Wednesday, December 03, 2008

G1 Update: My Disappointments

Let me start by saying that G1 is efficient in terms of processing and browsing speed with the Android OS running its inner workings.

I just wished though that T-mobile offered this phone with hot-spot-at-home capability like most Blackberry cell phones that they carry. Without this feature, I really cannot appreciate much the usefulness of the device except probably for browsing the net and playing around with downloadable apps that are constantly enhanced and updated to keep your already complicated life even more complicated.

It’s not that it’s a bad thing but a cell phone in the first place should carry out first and foremost the primary function of a cellular device, which is to initiate and receive calls with utmost mobility.

Unfortunately, like I’ve always mentioned in my previous blogs, I’m in a total dead zone, thus, I have no cellular signal except the ones that I can channel through UMA (unauthorized mobile access) technology. This is made possible by utilizing Internet signals with a T-mobile service.

Without this functionality the G1 just sits in sophisticated uselessness as a cell phone.

My biggest disappointment with the G1 is the battery life. I’ve never seen anything that sucks up too much juice in just a very short time. If you have to activate Wi-Fi then the more you need to lug around the charger because you’ll be dumbfounded with how short the battery can go for.

When left to run in battery mode expect that before the day is over you better be near your battery charger to salvage a few more hours of fiddling around the G1.

For some of us who cannot possibly include charging the cell phone on a daily basis as part of our routine, we will be left with a lifeless gadget filled with promising applications that can only wait to come alive and stay alive if constantly plugged in to a power supply. Come to think of it as a gadget on respirator.

It is a big disappointment because more sophisticated gadgets can literally stay awake for days before needing a recharge.

With all that said, my G1 is currently in a state of unconsciousness, after I failed to recharge it, for the last couple of days.

That’s how easily I turn my back on something that held so much promise for a high-tech gadget yet is short on one important factor—the battery life.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Enhancing My Computing Life With A Mac

For all I can remember I’ve been using a PC ever since I turned my interest towards computers and the technology that goes with it. It was quite a long relationship full of bumps since PCs can be so slow and painful at times. You actually wonder how they created something so expensive and so stupid.

Anyways, I’ve had enough of it. I’m done with Windows PC for now. Not that I won’t touch my Windows-based PC again but I’ll probably be happy to give it away to one of my worthy recipients anytime soon.

How can you possibly keep on using something that unexpectedly stops in the middle of a challenging multi-tasked undertaking? Plus, your only clue is that the system is not responding. What a waste of time!

As computers evolve, things should get easier, at least with our computer-related tasks. But I don’t know. With Windows PC things only got a little more complicated and painstaking.

I went to an electronic store and for a moment set my eyes on a Mac. In less than ten minutes, I decided that it’s time to shift gears—from PC to Mac.

The result—a happier and more productive computing life with less to worry about.

Don’ t get me wrong though. Since these two creations are totally similar and unique at the same time, there’ll be some getting-used-to period needed in order for you to really appreciate the advantages of one over the other.

One thing that at first I thought was a disappointment with the Mac was the screen or display zoom function. Unlike Windows-based systems wherein you just click on an icon at the corner of the screen and immediately the screen occupies the entire viewing area, the Mac acts differently. It only zooms in to a particular size that will provide you with the maximum best resolution.

I was disappointed at first because of course I don’t want some unused portions of the screen. If my screen size says 13.3”, I would expect to get the same display size. Right?

Everything is made for a reason, and I guess by having Mac to behave that way, it allows any user an easy access to all open applications. But I still want my entire viewing screen, damn it!

No worries. Just drag that little corner on the bottom right part of the display window and feel free to resize it according to your preference. Use up the entire screen if you must. Now, are you happy?

Anyways, working with a Mac makes computing life a breeze. The built-in airport express allows unrivaled speed for Internet surfing.

I was good this year. Don’t I deserve a Mac? Huh? Santa?