Picking a laptop

March 5, 2009 9:45 pm

The QuestionMy wife (a freelance financial journalist) and I are trying to work together (apart) from home (I mean that we travel a lot but one of us is usually minding the fort).

We have an ancient (but mercifully light) Sony Vaio laptop (pre internal modem days) and a Vaio desktop (yes, they did make them, but only with a puny amount of hard drive memory, so we’ve recently stuffed 1Gb into it). We would like a light, small laptop that we can share (in theory at least) that will travel well as hand luggage, runs word, has WiFi, can run Powerpoint and excel – in short, a glorified hand-held food processor).

Neither of us needs games or cinema or tea making facilities. We both used to enjoy Macs (back in the day). Should we revert? Should we stick with Sony? Should we go cheap and Dell or cheap and sacrifice our Vodafone mobiles or what?

From James  The AnswerI’ m afraid there is no single ‘right’ answer but here are my suggestions. Assuming you stick with Windows and based on your needs, you might well find a Windows-based netbook like one of the Asus, HP or Lenovo models would be a good and relatively low cost option. However, make sure you buy a machine with enough power (intel 1.6Gh processor and 1Gb Ram plus a reasonable size hard drive) to run the business programs you mention. If however you like the Sony Vaio models, I am sure any of the smaller machines would meet your requirements – as would other thin and light laptops like Lenovo’s ThinkPad X series machines though these will all be more expensive than netbooks.If you fancy the idea of returning to the Mac fold, the new 13 inch MacBook is a very attractive option and, since the Macs are now based on Intel processors, you could run Windows-based programs in a ‘virtual machine’ on the MacBook.Personally however, I am a firm believer in using tools that you feel comfortable with – particularly when it comes to computing so on balance, I would probably opt for a laptop like the ThinkPad X200 or X301 with built-in mobile broadband. ThinkPads will cost you a little more, but I think over time you will find they deliver value for money.

Posted in Hardware, Q&A |

Using traditional film lenses on digital SLRs

November 28, 2008 7:53 pm

The question

I read your recent article on DSLRs. I have a full set of Canon lenses (telephoto and wide angle) from the pre-digital camera time. Are those lenses usable with digital cameras or are the interchangeable lenses for digital cameras specially for them?

From Subir Ray

The answer

You can indeed use your existing Canon EF lenses with a Canon DSLR though there are some small trade-offs. The first is that digital sensors, unlike film, work best when light hits them at 90 degrees – digital lenses are designed to accomodate this requirement while film lenses are not.

For this reason, if you use a film lens on a digital camera you may notice some slight fuzziness around the edges.

Second, unless you use a camera with a full frame sensor, the effective field of view of a non-digital lens will be longer than its stated length which is why digital lenses are often described as “equivalent to…..” Typically the multiplier is about 1.6x meaning that a 50mm digital lens has a field of view of an 80mm lens on a 35mm camera. That may not be a big issue, except for very short film-based wide angle lenses.

Remember also that some other brand lenses (for example Sigma) will not work on a Canon DSLR because the electronics are different. In addition, while you can use film-era EF lenses on a DSLR body, the EFs lenses designed for DSLR bodies will not work on film bodies. 

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Posted in Hardware, Q&A |

Verizon vs Vodafone Storm

November 25, 2008 10:50 pm

The Question

In your column about the BlackBerry Storm you mentioned differences between the Verizon and Vodafone versions.

Does that mean the UK version is not a true ‘anywhere in the world’ phone?

From Irme Lake

The Answer

No, actually both the Verizon and the Vodafone Storms are ‘world phones’ that will work pretty much anywhere there is a GSM-based network.

The only real difference is that the Verizon version also works on CDMA-based networks (like the Verizon Wireless home network and elsewhere) but since there are GSM networks pretty much everywhere there are CDMA networks this does not really matter.

The only advantage of the Verizon Wireless version is that data access speeds may be faster in those few places where there is a fast 3G CDMA EVDO network but no (or slower) 3G UMTS/HSDPA network.

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Posted in Hardware, Q&A |

Netbooks for remote access

November 25, 2008 10:33 pm

The Question

Following your recent column, I was wondering how good these netbooks are when remotely accessing a computer using LogMeIn (which I have been very happily using since your article about it).

I look forward to your column every Friday and have frequently followed tips and recommendations always with very good results. Many thanks.

From David Solomon

The Answer

I think a Netbook would be a great device for accessing a remote PC using LogMeIn (which I use myself.) I would recommend however that if you decide to go the netbook route, that you buy one a) with a 10 inch screen or larger and b) running windows rather than Linux – LogMeIn does not support Linux at the moment… 

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Posted in Hardware, Q&A, Services, Software |

Technology behind Geneva Audio Labs systems

November 25, 2008 10:24 pm

The Question

Some time ago you reviewed the Geneva Audio Labs model L and XL.  Can  you refer me to a publication that explains how the DSP stereo-separation enhancement operates?
From Lanny Sterritt

The Answer

Here is a bit more background on the technology built into the Geneva systems.

They use enhancement circuitry from Embracing Sound Experience (ESE), based in Stockholm, Sweden.

ESE says the circuit provides improvements in both frequency response and bass response. The company’s website has some technical information and a link to a PDF download with more detail.

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Posted in Hardware, Q&A, Software |

Video made easy

November 25, 2008 9:21 pm

Question

I am the knowledge manager in a Joburg law firm. I would like to videotape our group training sessions and have some pointers with regard to the best options for us.  One of our managers mentioned an Apple solution but since we run on a MS platform I am not sure if this is a viable option.  Any suggestions?

From Olwyn Garratt

Answer

If you already have Microsoft-based equipment and software I would be inclined to stick with that to minimise your up-front costs. Basically you are going to need a digital video capture device – for example a digital camcorder (although you could get by with a desktop videocam if quality isn’t an issue) – and some editing software.

If you want to distribute the video clips via DVD you will also need a DVD burner if your desktop doesn’t already have one, and DVD burning software.

For basic video production I would recommend any of the following: Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premier Elements, Easy Media Creator or Nero. Which one you choose is probably a matter of personal choice but for ease of use my favourite would be Adobe Premier Elements. All these packages will enable you to capture video from a camcorder, edit it and add effects like transitions and then burn to a DVD disc.

Since video editing is a processor/video card-intensive operation, I would also make sure you run the software on a reasonably fast machine with lots of spare hard disk space and at least 1Gb of Ram.

If quality is not a top priority, another option would be to use a low-cost flash-based video recorder like the Flip Video which plugs into a PC using a built-in USB connector, does not require a separate editing package and makes it easy to send video clips to friends or colleagues via email.

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Posted in Hardware, Q&A, Software |

Powersaving options

November 25, 2008 9:16 pm

Question

In the interests of my electricity bill (negligible savings no doubt, but still..) and world energy, I write to enquire whether it is feasible to have one single switch for all the machines on stand-by (telephone-fax, computers, cd player)? It would be very helpful to have some advice on this.

From Marian Hobson

Answer

You raise an interesting question. Obviously the most energy-efficient option is to connect all the machines to a power strip and switch the power strip off or unplug it when the devices are not in use. But of course that means they will be ‘off’ rather than in ‘stand-by’ mode and that might be a problem, for example with the telephone-fax.

However some manufacturers have begun to sell so-called ‘smart’ power strips that switch the devices plugged into them automatically. Here is one example sold by Amazon:

Amazon also sells something called a “Bye Bye StandBy Kit” – a set of plug-in socket adapters that automatically cut power to devices plugged into them when they are not in use.

I haven’t actually tried these devices myself, but most of the buyer reviews appear to be positive.

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Posted in Hardware, Q&A |

Q&A: Which BlackBerry should I pick?

November 4, 2008 9:09 pm

The question

I do hope you can help me. At the moment I use a simple T-mobile Nokia phone and access the internet and AOL separately using a PC.

I am still in business and travel a great deal, sometimes on holiday, on cruises and to the Americas and the Far East. I am also in my 70s so find new fangled complicated machines difficult!I need to be able to access and send e-mails and wondered which BlackBerry you would recommend with simple-to-read text, that can be used all over the world easily. I read your article in the Financial Times last week and cannot decide which machine I should go for. If I go to a shop some 18-year old will just flick faster than light through all the buttons – and I shall be none the wiser!
From Helen Conway 

The Answer
Thanks for your email. Given that you want to be able to send and receive emails anywhere in the world you definitely need a ‘world phone’ – a handset that will work on the various flavours of GSM networks around the globe. Given this, and the fact that you want a Blackberry, I would recommend either the BlackBerry Bold or the BlackBerry Storm though the Storm is not yet available and has a different kind of keyboard.

I think you would probably be best served by a physical keyboard so the BlackBerry Bold should be your first choice.

If you are happy to wait a while, you might also consider the new T-Mobile G1 which has a relatively large screen and slide-out keyboard making it reasonably easy to use.

 

Posted in Hardware, Q&A |

Q&A: Registry editors

November 4, 2008 9:03 pm

The Question:

You ran an article some time ago regarding registry repair software etc. You indicated that you liked RegCure.  Is that still the case? From Don Kennett

The Answer:

Actually I have changed my recommendations since then and fine-tuned them a bit.

If you feel reasonably comfortable using these types of tools and are looking for a free registry cleaner I would recommend RegSeeker (http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm) or CCCleaner (www.cccleaner.com) which is fairly conservative in its approach but works quite well.

Among the paid for programs, I like the latest version of Registry First Aid (www.rosecitysoftware.com) which works with all the major versions of Windows and costs $28 although you can try before you buy.

My overall favourite these days is Chem Table’s Reg Organiser (www.chemtable.com/organizer.htm)  which costs $40 to download and is I think, the most comprehensive and effective registry cleaner available at the moment.

No matter which package you choose, make sure you make a back-up copy first (if you are running Windows XP or Vista it is a good idea to create a ‘Restore Point’ so you can roll back any changes if necessary.

(In XP, select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore. Select Create a restore point, click Next and follow the instructions. In Vista, click Start, type sysdm.cpl and press ‘enter.’ Click the System Protection tab, then the Create button.)

 

Posted in Q&A, Software |

Q&A: Smartphone market in 2010

November 4, 2008 9:01 pm

The Question

Given smartphones offer software to sync calendar, emails and contacts, but run different operating systems, which one will most likely top the charts in terms of market share in 2010 – Apple, BlackBerry, Palm or the Google phone?

From Patrick

The Answer

That is a big question (and I mislaid my crystal ball the other day.) But as far as the business smartphone market goes, I think RIM will continue to dominate that market segment, particularly in North America, in part because of the success the company has had in rolling out BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) and RIM’s close relationship with network operators.

The consumer smartphone market is tougher to forecast and the distinctions between so-called smartphones and ‘feature phones’ or multimedia-enabled handsets are very blurred.

That said, I would probably rule out Palm in terms of market share because I do not think they have the resources (or the products for the moment) to compete with Apple, RIM or Nokia.

I think RIM, Apple and Google (through Android-based handsets) will all do well. The safe choice, if smartphones are narrowly defined, would be RIM but I am going to stick my neck out and predict Android-based smartphones will capture a similar share of the consumer smartphone market.

Apple’s iPhone will also do well, particularly in the consumer market, but ultimately I think Google’s ‘open’ approach will score over the iPhone’s undoubted easy of use. (Interestingly, Nokia, through its control of the Symbian operating system, is moving in the same direction.)

Taken together, I think RIM and its expanding family of BlackBerry smartphones will  continue to dominate the narrowly-defined combined business/consumer smartphone market.

One final point: I think over the next five years all phones will become ‘smartphones’ so we may have  to redefine the term.

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Posted in Hardware, Q&A |
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About Paul Taylor

This blog is no longer updated but it remains open as an archive.

I am the FT's personal technology columnist and this blog is about gadgets, gizmos, software and services. It is a place to ask personal technology related questions and hopefully get answers in plain English. It is also a home for short, sometimes sharp, reviews and observations about the personal tech industry. Comments and criticism are welcome. For a bit more on my background, see my columnist page.

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