Acer Aspire R7: An affordable Starter in the Convertible World

Just recently I took a chance on a refurbished Acer Aspire R7 convertible laptop found in a newegg deal and I have to say this laptop is extremely underrated. The biggest complaint from most people is the location of the trackpad but all I have to say is WIRELESS MOUSE. I bought this computer with the intention of never using the trackpad which completely eliminated the issue from the beginning anyway. This computer has pretty good specs for a computer that cost $560... Besides having the specs, the design quality is the most impressive aspect. It's beautiful. It's durable. It feels great. I really considered getting a surface 2 but when I came upon this deal I figured why not have a keyboard, adequate memory, and a big screen for $300 less. Check this beast out if you're looking for something new.

Operating System	Windows 8.1
Processor Manufacturer	Intel
Processor Type	Core i5
Processor Model	i5-4200U
Processor Speed	1.60 GHz
Processor Core	Dual-core (2 Core)
Standard Memory	8 GB
Maximum Memory	16 GB
Memory Technology	DDR3L SDRAM
Memory Card Reader	Yes
Memory Card Supported	Secure Digital (SD) Card
Hard Drive Capacity	1 TB
Hard Drive Interface	Serial ATA
Screen Size	15.6"
Display Screen Type	Active Matrix TFT Color LCD
Screen Mode	Full HD
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1080
Backlight Technology	LED
Touchscreen	Yes
Multi-touch Screen	Yes
Graphics Controller Manufacturer	Intel
Graphics Controller Model	HD 4400
Graphics Memory Technology	DDR3 SDRAM
Wireless LAN Standard	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth Standard	Bluetooth 4.0 + HS
Webcam	Yes
Microphone	Yes
HDMI	Yes
Number of USB 2.0 Ports	1
Number of USB 3.0 Ports	2
Operating System Architecture	64-bit
Battery Capacity	3560 mAh
Maximum Battery Run Time	6.50 Hour
Weight (Approximate)	5.29 lb

Microsoft Surface 2: Will Windows Finally Make a Jump Into the Tablet World?

When Microsoft released the first version of the surface it was overpriced, lacked battery life and the rt model lacked complete functionality. The first surface pro had great potential but just couldn't complete with the cheaper windows 8 competitors. This newest surface 2 will have 75% improved battery performance, a newly designed hinge(the old one wasn't bad) and an updated processor. If they release another rt model it must be cheap to go after the big dogs but everyone is keeping an eye on the surface 2 pro model. This model will be running full Windows 8.1 OS and will be an incredible tablet if they can get their pricing right. Once this is released I'd check it out if you're in the market for a complete tablet experience.

Apple Iphone 5c and 5s: A Step Behind the Rest

Well the Apple keynote was today and to everyone's expectations nothing very impressive was presented. The newest, top of the line Iphone 5s is already outdated when looking at it's competition. Improving their processor and adding a sensor for unlocking isn't very new but they're banking on the sheeple to fall into place as usual. The Iphone 5c on the other hand is a very good move by Apple. By offering a cheaper model with the current operating system they can attract people who weren't willing to shell out the dough for their usually expensive new device. If you're looking for a cheap phone that is easy to use go with the 5c and if you don't like it you can always sell it for an Android or Windows Phone. Good luck!

Nokia Lumia 1020: Prediction

The world has yet to see the Windows Phone come out of it's shell. Even though this platform isn't taken very seriously, the release of the Nokia Lumia 1020 might just be its coming out party. A phone with a 41 megapixel camera (38 mp actual) will attract many people from the Android and ios systems. I think that this phone will make a name for the Windows Phone and once people see how elegant this operating system is they'll become the voice necessary for future sales. Check this bad boy out! 

Nokia Lumia 920: Full Review

Well, I've been using the Nokia Lumia 920 for a few months now and here are some features that I find extremely impressive and others that make me wonder why Nokia went the way they did.

The Good: 
Battery life - The battery life on this phone is quite good. Many of the initial reviews said they were having problems with consistent charge but i listen to music roughly 1-3 hours a day through my Bluetooth headphones and am pretty heavy on messaging and data. This phone can hold a solid 2 day charge on moderate usage days and 3 days on light usage. Very good battery performance 9/10

Reception/Data Speed - 4G LTE is the way to go.... It's blistering fast.... I've been doing a few speed tests throughout the month in different locations around the city of Chicago and this phone/At&t's network are giving me fantastic speeds consistently. 10/10

External Speakers - This thing is loud, it's loud but it's also very clear. I have never heard a phone that can get as loud as the 920 and still sound good. 10/10

Processor/Screen/Design - I think that this phone is very well designed, it can easily handle being dropped, and its all that you could ask hardware-wise but I'll get to the camera a little later... 7/10

The Bad:
Disclaimer: When I say bad I just mean that I've had some slight issue I'm not saying these things are a deal breaker.
Camera - I have noticed that the camera is very picky when it comes to taking close ups, as well as, when there is movement. Taking pictures of playful kittens running around is almost impossible. In order to take a picture of something a few inches away you MUST change the camera settings to close up mode and even then its a crapshoot. That being said, this camera is very capable of taking beautiful pictures and I think its worth the hassle of taking a couple more pictures to getting that perfect shot. 6/10

Outer casing - The feel of this phone is very nice and comfortable, but i have noticed that if your hand become fairly dry the phone has the tendency to slide right out if you're not careful. Also, don't ever plan on setting it on a non grip surface that's on an angle, IT WILL SLIDE. 6/10

OVERALL
This is a great phone, the best I've ever had. If you're looking for a nice device that can do anything you would want a smartphone to do this is the way to go.

Nokia Lumia 920: First Impressions

I've finally upgraded from my Samsung Focus to a Nokia Lumia 920 and IT ROCKS MY SOCKS. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and all is can say its a beast. This device is extremely zippy and the battery life is phenomenal. My typical daily use it fairly heavy and this phone will hold charge for at least 2 days, I've gone 3 with still battery left. The windows phone experience has vastly improved since the first gen phones and I'm very happy with the current experience. I feel it's still too early to have a complete assessment of this device but as of now this is looking like the phone to have.

Microsoft Surface / Windows 8 RT

This last week I was able to get my hands on the new Microsoft Surface for a bit and boy was I impressed. Being a Microsoft fan I had pretty high expectations for their new tablet and I wasn't disappointed. Their design is quite economical and gives a feel of productivity. The RT version of windows 8 was complete and function quite smoothly, but I will say that I'm disappointed that it cannot run typical programs, though I completely understand there direction for a simple, smooth, responsive, workhorse tablet. If you want the tablet that will have the entire Windows 8 features you'll unfortunately have to wait for the Surface Pro that will have an Intel i5, which should provide enough speed for any user. The only thing holding me back from purchasing a Surface right this moment is that Microsoft will most likely drop the price once the Pro model is released so just wait a couple months you impatient bastards! Anyway, this tablet has a strong productivity vibe so if you're looking for a tablet that can edit documents, play games, and get work done with might just be the device for you. Check it out!

This picture shows the Surface with its attachable keyboard, it uses magnets for a secure connection, no plugs. Also notice the back stand which is built into the tablet. Check out the commercial and an official review courtesy of Engadget.