This is part 4 of a multipart series on setting up Windows 7 on YOUR computer.   You can see parts here at Just Another Mobile Monday and at iTechGear.org.

 

Ok...

So, now you’re ready to install Windows 7 on your PC, right?  You’ve decided that 7 is right for you, have figured out which version to install, and have upgraded key components of your system to get it ready for the upgrade.  The only thing left is to plunk the DVD in the drive and let ‘er rip, right??

Wrong. There are a number of things that you need to do to get ready for the actual software install. Let’s take a look at what they are and give the install the biggest opportunity for success...

 

Gather Required Drivers
While Windows 7’s driver database is one of the most complete I’ve ever seen (in contrast, Windows Vista’s was a train wreck), there are still some drivers for devices that you may have to install yourself.  For example, Windows 7 and Windows Update didn’t have the 32bit driver for the sound card on my wife’s Dell Latitude D610.  I found that at Dell’s Support Site.

The Fuji T4210 Lifebook that I am using at the office, an older tablet PC that originally ran Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, is a great example of "download the drivers before installing."  While Windows 7 had many of required drivers, the drivers from the PC’s support page (21 in all) were a better match for the devices; and there was at least one driver for a power saving device that neither Windows 7 nor Windows Update had. Without the driver file from Fuji, the PC wouldn’t function correctly under Windows 7.

My early 2009 13" aluminum, unibody MacBook is also another great example of a compatible, Windows 7 capable PC, but one that had special driver installation needs, especially for 64bit Windows 7.

Also, if you’re running a 2006 or earlier Intel based Mac, Boot Camp (the software Apple supplies to allow you to dual boot OS-X and Windows on your Mac) won’t support Windows 7.  You’re going to be stuck with Vista; or will need to run Windows 7 with either Parallels Desktop 5.0 or VMWare Fusion.

The bottom line here – The biggest chance for your Windows 7 installation to succeed from a technical perspective is to have all of your drivers handy so you can install them just in case Windows 7 doesn't automatically do it during installation. The support section of your PC manufacturer's website should have a way for you to easily locate all of the required drivers. Download them, stick them on a USB thumb drive or CD, and then stick it to the side in case Windows 7 doesn't have all of your PC's drivers.

 

My Documents and Your Data
Ok... this is the biggest part of your prep activities – figuring out what to do with your data. This is by far going to be one of the biggest issues you've got, as no one wants to lose their stuff; BUT its something that you really need to be mindful of. Depending on what OS you're upgrading FROM, and the method you ultimately decide to use for installing Windows 7, insuring that you don't lose anything is going to make you a hero and not a zero in the eyes of your family.  Effectively, you really only have one shot to get this right.  Thankfully, you have a couple of options:

1. Backup to a local hard drive or USB drive
   A simple copy will do. You don’t have to use a "backup" program, per se.  In fact, if you're not certain if your backup program works with Windows 7, a straight copy is the safest bet. Get your data off your existing PC.
   
   If you have an extra drive in or connected to your PC (via USB cable, for example), and your data isn’t already on it, move your data there.   The transfer will be quick, painless, and you will be able to read and write to the drive long after the install is over.  If you don’t have an extra hard drive in or connected to your PC, I understand that Target will have a Black Friday special on 1.5TB (that’s terabyte or 1000 gigabytes) hard drives for around $60. If this isn’t an option for you, then you may want to consider an off-site solution.
   
2. Backup to The Cloud
   Cloud computing is all the rage now-a-days, but isn't anything new.  Computing started off using this type of model – think mainframe and mini's from back in the day. As more and more content moves to the web, and as these solutions become more and more secure, putting your data there is ok. Like many things on the Internet, some cloud based solutions are free.  The backup solution I like the best is called Drop Box. With it, you get 2-3 GB of FREE, synchronized storage (meaning it will automatically copy all your data up to The Cloud, and bring it back down when our upgrade is done). It will also allow you to have all of your data on multiple PC's (like the one you have a work and the one at home, again, via secure connection) so you can work on things at home instead of spending long hours at the office). To back up your data with DropBox, follow the instructions below:

1. Install DropBox
DropBox can be found at http://dropbox.com. Download and install this free utility. It will create a folder in My Documents (or Documents, on Windows Vista) called "My DropBox."

 

Download Dropbox. The setup file is about 14MB in size

Most broadband connections should be able to download this file within a few moments.  Though the file is not yet a 1.0 version (notice, the version number is 0.6.570), and its technically still in beta, I want to remind everyone that Google's Gmail was technically in a beta stage for over 4 YEARS.  I've been using Dropbox for almost 6 months, and its been flawless. Its one of the most stable applications I have on my computers, and I'm using it on both 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 7.

 

The install is standard fare…

The application installs quickly, and is minimally invasive.  Its not going to scatter DLL's (application components) all over your hard drive. 

 

2. Configure Dropbox
After the application is in, you can configure it with the Preferences dialog box.

 

The General tab of the Preferences dialog box…

Note the Dropbox Folder Location, above.  This is where you're synchronized files will be located.  Anything and everything that's located in that folder (subfolders included) will be copied up to your Dropbox account at dropbox.com.  You can change the location of your Dropbox on your PC, but its recommended that you leave it where it wants to be.  The folder "My Dropbox is going to be created by the application no matter what you try to do (so specifying any OTHER folder as your Dropbox folder isn't going to work).

 

The Network tab of the Preferences dialog box…

If you have any special requirements for your network (proxy settings, an maximum upload/download rate, you can specify them on the Network tab of the Preferences dialog box.  In most cases, you won't need to worry about this tab.  However, if things don't work right, you might want to look here for possible solutions.

 

The contents of my Dropbox folder…

In order to get things into your Dropbox account, simply copy them into your My Dropbox folder.  Once they have been copied up to your account, each file or folder will have a green circle with a checkmark next to it (see above).  That means that object (and in the case of folders), all of its contents, have been successfully copied up to your account. Once everything is green, the copy is completed, and you can move on to the next step.

 

Upgrade or Update?
This is a huge question.  I have had a ton of people ask me if they should do an in-place upgrade (meaning simply let Windows upgrade OS files, keeping all of your applications and data in tact) or wipe the drive and do a clean install (or update).

There are a few things to keep in mind here: 

1. If you have Windows XP, you CANNOT do an in-place upgrade.  Windows 7 is going to make you wipe the drive and do a clean install. The OS differences are just too vast to allow an in-place upgrade. You're going to have to reinstall all of your programs and restore your data afterwards.
2. If you're coming from Windows Vista, Windows 7 will let you do an in-place upgrade to an equivalent or better version of Windows 7; but you may not want to. There have been some reports of in-place upgrades taking as long as 21 hours to complete. There have also been reports of incomplete upgrades (where outdated OS files didn't get upgraded or deleted) as well as application and driver compatibility issues afterwards.
3. If you decide to install a 64bit version of Windows 7 and you're coming from a 32bit version of Vista, you're not going to be able to do an in-place upgrade.  The OS files are vastly different, and you'll be required to do a clean install.  Users coming from a 64bit version of XP will also be required to do a clean install.

Based on the above, my experience has shown me that a clean installation is always the best way to go.  With DropBox or a copy of your data on an external drive, its easy to put your data back on your PC.  While reinstalling all of your software may be, lets face it...a pain in the butt, especially if some of it was "creatively" acquired, its still the best way to get everything in with the fewest amount of problems later on.

While most may just wing it, and do the in-place upgrade thinking everything will be ok, I've had to help a few friends through some pretty rough OS installs gone bad.  It sounds trite, but an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.  Prepare for the install.  Gather your PC's drivers, backup your data, and then make the right install choice for you.

Next time, we'll talk about doing the actual Windows 7 install.

 

Questions..?  Send them to chris (at) itechgear.org, and I'll do my best to get answers to you as quickly as possible.

 

Series:

Windows 7 Setup Part 3: The Right Tool for the Right Job – Getting the most Bang for Your Upgrade Buck

Windows 7 Setup Part 2: Eanie-Meany-Miney-Moe – Choosing the Right Version of Windows 7

Windows 7 Setup Part 1: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda – Is Windows 7 Right for Me?

I saw this on AppleInsider today and was intrigued by it. The staff there indicate that they aren't surprised that work on 10.7 has already begun. As a software quality professional I agree. As a consumer, I was a bit surprised. The bits for 10.6.2 are still cooling, and Apple is pressing ahead with 10.7. I wonder what it will include..?

Apple is unsurprisingly already at work on the next version of its operating system, according to a new technical message that references Mac OS X 10.7.

As first discovered by MacRumors, a new database entry for the open source "launchd" framework responsible for booting Mac OS X references "11A47" with a new error message. Based on Apple's numbering scheme, the numerical prefix of a Mac OS X build determines the version number, and 11A47 would suggest a reference to the next version of the operating system, Mac OS X 10.7.

When it shipped, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard carried the build number 10A432, and subsequent updates 10.6.1 and 10.6.2 had the prefixes 10B and 10C, respectively. For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, 10.5.0 builds leading up to launch were represented by the prefix 9A.

This is part 3 of a multipart series on setting up Windows 7 on YOUR computer.   You can see parts here at Just Another Mobile Monday and at iTechGear.org.

 

Now that you’ve determined that Windows 7 is right for you, and you’ve figured out what version of Windows 7 you’re going to install, we need to take a serious look at your existing hardware.  I’m going to assume that you’ve already taken a look at the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and have an upgrade report that you are referring to while we go through this.  If you haven’t run the Upgrade Advisor on your existing PC, then you need to do so.

Ultimately, we’re going to divide your computer’s components up into 3 camps – The stuff that’s OK (and doesn’t need to be upgraded), the stuff that SHOULD be upgraded, and the stuff that you’d LIKE to upgrade.  For many this may be a financial decision, but for those with a bit of flexibility in their budgets, your computing experience just gets better with a little more horse power.  Let’s dive in and take a look...

 

Upgradeable Components
Unless you built your PC from scratch or from a kit, and most of us didn’t, then you have to think about what you have in your PC.  Without getting into upgrading your motherboard (unless you are a super techie, you may as well buy a new computer at that point), most people will consider upgrading one, some or all of the following:

• CPU
• Graphics Card
• Sound Card
• Hard Drive
• RAM
• CD/DVD Drive
• Monitor

  Let’s consider upgrade possibilities for each.

CPU – This isn’t the mid to late 1990’s any more. For those that remember, CPU upgrades, while technically possible, aren’t as easy as they used to be. You used to be able to buy a graphics or math co-processor (when those were separate chips) and give your spreadsheet and graphing a speed boost; but modern Pentium and Core2Duo, among other chips have this stuff built in. While its technically possible to upgrade to a faster or more powerful CPU today, its more complicated.  The chips are bigger, have more pins, and depending on the motherboard and brand of PC, may not be replaceable. Don’t bother considering this one, kids. If your current PC isn’t 1gHz or faster, its going to be easier (and cheaper in the long run) to buy a new computer.  We’re going to file this component under “the stuff that’s OK.” 

Graphics Card – Many desktop computers and ALL laptops have their “graphics cards” integrated into the motherboard. If that doesn’t give you enough power, you can always consider a graphics card upgrade for your desktop computer. Laptop users are out of luck and stuck with what they have in this area.  Many graphics cards come with enhanced processing power, including GPU’s (graphical processing units) and dedicated video RAM, giving your PC the ability to play advanced role playing games, watch picture perfect video and generally support large monitors with near (or at) HD resolutions. You have to really think about the age of your PC, the type of available interface slots you have in it, and the cost of the upgrade. Some of these cards can add a lot of life and ability to an existing PC, but can be expensive. For example, cards can cost anywhere from $96.99 for an ATI Radeon HD 4850 512GB, to $494.99 for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 295 1,792MB Single PCB. If the graphics card in your desktop has less than 256MB of video RAM, consider a lower end card upgrade (like the ATI Radeon HD 4850) unless you’re going to do some REALLY serious gaming; and then again, a new PC might be a better idea.  As such, we’re going to file this component under “stuff you’d like to upgrade.”

Sound Card – Unless you’re an audio/videophile, or are going to do some serious multimedia work, most computer consumers are going to be satisfied with the sound components that came with their desktop PC.  Again, laptop users don’t really have an upgrade path here.  However, like your graphics card, depending on the interface slot types on your mother board, you can upgrade this component too. Cards can cost anywhere from $19.99 for a Diamond Xtreme Sound 5.1/16 bit Sound Card, to $199.99 for an ASUS Xonar D2X 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz. In most cases a decent set of desktop speakers with a floor based subwoofer will go a lot farther; and is a better buy. As such, unless this is a must upgrade for you, we’re going to file this under, “the stuff that’s OK.”

Hard Drive – Whether laptop or desktop, EVERY computer can benefit from a hard drive upgrade, regardless of operating system.  Better, faster, stronger is the key here, so if you’re in the market for a quick PC upgrade, this is low hanging fruit. The best way to add longevity to an aging PC is to buy the biggest, fastest (within economical reason) hard drive you can find. In most cases, 500GB drives or larger can be had for around $100 for a desktop and about $150 - $200 for a laptop. Just make sure you get the right interface type for your PC (SATA, PATA or EIDE). We’re going to file this one under the “stuff that should be upgraded.”

RAM – Like your hard drive, RAM prices are cheap and this is also an easy way to bring new life to your existing computer. My favorite online source for RAM is Crucial.com (originally part of Micron Computers). They have online tools to help insure you get the right kind of RAM for your computer. As such we’ll file this under, “stuff that should be upgraded.”

CD/DVD Drive – If you don’t have a DVD drive in your PC, you’re not going to be able to install Windows 7, as it comes on a DVD. If your PC doesn’t have a DVD drive, it may be too old for realistic upgrading; but if a PC purchase within the last 3 or so years didn’t include a DVD drive, now may be the perfect time to correct that situation. For example, you can get a Samsung SH-S223C_BE DVDRW Drive for $29.99 or a Lite ON DH-4O1S-73C Blu Ray 4x ROM for as much as $74.99. We’re going to file this component under “stuff that should be upgraded.”

Monitor – Unless you have an extremely high end monitor with enhanced connectivity and multimedia options you’re not going to have to worry about a “monitor driver” per se. Windows 7 is likely going to have what you need. If it doesn’t, Windows Update should. This is an easy upgrade, as the benefit can be passed on to any and all PC’s connected to it, old and upgraded or new. There are a number of off brand monitors that provide a great deal of value for a reasonable price. For example, you can get an eMachines E202H WMD 20" LCD Monitor - 1600 x 900, 10000:1 Dynamic, 5ms, 16:9, VGA, DVI for $109.96; or a VISON V221WD Black 21.6" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor for $119.99. While the prices here are very reasonable and make a lot of sense, I’m going to put this component into the “stuff you’d like to upgrade” category.  Neither having or being without this upgraded component is going to effect the performance of your PC.

Conclusion
Adding new life to your aging PC can be easy and somewhat affordable, provided you shop around and choose your upgrade components wisely.  With new PC’s costing between $200 to $1000,  balancing cost and value is entirely in your hands.  In the end, keep your eye on the Windows 7 hardware requirements and make use of the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

 

Series:

Windows 7 Setup Part 2: Eanie-Meany-Miney-Moe – Choosing the Right Version of Windows 7

This is part 2 is a multipart series on setting up Windows 7 on YOUR computer.   You can see parts here at Just Another Mobile Monday and at iTechGear.org.

When Microsoft released Windows XP, there were 2 versions – Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional. Yes, it satisfied the KISS principle...it couldn’t get much simpler.  However, the Pro version was installed on more home PC’s than the Home version was (or at least, it seemed that way).  There were key security and networking features in the Pro version that were missing from the Home version.

When Microsoft released Vista, they decided to up the ante a little and released 4 versions. I honestly remember hearing that they released (or planned to release) 7 versions; but Microsoft’s website documents 4 as of this writing. The four versions (compared to XP’s two) did nothing more than confuse the day lights out of everyone, especially when the features varied so greatly from version to version.

With Windows 7, Microsoft went back to basics, or took a more Windows XP approach.  While they technically released four versions of Windows, only two of them are really worth mentioning.  Here’s why...

 

Windows 7 Starter Edition
This version of Windows 7 is NOT available for purchase at retail. The ONLY way to get this version of Windows 7 is to purchase it on a new computer; and then that computer MUST be a netbook, like an Asus Eee PC, MSI Wind, Dell Mini, etc. While I (and just about anyone else) can get just about ANY version of Windows 7 to run on a netbook (provided that netbook satisfies the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 7). However, I’ve been able to install any and every version of Windows 7 on a netbook.  As long as the computer meets the system requirements, you’re good to go.

Windows 7 Home Premium
This is the version that 95% of the consumer world will use. Windows Home Premium gives the user the improved Windows 7 interface, provides enhanced desktop search, includes IE8 and provides secure home networking and file sharing within that home network.  From a technical perspective, what does this mean?  Very simply, you’re going to get the new OS with all the eye candy and enhancements, very quickly find programs, options and documents regardless of where Microsoft or you put them, surf the internet (allowing you to share pictures, send and receive messages, and visit your favorite websites), and share documents between all computers in your home.

Windows 7 Home Premium is $199.99

Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Professional does everything that Windows Home Premium does but also provides the following capabilities – The ability to run Windows XP Mode (an advanced compatibility mode only needed in the most EXTREME incompatibility cases), the ability to join a business network (like the one at work), and the ability to backup your data to a network drive. These extra three features aren’t worth an extra $100 unless you need to connect to a business network. Period; so save your money.  Most everyone won’t need to do this. Windows 7 is NOT like Windows XP or Windows Vista where there are vast differences between one version and the next.

Windows 7 Professional is $299.99

Windows 7 Ultimate
There was a compelling reason to buy Windows Vista Ultimate – Windows Ultimate Extras (a series of cool, free, MS created add-on applications only available with the Vista Ultimate version – Ultimate Extras have now been discontinued and are no longer available), included DVD decoders (so you could watch a DVD on your PC without having to buy any other program), as well as some other not often used differences.  Windows 7 Ultimate offers two (2), just two additional features over Windows 7 Professional – BitLocker (a data security add-on originally included as a Windows Vista Ultimate Extra, but now only available in Win7 Ultimate) and the ability to have Windows 7 display in one of 35 different native languages (Simplified Chinese, Spanish, German, etc.).  Unless you MUST run Windows 7 in a different language than the one native to your country, there is absolutely no reason to spend the extra $120, so again...save your money.

Windows 7 Ultimate is $319.99

Conclusion
Over the years, Microsoft hasn’t made it easy to choose the right version of Windows for your home computing needs.  XP’s two choices were simple enough, but more people wanted the connectivity and networking features of Windows XP Pro than the features of the apparently crippled XP Home.  Choosing the right version of Windows Vista was just plain confusing. With Windows 7, Microsoft has made it much easier – Save your money. Unless you have specific computing needs as outlined above, you need Windows 7 Home Premium.

Earlier this year, I wrote a review on a power line networking product called HomeNet by Corinex over at Gear Diary.  You can see the review here. I generally liked the product; but since the review posted, I’ve had a number of problems with the products.

If you don’t have wireless; or if your wireless network doesn’t penetrate everywhere in the house, power line networking could be a GREAT way for you to get online without having to buy an access point or lay CAT5/CAT6 cable throughout your house.  Up until about 5 months ago, I really liked my Corinex products.  They were getting the job done.

Then out of nowhere, the first set of Corinex AV200 adapters I had failed. Fortunately for me, I had a second set.  I had a great deal of difficulty getting them to shoot a signal from one end of my basement to another (or anywhere else in the house for that matter).  The documentation was conflicting/contradictory and I think the adapters were a bit flakey.  They were nothing like the first set.  However, I got them working.  Don’t get me wrong, when they work, they do a great job.  The nice thing about power line networking is that the signal flows through all wiring in your house, extension cords and power strips included.

However, they failed as well.  Out of nowhere, just like the first set, they dropped the network signal, and would NOT resync or carry a signal at all.  To top it off, they would NOT work with the first set at all, so if one in either set was bad, I couldn’t get a signal from any combination of pairings between the GameNet and HomeNet products I had (I was told they were essentially the same by Corinex earlier this year).

The big problem is that I had the documentation for the Corinex products IN HAND; and it didn’t make a bit of difference.  What I did earlier to get the second set to work, wouldn’t work this time.  I tried for about 2.5 hours.  If someone with my experience can’t get a turn key product to work after 2.5 hours of trying, it ain’t gonna work.

I made a quick run to Best Buy and bought a set of NetGear AV85 Power Line adapters with a gift card I had been sitting on.  I brought them home, plugged one into an AC outlet near my Linksys wired, 4 port Cable/DSL router, plugged the RJ45 cable into it and watched the lights on it come to life.

I then walked across the basement into my home office and plugged the second unit into the power strip behind my desk.  I plugged the RJ45 cable connected to my Linksys 8 port Workgroup Switch into it, and POOF!  I was back on.  No runs, drips or errors.  Nothin’ but broadband...

I checked the speed I was getting with my connection and was pleasantly surprised.

While I can get better speed with wireless, it really doesn’t come down to my office very well. The signal is a bit weak, and I really don’t want to rely on it for important computing like writing for JAMM or iTechGear. The signal from the NetGear AV85 power line adapters may not be as fast as any other connection types available to me in the house; but the privacy and consistent connectivity is worth the slower speed.  Besides, nearly 4Mbps down is fast enough for what I’m doing from the Internet. I’m not watching Hulu down here... I’m working.  No, seriously!  I mean it!  (OK, maybe just a little Hulu or other stuff; but with my Hava, I really don’t need Hulu.)

This is the turnkey product I was hoping it would be. Plug it in, hook it up, and it just works. Period.  Not bad, NetGear...not bad.

Conclusion: When I started this article, it was immediately following my return from the store with the NetGear AV85 power line adapters.  I was really frustrated with the Corinex units.  I’ve got 4, and not only would they not work together, they had trouble keeping a signal even after I did get them working.  The NetGear units had a better out of the box experience than the Corinex units, and have a lower entry cost ($40 cheaper than the Corinex units at the time of review). Provided they stay working (like, beyond a year... I’m just sayin’...), they are a much better buy, even at only 85Mpbs as compared to the 200Mbps potential from the Corinex units.

Power line networking works, kids; and its a VERY easy way of bringing a reliable network signal into a room where wireless isn’t available. Its consistency is much better than wireless, and you don’t have to worry about other kinds of radio interference.

Price: The NetGear 85Mbit Power Line Network Adapters are $99.99 and available at most electronics stores (like Best Buy) in your neighborhood. The Corinex AV200 Power Line adapters can be purchased for about $80.00 here.

What I Liked: The NetGear products just worked. You plugged them in, and they worked...instantly. No hoops to jump through...buttons to push...Nothing. They just worked.

What Needs Improvement: With the NetGear equipment. Nothing really. As I mentioned, they just worked.

Disclosure: The Corinex Power Line Networking adapters were provided by Corinex, free of charge to facilitate the review for Gear Diary back in February. The NetGear Power Line Networking adapters were purchased in a fit of desperation.

I'm in the market for a new phone, and possibly a new carrier (after nearly 5 years with AT&T); and the Moto CLIQ may be the device for me and the family.  PC Magazine recently reviewed the device and gave it 4 out of 5 stars, AND their coveted Editor's Choice Award.

 

The Motorola CLIQ is the company's first Android-powered Smartphone. It's also a stellar device for the socially inclined. It aggregates updates from social networking sites, photo sharing sites, and Web-based e-mail. It could easily serve as the center of your connected universe. For a change, that's not hyperbole. Despite a few stumbles, the innovative and effective CLIQ easily wins our Editors' Choice award for T-Mobile smartphones.

As always, PCMag has a very thorough review, and some cool pics to go with it.  If you're considering picking up the device, or want to know if Moto is really gonna say "hello" with this device, you need to check out the review.  Like me, you may be pleasantly surprised. However, I did notice one downfall. Motorola is going to have to release their own updates for the device, not T-Mo,

But while Motorola insists the highly-customized CLIQ is compatible with all third-party programs, the CLIQ can't handle Google's standard OS updates. The CLIQ comes with Android 1.5, and can't be updated to Android 1.6 ("Donut") at the time of this review. CLIQ owners who want the integrated camcorder app and improved Android Market must wait for Motorola to issue its own package.

JAMM is on the waiting list to get a CLIQ for review, and as soon as it arrives, you can expect an unboxing/unboxing video as well as a thorough review.  Stay tuned, kids... things are going to get turned up a notch, as Motorola may just have gotten back into the Smartphone arena!

I’ve been writing for a long time, and one of the things that I learned early on, is that there’s a lot to like about most everything you get to review.  Your TRUE opinion usually hits after the honey moon period is over.  THAT can last a couple of months, depending on the device/gadget/thingy you’re reviewing. Getting past the WOW factor is important, and most product reviewers just can’t do it in a couple of days to a week.

When I saw the Soda Stream Penguin Starter Kit, the wow factor for me was pretty high – a nine or a ten (on a 10 point scale), and I knew that any kind of review would take a while.  The device is, after all, pretty cool (more below); but let’s can the chit-chat and get down to brass tacks.  The Soda Stream Penguin Starter Kid – Yeah or Nay..?  Read on for a combo video/picture and text review.

 

The Soda Stream Penguin Soda Maker Starter Kit

 

How to Make Your Own Soda – So Easy, Even a 4 year Old can do it!

 

I also noticed that much of the components in the machine are made of plastic.  During my review, the main part of the soda maker that controls the valve on the carbonator simply snapped.  I was shocked!  It just…snapped!  I tried a couple different types of Crazy Glue to fix it, and neither worked.  The plastic wouldn’t bond with the glue.  I even tried Gorilla Glue (it works with EVERYTHING, especially skin) and even it wouldn’t make the pieces stick together (it even expands to fill gaps as it cures). The type of plastic is unusual in the Penguin, so you need to make sure that it doesn’t drop, get bumped, etc., as if it breaks, you’re done.  In my case, it seems I encountered a very RARE manufacturing glitch. The replacement soda maker that I was shipped has really done well and hasn’t missed a beat, even when Sam and Josh help me make a batch of soda.

See the # “4?” My original machine cracked diagonally through this area

This is the component that broke on me.  I’m not sure how or why; but I was told that it happens, but it is very rare.

The carbonator (bottle of gas) screws into the machine here; but it needs to be TIGHT!

The plastic used here is very good at making a seal with the carbonator, but you need to make sure that the seal is tight. The pressures that we’re dealing with here are incredible, and you need to be careful.

This is the piece that inserts into the water in the carafe.

The infuser inserts itself into the top of the carafe when the top closes and the gas shoots into the water through it.

Only use an approved carafe in the machine.	The inside of the carafe.

 

Price: The Soda Stream Penguin Starter Kit comes with the Penguin Soda Maker, 2 Carbonators, and 2 glass carafes, and retails for $249.99.  At the time of this writing, however, it is on sale for $199.95 directly from Soda Stream USA.  It can also be purchased at a number of different local retailers by using their store locator. Stocked products and prices will vary.

What I liked: Being able to create as much or as little carbonated beverage as I liked or needed. Making the soda is fun, and is easy for everyone to do. You control the degree of carbonation, so drinks are as flat or fizzy as you like.

What Needs Improvement: You have to like Splenda as a sweetener, or you’re not going to like the Soda Stream beverages. Most of them have a “diet” taste to them. Some more so than others. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it is something you need to be aware of.  Splenda has a very distinct taste, and you have to like it if you’re going to like these beverages. 

You can ONLY carbonate water.  Any attempt to carbonate anything else other than water usually results in an overflow of some kind, regardless of how carbonated you make the beverage.

Plastic parts can sometimes break, as my soda maker experienced a “blow-out” while making a bottle one Sunday evening. Not even Gorilla Glue would fix it (due to the type of plastic used), and it glues nearly EVERYTHING.  Once it breaks, you’re done.

 

Conclusion: This is an AWESOME product; but the only way it makes sense economically is if you buy extra carafes, and stick to it.  After a while, the “fun” might wear off, and you’re simply stuck making soda. You also need to be satisfied with your super market’s brand of soda, as this is going to taste very similar to it.  However, you get to determine how much you make, how much syrup you use, the level of carbonation, and of course, you do make it with your OWN tap water.

From a “green” perspective, you completely eliminate cans and plastic bottles in your home; and the carbonators are easily recycled at a local retailer.  All in all, two green thumbs way up.

I. Am. A. Mobile. Computing. User... Period.

I live for converged devices, laptops, netbooks, and data on the go. I’ve got unlimited data on my Smartphone account; and have tethered my laptop to my phone when I need to be online in a pinch. When I travel, I need to take it with me; and when it comes to airport security, I dread the TSA required aerobics and mandatory disrobing... Thankfully, to help make things easier, Skooba Designs has blessed us with the CheckTrough Backpack.  Let's take a quick look to see how (and if) this thing makes travelling easier...

 

 

I have a LONG commute. I spend 4 hours a day (2 hours, door to door, each way) going back and forth to work on the Metra Rail here in Chicago, and then to and from the train station.  At times, I’ve also had to trek out to Denver, and back and forth (on rare occasion) to Nashville.

 

 

When it comes to air travel, I hate, haTE, HATE doing the necessary aerobics and disrobing routine (shoes, belt, empty and turn pockets inside out, take watch off, etc.) at the security gate.  I curse the name of Richard Reid every time I have to kick my shoes off and walk on that dirty, DIRTY floor (just because this guy wanted to blow his feet up (for whatEVER reason)).  Its nice, however, when I don’t have to completely unpack at Security; and that’s all due to the CheckThrough Backpack from Skooba Designs.

The CheckThrough backpack opens and folds flat at its middle so that your laptop doesn’t have to come out of the bag.  When going through airport security, you simply unzip the bag at the middle, lay it down so that the clear window is up and exposed so that a TSA agent can see what’s in it, and allow the bag to go through the scanner.  The bag is designed to present your laptop exactly as it would if it were in a bin. 

Everything is secure, so all you have to do when it comes out the other end is (get dressed), slip your shoes back on, grab the bag, give it a quick zip and head off to your gate.  There’s no need to repack your carry-ons. However, Skooba Designs does note the following on the product page for the bag on their site -

It is the intention and expectation of all involved in the “checkpoint-friendly” bag program that once fully implemented, the process will move smoothly and that suitably designed and constructed bags, properly packed and used, will move through the system efficiently as planned. However, in all instances, screening personnel always have the right to require laptop removal, secondary screening, or any other measures deemed necessary to ensure travel security.

 

Skooba has a cool video of the CheckThrough process.  You can see it below.

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McPMuNpcpco[/youtube]

 

Commuting Use
I’ve been running back and forth to the house on the Chicago Metra BNSF line for a few years. I’ve been using the bag there for the past few months. As a backpack, this thing is merely, ok.  Its small, so if you have more than 1 PC (like me) or some additional accessories to carry along with some paperwork, you may end up with a tight fight.  After a while, it got difficult to use in a daily commuting scenario, at least for me, with everything that I want/need to carry.  Also, according to TSA regulations, carrying a laptop in the accessories/clothing compartment will still require you to pull the second PC out and have it scanned separately.

For me, this was not a good commuting bag.  With both my work and freelancing PC, it was a bit heavy. The straps weren’t padded enough, and after a while, the bag became painful to carry.  The extra compartments made if hard to carry power bricks and other accessories for one PC comfortably, let alone for two.  It seems a bit small for clothing and shoes/toiletries for any other kind of trip other than an overnighter.  Thankfully, however, Skooba Designs does include a clear, plastic zipper bag to store TSA scannable liquids in. A nice little extra; and the document pockets were kinda nice to have, especially for my monthly train and bus pass.

 

 

Price: The Skooba Designs Check Through Backpack is $129.99 (at the time of this writing), and is available directly from Skooba’s website.

What I liked: CheckThrough design. Ease of use at airport security (provided you only carry/use one laptop in the bag)

What Needs Improvement: The bag is designed for travel, and as such, could use a LOT more room to hold accessories and/or clothes. The straps could benefit from a lateral tie to hold them together while being worn on both shoulders. The bag could use additional padding to help with back and shoulder support, as wearing it for an extended period of time (like in a LONG airport security line) can be a bit tiring and painful.

Conclusion: This is a decent bag that will do well for commuters doing puddle jumping on the East Coast, or for quick business trips.  Don’t plan on packing a lot of clothes, though. The extra compartment is very small; and if you’re going to be gone for anything longer than an overnight trip, you’re going to want a separate overnight bag for clothes or toiletries.

After carrying this bag for about a month, I am ready to move back to my older backpack.  The straps don’t tie together across your chest, making the bag feel as though it might slide off easily, despite their innovative shape. It also lacks a waist strap that would pull the bottom of the bag in closer to your hips, giving you a bit more lumbar support while carrying it.

Over the past few days, I’ve been reading a LOT on the rumors related to a Sprint/T-Mobile merger.  Honestly, I was really surprised when I initially heard this. From a business point of view, it makes tons of sense; but from a technology point of view, it really has me scratching my head.  Let’s stop and take a look at this for a moment...

From BetaNews -

Sprint has steadily lost more than a million postpaid subscribers per quarter for the last two years, but it has proven to be highly successful in the prepaid mobile market, gaining a record 777,000 prepaid customers in the last quarter alone. These gains, coupled with Sprint's acquisition of MVNO Virgin Mobile USA (and its 5.38 million subscribers) made Sprint the United States' second-largest prepaid wireless operator with nearly 10 million customers.

T-Mobile's gains in the United States have also been mostly prepaid customers. In the most recently completed quarter of this year, T-Mobile added a net 325,000 subscribers, and nearly 83% of those were prepaid.

I saw an interesting article on The Telegraph where DT CEO René Obermann swears upside down, backwards and sideways that he’s going to turn around company performance of both T-Mo UK and T-Mo US. The business sense of the merger

I was recently fortunate enough to be selected as a Windows 7 Launch Party host by House Party.  The theme of my party is, "The Ease of Setup." Since this is a brand new operating system, and since many people have been using Windows XP since the dawn of the New Millennia (read since 1999/2000, depending on when you started counting), they haven't upgraded their operating system since they ditched Windows 98 or Windows 2000 back in the day.  Yes, Windows XP sure has been around for a long time, hasn't it.  In order to make Windows 7 setup easier on everyone, I am publishing a multipart series here on JAMM and at iTechGear.

 

I'm planning on a six part series over the next few weeks. Without further ado, here's what I'm going to cover:

• Part 1: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda – Is Windows 7 Right for Me?
• Part 2: Eany-Meany-Miney-Moe – Choosing the Right Version of Windows 7
• Part 3: The Right Tool for the Right Job – Hardware Requirements and YOUR Computer
• Part 4: Pregame – Preparing for the Update..?  Upgrade..?
• Part 5: Ripping the Band Aide Off: Installing Windows 7
• Part 6: Post Partum: Things to do Immediately After Install (oh, and Welcome to Windows 7!)

This is going to be an interesting time, kids.  Windows 7 offers a great deal, and those of you who haven't seen it yet, should really give it some serious consideration.  It's really something that most Windows users will like, and it hasn't disappointed me here yet. Stay tuned, kids!

T-Mobile’s new Motorola CLIQ Android smartphone is all the rage right now.  There are a lot of people, yours truly included that are very interested in the device, for a number of different reasons.  The CLIQ will be made available to eligible, existing customers on 19-Oct-09 for $199.99 and then will be made available to new T-Mo customers on 02-Nov-09 for the same price, all with a 2 year contract agreement. Off contract, its $449.99.

While the contract price is not bad, I saw an article at Silicone Alley Insider that slammed both Moto and T-Mo for setting the price so high.  Their main point? Simple – You can’t sell an iPhone competitor that isn’t as good as the iPhone for more than the base price iPhone.

Sorry, but you can't charge $100 more than the iPhone for a phone that's not as good as the iPhone. The CLIQ should cost no more than $99; ideally, it'd be $49...

...T-Mobile ultimately sets the price here, but Motorola should have some say in the matter, based on its wholesale pricing and general pull in the relationship. But either way, Motorola ends up the loser here, because what they make up in margin getting the extra $100 or $150 for the phone, they are losing in volume...

They have a point. Refurbed iPhone 3G’s are currently going for $49 for 8GB and $99 for 16GB. I’ve looked through the tech specs for the device, and I can see nothing related to onboard device storage, aside from a mention for support for up to a 32GB microSD card.  The device comes with a 2GB SD card.  Great, but not so great.

Hopefully, by the time I’m really ready to buy one for myself, the prices will have dropped a bit; but I’m not holding my breath.

Those of us that use Microsoft MyPhone may have noticed the quick note from Microsoft that the service will be down from Monday 05-Oct-09 to Tuesday -

Microsoft My Phone Service Upgrade

On October 5^th, 2009 at 5AM (Pacific Daylight Time) (check your local time here) the Microsoft My Phone service will be unavailable while we upgrade the service.  The service will come back online on October 6^th, 2009 Tuesday morning PDT.  Stay tuned for more information.  You can also  follow us on http://twitter.com/msmyphone for updates.

An extended outage is not anticipated, so everything should be good to go for the WM 6.5 Launch on 06-Oct-09.

My good friend and blogging buddy Mike Temporale has got a really good review of the AT&T Samsung Jack over at Mobile Jaw that you really need to take a look at.  The Samsung Jack was originally thought to be called the Blackjack 3, before it was officially announced and released on AT&T, here in the States. 

Says Brother Temporale in his review:

It may not be called BlackJack, but the new Samsung Jack is the third release in the popular BlackJack series of smartphones. The original BlackJack and BlackJack II devices both reached the million plus sales mark.  Can Samsung repeat that success with this new phone? If first impressions are any indication, then the new Jack should easily live up to the reputation of the BlackJack’s before it and reach that million seller mark.

The Jack seems like a decent device; and the improvements in its keyboard and processor may make this something that you’ll want to consider if you’re looking for a new phone.

 

It seems that Apple has been busy lately with the software updates.  They’ve released yet another update to another OS component before they release their newest OS, Snow Leopard.

I got notification from Software Update that Remote Desktop Client Update 3.3.1 was released. The package contains two update packages:

This article describes Apple Remote Desktop version 3.3, which includes two update packages:

• * Apple Remote Desktop Client 3.3.1 updates the software that facilitates Remote Management (enabled in Sharing preferences, in System Preferences).
  * Apple Remote Desktop Admin 3.3 updates the Remote Desktop application, which can be used to remotely administer Apple Remote Desktop clients.

You can see the specifics of everything that these update packages contain here. The update is recommended for all Remote Desktop users.

My good buddies over at Just Another Mobile Monday have gotten an awesome opportunities to interview Jason Surguine from PDAMill. This multipart series is a must read for all PDA/gadget gamers! The interview is very insightful, and gives you the unique opportunity to look into the mind of a game designer.  Stop what you're doing and check it out!!

Interview With Mobile Designer Jason Surguine. Part 1 | Just Another Mobile Monday

All the Internet’s a Blog...or something like that. I think I just made William Shakespeare groan.  I truly think I heard it.

Wayne turned me on to a cool new blogging service that I wanted to clue everyone in on.  Posterous allows everyone to blog; and you don’t have to be a geek to do it. It not only posts your information, but it also auto-posts your blogs to a number of different social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and WordPress (among others).

 

The best thing about Posterous is that you can post to the service using any e-mail account you have.  All you need to do is send an e-mail to post@<your account name>.posterous.com; and BAM! Its live. If you have another blog and want to import your blog to Posterous, it must support both MetaWebLog API and Really Simple Discovery. If you are using WordPress, make sure you have XML-RPC enabled. They also have a cool widget that allows you to post on something you stumble upon while surfing, however it does require a “more modern” browser (IE6 and below is NOT supported).

Posterous can handle video, pictures, audio and a host of other file types that it automatically handles and either displays, links, or creates special features with.  Their FAQ page has all of the awesome details.

Posterous offers 1GB of storage, supports custom domain names (your_domain_here.com/net/org) and is FREE.

Yes, I said free!

It was so easy to setup that I bought a domain name and setup a new blog last night.  You can check things out at iTechGear.org and follow along if you like!

I am a Software Update junkie. I constantly boot my machines and always either check Windows Update, Software Update or Update Manager (Linux).  I don’t know why, but I’m really super anal retentive when it comes to insuring that I’ve got the latest system software. 

Today, Apple released yet another update, iPhoto 8.1. While not mission critical, the update adds 3 distinctive features to Apples digital photo editing package.  This update is recommended for all users of iPhoto ‘09:

What’s New in this Version
This update adds several new print product options to iPhoto “09:
- Hardcover books can now be ordered in a new extra-large (10" x13") size
- Includes three new book themes with travel-oriented designs: Tropical, Asian, Old World
- A variety of new holiday greeting cards themes are now available

You can get the the update via Software Update, or directly, here.

As many of you know, I’ve had a Mac laptop since 2006.  I love my PC (and yes, regardless of what OS it runs, OSX or Windows (or in my case, both), PC still stands for Personal Computer); and honestly, I carry it just about everywhere I go.  That’s part of my problem, too.

The contents of my Gear Bag

In my Gear Bag, I have just about anything and everything that I would need in my portable office.  I have my 13” Unibody MacBook, my MSI Wind U100-422CA (CAnadian keyboard), my Kindle2, a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate Windows Vista Business, Office 2007 Ultimate, various other CD’s, miscellaneous paperwork, a 320GB USB hard drive and charging bricks and cables for all of the above. The bag weighs near 40 pounds; and is the major reason why when I considered a new computer purchase, I decided on the 13” unibody MacBook instead of the 15” MacBook Pro – the 13” MB is lighter in day-to-day use.

In November of last year, my father approached me and asked me to spec a PC for him. He had retired, and had to give his Dell Latitude D610 back to the office.  He wanted something to replace it, and he wanted something that was going to last.  While money was somewhat of an object, he said he wanted to get the right PC, and wanted to get something that would carry him for a good, long, time.

In my mind there wasn’t any question – Dad wanted the (then) new 15” unibody MacBook Pro.  He took my recommendation, and we got him the following 15” MBP:

• 2.8gHz Core2Duo Processor
• 4GB 1067mHz DDR3 RAM (max of 4GB)
• 320GB 7200RPM HDD

 

Dad’s November 2008 15” MacBook Pro

 

At the time, it was the top of the line 15” MBP.  Dad also got a 20” Apple Cinema Display (older model, instead of the new LED Cinema Display), as he intended to run XP, and as I recall, there weren’t any Boot Camp drivers available for the newer Cinema Displays. 

I got Dad XP Pro, Office 2007 Ultimate, leather carrying case, wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a Startech USB VGA docking station (though he uses a mini-DVI to DVI adapter from Apple to connect to his Cinema Display instead of using the video card/chip in the docking station.

All told, dad spent almost $5000, including tax, title, license and out the door.

My mom has had a very tough year.  The first anniversary of her heart transplant is August 22, 2009.  She spent most of 2008 in the ICU waiting on a heart.  Her company got her set up at home with her PC when her health got too bad for her to make the 90 minute commute in to the office in late 2007.  She hasn’t been back to work since early April 2008; and has been placed on long term disability.  She’s effectively retired.

Recently, her company contacted her and asked her to return her PC.  Dad called me and told me to spec a PC for mom.  He said he wanted to get a MacBook Pro for her too; and asked if I would spec one for her and set it up just like I did for him. The decision wasn’t difficult.  We got mom the following 15” MBP:

• 3.06gHz Core2Duo
• 4GB 1067mHz DDR3 RAM (max of 8GB)
• 500GB 5400RPM HDD
• Non-removable battery
• SD Card Slot

 

Mom’s June 2009 15” MacBook Pro

 

Mom has a Startech USB VGA docking station, XP Pro, Office 2007 Enterprise (including both Project 2007 Standard and Visio 2007 Enterprise).  Mom also got a free 8GB iPod Touch as part of the deal (by the way, its free after mail in rebate... that’s not widely publicized as part of the deal at the Apple Online Store).

All told, mom spent under $4000, including tax, title, license and out the door.

I (and very quickly…) needed to loose some of the weight out of my Gear Bag.  I loved my late 2006 MBP, but it was much too big, considering everything else that I had in my bag; and, more importantly, could not take complete advantage of either Windows 7 or Snow Leopard.  I wanted something that could, without a doubt.  I intend to write articles on both OS releases, and wanted something that could definitely handle the “pounding” that I intend to give it.

So about 5 months ago (at the time of this writing), I bought an early 2009 13” unibody MacBook. It was top of the line when I bought it:

• 2.4gHz Core2Duo
• 4GB 1067mHz DDR3 RAM (max of 4GB)
• 250GB 5400RPM HDD (now has a 500GB 5400RPM HDD)

 

My early 2009 13” MacBook

 

So now that we know what the players are, let’s take a look and see how these things really stack up.  Having all three of these laptops here for a while was really awesome.  I’ve sent them on their way to Mom and Dad, and yes, it was hard to let them go... They are really awesome machines. 

While there’s really no way for me to say that my 13” out-performed EITHER of these MBP’s I will tell you I wouldn’t change my choice.  Remember, I chose my Mac based on size and its ability to run Snow Leopard (which it can, without any issues or loss of functionality, according to the information I’ve seen at Apple). So, lets just get to the pics... they’re pretty cool.

From Left to Right - My early 2009 13” MacBook, Dad’s late 2008 MBP, and Mom’s June 2009 MBP

Its easy to spot my MB, but it takes a real keen eye to tell the two 15” MBP’s apart, at least from this angle.  It you’ll notice, the June 2009 looks somewhat thinner than the Late 2008. I’m not sure if that’s an optical illusion, or if you really can see the difference, as I thought the June 2009 MBP’s were slightly thinner.

From bottom to top- Mom’s June 2009 MBP, Dad’s late 2008 MBP, and my early 2009 13” MacBook.

You can really tell the difference in size between the 13” and the 15” cases.

Right Side, From bottom to top- Mom’s June 2009 MBP, Dad’s late 2008 MBP, and my early 2009 13” MacBook.

Big difference, right?  Actually, bigger than you think. I don’t care what anyone says I’m not putting a Kensington lock anywhere near any of my MB/P’s optical drives.  Who was the genius that thought putting the Kensington slot near the DVD drive was a good idea??

Front From bottom to top- Mom’s June 2009 MBP, Dad’s late 2008 MBP, and my early 2009 13” MacBook.

The size difference, again, is very easy to see. 

Left Side (and the business end) From bottom to top- Mom’s June 2009 MBP, Dad’s late 2008 MBP, and my early 2009 13” MacBook.

Here’s a really good shot of the business side of the three newer MacBooks.  From left to right, my 13” (on top) has a MagSafe Connector, RJ45 Jack (Gigabit Ethernet), 2 USB ports, a mini DVI port, Audio In, Audio Out and Kensington security slot.  My MB is missing the FireWire port that the other two 15” MBP’s have.

Dad’s MBP (in the middle) has a MagSafe Connector, RJ45 Jack (Gigabit Ethernet), FireWire port, 2 USB ports, a mini DVI port, Audio In, Audio Out and Express Card slot.

Mom’s MBP (on the bottom) has a MagSafe Connector, RJ45 Jack (Gigabit Ethernet), FireWire port, a mini DVI port, 2 USB ports, SD Card slot, and Audio In, Audio Out.

You’ll remember, I did my original unboxing of Mom’s MBP for the site in mid June. You can also see the unboxing video below.

This was my first video unboxing. It was actually taken with my Propel Pro, so it really did a pretty good job! I was actually impressed.  My daughter, Amanda, was behind the camera.  I think she did a pretty good job!

Dad’s Late 2008 15” MBP – Notice the seam and battery latch

 
One of the things that I’ve noticed with both Dad’s 15” MBP and my 13” MB is that the battery seam can sometimes cause the notebook to sit funny, depending on where and how it sits on a table or other flat surface.

Mom’s June 2009 15” MBP – Notice no battery seam or latch

 

There are a couple of things that I want to say about Mom’s June 2009 MBP before I stick this one with a fork and call it done -   Oh my goodness!  That thing ROCKED!  The performance under XP left a bit to be desired. Honestly, it was about the same as Dad’s MBP; but under OSX..?  Oh!  Night and day, baby. Night and day!

Mom’s 3.06GHz box kicked some MAJOR butt on the Mac side.  It booted up in under 15 seconds to a full desktop, and was ready to go before you could even sit down. Its too bad that Mom isn’t the Mac type (she wants to use XP, and XP alone), though I left Leopard on there for her, just in case I could entice her to give it a try.

The box under XP was mediocre at best, and again no better than Dad’s box (honestly, the difference between 2.8 and 3.06GHz isn’t all that much). This is undoubtedly a driver related issues, and I think both of these boxes under Windows 7 would be equally as well performing under Leopard.

At the end of the day, I am very satisfied with my 13” MB. Honestly, there’s not a lot of difference between it and the new 13” MBP (just a FireWire port, really...); and since Mom won’t use her Snow Leopard license, I’ve got it coming to me when its released in September.

How about you, though?  Do you have a new Mac laptop?  Did you get a June (or later) 2009 MacBook Pro?  Did you get the 13” flavor?  I’d love to hear about your experiences with the newer Mac laptops. I think they are just about the best pieces of hardware out on the market, though, you will definitely pay a premium for them.  Why don’t you join us in the discussion below and let us know what you think!

As of late, I’m all about saving money.  This year has been very hard on us as a family, and I am really looking forward to 2009 coming to a close; but unfortunately, we still have a ways to go yet.  Until that happens, I’m doing my best to save the shekels.

However, no one wants to be a miser at the expense of good tasting food and beverages.  If no one eats or drinks it, things that go to waste still waste money. So I have high hopes for something really cool that I just saw on the ‘net.

Enter the SodaStream Fountain Jet Starter Kit. It allows you to make your own soda from your own tap water.  I’m not entirely certain how well this is going to taste, or if you HAVE to use just their syrups (can I, for instance, put some fizz in my choice of orange juice or perhaps some Arizona (or my OWN iced) Tea?

We’ll have to wait and see. I’ve got a review sample whisking its way to my door, and I’ll have a review up shortly.  I’ve got plans to do a quick unboxing, and some video related taste tests between the pop we make, and some nationally available brands. Stay tuned.  The review should hit the site by the beginning of August!

One of the best things about being a technology writer is getting to look at some of the newest and best tech toys on the market.  Recently, my parents bought a June 2009 15” MacBook Pro (the one with the new SD slot) for my mother.

My mission (and I have no choice but to accept it…)  is to install all the software, configure the Boot Camp partition (with XP Pro), etc. for her.

I am also fixing my father’s Fall 2008 15” MacBook Pro, and it's in the process of whisking its way here from Houston.  I’ll be writing a comparative review of it, my mom’s June 2009 MBP and my 13” Unibody MacBook.

The specs for mom’s MBP include:

• 3.06gHz Core2Duo Processor
• 4GB RAM
• 500GB HDD
• Non-removable battery
• 8x Superdrive
• Bluetooth
• Wireless N

Mom also got a free 8GB 2G iPod Touch as part of the really sweet deal.  BUT without further ado, here’s the unboxing video. The Comparative Review will have detailed pics of all three Macs.