Choose a Monitor Part 3: Touch-Screen Monitors

Is the Touch-Screen Monitor Age Here?

In this, the last of my three-part series on choosing the right computer monitor, we get to the fun part: touch-screen and 3-D technology. Is it worth paying more to get your hands on the newest technology?

Touch-screen technology is everywhere — from mobile devices to kids’ toys. As consumers start to expect all screens to respond to touch, monitors that integrate touch-screen technology are becoming more prevalent. The increased demand has started to drive down price, but you should still expect to pay a premium. A 22-inch touch-screen monitor starts at around $275, while a comparably sized LCD monitor without touch ability will cost about $100. A 27-inch touch-screen monitor will likely set you back $500 or more.


Before the release of Windows 8, I would have cautioned buyers away from touch-screen monitors for a desktop setup. Previous generations of Windows do not seamlessly integrate with touch technology, and using a touch-screen monitor with Windows 7 or Windows XP is typically a clunky, frustrating experience.

However, Windows 8 was designed to be used on touch-screen devices. If you already plan to use Windows 8 (either you’re ready to upgrade or are in the market for a new PC that will come with Windows 8 preinstalled), a touch-screen monitor makes sense.

Look for monitors that bear the words “Windows 8 Certified.” Microsoft’s certification process ensures that the monitor will be able to react to five simultaneous touch points, have firmware that is upgradeable by the user (a big advantage over having to send it back to the manufacturer if it’s incompatible with another piece of equipment) and will work over USB without requiring that you install a separate driver program.

Acer’s T232HL 23-inch touch monitor ($549 suggested retail price) is an IPS 10-point touch-screen with edge-to-edge glass (making it pretty), wide viewing angles and lots of connectivity options. It’s responsive enough for gaming and even supports NVIDIA 3-D LightBoost technology. It’s also currently available while a lot of next-generation touch-screen monitors (like Samsung’s much-anticipated Series 7 Touch) haven’t yet been released to the general market.

Another monitor buzzword is 3-D. Frankly, unless you plan to play 3-D-rendered games or watch 3-D movies on your computer, you’re likely wasting your money splurging on a 3-D-capable monitor. If you do plan to watch 3-D media, make sure your video card can render 3-D; the manufacturer will make it pretty clear if it can.

The primary benefit of a 3-D monitor is its higher pixel refresh rate (120Hz vs. 60Hz in a typical LCD monitor). There’s debate over whether there’s any real-world benefit to the increased refresh rate. Many argue that the LCD pixels aren’t capable of responding quickly enough to take full advantage of a faster refresh rate, and then there’s the question of how many frames per second the human eye can perceive. That said, the majority of field testers report that 3-D monitors render images with better clarity and are more smooth and responsive, even when performing basic functions like navigating among programs or icons on your desktop.

The Asus VG278H ($550 from Asus) is a 27-inch 3-D monitor that supports NVIDIA 3-D LightBoost and comes with two pairs of 3-D glasses. You’ll get excellent color and 3-D imagery for the $550 price tag. For 3-D capability without breaking the bank, the Acer GD235HZ ($235 from Amazon) is a 23-inch 3-D monitor that offers a solid gaming experience with lots of color customization to achieve the perfect image.

Google IO Conference Keynote Rolls out Amazing New Features

Google IO Conference Keynote Speech Reveals Amazing Tech

Remember watching Star Trek, where the crew members could just speak to their computer and it would instantly know what they were referring to and provide them with that information? Well, nerds are ahead of schedule on developing that computer, and they work at Google.


Google kicked off their sixth annual three-day IO conference for software developers today with a three-hour keynote talk announcing new developments. The tech behemoth has already announced some groundbreaking improvements to not only their flagship search product but to many of their other products as well. We've rounded up some of the big ones for you here:

The biggest change, of course, is the "Star Trek Computer," a phrase used multiple times during the keynote. This change comes practically through an upgrade to Google's new search feature as well as to their Chrome browser on both desktop and phone. While logged into the browser, users can simply say "Ok Google," and then make their search. But instead of searching for things like you normally do, the new search is conversational. After searching for a place to go, you can simply say "Ok Google, how far is that from here?" and Search will automatically detect what "it" refers to and where "here" is, and provide you with your immediate answer (in minutes) as well as links to driving directions and other info. There are a lot of other upgrades to search as well to make it more conversational like being able to say "Ok Google, show me pictures of x" and it will automatically pull up images instead of the standard search results.

All of these changes are integrated into another of Google's new Maps app. The app has been totally overhauled from its previous version and shifts its focus again to a more personalized approach. In addition to a completely new look and new back-end features, the app allows you to use the map in the way that you think of the world, instead of as a map. When you're logged in, it will show you reviews from your friends, places you've visited, and contextual information based on where you've been and what you like. It also shows you results for your search like "sushi restaurant" directly on the map instead of as a sidebar.

One of the changes that probably won't get as much attention, but is still significant, is the upgrade to Google+. The social networking site is getting a facelift to be more congruent with other Google services, but also has a host of impressive features that blow Facebook out of the water - at least to the few people who use it regularly. The new Google+ will automatically pick the best photos from your albums, and allows you to edit your photos with a simple interface that doesn't require complex technical knowledge. New features will be rolling out today and over the next few days.

And the biggest business change that rolls out today is the announcement of Google Play's All Access service. This service allows users to stream music from Google Play's massive database, create radio stations, and save music for later listening - all for $9.99 a month. The service poses a major threat to Spotify, which has most of the features of Google's service for the same price, but with less integration into a huge app ecosystem like Google has.

As you can see, us nerds are incredibly excited about the future of what Google has to offer. Stay tuned for more announcements from this year's Google IO!

Nerds On Call Reviews Summer Travel Websites: Save Precious Vacation Time

Summer Travel Websites for Saving You Time

Summer vacations hold a special appeal to me, harking back to the excitement heralded by the final bell on the last day of the school year, so many years ago.  But now that I’m grown up and have to do the leg-work to plan the trip, I’m often exhausted before I get out the door.  The wealth of online resources dedicated to travel planning can make it hard for me to make a decision.  How do I know when I’ve found the best use of my vacation dollars?

Over the next three weeks, we’ll explore some great online resources to simplify your travel planning (no, really!), as well as tips for how to make sure you get the best price and fewest headaches when booking travel online.


Before you dedicate a week to checking every travel deal site on the net, these consolidators scour the web for the best deals so that you don’t have to.

When you don’t have a specific location or travel date set, using the Internet to find a good deal or a great resort can be particularly overwhelming.  One way to get inspired: keep an eye on Travelzoo’s Weekly Top 20 (www.travelzoo.com/top20/ ). It’s a collection of the best deals from airlines, hotels, cruise lines and travel consolidators like Travelocity, Cheap Caribbean, and many more.  They sort through all the travel deals posted to the net each week and then present the “best of the best,” all in one place.

The drawback is that the best deals can sell out fast, so if you know you’ve found what you’re looking for don’t delay.  You can sign up for the Weekly Top 20 to be emailed to you when it’s released if you want to be sure not to miss out.

If you already know where you want to go, Kayak (www.kayak.com) does a quick search across hundreds of airline and travel agent options for your specific trip needs.  You’re then presented with a list of results tailored to your specific trip that Kayak has filtered to put the best deals first.  If you want to be sure that you have done a thorough scouring of the net, Kayak offers a one-click simultaneous search across competitor travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, Bookit and more, so you can compare the best offers all at once.

Planning to do Disney?  Believe it or not, there are ways to save if you know the insider info.  Check out Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com) for a collection of the best deals on all things Disney.  In addition to tips on how to get the best price on tickets, dining, and special Disney experiences, discover where to book to get the best rates on hotels, what you can expect on Disney cruises, even what’s planned for upcoming park, resort and ship improvements.

Current discounts and promotions are highlighted on the front page and updated regularly – from how to get the most out of a Disney Visa card discount program to coupon codes and special offers that would otherwise be tough to ferret out.  You’ll find up-to-date info about shows, freebies, and tips to make the most of your trip, including how to spend less time in line and more time enjoying your trip.

Before you make plans to embark on a cruise, check out Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com) for reviews of cruise lines (by editors and site users) and tips to help you decide the best cruise before you book.  The “Deals” tab collects the top bargains by destination, cruise type or departure port.  Explore the “How to Cruise” tab for detailed guides and expert advice on how to choose, book, and finalize your trip, including things you need to know before you go and how to make the most of shore excursions.  Find the best deals, including the best seasons to book by destination, and tips to ensure you set sail on the cruise that best fits your needs and style.

Finally, before you book, submit specific details of the trip you’re considering to Cruise Compete (www.cruisecompete.com) to give travel agents the opportunity to find you a better deal.  Simply create an account, submit a request for a quote, and travel agent’s offers will be submitted online with no obligation and without revealing your contact info.

Stay tuned next week for easy ways to ensure you get the best price without sacrificing your sanity when using online resources to book your summer get away.

 

Sharing a Computer: How to Live in Harmony

Sharing a Computer and Retaining your Sanity

Sharing a computer can be tricky.  Whether it's the kids vying for screen time or summer house guests looking to check their email, following some easy tips can save your sanity.

First, create separate user accounts for each family member and one for “Guest.”  This allows each user a sense of individuality as they can set customized backgrounds, desktop icons and folders.  Establishing individual passwords allows everyone some privacy, while your administrator access lets you maintain ultimate control.  Separating users also helps reduce the impact of your kid’s activities on your productivity – no one wants to come home to discover a new default browser or that your work project has been “lost.”


Windows 7 users should head to Control Panel – User Accounts and Family Safety – “Add or remove user accounts.”  Mac OS X Lion users can follow the walkthrough on Apple’s support forum: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4600

I recommend that you limit user privilege and allow only the administrator to install or remove programs.  This reduces the likelihood that a user will unknowingly install a virus and restricts their ability to install applications you don’t want clogging up your PC.  It also stops them from installing an alternate browser to circumvent plug-ins or parental controls.

Establish clearly divided work and storage areas around the computer.  If space permits, install cubbies near the computer so everyone can have a place to stash their personal gadgets and gear.  Otherwise it’s all too easy for your thumb drive to get commandeered, or the desk overrun with the kids’ game disks.  Consider establishing the ground rule that everyone clears the desk of personal things upon logging off to reduce clutter.

It’s common for family members to fight over whose “turn” it is when two people want to get on at the same time.  Assign every family member a set amount of screen time, inclusive of TV time and mobile device use.  Allow everyone to participate in the discussion; decide whether to allow a set amount of time per day or rather allot each person a pool of minutes for the week so minutes can roll over from day to day.  The latter is more challenging to monitor, but can allow for more flexibility if someone has a favorite show they want to save up for.

The quickest way to enforce time management is to post a clock prominently near the computer.  This works best if you’ve decided to assign time blocks to each user.  A timer that makes an audible beeping also works well as it’s harder for your child to fight with the timer than it is to argue with you for “five more minutes.”

There are options built into Windows for limiting when each user account can log on to the computer, either by setting approved times of day or by giving a daily time allotment to each user account.  Visit the Windows support site for details, or watch their video here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/control-when-children-can-use-the-computer

Finally, remember that a wide variety of mobile devices can handle basic web searching, email and gaming.  Installing a wireless router, even if you don’t have multiple computers, allows family members to reserve computer use for activities that can’t be done on other devices and guests to use a tablet or smartphone to get online.

[caption id="attachment_16199" align="alignleft" width="300"] Share a computer with the Mini X G4[/caption]

Even if your budget doesn’t allow for another computer, you may be able to siphon off some of the usage overlap to an inexpensive tablet such as Amazon’s 7” Kindle Fire (www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-Amazon-tablet/dp/B0083Q04IQ, starting at $159 for new or $129 for refurbished).  If you have an extra HDMI-capable monitor, USB hub, keyboard and mouse, consider a “computer on a stick” such as the MiniX Neo G4(www.minix.us/products/NEO-G4.html, $65) or attach it to your TV to do basic web activities in your living room.

Cyberbullying Infographic: The Facts & Statistics About Online Bullying

We've covered cyberbullying in previous articles, but it can be difficult to slog through technical talk on the subject. Here are some numbers and facts that make the subject easy to comprehend, as hard as it may be to understand. Learn what you can do to protect your child from bullies.

Helping Mom Out With Mother's Day Tech

Help Mom With Mother's Day Tech

The best Mother's Day gifts are often those that don't come wrapped with a pretty bow.  It's great when you're able to buy Mom the latest new gadget, but she may not know the first thing about setting it up or operating it.  What better way to show Mom your love than to spend a few hours together helping her to get comfortable with her new toy?  You will both love the one-on-one time.  Just don't forget to take her out to brunch when you're done.


Mom wants a new laptop.  Instead of sending her off to the store on her own, tag along to help her pick out the one that’s right for her.  You know Mom doesn’t need a gigantic hard drive and upgraded video card, but she’ll enjoy the faster boot up time of a solid state hard drive and lots of RAM.  It may even make sense to consider a touchscreen or tablet if she won’t be using it for work of a lot of typing.

Don’t just send her home with a box and a kiss.  Plan to spend a few hours helping her to get it set up and get familiar with her new equipment.  Start her off with the basics while you’re there, and then leave her with teaching tools such as Help pages and Tutorial Videos.  Both Microsoft and Apple have them so bookmark links and show her how to navigate to them.

If Mom sprung for a Mac or iOS device, Apple has a support community she can join to pose questions to the community (questions are often answered by repair or tech support professionals) or scroll through previously-asked questions to get some help.

Remote support is a lifesaver in those times when you just can't figure out why your printer isn't printing.  Many computer repair companies offer to login to your computer remotely to fix something, install an application, or show you how to do something that has you flummoxed.  If you aren’t comfortable being Mom’s sole tech support, find a reputable company that offers remote support and get her set up with an account and/or any software they require.

"Send your parents a Tech Support care package" by Google (www.teachparentstech.org) lets you send Mom a little tutorial video (or multiple videos), in a cute little message format.  It works great for subjects like "how to copy-paste" or "how to attach a file to an email."

Another idea for a really personal touch is to make your own tutorials that Mom can refer back to whenever she needs them, for specific issues you know she's been having.  Most people are visual learners so video is an optimal format.  Start a YouTube channel with all your how-to videos and share the link with Mom.  You can also write out the step-by-step details for tasks she needs to perform.  Make sure your instructions describe the task visually: "left-click on the Windows icon in the lower left-hand corner of your screen" rather than "click on the Start Menu," as Mom might not know what the "Start Menu" is.

Most Moms these days love to see your Facebook status updates about the grandkids or your latest vacation pictures.  Make sure Mom is getting the full experience.  If she's not on Facebook yet, help her create an account, post a nice profile picture, customize her privacy settings and send out preliminary friend requests to connect with family and friends.

Even established Facebook users may appreciate a tutorial.  Last year, I had Mom write down all the questions she had about her computer, email, and Facebook over the course of a week.  Then we sat down and I walked her through them.  She loved it and it was great for me to be able to help her feel more comfortable with her technology.

If Mom hasn't gotten on the computer bandwagon yet (and you're pretty sure she's not ready), maybe she shouldn't.  There are plenty of devices that fill in quite nicely for a computer, like an iPad or Kindle Fire.  They’re intuitive and much less complicated and can probably do just about everything she'd need a computer to do.  There are even external keyboards available if she doesn't like typing on the touchscreen.

Before you hand Mom some new tech bling, just make sure it comes with a bit of set up time from you.

 

The Best Way to Choose a Computer Monitor Part 2

Choose a Computer Monitor to Fit Your Needs - Part 2

While your monitor has a huge impact on your computing experience, the multitude of performance indicators can be confusing.  Last week I reviewed some of the primary factors that you should consider when shopping for a new display, including screen size, components effecting clarity and pairing with the right graphics card. If you missed it, check it out here: www.callnerds.com/choose-a-computer-monitor-part-1/


Yet there are even more factors that cause one monitor to cost $150 while another is $900.  While I can’t stress strongly enough the benefits of seeing first-hand how a monitor performs and produces images before you buy it, if you have to purchase sight-unseen it’s important to know what the technical specifications mean and how they’re likely to impact your visual experience.

There are two main display types you’ll likely choose between: LED (light emitting diode) and LCD (liquid crystal display).  LCD crystals require light be passed through them to display images so the entire backside of the panel is lit.  LED is actually an LCD panel, but with a different kind of light source.  LED diodes transmit light more efficiently so they’re typically edge-lit (LED lights run around the edge of the panel).

LEDs offer better color contrast (blacker blacks and whiter whites) than LCDs.  They are easier on the eyes than a fully back-lit LCD, require less power, run cooler and are usually lighter and thinner.  Expect to pay $40-$50 more for LED than a comparably sized LCD.

There are three main types of monitors, each with strengths and weaknesses.

Twisted Nematic (TN) panels are the most common and least expensive.  They have the highest refresh rates, an important consideration for online gaming.  However, narrow viewing angles cause colors to appear washed-out if you're looking at them from any other angle than straight-on and details can be washed out, particularly when outside the relatively small optimum viewing area.  Prices start at about $150 for a basic 24” TN monitor.

Multi-domain Vertical Alignment (MVA) and Patterned Vertical Alignment (PVA) are the more mid-grade options when it comes to price, starting at around $275 for a 23” screen.  They have significantly better color reproduction than TN monitors, meaning they offer higher maximum brightness and lower black levels – an important consideration for graphic design and photo or video editing.  Viewing angles are significantly better than TN technology.  Unfortunately, their response time is slower and they tend to be thicker dimensionally than a TN display.

In-Plane-Switching (IPS) displays are considered to be the high-end of the monitor spectrum and carry the highest price points, although small screens can be quite reasonable.  Tablet PCs typically incorporate IPS display technology.  Color reproduction and supported viewing angles are excellent - colors remain accurate and don’t change or shift even when viewing from an odd angle, so they're ideal for graphic designers.  Besides higher price, the primary drawback is that they often suffer from slow response time and can lag when images are displayed - a deal breaker for an online gamer.

To give you an idea of price variance, the ASUS VS239H-P 23” IPS monitor (http://usa.asus.com/Display/LCD_Monitors/VS239HP/) is about $170 while Dell’s UltraSharp U2713HM 27” monitor (www.dell.com/ed/business/p/dell-u2713hm/pd) is a higher-end LED IPS display that will set you back about $700.

Samsung recently developed a new panel technology, Plane-to-line Switching (PLS), that marries the wider viewing angle supported by IPS monitors with the higher brightness and color contrast offered by MVA and PVA displays.  They still display slower than TN panels, but their power consumption is low and production cost is cheaper than IPS. Samsung’s 27” SyncMaster S27A850D (www.samsung.com/hk_en/consumer/computer-peripherals/monitors/commercial/LS27A850DS/XK?subsubtype=sa650-and-sa850-led) starts at around $800.

Stay tuned next week for the newest monitor bells and whistles: 3-D and touchscreen.