Laptop Review: HP ZBook 17.3" - Core i7 4700MQ - 24GB Ram - 1TB Solid State

Let's just say my work laptop is a beast. Okay. It's more than a beast. It's brutal. This computer is by far the best setup I've ever used and I'm wondering if it can get any better than this. The i7-4700MQ is simply great. 24GB of ram? DUH. 1TB SSD? Completely necessary. Unfortunately I don't game on this computer but it's wonderful for say... word docs? internet? youtube? Being a computer I keep at work I mostly do work on it so it's being highly unutilized but the stability of this computer is unmatched. In my line of work I don't have time for hangs and lagging so this may be a bit overpowered yet I'm not complaining. You can pick up a ZBook fairly similar to this for under $2,500 but upgrading the ram and to a ssd with cost you. Those upgrades are not really necessary though. Unless you're insane then they're completely necessary. So do it. Now.

2012 Chevy Volt Review

This last week I've had the opportunity to drive and get fairly comfortable with a 2012 Chevy Volt and all I can say is this is a sweet car. My normal commute is around 100 miles round trip. This car can almost make the trip to work completely on a charge and when its plugged in all day at work will be pretty much completely charged for the ride home. It's very rare for this car to burn more than a half gallon round trip. One thing I've noticed is that traffic becomes your friend. Normally I would avoid any and all traffic no matter what but now it's saving me money. Getting past the obvious electric advantages, the interior of this vehicle is beautiful. Very stylish and comfortable. Technology wise it's making an attempt to be state of the art but isn't anything amazing. My father has had some difficulty getting used to the controls but that's a generational difference. Aside from the technology, interior and fuel economy, this car handles like a professional go cart, very tight suspension and entertaining drive style. In the end this car can be purchased used for around $20,000 if you wait for a good opportunity, patience is key. Overall, fantastic cheap electric vehicle. Go check one out for yourself.

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.