tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26375590498112391952024-03-05T15:46:58.733-08:00Tony Thomas' TechtrendsNews and views about the latest technology from Tony Thomas.tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-24735461349210333072020-12-11T01:39:00.000-08:002020-12-11T01:39:09.714-08:00Jumping into the Mechanical Keyboard Hobby<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7cz36pM_qnRM1TPU_2hvJiLSRfJ9dbEDPwCOmMwVefPigvzrJVf4mE1vT_GreH_MVENx71aiGIRaveEliZsqKvTDuuJ33n1b390MUddN4j5LqCxIGPa9cki9_DazbnCk1nxC9MRbO0Q/s3264/IMG_0299.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7cz36pM_qnRM1TPU_2hvJiLSRfJ9dbEDPwCOmMwVefPigvzrJVf4mE1vT_GreH_MVENx71aiGIRaveEliZsqKvTDuuJ33n1b390MUddN4j5LqCxIGPa9cki9_DazbnCk1nxC9MRbO0Q/s320/IMG_0299.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">by Tony Thomas</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I found out that I really love mechanical keyboards. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">However, after analyzing the mechanical keyboard hobby for a while, I am not sure that I am ready to jump off at the deep end. If you don't know, mechanical keyboards can be a tremendously expensive hobby--a black hole where your Benjamins go.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While I now have a total of 9 (count 'em) mechanical keyboards, I don't consider myself a real enthusiast. A few of those keyboards are entry level boards that I don't even use anymore. The other ones helped me find what I like in terms of form factor, switches, keycaps, ergonomics, etc. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">At this point, really don't feel the need to acquire any more keyboards just for the sake of having more. I have spent my time lately buying replacement keycaps and experimenting with a few different switch options. I may experiment with switches in the future. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While a new build certainly provides an adrenaline rush, I am not into soldering, lubing switches, changing out stabilizers, or other fine details. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Maybe my attitude will change if I give it time, but right now I'm pretty happy with what I have.</span></p>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-42082113369159563712020-10-31T11:45:00.007-07:002020-10-31T11:45:49.749-07:00Building a Custom 60% Mechanical Keyboard<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="373" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D6WLLHZ1wYU" width="481" youtube-src-id="D6WLLHZ1wYU"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-52328968127995977852020-10-29T05:17:00.006-07:002020-10-30T07:11:26.321-07:00 Keychron K6 with Side Printed PBT Keycaps - No talking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="306" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U_jcON2cv2o" width="368" youtube-src-id="U_jcON2cv2o"></iframe></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I decided to change out the ABS keycaps on my Keychron K6 to a side-printed PBT set. They are very thick and comfortable and a pleasure to type on. I got the smaller set and kept the original ABS keys for the extended keys, the right shift, and the number keys with legends since they are not used as frequently. It is something of a "mix and match" set but I think that it looks nice. What keycaps are you using on your Keychron K6?</span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><span>Keycap set I used: <a href="https://amzn.to/34kiaVz">https://amzn.to/34kiaVz</a></span><br /><br /><span>Larger 108 keycap set: <a href="https://amzn.to/2TfXQ1o">https://amzn.to/2TfXQ1o</a></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Music by Tony Thomas - Copyright 2020 - All Rights Reserved</span><br /><br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: medium;">As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases</span></i></span></div>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-69238128388525892502020-10-23T04:44:00.001-07:002020-10-23T04:44:06.760-07:00Keychron K6 with Side Printed PBT Keycaps <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KcMF5LqDWg8" width="320" youtube-src-id="KcMF5LqDWg8"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I decided to change out the ABS keycaps on my Keychron K6 to a side-printed PBT set. They are very thick and comfortable and a pleasure to type on. I got the smaller set and kept the original ABS keys for the extended keys, the right shift, and the number keys with legends since they are not used as frequently. It is something of a "mix and match" set but I think that it looks nice. What keycaps are you using on your Keychron K6?</span></p>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-7086230321743299612020-10-09T04:20:00.012-07:002020-10-09T04:54:12.023-07:00Keychron K8 with Ducky Pudding Keycaps<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E58OERUmJYk" width="320" youtube-src-id="E58OERUmJYk"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is a video of my new Keychron K8 mechanical keyboard with recently installed Ducky Pudding PBT double-shot keycaps. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">They feel great and are solidly built and are reportedly thicker than pudding keycaps from other manufacturers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Keychron K8 Mechanical Keyboard RGB w/Brown Switches </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2GwzkX9">https://amzn.to/2GwzkX9</a> </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Similar PBT Pudding Keycaps from </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">HyperX </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3dayWJJ ">https://amzn.to/3dayWJJ </a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span><b>Similar PBT Pudding Keycaps from HK </b></span><b>Gaming </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3lqJBmk">https://amzn.to/3lqJBmk</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Manufacturer's web sites: </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.duckychannel.com.tw ">https://www.duckychannel.com.tw</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.keychron.com">https://www.keychron.com</a></span></p><p><br /></p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Background Music Copyright 2020 - Tony Thomas - All rights reserved </span></i><div><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: large;">As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</span></i></div>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-67267427259888640072020-10-05T03:58:00.000-07:002020-10-05T03:58:27.438-07:00The Wonderful World of Mechanical Keyboards<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSipyPxnjOkIAt6IRgpCRAtl-cb1whOjdLK6C2KK16y1qNiyn5jcAXnkuJXptWWkUX7NOHqFPH4q-7dPaLcpwT8hpAj5VkiRN-78f3t9YKYN1klTfyazwo6bmD6opmn3ClD9d04t7zCQ/s3264/IMG_0129.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSipyPxnjOkIAt6IRgpCRAtl-cb1whOjdLK6C2KK16y1qNiyn5jcAXnkuJXptWWkUX7NOHqFPH4q-7dPaLcpwT8hpAj5VkiRN-78f3t9YKYN1klTfyazwo6bmD6opmn3ClD9d04t7zCQ/s320/IMG_0129.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">by Tony Thomas</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After playing with a very inexpensive Red Dragon mechanical keyboard for a few weeks, I decided that I wanted something that was quieter so that I would not drive my wife crazy as I typed. The "blue" keys in the Red Dragon have a high-pitched tactile click that is great for improving your typing speed but hard on the ears.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As a result I picked up a Techware "Phantom" TKL (ten key-less) keyboard that looks very similar to the Red Dragon but also includes RGB LED backlighting. It looks so cool. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then, I started reading more and watching YouTube videos (very dangerous, BTW) and decided I need a keyboard that I can customize with different switches and keycaps. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The recently released Keychron K8 arrived on my doorstep followed by a smaller Keychron K6 to use with my iPad. I also picked up a few 60% keyboards and ordered a keyboard kit and some switches from China. Plus, keycaps from several different places.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am now in that black hole that is the mechanical keyboard hobby and my wallet is a bit emptier. And yes, I paid for everything with my own money! (It's only money, right?)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I can tell you that mechanical keyboards and addicting. But, at least in my case, they have provided a needed productivity boost. I love to write free hand and to dictate, but there is something about a mechanical keyboard that gets my juices flowing!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you are interested, there are plenty of great YouTube channels that are devoted to mechanical keyboards (Taeha Types, Switch and Click, The Techne, and TaeKeyboards are standouts) as well as a sub-Reddit: r/MechanicalKeyboards.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The good news is mechanical keyboards have made me way more productive since they are a joy to type on. If you are a writer or gamer, you may want to give mechanical keyboards a try!</span></p>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-26028142865972944112020-09-28T04:36:00.008-07:002020-09-28T04:45:05.449-07:00Dierya/Kemove DK61E 60% Mechanical Keyboard<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAF2Z9z7X1onDce_Hhyphenhyphen_o5RAD-XP83UOQ5UGbyibnn66InbAK476jQBTErO_3yTOAHpeSBJWTNw7itYJnYJyC0E5-mKDNq8JNtAckONDPA1TkKUDW6cUTOdiyZv8SabCympFCWxlOIHE/s3264/IMG_0125.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAF2Z9z7X1onDce_Hhyphenhyphen_o5RAD-XP83UOQ5UGbyibnn66InbAK476jQBTErO_3yTOAHpeSBJWTNw7itYJnYJyC0E5-mKDNq8JNtAckONDPA1TkKUDW6cUTOdiyZv8SabCympFCWxlOIHE/s320/IMG_0125.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">by Tony Thomas</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The Dierya DK61E (also known as Kemove DK61E—the name of the parent company) is an affordable 60% mechanical keyboard that features a fairly standard layout, RGB back lighting, PBT double-shot key caps, hot-swappable Gateron optical switches, a IPX4 certified water-resistant circuit board, and down-loadable editing software.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Its compact form factor takes up very little desk real estate and facilitates easier access to your mouse than larger keyboards. I bought the wired version, although a Bluetooth version (DK61 PRO) is also available at a slightly higher price. I initially tried that version but experienced battery charging issues and returned it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The DK61E build quality is solid for a keyboard that typically costs around $50. It sports a USB C jack and comes with a nice cloth-wrapped USB cable, key cap puller, switch puller, operation guide and a few extra switch samples (I received one brown switch and one blue switch—both tactile switches). The case is flex-free plastic and it has a bit of heft for a keyboard of that size. I received one brown switch and one blue switch. The software is available for download of the Keymove/Dierya web site.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The version that I bought has black PBT keycaps and Gateron optical brown switches that have a subtle tactile “bump” without the clicky sound of blue switches. Versions with blue, black, and red switches are also available. I found the keyboard to be very pleasant to type on and pretty low noise since I type lightly and don't tend to “bottom out” the switches. If you are a heavier typist, you will hear a low frequency “clack”. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stabilizers are pretty nice for such a low priced keyboard and I suspect they are factory lubricated and clipped. Although the switches are hot-swappable, you are limited to using Gateron optical switches only. MX compatible switches from companies such as Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, etc. will not work. That said, you can find a pretty wide variety of Gateron aftermarket optical switches in blue, red, brown, black, and silver.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">As with most 61 key mechanical keyboards, there are no dedicated arrow keys, so you have to use the function key along with the adjacent CTL, menu, ALT, and ?/ keys to access the arrow keys. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The function keys, navigation keys, delete key, and multimedia keys also reside on the function layer. The RGB lighting effects are very impressive and there are a variety to chose from. You can also edit them via the available software. The keycaps are see though and my biggest criticism of them is that the legends for the function layer are not that visible without ample ambient light.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">In summary, the Dierya DK61 is an impressive budget mechanical keyboard that will serve both gamers and typists quite well. I really love mine and find myself using it often.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-36748856432071503112018-09-13T13:59:00.000-07:002018-09-13T13:59:02.957-07:00My Chromebooks Keep on Ticking<div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">by Tony Thomas</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />Tick...tick...tick. Can you hear that sound?<br /><br />That is the sound of my Chromebooks approaching their expiration date. <br /><br />Unlike many other computers, Chrome devices have an expiration date baked in. For older models, it is five years after the date of introduction (not the date of sale). Newer models get a date of 6.5 years. <br /><br />That means that if you were an early adopter of the Chrome platform like me, chances are that time is running out for your Chrome devices. <br /><br />What happens when that day arrives? According to the Google AUE (auto update expiration) website: <br /><br />“Chrome devices receive automatic updates regularly that enhance both the device itself and the software on the device. However, advances in hardware and technology eventually make devices out-of-date; and as time goes by, we cannot indefinitely ensure that older Chrome devices will receive updates to leverage new OS features.”<br /><br />“When a device reaches Auto Update Expiration (AUE), it means that the product model is considered obsolete and automatic software updates from Google are no longer guaranteed.”<br /><br />That doesn't mean that the devices will suddenly stop working. It just means that they will not get any more updates or new features. At some point, they may cease to function correctly as new web technologies are created and added to Chrome. More troubling is the fact that security updates may also cease when the expiration date is reached. <br /><br />Does this mean that you should discard a perfectly good device? Not necessarily. If you are technically inclined, you can install Linux on the device by reflashing the device to wipe ChromeOS and replacing it with SeaBIOS. However, that is not for the faint of heart or anyone who lacks some serious technical chops. In addition, this will only work for devices with Intel CPUs (not ARM).<br /><br />A simpler solution is to enter developer mode on the Chrome device and install Linux via Crouton (Chromium OS Universal Chroot Environment). It is a much simpler process and is easily reversible as it does not make any permanent changes to the device. Crouton gives you the option to install a number of Ubuntu variants and update them as needed. If you install Chrome on your Linux distribution, it mirrors much of the functionality inherent in the Chrome operating system while also enabling you to run Linux applications such as Libre Office even while not connected to the Internet.<br /><br />If you are buying a new Chrome device, it would be wise to check the AUE expiration database To find out how long the device has before it reaches its expiration date. There are many older Chrome devices (especially used ones) still on sale that are close to or even beyond their expiration date. Buyer beware!<br /><br />Here is a link to Google’s AUE database:<br /><br /> <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en">https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en</a><br /><br />And a link to the Crouton GitHub page:<br /><br /><a href="https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton">https://github.com/dnschneid/crouton</a></span>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-9458891566426620242018-07-25T11:43:00.002-07:002018-07-26T13:53:02.949-07:00Are Chromebooks Getting Pricier?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">by Tony Thomas</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When they were introduced, Chromebooks were seen as a low-cost alternative to a notebook PC. How things have changed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I visited my local Best Buy yesterday and noticed that the prices of Chromebooks are moving on up. At the very top of the line is the Google Pixel - the flagship of Chromebooks. Even with its impressive specs, at $999, I think the Pixel has very limited appeal unless</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> the buyer is a Chromebook fanatic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Bolstered by the high price of the Pixel, other manufacturers, like Samsung, Asus, and HP, are coming out with new Chromebooks in the medium-price range of $500 to $750. At the lower end of the pricing scale, there are fewer offerings to choose from. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I think this is because the recently introduced Android functionality requires more RAM </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and storage space to be used effectively. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Personally, I find the dependence on Android troubling as I am a big fan of the offline native apps on Chrome OS that have apparently been deprecated. Google will be adding Linux functionality which may help to fill in the gap between mobile apps and more powerful desktop computer programs. They are also betting heavily on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) that are beginning to appear but have not gained much traction or acceptance yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The problem with the more expensive Chromebooks is that they lose their advantage of being a low-cost solution and have solid competition from lower-end notebooks and tablets like the iPad. And, speaking of the iPad, I will be watching with interest how well the new ChromeOS tablets will do compared to Apple's new affordable base model. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In any case, ChromeOS is still a strong option for anyone looking for a secure web-based computing solution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Check out my YouTube Video:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-87347332991926048112018-07-05T14:16:00.001-07:002018-08-31T19:14:06.743-07:00Teknet Laptop Cooling Pad<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1wEp75ngbfRGB7Q_D9BRVt9bK16YP1tcTWXZikFe59DGEMKb5UNy9V5Yk1iMFHLv0XDSl0FYkcyMAYenAj_CwOB1o_FXfSvBZb9r7fpCKHeAXonKc0pN2T2A6BA1yUGr4ResNSa38ZA/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1wEp75ngbfRGB7Q_D9BRVt9bK16YP1tcTWXZikFe59DGEMKb5UNy9V5Yk1iMFHLv0XDSl0FYkcyMAYenAj_CwOB1o_FXfSvBZb9r7fpCKHeAXonKc0pN2T2A6BA1yUGr4ResNSa38ZA/s320/IMG_0081.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">by Tony Thomas</span><br />
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I recently purchased a Tecknet laptop cooling pad from Amazon.com to provide cooling for my aging Lenovo T410 14” laptop computer. The Tecknet pad is made out of plastic but seems to be solidly built. It houses two 110mm cooling fans which seem to do a good job of providing needed cooling to the bottom of the laptop. The fans are illuminated and provide a cool looking blue glow. It is slightly angled to make typing more comfortable. It supports laptop sizes from 12-16”. At $21, it seems to be fairly priced and has received a lot of good reviews. <br /><br />Power is provided via an available USB port and there is an extra port available for another device. It only seems to pass power and not data so it cannot be connected to a USB drive or other data device. I was able to successfully run it from an open port on my unpowered USB hub so it does not draw much current. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since I installed a 7200 RPM hard drive, it had been running pretty hot -- as high as 60-70 degrees C. Using the cooling pad, I have been able to reduce my temps by 15-20 degrees. I am very pleased with the performance of the Tecknet laptop cooling pad and highly recommend it to those who need additional cooling. <br /><br />Buy it at Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/2IXsbKh">https://amzn.to/2IXsbKh</a><br /><br />Check out the YouTube video: <a href="https://youtu.be/zuHDht6je-8">https://youtu.be/zuHDht6je-8</a><br /><br /><i>As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.</i></span></div>
tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-24649109427534246072018-04-08T09:11:00.001-07:002018-04-09T09:13:22.204-07:00u-he Repro - A Second Look<br />
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I am taking a second look at u-he Repro. It is a great sounding VST but uses a lot of CPU. Don't say I didn't warn you. - Tony Thomas<br />
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<br />tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-86091399993816322152018-03-31T09:36:00.002-07:002018-03-31T09:36:13.184-07:00ANA2 VST Synth - First Look<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-43795483835903688172018-03-11T10:37:00.000-07:002018-03-11T10:48:14.951-07:00Sound Forge Audio Studio 12.5 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sound Forge Audio Studio 12.5 Review </span></b></div>
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by Tony Thomas</div>
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This is a review of Sound Forge Audio Studio 12.5 by Magix for Windows. Thanks to Magix for providing me with a review copy of this program.<br />
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More info here: https://www.magix.com/us/<br />
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<br />tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-18560918010483327422017-10-03T21:56:00.001-07:002017-10-03T21:56:08.297-07:00Synthmaster Player<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7IxD_hP5iGA" width="480"></iframe>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-48820662792087087192017-10-01T09:33:00.001-07:002017-10-01T09:34:22.054-07:00Reason 10 Preview<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V18zHgd6A04" width="480"></iframe>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-3741281491495207412017-08-26T20:50:00.001-07:002017-08-26T20:51:34.174-07:00Serum Quick Programming<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iTimzCupD90" width="459"></iframe>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-63993832167386177282017-08-16T04:50:00.001-07:002017-10-01T09:05:25.256-07:00u-he Hive Synth Review<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WgWf-pFpNfY" width="480"></iframe>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-2145225021201027042017-08-05T13:23:00.001-07:002017-10-01T09:05:01.126-07:00Rob Papen Predator 2 Demo<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cvk45SNMLn8" width="459"></iframe>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-20183344370245700322017-08-03T05:04:00.001-07:002017-10-01T09:04:07.671-07:00Synthmaster One Demo<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fMHzgsyKPKE" width="459"></iframe>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-13396969179785018122017-07-22T20:42:00.001-07:002017-07-22T20:43:31.022-07:00Cheap MP3 Players - Do They Really Sound Good?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PkcS4YsnNOU" width="480"></iframe><br />
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I have been looking for a cheap MP3 player with decent sound quality and storage capacity. I bought four of them on eBay to check out. Here is what I found.tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-37432085629984288182017-07-22T09:41:00.001-07:002017-07-22T09:42:27.448-07:00Xfer Records Serum VST Synth Demo<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cm4sxKyx46k" width="459"></iframe><br />
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Here is a short demo of Xfer Records' Serum VST synthesizer. An amazing value for the price.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclaimer: I paid full price for this synth and these are my opinions.</i></span>tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-37365928216514941122017-07-20T10:23:00.001-07:002017-07-20T10:26:01.832-07:00Best 10 Dollar Headphones<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QUXEy-Zo-vI" width="480"></iframe><br />
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A decent pair of $10 headphones? Yep. The Behringer HPM-1000 All-Purpose Closed-Back Headphones fit the bill. Check out my video to see why.tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-54873551136893432842017-07-20T10:20:00.001-07:002017-07-22T09:39:34.772-07:00Serum VST Synth - Is it Worth the Price? <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KQZsGuPC-ys" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Serum is a $189 VST synth from Xfer Records. Is it worth the price? Check out my quick overview.tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-11151738543520710852017-07-19T09:26:00.001-07:002017-07-20T10:21:44.164-07:00Is Ableton Live Intro a Ripoff???<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KCywT_tUrt8" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<br />I have checked out some You Tube videos that say buying Ableton Intro is a ripoff and a waste of money. Is that really true? Are you better off going with Lite and upgrading? Here are my thoughts. Let me know what you think!tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2637559049811239195.post-14642106124981697362017-07-19T08:46:00.001-07:002017-07-19T08:49:24.314-07:00My Portable DAW<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NBerKhwi3hY" width="480"></iframe><br />
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This is a video of my portable DAW setup which includes a Thinkpad T410, Korg NanoKey 2, Novation Launch Control and Behringer UCA202.<br />
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Items I mentioned:<br />
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Lenovo T410: <a href="http://amzn.to/2uEERTQ">http://amzn.to/2uEERTQ</a><br />
Korg Nanokey2: <a href="http://amzn.to/2tC75tp">http://amzn.to/2tC75tp</a><br />
Novation Launch Control: <a href="http://amzn.to/2uEGQHM">http://amzn.to/2uEGQHM</a><br />
Behringer UCA202: <a href="http://amzn.to/2tmFHo0">http://amzn.to/2tmFHo0</a><br />
Monoprice Earbuds: <a href="http://amzn.to/2uEwx6J">http://amzn.to/2uEwx6J</a><br />
Ableton Live 9 Intro: <a href="http://amzn.to/2tC4IGV">http://amzn.to/2tC4IGV</a><br />
Reason 9.5: <a href="http://amzn.to/2tbGDaD">http://amzn.to/2tbGDaD</a><br />
FL Studio Producer Edition: <a href="http://amzn.to/2tC9JiP">http://amzn.to/2tC9JiP</a><br />
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If you buy from these Amazon affiliate link, I will receive a small commission to support this channel. It will help me out and won't cost you a penny more.<br />
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“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”tony10000http://www.blogger.com/profile/05977366058505227985noreply@blogger.com