Computer Hardware & Software

QWERTY computer keyboards have been accessible by consumers since the dawn of PCs (personal computers).  Sure, desktop keyboards have become more ergonomic and sleeker, but the shape of the keys has remained consistent until  now.  Well…sort of.  The new chiclet keyboard is mimicking fashion - meaning you have to go way way back to find the design in certain gadgets manufactured in the 80’s. 

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The Founders’ Blog has written in-depth about the advantages for writers of multiple monitors or even just an extended monitor.  Remember the goal with having large extended monitors is not to expand a single window 24" (or however big your monitor), but rather to open multiple windows inside of the allotted space.  This dynamic speeds up productivity, allowing a writer simultaneous access to multiple apps and the internet. 

To speed up the process of positioning two windows to fit within a single screen, Windows 7 has included windows management functions within the OS. You simply drag a window to the top or sides of the screen, and it will be maximized or resized to take up only half of the screen.

The most recent Mac OS X Snow Leopard does not offer the windows resizing feature, but you can purchase a shareware product called Cinch for $7 and accomplish the same thing.

To view videos showcasing the benefits of resizing windows check out the following links:

Windows  7

Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6

This November we’re giving away product samples at LitCentral Founders’ Blog.  Throughout the year we conduct numerous product reviews for some of the finest tech products on the market. Our goody box is piling up with product samples, and the season for giving is fast approaching.  The product samples have been used for testing purposes, but are in excellent condition.  Items include ergonomic mice, laptop bags/backpacks, Field Notes and an OtterBox BlackBerry Tour case.

It’s as easy as 1 - 2 - 3 to win.   Here’s what you need to do to enter:

This week we’ll be giving away an Otterbox Impact case.  To learn more about the case click on the linked photo above.

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No need to check the calendar.  It’s true.  We are fast approaching 2010 and still the most you can hope to get out of a laptop battery is 3 - 5 hrs.  “But, but…” I know, I know, there’s a robot on Mars and a man on the moon. Go figure.

Until manufacturers can figure out the short-lived battery dilemma, external batteries remain the only key to unfetter the mobile writer.  We’ve all seen the chaos that can ensue over the lone outlet jack in the airport terminal or Starbucks cafe.  It’s an ugly site and quite frankly, degrading as much as it is ridiculous - human beings hovering over a single outlet jack like a squirrel burring a nut for the winter. Rise up from the muck and mire people and go forth hauling 20+ hours of battery life with the HyperMac extended battery.

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This blog has written at length about the advantages of tablet PCs (TPC) for writers.  In fact, the lack of writers’ awareness regarding various technologies that enhance productivity was the impetus behind LitCentral starting this blog.  Lump TPCs into the “technology that enhances writers’ productivity” bunch. If you are the type of writer that likes to map out your novel or script with handwritten notes, 3×5 cards, and Post-it stickers the TPC is a great solution.   Using software applications like OneNote and Evernote with your TPC,  you can write directly on the screen,  capturing all of your handwritten notes (all in one place) and never run out of ink or paper.  

When I first became interested in the TPC over five years ago, you could expect to pay a minimum of $2000 for the cheapest of models, and up to $4500 for the crème de la crème.   Today, prices have dropped considerably with certain models starting at $799.

LifeBook T4310

Fujitsu is one of the oldest manufacturers of tablet PCs, helping to pioneer the hardware platform over 20 years ago.  They offer the largest selection of TPCs, and recently joined the family of multi-touch tablet PCs with the introduction of the Lifebook T4310. Most tablets are built around a “mobile” platform with light weight hardware (2.4 lbs - 4 lbs) and small 12″ screens.   The T4310 is no different.  It offers the latest dual digitizer technology with pen input and multi-touch interaction, a modular bay, bi-directional display hinge, and the performance of Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor technology.

Starting at $1049, the Fujitsu LifeBook T4310 isn’t the cheapest TPC on the market, but it does not compromise on quality or technology. My only gripe is that I would prefer it have a faster FSB (1066 MHz vs 800 MHz).  Available for order late October.  Go here for more info.

For those of you who want a little green in your work environment, the Horchow bamboo-like keyboard and mouse offer an interesting eco-friendly approach to computer hardware.   It will  set you back a cool $78 but you’ll look good writing that next blockbuster.   PC compatible only.  BTW…check out Horchow for great writer gifts in general.  The holidays are fast approaching, ya know! 

 

Let me begin by describing the writer’s meme - and by all accounts it is a meme, particularly for fiction writers. 

You sit in front of a computer for blocks of hours, but you’re not really "present".  Your body is there in front of your computer, but your attention, your vision, your emotions - are carrying on in a world inside your head.  This world is the place where your characters reside.  There’s a time warp that’s almost indescribable.  You feel as though you’ve been writing for 30 minutes but the clock shows you’ve been at it for hours.  Quite often, the only thing that pulls you out of this world is a numbing in the wrist or a sharp pain in the back.   

Enter the benefits of ergonomics for writers.  ANYTHING that helps you stay in "that world" is a good thing.  That world is where you are at your best.  In that world you are not creating, you are an observer…a journalist.  Your character’s thoughts, feelings, actions and dialogue are coming through you, and the keyboard and onto your computer screen.  The longer you stay in that world, the better writer you become (remember my article on Outliers?). 

So often when purchasing computer equipment, ergonomics is considered an afterthought - and ergonomic mice – well they are like the "after” gadget.  Just like the backup hard drive "after" your system has already crashed.  Or the protective eyewear "after" you’ve scratched your cornea.  Or the brain bucket “after” you have spilled your brains on the asphalt.  I have been using the ergonomic mice described below for over a month, and I realize the mindset surrounding ergonomic mice should not be an “after”thought at all.  They should be more reflective of seatbelts. What I mean by this is, “Would you buy a new car that didn’t come with seatbelts as standard equipment?”  Heck no!  

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So you finally bit the bullet and purchased a smartphone eh? There’s so much to learn about your new gadget and this "tethering" thing seems to be all the rave.  But what exactly is tethering?

Wikipedia defines tethering as: ‘using some type of mobile device to gain internet access on another device’.  Your smartphone (i.e. BlackBerry, iPhone, Treo, Palm Pre, etc) can access the internet via your cellphone plan, right?  You can then use that same internet connection to access the internet on your laptop by way of tethering (connecting) your smartphone to your laptop.  Got it?

Tethering isn’t new.  I’ve been tethering for about three years via the BlackBerry. For those of us who understand how to tether, the excessive cost of wireless PC cards and separate internet data plans are quickly becoming a way of the past.

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Laptops seem to have found a diet that works, and it’s a really good fit for writers. "Ultra portable" laptops fall within certain dimensions to be deemed such.  Display size varies between 11" - 13" and the unit weighs as little as  2 lbs but no more than 4 lbs.  Realize there’s a sector of ultra portable, low performance, cheap computers called netbooks and there’s also a sector of ultra portable yet powerful laptop computers.  This article refers to the latter.  Netbooks are a low-cost alternative for mobile writers, but if you can afford the whole enchilada - go for more power.

A powerful laptop weighing around 3 lbs can galvanize your productivity because you won’t think twice about taking it with you.  The easier your access is to your laptop, the more likely you are to write.  The more you write, the better you write.  This is why ultra portable laptops are a FANTASTIC GADGET FOR WRITERS!

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One of the reasons we wanted to offer a review of sling bags is because most folks carry their backpacks like a sling, and yet there are so few laptop slings on the market.  There are millions of “casual professionals” toting computers in their daily commute, many of whom would like to be hands-free when mobile but don’t really care for the “backpack look”. The sling is a viable option for these folks, and in our quest to disclose the best laptop bags on the market, we may have uncovered a couple slings you weren’t aware of.

 

All of the bags chosen for this article series were chosen for the quality of the manufacturing, design, materials and functionality.  It’s not always about money, so we didn’t factor cost into our initial round-table discussion about which manufacturers to contact; we just wanted to contact the best.
 
Here at LitCentral Founders’ Blog we wanted to strive to do better than the mundane laptop bag reviews that inundate the web - offering a press kit, Photoshopped image and a cursory review.  In this three-part article series (What Bag Carries Your Geekd’m?) we lay hands on the product, take pictures and communicate the functionality and quality of these bags.  Part I of the series covers the best laptop and messenger bags.  Part II covers the best laptop backpacks, and Part III showcases some of the best laptop sling cases on the market.

Part III - Best Laptop Slings

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In 2005 Michelle and I co-founded LitCentral Inc. and we both needed bags that were professional, durable, and functional.  When your career choice requires that you constantly have access to a computer, you become very familiar with what the laptop bag market has to offer.   One thing is for certain, while quality often equates to higher price, a higher price tag doesn’t necessarily equate to quality.  A few years ago, I paid $100 for a Victorinox backpack and it lasted less than 12 months before the fabric started to unravel and the clips broke off.  You would think paying more for a recognizable brand would equate to quality – wrong!

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This article series is more of a laptop bag recommendation list rather than a laptop bag review.   Allow me to explain…

What does a software company like LitCentral know about laptop bags? Plenty. It’s the equivalent of asking a NASCAR driver what he thinks about tires. We already know who’s the best in the business and we’re dedicating the month of May to showing you what they’ve got.

All of the bags chosen for this article series were chosen for the quality of the manufacturing, design, materials and functionality.  It’s not always about money, so we didn’t factor cost into our initial round-table discussion about which manufactures to contact; we just wanted to contact the best.

Here at LitCentral Founders’ Blog we wanted to strive to do better than the mundane laptop bag reviews that inundate the web - offering a press kit, Photoshopped image and a cursory review.  In this three-part article series (What Bag Carries Your Geekd’m?) we lay hands on the product, take pictures and communicate the functionality and quality of these bags.  Part I of the series covers the best laptop and messenger bags.  Part II covers the best laptop backpacks, and Part III showcases some of the best laptop sling cases on the market.

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I wrote at length about the advantages of netbooks for writers several months after these gadgets first stormed the scene. With the current state of the economy, the Founders’ Blog is getting more and more inquiries about the capabilities of these new computers. In response, I’ve taken the time to graphically depict what a productive office setup might look like as it relates to gadgets/technology and the netbook.

Let’s quickly eliminate a few skepticisms about netbooks. While a netbook is not as powerful as a laptop, it is adequate for a writer’s needs. Can a netbook run MS Word? Yes. What about Final Draft? Yes. Movie Magic? Of course. Writers have it easy - we deal with text, the whole text and nothin’ but the text. And netbooks are perfectly capable of running text-driven applications. I do caution a few things: before buying, make certain you purchase a netbook with at least 1GB of ram if it’s running Windows XP and at least 2GB of ram if it’s running Vista. Keep pictures and music to a minimum unless you are using the netbook to transport the files to the web. [click to continue...]

Although I am an advocate of mobile computing for writers, I realize some folks just prefer a desktop or want to make due with what they have.  If you split residences, travel long periods of time, etc. and you find yourself needing to routinely transport your desktop setup, iLugger has a suitable solution for protecting your gear while en route.

iLugger manufactures large computer cases geared toward iMacs ranging from 17" - 24", plus extra compartments for keyboard, mouse and power supply.   If you’re chained to a Power Mac or a Mac Mini with a Cinema display, or even a PC; there are bags to accommodate these setups as well.

iLuggers come in a range of colors with removable straps, starting at $119.

You’re a writer, which means the majority of your work resides in text format.  Text takes up a relatively small amount of disk space when left in editable formats such as .doc, .rtf, .fdr, etc.  Thus, writers do not need a complicated backup system. 

I realize many of our readers are not so tech savvy, but for those of you who are adept at computing, please feel free to stop reading here.  This article is for those of you who are just trying to grasp the basics of all this "backup" talk.

Enter your local Best Buy and you will find no shortage of backup hard drives.  Some resemble a titanium brick or 007 device, while others are displayed in all the colors of spring boasting capacities of 500GB to 1 TB (1000 gigabytes).   As a writer, if you find yourself needing that much disk space then your last name must be Britannica.

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Old leather messenger bags, heavy iron typewriters, fountain pens, leather-bound Moleskins and stogies.  Such nostalgia have long been a part of the couture that romanticizes being a writer. The aluminum and plastic that goes hand-in-hand with new technology can be the blame for sucking the romance right out of it!

Are you dying for the feel of typewriter keys beneath your fingers but need to stay grounded in the 21st century?  Intro the Steampunk movement - a subculture of artists taking modern technology and filtering it through, or in combination with, the Victorian era.

What would an ergo keyboard have looked like in 1850? Can a typewriter and keyboard coexist?  One Steampunk artist in particular has done a brilliant job at answering that question.   Richard "Datamancer" Nagy uses materials such as brass, copper, wood and leather to construct computer keyboards, laptops and desktops into stunning works of art.  Correction… practical works of art, as everything he builds can actually be used!

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 Two 24" Monitors 

Imagine, you have your trusty screenwriting or novel software open, the internet displaying your latest research, email, your favorite story structure software opened, and iTunes softly jamming in the background.  Any computer can do this, but only multiple monitors allow you to view it all at once.

And you say, "But I can only focus on one thing at a time." Actually, you’re capable of more than you think. Imagine each of the controls of a cockpit being accessible via individual, mini, sliding doors.  Check altitude - open door, close door.  Check airspeed - open door, close door.  That’s so ridiculously non-productive it’s hardly fathomable.  As a writer navigating a novel or a screenplay in the 21st century you have several controls in your cockpit:  Email, writing software, internet research, story structure software, dictionary/thesaurus software, even iTunes.  Almost all these software applications are resources that either inform, format or network whatever you are writing.   Yet, if you’re using a single monitor you are mimicking the pilot scenario by opening and closing multiple applications throughout the workday. 

To improve your productivity you want to invest in something called "screen real estate" (i.e. multiple monitors).  It’s the difference between owning a 600 sq ft studio with a broken AC, or a 5-acre estate with an ocean breeze.

Types of Extended Monitors
Extended monitors range in sizes from 10" - 30".   For the purposes of this article we’re going to focus on 17" - 30" monitors.  Also let’s be clear… CRT fat-cube-boxy monitors are out and flat panel monitors are in.

The Mammoth 30" Monitor
Big screens are not about filling the entire screen with one application, but about multiple applications open in one window.  A 30" screen is big enough to allow you to open two full-size windows plus extra space for reduced windows and widgets.  Although it is physically huge, it takes up less space than two side-by-side smaller monitors capable of only one full-size window per screen. 

Advantages of Three Monitors
The advantage of a three-monitor-display (Yes your laptop screen can count as one) is that there is a focal point - the center monitor.  It has something to do with the human psych…I guess…I don’t know. But having a "main screen" signals to the brain that the important task at hand is in front of you.  Everything else is tertiary.  Westerners read left to right so it stands to reason that your least important business would reside on the monitor to the right. 

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You’ve all seen them - those ultra portable computers, with ultra small screens and keyboards that fit darn near anywhere.   What writer in their right mind would actually make use of such technology?  Actually…there is good reason to look closer at this technology.  On the heels of CES 2009 (where new UMPCs like Sony Vaio’s P Series made its debut) I think it’s important to shed light on these devices and how they can be great for writers. 

What qualifies as "ultra mobile"?  The intro of the netbook has blurred the lines,  but UMPC’s generally start with a  7" screen and go down to as little as 4.5".  Anything smaller usually falls into smartphone territory. 

Performance
UMPCs are first cousins to netbooks.  Most of them are using the same Intel processor chip - Atom.   Just like netbooks, power is not king in the land of UMPCs. These little devices are very mobile and they are designed to do one thing very well - access the web.  But just like any computer most come equipped with USB inputs, a VGA port for extended monitors and projectors, SD card readers, Bluetooth, Wi-fi, ethernet, cameras, etc.  They also have ample hard drive space (as much as 160GB+).  If the machine is running Vista, make sure it has at least 2GB RAM.  Some OEMs will still allow you to order their UMPCs with Windows XP.

Types of keyboards:

• Thumb keyboards (i.e. Fujitsu U820 or the OQO Model 2+)
• Full-size keyboards (i.e. Sony Vaio P series or Fujitsu P1620)
• Touch screen keyboard (i.e. Table Kiosk eo UMPC V7110e)

Does Keyboard Matter?
Absolutely.  However, it’s based on personal preference.   For the sake of a writer’s sanity I highly suggest you stay away from touchscreen keyboards.   If you use a BlackBerry or a smartphone with a tactile keyboard you have most likely developed a motor skill.  After awhile you stop looking at the keyboard and rely upon TOUCH and a faint sense of SOUND - an on-screen keyboard completely shelves that motor skill.  This can be very frustrating for writers trying to adhere to a writer’s 2nd commandment - Let nothing disrupt the flow!

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