Archive for the ‘Gadgets & Toys’ category

Apple iPad Case Review

September 6th, 2010

When I got my iPad a few days ago, I knew I needed to get a decent case to protect the iPad’s beautiful aluminum back and fragile glass screen. I began looking for the perfect case and found that most of them are either extremely bulky or simply ugly. Running out of options, I decided to give the official Apple iPad Case a try. Future Shop sells it for $45.99 and Apple itself sells it for $45. I didn’t want to go all the way to the Apple Store so I price matched it at the Lansdowne Future Shop instead. Hey, one dollar is one dollar!

The official Apple iPad case is very thin and lightweight. Unlike other bulky leather portfolio style cases, the Apple one has a slim but strong rubber material.

One thing I like about this case is that it is very functional. I can flip the cover to the back for normal usage. There is a clip at the back to hold the cover if I need to make the iPad standing up or leaning with an angle. With the iPad leaning with an angle, I can type on the onscreen keyhoard much easier and much faster. In fact, this can replace my laptop for taking notes in lectures so I no longer need to carry my laptop to school.

The Apple iPad Case is very functional and very lightweight. However, there is one major issue with this beautiful case. The rubber material provides a nonslip surface but it also attracts dusts like crazy. The bumpy surface makes it rather difficult to wipe off the dusts as well. If you are one of those people who like their stuff always looking clean, this case may not be for you.

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Is The Apple iPad Useless?

September 1st, 2010

I used to think so. Like most iPad haters, I thought it was just an over-sized iPod Touch and it is not powerful enough to replace my laptop.

This changed when I began reading books and magazines on my iPhone. It would be way better to read those books and magazines on something bigger than the iPhone’s 3.5 inch screen.

I decided to buy the iPad a few days ago and since then I am in love with this amazing device.

Here are some reasons why I think the iPad is not useless:

1) The Screen.
The iPad’s 9.7 inch IPS screen is one of the best screens I’ve seen. The colors really pop out and texts are very sharp. The screen size is also perfect for reading books and magazines. I don’t need to zoom in to read the words clearly on any magazine page.

2) Web Surfing.
Surfing the web using the iPad’s Safari browser is a pleasure. I can view almost all websites without having to zoom in. Navigating the web using my fingers is much more natural than using a mouse. Since having the iPad, I see myself not using my laptop as often.

3) Built-in Apps.
The Mail and Calender apps on the iPad are way better than the ones on the iPhone. I can now view my inbox and the emails on the same screen.

4) Third-party Apps.
There are thousands of apps for the iPad. Apps such as the “OPlayer” will turn the iPad as a portable media player as it plays most video formats out there including RMVB files.

Things that can be improved:

1) The Weight.
The iPad is sure slim but it is quite heavy. It is hard to hold it with one hand for too long.

2) No Multitasking.
The ability to multitask will make the iPad even more amazing. the iOS 4.2 update in November should bring multitasking to the iPad.

3) Lack Of  Front Camera and Back Camera.
Like the iPhone 4, the iPad should have a front camera for webcam. A back camera will also be useful for taking pictures and videos on the go.

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The Perfect Compact Digital Camera: Canon SD1400 IS

August 31st, 2010

I’ve finally found the perfect compact digital camera for daily use. I have a D-SLR but it is rather big for daily snapshots.
I have to say that it is quite tricky to find a camera that fits my tiny student budget and at the same time capable of capturing quality pictures.

My first attempt: Samsung EC-ES70. Bought it at Future Shop for around $120. To be honest, it was a horrible camera. The built quality is very cheap and comparable to a toy. Picture quality is awful. Images have a lot of noise even at the lowest ISO. I returned it the next day.

My second attempt: Sony DSC-W310. Bought it at Future Shop for around $120 as well. Built quality is decent. Feels a lot better than the Samsung ES70. Picture quality is also better than the ES70. The images do not have a lot of noise but the color and contract tend to create a “depressing” tone.

My third attempt: Canon SD1400 IS. Bought it at Black’s Photography at around $190 after a price match (Retail is around $250). It is a very compact camera. Smaller and thinner than the Samsung ES70 and Sony W310. Built quality is very solid. The 14.1 Megapixel sensor produces very sharp and clean images up to ISO 800. Thanks to its Optical Stabilization system, taking indoor pictures without using flash is possible. The other two cameras have digital image stabilization, which is rather useless. The SD1400 can also capture 720P HD video. Video quality is so-so but I don’t plan on taking a lot of videos anyway. Overall, it is very impressive camera for the price. If you want to get a decent compact digital camera with a reasonable price, this one is highly recommended.

Pictures I took with the Canon SD1400 IS:

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Asus EeePC 1005HA Quick Review

September 25th, 2009

Asus EeePC shopping

I have sold my super old Asus laptop to have something more portable for school use. I chose to get the Asus EeePC 1005HA since it has what I really want in a notebook/netbook: long battery life.

I got the premium version of the 1005HA and it claims to have 10.5 hours of battery life, that’s among the best out there.

There is no need for me to talk about the performance of this machine since almost all netbooks have similar hardware and performance. Nonetheless, it seems quite responsive.

Another thing that I like the most about it is that it runs very cool and quiet. There is only one thing I have to complain about the 1005HA is that the surface of the whole thing seems to make fingerprints and smudges stick.

For under $500, it is definitely a great value!

Asus EeePC during dinner

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