Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300

Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300

The size of a modern PC is changing, most likely due to competition from devices like tablets and compact media boxes. Coupled with the explosion of open source and Android-like devices, USB PCs are slowly but surely creating demand. The Lenovo Ideacentre Stick 300 Signature Edition Windows 10 PC is categorized as a PC but reads like a tablet. It has 2GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC and an Intel Atom Z3735F processor. Reviews are mixed. Some users are excited to have a PC on any TV with a HDMI slot. However, some users report compatibility and booting issues. Compared to the RCA Cambio 2-in-1 Tablet 32GB the specs are practically the same but the RCA is classified as a tablet and $100 more.

RCA Cambio 2-in-1 Tablet

Alternatively there are many free Linux based operating systems that are bootable on a standard USB drive. For example Ubuntu can be installed on a USB drive with at least 2GB of free space. USB PC’s are totally sensible seeing as though computing today is mostly composed of cloud based apps with minimal add-ons. Currently I have 2 USB drives running Ubuntu, which I use for guests and travel. Although Linux is not as point-and-click as Microsoft, I suspect the market will shift to more compact choices. 

For ease of use, I recommend Pendrivelinux.com, which has an app called The Universal USB Installer that allows you to choose various Linux based operating systems to install on an USB drive.

Review of the Mini Wireless Keyboard Touchpad

The Mini Wireless Keyboard Touchpad is great for use between devices. I use the keyboard for my PC, PS3 and smart TV. The keys correspond with my devices beyond my exceptions. The keyboard has a 30 ft. range and I have not had any issues with signal interference. Overall I give the product a 4/5, because it only works with a flat, Li-ion rechargeable battery. Even though there are slots for 2-AAA batteries, there are no coils to receive the signal. If the keyboard had both battery options I would rate it higher.

10 Best Tech Blogs

The "10 Best Tech Blogs" article nailed the top online sources of tech info. Mashable is my favorite. Somehow my bookmarks get deleted or I forget the name of the site. So, I decided to just blog and share 10 Best Tech Blogs

USB speed 2.0 vs 3.0

I wanted to compare the 2.0 & 3.0 ports of my computers. Using 3.0, speeds reached upwards of 150 MB/s. Using 2.0, speeds reached upwards of 25 MB/s. I am officially a fan of 3.0 speeds and all of my devices and USB port installs will be 3.0 or better in the future. The speed is amazing. I also plan on installing a PCI express Thunderbolt card which provides even faster speeds of 20GB/s as soon as more devices enter the market.



USB 3.0

USB 2.0

Diagrammatic Reasoning Test

I recently had to take a diagrammatic reasoning test for an internship . I thought it would be great to share. You can try out various aptitude tests for free @ http://practiceaptitudetests.com.

 

Why Your Tablet is Part of A Global Economy

While, I was searching for Youtube videos about repairing a tablet, I came across several videos that provided several perspectives on “Made in China”. It was interesting to know that some Chinese workers live, have kids, and even get married in towns that are built specially for manufacturing. Those economies survive solely on offshoring (https://youtu.be/WlSHo61nRWw). I also gained insight on how American and Chinese economies are affected. For example, workers in China explained that they cannot afford some items that are exported.  While, workers in America explained that they do not have enough skills to reenter the job market, as a result of offshoring. In addition, I learned that “If Americans spent an additional $3.33/year on US products, it would result in 10,000 jobs (https://youtu.be/7AlexLrZ14A).” It was fascinating to learn how my tablet is a part of a global economy.

Blog Experience

1. Do you think your blogging experience was a success?
I’ve had a blog for over a year. I think it is successful because of what it does for me. I use it as a reference point. Sometimes I forget the steps to a process and I refer back to my blog like a reference book. In addition, I also list my blog on my resume to give employers an idea of my hobbies and interests.

2. Do you think you will continue to blog?

Yes I will continue my blog because we live in an ultra-digital world and I can see it as a platform for a variety of situations.

3. What were the most difficult things to do with your blog?
 To actively engage.

4. How easy was it to come up with new ideas everyday?
It is not difficult to come up with ideas. In fact, I thought it would be great to make this Q&A a blog post. However, it is difficult to find the time to summarize and format my ideas.

5. After this experience, do you have a new perspective on blogging?
Yes. I never thought I would have a blog because I didn't know what I wanted to share with the world. However I've learned that blogs can contain anything. Blogging is fun and rewarding and I plan to continue.

Review of the Toshiba Canvio Home Backup and Share 3TB

The Toshiba Canvio Home Backup and Share 3TB allows you centrally store and access files on your home network. The device is classified as a hard drive, but since files are accessbile on any DLNA enabled device on the network, it can also be considered Network Attached Storage. The device has a USB port, but it can only be used to connect a network printer. If you attempt to use the USB port to transfer files, the PC will not recognize the device as a hard drive. You will also need to go to the website to download the application software. There were several password prompts for administrators, users and the upload server during setup, which is a bit tedious. I did not expect to see user permissions or log features, which are characteristic of server software. For a small office or single family home, permissions provide a highly effective way to delegate access. In addition, you can also set quotas and create volumes on the drive.

Pros

User interface is easy to navigate

drive settings

Permission features

Access logs with email alerts

Cons

Cannot access files via USB
Website out of date
Documentation out of date
Android App out of date




 


However, I did encounter some issues. For example, when I tried to connect remotely, I received an error, "Cannot connect to server to obtain pin". I thought updating the application would resolve the issue, but when I attempted to update the software, it failed on the last step with an unknown error. I was sure it was not a firewall issue, because I verified that all required ports were opened. Next, I attempted to setup the Toshiba Canvio app on my phone, however the app listed in the instruction manual was not available for download in the Android App store. So, I went to Toshiba's website to look at FAQ's and although there was a link for hard drives, it gave no relevant information about Toshiba Canvio hard drives. I also tried to browse through Toshbia's website forum but did not find any relevant answers. However there was an 1800# listed that provides 24/7 technical assistance.


In the end, I was able to successfully launch the device as a media server for my smart TV and my PS3. For a basic user who wants to access local files, it is a decent product. Based on the website, applications and available documentation, I give the product 3/5 stars.

user interface