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February 2007 Archives

February 13, 2007

Tech Toy of the Month: Apple TV

As the Apple iPhone stole most of the headlines from last month's Macworld expo, another new product introduction quietly slipped under the radar in the mainstream media. The "Apple TV" promises to turn your home theater system into a digital jukebox, allowing all of your pictures, music, and movies that are stored on your computer to be browsed and displayed on your living room TV.

I'm particularly excited about this product because it appears that this is the incarnation of an idea that I've been talking about for a few years now. I've been wishing for a product that would further advance the convergence of computers and home theater, and from what I've been reading, the Apple TV could very well accomplish that goal. Here are some of the highlights:

- At only 1.1" tall and 7.7" square, it should fit easily into any entertainment center or TV shelving.
- It has a variety of video and audio outputs, including HMDI and optical audio allowing integration even into high-end high definition displays and true surround sound systems.
- It can work over a wired network, or over the latest high-speed wireless technologies.
- It is a quiet machine, making almost no audible fan noise.
- At $299, it hits a price point that should not scare away the average person.
- It works with Macintosh and Windows

The Apple TV should be available for purchase this month, so we will all know more about its capabilities soon. From what information is available now, there will not be a simple way for users to digitize their DVD collection for play through the Apple TV. However, this is something I will keep a close eye on. I believe that if users can browse and play their DVD collection on a device like the Apple TV, it will sell like hotcakes.

If you would like to talk more about digital convergence, feel free to e-mail me.

Posted by Marcel Brown on February 13, 2007 9:54 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Q: Should I upgrade to Windows Vista?

A: This is a very common question lately, as the newest version of Windows, "Vista", was just released to the public late last month. While I could go on and on about the details of Vista and why or why not you should upgrade, I'll keep it brief.

Basically, if your computer is NOT critical to your business, personal, or family use, and you want to try out the new features, then feel free to upgrade to Vista. Of course, make sure you have enough RAM, a fast enough processor, and a powerful enough video card to take advantage of all of Vista's new features.

However, like most users, if your computer is too critical to risk significant downtime, then I strongly advise that you stay away from Vista for at least a year, if you upgrade at all. I can sum up the reasons for this in three main points:

First, Vista is the most significant upgrade to Windows since Windows 95. So many new technologies are incorporated into Vista that the odds of bugs and compatibility problems are greatly increased. This is especially likely given Microsoft's track record at putting out new software.

Second, Vista's hardware requirements are significantly greater than that of Windows XP. While many recent vintage computers meet Microsoft's minimum requirements for Vista, many experts seriously doubt that the minimum requirements will give a reasonable user experience. To experience all of Vista's new features, the great majority of computers in the public today will need a significant RAM upgrade, as well as an upgraded video system.

Thirdly, the jury is still out whether all the new features in Vista will really benefit users. Many features are low-level, behind the scenes improvements that most users won't understand yet alone perceive any difference. The most talked about and noticeable new features are cosmetic in nature. While this can generate a lot of "wow" factor, it can also create a learning curve for all users, experienced or novice.

When factoring all the costs associated with the upgrades against any possible benefit to Vista, it is very tough to recommend upgrading at all. By the time most users wait a year or two, it will make more sense to buy a new computer with Vista on it, than to upgrade their old computers.

The bottom line is that most users should wait to upgrade to Vista, and then make the decision to upgrade or simply buy a new computer.

E-mail me your technology questions and have them answered in a future issue!

Posted by Marcel Brown on February 13, 2007 7:06 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Extend the Life of Your Computer

Is your computer 3 years old or older, but you are still satisfied with its performance? If so, you should consider replacing the hard drive while it is still functioning correctly. The reasonable life span of a hard drive in today's age is about 3 to 5 years. While the rest of your computer may be able to function for years and years, the hard drive is one of the few moving parts in a computer, and therefore, more prone to failure. Unfortunately, it is also the part that holds all your data and software. Things like power supplies and fans can fail and usually be replaced without too much hassle. However, a hard drive crash can cost you hours of time and untold amounts in lost data. Therefore, a proactive replacement of your hard drive and data cloning (what I call a "Hard Drive Transplant"), can be a very cost effective way to extend the life of your computer and protect your data. A Hard Drive Transplant usually takes less than an hour and leaves your software and settings exactly as they were before. The only difference is that you have a larger hard drive and your computer has a new lease on life.

For more information about hard drive transplants, please visit my website.

Posted by Marcel Brown on February 13, 2007 5:30 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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About February 2007

This page contains all entries posted to Technology Bytes in February 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

March 2007 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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