Stories by Brian Nadel

Two Windows 7 tablets: HP Slate 2 vs. Samsung Series 7 Slate

While the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement has IT departments scurrying to figure out how to cope with the all the issues inherent in consumer technology, there are still tablets out there that are less about entertainment and more about work: Windows 7 tablets. In fact, according to Alex Spektor, associate director for wireless device strategies at Strategy Analytics, thousands of companies use Windows tablets to get business done.

By Brian Nadel | 10 March, 2012 02:10

Tags: freemium, hardware, hardware systems, Microsoft, Mobile and Wireless, operating systems, software, Strategy Analytics, Windows

Dell's XPS 13, a next-gen ultrabook

Looking to knock Apple's MacBook Air from its pedestal, PC manufacturers have been launching an array of high-end, superslim laptops over the past several months. Called ultrabooks (a term coined by Intel), these new laptops feature low-voltage Intel Core chips and emphasize long battery life and fast boot times.

By Brian Nadel | 03 March, 2012 01:54

Tags: dell, hardware systems, laptops

AT&T vs. Verizon: LTE showdown in the Big Apple

Roughly a year after Verizon Wireless established LTE-based 4G mobile phone and data service in New York City, AT&T's rival LTE network is up and running here and in several other cities. Although its average speeds lagged behind Verizon's in my tests, AT&T's 4G LTE service has a lot going for it.

By Brian Nadel | 23 February, 2012 02:29

Tags: at&t, mobile, Verizon Wireless

In depth: Online backup services keep your data safe

It's a fact of modern life that archiving data is essential to prevent a data disaster. Still, something like one-third of computers are never backed up, according to 2257 respondents in a recent Backblaze poll carried out by Harris Interactive. The survey came to the dismal conclusion that a scant 7 per cent of users practice safe computing by archiving their systems on a daily (or nightly) basis.

By Brian Nadel | 07 February, 2012 02:08

Tags: internet, storagem security

Ultrabook showdown: Acer Aspire S3 vs. Asus Zenbook UX31

Being thin never seems to go out of style, and the latest notebooks take this ideal to a new extreme. Called Ultrabooks, these devices are thinner, sleeker and lighter than the typical laptop, yet they offer a long battery life and a full set of features.

By Brian Nadel | 07 December, 2011 02:35

Tags: Acer, Asustek Computer, Components, hardware systems, laptops, netbooks, pc

Wi-Fi tethering 101: Use a smartphone as a mobile hotspot

Buried inside many of the latest smartphones is a capability that few people take advantage of. A feature called tethering lets a phone go beyond talk, email and Web surfing to act as a mobile hotspot that can supply Web access to nearby computers, tablets and other devices.

By Brian Nadel | 05 November, 2011 02:04

Tags: networking, Verizon Wireless, wireless

5 iPad gadgets for geeks

To most users, the iPad is a sleek tablet for watching videos, nosing around the Web and reading the occasional e-book. But to tech enthusiasts, the iPad can also be a platform to satisfy their intense curiosity.

By Brian Nadel | 22 October, 2011 01:16

Tags: Apple, hardware systems, iPad, tablets

5 more tech breakthroughs in access, power, control

This is the second half of a two-part series on technology breakthroughs that have the potential to change computing. Last week, we looked at five chip-level innovations that will make electronic devices faster, more powerful, more flexible and less expensive to manufacture. This week, we explore advances in how we access the Net, how we power our devices and how we interact with them.

By Brian Nadel | 21 September, 2011 03:05

Tags: internet

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 vs Apple MacBook Air

Known for its straightforward business laptops, Lenovo is adding a touch of style with its new ThinkPad X1. The ultrathin laptop will be available May 24th for a starting price of US$1,399.

By Brian Nadel | 21 May, 2011 03:49

Tags: hardware systems, laptops, Lenovo

BlackBerry PlayBook tablet -- released before it was ready?

Because of its association with the BlackBerry brand, Research in Motion's BlackBerry PlayBook will appeal to businesspeople, but on arrival it lacks many corporate must-haves, such as email and 3G wireless data. In fact, it feels like it was rushed to market.

By Brian Nadel | 22 April, 2011 05:19

Tags: Apple, hardware systems, laptops, Motorola, tablet PCs

ViewPad 10 dual Android-Windows tablet

While tablets such as Apple's iPad and Motorola's Android-based Xoom are continuing to attract popular attention, there are many workplaces that are still based around Microsoft Windows. Unfortunately, Windows 7 isn't really optimized for use in tablets, and it looks like the next version won't be out for another year. So what can people who want to use Windows on a tablet do?

By Brian Nadel | 13 April, 2011 01:11

Tags: Apple, hardware systems, laptops, Microsoft, Motorola, tablet PCs, viewsonic

Five Bluetooth headsets: Not just for phone calls

A headset can do more than keep your hands on the wheel while you're on the phone. It can free you to take notes while talking with a client, sip coffee during a conference call or even doodle while waiting on hold. In other words, a headset today is essential equipment for anyone who spends a lot of time talking on a mobile phone.

By Brian Nadel | 10 March, 2011 06:49

Tags: bluetooth, GN Netcom, i.Tech Dynamic, jawbone, Motorola, networking, plantronics, wireless

TerreStar Genus

Need an always-on mobile phone with access to the Internet regardless of the patchwork of cell network coverage? The TerreStar Genus is an innovative smartphone that can not only make and take regular cell calls, but also connect with a satellite anywhere in North America, all with one phone number.

By Brian Nadel | 28 January, 2011 04:32

Tags: consumer electronics, Phones, smartphones, TerreStar

3G vs. 4G: Real-world speed tests

Mobile workers who need always-on Internet access -- and who don't want to rely on public Wi-Fi hot spots -- often turn to a cellular network for connectivity, using either a 3G-equipped notebook or an external 3G modem. Now carriers are touting faster fourth-generation wireless networks as the next phase of mobile computing. But to make use of the new networks, you have to buy a 4G-capable device or modem and a new, often more-expensive service plan.

By Brian Nadel | 16 December, 2010 11:26

Tags: 3g, sprint nextel, Telecommunication

Troubleshoot your Apple iPad

Anyone who has spent any amount of time with an iPad will know that -- like all computers -- it sometimes doesn't do what it's supposed to do. It could be a frozen screen, a system that overheats or a refusal to recharge. The result is the same: You have to figure out what's wrong with it and how to get it back on the straight and narrow.

By Brian Nadel | 02 December, 2010 03:23

Tags: Apple, hardware systems, laptops, tablet PCs

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