How to find Laptops Under $300

There are several places you can find good quality used laptops for under $300. Several laptop manufacturers, such as Dell and Lenovo refurbish returned machines (often off a corporate or government lease) and re-sell them with a limited warranty for a fraction of their original cost. Amazon and eBay are also great places to look for refurbished laptops, though there are a few more risks involved. If you do decide to to buy a laptop from a private Amazon or eBay seller, check to ensure they have at least a 15 day return policy, should the laptop develop issues in the first two weeks of use.

3 Excellent Business Laptops Under $300

1.  Dell Latitude D630

This is an excellent laptop and a real bargain, due to the fact that thousands of these machines are coming off their 3 or 4 year leases with government and corporate entities. A good quality one can be had for as little as $200. Several refurbishing shops will even put a fast SSD (solid state drive) in for you which will make this laptop faster than any sub $500 laptop you could find at an electronics store. I’ve actually purchased several of these laptops for friends and family who were looking for the best laptop they could find at this price point. Up until six months ago, I used a Latitude D630 8 hours a day for work after upgrading the internal hard drive to a Seagate 500GB Hybrid Drive (ssd+harddrive).  Available from Amazon.com

2. Lenovo Thinkpad T400

Lenovo, the company that now sells the old IBM Thinkpad line under a new name still maintains a high level of quality in their machines. They may look a bit dated, but rest assured, the components on these machines are rock solid. I’ve seen Thinkpad laptops last 10+ years, a testament to the use of quality parts and the best manufacturing practices in the industry. Available from Amazon.com

3. Dell Precision M4400

This machine is easily the most powerful laptop under $300, out of the trio listed here. It comes with dedicated graphics which enables it to run the aero graphics in Windows 7 without a hiccup. It also means you’ll be able to watch those high definition movies on Youtube and Netflix without an issue. Available from Amazon.com

There are several other sub $300 refurbished laptops around, but these in my experience are the best on the market at this time. Have you discovered any other great refurbished laptops under $300? Feel free to mention them in the comments below!

What if you could get a great tablet similar to the iPad for under $200?

YOU CAN!

Here are 5 Tablets Available Today for Under $200

1. Amazon Kindle Fire   -  $199

With the Kindle Fire, Amazon’s Kindle platform has finally “come of age”. This tablet, powered by a dual core processor has power to spare. Dollar for dollar, you won’t find a better Android powered tablet. Amazon makes their money from the content they sell, so the Kindle has always been priced below the market average to bring in more potential content buyers. Don’t like Amazon’s flavor of the Android operating system? No problem. This tablet can be easily rooted and another flavor of Android installed. The hardware is the greatest value here. It’s available where else but Amazon.

A few specifications:

• 8GB internal (approximately 6GB available for user content).
• 7″ multi-touch display with IPS (in-plane switching) technology and anti-reflective treatment, 1024 x 600 pixel resolution at 169 ppi, 16 million colors.
• 3.5 mm stereo audio jack, top-mounted stereo speakers.
• Up to 8 hours of continuous reading or 7.5 hours of video playback, with wireless off. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as web browsing and downloading content.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad A1 7-inch Tablet  -  $189

Lenovo, the Chinese computer manufacturer that bought out IBM’s PC division a few years ago, now goes head to head with Amazon. This tablet, though missing the dual core processor, is a worthy contender to Amazon’s Kindle Fire and priced competitively at $10 less than Amazon’s best selling mobile device. You can either buy it directly from Lenovo, or take advantage of Amazon’s great shipping and returns services and get it at Amazon.com.

A few specifications:

• Texas Instruments OMAP 3622 (1GHz)
• 16GB SSD; 512 MB LPDDR2 600MHz
• Dual camera 0.3/3.0 MP
• 7.0″ SD LED Glare Multi-touch with integrated camera 1024×600
• Android 2.3 Operating System

3. Apple iPad 16GB  -  $180-$250 Refurbished

If you shop around you can bag an iPad under $200 in the used and refurbished markets. Apple’s original iPad is a classic. The quality beats all other tablets in this article. And due to the fact that it isn’t the latest edition of this flagship product, you can find an iPad under $200 if you shop around in the refurbished market

A few specifications:

• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology. 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi).
• 16GB flash drive with 1Ghz Apple A4 custom-designed system on a chip.
• Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
• Box Contents: iPad Dock Connector to USB Cable, 10W USB Power Adapter, Documentation

› See more product details

4.  Le Pan TC 970 9.7-Inch Android Tablet  -  $179

This was the only sub-$200 tablet I could find worth mentioning that sports a 9.7 inch screen, the same size as Apple’s iPad. The front facing 2 megapixel camera is great for video chatting. Unlike the iPad, the Le Pan (I like the French name) can power through Flash based websites and animations without a hitch. Available from Amazon.

A few specifications:

• Android 2.2, 1 GHz procesing speed
• 512 MB of DDR2 RAM
• High-Definition Display 9.7″ high definition touch screen, 1024X768 XVGA TFT LCD,supports 720P HD video playback
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Front-facing 2-megapixel camera

5. Velocity Micro Cruz 8 inch Tablet  -  $179

This little 8 inch tablet wonder is aimed directly between the smaller, hold-it-in-one-hand, 7 inch tablets and the larger iPad size range of tablets. It’s a good place to be and the features don’t disappoint either.

A few specifications:

• 8″ capacitive screen provides more screen area for a more complete tablet experience
• Download from a library of thousands of apps via Amazon Appstore, preinstalled
• Flash enabled, pre-installed
• Quick Office Full version and Angry Birds preinstalled
• Front facing camera for video conferencing

I’ve run several of these great tablets through their paces. If you’re in the market for a sub $200 tablet, you won’t go wrong with any of them. Rumor has it that some even better Windows 8 tablets are on the way for this fall. However, due to the licensing costs of the Windows OS, none of them will be at this price point. And as you can see with the Blackberry Playbook, the sub $200 price point isn’t a guarantee. These prices can go up at any time. So why wait? If you’re in the market for a tablet, find which one meets your needs the best and order it today.

Yesterday, Netgear announced the world’s first 802.11 ac wireless router capable of network connectivity speeds up to 1GBbits/s. The current leader in wireless technology is 802.11 N which is capable of 300Mbits/s.

That being said, I wouldn’t rush out and buy the device as soon as it appears at your local Staples. A best practice with new technology like this is to wait until version 2 or 3 of the device, after the manufacturer has worked the bugs out of it. Also, it will probably be awhile before laptop makers and other mobile device manufacturers begin to integrate Broadcom’s 5G 802.11ac WiFi chips on-board.

Once this technology becomes widely adopted it will open up new opportunities for extending wireless networks capable of handling full HD video and enterprise level data bandwidth requirements.

You can read more on the story at Netgear’s original press release.

Computer Service Lancaster PA

There are many options for computer service Lancaster PA. Some are small mom and pop shops. Others ares large well established businesses who have been in Lancaster for years.

How

To find a reputable computer service provider, it pays to as around to find the best one. Chances are, a friend or associate has used computer service lancaster pa recently and can recommend one to you. You can also try a local Google Search or use one of the many online business directories such as Yelp or Merchant Circle.

Where

Another place to look for good computer service near Lancaster PA is on social networking sites such as LinkedIn or the ever popular Facebook. Check out how many ‘Likes’ the business has received and if there is lots of positive feedback, chances are, that particular computer service business is a good choice.

When

Once you’ve found the business you like for computer service Lancaster PA, go ahead, give them a call. Many of them will even come onsite to fix your computer.

What to Expect

Most onsite computer service companies will give you a free estimate over the phone based on the issues you describe to them. It’s kind of like getting your car serviced. The tech tells you what the average job like that costs. Then he looks at the computer issue or upgrade in person and gives you a final price point before getting your OK. Once you give the green light, a computer technician with industry experience will quickly solve the problem and get you back up and running fast.

Most people I talk to are familiar with the iPad. A smaller number of people know that Google created the Android operating system which runs on the cheaper ‘Android Tablets’ that are flooding the market.
However, when I mention the Chrome Book, I get a confused look.  “Chrome what? I thought Chrome was a browser.”

It IS a browser, but as confusing as it might seem, Chrome is also an operating system. The Chrome OS as it is called, is built on Linux, an open-source operating system which has been around for over 20 years. Most users wouldn’t recognize the fact that Linux is what’s running underneath the glossy Google customized interface.

So where is the Google OS found? For the time being, Google Chrome OS has found a niche in the netbook marketplace. Samsung and Acer have partnered with Google to build customized netbooks running this unique operating system. Price-wise, the netbooks are fairly reasonable. You can pick up an Acer Chrome Book for $299 from Amazon or pony up $420 for a Samsung Series 5 which includes 3G. At that price point it’s hard to find any device that includes both WiFi and 3G and sports a full qwerty keyboard and 12 inch screen.

Are they worth it?  If you want to use a small ultra-portable notebook for web browsing, document editing and catching up on the latest news or online television, then yes these are a great deal. Just don’t plan to edit the next blockbuster film on one of these. The hardware isn’t designed for it.

Microsoft has announced that their ‘Consumer Preview’ of Windows 8 is now available for download. Windows 8 with it’s completely new ‘Metro’ graphical user interface is set to debut this fall.

You can download the preview for free over on Microsoft’s website. I’ve downloaded it, and hope to find the time to play with it soon. PC World has written a review HERE.

Marketed as the first 4G LTE phone available on the Sprint network (it was previously available on Verizon), Google’s Galaxy Nexus has the following features:

• Enhanced speed and performance
• Voice typing, a speech-to-Text feature[50][51]
• Virtual buttons in the user interface, in place of capacitive or physical buttons
• Separation of widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar manner to apps
• Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar
• Ability to access apps directly from lock screen (similar to HTC Sense 3.x)
• Improved copy and paste functionality
• Better voice integration and continuous, real-time speech to text dictation
• Face Unlock, a feature that allows users to unlock handsets using facial recognition software[50]
• New tabbed web browser, allowing up to 16 tabs
• Data Usage section in settings that lets users set warnings when they approach a certain usage limit, and disable
• data use when the limit is exceeded
• Improved camera app with zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, panorama mode, and the ability to zoom while
• recording
• Built-in photo editor
• New gallery layout, organized by location and person
• Android Beam, a near-field communication feature allowing the rapid short-range exchange of web bookmarks,
• contact info, directions, YouTube videos and other data
• Wi-Fi Direct[50][53]
• 1080p HD (1920×1080 @ 24 fps) video recording with the rear facing 5 MP camera
• 720p HD (1280×720 @ 30 fps) video recording with the front facing 1.3 MP camera

You can also download Adobe Flash Player on the Google App Store which flies in the face of Apple’s refusal to enable Flash on any of their iOS devices. The folks down in Cupertino aren’t going to just sit back and watch Google steal market share however. Their lawyers are hard at work and have brought a preliminary injunction against the phone.

Personally, I use an iPhone because so far, the iOS trumps Android hands down for what I call ‘immediate fluidity’ in the interface. However, as these Android devices begin to take advantage of the latest tech and Android develops into a stable operating system, I may be tempted to switch.

3.11.2012 Update: TechCrunch has written an interesting article about this as well.

The Construction Site
iPads are great for entertainment, social media and checking email. But, did you know the iPad can now be found in a place known to be incredibly unfriendly to any electronic device? You guessed it, the construction site. These places are grimy, dusty, dirty and not the place you would expect to find a consumer device like the iPad.

Harsh Environment Pro
The iPad however, is unusually well adapted to this harsh environment. With no fans to suck in the dust and grit into the delicate circuitry, all you need is a case and a screen protector to make this an excellent device to add to your tool box right next to the Skilsaw.

How Contractors use the iPad
From sales to invoicing to materials estimating to measurement calculators, there’s probably ‘an app for that’. Many of the folks I’ve talked to in the construction industry are deploying these device among their workers and running the iPad through its paces to see if it is up to the challenge of replacing good old ink on paper work flows.

Here is a list of ten of the most popular apps available for contractors:

1. SmartBidNet – According to their website this app can do all of the following:

• Create and send prequalification forms to sub contractors and manage the review and renewals process
• Manage all subcontractor and supplier contact, trade, and qualification details, communications, and bidding history
• Create and send bid invitations and addenda, project updates and requests for information using our custom mail editor and templates
• Keep project participants on schedule and up-to-date with extensive communication features and a shared calendar
• Generate reports on various subcontractor, bid project, or system data

2. Builder’s Helper – Packed with various calculators, this apps is a time saver for the construction pro. A building contractor has this to say about the app: “This app is a life saver! Use it all the time for job cost calculation, in job stair and roof calculations and more! Would highly recommend.”

3. Concretulator – In spite of the odd name, this app is quite useful for concrete workers. Baron comments, “Awesome!!! I’m redoing a deck and sidewalk this weekend. Thought I’d look online and see if there was a simpler way to estimate this stuff, and here it is!
Concrete’s cheap, but this app’s cheaper than the gas I’d pay by having to go back to the store even once. Awesome”

4. Dry Wall Calculator – Everyone knows dry-walling is hard enough without having to do all the estimating long hand. This app does it all for you. And for .99 cents its a bargain.

5. Roofing Calculator - From the website… “The Roofing Calculator app is made for roofing contractors and sales people to help you quickly estimate roofing cost, roof size, and roofing materials amount and prices.”

6. Fast Paint Calculator – Just enter the room dimensions and a few other details and presto! you know how much paint to buy and how much it’ll cost you.

7. iEstimate – This tool has a 4+ rating and while price at 19.99 (quite a bit higher than a lot of the tools linked here, it seems like an incredibly useful estimation app.

8. I.D. Wood – This is an incredible tool when you are deciding what kind of wood you want to use on a project. It covers all the most common wood varieties used in construction and then some.

9. Home Builder Pro Calcs – This tool is like a Swiss army knife of home building and construction apps.

10. QuickBooks Mobile – This list would not be complete without a link to the most popular accounting software used by construction contractors.

I’m assuming, if you’ve read this far you are in the construction industry and currently use or are thinking about using the iPad in your business. If you are using the iPad in your construction business, feel free to share which apps you’ve found useful in the comments below. Also, if you have any friends in the construction industry, feel free to share this blog post on Facebook or Linked In or Twitter using the links below.

I first heard about the Geek Squad almost ten years ago, long before starting Onsite Mobile Computer Services. On-site computer service wasn’t a new idea to me. However, I was intrigued that a big box retailer like Best Buy would invest in what seemed to me a rather fragmented market.

So, out of curiosity I did a little research. The guy who started the Geek Squad simply found a niche market and focused on solving problems and creating a ‘customer rescue’ approach to his business model. Oh, and he did all this this with the humble investment of $200 and a bicycle. The rest is history. Here is the Geek Squad story in their own words, complete with a heavy dose of pride and cocky movie-star-like ‘attitude’:

Here’s a timeline of Geek Squad history with plenty of humor along the way.

I’ve never personally experienced the customer service that Geek Squad offers, but along with the corporate mantle of Best Buy 8 years after their inception, came a loss. A loss of that personal touch that their founder Robert Stephens found success with. Several of my clients have used their services and been less than impressed with the results. But who am I to judge? They’re the competition and I have learned a lot both from their successes and their mistakes.

May the best geeks, providing the best customer experience win!

Meanwhile, here’s an article on how to find the best Computer Service Lancaster PA.