens. The D5100 has a flip out display, art filters that can be applied while taking photos; you can even use the diorama filter while making movies ... so cool! Yet, the D3100 takes photos just as well. The ISO is a little lower, but still more than adequate. Most of the art filters are there in the D3100 - you just have to apply them post-shot (the only one not included is the Selective Colour - a filter which allows you to pick a colour and have it be the only colour shown while everything else is black and white - it produces quite striking images ... still this is very likely available in Photoshop-type software ... it's just not as immediate). The D5100 has a much larger selection of Scene Modes, including one called Food which, you guessed it, is used when taking photos of food. For a blogger, a really useful mode.CSC Choices
Compact System Cameras - CSC's - use a mirrorless system. They are much smaller and lighter than a DSLR. The price, unfortunately, is very similar (if not more) than a traditional DSLR. The advantage? Size. They are more subtle when out and about - they are great for taking candidate photos. The downside is that they generally aren't quite as good with image quality. The more expensive ones get quite close ... but a comparably priced DSLR will likely blow it out of the water.Which One?
I can't decide if I should take a gamble on a CSC. The CSC would definitely be more manageable in a physical sense. I'm more likely to take it with me and use if for everything from taking photos of Walter to taking photos of recipes that I'm trying out. With a DLSR I'm more likely to really work at taking great photos - I'm more likely to focus on the technical. With the CSC I'm more likely to focus on what's happening.Which would you go for? Why? If you have a DSLR or CSC why did you pick it? Do you like it or do you wish you'd picked something else?
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