Vote My Story » Online Business http://www.vote.my Mon, 21 May 2012 12:01:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 My Story, Get an online business going in just eight steps http://www.vote.my/my-story-get-an-online-business-going-in-just-eight-steps/ http://www.vote.my/my-story-get-an-online-business-going-in-just-eight-steps/#comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:02:09 +0000 admin http://www.vote.my/my-story-get-an-online-business-going-in-just-eight-steps/

ONLINE businesses are becoming more and more popular as a source of side income, and some entrepreneurs are also able to live completely off their online earnings alone. For some, however, it can be a daunting task to get a web business up and running.

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]]> http://www.vote.my/my-story-get-an-online-business-going-in-just-eight-steps/feed/ 0 Vote My Story, Lenovo U260 IdeaPad Notebook Review http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-lenovo-u260-ideapad-notebook-review/ http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-lenovo-u260-ideapad-notebook-review/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:03:50 +0000 admin http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-lenovo-u260-ideapad-notebook-review/

The following is a review of the black and orange Lenovo U260 IdeaPad Windows 7 notebook – a super-comfortable little businessman made for ultra-stylish checkings of online business and perhaps even the playing of some games. The very first thing you’ll notice about this laptop is that it is a fantastic shade of orange – this is one of two colors it can be, (the other being Mocha,) but that’s not the reason you’ll stick around.

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The following is a review of the black and orange Lenovo U260 IdeaPad Windows 7 notebook – a super-comfortable little businessman made for ultra-stylish checkings of online business and perhaps even the playing of some games. The very first thing you’ll notice about this laptop is that it is a fantastic shade of orange – this is one of two colors it can be, (the other being Mocha,) but that’s not the reason you’ll stick around. Nor is the most comfortable experience I’ve had with a notebook since I first started using MacBooks – use this factoid in your judgement of MY judgement, because it makes me a hard customer to sell when it comes to notebooks outside of the industrial designer brilliance employed by Apple. Note first and foremost that I think Apple’s people should talk to Lenovo’s people here if they ever plan on moving away from hard plastic and flat metal surfaces.

Hardware

This tiny notebook has a 12.5 inch LCD digital display with 1366 x 768 resolution and a matte finish. It weighs approximately 3 pounds and is 0.7 inches thick. The outer casing is a lovely shade of orange (Clementine Orange, if you’d like to get specific,) one of two colors, the other being Mocha Brown. These colors instantly say a lot about what the notebook is meant for – comfortable computing in a semi-professional environment. That is, if you’re in an environment that hates color. If you’re working somewhere that appreciates a tiny splash, then yes, this is the notebook for you. This outer casing has an almost-rubbery feel to it, a very similar feel to the inside below the keyboard. The combination of these two makes the notebook seem to already be inside a case, one you would have purchased to make your whole experience nice and, again, comfortable to the touch.

The keyboard is a sort of Chicklet shaped key experience, with a little extra swoop below each key where normally it’d be squared off. It took your humble narrator just a couple minutes to get a completely natural feel for the board before he was tapping away like crazy. The one complaint I have about the keyboard portion of this computer is the far right row. Where I’m used to being able to find backspace, enter, shift, and etc, there’s an extra row of keys crammed up the side, the arrow keys down below, part of this row. This might be a big problem for those whose jobs depend on them typing a billion words a minute, but for everyone else, it’ll just take a couple days to get used to (if you’re used to a standard qwerty keyboard, that is.)

The trackpad is refreshing. Where I found the tappability of the gigantic HP ENVY 17 3D‘s trackpad to be unbelievably sensitive, this one appears to be right on. What I mean here is that you can both track around with your finger or single/double-click on items with the same pad, there’s no need to access the buttons below unless you’d like to drag items around the screen. The buttons are oddly refreshing too, both of them relying on more of a push than a click, if you know what I mean.

System - LENOVO 0876

Manufacturer Product Type
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Motherboard LENOVO Base Board Product Name
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU U 470 @ 1.33GHz
Processor ID GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 37 Stepping 5
Processor Frequency 1.33 GHz Processors 1
Threads 4 Cores 2
L1 Instruction Cache 32.0 KB L1 Data Cache 32.0 KB
L2 Cache 256 KB L3 Cache 3.00 MB
Memory 3.80 GB 800 MHz FSB 1.07 GHz
BIOS LENOVO 37CN15WW(V1.01)

Inside the machine you’ll find a Intel Core i5 processor with 3.8 GB RAM and a 320 GB 5400 rpm hard drive. Graphics are handled by a “Intel HD graphics” graphics card powering a 12.5 inch LCD digital display at 1366 X 768 pixels. Viewing angles are basically perfect left to right, turn a bit darker at approximately 30 degrees up or down. Glare is taken care of by the lovely matte finish on the screen, but you wouldn’t have to be worrying about glare on such a small computer anyway, so it’s a bit of a moot point. On the other hand, if you live in a one bedroom apartment, maybe you WILL have to worry about glare because you’ll use this as your TV. No worries then though, because there isn’t any.

Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth v2.1, the left side containing headphone jack and USB jack as well as a lock port if you plan on bringing this to a convention or something like that.

Along the right you’ll find an ethernet jack, HDMI, VGA, and USB. There’s a lovely integrated web camera up and center above the screen with not quite as good quality as you’d want to be having a meeting in a professional setting, but just fine for a casual user.

For a video of a hands-on experience with this machine, head back to the Lenovo IdeaPad U260 Hands-On and Unboxing post, also done by yours truly.

Software

The Lenovo IdeaPad U260 runs Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64bit) and includes a surprisingly small amount of bloatware. This list includes Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer (64 bit), Microsoft Office 2010, Windows Anytime Upgrade, WIndows DVD Maker, WIndows Fax and Scan, WIndows Media Center, WIndows Media Player, (honestly do they really have to title all of these “Windows?”,) WIndows Update, McAfee virus scan, ooVoo, and a few other things that won’t jam up your day too badly. Oh, and Smile Dock! As always, we instantly installed Google Chrome and Firefox, both of which have been working just fine for internet browsing and downloading.

Performance

This machine is made to bring with you on a short trip – definitely not coming with the computing power you’d like to have on an everyday basis, especially if you’re in a computer-centric job, this is definitely the one you’ll want to bring with when you take that trip to Mobile World Congress 2011. Unless you want to watch a DVD or insert CDs of course. Let’s take a peek at the numbers: The Lenovo U260 IdeaPad ended up grabbing a 2147 on Geekbench (a synthetic test of memory and processor performance.) This places it right around the MacBook Air (3.1) which received a 2261, and the Acer Aspire 3810T (which we reviewed in June of 2009) at 2281. Thusly, you wont find this machine winning any computing power contests, but if you’re looking for a competitor for the MacBook air, here it is, not quite as bigtime.

Benchmark Score - LENOVO 0876

Section Description Score Total Score
Windows x86 (32-bit) - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Integer Processor integer performance 1583 2147
Floating Point Processor floating point performance 2968
Memory Memory performance 1839
Stream Memory bandwidth performance 1868

This machine received Cinebench (v. 11.5) rating of .94fps with 1.25pts on the CPU, so again, not exactly a gigantically majestic gaming and entertainment machine. On the other hand, it works just fine with speed for everyday activities, clicking, tapping, playing videos on online streaming sites, audio’s just fine, everything’s good enough for a part-time usage machine.

Battery

The battery is not fantastic. It’ll last you right around 3 hours doing BASIC tasks – if you’re bringing this on a long flight, hope that you get a plugin by your seat. On the other hand, there’s basically no heat coming from the machine at any time. Intel’s advanced cooling technology really shines clearly here.

Wrap-Up

If you’re a Windows sort of person, and want a tiny computer to bring with you on a trip – this is the one. This is exactly what you’re going to want. If you plan on being in the field without portable power or a wall plug for hours on end, maybe consider something else. This computer takes into account the fact that Apple is attempting to rock the ultraportable market with their MacBook Air and slams directly into it with a completely reasonably sized (small, but not tiny) notebook with a completely unique feel on the outside and the in. Starting at $899 it appears to me to be right in the correct range for cost. Uniqueness, lack of bloatware, relatively decent experience for how small a computer it is, comfortable physically. Well played, Lenovo.

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]]> http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-lenovo-u260-ideapad-notebook-review/feed/ 0 Vote My Story, Smart grid outshines green tech at CES http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-smart-grid-outshines-green-tech-at-ces/ http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-smart-grid-outshines-green-tech-at-ces/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:36:04 +0000 admin http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-smart-grid-outshines-green-tech-at-ces/

LAS VEGAS--Consumer electronics companies used to tout the energy efficiency of individual gadgets. Now many want to make your whole house more efficient.

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LAS VEGAS--Consumer electronics companies used to tout the energy efficiency of individual gadgets. Now many want to make your whole house more efficient.

This year's Consumer Electronics Show saw a blending of the consumer electronics and the energy businesses, often in the form of the idea of a smart home filled with connected devices.

There was still plently of outwardly green gear on the show floor, such as solar-powered radios and energy-saving power strips. But
CES also saw more "home of the future" displays with electric-vehicle chargers, smart appliances, efficient LED lights, and even small wind turbines and solar panels. In
cars, Ford decided to introduce its electric Ford Focus, a week before a big auto show.

Consumer electronics manufacturers are already turning out millions of networked TVs, DVD players, and other electronics. Right behind them are other connected, grid-aware devices, such as thermostats, dishwashers, and electric vehicles.

For consumers, more information about usage and more control over plugged-in goods can lead to energy savings, say manufacturers. For manufacturers and energy companies, this opens up new ways to make money, potentially by offering services that complement their hardware.

Companies from different industries are approaching home energy from different angles. Manufacturers that straddle home appliances and consumer electronics, such as Panasonic, Toshiba, and LG, envision consumers controlling their HVAC, kitchen appliances, and lighting from their TVs, smart phones or PCs.

Home automation companies are eyeing a "trifecta" of services that include entertainment, security monitoring, and energy management. Rather than making tiny margins on hardware, these companies are looking to connected appliances to open the possibility for add-on services, such as applications that remotely control home entertainment systems and thermostats.

"We see home entertainment as a key driver, but energy is coming up fast. Safety and security have been there a long time," Will West, CEO of Control4, said during a panel called "Beyond the Living Room." Control4 sells software and hardware for home automation.

Simililarly, utility companies say giving consumers better information and control of their homes is a way to differentiate themselves.

NRG Energy, which owns energy retailer Reliant Energy in Texas, was a first-time exhibitor at CES, with a booth that was a simulated home. Actors played a young couple getting up-to-the-minute information on energy use and saving money by running power-hungry appliances or charging an electric Nissan Lea at off-peak times.

"We have to stop competing on price upon a commodity that everybody has the same access to," Chris Deutschen, senior manager at Direct Energy, said during a smart-grid panel. "So really we need to get into a more services model. And that's where we are looking at energy management--the home-area network as a place where we can provide services to the customer."


Green-home gear

Manufacturers continue to improve the efficiency of TVs, PCs, and appliances, but advances are not as dramatic as they were a few years ago. To continue making significant efficiency improvements, they need to start treating the home as a connected system, industry executives said.

General Electric showed off the "connected home of the future" which includes smart appliances, an electric vehicle charger, and its Nucleus home energy management system, due later this year. It also announced an Ecomagination entrepreneurial challenge around home energy management, following its contest first focused on the power grid.

Panasonic has a stage devoted to home energy, which includes a way to monitor electricity, gas, and water from a TV. Panasonic can also provide solar panels, a fuel cell for making electricity and hot water, and backup batteries using the same lithium ion cells used in its consumer electronics.

Some other products it showed are not yet available in the U.S., including solar panels, a home battery system, and a fuel cell that makes electricity and heat for hot water from natural gas.

Toshiba, too, is preparing a suite of energy products to complement its eco-friendly laptops and TVs. Offering home energy monitoring systems, LED bulbs, and efficient air conditioners plays off of Toshiba's giant industrial energy business.

"Obviously, this is where the future is going. The grid is getting smarter and we have a speciality in this area. And there are environmental benefits," said Craig Hershberg, general manager for environmental affairs at Toshiba America.


Issues

The products for home automation and energy monitoring are maturing, but manufacturers and service providers face a host of issues before these products can take hold in large numbers.

On a technical level, there are a few different wireless home-networking methods. Many smart meters being installed are equipped with Zigbee radios. But wireless Z-Wave devices, such as locks and remote control light sockets, are already on the market, which is why Verizon chose Z-Wave for its home energy monitoring and security service.

LG decided to make its smart appliances communicate using Wi-Fi. Using power lines to control and monitor plugged-in goods is another method. Also, many homes won't ever get smart meters, so other grid-to-home network gateways are being developed.

Regulations in many areas don't create much monetary incentive for consumers to buy gear for energy management. Utilities and regulators have an interest in having consumers scale back power during critical peak times, such as hot summer days, because they can avoid bringing costly and polluting auxiliary power plants online.

In places with variable pricing, a consumer could get a cheaper rate to charge an electric car at night or have a clothes drier go into "eco mode" during a peak energy event. But in many areas, consumers pay flat rate, so there aren't savings from shifting their energy loads to the middle of the night.

The business models for tech suppliers and installers are still being worked out as well, say industry executives. Without clear savings, most consumers are unlikely to invest in energy management, and the technology has to be easy to use. Consumers also want assurances around security and privacy of energy usage data.

The tech-savvy attendees at CES appear to be interested in hearing how a smart home works. Booths at GE, Panasonic, and NRG Energy had a steady stream of visitors who heard about off-peak rates and remotely controlled thermostats. "Smart grid is the new thing," said one employee from NRG subsidiary Reliant Energy. "And there are only so many TVs you can look at."

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]]> http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-smart-grid-outshines-green-tech-at-ces/feed/ 0 Vote My Story, CES: Sandy Bridge takes control at Intel (photos) http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-ces-sandy-bridge-takes-control-at-intel-photos/ http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-ces-sandy-bridge-takes-control-at-intel-photos/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 20:05:27 +0000 admin http://www.vote.my/vote-my-story-ces-sandy-bridge-takes-control-at-intel-photos/

LAS VEGAS--At CES 2011, it seemed that just about every device across the show floor featured the ability to access rich media content. Tablets, smartphones, TVs, and other Internet-connected devices are increasingly being used to deliver movies and games and demanding graphics. Many companies see Intel as the stepping stone to providing the next generation of hardware, with the release of the long-awaited Sandy Bridge processor

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LAS VEGAS--At CES 2011, it seemed that just about every device across the show floor featured the ability to access rich media content. Tablets, smartphones, TVs, and other Internet-connected devices are increasingly being used to deliver movies and games and demanding graphics.

Many companies see Intel as the stepping stone to providing the next generation of hardware, with the release of the long-awaited Sandy Bridge processor.

Photo by James Martin/CNET

Caption by James Martin

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