Surge Suppressors

SurgeX Power Pro

Many surge suppressors, particularly the inexpensive ones commonly found at retail, do a poor job of protection. Surge suppressors built into quality uninterruptable power supply (UPS) units tend to be better, but for best results, use commercial grade surge suppressors -- more expensive, but worth it.

At a minimum, make sure that any point of use surge suppressor is UL 1449 listed/recognized at a suppressed voltage rating (SVR) of at least 330 volts. For endurance, the surge suppressor should also be Classified in Accordance with ANSI/IEEE C62.41-1991, Recommended Practices. (UL 1449 listed products are not necessarily classified for endurance.)

Good commercial grade surge suppressors include:

• Brick Wall
• Innovative Technology
• Peradata
• PolyPhaser
• SurgeX 
• ZeroSurge

One of the best commercial grade values is the SurgeX Power Pro, available through Home Depot for $99 (as of this writing).

Tripp Lite Isobar, some of the best standard grade suppressors, are available through Amazon.

Great Coffee by the Cup

Pod-type coffee brewers (e.g., Keurig, K-Fee, Nespresso) are all the current rage, but they trade aroma and taste for convenience, chiefly because you're not getting freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee, which are the keys to a great cup. In addition, the brewing machines can be quite expensive. Fortunately, there are simple and inexpensive ways to get great coffee by the cup with easy cleanup:

Aerobie AeroPress

What makes Aerobie AeroPress special is the plunger for forcing brewed coffee out of grounds with air pressure, thereby ensuring full extraction for maximum strength, espresso-type drinks in a hurry.

Clever Coffee Dripper

What makes Clever Coffee Dripper special as compared to a standard cone filter holder or coffee maker is that ground coffee is kept in contact with water for the entire brewing period by means of a valve in the bottom of the holder, which ensures full brewing like a French press, but without the problem of sediment, especially if a paper filter is used (rather than a gold metal filter).

Grinding

For best results use freshly ground coffee, ideally by grinding your own with a good burr mill -- see Coffee Grinders under $100.

Powered (Active) Speakers with Remote

Altec Lansing PT6021

Samsung TVs have fixed audio out level that cannot be changed by remote control, so to have remote volume control of external speakers, you need to use:

1. Receiver or home theater system with remote
2. Soundbar with remote
3. Powered (active) speaker system with remote

Option #3 is difficult, because there have been few good yet affordable powered (active) speaker systems with wireless remote, and most that previously existed have been discontinued (e.g., Creative I-Trigue L3800, Klipsch iFi, Onkyo HTX-22HDX). But, as of this writing, the Altec Lansing PT6021 (or similar SLS6221) is available on both Amazon and eBay. (A much more expensive option is the Bose CineMate Series II.)

Update: Unfortunately, the Altec Lansing PT6021 does not live up to its specs and is therefore not recommended:

• AC hum is a problem, especially during soft passages, as acknowledged in the User's Guide: "Some low hum may be detected when your speaker system is powered on without an audio source playing, or when the volume is set at an extremely low level." (That's simply unacceptable.)
• Sound quality is mediocre, lacking in clarity. 

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1

Note: If you don't need remote volume control, try to find a good used Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system -- it's head and shoulders above other affordable powered 2.1 speaker systems: dazzlingly clear sound, smooth response with strong bass, and ample volume.

Google Reader's Lessons

It's not "OK".

Google Reader was an important tool for aggregation of RSS feeds that facilitated sharing (at least until Google+ was forced into it), and was an important platform for RSS applications. A large number of people invested a great deal of time and effort in it, which is lost when Google abruptly shuts it down.

Google's users deserved better, at least a year of warning if nothing else. But, coming on the heels on so many other abrupt here-today-gone-tomorrow shutdowns by Google, there are lessons here that users would do well to heed: Google is not a reliable provider of services, and cloud computing has an important risk -- when a software company discontinues a product, you may be able to keep using it for a long period of time, but when a cloud service is discontinued, it's game over.

(With Gmail you can use POP or IMAP to migrate to another standard email service. Exporting feeds from Google Reader through Google Takeout is much less helpful.)

As a result, I can no longer recommend Google cloud services.

See also:

• Google kills retires Reader in new round of 'spring cleaning' • The Register
• Should the demise of Google Reader teach us a lesson? | Computerworld Blogs
• R.I.P Reader: Google giveth, and Google taketh away | TechBlog | a Chron.com blog

p.s. The irony here is that this blog is hosted by Google -- how long until Blogger gets the axe?

Fix Windows File Association Issue

Windows file associations, which associate a given file type (extension) with applications, are normally set automatically, either when applications are installed or by the applications themselves.

File associations can usually also be set (or changed) by right-clicking a file of that type, choosing Open or Open with, then selecting the application, browsing to the application if necessary. But sometimes that process fails.

The most common cause of this failure is incorrect registration of the application, particularly when a different version of the application was installed previously. To correct this problem:

1. Click start; type "regedit" to find it; then right-click the program and Run as administrator.
2. Navigate Computer > HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > Applications, and find the application exe.
3. Navigate shell > open > command, and check the exe path in the (Default) string.
4. If the path is not correct, change it to the correct path of the application exe.

Why Netbooks Flopped

Netbook computers seemed like such a good idea: low-cost, compact, portable computers with good battery life and enough power for common tasks. At first sales took off reasonably well, but we can now see it was a cycle of rise and fall. Why did they ultimately fail?

I think the answer may be best illustrated with an anecdote: When updating a typical netbook that hadn't been used in about 9 months, it took over two hours to apply the accumlated Windows XP patches, and another hour to update applications. And that was by an expert. Simple tasks like populating the Add/Remove Programs window that should have taken seconds instead took many agonizing minutes. It's just too painful to endure. The value proposition just isn't there.

But that's not the fault of the netbook -- it's the fault of Windows, which takes way too much maintenance and tweaking, and which needs much more powerful hardware to run decently!

But there is hope for the machine: Chromium OS Vanilla, the open source development version of Google Chrome OS, "a lightweight, lightning-fast operating system for your netbook, laptop or even desktop. With the familiar environment of Chromium/Chrome, the entire web is at your fingertips in seconds. HTML5 is fully supported, allowing you to enjoy the very best that the web has to offer." It has the potential to turn the netbook into a speedier, easier to maintain Chromebook. Stay tuned!

Chromebook Pixel: close, but no cigar

The Google Chromebook Pixel is presumably meant to be the best that a Chromebook can be, and while it is an attractive package with a killer screen, it has a number of flaws that just don't belong in a premium-priced machine:

9. Bluetooth: 3.0 is adequate, but it should have been 4.0 for the advances in power conservation (battery life).

8. DisplayPort: DisplayPort is adequate, but HDMI would have made more sense.

7. Storage: 32GB isn't enough for a premium machine; 64GB should have been the minimum.

6. Memory: 4GB isn't enough for effectively managing many open tabs; 8GB should have been included.

5. USB: 2.0 is painfully slow; 3.0 is becoming essential for high speed devices.

4. Gloss: Glare is a problem on the glossy screen; should have been non-glare. 

3. Weight: At 3.35 lbs it's about a pound heavier than it should be, almost as heavy as a light notebook computer.

2. Keyboard: Just backlit isn't enough, a premium machine warrants a premium keyboard (like the Lenovo ThinkPad).

1. Battery: 4 hours of typical use just doesn't cut it, needs to be 8 hours (at least double).

As the saying goes, "Never buy version 1.0!" And Chromebook Pixel is no exception. Perhaps Google will get it right with version 2.0.

Guacamole Ole!

Serves 4

• 2 ripe Haas avocados
• ½ fresh tomato, coarsely chopped and drained
• ¼ fresh onion, chopped (Maui/sweet preferred, but yellow OK)
• ¼ cup salsa (Safeway Select Southwest medium preferred)
• Small squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove fresh garlic, crushed
• ½ teaspoon chili powder (or to taste, good quality, like Grandma's Chili Powder*)
• Salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

1. Mash avocados but leave slightly chunky
2. Mix in remaining ingredients
3. Adjust heat with chili, pepper (ground or flakes), and/or salsa
4. Let stand to meld flavors for a few minutes
5. Serve with tortilla chips (Casa Sanchez Thick & Crispy preferred) and classic Margaritas

* Alas, Grandma's Chili Powder has been discontinued, but a good alternative is Williams Chili Seasoning.

Tequila Bargain!

To make a great Margarita you need great tequila, and most of the widely-available affordable tequilas (including name brands) are dreadful mixtos. (See Types of Tequila) Fortunately there is a very good tequila that won't bust your budget: Zapopan, sold by Trader Joe's for only $10 per liter, both Blanco (lighter) and Reposado (richer and smoother). It's generally better than anything else under $20, and stands up well to anything else under $30.

Classic Margarita

• 1½ oz tequila
  100% agave reposado preferred
• ½ oz triple sec
  good quality, Hiram Walker preferred, orange curaçao also works well
• ½ oz lime juice
  unsweetened, preferably fresh, Key lime for extra flavor

Serve in Old Fashioned glass filled with cracked ice, without salt.
For more sweetness, add more triple sec.
Great accompaniment for guacamole!

Record Internet Radio with VLC

VLC media player (free open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework) is a great way to listen to Internet Radio (streams). All you need is a streaming URL (often obtainable from the source website; e.g., http://kuscstream.org/mp3/kusc128.m3u from KUSC) which you open in VLC with Media > Open Network Stream. To save a source for future listening while it is playing, just drag the Title and drop it onto the Media Library.

Recording a source while it's playing is quite easy: View > Advanced Controls to make the recording control available; click on the red record button circle to record; and click again to stop recording. The recording file will be appropriately named and (on Windows) saved in your Music folder.

Scheduling recordings for times when you're not at your computer can be done with (a) the Task Scheduler built into Windows and (b) the VLC command line interface. Start by testing your recording command in a Command Prompt window, with the following three elements separated by spaces:

1. Complete path to vlc.exe; e.g.,
   "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe"
2. Stream URL; e.g.,
   http://kuscstream.org/mp3/kusc128.m3u
3. VLC record parameters; e.g.,
   --sout="#std{access=file,mux=raw,dst=Recording.mp3}"

The record parameters above assume the stream is in the most universal MP3 format. Where a source has multiple stream formats available, choose MP3 to avoid problems; to try recording some other format, use the appropriate file extension (instead of .mp3). You can of course change the file name from Recording to whatever you might prefer. To create unique file names with date and time, see Play HowTo/Format String; e.g., Recording_%Y%m%d_%H%M

Putting them all together on a line in a Command Prompt window should launch the VLC GUI and create the recording file. Close VLC to complete the recording, then double-click on the recording file to play it, or open it in VLC. When this is working properly, you can move on to scheduling:

1. Open Task Scheduler
2. Click Create Task
3. On the General tab:
   1. Enter Name (e.g., My Stream)
   2. Select Run whether user is logged on or not
4. On the Triggers tab, click New:
1. Enter desired schedule
2. Check Stop task if it runs longer than: and enter the desired recording duration
3. Make sure Enabled is checked
4. Click OK
5. On the Actions tab, click New:
1. Action: Start a program
2. Program/script: complete path to vlc.exe (1st item above); e.g.,
   "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe"
3. Add arguments (optional): 2nd and 3rd items separated by a space; e.g.,
   http://kuscstream.org/mp3/kusc128.m3u --sout="#std{access=file,mux=raw,dst=Recording.mp3}"
6. On the Conditions tab, set whatever options you wish
7. On the Settings tab:
1. Set Stop the task if it runs longer than: to a bit longer than the duration set above
2. Check If the running task does not end when requested, force it to stop
8. Click OK to save the task
9. Test the task by selecting it in the Task Scheduler Library:
1. Click Run to start the task
2. Click End to stop the task
3. Check recorded file
10. Close Task Scheduler
11. Putting

Screenshots:

Google Chrome Processes

If you're not careful Google Chrome can configure itself to run multiple background processes when it isn't running in the foreground. This may be desirable if you want faster loading of Chrome and/or background services like Offline Gmail, but it may just be unnecessary system overhead.

To see if this is happening, close Chrome, and then start Windows Task Manager (e.g., by right-clicking on the Taskbar) and check for "chrome.exe" in the Processes tab.

To keep this from happening:

1. Start Chrome.
2. Click icon Customize and Control Google Chrome at top right corner, and then click Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings window, and then click Show advanced settings...
4. Scroll again to the bottom of the Settings window, and then uncheck Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.

Now when you close Chrome all Chrome processes should terminate.

How To Delete Windows 8 Upgrade Download

If you purchase an online Windows 8 upgrade, download it, and then create an ISO file for later upgrade or installation, afterward you'll still have 2.7 GB of wasted space on your system drive. This same problem was reported in the Consumer Preview (see How to uninstall Windows 8 Consumer Preview setup?!) but wasn't fixed. Fortunately, a similar manual process can be used to reclaim the wasted space after the ISO file has been created for the release -- delete these two directories (folders):

1.     C:\ESD
2.     %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Websetup

How To Play TuneIn Radio Pro Recordings

TuneIn Radio Pro (Android app) makes recordings in whatever format (MP3, AAC, WMA, etc) a source streams in, but does not create legal container files, making recordings (deliberately) hard to play outside of TuneIn.

To determine the format of a given source, start a manual recording and note the format shown on the TuneIn screen.

To play a recording, copy the file from the TuneIn folder on the device to a computer, and rename the file to give it an appropriate file extension; e.g., .mp3 for MP3 audio. The file should now be playable with VLC Media Player. (See example in Comments.)

To play with other players less forgiving of file format issues, it will need to be converted with a tool like foobar2000 or Audacity.

UPDATES:

1. This method does not appear to work with WMA streams. See if MP3 stream is available.
2. In same cases TuneIn makes a recording in multiple file segments, with additional segments named -001, -002, etc.

Roku

Roku is one of the best, most affordable ways to improve your home entertainment. If you have a high-speed Internet connection, Roku can give you access to many "channels" of both free and paid content, including Amazon Instant, Netflix Instant, Pandora Internet Radio, and more. And if you have a Roku model with USB (HD-XR, XDs, XS, as of this writing), you can stream your own video, music, and/or photos from a flash drive or external hard drive.

To control the Roku you can use the included remote control, or an app running on an Android or iOS device, which control the Roku over Wi-Fi rather than infrared so line-of-sight is not required. Some of the current Roku apps for Android:

• Roku (official)
  Works well, but requires you to sign in to a Roku account, so can't be used to control a Roku without access to the Roku account.
• RoByte - Remote for Roku
  Works well. Recommended.
• Rfi - remote for Roku players
  Automatic scanning fails to find the Roku XDs, and a pain to set up manually.
• Remote for Roku
  Lags after touching controls can make it hard to control a Roku properly.

For streaming of your own content through a USB-equipped Roku, a small USB-powered hard drive is a good alternative to a typical USB flash drive, particularly if you have a lot of content, not only much higher capacity, but also much faster. A good choice to match and complement Roku is the Western Digital My Passport, with sale prices as low as $50 for the 500GB size.

Perhaps the best alternative to Roku as of this writing is VIZIO Co-Star, a 2nd-generation Google TV box that's similar to Roku. Pros include the more sophisticated Android platform, wealth of Android apps, Chrome Internet browsing, 3D support, DLNA, and HDMI pass-through. Cons include greater complexity, lower maturity, blocking of some content, clunky remote, and less smooth interface. Google TV devices will likely continue to improve.

Update (January 7, 2013): Another promising Google TV alternative to Roku is the new NETGEAR NeoTV PRIME.

Best Affordable Kitchen Knives

With so many ads for seemingly great knives at cheap prices, why do knowledgeable chef's spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on their knives? Because there really are huge difference in knives in terms of sharpness, durability, stain resistance, weight and balance, and the cheap knives simply don't measure up to the good ones. But fortunately there is a very good knife line that is affordable, the Victorinox (of Swiss Army Knife fame) Professional (formerly Forschner) with Fibrox handles.

Currently on Amazon, the multipurpose 8-Inch Chef's Knife is $25, the versatile 7-Inch Granton Edge Santoku Knife is $33 (can make wafer thin slices that don't stick to the blade), and knife sets start at only $70.

See: Buy This Knife: Forschner Victorinox Fibrox 8 inch Chef's Knife

Tip: If you're going to keep the knife loose in a drawer, get a Blade Safe to protect both the knife and you.

Treatment of Cold Sores

Cold sores (also known as fever blisters, herpes labialis / orolabial herpes viral infections), small lesions that form on or near the lips, can be unpleasant or even painful. They normally run their course and heal in about 2 weeks, but the duration and severity of outbreaks can be significantly decreased with proper medication.

In addition to prescription antivirual drugs like Acyclovir, heavily promoted treatments include Abreva, Releev and Viroxyn (all relatively expensive at $20 and up). What really matters, of course, is the active ingredient, not the brand name. The active ingredient in Abreva is Docosanol (behenyl alcohol); in Releev and Viroxyn it's benzalkonium chloride, which was found to be more effective than Docosanol in a recent study.

So is benzalkonium chloride a new wonder drug? No, it's the active ingredient in classic Bactine, which has been around since 1950. In other words, inexpensive Bactine is as effective in treating cold sores as these newer, more heavily promoted, more expensive medications.

For best results, cold sores should be treated at the earliest signs, typically a tingling in the skin, and the treatment should be worked into (penetrate) the skin. The drawback to Bactine is that it's a liquid, so working it into the skin is inconvenient, but there are gel products with the same active ingredient that are easy to apply effectively:

• Tecnu First Aid Antiseptic Pain-Relieving Gel ($10 at Walgreens)
  Extra strength (0.20% versus standard 0.13%), easily absorbed, recommended.
• Scar Zone Topical Analgesic and Antiseptic Burn Gel ($5.50 at Walgreens)
  Standard strength, least expensive.

For related information, see Cold Sore Relief Scam.

Tip: Benzalkonium chloride is also effective in treating acne. Acne treatments by Neutrogena with benzalkonium chloride are recommended.

Secure Wi-Fi with VPN

When you use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, you expose your Internet traffic to interception and evesdropping by other users of the hotspot, even when wireless access is secured by WEP or WPA with a shared key.

The best way to protect yourself is to use a virtual private network (VPN) service, which securely encrypts (protects) your Internet traffic all the way to the VPN service provider gateway, thus also protecting you against monitoring (snooping) by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). (Your traffic is not protected between the VPN gateway and remote websites, but this is normally not a concern.)

To create a VPN connection (or "tunnel"), software in your computer connects to corresponding software in the VPN gateway. You may be able to use VPN software included in the operating system with your computer, or you may need to download and install special VPN software, depending on the type of VPN connection (protocol). After you've made a Wi-Fi connection, you typically start your VPN software, which then makes the VPN connection to the VPN gateway.

A few of the better low-cost VPN service providers, where you can get information and help on what software, protocol(s), and gateway(s) to use as part of opening a VPN service account:

• Air VPN
  ~$70 per year or ~$9 per month (depending on current Euro conversion rate, 10-15% off coupon codes may be available). Selectable servers in multiple countries; transparent policies on bandwidth allocation; high performance; no discrimination toward any service, protocol or application; full support for dynamic remote port forwarding. Uses OpenVPN (very high security). Support by forums and email.
• Private Tunnel
  First 100 MB free, then pay (in advance) for capacity you actually use with no monthly fees. Free easy-to-use software for Windows, Mac, Android, and iPad/iPhone. Good performance and reliability. Blocks access to malicious websites by means of Google DNS. Supports DD-WRT wireless router firmware. Run by OpenVPN Technologies in Pleasanton, California.
• WiTopia
  Service as low as $50 per year. Monthly plan available. Pro account only moderately more expensive. Unconditional money back guarantee. Gateway servers in 57 cities in 35 countries. Fast and unlimited data transfer. 99.99% uptime. Supports OpenVPN (Pro account only), Cisco IPsec, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP. Free SMTP Mail Relay and Secure DNS service. 24x7x365 Support by live chat or email. 

Not Acceptable:

• boxpn
  Sends passwords in insecure email, and passwords can't be changed by users (both serious security issues).
  

Tips:

1. Select a VPN service provider with care; cheap, fast, dependable—you only get two.
2. Use only standard or open VPN protocols OpenVPN, OpenSSH, L2TP/IPsec, and SSTP.
3. PPTP is considered cryptographically broken and should not be used.
4. Only download and install VPN software from a trusted source, like OpenVPN.
5. Test for and fix Windows DNS leaks here.

Windows 8 Misses the Mark

Windows 8 is a compelling proposition for tablets, but not for desktops and laptops, where the new interface is more confusing than compelling, leaving no good reason to upgrade from Windows 7. Some of the things Microsoft could and should have done to address that issue:

1. Overhaul Windows display tech to compete with Apple Retina
2. Build virtualization into Windows core
3. Build cloud services into Windows core, with (say)
   1. 100 GB free SkyDrive storage for 2 years
   2. automatic cloud photo sync
   3. automatic cloud backup (like Carbonite)
4. Integrate Skype into Windows core, with unlimited free calling for 2 years
5. Integrate speech recognition, both command and dictation
6. Include "personal assistant" capability (like Apple Siri/Google Now)

Surface Misses the Mark

Microsoft still doesn't get it. The new Surface tablet has some nice capabilities (Windows 8, Office, cover keyboard, Xbox controllers), but it also has some serious issues:

• Price: Microsoft is making the same mistake Android tablets made when they first came out, pricing Surface ($500 without cover keyboard, $600 with) at least $100 too high. Surface is too new and insufficiently compelling on capabilities to gain traction against the Apple iPad without a more compelling price.
• Display: 1366×768 resolution is crude, especially compared to iPad at 2048×1536. All Surface models should have been Full HD 1920x1080 (not just the "coming soon" Surface with Windows Pro, which will probably be even more expensive).
• USB: The lack of USB 3.0 is inexcusable, a serious limitation.
• Immaturity: Windows 8 is half-baked, much like Windows Vista, and time will be needed to flesh it out and smooth it out. Never buy version 1 of anything (Apple excepted).

Bottom line: Wait for version 2.

Relieving Adobe Installer Pain

When Adobe Photoshop Elements is installed on Microsoft Windows, the Adobe installer first installs the Editor, then the Organizer (whether you want it or not), and lastly Shared Technologies, with each of the three steps taking a good deal of time to complete.

So when I set out to install Photoshop Elements 11, I expected it to take some time. What I didn't expect was a fatal error at the end of the lengthy install process, followed by a lengthy rollback of the entire install. The error message ("The installation process has encountered an error while installing Shared Technologies.") was uninformative and unhelpful, just suggesting the computer be restarted before trying again. And of course it then failed again, wasting a good deal of additional time.

So I was left with searching the Web for more helpful information on the issue, discovering it to be a not uncommon problem, eventually finding an Adobe help page on troubleshooting Photoshop Elements installation problems, with a Note pertaining to my specific situation. I was trying to install from a downloaded install file on a USB flash drive. When I followed the advice in the Note to first copy the install file to the root of the system drive, the long installation finally succeeded. From start to finish the install took more than an hour (and might well have taken longer) for something that shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

The install hack is beyond the skill of less experienced users and shouldn't be necessary. The Adobe help page indicates this issue has existed since at least Photoshop Elements 9, a period of at least two years as of this writing, raising the question of why it hasn't long since been corrected, or at least more helpful information provided with the installer. Customers deserve better.

Moral: The safest way to use a downloaded Adobe installer is to place it in the root directory of the system drive (usually C:\) before installing. Don't try to install from a USB flash drive.

Navas' Rules of Mobile

For Developers and Content Providers
(Parts shamelessly adapted from Google's Android Design)

1. The essence of mobile is movement, not a small screen.
2. Minimize use of resources (data, battery, memory, etc).
3. Make it easy to access either mobile or standard version of content.
4. Optimize standard version of content so it works as well as possible on mobile.
5. Don't presume to know what I want; instead, make it easy for me to get what I actually want.
6. Make me amazing. Do the heavy lifting for me.
7. Only show what I need when I need it, and make important things fast.
8. Simplify my life, get to know me, but let me make it mine.
9. Don't abuse our relationship in any way. Always ask me for permission.
10. Either do it right, or don't do it at all

Note: I plan to expand each rule with a paragraph of explanation, so please do check back.

A Tale of Two Locks

Leave your computer unguarded for a moment in a coffee place and it might be gone when you get back (including all your data), and even when you're there, it might still get snatched. To keep that from happening, you should get a lock to secure it. While nothing will stop a skillful thief with time and opportunity, the better cable locks will deter most thieves. But you need to choose your lock with care, because there are big differences in performance.

The Good

Arguably the best locks are by PC Guardian, with secure locking mechanisms, rotating and swiveling cable attachment to resist prying, and tough cables that are hard to cut. I particularly like the red cable version because it is more likely to be noticed in advance and deter a thief from even trying. Unfortunately, PC Guardian no longer makes these locks, although it's still possible as of this writing to find them for sale online. The next best bet is the Kensington Microsaver, which is relatively easy to find.

The Bad

One of the most widely available locks is the Targus DEFCON CL (PA410U), also attractive because it's less expensive. However, it has a big deficiency: the combination dials can slip and change the combination while it is being locked, so it won't unlock with the combination you have set, which can be a huge problem. When this happens, Targus has no solution other than either (a) cutting off lock with a hacksaw or (b) trying all possible (10,000) combinations.

The Ugly

I'm not guessing this — it happened to me! And in the process of dealing with the problem I discovered the DEFCON CL has an even bigger deficiency — it's easy to pick! When you press the unlocking pin, any cylinder not in the unlock position will deflect (move) slightly in the same direction, making it a simple matter to rotate the cylinders in turn until they don't deflect. It took me less than 5 minutes to figure this out and unlock my computer despite the changed combination. I estimate a knowledgeable thief could do it in 1-2 minutes while not even looking suspicious. Thus I rate the DEFCON CL unacceptable.

(With apologies to Charles Dickens and Sergio Leone.)

USB 3.0 Flash Drives

USB 3.0 ("SuperSpeed"), now becoming a reality, can be up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed), but many early USB 3.0 products are disappointing, not all that much faster than USB 2.0 products, particularly in the case of USB flash drives. Because flash memory writing is relatively slow, higher speeds are only possible with advanced multiple-channel controllers and large RAM buffers, which cheaper products lack. A good choice for high performance is Patriot Supersonic:

Supersonic Xpress

• 2-channel memory controller
• 8GB, 16GB: Up to 50MB/s read, 20MB/s write
• 32GB: Up to 60MB/s read, 25MB/s write

Supersonic

• 4-channel memory controller
• 32GB, 64GB: Up to 100MB/s read, 70MB/s write

Supersonic Magnum

•  8-Channel technology
•  64GB, 128GB: Up to 200MB/s read, 120MB/s write

If your laptop/notebook computer lacks USB 3.0 ports, a good solution is the StarTech flush ExpressCard Adapter:

• 34mm: 1 USB 3.0 port
• 54mm: 2 USB 3.0 ports

If your desktop/tower computer lacks USB 3.0 ports, a good solution is the SYBA USB 3.0 2-port PCI-e Controller Card (based on the Etron EJ168 chip, which is faster than more common NEC/Renesas chips).

Favorite Android Apps updated

See my major update to my Favorite Android Apps!

Windows 8 Preview

The Windows 7 UI (user interface) is significantly improved over Windows XP, but both suffer from the ancient PC app-centric paradigm, in which often huge monolithic apps (like Microsoft Office) are launched to do simple tasks, which is slow and painful on even the fastest hardware. Yes, we can leave multiple apps running, but that's confusing to average users, and tends to consume huge amounts of system resources (hurting performance). Attempts to make the PC document-centric haven't really helped. This is a big part of the reason that Google is developing Chrome OS for lightweight cloud-centric PC computing.

Part of the appeal of Google Android and Apple IOS is that they are task-centric, with lightweight tasks (apps) designed to be suspended and restarted quickly and seamlessly. When you're in (say) Gmail in Android, you can touch Home and then (say) Maps to quickly switch to that task, with Gmail suspended in the background consuming relatively few system resources, and if Android needs those resources, it can kill Gmail while saving state information for a fast restart. If you then touch Home and Gmail again, you are right back where you left off in Gmail whether Gmail is being awakened or restarted. You never have to close an app. There's really no way to do this in Windows without a huge performance hit and/or a huge amount of re-engineering that isn't going to happen. Plus cloud-centric computing is already built into Android, and now into IOS as well (the biggest part of the iPhone 4S announcement).

Another part of the appeal of Android and IOS is the ability to easily merge disparate sources into one UI component; e.g., a widget that merges phone (Google) contacts, Facebook contacts, Twitter contacts, etc. Windows 8 is an attempt to do this on the PC, but since it fails to solve the app-centric paradigm issue, I don't think it's going to be all that successful -- Windows users have too much invested in current apps and how they work. What I think Microsoft really needs is a new cloud-centric desktop OS (like Chrome), but the Windows 8 Preview isn't even half that loaf. Microsoft may now get it, but apparently lacks the courage to do it.

Electronic Fax

Despite the explosive shift to digital communications, there can still sometimes be a need for old-style analog facsimile (fax), but thanks to the Internet it's no longer necessary to have a fax machine and fax phone line.
The principal drawback to Internet fax can be cost, in that many Internet fax services are monthly subscription plans, but if your needs are modest, here's how to do fax over the Internet on the cheap (best deals as of this writing):

• Incoming: Free service from eFax. You'll be given an incoming fax number, and your incoming faxes will be sent to you by email. To view (or print) faxes received by email, you'll need to download and install eFax Messenger software.
• Outgoing: Pay As You Go service from Fax1. Currently $0.12 per delivered page to the USA. (International rates here) $1 free trial credit to get started; buy more credit as needed. Download and install FaxBlaster software to print to fax from any software on your computer, or use any of several other faxing options. (Use the incoming eFax number when setting up your outgoing Fax1 account.)

Scratched CD/DVD/BD

When you have trouble playing or reading an optical disc, CD, DVD, or BD (Blu-ray Disc), the first thing to do is clean the disc. There's no need for fancy cleaners – just hand wash the disc with mild dish soap (nothing abrasive), rinse thoroughly, and dry with soft cloth (not paper towel, which can scratch).

If that doesn't do the trick, then the disc may be scratched, which interferes with the optical laser pickup. Expensive kits are available to fix scratches in optical discs, but what can do the job more cheaply in many cases is simple furniture polish (e.g., Pledge™). Spray on generously; polish thoroughly with soft absorbent cloth; and make sure it's completely dry before trying to play or read it.

If that doesn't work, then commercial polishing using abrasives, like the TAP Plastics Novus system, may be needed.

Coffee Grinders under $100

Capresso Infinity

Grinding your own coffee is essential for great tasting coffee, and the best grinders are burr mill. (Conical burr is generally superior to disc wheel burr, just as disc wheel burr is superior to blades.) Burr grinders tend to be much more expensive than blade "grinders", but there are a few burr grinders that are both good and affordable:

• Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
  Very good grinder, easier to clean than the Cuisinart (and Krups), but not quite as convenient to use. Available in plastic ($90) or stainless ($140) exterior.
• Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
  Essentially an enlarged and improved version of a grinder originally sold under the Braun label, does a decent job at an affordable price. $50-60
• Krups GVX-series Burr Grinder
  Compact, simple and reasonably effective. Two similar models. $60-70

Favorite Android App: QuickPic

Latest addition to my list of Favorite Android Apps is QuickPic, a replacement for the stock Gallery app for image (picture) viewing that's much more elegant, efficient, and fast!

Favorite Android App: Equalizer

Latest addition to my list of Favorite Android Apps is Equalizer, a great tool for adjusting sound frequencies and effects on Gingerbread (version 2.3) and later versions of Android.

Worthy Netbook Computer At Last!

Netbook computers are a great idea – portables with good battery life and real keyboards that are less expensive, smaller and lighter than typical notebook/laptop computers, but up to now they have been flawed by poor performance (processor and graphics), small low-resolution glossy screens that are hard to read in bad lighting, poor keyboards, limited RAM memory, and lackluster design. It's no wonder that tablets like the Apple iPad have been giving them a run for their money. But now that's changing thanks to a new breed of netbooks powered by AMD Fusion APUs, which feature CPU and GPU on a single chip resulting in good performance with relatively low power consumption (good battery life).

The best of these new netbooks is the Lenovo ThinkPad X120e (awarded Best Affordable Business Ultraportable at CES 2011):

• Very well built and supported
• Superb full-size keyboard with both TouchPad and TrackPoint
• Non-glare (matte) 11.6" screen with high 1366x768 resolution and LED backlight
• Very good performance, more like a notebook than a netbook
• Up to 4GB RAM
• Fast 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
• Excellent connectivity (Wi-Fi, gigabit Ethernet, 3 USB 2.0, SD slot, Bluetooth)
• Webcam
• Small and light

Look for sales on the Lenovo website to bring the total price under $500 with free shipping. (Through May 26, 2011, a fully loaded configuration can be had for only $428 here, no Visa card needed, just apply displayed coupon at checkout.)

MY OWN REVIEW (based on 2 hours of intensive use of a ThinkPad X120e with 1GB RAM, should be faster with 2-4GB RAM)

• Fit and finish is very good, case not rubberized like ThinkPad T-series, but still a nice matte black.
• Machine itself is quite light, with much of the total weight in the battery.
• Keyboard is very good, with nice key travel, albeit not quite as rigid as older ThinkPad T-series.
• Both TouchPad and TrackPoint provide excellent response and accuracy.
• Single headset (smartphone-type TRRS) socket instead of separate microphone and headphone sockets makes sense.
• Screen is sharp, on par with higher resolution ThinkPad T-series.
• Software (OS, utilities, Microsoft Word) is responsive and snappy, programs opening quickly and running cleanly, with little apparent difference versus a more powerful laptop, even when running more than one program at the same time.
• Video playback was smooth even at full screen when accelerated, although it was sometimes a little jerky when not accelerated.
• Did not test webcam, speakers or microphone.

DISAPPOINTMENTS

• As compared to ThinkPad T-series, screen has lower contrast and less even backlighting.
• No ThinkLight or other keyboard illumination, a glaring (inexcusable) flaw.
• No SSD option. 

UPDATE: The X120e is being replaced by the X121e, which may make the X120e more affordable until supplies are gone.