Gateway SX 2801-11e Review


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Gateway SX 2801-11e Desktop



This week we will be discussing the Gateway SX 2801-11e desktop. Gateway has been building and selling computers for awhile. It’s no surprise that they have designed this new desktop system with price in mind. The SX 20801-11e starts out at $499. It comes with a duel-core processor, which means using multiple programs at once is easier, Windows 7, 6GB RAM, and a 640GB hard drive. Like our other desktop systems, this Gateway does not come with a monitor or speakers. But compared to our other desktop systems, you get more for your money with the Gateway SX 2801-11e.


Check back later this week as we compare the Gateway desktop to other desktops. Until next time, happy teching!

HP Pavilion p6510t Review






















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HP Pavilion p6510t




This week we will be blogging about the HP Pavilion p6510t. This desktop starts out at $349. HP has always manufactured quality computer systems and this desktop is no exception. In comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, a decent Celeron processor, 2GB of RAM, a 320 – 500GB hard drive, and a nifty graphics card. Like the other desktops we are discussing, the HP Pavilion p6510t does not come with a monitor or speakers. These items can be purchased when customizing the machine on the manufacturer’s website (www.hp.com in our case).


Be sure to check back later this week to see how this desktop compares to others. Until next time, happy teching!

Dell XPS 7100 Desktop

Over the next few weeks, we will be discussing desktop computer systems. These are the computer systems where monitors, keyboards, and the mouse are separate. Desktop systems are also most popular among businesses and moderate computer users. We will be discussing economical desktop systems that pack a punch.

This week, we will be discussing the Dell Studio XPS 7100 Desktop. To start off, the price of this desktop is fairly cheap. The Studio XPS 7100 starts at $499. But do not mistake its low-end price for low-end manufacturing. This desktop comes with Windows 7 Home Premium (Microsoft’s current operating system), a great AMD graphics card, 3GB RAM, and a 500GB hard drive. All this will keep you up and running for a while. You can store you pictures on this computer, play games, and store files with ease. Again, we are discussing economical desktops. When purchasing a computer system of any kind, you can go to the manufacturer’s website (www.Dell.com in our case) and customize the system to fit your needs. Keep in mind the monitor and speakers are sold separately. In saying that, monitors are becoming cheaper, around $100, and you can get a good set of speakers for $20.

Be sure to check back at the end of the week for an overview of this system and how it compares to other desktop systems.

Droid 2



This week we will be talking about the Droid 2. This is Motorola’s newest Android phone. It is also one of the most powerful phones on the market. Verizon Wireless is the only carrier that offers the Droid 2. The Droid 2 is equipped with a 1GHz processor. This allows for fast internet surfing and video streaming. It also quicker response time when accessing apps. The Droid 2 supports up to a 32GB removable SD microSD card. This allows for tons of storage for music, pictures, videos, and apps. The Droid 2 is also a 3G mobile hotspot. This allows multiple devices to connect to the phone to gain 3G access to the internet. The greatest thing about the Droid 2 is that it runs Android 2.2 (Froyo) out of the box. The is Android’s newest and fastest operating system. It allows for faster “phone” speed and Flash 10.1. To simplify it, it utilizes the phones core components.Overall, the Droid 2 is a great phone. Until next time, happy teching!

Motorola Droid X

Staying with our Android blogs, this week we are going to talk about the Motorola Droid X. The Droid X is the 2nd “super phone” released by Motorola and one of the most powerful phones Verizon Wireless offers. Like the previous Android phones we have discussed, the Droid X is great. It comes loaded with tons of features and is one of the fastest phones on the market. The Droid X has a 1GHZ processor and can store up to 32GB of information. The Droid X also has a dedicated GPU. What does that mean? This phone has its own graphics card! This means the videos you watch, the games you play, and the pictures you take will be crisp and unmatched by other phones. The Droid X is also a 3G hotspot. You can connect up to 5 devices (laptops, phones, etc.) to the internet. Not to mention, the Droid X is also wifi capable.

Overall, this is a great phone. With the technology in the Droid X, not many phones can match it? Until next time, Happy Teching!

HTC Droid Incredible

Staying with our Droid topic, this week we will be blogging about the HTC Droid Incredible. This Droid Incredible was the second release of the Droid phones that Verizon carries. This phone was the first of its kind to have a 1 GHz processor and 512MB RAM (that’s fast). Your basic desktop computer has a 2 GHz processor. My first computer had a 1.3 GHz processor with 256MB RAM. Although the original Droid was dubbed the iPhone killer, the Incredible was the device that gave Apple’s product a run for its money. The HTC Incredible is 100% touch screen and comes with a ton of features; Bluetooth, 8MP camera, WiFi, and they even added a lot of cool features to their social networking apps. This device also come standard with Google Maps.

Over all, this is a great phone. Be sure to check back this week as we compare the Incredible to the Droid. Until next time, happy teching!

Motorola Droid

A few weeks ago, we did a blogging series on popular cell phones. There was one model of cell phones we did not cover. This week, we will start our series on Android phones.

Android got its big break in September 2005 when it was purchased by Google. Android was a startup company then, but already had a lot of money invested into it along with some big names to support it. In November 2007, the Open Handset Alliance, OHA, was formed. This increased the popularity of the Android operating system. Some of the members of the Alliance include Google, HTC, Texas Instruments, and Qualcomm. In December 2008, the OHA added 14 members including Sony, Toshiba, and Asustek. I tell you all this so you can understand the interests in open source development for mobile devices. The first release of the os was in February 2009 with Android 1.1.

Android is a Linux based operating system. Linux is a free, open source OS. Because it is available to the public, programmers and software writers are developing new software daily to utilize the power of the Linux kernel. Android is a mobile based Linux OS that can be found a number of devices such as netbooks, tablets, and the purpose of this blog, mobile phones. This week we will be talking about the Motorola Droid which was released in November 2009. The name Droid is a trademark of Lucas Films. Verizon Wireless is the only carrier in the US that carries the Droid. The Droid is loaded with features. The Droid is a touch screen device with a QWERTY keyboard that slides out. The Droid also doubles as a turn-by-turn GPS, which comes standard and is free. Droid was released with Android 2.1, but an update for Android 2.2 was released in early August 2010 for this device. The update increases the phone speed and utilizes its core for better performance. Also, because of the update, the Motorola Droid is also one of the first phones to have Flash 10.1. This is a solid device with virtually limitless capabilities.
Be sure to stop by daily as we give you more info about the Motorola Droid. Until next time, happy teching!

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)

Kindle DX Review

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Kindle DX

Last week, we discussed the Kindle 3. This week we are going to stay with Kindle, but go bigger. By bigger I mean the Kindle DX. The Kindle DX is as reliable as the smaller Kindles out there. The Kindle DX also has a bigger screen at 9.7 inches. This makes the Kindle DX one of the largest ereaders available for purchase. The Kindle DX weights just over 1 lb. You would think because of the bigger screen and bigger everything that it would hold more books. This is not true. The Kindle DX still hold 3500 book, which is a lot any way you look at it. With wireless off, the Kindle DX will last 2-3 weeks on one battery charge. With wireless turned on, the Kindle DX only lasts 7 days on one charge. The good thing about the Kindle DX is that there is only one version of it; which means the Kindle DX is both WiFi and 3G. Just like the other Kindle, the Kindle DX 3G is free. All in all, the Kindle DX is a good buy. If you are looking for a bigger screen and willing to compromise with the weight, then the Kindle DX is for you.


Be sure to check back later this week as we compare the Kindle DX to some of its competitors. Until next time, happy teching!

Kindle 3 Review

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The Kindle 3

This week, we are continuing our discussion about ereaders and will be talking about the Kindle from Amazon. There are 3 versions of the Kindle, but we are only going to talk about 2 of them; the WiFi and WiFi+3G. Both are affordable and both have some awesome features!

The Kindle was first released on November 19, 2007. The day Kindle was first released Amazon’s stock ran out in 5 and a half hour and stayed out for 5 months! That just goes to show how highly anticipated this device was. The crazy thing is, the Kindle starting price was $399. That’s extremely high compared to what it is today. The Kindle 3, 3rd generation, is scheduled to be release later this month, August 3, at a steal; $139 WiFi and $189 WiFi+3G. If the new Kindle does what Amazon.com says, then the Kindle 3 is a nice piece of equipment. It still carries the 6” screen, but it packs some awesome features. The storage space has been doubled to 3500 books! The battery life is truly amazing as well. The Kindle 3 can go a month on a single charge; of course that’s with the WiFi turned off. Overall, this is an awesome device even for the casual reader.

Keep a watch for our review later this week. Until next time happy teching!

Sony Reader Touch Edition Review

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Sony Touch Edition

Continuing with our discussion on eReaders, this week we will be talking about the Sony Reader. Like we mentioned in our Walkman blog, Sony has done a good job in keeping up with technology and is competitive in many fields; the ebook field is no exception. Sony has designed three ereader models. Today we will be talking about the Touch Edition.

The Sony Reader Touch Edition is 1 of three readers Sony offers. Starting out at around $169, this ereader was PCWorld’s #1 ereader in 2009. In saying that, let’s look at the feature and specs to see why it was rated #1. The Touch Edition comes in 3 colors: red, black, or silver. It also supports audio files for listening to music. The Touch Edition comes with 512MB of user storage and users can add 16GB with a microSD card. It has a 6 inch grey level display that allows it to be read in the brightest of places. A user can also view multiple file formats with the Sony Touch Edition. For example, you can view files in PDF or Word formats. The battery lasts up to 2 weeks on a single charge.

Over all this is a good device. If you are in the market for an ereader, do not rule Sony out. Sure they have great TVs, computers, and mp3 players, but there ereaders are top of the line as well. Until next time, happy teching!

The Nook Review

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The Nook

Over the past few years, many companies have been thinking of ways to go “green.” Companies in the book businesses have been thinking the same. With magazines and books being thrown away, and the waste of a lot of paper, publishers and the like have come up with devices that have changed the way the world will read books forever. I am talking about eReaders. eReaders are devices that allow you to read a book cover to cover electronically. This week we will be discussing the nook.

The nook, developed and sold by Barns and Nobles, is a one of a few popular ereaders on the market right now. When picking up and ereader for the first time, you will notice the screen does not have a backlight. This enables you to literally read books, magazines, etc. anywhere. Whether you are at the beach in the sun or in the quiet of your home, the nook can be read anywhere. Another key thing you will notice is there are 2 version of the nook. One is $150 and the other is $200. What’s the difference? The cheaper of the two is WiFi only whereas the more expensive one is WiFi and 3G. And the $200 has a dark grey back (if the makes a different). The good thing is that’s the only difference. They both hold 1500 books, can search over 1 million titles, and they can download samples of books for FREE.

Be sure to check back Thursday for our product review. Until next time… Happy Teching!

Asus Product Review

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Asus Laptops


Asus (suse) has been around since 1990. It is based in Taiwan. Asus is a multinational computer product manufacturer. They produce mother boards, laptops, servers and mobile phones. Asus also produces parts for Dell, Apple, and HP. In saying that, we know Asus produces quality products.


This week we are going to discuss Asus laptops. Asus laptops can be purchased at many different locations throughout the United States. Best Buy is one of the more popular stories that carry Asus. On http://www.besybuy.com/ they claim to sale 15 Asus models. These computer models range from lower priced netbooks to high-end laptops. Asus has done a good job in keeping their products up to date. For example a lot of their laptops are equipped with an i3 processor or higher. They also have 2+ GB of memory and the hard drives are able to hold 500+GB of information. In saying that you know when you buy an Asus, you are getting a good product.

Be sure to check back Thursday as we compare an Asus laptop to some of its top competitors. Until next time, happy teching!

HP Laptop Review

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HP Laptops

Hewlett-Packard, HP, was established in 1939, but didn’t trademark the name until 1954. HP equipment can be dated back to 1941. One of HP’s first clients was The Walt Disney Company. Disney purchased equipment to better the surround sound for the movie Fantasia. As Hewlett-Packard grew so did their products and their knowledge for technology. Today HP provides desktops, laptops, servers, printers, and cameras to name a few. They also sell switches, wireless access points, and WAN routers making them the 2nd largest networking company in the world.

This week we will be discussing HP laptops. Like most companies who sell laptops, HP’s range in price, size, and memory. For instance the cheapest HP laptop sells for $379.99 and the most expensive sells for $1699.99. The reason for the big price gap is again size, memory, and processor speeds. The smallest amount of memory (RAM) in 2010 HP models is 2GB. Some models can be upgraded to 4GB. The smallest laptop, not netbook, HP produces has a 13” screen, while the biggest screen is 18.4”. Hard drives in these laptops range from 250GB to 640GB. The processors range from single core 1.7GHz to duel core i5 2.23GHz. In layman’s terms, that’s fast in both performance and startup time.

In our product review Thursday, we will compare the HP G42t to some of its top competitors. Until next time, happy teching!

Toshiba Laptop Product Review

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Toshiba Laptop

This week we are going to be discussing Toshiba laptops. Toshiba has been around for a while. The company was founded in 1939 by merging two Japanese companies together. But it wasn’t until 1978 when the company was officially named Toshiba. Like Dell, Toshiba sells many technological devices such as, servers, desktops, laptops, netbooks, external hard drives, and home entertainment equipment. In recent years Toshiba has gained popularity by developing cutting edge devices. There laptops are no different. In fact, I am on my second Toshiba laptop.

Toshiba’s laptops range anywhere from 11.6” to 18.4”. Most laptops that are sold today have Windows 7 installed on them. Windows Vista can still be purchased. Like Dell, some netbooks or mini laptops can be purchased with Windows XP, but the supply is limited. Toshiba laptops start out at $429.99 and can reach prices well over $1000. Prices range because of the different ways you can customize your laptop. Some models allow you to upgrade your memory (RAM), while others may allow you to upgrade your hard drive. Also, like many manufactures, Toshiba gives you the options of installing software when purchasing direct such as MS Office 2007.

Over all, Toshiba has always been a leader in developing reliable laptops. Be sure to check our product review later in the week and see how one of Toshiba’s laptops compares to others. Until next time, happy teching!

Dell Laptop Product Review

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Dell Laptops


This week, we are going to start our discussion on laptops. As you know, there are many different companies that produce and sale laptops. You have probably asked the same question I have asked myself many times, which one should I get? Over the next few weeks, we hope to show you the many different features available on laptops and what to expect out of them.
This week we are going to talk about Dell laptops. Dell has been in business since 1988. Dells’ founder started his business, then PC Limited, from the idea of selling personal computers (PC) to the public. By 1993, Dell was an international corporation. Through the years, Dell has made many useful devices. Dell also gives schools and businesses big discounts. Today Dell sells desktop computers, servers, printers, scanners, storage devices, and of course laptops.


There are 2 types of laptops Dell sells; the netbook and the notebook or laptop. We will be looking at the laptop. Dell has 16 laptop models available for public purchase. The operating systems range from Windows Vista to the new Windows 7. Dell also has a wide variety of screen sizes ranging from 11.6 – 17.3 inches. Keep in mind the screens are measured diagonally like televisions, not by width. The battery life on Dell laptops are impressive ranging 3-9 hours. The battery life, like all things that use battery, depends on the amount of time the device is in use and what is being done on the device. For instance of you are watching a DVD on the laptop, then the battery will use more to power the device. If you are typing a document, then not much battery is used. Dell laptops also range in prices. Starting at $349.99 you can get a laptop that will do all you need. If you are a gamer, then you may want to look at Alienware Dell sales. The Alienware computers start at $799.99.


With 20+ years of computer design, productions, and sales Dell knows a thing or two about what customers what out of a computer. In the product review later this week, we will be comparing the Dell Inspiron 1764. You will see that this laptop is a good all around machine for home, office, or school.


Until next time, happy teching!

Walkman X Product Review

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This ain't your parents music player! - Sony Walkman


Sony has always prided itself in selling quality electronics. Whether it is a TV, computer, or music players Sony strives to produce products that customers love and enjoy using. The Sony Walkman is no exception. The first Walkman was marketed in 1979. The somewhat bulky cassette player was very popular at the time. Through the years the Sony Walkman has evolved into what we use today. The Walkman is more than a music player. On some models, you can view pictures, listen to music, and even watch movies. One model lets you surf the web.


We are going to start with the Walkman W series. The W series is a unique mp3 player. This mp3 player eliminates the need for cables and wires. The mp3 device has combined the headphones to make 1 unit. The W series Walkman will hold nearly 2GB of music; that’s almost 1000 songs. The next mp3 player in the Walkman family is the E series. The E series can hold anywhere from 8-16GB of music and video. It also has an FM tuner built in. The battery life is impressive at 30 hrs of music play back and 4 hours video play back. The next Walkman is the S series. The S series is another unique mp3 player. They can play music, videos, and the radio just like the other. But the S series can also record voice and radio. The battery is beefed up holding up to a 42 hour charge with 6.5 hr of video play back. The last Walkman that we will be talking about is the X series. This is Sony’s attempt to rival the iPod Touch. In saying that, the X series is touch screen, Wi-Fi enabled, and has the same features the other Walkmans have. The X series is an awesome device. Like I said at the beginning of this article, Sony has always produced good products and the X series is no exception.


Enjoys the Walkman talk this week. Until next time, happy teching!

Zune HD Product Review

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iPod, meet the Zune



The Zune is Microsoft’s answer to the iPod. The first Zune was released in November 2006. Since its release, Zune has done its best in keeping up with the Apple iPods, but has not yet reached the popularity the iPod has. In saying that, Microsoft has given its portable music player some great features.



Today, there are 6 models of the Zune. Let’s start with the smallest first. The Zune 4 has 4 GB of memory which allows it to hold 1000 songs, 25,000 pictures, and 12 hrs of video. The big difference between the iPod nano and the Zune 4 is the Zune 4 can be wireless, which allows for wireless syncing and have access to the Zune Marketplace. Next is the Zune 8. The Zune 8 has 8 GB of memory which allows it to hold 2000 songs, 25,000 pictures, and 24 hrs or video. The Zune 8 can also use wifi. Next is the Zune 16 which allows up to 16 GB of storage; 4000 songs, 25000 pictures, and 48 hrs of video. After that comes the Zune 80. The Zune 80 allows you to store up to 80 GB of memory. This allows you to have 20000 songs, 25000 pictures, and 250 video hrs. The biggest Zune Microsoft sales is the Zune 120. This mp3 player allows you to store 30000 songs, 25000 pictures, and 375 hrs of video. So far, all of the Zunes we have talked about are able to access wifi connections. They all also have a built in radio. The final Zune we are going to discuss is the Zune HD. The Zune HD is the iPod touch’s biggest competitor. The HD is touch screen, wifi, and can download games, movies, and other cool stuff from the Zune Marketplace. The Zune HD can hold anywhere from 4000 songs – 16000 songs, 25000 pictures, and 22-96 hrs of HD movies.
Until Next time, happy teching!


iPod Touch Product Review

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iPod Touch Interview

Portable Music Players: iPods


This week we are going to start our discussion on mp3 players; and what better way to start this discussion than by researching iPods. The first iPods were released in October 2001. These small portable music players could hold up to 1,000 songs, which at the time was a lot. Through the years the looks changed and customer satisfaction grew. Today, some of the iPod models are on their 6th generation. Today some of the models can view pictures, watch videos, and play/download games.

Today, there are 4 different iPod models: shuffle, nano, classic, and touch. Starting with the smallest iPod, the shuffle holds 2-4GB of music. That’s 500-1000 songs! The shuffle was designed to “plug and play.” When you turn the shuffle on it “shuffles” you music. Because of the simplicity of it, the battery life is good. Next in line is the iPod nano. The nano hold 8-16GB of songs and photos. As of 2009 the nano doubles as a camera. In fact, the nano can hold anywhere from 7,000-14,000 photos, 2,000-4,000 songs, and 8-16 hrs of video. This device is very popular because of its versatility. The next iPod is the classic. This iPod has kept its same look since it release. The classic holds 160GB of music (40,000 songs), photos (25,000 photos), and video (200 hrs. video). This iPod also costs you a pretty penny at $249. The last iPod we are going to discuss is the touch. The third generation touches is by far the coolest mp3 on the market and like the other does more than play music. The third gen. touch holds 32-64GB of music (7,000-14,000 songs), photos (40,000-90,000 songs), and video (40-80 hrs video). The touch can also download games from the App Store. In fact, there are few differences from the iPod touch and the iPhone (see our blog on the iPhone).

As you have read, the iPod is a nice device and in my opinion #1 when it comes to mp3 players. Until next time, happy teching!

Windows Mobile Product Review

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Windows Mobile




This week we will be talking about Windows Mobile phones. Windows based cell phones are more popular than most people think. Microsoft currently has 53 devices licensed with Windows Mobile operating system. HTC is by far the biggest Windows Mobile carrier. Currently HTC has 18 Windows Mobile phones. Out of the 53 phones, 4 major service providers in the US carry a Windows Mobile phone. Verizon Wireless is the largest carrier of Windows Mobile phones with 12.


So why should I look into a Windows based phone? Windows has always strived to have products that are user friendly. Most of their operating systems, such as Windows XP and 7 have accomplished that. Windows mobile phones have a “Start” menu just like the desktop versions. Anyone who has used a Windows computer before knows this is where to access most, if not all your computer programs. Another cool feature about Windows Mobile phones is the ability to create and edit documents. “Docs to go” allows you to create and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and zip files. This is very useful for those who are constantly on the go. Windows mobile also has a wide range of apps available to download via the MarketPlace.
Until next time, happy teching!

iPhone vs. the others ...

The iPhone is a very popular phone. But how does it compare to other top phones of today.

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iPhone Interview w/ Leslie Woodall, Admin Assistant at BPL








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Smartphones: The iPhone

The iPhone was released by Apple in 2007 and has quickly become the # 1 smart phone in the US. I believe some of the reasons for its success is because one, it’s made by Apple, and two, there are 185,000+ apps available for download. As of April 2010, the App Store has seen 4 billion total downloads. These apps range from showing you how to cook to maintaining your bank account. Another reason I think the iPhone is so popular is because of its hardware. The iPhone 3GS comes with a 600MHz processor with 256 MB RAM. This enables the iPhone to reach speeds not many cell phones can reach.

So what are features that I can use daily with the iPhone? The iPhone was designed with both the general public and businesses in mind. In saying that, let’s start with the general features and work our way up. Like most phones, the iPhone has a camera. The 3GS version records video and allows you to edit the video when finished recording. This is great for birthdays, vacations, and other family events. Another feature that comes with all iPhones is the iPod feature. Yes, the iPhone is a fully fledged iPod. This allows for music to play at any time. iTunes is also on the iPhone. This literally means you can purchase videos, music, and games from the comfort of your home; better yet, the comfort of your bed. The iPhone also doubled as a mini computer. Like we mentioned earlier, the iPhone 3GS has a processor that allows for fast internet browsing. Another thing Apple did when creating the iPhone was, think about children’s safety. Apple added Parental Controls to the iPhone. This allows parents to have control over what apps can be downloaded, when songs can be downloaded from iTunes, and what they can watch on YouTube. You can say it’s mom’s best friend. Of course, what phone is complete without messaging feature? The iPhone has almost every kind of messaging feature available today: texting, I.M., email, audio messages, picture messaging, etc. The iPhone can also use Skype.

For the business person, the iPhone is still a great phone. You can set your business email on your phone. Stay in contact with colleagues with the messaging feature discussed earlier. The iPhone also has a built in calendar. You can integrate your Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo calendar on the iPhone. You can also set reminders.

The iPhoneis truly a phone in another league with the 185,000+ apps for download and the processing speed the 3GS offers, not many phones compare. Be sure to listen to our Tech Tuesday interview with Leslie Woodall, Admin. Assistant for BPL as we interview her about her experiences with the iPhone 3GS. Until next time, happy teching!

BlackBerry Review

Take a look at how the BlackBerry Bold compares to other popular smart phones.

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BlackBerry Interview w/ Delbert Terry, Director of BPL

Do BlackBerrys make good personal phones?

A BlackBerry is a line of smart phones developed by Research in Motion, (RIM). There are currently 4 cell phone carriers in the US that provide BlackBerry services; AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. BlackBerrys are commonly used in the business world because of the many different communication services offered with the devices. The most popular service is email. All BlackBerry smart phones are able to send and receive emails. This allows constant communication between coworkers. Another popular communication app is the BlackBerry Messenger. This is an I.M. app that allows instant conversation with other BlackBerry users. Speaking of apps, BlackBerry has a lot of apps for download via the App World. Some of these apps include Facebook, Twitter and ESPN. Not all apps are free. BlackBerrys come pre-installed with a lot of helpful apps, such as a calendar, address book, email, web browser, and a calculator. Recently Skype and Bing have pushed out apps to BlackBerry users.

So how can a BlackBerry be beneficial as a “non-work phone?” As mentioned earlier, a BlackBerry is very handy when keeping in touch with family and friends. With the BlackBerry Messenger app, you can start an instant conversation with a push of the “track ball.” Personal email, such as Gmail, can be accessed on your BlackBerry via a Gmail app. This allows you to send and receive email from your personal Gmail account without logging into a computer. The Gmail app also synchronizes your Google Calendar with the calendar on your phone. Of course like all cell phones now days, BlackBerrys have a texting feature. The good thing about most BlackBerrys is they come with a full keyboard. This makes texting, emailing, and web browsing much easier. Another great feature that comes on all but one BlackBerry is the ease of navigation. Instead of pushing buttons to navigate through menus and the internet, the BlackBerry phones have a track ball; which is basically a computer mouse on your phone. The one BlackBerry, the Storm, is touch screen.

BlackBerrys are reliable phones. They have good battery life and are built tough. I have dropped mine more times than I can count and it still works. If I do happen to break it, loose it, or it becomes submerged in water, then the insurance plan available for these phone would send me a new one. Of course I send them $50, but I think that’s a fair trade off. But anyways, tomorrow I will interview Delbert Terry about his experiences with his BlackBerry. Until next, happy teching!

Twitter vs. the Others ...

Twitter is different compared to other social networking sites. In saying that, take a look at our comparison chart.

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Twitter Interview w/ Jaketha Farmer, IT Specialist at BPL








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What to take from this interview…

· Twitter is easier than other social networking sites and also does not require as much information as others.
· There are many cell phones apps for Twitter. Some companies charge for downloading and using their app so shop carefully.
· The Twitter Language is very important to know. There are e-book as well as library book about Twitter. Read those books to help familiarize you with Twitter.
· To protect yourself, use a different username and password for all of your social networking sites. A lot of people use the same email/password combination for all of their accounts. This is not safe and could make it easier for a hacker to get into your accounts.

Do you Tweet ...?


Twitter is quickly becoming one of the most popular social networks on the web. It has surpassed the public criticisms and has made its way into 3rd place (on my list) of top social networking sites behind Facebook and MySpace. Twitter currently has 100 million active users. Within those users are celebrities, athletes, businesses and of course libraries (@bossierlibrary). Twitter is available to those who are 13 or older and have an email account.

So what is Twitter? Twitter is a social network/microblogging site that allows you to post a 140 character message, also known as a tweet. In other words, it’s a website that allows you to send free text messages to your followers (friends). If you set your profile to private, then only your followers can view your tweets, but if you leave your profile public, then the Twitter world can view your tweets. Like most popular social networking sites, Twitter can be accessed from a variety of devices such as, your laptop, desktop, or cell phone. Most cell phones (especially smart phones) have an app that allows you to tweet from your phone.

So why should I consider Twitter? Twitter is worldwide. This means you can go anywhere in the world and tweet; of course an internet connection is needed. Twitter is customizable. You can change the skin (profile background) of your profile to a preloaded skin or one of your own. Profile information is short and to the point. When signing up for an account, the only information that is asked is your name, location, a short bio and possibly a website you want to promote. This allows you to search your friends faster. Another good thing about Twitter is it doesn’t carry as many viruses as other social sites. SPAM email not associated with Twitter, is usually sent to someone. This email invites you to join Twitter, but when you open the email, it opens a virus; this is common among popular websites. Other reasons you should look into Twitter is because most news sites, such as CNN, tweet. Those who have Twitter on their phone are able to tweet news the moment it happens. No more waiting on reporters or the newspaper. There are also a lot of businesses, such as GameStop, that tweet about weekly deals. Again, no more waiting on the Sunday paper to see what’s on sale. When you start tweeting look for some of your friends and favorite businesses; and of course you can follow us @bossierlibrary.

Join us tomorrow as I interview Jaketha Farmer, IT Specialist of BPL about her experience on Twitter. Until next time, happy teching!

Facebook vs. Other Social Networks

It’s hard to rate a social networking site because so many people have their own opinions. In saying that, we are going to compare Facebook to some of the popular social networking sites that are available to you.



*Click on the table below to enlarge.*

Facebook interview follow up

Here is a follow up on a few things Mrs. McEntee mentioned in the interview. When she was answering the second questions, she said something about using her iPod Touch to connect to Facebook. In the blog we talked about some cell phones, especially smart phones, having a Facebook app available to download. The iPod Touch is not an iPhone, but can use the same apps as the iPhone. In saying that, the iPod Touch can download and use the Facebook app. Mrs. McEntee also mentioned privacy settings towards the end of the interview. We had a patron ask about privacy settings. Here is the Q/A:

"I just got finished listening to the "Tech Tuesday" interview, she mentioned something about privacy settings like "Friends Only". I have noticed this on my FB account, what do those different settings mean? I use the "Everyone" setting a lot."

When posting a message on Facebook, you have a few options as to who can read the message. The option "Everyone" allows everyone on the Internet to see your message. For instance, if you select "Everyone" when posting a message about the Bossier Parish Library System, there is a good chance that your message could end up in a search engine. This is Facebook's way of making your messages public. This is good if you are promoting a website or event, but not so good when talking about your employer or a family member. The other option mentioned is the "Friends Only." This means only your friends can view your messages.

Facebook Interview w/ Heather McEntee, BPL Assistant Director








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Do you Facebook ...?





Facebook is a social networking site that started out strictly for college students and was available by invitation only. Now, it is a cultural phenomenon stretching across the globe. Facebook has taken hold as the undisputable leader amongst social networking sites. With that title come great demands from users. Some of those demands are for great features, and Facebook offers that. Some examples of Facebook features are, posting pictures, videos, starting discussions, commenting on others pictures, and writing on your friend’s wall. Facebook is free to us for anyone over the age of 13; all you need is an email address to get started.


Facebook can be accessed on your laptop, netbook, desktop or cell phone. Speaking of cell phones, most phones, especially smart phones, have an app you can download to enable Facebook on your phone. You may ask, “Why do I need Facebook on my phone?” I say why not? Having Facebook on your phone allows you to keep in contact with your friends and family 24/7. Besides, most people post what’s going on in life on Facebook before their best friends know.


So, I guess the big question is, “Why should I choose Facebook over the other numerous social networks available to me?” In my opinion, Facebook is more modern and safer than other social networking sites. All Facebook profiles come with a standard white and blue skin (the background of your profile) that is not customizable. This allows pages to load faster, fewer distractions when trying to read my friend’s profile and it gives profiles a more sophisticated look. Also, some Facebook doesn’t carry as many viruses as the other social sites. Facebook was also one of the first social networking sites to have instant messaging, which allows for instant conversation with friends and family. Facebook is the most popular social networking site (http://www.ebizmba.com/). Did you know that Facebook has 400 milion active users and Facebook.com claims 50% of FB users log on daily? What does this mean? Chances are someone you know is on Facebook and keeping in contact with them couldn’t be much easier. With so many friends and family on Facebook, the Christmas card as we know it could eventually fade. Why; (if I may borrow a line from AT&T) “there’s an app for that.” So the big question is; Are you on Facebook?

Don't forget, tomorrow on "Tech Tuesday" we will interview Heather McEntee, Assistant Director of the Bossier Parish Library System on her experiences on Facebook. Until next time, happy teching!

iPad Product Review

The Apple iPad made its debut last week (April 3, 2010). With it came questions and debates over whether or not to buy it or to look elsewhere for a similar product such as a tablet (PC). Well today we are going to compare the iPad against its top competitors. If you are still in the market for an iPad and you are asking the ever important question, “Do I really want an iPad?” please feel free to use this as a guide.

*Click on the table below to enlarge it!*

Interview with Jason Jordan/Best Buy GM, Shreveport, LA

Interview with Jason Jordan/Best Buy GM - Shreveport, LA





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So what can you take away from the iPad interview with Jason?
We learned that the different versions of the iPad cost anywhere from $499-$699 and all models are WiFi. In late April, Apple will release 3 more iPads that have 3G capabilities via the AT&T mobile network. The 3 that will be released in late April will cost more and require a monthly contract with AT&T. We also learned that most iPhone/iPod Touch apps are compatible with the iPad. As far as running multiple apps, you are only able to run one at a time. In saying that, Apple apps, such as the iPod feature and surfing the web via Safari, can run at the same time. Another thing Jason talked about was flash in the iPad. He said, “Steve Jobs has a certain opinion about flash.” And as far as the iPad replacing your personal computer, that’s not going to happen.

NOW OFFERING! Mango Languages at Your Library

Bossier Parish Libraries has added Mango Languages to its growing list of patron resources. Mango is free of charge to all (Library name) members and is the easiest and most effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Mango is available in two versions:

Mango Basic:
Perfect for a foreign language beginner, Mango Basic teaches everyday greetings, gratitudes, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

You can view all the supported Mango Basic languages and ESL courses here: http://mangolanguages.com/mangobasic/languages/

Mango Complete:
Mango Complete offers a 100-lesson course that digs much deeper and is designed to provide a more complete understanding of the entire language and culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. Foreign language courses include Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. ESL courses include Polish, Spanish and Portuguese.

To learn more about Mango and get a short preview of what the program has to offer, you can visit the company's website at www.mangolanguages.com. Even better, you can visit the library and get started on the courses themselves!

###

The iPad has Arrived ...








The iPad is Apple’s newest release of high tech portable devices. If you are familiar with Apple products, you might mistake the picture above left to be an iPhone, but you can’t make phone calls with it. If we were going by looks, we could say it looks a lot like an iPod Touch (right). Although there are some similarities, the iPad offers much more. Just like the iPod Touch, the iPad will also allow you to connect to WiFi and browse the web, watch YouTube videos, and download your favorite songs and TV shows from iTunes. The major difference between the two is battery life (up to 10 hours), the ability to download electronic books (iBooks), the dimensions are about 5 inches more in height and width and the ability to buy a smaller flash drive capacity (16GB).

In addition, the iPad was custom designed by Apple with an A4 1GHZ processor. The first release of the iPad due out April 3rd will be WiFi-enabled and will not require any type of contract with AT&T to fully use this device (i.e., wireless data plan). However, by later this month (late April 2010) you will be able to buy a 3G version of the iPad (appleinsider.com).

Unfortunately, the iPad falls short in that it does not have a camera or any video capabilities. According to InfoWorld.com, there are a few questions that Apple refuses to answer, such as its ability to transfer documents, can you use other media services other than iTunes like Netflix, can it be upgraded, can multiple apps be used at the same time, and will Flash work.


Here is a complete list of the preinstalled apps on the iPad. Join me tomorrow for Tech Tuesday as I travel to the Apple Store located within the Best buy store in Shreveport. There I will interview a Geek Squad agent about the success of the iPad since its release along with the other unanswered questions. Feel free this week to ask your own iPad questions using the Ask-A-Tech form in the right hand column. Until next time happy teching!

· Safari - web browsing
· Mail – email
· Photos – viewing photos
· YouTube – watching videos online
· iPod – listen to music
· iTunes – download songs, movies, TV shows, and more
· App Store – download apps such as games or health tips
· Maps – similar to Google Map
· Notes – jot down quick notes and information
· Calendar – manage your schedule
· Contacts – manage personal or business contacts

Discontinuation of NetLibrary...

NOTE: The following message was emailed to a patron inquiring about NetLibrary. The following was emailed to them and I felt it would be appropriate for me to share it here as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 3, 2010

The library no longer subscribes to NetLibrary. We are in the process of switching from NetLibrary eaudiobooks to a similar service called OverDrive. Unfortunately, Overdrive will not be available until early June, 2010. A delay in setting up Overdrive has occurred because of their large back log of their new contracts. By moving to Overdrive the library will be able to offer not only eaudiobooks but also ebooks for downloading. OverDrive is supposed to be easier to download and work on more types of devices. If you would like to see a sample of their services check out the Shreve Memorial Library’s page at http://www.shreve-lib.org/ and click on the OverDrive icon.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you and other patrons. I believe you will like OverDrive and their larger selection of eaudiotbook titles and other material. In the meantime, if you have any titles we can get for you by purchasing them for the library or through InterLibrary Loan please let us know. Please feel free to contact me if you have any more questions. Thank you, Tedy


Tedy Pesnell
Technical Services, Chief
Bossier Parish Library
2206 Beckett St.
Bossier City, LA 71111
(318) 746-1903 (M-F, 7:30 a – 4:30 p)
(318) 746-7768 (fax)

Plus 50 More Acronyms Every Parent Should Know

  1. 2NITE - Tonight
  2. AEAP - As Early As Possible
  3. ALAP - As Late As Possible
  4. AWGTHTGTTA - Are We Going To Have To Go Through This Again
  5. B4YKI - Before You Know It
  6. BOHICA - Bend Over Here It Comes
  7. BRB - Be Right Back
  8. BRT - Be Right There
  9. CWYL - Chat With You Later
  10. C-P - Sleepy
  11. CYT or SYT - See You Tomorrow
  12. E123 - Easy as 1 2 3
  13. EM? - Excuse Me?
  14. EOD - End Of Day
  15. F2F - Face to Face
  16. FOAF - Friend Of A Friend
  17. HAK - Hugs And Kisses
  18. ILU or ILY - I Love You
  19. IMNSHO - In My Not So Humble Opinion
  20. L/C - Just Checking
  21. KOTL - Kiss On The Lips
  22. L8R - Later
  23. LD - Long Distance
  24. LMK - Let Me Know
  25. LOL - Laugh Out Loud
  26. NAZ - Name, Address, Zip
  27. N-A-Y-L - In A While
  28. NM - Never Mind or Nothing Much
  29. OLL - Online Love
  30. OSIF - Of Sh** I Forgot
  31. OTP - On The Phone
  32. QT - Cutie
  33. RN - Right Now
  34. ROTFL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing
  35. RU - Are You ... ?
  36. RUMORF - Are You Male or Female
  37. SITD - Still In The Dark
  38. SMIM - Send Me an Instant Message
  39. SMEM - Send Me and Email
  40. SO - Significant Other
  41. SOHF - Sense Of Humor Failure
  42. SWDYT - So What Do You Think?
  43. TOM - Tomorrow
  44. TS - Tough Sh**
  45. TTFN - Ta-ta For Now
  46. U-R? - You Are ... ?
  47. WFM - Works For Me
  48. WTH - What The Heck
  49. WUF - Where Are You From?
  50. WYRN - What's Your Real Name?

For more information, please visit http://www.netlingo.com

The NetLingo Top 20 Internet Acronyms Every Parent Needs to Know

  1. POS - Parent Over Shoulder
  2. PIR - Parent In Room
  3. P911 - Parent Alert
  4. PAW - Parents Are Watching
  5. PAL - Parents Are Listening
  6. ASL - Age, Sex, Location
  7. MorF - Male or Female
  8. SorG - Straight or Gay
  9. LMIRL - Let's Meet In Real Life
  10. KPC - Keeping Parents Clueless
  11. TDTM - Talk Dirty To Me
  12. IWSN - I Want Sex Now
  13. NIFOC - Nude In Front of Computer
  14. GYPO - Get Your Pants Off
  15. ADR - Address
  16. WYCM - Will You Call Me
  17. KFY - Kiss For You
  18. MOOS - Member Of the Opposite Sex
  19. MOSS or MOTSS - Member Of the Same Sex
  20. NALOPKT - Not A Lot Of People Know That

For more information, please visit http://www.netlingo.com/

Internet Protection Tips for Parents

  1. Once it's online, it's ALWAYS online!
  2. Do not post any identifying information online.
  3. Never share passwords with anyone!
  4. Set profiles to private.
  5. Teach your children that "stranger danger" also applies to the Internet.
  6. Do no post any pictures.
  7. Be very careful about adding a stranger to your "friends list."
  8. Give you child permission to tell you if something is wrong online.
  9. Monitor your child's online activity.
  10. Warn children about the dangers of "chat rooms."
  11. Limit online activity.
  12. Accompany your child if they want to meet someone they met online.
  13. Check your child's profiles and blogs.
  14. Report anything suspicious or threatening to the networking site.
  15. Don't assume that filters or security programs will protect your child better than you can.