New Year, New Desk. Finally!

Hey guys! Happy New Year to all of you! May 2011 bring us success and new gadgets to explore!

As for the past 2 weeks, I've been trying to complete my study desk here at home. First few shots were uploaded here a few days ago, but now I've finally achieved how I want it to be!

From this...

To this...

 To this! 

 Blue Lounge Cable Box

3M Cable clips

Gundam 00 1/100 with Gundam Exia and Freedom Gundam in the background

I'll expound on it on a future post. This will be for now! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas you guys! I will resume writing here after the holidays. Coming up:

Laptop vs. Tablet: Which one?

What is a Netbook?

5 essential apps for your Mac

How to create your personal workspace


See you and Happy Holidays!

My attempt at a dual screen monitor workplace

I've been admiring multiple monitor set-ups for a while now and was thinking of slowly making one myself. I knew I had some stuff around from before and now that can help me start make my dual monitor set-up come to life.

After a few scavenging, searching, fixing, and tidying up. Here is what I was able to make:

The set-up involves a white Unibody Oct 2009 Macbook, a Logitech Alto Wireless dock and keyboard combo (2 years old), a CD-R King 4 port USB hub, Creative 245 speakers, an old AOC LCD monitor (around 5 years old) an Apple Mighty mouse, a Maxtor 160 GB external HDD (3 years old), a MiniDisplay Port to VGA adapter for my Macbook, and an HP Deskjet D2460. There's also a bookstand/paper holder as well as a mousepad. I will try to improve on this as much as I can.

Let me know what you guys think!

Laptop Essentials: Software Solutions for a Faster Laptop

As our laptops age, we complain about them getting sluggish. Start-up takes longer, files open slower, programs don't run, they walk. But what most of us do not do is actually fix the problem. We complain instead and decide it's time to replace our 2 year old laptop. Well, here are some free programs that can actually improve the speed of your laptop and save money from buying a new one.


This section is for PCs btw. A Mac section will be written soon.



Defraggler by Piriform

Defraggler is a free defragmentation program by the guys at Piriform that scans and defragments your laptop or PCs hard drive extensively. It works faster than the included Windows defragmentation program as well. Fragmentation occurs when files are loaded and unloaded, used, moved, and renamed (among other things). When fragmentation occurs, it takes the hard drive a longer time to read and open files because the actual physical memory fragments of the file is scattered all though out the drive. Defragmentation fixes that, thus a faster hard drive. You can get Defraggler here.

CCleaner by Piriform

Another free software from Piriform, CCleaner is a cleaning device that cleans out all the unwanted junk in your laptop or PC. It scans system files, program history, temporary internet files, as well as other sections of your hard drive. It also has a registry scan and repair function to fix registry files (Wikipedia: "The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options on Microsoft Windows operating systems"). With this tool, junk and other files that clog your hard drive space can be cleaned up and cleared. You can get CCleaner here.

Notebook Hardware Control by Manfred Jaider

Notebook Hardware Control is a free optimization program written by a guy named Manfred Jaider. It essentially allows you to control and optimize the performance of your laptop including processor performance, graphics performance, power consumption and output, temperature and fan speeds, and if your HDD is applicable, a temperature reader for your HDD. If you want to get the most out of your laptop, this is the way to go. Get Notebook Hardware Control here.

Game Booster by iObit

Game Booster is a free program that optimizes your laptop or PC for gaming performance. It stops the function of some processes (such as Windows 7 transparency) to optimize your system for gaming. It also allows the defragmentation of game files. 

To quote the site: 

"It works by updating hardware drivers, downloading essential gaming tools, tweaking system settings for gaming, defragmenting game directories, temporarily shutting down background processes, cleaning RAM, and intensifying processor performance."

The normal version is free but the pro version is a paid app. Learn more about Game Booster here.

The first three programs are essentials, while the last one is for gaming enthusiasts. So there you have it. Try these out and see the performance gain on your not-so-old still reliable computer.

Belkin TraveLite Retractable USB Lamp: Solution to a non-backlit keyboard

Have you ever tried to work in a place where there is not enough light and you couldn't see your keyboard? You find yourself wishing that the laptop you just bought yesterday had a backlit keyboard, huh? Well, here'a solution for that: The Belkin USB-powered lamp.

It features a clip to latch on the screen of a laptop, a USB retractable cable, an on-off switch, and an adjustable LED lamp. It's small form factor allows it to be easily packed and carried with your other gadgets and devices.

The switch and the clip

Adjustable lamp head

It's great when you are using your laptop in low light conditions such as an airplane cabin or a poorly lit coffee shop. 

Here it is in action. Should've taken this picture at night though.

EDIT: found a nice dark place to test it

The Belkin TraveLight USB Lamp costs Php 990 in the Belkin store at SM North Edsa Cyberzone.

If you don't want to shell out money though, there are other alternatives out there (CDR-King has a wide range) but they aren't as user-friendly as the one from Belkin.

The "Google Laptop" and Chrome OS

Google recently released their Web Browser based Operating System, the Chrome OS. Simply put, the Chrome OS is said to be a full operating system revolving around the Chrome web browser with additional applications called Web Apps that can be accessed directly from the OS itself. The aim of the OS is to build a computing environment that's directly connected to the Internet. Or if you're rather cynical about it, Google.

With the debut of the Chrome OS comes Google's Chrome-based laptop, the Cr-48. It's a brand-less laptop (although they say Samsung and Acer will be producing the future line of laptops) and these are still test units. It has a 12.1 inch display, weighs around 3.8 pounds, has a full-sized QWERTY keyboard with the caps lock replaced by a search key, and an over-sized trackpad much like the ones in the Macbook line-up. The OS boots up almost automatically from start-up and the response is quick.

I want to have a test unit, but according to Yugatech, sign-ups for the test program are only for U.S. residents. My only concern is the productivity suit of this OS, especially for us students who not only need the Internet but need to work as well. 

CNET has already made a preview of the Cr-48 which can be found here.

cheap gadget/PC cleaning stuff

I bought a couple of cheap but effective cleaning materials over the week. I bought a can of compressed air from CDR-King that functions as a air duster and a non-toxic cleaning chemical from Office Warehouse.

The Air Duster (Php 265 I think or Php 295) comes with a nozzle and it releases compressed air to remove hard to get dust particles in various places especially desktop PC processor fans, as well as keyboards and other areas. The Sher cleaner is a good, cheap gadget cleaner. That 120ml bottle costs Php 67. I clean my laptop with that at least once a month. Definitely cheaper than iKlear!

Maybe not the best macbook palm guard...

I bought this palm rest guard/cover for my Macbook a while ago. It's called SurfacePadColors and this is made by a company called twelve south (only available for the latest White Unibody Macbook).

I chose this color (Perfect Pink; but it looks more of a purple to me) because I think it won't darken easily and at the same time it's to compliment the red Speck clear case of my Macbook. Other colors include Cyan Blue, Orange Crush, and Infinite Gray. There's a black one but it's a different line though and I did't see it at the store. It looks nice, but it doesn't cover the whole palm rest area. The thing was also kinda hard to install correctly. Being OC with things, I had to do it 6 times to get it right for my liking.

First impressions? Well it looks good. It's made of soft synthetic leather (it claims to be made of leather but I don't think it's pure leather). But my concern is the protection or the lack of it. Makes me miss my Moshi Palmguard

When i first bought my Mac

After 6 months (this was the second one though. I changed after 6 months). Notice the oil and the dark shade due to dirt. FYI, the keyboard isn't actually a Macbook. It's the cardboard keyboard the Surface Pad Colors palm guard came with.

The Surface Pad Colors palm rest guard costs Php 1400 at the Power Mac Center. I'll post a future entry regarding my experience with it after a few weeks. Oh, and the Moshi PalmGuard costs Php 1250, down from its original price of Php 1.3k. 

Surface Pad Colors link: http://twelvesouth.com/products/surfacepad_colors/

Moshi Palm Guard link: http://store.moshimonde.com/macbook/palmguard.html

Laptop Essentials: Longer Laptop Life

Laptops are popping up everywhere. Before, only those rich enough can afford a laptop (an HP NC6400 Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz with 160 GB hard drive space cost P99k). But now, laptops from all price ranges are being produced by various companies. I used to tell my friends that almost all consumer products these days are increasing in price, except for laptops. People can get laptops for as low as P12k for a basic netbook and P20k for a starting full-sized laptop.

But no matter how affordable laptops are, we must all still be able to protect them from wear and tear, as well as possible accidents such as dropping and spilling liquid on them. Besides, if you plan to get a new laptop, selling your old one will be easier and will pay much more if it's taken care of and in tip top shape.

This article will serve as a guide on the things you need in order to protect your laptop.

• A Laptop Sleeve/Case

• A laptop sleeve is useful in preventing scratches from accumulating on your laptop. These can also protect your laptop from minor bumps, especially at the corners. It would be best if your sleeve is made of memory foam or any shock absorbing material, as well as a lint free or smooth inner surface. 
• A laptop case offers more protection from a laptop sleeve. It can range from being an attache case-like case or a messenger bag-like case that allows space for a few pens, papers, and other small things. I do not consider laptop cases as full laptop bags though, but some can be a substitute for a bag. Laptop cases provide shock protection, and some even provide drop protection to a certain extent.
• Some examples:

Sleeve for Macbooks: Moshi Muse

 Sleeve for PCs: Case Logic

Case for Macbooks: Moshi Codex
(I personally use this, and this will protect your Macbook from drops and bumps while allowing full use of the ports)

PC case from Belkin

One of the few options from Case Logic

• A screen guard
• Screen guards protect the display of your laptop from scratches and markings, especially the ones made by the keyboard. These may not prevent finger marks or smudges but having a screen protector makes them easier to clean. Here are some examples:

CAPDASE provides screen guards for Macs and PCs for many makes and models. Check the online catalog here. They have stores in SM North EDSA and SM Megamall

If you cannot look for your model/screen size or you are looking for something much cheaper, check out CDR-King for their cheap screen protectors. Check their catalog here. Braches can be find almost anywhere. Be warned: since CDR-King provides cheap products, people flock to these places. Prepare to line-up.

• A keyboard protector
• Most probably one of the most ignored and thus one of the dirtiest parts of the laptop: the keyboard. A keyboard is a headache to clean, especially with all those nooks and crannies. A liquid spill on your keyboard can also cause hell on your laptop. Getting a keyboard protector can prevent these, as well to avoid getting grease/oil in your keyboard (if you haven't noticed that yet). 
• Finding good keyboard protectors are tricky though, especially for PCs. Find something that fits your keyboard well, provides good dust and spill protection, and does not compromise typing comfort.
• Some examples:

CDR-King claims to have keyboard protectors for different brands of PCs as well as for different sizes. However, I am not sure about the quality of the product. Better call them (don't rely on the info posted in the website) to check out if they have the item before going to a store. Check the catalog here.

CAPDASE also provides keyboard protectors, although for PCs I am not sure of the availability here in the Philippines. I suggest for Macs do not get the ones with "holes" or what they call "heat vents". They do not really help with ventilation and they allow dust to enter the keyboard. Mac catalog here. PC catalog here.

I've been using this one. It's the Moshi Clearguard MB. Super thin, super transparent, and super cool. Does not disturb your typing experience. Check out the Clearguard.

• A good bag
• Students are always on the go, and sometimes a laptop case isn't enough to substitute for a full blown bag. If that's the case, then one must choose a good bag to keep one's laptop as well as other papers and school material. There are a lot of bags out there, but make sure they provide padded support for your laptop as well as security and anti-slash material. Students usually go for the sleeve + bag combo. In my case I use my Moshi Codex with my North Face back pack
• I highly recommend getting a backpack for your laptop. It provides an easier way to carry it around, as well as a discreet way off doing so. Also, some backpacks provide rain-proofing, so that's a plus. Backpacks may not be stylish, but they are functional and provide discreetness and security.

There you have it. Essential items to hopefully extend the life of your laptop. There are also other stuff such as protective films/stickers, palm rest guards, crystal cases for Macbooks, and all that stuff. But those are just little extras. By having the things listed here in the guide, you can be confident that your laptop can be protected and last longer than expected. 

Working in coffee shops, restaurants and other public places

The ability to bring a portable computing device makes paper writing, researching, and other tasks much easier to do. Some students prefer working in coffee shops and restaurants for a number of reasons. However, at times we find ourselves competing against another person for that last electric socket or being unable to connect to that supposedly free Wi-Fi service because of the number of people using the same service at the same time. This guide is to help the modern student get over those nasty hurdles and be able to take full advantage of the portable work space.

This was inspired by articles I saw in Lifehacker and Gizmodo, as well as our school magazine

Part I: The Essentials

It is assumed that if you are reading this that you either own a laptop or a tablet. So this part of the guide are devices and gadgets that enhance the capability of laptops and tablets as portable work spaces. Aside from your laptop/device and its charger (with outlet adapter), these are other things you need to make it through a day of work.

1. The power socket splitter/extension cord
• The power socket splitter/extension cord is a must whenever one plans to work outside school and in a public place for obvious reasons. These places have a limited number of power outlets to be used by consumers, and at most probably by the time one arrives at the place, these sockets may be full; not so good when you are down to the last 20% of your battery. 
2. Portable Broadband/Mobile WiFi
• If the restaurant/coffee shop does not have free Wi-Fi or the free Wi-Fi fails, these broadband/portable Wi-Fi devices can save you when you really need an internet connection. Major carriers Globe, Smart, and Sun Cellular have their own services. If you usually find yourself in the same area most of the time, it's good to ask around which carrier provides a better connection in that area. Portable Wi-Fi hotspots on the other hand are much like portable broadband dongles but they enable to user to connect a certain number of devices to the mobile broadband internet over Wi-Fi. Here's an example reviewed in the popular tech blog, Yugatech (Globe). Here's one by Smart.
3. A mouse and a mouse pad
• It's simple. Using your laptop's trackpad for a prolonged period of time can be a pain. So save your fingers and get yourself a mouse. If you don't need a super precise mouse, cheap ones can do. But make sure that the mouse can work on a variety of surfaces (test it before buying it or read the packaging). A mouse pad is also a good thing to bring along to make sure the mouse works all the time. 
• Different kinds of mice are available in the market. If you have enough money, go with the Bluetooth wireless models. These are easy to stow away and lessen the clutter around your already small workspace. Or buy the ones with a retractable cable if you're trying to save up, as shown here. 
4. A USB thumb drive
• These things are life-savers. If you suddenly need to back-up something, save something, print something, or to recover a file, having a USB thumb drive is a must. Make sure that it's at least 1 GB in capacity and has a strap/necklace attached to it for easy safekeeping.
5. Earphones
• For those moments that you want to listen to a song or watch a quick movie for a break (that probably would never end), good earphones are key. For me personally, I wouldn't skimp out money for this one. Earphones are an investment most people ignore. Buy ones that are comfortable and durable.

Part II: What to do before leaving your house/condo/dorm

There are things that you need to do aside from having the essentials if you plan to go out and work in a public place. This steps will make sure that you are prepared and ready to conquer that paper as you type your night away in Starbucks or Coffee Bean

1. Charge your batteries
• This is a no brainer. Make sure your batteries are charged and ready to go before leaving to work. Just in case there are no plugs at all in the place, at least you have some juice in your laptop to work on and hopefully enough until you find a plug
2. Pack your laptop with your charger and essentials
• Again, another obvious step. Make sure everything is packed before you leave. You wouldn't want to catch yourself without these while trying to make a 12 midnight deadline. I obviously separated the charger from the essentials because the charger is not just an essential, it's the source of life, literally. 
3. Don't over-pack; make sure that you carry what you need
• Don't make your bag heavy enough as it is with your laptop and all that other stuff. Bring only stuff that you need to work with

 Part III: Settling down at the place itself..

You have finally found a decent place to conduct your work in. Here are a few tips to make you feel comfortable as well as other people around you and the management of the establishment.

1. Buy something. Anything
• If you're going to leech of a place's Wi-Fi or electricity, at least make your stay there beneficial to the business of the establishment, especially if it's going to be a slow day for them. Buy a cup of coffee (you'll need it anyway) or a snack. 
2. Find a spot that is near a power source
• For obvious reasons, of course.
• If you cannot find a vacant plug, refer to the next tip
3. Use your splitter adapter to share the outlet with someone
• It won't just be you working in that place, especially on a busy day. Use your splitter to ask someone to share their plug with you or to offer someone a socket to plug it in
• Using the splitter can also allow you to charge multiple devices, but if you can use your laptop's USB ports to charge mobile devices such as phones, iPods, etc. This allows more space for sharing power outlets
4. Don't make a mess. Keep a minimal but comfortable and clean working area around you 
• Don't bother other people if you do not want to be bothered. Keep your things from occupying too much space. At the same time, keep things within your arm's reach to make it easy to move around
• Keeping your area clean is a given. This helps you to focus more on the task at hand by minimizing the clutter. If you cannot bus/clean the items yourself, hopefully a bus boy will do it for you. The management and other people around you will also appreciate the clean working area you have established

There! These should get you started with being able to work comfortably in a coffee shop, restaurant, or any public place of your choice. Working in these place has its pros and cons, but these tips should help you maximize the working experience. If you want to read more, Lifehacker has great tips on working in coffee shops: http://lifehacker.com/5637503/how-to-stay-productive-working-from-coffee-shops-or-anywhere-out-of-the-office and http://lifehacker.com/5578250/get-things-done-from-a-coffee-shop-without-being-unbearable

Starting off..

Hello world!

This will be my first and starting post for this blog. As the title suggests, this blog hopes to provide everyday Filipino students news on technology, gadgets, electronics, and other stuff that are relevant to a student's everyday school life. As of now, the blog still needs some material to publish. This will come real soon!