If there is one question that I get asked every day through my email and various social network channels (aside from Mac vs. PC), it’s whether or not a 13 or 15 inch MacBook Pro is better. Each has their own set of pros and cons, and in the end it comes down to which machine meets the needs of the user better.

When Robert decided to make the switch and go with a MacBook Pro, he found himself facing the same question, “Which MacBook Pro shout I buy?” So, we decided to make a video.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with a significant price drop compared to its slightly larger 15-inch sibling. Part of the reason for this difference in price is the processing power. The 15-inch MacBook Pro allows for a quad-core i7 processor while the 13 is only upgradable to a 2.7GHz dual-core i7. The differences in performance between the two are notable, but only in cases where you’re actually causing some strain on the cores. For basic tasks like web browsing, light gaming, and listening to music – this may not present enough incentive to go with the 15-inch model.

Another difference between the 13 and 15-inch Macbooks can be found in how they handle graphics. Gamers especially will appreciate the AMD Radeon 6490M or 6750M and the potential they have for delivering high-quality graphics to the screen. The 13-inch MacBook Pro relies on the graphics provided by the Intel HD 3000.

Both models support solid-state drives, which currently provide the best performance over traditional platter-driven options. If you need more storage space for less, the 13-inch tops out at 500GB while the 15-inch offers a 750GB 5400-rpm option.

The most noticeable difference between the two is overall screen size and resolution. The 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy display will give you portability while sacrificing resolution at 1280×800 compared to the 15.4-inch at 1440×900. The 15.4-inch also offers a high-resolution glossy and antiglare options which increase the pixel count up to 1680×1050.

Overall, the two notebooks are very similar. They share the same build quality, operating system, options and many accessories. The decision between them comes down to cost and portability vs. performance. If you really need a high-performance laptop and portability isn’t as big of a factor to you, the 15-inch would likely be your better choice. For Robert, who takes his notebook with him to school every day, the portability and lower price mades the 13-inch MacBook the best option.

Which MacBook Pro Should I Buy?

Setting the right wireless channel on your router can make a big difference on how well your Wi-Fi connection works. While most users may be just fine with whatever the default settings may be, others can experience frequent packet drops resulting in the appearance of an unstable or even unusable connection.

These issues can be caused by a number of factors. Other networks, electronics, and even your neighbor’s equipment could be interfering with your router’s ability to maintain a solid connection with your various devices. This interference can cause confusion between devices similar to a couple trying to carry on a conversation at a crowded location. While you may be focused on the person in front of you, making it easier to hear them than the background, an occasional shout or holler can interrupt the conversation and break the chain of communication.

If you’re having occasional problems with your wireless connectivity, you might consider switching channels and giving the new space a try. A good method for testing the new setting is by doing a speed test and comparing the results to other channels. Run the test several times in order to determine consistency in cases where problems may come and go frequently.

More popular Wi-Fi channels tend to be the best to avoid as they are usually the most crowded and prone to interfere. These include 2, 6, and 11 which are commonly used as defaults on some of the more prominent router brands. If your router gives you the option of allowing it to automatically find and set the best channel for you, this is usually the best way to go. The router will check each channel for traffic and connectivity potential before deciding on what it determines is the best option for you.

One useful tool for figuring out which channel is best in your specific location is a Wifi analyzer. This can come in the form of a dedicated device or an app for your smartphone that uses a Wi-Fi connection. Android has a popular free spectrum analyzer available to it aptly called “Wifi Analyzer“. This program checks various channels on the spectrum and allows you to do connectivity checks as you switch between them.

This is just one of several tips and tricks that can help you improve the stability of your wireless network at home. What are your wireless tips? Do you know any tricks that can help strengthen the connection?

Are You Using the Best Wireless Channel?

Macmanmcmanaman, a member of the LockerGnome.net community asked, “Is there any reason to use Vista over a different Windows OS?” This is a good question, and the answer is very simple. No, there is no reason to use Windows Vista at this point in time.

Windows Vista was this generation’s Millenium Edition. It was bloated, slow, and half-baked. Windows 7 actually runs better on older hardware than Windows Vista does. For the first time in the history of Windows, a newer generation OS actually had lower system requirements than the one before it. This was because Microsoft had to throw out the majority of Vista’s bulk in order to fix what was clearly broken. They did this in an incredibly fast pace, releasing Windows 7 as quickly as they could. They even offered users the ability to upgrade to the beta a year before they released the final version.

Microsoft has had its failures in the past. Do I need to mention Microsoft Bob, or Windows ME?

I love Windows 7, and I have done many videos in the past demonstrating some of its amazing features. I was a huge supporter of Windows for most of my life. My entire reputation was put on the line when, after a significant amount of time spent on Vista, I decided to make the switch to OS X as my primary operating system. Viewers of the live feed watched as Vista crashed again and again, often during tapings.

Windows 7 is an excellent overall user experience. There is no reason to stay on Vista when Windows 7 is remarkably improved in every area Vista failed to deliver. Better networking, graphics, system navigation, task bar, and overall optimization are just a few reasons why Windows 7 is better than Vista.

I can not wait for the next version of Windows. The potential brought on by the decision to integrate HTML 5 and CSS 3 in to the core user experience is vast. Windows 8 may convince me to switch back if it delivers on its promises. Vista is a lost cause, and Microsoft recognizes that. It’s a major reason support for XP was extended for so long.

What do you think? Is Windows 7 better that Vista? Do you think Vista is better? Why, or why not?

Why Windows 7 is Better Than Vista

The Minority Report featured some incredible theoretical technologies, some of which have continued to interest geeks for years. One of these technologies was a system in which you are able to interact with the user-interface with a few hand gestures Now, imagine if you were able to control Windows 7 in much the same way. Wouldn’t that be a worthwhile project to check out?

LockerGnome community member Kevin Connolly has managed to recreate this using the Kinect SDK in a project he calls the KinectNUI (Natural User Interface). Currently, the project works with a single Kinect and any modern Windows PC.

With a swipe of your hand, you are able to switch between active windows, zoom in and out, more. While zoomed in, the Kinect will follow your movements as you walk around the room and allow you to scroll vertically using your left hand.

Future plans for the project include a pie menu to allow you to control your system in greater detail. This feature is expected to work in a similar manor to the pie menu featured in the Sims.

If you don’t like the computer responding to your every gesture, you can turn gestures on and off with a single vertical movement of your arms.

Without a doubt, this project (and others like it) have demonstrated the potential for relatively inexpensive devices like the Kinect to change the way we think about interacting with our computers.

What started as a device that took the principals of motion-controlled gaming to a new level by removing the need of a physical handheld controller is now beginning to bring to question whether or not this kind of device could actually replace the keyboard and mouse and change the landscape of computing as we know it today. While the physical technology may not be there just yet, it’s pretty interesting to think of what’s ahead.

More information about this project can be found on Kevin’s website as well as on his YouTube channel, Tsilb.

How to Control Your Windows Desktop With Kinect

Jake Ludington of LockerGnome is looking for a tablet small enough to fit in his cargo pants pocket with the capability to run Android apps. The Nook Color by Barnes and Noble may be exactly what he needs to get the job done. So, can the Nook compete with other Android tablets?

With a 7-inch screen, the Nook Color is slightly more compact than many of the other tablets out there. As an ebook reader, the screen is just right for reading text on a page-to-page basis. In fact, the Nook’s screen is bigger than its biggest competitor, the Kindle, which sits at 6 inches. This makes it small enough to fit in a cargo pants pocket, which is exactly what Jake was looking for. Colors are vibrant and vidid on the 1024×600 display. When compared to the slightly more powerful Archos 70 ($335), the Nook ($249) actually features a higher-resolution.

One important note here is that the Nook is powered by Android, but not all of Android’s features are made available to the user out of the box. In order to unlock the full potential of the Android installation, the user needs to root (think Jailbreaking) the device. This may void your warranty, but if an inexpensive Android tablet is what you’re looking for, this can make it possible.

If you are planning to use the Nook as an Android device rather than a book reader, you may want to keep in mind that the Nook has an underpowered processor when compared to other Android tablets. The ARM Cortex-A8 processor (800MHz) is about as powerful as one you might have found in the very first generation of Android phones. Though it certainly doesn’t compete as strongly with the Xoom or Samsung Galaxy tablets, it is capable of handling basic tasks such as email, web browsing, etc.

At this point, price for performance on the Nook may beat everything currently out on the market. At $249, you essentially have a capable Android tablet with a decent screen and build quality. Though underpowered by today’s standards, and really just an ebook reader at heart, it can deliver more bang for your buck than even the incredibly disappointing $99 Maylong tablet.

Can the Nook Color Compete With Other Android Tablets?

A member of the LockerGnome community sent in the question, “As more and more of our programs become web apps, do you think speed and processing power is losing importance in the computing world?”

As more and more of our programs are becoming web apps, the importance of processing power comes in to question. Is processing power becoming less important?

Web apps typically require very little in terms of actual hardware speed to run. In fact, the majority of the computational work is done by the host in the cloud. This leaves your system with the simple task of displaying the data and giving you a method to make changes.

Internet speed seems to be the thing you notice first. A slow connection to the web can put a huge damper on your experience in more situations than mediocre system specs. In today’s world, you need a fast Internet connection.

There are several types of users that will still require faster hardware. Gamers will still hunger for the biggest and the best systems as graphics continue to increase in complexity. Gaming worlds are becoming large enough to require more RAM and CPU speed.

Video and photo editors also benefit from better-equipped systems. HD video takes its toll on slower systems during editing and encoding. Programs like Motion and After Effects are incredibly huge CPU hogs, and there is no question that a slower system would bring their efforts to a crawl.

Still, for the majority of average users out there, having a faster Internet connection will have more of an impact on their experience than the latest and greatest CPU. This may be one of the biggest reasons behind the widespread acceptance of netbooks and nettop computers with underpowered processors and lackluster specs. These machines are extremely slow by today’s standards. All they really need is enough power to run a browser.

Which would you rather have: a slower computer and a super fast Internet connection, or a super fast computer and a slow Internet connection?

Is Processing Power Becoming Less Important?

Google Chromebooks are out, and the trimmed-down operating system is starting to receive some mixed reviews from the tech community. So, are they any good? Is the Samsung Chromebook worth it?

In a previous video and blog post, I went over the expectations set by Google. They announced several different methods of obtaining one of these notebooks, including a leasing program that gives users access to the hardware without a lot of money.

If you want to buy one outright, you’re currently looking at a price between $430 and $500, which puts it at a point above many netbooks and tablet computers, which offer roughly the same access to web apps as the Chromebook itself.

The Samsung Chromebook line has two colors to choose from, white and Titan Silver (shipping soon), with optional 3G capabilities which up the asking price from $430 to $500. This difference in price isn’t surprising, and could be considered modest given the typical price difference for 3G capabilities.

A lot of the heat from reviewers stems from the fact that the price matches that of other systems that can run the Chrome and Chromium browsers that give the user virtually the same experience for a lot less money. Atom processors, 16GB solid state drive, and 2GB of RAM are all traits commonly found on netbooks.

One area where Samsung’s Chromebook might have an edge is in battery life. With a promised 8.5 hours, it promises greater long-term portability than many portables in its class. This is due, in part, to an extremely trim operating system which focuses the majority of its processing power on a simple browser without the bloat other operating systems require.

It’s important to note here that the Chrome OS is still in its infancy. Google is constantly tweaking and changing it to meet the needs of its customers. Early adopters of any operating system or platform can expect at least some degree of frustration. If you have some degree of patience, and enjoy the idea of being one of the first to switch to something new, then the Chromebook might be worth taking a look at.

With a list of positives including the ability to keep your data, even in the event of a complete hard drive failure, it is easy to overlook the challenges involved with working in a cloud-based environment. Without an active connection to the web, the Chromebook is really not much more than a paperweight. In some ways, the greatest strengths of the Chrome OS are also some of its biggest weaknesses.

Is the Samsung Chromebook Worth It?

Do you upgrade your computer yearly? How about monthly? Do you upgrade only when your current system breaks down or stops running the newest applications? There is a big debate among computer users as to when the best, and most cost-effective time is to upgrade. In a recent discussion, Brandon and Jake were asked the question, “When is it time to upgrade your PC?”

Brandon believes in upgrading your system components, rather than buying a new computer every time new technology becomes available. By keeping track of when Intel and/or AMD come out with a new socket, he is able to determine whether or not a new motherboard needs to be purchased when buying a new processor.

Jake, on the other hand, buys an entirely new system yearly. By doing this, he enjoys an entire set of updated features including bigger hard drives, newer optical drive technology, and faster processing without the hassle of having to buy new individual pieces.

For most users, a simple upgrade here and there to a desktop PC on a regular basis can be enough to for them to get by for years. Costs are relatively low in comparison, and you have more ability to get exactly what you need, rather than what the OEM is willing to include.

A gamer might find a yearly total upgrade more cost-effective given the somewhat low prices for bundled hardware available today. Video cards, RAM, CPU, Motherboards, and sound cards all fall under a serious gamer’s radar in terms of desired performance increase.

While there are certain advantages to each camp in this seemingly eternal debate between geeks, one thing mostly everyone can agree on is that maintaining a basic knowledge of current technologies can come in handy when it does come time to pick up new hardware. Knowing the advantages to SSD over a traditional drive can help determine whether or not the investment is ultimately worthwhile.

If you decide to upgrade components rather than an entire system, keep in mind that everything needs to be compatible. Buying a SATA drive for a motherboard that only supports older connections can cause a real headache as users discover the incompatibility. More modern PC memory may not be recognized or run properly in an older motherboard. An out-of-date BIOS can fail to recognize newer components entirely, which may result in the appearance of broken hardware when a simple update can resolve the problem entirely.

What do you think? When is it time to upgrade your PC? Please leave a comment below with your opinion on the topic.

When is the Right Time to Upgrade Your PC?

Every technology pundit in the world has an opinion on where personal computers are headed. They use words like cloud and social to describe our online activity, an increasing amount of cores when asked about processors, and the word touch is thrown around more and more. All this aside, where are personal computers headed?

It has been decades since the first PC was made available to consumers at a reasonable price. The personal computer took off while it was barely able to handle any real heavy lifting, functioning as little more than a giant calculator that allowed programmers to develop simple applications to perform small tasks. Back then, you would have been labeled a dreamer if you proclaimed that these machines would some day become the cornerstone of our business and personal lives it is today.

Now, you’ve got a computer on your desk, in your pocket, and even integrated in to your car. Some writing pens even contain powerful computers that record what you write and perform tasks that the original PCs would have never been able to tackle without a significant amount of time. The very term “personal computers” has evolved to mean a lot more than a box that plugs in to the wall and displays information on a monitor.

The two most recent major trends in this field are netbooks and tablet computers. While netbooks and tablet computers enjoy a considerable amount of attention for their small footprint and low-power operation, the real long-term story may lie in how the web has adapted to these technologies. Cloud storage, computing, and services have replaced many operations previously restricted to stand-alone applications. Services such as Google Docs have given users the ability to create and collaborate without the need of programs like Microsoft Office or even Open Office. Where there is still considerable ground to cover before stand-alone applications could ever be considered “dead”, the idea of letting the cloud do the bulk of the storage and processing has enabled users to get more done with a less powerful system than ever before.

Google, Amazon, and Apple have all thrown their hat in the cloud music services arena by developing their own cloud storage and player solutions. These services eliminate the need for the user to have a large hard drive or constantly sync their collection to various devices. You can access and play the same giant collection of music from your iPhone or netbook as you could you home desktop computer with terabytes of storage capacity.

Gaming would appear to be heading in a more web-based direction as well. Services such as OnLive are still in their infancy, though the incentive for developers to take their product out of the hands of consumers and in to a more controlled environment is certainly present. While this transition may be difficult to grasp in the short-term, years down the road the potential for cloud-based gaming may become more clear.

So, as you look to the future of personal computing, it may not be about how many terabytes a drive can hold, or how many cores your processor has, but how connected you are to the web.

Where are Personal Computers Headed?

Microsoft, though best known for the Windows operating system, is no stranger to the world of hardware. Their line of peripherals are top sellers and generally well received by users, the Xbox is on top of the HD game console market, and other various hardware projects have done generally well. They have not, however, entered in to the market as a PC OEM. Here are a few reasons why I believe a Microsoft branded PC would be a good thing:

Consistency
When you consider the various points made in the ongoing Apple vs. PC debate, one of the biggest arguments against Microsoft’s platform is the broad range of hardware and occasional incompatibilities associated with the incredibly wide range of drivers and standards that go in to building hardware for the Windows platform. Because Microsoft can’t possibly account for every variable manufacturers present, a single update can have a very negative impact on the end user until the OEM can revise their drivers. It’s easy to blame Microsoft for this, but this issue is often a two-way failure.

Optimization
If Microsoft knows exactly what they have to work with in terms of specifications and power, they can build an OS around this. In the case of Apple, their operating system (OS X) is optimized for a predictable set of hardware giving them the ability to script how the software interacts with the physical machine in a more efficient way. This is why a video card with 256 MB of RAM appears to perform better than the equivalent on a Windows machine in many cases. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get better performance with more powerful hardware on a Windows PC.

Data Footprint
Currently, Windows has a reputation for being very large and cumbersome. One major reason for this is a need for backwards compatibility not only for software created for previous versions, but also older hardware. When you consider how many hundreds of brands of products Microsoft currently has to consider when designing their software, it’s amazing the operating system doesn’t take up more space that it currently does. A lot of this was improved with the transition from Windows Vista to Windows 7, which broke much of the ancient and obsolete compatibility in favor of a more streamlined user experience.

There are several very important reasons that Microsoft will likely never actually create their own line of PCs. For one, it would be a slap in the face of their OEMs which rely on Windows to run their hardware. By competing with their biggest customers, they run the risk of losing a major part of their overall income as they look for other options. We saw this with netbooks when they were first coming out. Because Windows Vista was too cumbersome to operate on the underpowered netbooks of the time, manufacturers like HP and Dell looked to lighter and thinner Linux-based operating systems to fulfill their customer’s needs. Though this effort didn’t take off and dominate the market place, it (in addition to backlash from other PC platforms) was enough to push Microsoft to continue to support XP for an extended period of time.

Why a Microsoft Branded PC Would Be a Good Thing

With the incredible strides being made in the mobile world, one can’t help but to ask whether or not these trimmed-down operating systems may be heading in a direction that could replace what we currently know as a desktop OS. For example, the debate over whether or not Android would make a good netbook OS has been going on since the first iteration of the mobile platform, and what we’ve seen of Apple’s OS X Lion has given us clear signs that they are borrowing greatly from the iOS user interface. With this in mind, are mobile operating systems the future for desktop computing?

It could be argued that one day, possibly in the not so distant future, mobile devices may actually be the form factor of choice for our everyday computing. You could come home and plug your phone in to a dock that links to a larger screen, keyboard, and other input devices. In the case of the Motorola Atrix 4G, your phone can already be plugged in to a laptop body to create a more complete desktop experience. Current limitations for this application include a lacking ability to install full desktop programs. This limitation aside, you are able to run a full instance of Firefox which allows you to handle pretty much everything you would expect through the browser on a larger Windows or OS X system.

There is a possibility, as different platforms continue to merge and become increasingly interconnected, that we may see a more hybrid form of operating system come together. An OS that can be installed completely and seamlessly between different form factors may offer a solution that is best for both worlds. The problem that faced the tablet industry in years prior stemmed from attempting to put a bulky OS with programs intended for a specific platform on a device that really wasn’t supported by the developers. With a hybrid OS, designed specifically with this functionality in mind, you may have a solution that is both more attractive to developers and OEMs.

Are Mobile Operating Systems the Future for Desktop Computing?

The trend of unboxing popular tech on camera has been around for years. While many would claim the origins of this form of gadget porn come from the much-anticipated PS3 release, videos and/or pictures of desirable tech products being taken out of the box for the first time may well be as old as the camera itself.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of these videos are frankly rather boring. A narrator points the camera at a box and opens it, saying pretty much the same thing everyone else that has unboxed the same thing says before them. Still, these videos are extremely popular, and that begs the question of how to make an unboxing more interesting.

Throw Out Practical Applications
Yes, we all know what the gadget is, and we don’t need a narrator to tell us what it looks like as we watch it being unboxed before our eyes. What users could find interesting are details about the practical applications of said gadget. If you’re unboxing a computer, explain what you intend to do with it and how this particular purchase would help you accomplish this. A look at the specs, instead of commenting on it being pretty, would be interesting as well.

Don’t Dwell on Packaging
It’s a box, made out of cardboard. Yes, it may have an interesting tab or padding, but people are tuning in to see the item itself and spending most of your time on the packaging and making the device an afterthought isn’t going to be interesting in the long run.

Personality
It would be foolish of me to say that I do the best unboxing videos, however, personality plays a big role in how your unboxing is received by the audience. If you are monotone, and generally unenthusiastic about what you’re doing, your audience will reflect that lack of passion when it comes time to hit the subscribe button or leave a comment. Offer more than just the typical gadget porn. Give them something to either laugh at or think about throughout the course of the video.

Extras
You might score extra points by unboxing more than just one thing in a single video. If you’re opening a phone or mp3 player, grab a case to go along with it and demonstrate how that particular case fits on the product. This will kill two birds with one stone, and instantly make your video more useful than one that just focuses on the same item every other tech vlog is fixated on.

How to Make an Unboxing More Interesting

Newsflash: your Apple machine actually can become infected. Wait, what? You didn’t already know that? Seriously? I’ve been telling you for years that it’s possible. Other writers have attempted to educate you. Your Mac is not a steel wall against malware, people. It’s always been possible for an Apple computer to be infested with some type of malware – it just hasn’t happened very often.

Photo credit to Precise Security.

We can argue until we’re blue in the face about the reasons why we haven’t seen much malware aimed at the Mac. Apple lovers will of course tell you that it’s nearly impossible for their precious machines to fall prey to hackers and script kiddies. Security experts will teach you that the reason is as simple as a popularity contest. Until recently, Microsoft computers were much more prevalent. It didn’t pay to expend time and energy writing malicious code for a Mac. Windows was everywhere – malware was written for the masses.

Many of us have said repeatedly that as Apple gained in popularity among consumers, so would malware written specifically for the operating system. While it still obviously isn’t as much of an issue as it is on the Microsoft platform… it IS out there, and it is growing. A quick glance through the Apple forums will show you several new cases every day of people begging for help removing the latest threat: a Rogue software known as “Mac Defender.”

Apple fanboys and security researchers are going to argue for weeks. Many will tell you that you still have nothing to worry about and you don’t need to protect your Mac with any type of anti-malware/virus/spam software. They’ll try to convince you to continue feeling all warm and fuzzy. You’re supposed to keep believing that your machine isn’t susceptible unless you use it in a stupid way. After all, smart computer users could never get infected, right?

I’m here to tell you that it’s better to be safe than sorry. Weigh your options and take a good look at the possibility that something could happen. Isn’t your information worth protecting? Resign yourself to the fact that malware is indeed “out there” which could infect your Mac and educate yourself as to how to stay safe.

Mac Malware on the Rise

A few hours ago, Duodave posted an an interesting discussion on our LockerGnome Q&A site. He wonders if online addictions are real or something made up by professionals. I’m here to tell you that Internet addiction is very real. It can cause your health, relationships and work performance to deteriorate if you don’t realize you have a problem and work to overcome it.

An Internet (or Facebook!) addiction becomes evident when you begin to neglect the people and things in life which demand your attention. You spend much less time with your family. Work project may go undone or be turned in late. Sleep deprivation becomes the norm. Activities which used to give you pleasure are dumped in favor of staring at the computer screen longer.

For some people, losing themselves in online forums, blogs and social networks is a way to escape harsh circumstances in life. Does this sound familiar? It’s the same reason that many turn to drugs and alcohol. Life can be difficult to deal with sometimes, eh? Unfortunately, there are those who cannot find a way to cope. Instead, they find ways to mask the pain or anger. Internet addictions are much cheaper than using illegal substances or drinking yourself into a stupor. The worst part is that these people don’t realize that an addiction of this sort is just as destructive.

Just like substance abuse, addiction to the computer can be difficult to overcome. Users don’t want to leave the “safety” of their online identity. They may be reluctant to even admit they have a problem or not know what to do to fix it. These people don’t have to throw their computers out of a window, they simply need to learn how to balance their Internet usage with their physical life.

The first thing they will need to do is to figure out the underlying cause. What is going on around them that drove them to bury themselves in the virtual world? There needs to be a solid support network – don’t criticize or blame them. Offer to help… figure out other outlets for their stress, sadness or anger. Assist them in finding alternative solutions. Give them guidelines to use while cutting back on time spent online – even if they are an adult. They will need some type of structured plan in order to be successful without having to give up their social life on the web completely.

I am by no means a doctor or therapist. I am just some dude who happens to work and play online. However, I am very careful to balance all of that with other activities. I know all too well how easy it is to become caught up in what’s going on behind my computer screen. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve lost track of time when I’ve come across something interesting and then had to pull myself away. The key is balance, my friends. Moderate yourself just as you would with anything that could be harmful to your health and well-being.

Is Internet Addiction Real?

The tablet market is heating up, and it seems every day a new device is announced that has the potential to unseat the iPad. Many of them (ARCHOS, for example) boast qualities such as a simple user interface, “better” specs, freedom from the tight grip of Apple’s control, and a seemingly-endless amount of extras that make them better than the iPad. Unfortunately, they tend to lack key ingredients that would make a huge difference in their performance in the market. I’m a firm believer that real competition would be a good thing for consumers and technology in general.

There are tablets currently being sold that have a sizable amount of the market share, and in that sense they are providing competition to Apple. The problem is that there isn’t a tablet out there right now that can realistically unseat Apple from its position on top. There are some key points that tablets need to address in order to compete with the iPad.

For some reason, tablets made by manufacturers that have bragged for years that their products beat Apple’s premium prices are not only more expensive, but alarmingly so. Only recently have manufactures started to produce tablet computers at a competitive price. If you’re going to compete with the iPad, you need to set a competitive price.

There is nothing in this world more annoying than buying an app and finding out it only works on certain devices on the platform. Even though you meet every spec requirement the app has, it just doesn’t run on every device using the same OS. The tablet market, especially where Android is concerned, is still in its infancy. Google has taken in the reigns of their Android OS and taken steps to control how its used with tablets. This is how Apple is doing it, and by following their lead, Google may be able to come up with something that really competes with the iPad.

The argument of which OS has the most or best apps has been made more than a handful of times. Simply put, the app market on competing platforms is thinner and younger than on iOS. Because of this, other tablets have a hard time convincing users that they have the best experience to offer consumers. There are some clear advantages to a more open development system as seen in Android and others. The downside, however, is a lack of overall quality control. Users may purchase a bad app and have their overall experience with their device negatively impacted because of it. That isn’t to say that every app made for iOS is superior; some of them are still quite bad.

Competition in tablet computer market would be a very good thing for everyone that has ever wanted or needed one of these devices. It will drive innovation, potentially reduce prices, and allow consumers a real choice between two or more solid options.

How to Compete With the iPad